bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Matters of the Heart: Cardiotoxicity Related to Target Therapy in Oncogene-Addicted Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Torresan Sara , Bortolot Martina , De Carlo Elisa , Bertoli Elisa , Stanzione Brigida , Del Conte Alessandro , Spina Michele , Bearz Alessandra
Published: January 2025

The treatment of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) has been revolutionised by the introduction of targeted therapies. With the improvement of response and frequently of overall survival, however, a whole new set of adverse events emerged. In fact, due to the peculiar mechanism of action of each one of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other targeted therapies, every drug has its own specific safety profile. In addition, this safety profile could not fully emerge from clinical trials data, as patients in clinical practice usually have more comorbidities and frailties. Cardiotoxicity is a well-known and established adverse event of anti-cancer therapies. However, only recently it has become a central topic for targeted therapies in NSCLC, due to the unknown real range and frequency. Management of this toxicity begins with prevention, and must balance the need of continuing an effective anticancer treatment versus low risk of even fatal events and the preservation of long-term quality of life. The aim of this review is to summarise the current knowledge focusing on currently used targeted therapies in NSCLC.
Green Synthesis, Formulation and Test Field of Lymantria monacha L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Sex Pheromone in East European Region
Authors: Vasian Iuliana , Duduman Mihai-Leonard , Gal Emese , Pîrnău Adrian , Gorgan Monica
Published: January 2025

The nun moth, Lymantria monacha L. (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the most important defoliators of coniferous forests in Europe and Asia. In sexual communication, females produce three epoxides and an alkene: (−)-disparlure [(7S,8R)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane], (+)-monachalure [(7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxyoctadecane], (−)-monachalure [(7S,8R)-cis-7,8-epoxyoctadecane], and their corresponding olefins. This study aimed to develop a green synthesis pathway for all pheromonal components, emphasizing the use of common raw materials, a simplified three-step process, lower costs, and an environmentally friendly approach compared to existing methods. The proposed method introduces a novel synthetic route employing an innovative improvement alkylation step catalyzed by lithium iodide in diglyme. The synthesized compounds were characterized using GC-MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Six synthetic blends were formulated for field testing, with the goal of identifying the most attractive composition. Field trials demonstrated that a blend with a 10:10:1 ratio of (±)-Disparlure, (±)-Monachalure, and (Z)-2-Methyl-7-octadecene exhibited the highest attraction efficiency.
Mice with 16p11.2 Deletion and Duplication Show Alterations in Biological Processes Associated with White Matter
Authors: Wang Tianqi , Sharp Megan , Morella Ilaria , Bedogni Francesco , Trajkovski Vladimir , Brambilla Riccardo , Syed Yasir Ahmed
Published: January 2025

Deletion and duplication in the human 16p11.2 chromosomal region are closely linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism spectrum disorder. Data from neuroimaging studies suggest white matter microstructure aberrations across these conditions. In 16p11.2 deletion and duplication carriers, potential gene dosage effects may impact white matter organisation, contributing to phenotypes including impaired cognition. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this white matter pathology remain unclear. To bridge this knowledge gap, we utilised mouse models of 16p11.2 deletion and duplication to explore changes in corpus callosum oligodendrocytes, myelination, axon caliber, and astrocytes. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to measure lineage and mature oligodendrocyte numbers, as well as myelin basic protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein fluorescence intensity. Transmission electron microscopy was utilised to evaluate axonal structural alterations related to myelin, such as myelinated axon percentage, diameter, myelin thickness, and g-ratio. Our findings reveal changes in the number of mature oligodendrocytes, myelination levels, axon diameter, and astrocytes in the corpus callosum of mice with 16p11.2 deletion and duplication. Deletion mice displayed a tendency toward reduced counts of mature oligodendrocytes and myelination levels, while duplication mice exhibited a notable increase. Axon diameter variations included a significant increase in axon diameter and myelin thickness in both deletion and duplication mice, but with irregular structure in duplication mice. Variances in astrocytes between genotypes showed significant early increases in development for both deletion and duplication mice compared to wild-type mice, with this rise sustained in duplication mice but significantly diminished in deletion mice at a later stage. Our research reveals changes in the biological mechanisms impacting white matter. Comparison of reciprocal trends in 16p11.2 deletion and duplication mice with wild-type mice suggests the possibility of gene dosage effects. Identification of these mechanisms offers an initial step in unveiling therapeutic targets for associated neurodevelopmental disorder phenotypes.
Immunotherapy in Oncogene-Addicted NSCLC: Evidence and Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Foffano Lorenzo , Bertoli Elisa , Bortolot Martina , Torresan Sara , De Carlo Elisa , Stanzione Brigida , Del Conte Alessandro , Puglisi Fabio , Spina Michele , Bearz Alessandra
Published: January 2025

