bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OpenSEA: a 3D printed planetary gear series elastic actuator for a compliant elbow joint exoskeleton
Authors: Jenks Benjamin , Levan Hailey , Stefanovic Filip
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Next-generation assistive robotics rely on series elastic actuators (SEA) that enable compliant human-robot interaction. However, currently there is a deficiency of openly available SEA systems to support this development. To address this, we propose a novel design of a compliant 3D-printed SEA device for elbow movement rehabilitation exoskeletons that we make openly available.

Methods

We designed a 3D-printed SEA to incorporate a planetary gear system and torsional spring, offering compliance, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness. The design provides a high-power density, that can address torque limitations in 3D printed SEA systems. Our design utilizes a 4.12 Nm motor operating at 26 RPM based on assessment of functional performance differences across healthy and post-stroke individuals. Moreover, the design of this SEA allows for easily adjustable parameters to fit different joints, or various torque output configurations, in low-cost exoskeleton applications in rehabilitation.

Results

Testing demonstrated an average compliance contribution of the planetary gear and the average total system compliance of 14.80° and 22.22°, respectively. This range conforms to those expected in human-exoskeleton interaction. Similarly, an FEA analysis of the 3D printed system shows stress ranges of the SEA gears to be between 50 and 60.2 MPa, which causes a displacement of approximately 0.14 mm. This is within the operational flexural range of standard 3D printed materials such as PLA, which is 175 MPa.

Discussion

The study demonstrates an openly available SEA design for 3D printed exoskeletons. This work provides an entry point for accessible exoskeleton design, specifically for rehabilitation. Future work will explore the role of segment vs joint rigidity in developing next-generation compliant exoskeletons, and improving accessibility for personalizable assistive exoskeletons. All designs presented herein are publicly available.
Does gender equality in sports matter? examining the socio-economic impact on public perceptions
Authors: Indelicato Alessandro
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Gender equality (GE) is increasingly becoming a key point on modern political agendas. While governments and civil societies strive to achieve this goal, we may be far from “perfect” equality between women and men. Sport is a good example of some of the inequalities that men and women face, such as pay, discrimination, and unequal opportunities.

Methods

The study uses data from the Special Eurobarometer 525 (April–May 2022) to understand attitudes towards GE in sports (ATGEQS). By applying Fuzzy-Hybrid TOPSIS approach, and other methods like Latent Profile Analysis and Multinomial Logistic Regression, I investigate how gender, age, income, education, political beliefs and nationality affect these attitudes.

Results and Discussion

The Nordic countries have the highest ATGEQS, while support for EU GE policies, left-wing views, and life satisfaction is positively related to favourable attitudes. The findings highlight the need for awareness and policies for sports participation to be created, with greater emphasis on disadvantaged groups.
Evaluation of Soundboard Damping Variations on Physical and Perceptual Aspects of the Sound of a Steel-String Acoustic Guitar
Authors: Wühle Tom , Merchel Sebastian , Altinsoy M. Ercan
Published: February 2025

To make guitars with high sonic quality, it is essential to understand the relationship between the physical characteristics of the selected materials and the acoustic characteristics of the final instrument and how they will be perceived. The selection of wood for the soundboard is a crucial step in the guitar-making process. One relevant physical characteristic is internal material damping, about which, however, only little is known in comparison to other characteristics such as density and Young’s modulus. The present study investigated the relationship of soundboard damping to both physical and perceptual aspects of guitar sound. Three similar steel-string guitars were built with the damping of their soundboards varying between low, mid and high. Measurements of the transfer function and the plucked tone decay of the final guitars were carried out. A listening test and a playing test were conducted. The participants were asked to rate preference and seven sound attributes comprising loudness and both spectral and temporal aspects. To prepare the listening test, a short sequence was recorded by a professional guitarist with each guitar. The results suggest that varying soundboard damping had no practically relevant influence on the physical and perceptual aspects of the sound of the guitar used in this study.
African Business Leadership and Effectiveness: Perspectives from South African Leaders
Authors: Lerutla Matete , Steyn Renier
Published: February 2025

Leadership is often framed within Western paradigms, with limited focus on African business leadership. This study, part of a broader research project, aims to conceptualise African business leadership and its effectiveness, providing an integrated understanding from various perspectives. This article examines South African leaders’ views on African business leadership and its impact. Using an interpretivist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior leaders from different racial groups in South Africa. The data were analysed through grounded theory, with a three-step coding process to identify themes relevant to African business leadership, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This study found that African leadership is characterised by entrepreneurial spirit, agility, and the value of ‘Ubuntu’, in contrast to the structured and regulated nature of Western leadership. Culture’s role in leadership effectiveness was debated, with some attributing success to personal traits. Corruption and poverty were identified as significant barriers. The research underscores the influence of culture on leadership styles, revealing diverse opinions on the effectiveness of African leadership in business. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural factors, corruption, and poverty when evaluating leadership effectiveness in African contexts.
Adapted Speed Control of Two-Stroke Engine with Propeller for Small UAVs Based on Scavenging Measurement and Modeling
Authors: Feng Yifang , Chen Tao , Liu Qinwang , Zhao Heng
Published: February 2025