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The discovery of specific driver mutations has revolutionized the treatment landscape of oncogene-addicted NSCLC through targeted therapies, significantly improving patient outcomes. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated limited effectiveness in this context. Emerging evidence, though, reveals significant heterogeneity among different driver mutation subgroups, suggesting that certain patient subsets may benefit from ICIs, particularly when combined with other therapeutic modalities. In this review, we comprehensively examine the current evidence on the efficacy of immunotherapy in oncogene-addicted NSCLC. By analyzing recent clinical trials and preclinical studies, along with an overview of mechanisms that may reduce immunotherapy efficacy, we explored potential strategies to address these challenges, to provide insights that could optimize immunotherapy approaches and integrate them effectively into the treatment algorithm for oncogene-addicted NSCLC.
Special Issue “Advances in Drug Discovery and Synthesis”
Authors: Ciccone Lidia , Nencetti Susanna
Published: January 2025

In modern medicinal chemistry, drug discovery is a long, difficult, highly expensive and highly risky process for the identification of new drug compounds [...]
Sequential Obtention of Blood–Brain Barrier-Permeable Non-Polar and Polar Compounds from Salvia officinalis L. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. with Neuroprotective Purposes
Authors: Romano Enrico , Domínguez-Rodríguez Gloria , Mannina Luisa , Cifuentes Alejandro , Ibáñez Elena
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the biorefinery approach to extracting blood–brain barrier (BBB)-permeable compounds from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Salvia officinalis L. for neuroprotective purposes. A sequential extraction process was applied, starting with supercritical CO2 extraction (SC-CO2) to obtain non-polar terpenoids, followed by pressurized natural deep eutectic solvent extraction (PLE-NaDES) to recover phenolic compounds from the SC-CO2 residue. PLE-NaDES extracts exhibited higher antioxidant and anticholinergic capacities than SC-CO2 extracts for both plants, with S. officinalis extracts being more bioactive than E. globulus extracts. A total of 21 terpenoids were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry from E. globulus while 24 were detected from S. officinalis SC-CO2 extracts. In addition, 25 different phenolic compounds were identified in both plants using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry from PLE-NaDES extracts. The study of the permeability across the BBB showed limited permeability for non-polar compounds obtained by SC-CO2 from both plants; however, the more polar compounds obtained by PLE-NaDES showed high permeability, particularly for flavonoids in E. globulus and rosmarinic acid in S. officinalis. This study revealed, for the first time, the antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of S. officinalis and E. globulus extracts obtained using SC-CO2 followed by PLE-NaDES, as well as the high permeability of PLE-NaDES extracts when crossing the BBB to exert their protective effects. This research opens a new pathway for exploring alternatives to current drugs used in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Trifluoro-Anilines Against Vibrio Species
Authors: Sathiyamoorthi Ezhaveni , Boya Bharath Reddy , Lee Jin-Hyung , Lee Jintae
Published: January 2025

Vibrios are naturally present in marine ecosystems and are commonly allied with live seafood. Vibrio species frequently cause foodborne infections, with Vibrio parahaemolyticus recently becoming a significant contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks. In response, aniline and 68 of its aniline derivatives were studied due to their antibacterial effects targeting V. parahaemolyticus and Vibrio harveyi. Among these, 4-amino-3-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride (ACNBF) and 2-iodo-4-trifluoromethylaniline (ITFMA) demonstrated both antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for ACNBF and ITFMA were 100 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL, respectively, against planktonic cells. The active compounds effectively suppressed biofilm formation in a manner dependent on the dosage. Additionally, these trifluoro-anilines significantly reduced virulence factors such as motility, protease activity, hemolysis, and indole production. Both trifluoro-anilines caused noticeable destruction to the membrane of bacterial cells and, at 100 µg/mL, exhibited bactericidal activity against V. parahaemolyticus within 30 min. Toxicity assays using the Caenorhabditis elegans and seed germination models showed that the compounds displayed mild toxicity. As a result, ACNBF and ITFMA inhibited the growth of both planktonic cells and biofilm formation. Furthermore, these active compounds effectively prevented the formation of biofilm on the surfaces of shrimp and squid models, highlighting their potential use in controlling seafood contamination.
Effects of Temperature and Extraguild Prey Density on Intraguild Predation of Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis
Authors: Wen Xia , Gao Guizhen
Published: January 2025

The ladybirds Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis are important biocontrol agents for the small walnut aphid Chromaphis juglandicola, a key walnut pest. C. juglandicola outbreaks occur in walnut orchards, and walnut yields have declined. Intraguild predation (IGP) is prevalent among natural enemies that coexist in shared habitats and prey upon the same extraguild prey. We designed laboratory experiments to evaluate the potential for IGP between these two ladybirds at different temperatures and extraguild (EG) prey densities, and the ability of IGP to control EG prey under different conditions. We measured IGP rates in first instar larvae, female adults, and male adults (both starved for 24 h) in the vulnerable immature life stages of two ladybird eggs. Intraguild (IG) prey (H. axyridis eggs or C. septempunctata eggs) and EG prey (C. juglandicola) consumption were tallied after 24 h. Temperature and EG prey density influenced IGP rates, with temperature contributing the most to the variance. IGP increased with increasing temperature (15–35 °C), with both factors interactively influencing the EG prey consumption rate and exhibiting highly significant effects. EG prey consumption increased with temperature and density. This research provides theoretical support for the rational use of H. axyridis and C. septempunctata in the joint biological control of C. juglandicola
Assessment of Different Conventional and Biofortified Wheat Genotypes Based on Biology and Damage Pattern of Rhyzopertha dominica and Trogoderma granarium
Authors: Yousuf Hafiz Muhammad Bilal , Yasin Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Asif , Abbasi Asim , Arshad Muhammad , Aqueel Muhammad Anjum , Ul Haq Inzamam , Alsakkaf Waleed A. A. , Mackled Marwa I. , Rebouh Nazih Y. , Ali Hayssam M.
Published: January 2025