The speed of the engine–propeller directly determines the power output for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with internal combustion engines. However, variable air pressure can impact the engine’s air exchange and combustion processes, causing minor changes that affect the engine speed and result in variations in propeller thrust. A single-loop control strategy was proposed incorporating a feed-forward air-intake model with throttle feedback for small UAVs equipped with a two-stroke scavenging internal combustion engine and propeller. The feed-forward model was built with a simplified model of the airpath based on the scavenging measurement, which combined the tracer gas method and CFD simulation by a two-zone combustion chamber model. The feed-forward control strategy was built by a simplified crankcase–scavenging–cylinder model with CFD results under different air pressures, demonstrating a 1% error compared with CFD simulation. An iterative method of feed-forwarding was suggested for computing efficiency. A feedback controller was constructed using fuzzy PID for minimal instrumentation in engine control for small aircraft. Finally, the single-loop control strategy was validated through simulation and experimentation. The results indicate an 89% reduction in average speed error under varying air pressure and an 83.7% decrease in average speed overshoot in continuous step speed target experiments.
DBCA-Net: A Dual-Branch Context-Aware Algorithm for Cattle Face Segmentation and Recognition
Authors: Feng Xiaopu , Zhang Jiaying , Qi Yongsheng , Liu Liqiang , Li Yongting
Published: February 2025

Cattle face segmentation and recognition in complex scenarios pose significant challenges due to insufficient fine-grained feature representation in segmentation networks and limited modeling of salient regions and local–global feature interactions in recognition models. To address these issues, DBCA-Net, a dual-branch context-aware algorithm for cattle face segmentation and recognition, is proposed. The method integrates an improved TransUNet-based segmentation network with a novel Fusion-Augmented Channel Attention (FACA) mechanism in the hybrid encoder, enhancing channel attention and fine-grained feature representation to improve segmentation performance in complex environments. The decoder incorporates an Adaptive Multi-Scale Attention Gate (AMAG) module, which mitigates interference from complex backgrounds through adaptive multi-scale feature fusion. Additionally, FACA and AMAG establish a dynamic feedback mechanism that enables iterative optimization of feature representation and parameter updates. For recognition, the GeLU-enhanced Partial Class Activation Attention (G-PCAA) module is introduced after Patch Partition, strengthening salient region modeling and enhancing local–global feature interaction. Experimental results demonstrate that DBCA-Net achieves superior performance, with 95.48% mIoU and 97.61% mDSC in segmentation tasks and 95.34% accuracy and 93.14% F1-score in recognition tasks. These findings underscore the effectiveness of DBCA-Net in addressing segmentation and recognition challenges in complex scenarios, offering significant improvements over existing methods.
Research on Precise Segmentation and Center Localization of Weeds in Tea Gardens Based on an Improved U-Net Model and Skeleton Refinement Algorithm
Authors: Cao Zhiyong , Zhang Shuai , Li Chen , Feng Wei , Wang Baijuan , Wang Hao , Luo Ling , Zhao Hongbo
Published: February 2025

The primary objective of this research was to develop an efficient method for accurately identifying and localizing weeds in ecological tea garden environments, aiming to enhance the quality and yield of tea production. Weed competition poses a significant challenge to tea production, particularly due to the small size of weed plants, their color similarity to tea trees, and the complexity of their growth environment. A dataset comprising 5366 high-definition images of weeds in tea gardens has been compiled to address this challenge. An enhanced U-Net model, incorporating a Double Attention Mechanism and an Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling module, is proposed for weed recognition. The results of the ablation experiments show that the model significantly improves the recognition accuracy and the Mean Intersection over Union (MIoU), which are enhanced by 4.08% and 5.22%, respectively. In addition, to meet the demand for precise weed management, a method for determining the center of weed plants by integrating the center of mass and skeleton structure has been developed. The skeleton was extracted through a preprocessing step and a refinement algorithm, and the relative positional relationship between the intersection point of the skeleton and the center of mass was cleverly utilized to achieve up to 82% localization accuracy. These results provide technical support for the research and development of intelligent weeding equipment for tea gardens, which helps to maintain the ecology of tea gardens and improve production efficiency and also provides a reference for weed management in other natural ecological environments.
Circadian-Mediated Regulation of Growth, Chloroplast Proteome, Targeted Metabolomics and Gene Regulatory Network in Spinacia oleracea Under Drought Stress
Authors: Venkat Ajila , Muneer Sowbiya
Published: February 2025