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium E. (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) are primary stored-grain insect pests. Differences in certain biological and physical parameters of both pest species and wheat genotypes were investigated under laboratory conditions. Zinc (Zn)-biofortified (Zincol-2016 and Akbar-2019) and conventional (Arooj-2022, Nawab-2021, Dilkash-2021, Bhakkar Star-2019) wheat genotypes were used in this study. Zn-biofortified genotypes outperformed the conventional ones, with significant differences observed in fecundity, percent adult emergence, total developmental duration, percent grain damage, and weight loss of both insect species. The results further revealed that the fecundity of R. dominica and T. granarium were lowest on Akbar-2019 in both the free-choice test (42.50 and 33.17) and no-choice test (35.50 and 32.50), respectively. Similarly, percent adult emergence of both insect species was also lowest on Akbar-2019 in both the free-choice test (69.78 and 70.28%) and no-choice test (67.38 and 70.71%). The total developmental period also showed significant variation among the tested genotypes. The longest developmental period was recorded in Akbar-2019, i.e., 44.33 and 58.83 days, for R. dominica and T. granarium, respectively. Similarly, percent grain damage (13.23 and 10.33%) and weight loss (3.62 and 2.12%) were found to be minimum in Akbar-2019 for both pest species, respectively. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between grain moisture content and damage parameters, suggesting that the higher moisture content may aggravate the percent grain damage and weight loss. These findings indicate that the nutritional qualities of Zn-biofortified wheat genotypes negatively affected the development of both insect species; thus, it can be an efficacious approach not only for ensuring food security but also for protecting grains against storage pests.
Temporal Evolution of the Hydrodynamics of a Swimming Eel Robot Using Sparse Identification: SINDy-DMD
Authors: Sayahkarajy Mostafa , Witte Hartmut
Published: January 2025

Anguilliform swimming is one of the most complex locomotion modes, involving various interacting phenomena, necessitating multidisciplinary studies. Eel robots are designed to incorporate biological principles and achieve efficient locomotion by replicating natural anguilliform swimming. These robots are simpler to engineer and study compared to their natural counterparts. Nevertheless, characterizing the robot–environment interaction is complex, demanding computationally expensive fluid dynamics simulations. In this study, we employ machine learning strategies to investigate the temporal evolution of the system and discover a data-driven model. Three methods were studied, including dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), sparse system identification (SINDy using PySINDy package), and autoencoder neural network (AE NN), as a general function approximator. The models were simulated using MATLAB® R2022 to obtain the prediction errors. The results show that the SINDy model presents less error within the regression range and performs better in extrapolation. Additionally, the SINDy model has a compact form and can explicitly formulate the coupling phenomena amongst the modes. Thus, instead of the standard DMD, we propose the SINDy-DMD approach to describe the anguilliform locomotion of the soft robot. The identified model was employed to recover the system state data matrix. It is concluded that the proposed model with quadratic terms provides a parsimonious representation of the system dynamics.
Maternal Serum Catestatin Levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Potential Biomarker for Risk Assessment and Diagnosis
Authors: Vanli Tonyali Nazan , Karabay Gulsan , Arslan Burak , Aktemur Gizem , Tokgoz Cakir Betul , Seyhanli Zeynep , Demir Çendek Busra , Yilmaz Ergani Seval , Eroglu Hasan , Mermi Sumeyye , Celen Şevki
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presents significant risks for both maternal and neonatal health, affecting fetal growth and increasing the likelihood of future diabetes mellitus (DM) development in affected women. The dysregulation of metabolic biomarkers, including catestatin, has been implicated in GDM pathophysiology. However, the clinical significance of catestatin in GDM remains poorly understood, particularly in the context of different therapeutic approaches. Methods: This observational, prospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate maternal serum catestatin levels in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients and healthy controls. Data were collected at a single time point during the second trimester of pregnancy (24 to 28 weeks). Participants were categorized based on their glucose tolerance and GDM management strategies (diet regulation or insulin therapy). Results: Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated the diagnostic significance of serum catestatin levels in GDM, suggesting a cut-off value of >9.61 ng/mL for discriminating between women with and without GDM. However, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanistic role of catestatin in GDM and its utility in guiding therapeutic interventions. Conclusions: Our study highlights the potential of catestatin as a biomarker for GDM risk stratification and monitoring, complementing existing diagnostic tools. Integrating metabolic biomarkers like catestatin into clinical management approaches may optimize maternal and neonatal health outcomes in GDM. However, the limitations of our study, including its cross-sectional design and sample size, underscore the need for future multicenter studies to validate our findings comprehensively.
Perinatal Outcomes and Management of Umbilical Vein Varix: A Comprehensive Review of 392 Cases
Authors: Ghahremani Taylor , Britt Anna Bailey , Ray Emily , Jones Ashton , Du Ruofei , Magann Everett F.
Published: January 2025