The paramount objectives of this study were to analyze the beneficial role of the circadian clock in alleviating drought stress in an essential green leafy horticultural crop, spinach (Spinacia oleracea), and to attain knowledge on drought-stress adaptation for crop productivity. From dawn to dusk, a circadian core oscillator-based defense mechanism was noticed in relation to the strength of the chloroplast proteome and transcriptome, and the defense hormone fused it along with the molecular physiology using genotypes “Malav Jyoti” and “Delhi Green”. A photo-periodic rhythmicity containing a 4 h time interval (morning–evening loop) for 12 h in spinach was exhibited under drought-stressed (day-5) and drought re-irrigated (day-10) conditions. The circadian oscillator controlled 70% of the major part of growth and physiological measures such as the biomass, plant height, leaf-relative water content, and the shoot–root ratio under drought stress. Contrarily, drought stress resulted in the upregulation of antioxidative activities and stress markers, whereas it was diversified and maintained in the case of the re-irrigated state at certain rhythmic time intervals of the circadian clock. The physiological parameters we examined, such as net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and antioxidative enzymes, exhibited the role of the circadian clock in drought stress by showing 80–90% improvements found in plants when they were re-watered after drought stress based on their circadian oscillations. Based on the physiological results, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. were disclosed to be the rhythmic times for controlling drought stress. Moreover, an extensive study on a gene expression analysis of circadian clock-based genes (CCA1, LHY, TOC1, PRR3, PRR5, PRR7, PRR9, and RVE8) and drought-responsive genes (DREB1, DREB2, and PIP1) depicted the necessity of a circadian oscillator in alleviating drought stress. Hence, the findings of our study allowed for an intense understanding of photo-periodic rhythms in terms of the morning–evening loop, which is in line with the survival rate of spinach plants and occurs by altering cellular ROS-scavenging mechanisms, chloroplast protein profiles, gene regulation, and metabolite concentrations.
Seed Morphology in Vitis Cultivars Related to Hebén
Authors: Cervantes Emilio , Martín-Gómez José Javier , Rodríguez-Lorenzo José Luis , del Pozo Diego Gutiérrez , Cabello Sáenz de Santamaría Félix , Muñoz-Organero Gregorio , Tocino Ángel
Published: February 2025

Resolving the genetic relationships between cultivars is one of the objectives of research in viticulture. To this end, both DNA markers and morphological analysis help to identify synonyms and homonyms and to determine the degree of relatedness between cultivars. Results of genetic analysis using single sequence repeats (SSRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) point to Hebén as the female progenitor of many of the cultivars currently used in viticulture. Here, seed shape is compared between Hebén and genetically related cultivars. An average silhouette derived from seeds of Hebén was used as a model, and the comparisons were made visually and quantitatively by calculation of J-index values (percent similarity of the seeds and the model). Quantification of seed shape by J-index confirms the data of DNA markers supporting different levels of conservation of maternal seed shape in the varieties. Other seed morphological measurements help to explain the basis of the differences in shape between Hebén, genetically related groups and the external group of unrelated cultivars. Curvature analysis in seeds silhouettes confirms the relationship between Hebén and other cultivars and supports the utility of this technique in the analysis of parental relationships.
Integrated Management of Water, Nitrogen, and Genotype Selection for Enhanced Wheat Productivity in Moroccan Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
Authors: Khlila Ilham , Baidani Aziz , Hnizil Oussama , Amamou Ali
Published: February 2025

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is essential global nutrition as it provides calories and protein. This study explored the impact of irrigation, environmental factors, nitrogen fertilization, and genotype selection on yield. The experimental stations of Afourar and Sidi El Aidi in Morocco, six bread wheat varieties and varying irrigation systems, were used with varying nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 60, and 120 kg/ha for rainfed and 0, 100, and 200 kg/ha for irrigated conditions). Results showed that the variety ‘Snina’ had the highest yields and biomass, with a 58% yield increase at 120 kg/ha nitrogen under rainfed, and a 28% increase at 100 kg/ha under irrigated conditions. Irrigation significantly enhanced yield and its components. Combined with 100 kg/ha nitrogen fertilization, significant yield improvements were observed across all varieties under irrigated conditions, notably ‘Malika’ with a 32% increase and ‘Kharouba’ with a 24% increase. These varieties also show strong resilience to water stress, making them suitable for regions with variable water availability. Nitrogen fertilization efficiency is influenced by weather and site-specific variability. This study underscores the importance of integrated management strategies, including variety selection, nitrogen application, and environmental conditions, to optimize bread wheat production and ensure agricultural sustainability in the Mediterranean.
Kinetic Parameters of Soil Enzymes and Temperature Sensitivity Under Different Mulching Practices in Apple Orchards
Authors: Jiang Yaokun , Li Huike , Liang Meng , Wu Yang , Zhao Ziwen , Li Yuanze , Liu Guobin , Xue Sha
Published: February 2025

Soil mulching practices in apple orchards offer an effective solution to combat declining soil quality, restore land productivity, and boost apple yield. The kinetic parameters of soil enzymes, specifically the maximum reaction rate (Vmax) and the Michaelis constant (Km), are critical indicators of enzyme activity, while the temperature sensitivity (Q10) reflects the thermal stability of the enzymatic reaction system. However, the effects of different mulching practices on soil enzyme kinetic parameters and their temperature sensitivity remain poorly understood, and there is no consensus regarding the most effective mulching strategies for soil conservation. To address this gap, we focused on a typical apple orchard ecosystem in the Loess Plateau region and investigated the responses of soil enzyme kinetic parameters and their temperature sensitivity to various mulching practices, including different cover materials, grass species for cover crops, and cover duration. Our results show that, among the mulching practices, both ryegrass (RE) and maize straw significantly enhanced the maximum enzyme catalytic reaction rates (Vmax) and catalytic efficiency (Kcat) of β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). In contrast, black fabric (BF) reduced the temperature sensitivity of the enzyme system by decreasing Vmax and Kcat. Among the grass species used for cover, crown vetch (CV) had the most pronounced effect on Vmax, while long-term grass cover was more effective in improving the nutrient utilisation capacity of the soil enzyme system. Overall, maize straw and long-term grass cover were found to be the most effective in enhancing the soil enzyme system’s ability to decompose and utilise substrates efficiently. This study identifies soil nutrients as key factors influencing the temperature sensitivity of enzyme kinetics. Our findings provide a scientific basis for developing and applying orchard conservation practices and offer technical support for selecting and promoting soil management strategies that improve soil quality and contribute to the sustainable development of the apple industry in the Loess Plateau.
Moderate P Fertilizer Promotes Cucumber Yields and Modulates Bacterial Community in the Wheat Cover Crop System
Authors: Cao Kunpeng , Zhang Linlin , Ullah Asad , Ibrahim Musawar , Zhang Yu , Gao Danmei , Zhou Xingang , Wu Fengzhi , Liu Shouwei
Published: February 2025

The over-reliance on phosphorus (P) fertilizers in intensive agriculture has led to the depletion of phosphate resources and soil health deterioration, with continuous cropping systems further exacerbating these issues. However, strategies to reduce phosphorus inputs and simultaneously maintain soil health in the wheat cover crop system remain underexplored. With the aim to address this gap, a pot trial was conducted with five P application levels: 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0% of the conventional application amount (17.42 g·superphosphate·pot−1). For each P level, a corresponding no cover crop treatment was set up. The results demonstrated that wheat cover crop enhanced cucumber growth compared to not applying wheat cover crop, and it also stimulated the proliferation of plant growth-promoting bacteria. More importantly, in wheat cover crop systems, 50% of the conventional P fertilizer rate illustrated the best performance, including the highest value of dry biomass, yield, and soil enzyme activity. This treatment further enriched the beneficial microbial taxa, such as Burkholderiaceae, Rhodobacteriaceae, LWQ8, and Alkalinaceae, optimizing microbial community structure and plant-microbe interactions (p < 0.05). Thus, reducing phosphorus fertilizer to 8.71 g·pot−1 was optimal for achieving soil functions and crop productivity in this study, highlighting the importance of optimizing P fertilizer in cover crop systems.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Cutlassfish Head Peptone in RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Authors: Lee Su-Jin , Im Jeonghyeon , Marasinghe Svini Dileepa , Jo Eunyoung , Bandara Minthari Sakethanika , Lee Youngdeuk , Lee Jaewon , Park Gun-Hoo , Oh Chulhong
Published: February 2025

The rapid growth of the fisheries industry has resulted in numerous by-products, usually called waste, causing environmental and economic challenges. Recent advances in valorization techniques have highlighted the potential of these by-products as sources of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus) head peptone (CP) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. CP exhibited significant antioxidant activity, reducing ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity by up to 79.66% and 64.69%, respectively, with a maximum ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value of 224.54 μM. CP enhanced macrophage proliferation (33.3%) and significantly mitigated LPS-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses, reducing nitric oxide (NO) production (60%) and reactive oxygen species levels (49.14%). CP suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygen-ase-2, and selectively inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. Western blot analysis revealed that CP inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, including ERK, JNK, and p38, highlighting its role in modulating upstream inflammatory signaling pathways. CP exhibited significant antioxidant effects, particularly in scavenging ABTS and DPPH radicals, as well as reducing oxidative stress markers and inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated macrophages. These findings suggest its potential not only as a therapeutic agent for conditions related to chronic inflammation, such as cardiovascular diseases and arthritis, but also as a functional ingredient in foods and nutraceuticals aimed at alleviating inflammation-related disorders.
Selenium as an Antioxidant: Roles and Clinical Applications in Critically Ill and Trauma Patients: A Narrative Review
Authors: Lee Jae-Gil , Jang Ji-Young , Baik Seung-Min
Published: February 2025