Case reports and case series have linked umbilical vein varices (UVVs) with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Newer case reports and series suggest better perinatal outcomes in cases with an isolated UVV. The purpose of this literature review is to determine if there is commonality in management, outcomes, and association in pregnancy with UVV and fetal aneuploidy, growth restriction, demise, thrombosis, and turbulent flow. Secondly, we will review the diagnosis, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and incidence of UVV. A literature search was undertaken using the search engines PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase. The search terms used were “umbilical vein” AND “varix” OR “umbilical varix” AND “fetal death” OR “fetal demise” AND “guideline” AND “outcome” OR “abnormality” OR “abnormalities”. There were 169 abstracts identified. We identified 392 cases of UVV from our literature review. There is a higher risk of fetal anomalies, fetal aneuploidy, and intrauterine fetal demise in pregnancies with UVV. The risk for fetal growth restriction is in the higher range of normal. Turbulence in and thrombosis of the UVV are concerning developments that influence fetal surveillance. Pregnancies with a UVV are more likely to have fetal anomalies, aneuploidy, and IUFD. We propose an antenatal assessment and management plan and recommendations for the timing of delivery. Our aim is to analyze existing literature to identify and combine case reports and case series of umbilical vein varix and analyze fetal and perinatal outcomes.
Hounsfield Unit Utilization in Cervical Spine for Bone Quality Assessment: A Scoping Review
Authors: Lo Bu Riana , Fluss Rose , Srivastava Yashraj , De la Garza Ramos Rafael , Murthy Saikiran G. , Yassari Reza , Gelfand Yaroslav
Published: January 2025

Bone mineral density (BMD) is an essential indicator of bone strength and plays a crucial role in the clinical management of various spinal pathologies. Hounsfield units (HUs) calculated from computed tomography (CT) scans are a well-established, effective, and non-invasive method to determine bone density in the lumbar spine when juxtaposed to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, the gold standard for assessing trabecular bone density. Only recently have studies begun to investigate and establish HUs as a reliable and valid alternative for bone quality assessment in the cervical spine as well. In addition, multiple recent studies have identified cervical HUs as an accurate predictor of cage subsidence, an undesired complication of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) procedures. Subsidence involves migration of the spinal fusion cage into vertebral bodies, causing a loss of disk space, negatively altering spine alignment, and possibly necessitating further unwanted surgical intervention. Using the PRISMA-ScR checklist and the registered scoping review protocol (INPLASY2024100126), this review explores the current research on the use of cervical spine HU measurements as both a determinant of BMD and as a prognosticator of postoperative subsidence following cervical spine procedures (i.e., ACDFs and ACCFs) with the aim of improving clinical and surgical outcomes.
Association of Pulmonary Involvement at Baseline with Exercise Intolerance and Worse Physical Functioning 8 Months Following COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Uzel Fatma Isil , Peker Yüksel , Atceken Zeynep , Karatas Ferhan , Atasoy Cetin , Caglayan Benan
Published: January 2025

Objectives: We aimed to describe the cardiopulmonary function during exercise and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with a history of COVID-19 pneumonia, stratified by chest computed tomography (CT) findings at baseline. Methods: Among 77 consecutive patients with COVID-19 who were discharged from the Pulmonology Ward between March 2020 and April 2021, 28 (mean age 54.3 ± 8.6 years, 8 females) agreed to participate to the current study. The participants were analyzed in two groups based on pulmonary involvement (PI) at baseline chest CT applying a threshold of 25%. A consequent artificial intelligence (AI)-guided total opacity score (TOS) was calculated in a subgroup of 22 patients. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was conducted on average 8.4 (±1.9) months after discharge from the hospital. HRQoL was defined using the short-form (SF-36) questionnaire. The primary outcome was exercise intolerance that was defined as a peak oxygen uptake (V′O2peak) < 80% predicted. Secondary outcomes were ventilatory limitation, defined as breathing reserve < 15%, circulatory limitation, defined as oxygen pulse predicted below 80%, and deconditioning, defined as exercise intolerance in the absence of ventilatory and circulatory limitations. Other secondary outcomes included the SF-36 domains. Results: In all, 15 patients had at least 25% PI (53.6%) at baseline chest CT. Exercise intolerance was observed in ten patients (35.7%), six due to deconditioning and four due to circulatory limitation; none had ventilatory limitation. AI-guided TOS was 30.1 ± 24.4% vs. 6.1 ± 4.8% (p < 0.001) at baseline, and 1.7 ± 3.0% vs. 0.2 ± 0.7% (nonsignificant) at follow-up in high and low PI groups, respectively. The physical functioning (PF) domain score of the SF-36 questionnaire was 66.3 ± 19.4 vs. 85.0 ± 13.1 in high and low PI groups, respectively (p = 0.007). Other SF-36 domains did not differ significantly between the groups. A high PI at baseline was inversely correlated with V′O2peak (standardized β coefficient = −0.436; 95% CI −26.1; −0.7; p = 0.040) and with PF scores (standardized β coefficient −0.654; 95% CI −41.3; −7.6; p = 0.006) adjusted for age, sex, body mass index and lung diffusion capacity. Conclusions: One-third of participants experienced exercise intolerance eight months after COVID-19 pneumonia. A higher PI at baseline was significantly associated with exercise intolerance and PF. Notwithstanding, the radiological PI was resolved, and the exercise intolerance was mainly explained not by ventilatory limitation but by circulatory limitation and deconditioning.
Reversing Decline in Aging Muscles: Expected Trends, Impacts and Remedies
Authors: Halma Matthew , Marik Paul , Varon Joseph , Tuszynski Jack
Published: January 2025