Selenium plays an indispensable role in antioxidant defense through its incorporation into selenoproteins, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase. In the context of trauma and critical illness, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress frequently deplete selenium reserves, compromising the body’s antioxidant defenses. This deficiency exacerbates immune dysfunction, elevates the risk of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, and increases susceptibility to infections and mortality. Observational studies have consistently shown that lower selenium levels correlate with poorer clinical outcomes, such as extended stays in intensive care units and higher mortality rates. Supplementation of selenium has demonstrated promise in restoring GPx activity, reducing oxidative stress markers, and supporting recovery, particularly in patients with pre-existing selenium deficiency. While the impact on mortality remains variable across clinical trials, early and targeted supplementation appears to be beneficial, especially when combined with other micronutrients like vitamins C and E or zinc. These combinations enhance the antioxidant response and tackle the complex oxidative pathways in critically ill and trauma patients. Importantly, the clinical benefits of selenium supplementation appear to be influenced by baseline selenium status, with patients exhibiting severe deficiency deriving the most pronounced improvements in oxidative stress markers, immune function, and recovery. This review highlights the critical importance of addressing selenium deficiency, advocating for personalized therapeutic strategies. However, further large-scale studies are essential to optimize dosing regimens, refine combination therapies, and validate selenium’s therapeutic potential in trauma and critical care settings.
Oxidative Stress in Brain Function
Authors: Trofin Daniela-Marilena , Sardaru Dragos-Petrica , Trofin Dan , Onu Ilie , Tutu Andrei , Onu Ana , Onită Cristiana , Galaction Anca Irina , Matei Daniela Viorelia
Published: February 2025

Oxidative stress (OS) is an important factor in the pathophysiology of numerous neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular pathology or Alzheimer’s disease. OS also significantly influences progression among the various neurodegenerative disorders. The imbalance between the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s capacity to neutralize these toxic byproducts renders the brain susceptible to oxidative injury. Increased amounts of ROS can result in cellular malfunction, apoptosis and neurodegeneration. They also represent a substantial factor in mitochondrial dysfunction, a defining characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders. Comprehending the fundamental mechanisms of OS and its interactions with mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation and cellular protective pathways becomes essential for formulating targeted therapeutics to maintain brain health and reduce the impacts of neurodegeneration. We address recent highlights on the role of OS in brain function in terms of significance for neuronal health and the progression of neurodegenerative disorders.
Oxidative Stability of Sunflower Oil: Effect of Blending with an Oil Extracted from Myrtle Liqueur By-Product
Authors: Sanna Daniele , Fadda Angela
Published: February 2025

Myrtle oil extracted from the spent berries of myrtle liqueur production, using 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, was used to increase the oxidative stability of sunflower oil (SFO). Three blending ratios (5%, 10%, and 15% w/w) and the SFO without any addition were subjected to forced aging conditions at 70 °C for 21 days. The changes in peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (AV), total oxidation value (totox), and conjugated dienes and trienes were evaluated during forced aging. The oxidative stability of the blends was also assessed by the spin trapping method coupled with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy. Myrtle oil at 5% provided the best results, increasing the oxidative stability of SFO by reducing the PV and slowing the onset of secondary oxidation products, as measured by the AV and conjugated trienes. The 15% blend, despite its high levels of PV, AV, conjugated dienes, and trienes during storage, protects SFO from oxidation. The blends of SFO with unconventional oils, like myrtle oil, could represent a sustainable approach to increase its oxidative stability during storage.
MAISTRO: Towards an Agile Methodology for AI System Development Projects
Authors: Petrin Nilo Sergio Maziero , Néto João Carlos , Mariano Henrique Cordeiro
Published: February 2025

The MAISTRO methodology introduces a comprehensive and integrative, agile framework for managing Artificial Intelligence (AI) system development projects, addressing familiar challenges such as technical complexity, multidisciplinary collaboration, and ethical considerations. Designed to align technological capabilities with business objectives, MAISTRO integrates iterative practices and governance frameworks to enhance efficiency, transparency, and adaptability throughout the AI lifecycle. This methodology encompasses seven key phases, from business needs understanding to operation, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with strategic goals. A comparative analysis highlights MAISTRO’s advantages over traditional methodologies such as CRISP-DM and OSEMN, particularly in flexibility, governance, and ethical alignment. This study applies MAISTRO in a simulated case study of the PreçoBomAquiSim supermarket, demonstrating its effectiveness in developing an AI-powered recommendation system. Results include a 20% increase in product sales and a 15% rise in average customer ticket size, highlighting the methodology’s ability to deliver measurable business value. By emphasizing iterative development, data quality, ethical governance, change and risk management, MAISTRO provides a robust approach for AI projects and suggests directions for future research across diverse industries context for facilitating large-scale adoption.
Discovering Inconsistencies Caused by Inappropriate Data Operations Based on Workflow Nets with Tables
Authors: Tao Xiaoyan , Li Yang
Published: February 2025