Background: Age-related decline in musculoskeletal function is a significant concern, particularly in Western countries facing demographic shifts and increased healthcare demands. This review examines the typical trajectories of musculoskeletal deterioration with age and evaluates the effectiveness of various interventions in preventing or reversing these changes. Methods: The review analyzes documented rates of decline across multiple parameters, including muscle mass, Type II muscle fiber reduction, and decreased motor unit firing rates. It examines evidence from studies on targeted interventions aimed at reversing these trends or preventing further decline. Results: The evidence suggests that multimodal interventions, including strength training can effectively maintain or improve physical function in aging adults. These interventions have shown potential in altering the trajectory of age-related decline in musculoskeletal function. Conclusions. The findings of this review have important implications for healthcare providers and policymakers in addressing the challenges of an aging population. By providing a framework for understanding and addressing age-related physical decline through evidence-based interventions, this review offers potential strategies for reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of life for older adults.
An Infrared and Visible Image Alignment Method Based on Gradient Distribution Properties and Scale-Invariant Features in Electric Power Scenes
Authors: Zhu Lin , Mao Yuxing , Chen Chunxu , Ning Lanjia
Published: January 2025

In grid intelligent inspection systems, automatic registration of infrared and visible light images in power scenes is a crucial research technology. Since there are obvious differences in key attributes between visible and infrared images, direct alignment is often difficult to achieve the expected results. To overcome the high difficulty of aligning infrared and visible light images, an image alignment method is proposed in this paper. First, we use the Sobel operator to extract the edge information of the image pair. Second, the feature points in the edges are recognised by a curvature scale space (CSS) corner detector. Third, the Histogram of Orientation Gradients (HOG) is extracted as the gradient distribution characteristics of the feature points, which are normalised with the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) algorithm to form feature descriptors. Finally, initial matching and accurate matching are achieved by the improved fast approximate nearest-neighbour matching method and adaptive thresholding, respectively. Experiments show that this method can robustly match the feature points of image pairs under rotation, scale, and viewpoint differences, and achieves excellent matching results.
Sustainable Additive Manufacturing: An Overview on Life Cycle Impacts and Cost Efficiency of Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Rahmani Ramin , Bashiri Bashir , Lopes Sérgio I. , Hussain Abrar , Maurya Himanshu S. , Vilu Raivo
Published: January 2025

This overview study investigates integrating advanced manufacturing technologies, specifically metal additive manufacturing (AM) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processes, within Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 frameworks, to enhance sustainability and efficiency in industrial production and prototyping. The manufacturing sector, a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption, is increasingly adopting technologies that reduce environmental impact while maintaining economic growth. Selective laser melting (SLM), as the subsection LPBF technologies, is highlighted for its capability to produce high-performance, lightweight, and complex components with minimal material waste, thus aligning with circular economy goals for metal alloys. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) analyses are essential methods for evaluating the sustainability of any new technology. Sustainable technologies could support the concepts of the factory of the future (FoF), fulfilling the requirements of digital transformation and digital twins. This overview study reveals that implementing AM—specifically SLM—has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing. It underscores the ability of these technologies to promote sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices, thereby accelerating the shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0.
Challenges of Artificial Intelligence for the Prevention and Identification of Bankruptcy Risk in Financial Institutions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vásquez-Serpa Luis-Javier , Rodríguez Ciro , Pérez-Núñez Jhelly-Reynaluz , Navarro Carlos
Published: January 2025

The identification and prediction of financial bankruptcy has gained relevance due to its impact on economic and financial stability. This study performs a systematic review of artificial intelligence (AI) models used in bankruptcy prediction, evaluating their performance and relevance using the PRISMA and PICOC frameworks. Traditional models such as random forest, logistic regression, KNN, and neural networks are analyzed, along with advanced techniques such as Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), convolutional neural networks (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), hybrid models, and ensemble methods such as bagging and boosting. The findings highlight that, although traditional models are useful for their simplicity and low computational cost, advanced techniques such as LSTM and XGBoost stand out for their high accuracy, sometimes exceeding 99%. However, these techniques present significant challenges, such as the need for large volumes of data and high computational resources. This paper identifies strengths and limitations of these approaches and analyses their practical implications, highlighting the superiority of AI in terms of accuracy, timeliness, and early detection compared to traditional financial ratios, which remain essential tools. In conclusion, the review proposes approaches that integrate scalability and practicality, offering predictive solutions tailored to real financial contexts with limited resources.
Is Punica granatum Efficient Against Sepsis? A Comparative Study of Amifostine Versus Pomegranate
Authors: Sahin Kazim , Sahin Aktura Sena , Bahceci Ilkay , Mercantepe Tolga , Tumkaya Levent , Topcu Atilla , Mercantepe Filiz , Duran Omer Faruk , Uydu Huseyin Avni , Yazici Zihni Acar
Published: January 2025