Business processes without inconsistent data errors resulting from inappropriate data operations are regarded as a fundamental and important subject in major application areas. At present, such errors are always explored by only focusing on process data or persistent data; studies have seldom considered both data layers. In fact, each business process contains the data of such two layers, and its execution depends on the interaction between them. This paper employs WFT-nets (workflow nets with tables) to model business processes, considering process and persistent data. It extends the WFT-net’s reachability graph to capture process data and persistent data interactions, proposes an automated inconsistency detection method, and introduces a data refining strategy to enhance detection accuracy and workflow repair efficiency. Based on WFT-nets, inappropriate data operations that can lead to the error of inconsistent data are given in formula form. The extended reachability graph displaying the data operations of the WFT-net is constructed under the corresponding data refinement. Then, inconsistent data are detected by traversing such reachability graph. Some theoretical arguments are given; a set of comparative experiments with WFD-nets were conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of our inconsistent data detection approach.
Study on the Variation in Shock Characteristics in a TNT-Based Shock Tube Under Different Experimental Conditions
Authors: Kwon Youngbeom , Kim Yoonkeon , Park Jongyil , Kim Kyoungmin
Published: February 2025

In open-air explosion experiments, the measured blast pressure characteristics often show high Coefficients of Variation (COV), causing reproducibility issues. Shock tubes can address this problem. They consist of a driver section, where the shock is generated, and a driven section, where it is transmitted. The shock can be produced using either gas or high explosives (HEs). The intensity of gas-generated shocks are limited due to the driver section’s size, making HE-based shock tubes more suitable for replacing open-field detonation tests. This study derived experimental conditions for an HE-based shock tube to replicate the pressure characteristics from open-air experiments. Conditions include the sealed status of the driver section, TNT location and amount, expansion tube presence, and target location. When TNT was centered at the driver section and the driver section was sealed, reflections caused the peak pressure to occur twice, which is unsuitable for target loading. The COV values of reflected pressures at different locations of target were high without target contact but dropped significantly with contact, showing that target contact with the shock tube is necessary for uniform pressure generation. Additionally, it was confirmed that using the expansion section also resulted in low COV values for both reproducibility and uniform pressure.
Time-Series Data-Driven PM2.5 Forecasting: From Theoretical Framework to Empirical Analysis
Authors: Wu Chunlai , Wang Ruiyang , Lu Siyu , Tian Jiawei , Yin Lirong , Wang Lei , Zheng Wenfeng
Published: February 2025

PM2.5 in air pollution poses a significant threat to public health and the ecological environment. There is an urgent need to develop accurate PM2.5 prediction models to support decision-making and reduce risks. This review comprehensively explores the progress of PM2.5 concentration prediction, covering bibliometric trends, time series data characteristics, deep learning applications, and future development directions. This article obtained data on 2327 journal articles published from 2014 to 2024 from the WOS database. Bibliometric analysis shows that research output is growing rapidly, with China and the United States playing a leading role, and recent research is increasingly focusing on data-driven methods such as deep learning. Key data sources include ground monitoring, meteorological observations, remote sensing, and socioeconomic activity data. Deep learning models (including CNN, RNN, LSTM, and Transformer) perform well in capturing complex temporal dependencies. With its self-attention mechanism and parallel processing capabilities, Transformer is particularly outstanding in addressing the challenges of long sequence modeling. Despite these advances, challenges such as data integration, model interpretability, and computational cost remain. Emerging technologies such as meta-learning, graph neural networks, and multi-scale modeling offer promising solutions while integrating prediction models into real-world applications such as smart city systems can enhance practical impact. This review provides an informative guide for researchers and novices, providing an understanding of cutting-edge methods, practical applications, and systematic learning paths. It aims to promote the development of robust and efficient prediction models to contribute to global air pollution management and public health protection efforts.
Strong Stability of the Thermoelastic Bresse System with Second Sound and Fractional Delay
Authors: Zennir Khaled , Alkhalifa Loay
Published: February 2025

The thermoelastic Bresse system is a mathematical model that describes the dynamic behavior of elastic beams accounting for both mechanical deformations and thermal effects. Incorporating concepts such as second sound and fractional delay into this system enhances its ability to model complex physical phenomena. The paper studies a Bresse thermoelastic system with fractional delay and second sound. Firstly, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the solution for our system using semi-group theory. Additionally, we derive an exponential decay estimate for the associated semi-group utilizing suitable multiplier techniques.
Investigating Connectivity Deficits in Alzheimer’s Disease Using a Novel 3D Bioprinted Model Designed to Quantify Neurite Outgrowth
Authors: Whitehouse Chloe , Bravington Ellie , Patir Anirudh , Wei Wei , Brownlees Janet , He Yufang , Corbett Nicola
Published: February 2025