Sepsis is a clinical condition causing tissue damage as a result of infection and an exaggerated immune response. Sepsis causes 11 million deaths annually, a third of which are associated with acute lung injury (ALI). Rapid and effective treatment is crucial to improve survival rates. Punica granatum (pomegranate) is rich in polyphenols and demonstrates strong antioxidant activity, while amifostine acts as a free radical scavenger. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of P. granatum peel extract (PGPE) and amifostine in sepsis-related ALI. Experimental groups included Control, CLP (cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis), Amf (200 mg/kg amifostine, intraperitoneally), and PGPE250, and PGPE500 (250 and 500 mg/kg PGPE via oral gavage, respectively). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total thiol (TT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, and metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) were assessed in the lung tissue. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that TBARS and TNF-α levels significantly decreased in both the PGPE and amifostine treatment groups compared to the CLP group, while TT levels showed notable improvement. Histopathological evaluation revealed reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunopositivity in the PGPE250 and PGPE500 groups. These findings highlight the lung-protective properties of PGPE, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent for sepsis-induced acute lung injury.
Effect of Temperature on Magnetoimpedance Effect and Magnetic Properties of Fe- and Co-Rich Glass-Coated Microwires
Authors: Corte-Leon Paula , Skorvanek Ivan , Andrejka František , Jakubcin Milos , Blanco Juan Maria , Zhukova Valentina , Zhukov Arcady
Published: January 2025

We provide new experimental studies of the temperature dependence of the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and hysteresis loops of Fe-rich and Co-rich amorphous microwires with rather different room temperature magnetic properties and GMI effect features. We observed a remarkable modification of hysteresis loops and magnetic field dependence of the GMI ratio upon heating in both of the studied samples. We observed a noticeable improvement in the GMI ratio and a change in hysteresis loops from rectangular to inclined upon heating in Fe-rich microwire. However, the opposite trend was observed in Co-rich microwire, in which, upon heating, the shape of the hysteresis loop changed from linear to rectangular. Generally, the evolution of the shape of the hysteresis loops during heating correlates with the modification of the dependencies of the GMI ratio ΔZ/Z on the magnetic field. For Co-rich microwire, the double-peak magnetic field dependence changed to single-peak, while for Fe-rich microwire, the opposite tendency was observed. The origin of the observed temperature dependences of the hysteresis loop and the GMI effect is discussed, considering internal stresses’ relaxation during heating, the temperature dependencies of the magnetostriction coefficient, and internal stresses, as well as the Hopkinson effect.
First-Principles Study of the Heterostructure, ZnSb Bilayer/h-BN Monolayer for Thermoelectric Applications
Authors: Darhi Zakariae , El Farh Larbi , Pandey Ravindra
Published: January 2025

ZnSb is widely recognized as a promising thermoelectric material in its bulk form, and a ZnSb bilayer was recently synthesized from the bulk. In this study, we designed a vertical van der Waals heterostructure consisting of a ZnSb bilayer and an h-BN monolayer to investigate its electronic, elastic, transport, and thermoelectric properties. Based on density functional theory, the results show that the formation of this heterostructure significantly enhances electron mobility and reduces the bandgap compared to the ZnSb bilayer, thereby increasing its power factor. These findings highlight the potential of the h-BN monolayer–supported ZnSb bilayer heterostructure in thermoelectric applications, where maximizing energy conversion efficiency is essential.
Acoustic Performance of Tufted Carpets Coupled with Underlayment Produced from Tannery Wool Waste
Authors: Broda Jan , Kobiela-Mendrek Katarzyna , Baczek Marcin , Rom Monika
Published: January 2025

Sheep wool is a precious, renewable raw material that is nowadays disregarded and wasted. To better use local sources of wool, it was used to manufacture tufted carpets. The coarse wool of mountain sheep was used to form a carpet pile layer, while the waste wool from the tannery industry was applied to form carpet underlayment. During investigations, the acoustic performance of the carpets was assessed. The carpets’ sound absorption coefficients and transmission loss were determined using the impedance tube. It was revealed that the adding of underlayment improves the carpet’s sound absorption only at medium sound wave frequencies. The underlayment significantly increases transmission loss in the whole frequency range. The acoustic performance of the carpets with the wool underlayment is similar to the acoustic characteristics of the carpets with an underlayment made from polyester. It was concluded that wool nonwovens can be used as an effective, eco-friendly, sound-absorbing carpet underlayment, which can improve wool utilisation and contribute to the reduction in environmental pollution caused by plastic residues.
Microwave Dielectric Properties and Defect Behavior of xTiO2-(1-x)SiO2 Glass
Authors: Zhang Chenyang , Gao Sijian , Zhu Mankang , Shao Zhufeng , Nie Lanjian , Wang Hui , Jia Yanan , Fu Bo
Published: January 2025