Here, we present a novel 3D bioprinted model of the forebrain cortex designed to quantify neurite outgrowth across a hydrogel bridge. To validate this model, we cultured Alzheimer’s disease (AD) forebrain cortical populations derived from human iPSCs carrying APP (amyloid precursor protein) mutations (K670M/N671L + V717F). Neurite and synapse formation were significantly impaired in 3D AD mutant cultures compared to controls, but this was not replicated in 2D, highlighting deficits in these traditional 2D cell culture models. To investigate the mechanisms underlying impaired neurite outgrowth in 3D and 2D models of AD, we assessed amyloid-β dysfunction, mitochondrial health, and oxidative stress in both conditions. In the 3D model, APP mutant cultures exhibited reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and fragmented networks, indicating dysfunction and potential cellular energy deficits. Additionally, elevated oxidative stress and proteostasis disruption were identified in the 3D AD models as indicators of cellular damage, which may be limiting neurite extension. Furthermore, transcriptomic (bulk RNA-Seq) analysis revealed distinct differences in gene expression pathways between 2D and 3D models of AD, suggesting alternate underlying mechanisms of disease pathology between the culture conditions. This study demonstrates the functionality of this novel 3D bioprinted model for quantifying neurite connectivity and identifying underlying disease mechanisms.
Estimation of the Negative Charge of Phi6 Virus and Its Variations with pH Using the Literature XPS Data
Authors: Chennoufi Ikhlas Hani , Zanane Chorouk , Hakim Taoufik , Zahir Hafida , Hamadi Fatima , El Ghmari Abderrahmene , El Louali Mostafa , Latrache Hassan
Published: February 2025

Electrostatic charge significantly influences microorganism–surface interactions, including viral adhesion and transmission. While bacterial surface charges are well characterized using electrophoretic mobility and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), similar studies for viruses are limited. This work bridges the gap by estimating the negative surface charge of the Phi6 bacteriophage using XPS data. A novel approach is applied, combining chemical functionalities derived from XPS with a system of equations to quantify surface polysaccharides, proteins, hydrocarbons, and negatively charged groups (RCOO− and R2PO4−). The results indicate a predominance of proteins on the viral surface and a pH-dependent negative charge: phosphate groups dominate at low pH (1–3), while both groups contribute equally at pH 4–9. These findings provide a deeper understanding of virus–surface interactions and underscore the importance of pH in modulating viral surface charge. This method, which surpasses traditional electrophoretic mobility techniques, offers new perspectives for studying viral adhesion and developing improved antiviral materials and disinfection strategies.
Wind Performance of New and Existing Continuous Beam Bridges During Construction Stages
Authors: Yang Fulin , Zhang Xinmin , Xie Zeen , Hao Jianming
Published: February 2025

This study assesses the wind resistance and vortex-induced vibration (VIV) risks of the Dongzhou River Bridge in China reconstruction during critical construction stages. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations analyzed wind effects when the twin main girders were maximally separated, revealing asymmetric vortex shedding patterns influenced by upstream–downstream aerodynamic interactions. The upstream girder’s wake generated complex flow fields, increasing turbulence on the downstream girder and indicating elevated VIV susceptibility. A 1:50 scale aeroelastic model validated these findings through wind tunnel tests, confirming that CFD-predicted critical VIV wind speeds aligned with experimental observations. Tests identified a distinct “jump-like” vibration mode at specific wind speeds (35–40 m/s full-scale equivalent), characterized by abrupt amplitude escalation rather than gradual growth—a signature of unstable VIV resonance. However, measured amplitudes remained below the 61.5 mm full-scale equivalent safety threshold, confirming that vibrations posed no critical risk. While aerodynamic coupling between girders requires monitoring during cantilever construction, the study concludes that existing control measures ensure safe construction and operation without structural modifications. These results provide actionable guidelines for wind risk mitigation through construction sequencing and real-time wind speed restrictions.
Recent Developments and Innovations in Resilient Infrastructure: Exploring Cutting-Edge Strategies, Technologies, and Practices
Authors: Qian Zheng-Hao , Yuan Jin-Shan , Shi Jianzhe , Cao Xu-Yang
Published: February 2025

With the increasing frequency of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and typhoons, in recent years, the importance of resilient infrastructure has become increasingly prominent [...]
New Insights into Traditional Construction Behind Sibe Dwellings with Swastika Kang for Space Heating in North China
Authors: Zhang Menglong , Shang Zhiyuan , Luo Keqian , Xie Kai
Published: February 2025

Due to massive urbanization and industrialization, modern constructions tend to be designed as technique-dependent, at the cost of high consumption and emissions for indoor environment control such as heating ventilation and air conditioning. Space heating accounts for about 40% of total building energy usage in northern China in winter. This calls for self-reflection and tracing of local traditional architectural wisdom. In this paper, Sibe Traditional Houses were chosen as a typical illustrative example to reveal the building mechanisms behind such local-adaptive traditional constructions. Based on the field investigation in Shifosi Village, a traditional Sibe settlement in Shenyang City, northern China, thermal modeling and indoor heating effects are studied in Sibe Traditional Houses with unique building spatial patterns. The indoor thermal environment is comparatively analyzed for both passive envelope insulation and active heating considerations. Preliminary results indicate that enhancing roof thermal insulation enhancement is the key passive strategy for improving indoor thermal comfort in winter. It also suggests that a space-heating configuration that combines the traditional “kang” with the architectural layout has a more significant effect on the enhancement of indoor thermal comfort in Sibe dwellings. This paper can provide methodological support and an application reference for the improvement of indoor thermal environment of traditional village dwellings.
Planar Cross-Sectional Fitting of Structural Members to Numerical Simulation Results Obtained from Finite Element Models with Solid or Shell Elements
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Xia Shifa , Li Huanchen , Shi Fengwei , Deng En-Feng , Li Meng
Published: February 2025