xTiO2-(1-x)SiO2 (x = 2.9~8.2 mol%) glass specimens were synthesized using the flame hydrolysis technique. This study aimed to elucidate the influence of TiO2 incorporation on the optical characteristics, defect behavior, and microwave dielectric performance of these materials. UV–vis and near-infrared spectroscopic analyses were employed to investigate the hydroxyl and optical bandgap properties. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and AC impedance spectroscopy were utilized to examine oxygen vacancies, Ti3+ defects, and their respective behaviors. The findings revealed that, with increasing TiO2 content, the generation and migration of defects became more favorable, consequently leading to higher dielectric losses. The imaginary component of the electric modulus experimental data was fitted using the modified Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts (KWW) function, while the frequency-dependent AC conductivity was analyzed using the Jonscher power law. The calculated activation energy exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing TiO2 content, consistent with the characteristics of doubly ionized oxygen vacancies, suggesting the involvement of identical charge carriers in the relaxation and conduction mechanisms. Notably, the 8.2TiO2–91.8SiO2 glass specimen demonstrated exceptional microwave dielectric performance, exhibiting εr = 4.13, Q × f = 57,116 GHz, and τf = −4.32 ppm/°C, rendering it a promising candidate for microwave substrate applications.
Experimental Investigation of a C-S-H Nanocrystalline Nucleus Modified with PCE Dispersant on the Early-Age Mechanical Behavior of Oil Well Cement Paste
Authors: Xia Xiujian , Yu Yongjin , Qi Fengzhong , Li Pengpeng , Qu Congfeng , Xu Pu , Liu Huiting , Meng Renzhou , Zhai Xianzhi , Guo Jintang
Published: January 2025

For the exploration and development of oil and gas reservoirs in shallow, cold regions and deep oceans, oil well cement (OWC) pastes face the challenge of slow cement hydration reactions and the low early-strength development of cement stone at low temperatures, which can cause the risk of fluid channeling and the defective isolation of the sealing section during the cementing construction process. To address the above challenges, a nanoscale hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) crystal nucleus, DRA-1L, was synthesized. Its application performance and action mechanism were studied. The structural characterization of DRA-1L revealed that its crystal structure resembles that of amorphous C-S-H gel, with a size distribution ranging from 20 to 200 nm. The addition of DRA-1L significantly shortens the transition time of static gel strength, preventing the channeling of OWC paste and promoting the strength development of cement stone at low temperatures. Moreover, the mechanism by which DRA-1L enhances the early strength of cement stone was studied. Results indicated that the nanoscale DRA-1L with nucleation effect reduces the barrier to C-S-H gel formation and accelerates cement hydration, which leads to the increased compactness and early strength of cement stone.
Strain-Controlled Thermal–Mechanical Fatigue Behavior and Microstructural Evolution Mechanism of the Novel Cr-Mo-V Hot-Work Die Steel
Authors: Yuan Yasha , Lin Yichou , Wang Wenyan , Shi Ruxing , Wu Chuan , Zhang Pei , Yao Lei , Jie Zhaocai , Wang Mengchao , Xie Jingpei
Published: January 2025

In response to the intensifying competition in the mold market and the increasingly stringent specifications of die forgings, the existing 55NiCrMoV7 (MES 1 steel) material can no longer meet the elevated demands of customers. Consequently, this study systematically optimizes the alloy composition of MES 1 steel by precisely adjusting the molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V) contents. The primary objective is to significantly enhance the microstructure and thermal–mechanical fatigue performance of the steel, thereby developing a high-performance, long-life hot working die steel designated as MES 2 steel. The thermal–mechanical fatigue (TMF) tests of two test steels were conducted in reverse mechanical strain control at 0.6% and 1.0% strain levels by a TMF servo-hydraulic testing system (MTS). The microstructures of the two steels were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that throughout the entire thermomechanical fatigue cycle, both steels exhibit initial hardening during the low-temperature half-cycle (tension half-cycle) and subsequent continuous softening during the high-temperature half-cycle (compression half-cycle). Furthermore, under the same strain condition, the cumulative cyclic softening damage of MES 1 steel is more pronounced than that of the newly developed MES 2 steel. The number, width, and length of cracks in MES 2 steel are smaller than those in MES 1 steel, and the thermomechanical fatigue life of MES 2 steel is significantly longer than that of MES 1 steel. The microstructures show that the main precipitate phase in MES 1 steel is Cr-dominated rod-shaped carbide. It presents obvious coarsening and is prone to inducing stress concentration, thus facilitating crack initiation and propagation. The precipitate phase in MES 2 steel is mainly MC carbide containing Mo and V. It has a high thermal activation energy and is dispersed in the matrix in the form of particles, pinning dislocations and grain boundaries. This effectively delays the reduction in dislocation density and grain growth, thus contributing positively to the improvement in thermomechanical fatigue performance.
Influence of Plastic Deformation on the Precipitation Evolution in the Aluminum Alloys in Friction Stir Welding
Authors: Morozova Iuliia , Naumov Anton , Doynov Nikolay , Michailov Vesselin
Published: January 2025

The influence of temperature on the precipitation evolution in different zones of friction stir welded (FSW) heat-treatable aluminum alloys has been well investigated. However, the role of plastic deformation in affecting precipitation transformations remains less explored. To isolate the contribution of these factors and specifically assess the role of plastic deformation, an approach combining numerical and physical modeling techniques was used. Welding temperature cycles in the FSW weld zones calculated by means of a 3D finite element model were accurately reproduced using a Gleeble instrument. This approach was implemented under two scenarios such as the reproduction of the influence of temperature alone, and the combined effects of temperature and thermally induced plastic strain. The precipitation states and hardness obtained from these controlled experiments were compared to those observed in actual friction stir welds, providing a deeper understanding of the influence mechanisms at play. The results revealed that deformation significantly influences precipitation formation in the stir zone of both 2024 and 6082 alloys, with this effect extending to the heat-affected zone in the case of the 2024 alloy.
Exploring the Potential of Oxalyldihydrazide-Derived Schiff Bases as Versatile Ligands: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Costa-Villén Ernesto , Ortiz Marina , Sitjar Pedro , Puigjaner Cristina , El Fallah Mohamed Salah
Published: January 2025

Schiff bases constitute a broad and well-established class of ligands widely utilized in coordination chemistry. To further enrich this family and assess the potential impact of oxalyldihydrazide-derived Schiff bases in the realms of coordination chemistry and molecular magnetism, three novel ligands have been synthesized and investigated. i.e., N′1,N′2-bis((E)-pyridin-2-ylmethylene)oxalohydrazide (H2L1), N′1-((E)-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)methylene)-N′2-((E)-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methylene)oxalohydrazide (H2L2) and N′1,N′2-bis((E)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)oxalohydrazide (H2L3) were synthesized and then combined with various 3d metals, resulting in the formation of five new complexes with formula [Cu5(L1)2(H2O)8(MeOH)2(NO3)2](NO3)4 (1), [Mn2(HL2)2(BzO)2(MeOH)2]·2MeOH (2), [Ni(HL2)2]·2MeOH (3), [Ni4(L2)4]·4MeOH (4), [Ni8(L3)4(AcO)4(H2O)12](OAc)4 (5). These compounds were structurally and magnetically characterized, revealing the various coordination modes exhibited by the ligands and a distinct antiferromagnetic behavior. Alternating current (AC) susceptibility measurements were conducted on complex 1, showing no evidence of Single Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior.
On the Fractional Dynamics of Kinks in Sine-Gordon Models
Authors: Bountis Tassos , Cantisán Julia , Cuevas-Maraver Jesús , Macías-Díaz Jorge Eduardo , Kevrekidis Panayotis G.
Published: January 2025

In the present work, we explored the dynamics of single kinks, kink–anti-kink pairs and bound states in the prototypical fractional Klein–Gordon example of the sine-Gordon equation. In particular, we modified the order β of the temporal derivative to that of a Caputo fractional type and found that, for 1<β<2, this imposes a dissipative dynamical behavior on the coherent structures. We also examined the variation of a fractional Riesz order α on the spatial derivative. Here, depending on whether this order was below or above the harmonic value α=2, we found, respectively, monotonically attracting kinks, or non-monotonic and potentially attracting or repelling kinks, with a saddle equilibrium separating the two. Finally, we also explored the interplay of the two derivatives, when both Caputo temporal and Riesz spatial derivatives are involved.
A Distributed Energy-Throughput Efficient Cross-Layer Framework Using Hybrid Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Singh Pratap , Mittal Nitin , Mittal Vikas , Trivedi Tapankumar , Singh Ashish , Łukasik Szymon , Salgotra Rohit
Published: January 2025

Magnetic induction (MI)-operated wireless sensor networks (WSNs), due to their similar performance in air, underwater, and underground mediums, are rapidly emerging networks that offer a wide range of applications, including mine prevention, power grid maintenance, underground pipeline monitoring, and upstream oil monitoring. MI-based wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs), utilizing small antenna coils, offer a viable solution by providing consistent channel conditions. The cross-layer protocols address the specific challenges of WUSNs, leading to improved network performance and enhanced operational capabilities in real-world applications. This work proposes a distributed cross-layer solution, leveraging the hybrid marine predator naked mole rat algorithm (MPNMRA) for MI-operated WUSNs. The solution, called DECMN (distributed energy-throughput efficient cross-layer network using MPNMRA), is designed to optimize the MI communication channels, MI relay coils (MI waveguide), and MI waveguide with 3D coils to fulfill quality of service (QoS) parameters, while achieving energy savings and throughput gains. DECMN utilizes the interactions between various layers to develop cross-layer protocols based on MPNMRA. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of DECMN, offering energy savings, increased throughput, and reliable transmissions within the performance limits.