Modeling complex conditions involving extensive engineering structures with large numbers of beams and columns often requires a mixture of analytical modeling based on beam theory and numerical simulations involving finite element models composed of solid or shell elements. However, high levels of deformation in the planar configuration of cross-sections arising under extreme external loads, such as intensive earthquakes, explosions, and hurricanes, greatly complicates the task of fitting the numerical simulation results to the planar cross-sections required by beam theory. The present work addresses this issue by proposing a fitting method based on a least squares approximation method. The fitting problem is first transformed into a process of solving a cubic equation whose coefficients are integrals over the simulated cross-section. The solution of the cubic equation is defined using explicit formulae developed for calculating the integrals over the surfaces of single solid or shell elements lying within the cross-section by combining the shape functions and degree of freedom results of the elements. The proposed fitting method is then applied for analyzing the blast resistance of steel structures. The potential application of the proposed method is demonstrated by evaluating the rotations, shear deformations, and moment–curvature relationships of the fitted cross-sections.
Cystatin M/E Ameliorates Multiple Myeloma-Induced Hyper Osteolytic Bone Resorption
Authors: Gai Dongzheng , Caviness Perry C. , Lazarenko Oxana P. , Chen Jennifer F. , Randolph Christopher E. , Zhang Zijun , Cheng Yan , Sun Fumou , Xu Hongwei , Blackburn Michael L. , Tricot Guido , Shaughnessy John D. , Chen Jin-Ran , Zhan Fenghuang
Published: February 2025

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of terminally differentiated B-cells that is localized primarily in the bone marrow (BM) but also can be present in peripheral blood and tissue/organs [...]
Genomic Landscapes of Early-Onset Versus Average-Onset Colorectal Cancer Populations
Authors: Storandt Michael H. , Shi Qian , Eng Cathy , Lieu Christopher , George Thomas , Stoppler Melissa C. , Mauer Elizabeth , Yilma Binyam , Fragkogianni Stamatina , Teslow Emily A. , Mahipal Amit , Jin Zhaohui
Published: February 2025

Background: Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC), defined as disease diagnosed at <50 years of age, are increasing. The incidence and spectrum of somatic and pathogenic germline variants (PGV) in this population are not well understood. Methods: This cross-sectional study leveraged Tempus’ clinicogenomic database, including de-identified records of patients diagnosed with CRC between 2000–2022, to analyze and compare eoCRC and average-onset colorectal cancer (aoCRC, disease diagnosed ≥50 years of age) patients. The frequency and spectrum of somatic mutations and PGVs in patients with eoCRC and aoCRC were evaluated and compared. Results: Among 11,006 participants in this study, 57% were male, 76% were white, and 80% had stage 4 disease. Within the total cohort, 2379 had eoCRC and 8627 had aoCRC. Among patients with eoCRC, 4.2% had a tumor with high microsatellite instability and/or deficient mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR) and 6.8% with aoCRC had an MSI-H/dMMR tumor (p < 0.001). The most frequent somatic mutations involved TP53, APC, and KRAS, with the most significant difference in BRAF, which was more frequently mutated in aoCRC (9.8% vs. 4.7%, p < 0.0001). In total, 1413 (59.4%) eoCRC and 4898 (56.8%) aoCRC patients had matched normal specimen (blood or saliva) sequencing and a PGV was identified in 6.9% of eoCRC and 5.0% of aoCRC patients. Conclusions: Somatic and germline mutation profiles were similar for eoCRC and aoCRC patients and may not adequately explain differences in tumor behavior and age of disease onset.
Bi2Te3/SrTiO3 Nanocomposite for Enhanced CO2 Photoreduction via a Synergistic Photothermoelectric Effect
Authors: Xing Shuchen , Ba Guiming , Qin Congyu , Hu Huilin , Ye Jinhua , Wang Defa
Published: February 2025

The efficiency of CO2 photoreduction is often limited by the low reactivity of CO2 molecules and the rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in most of the photocatalysts developed so far. In this study, we report a newly developed p-type Bi2Te3/SrTiO3 (pBT/STO) nanocomposite for efficient CO2 photoreduction. Upon light irradiation, the thermoelectric pBT with a strong light absorption capacity generates the photothermal effect favoring the activation of CO2 molecules. Meanwhile, a temperature gradient formed in pBT induces a thermoelectric field via the Seebeck effect, which promotes the charge carriers’ separation/transfer. In addition, the excellent electric conductivity and large work function render pBT an efficient cocatalyst for further improving the charge carriers’ separation/transfer. Owing to the synergistic photothermoelectric (PTE) effect on activation of CO2 molecules and promotion of charge separation/transfer, the efficiency of CO2 photoreduction over pBT/STO is significantly enhanced. We achieve the highest CO evolution rate of 28.0 μmol·gcat−1·h−1 over the optimal pBT(3)/STO, which is 12.8 times that of pure STO. This work suggests that a thermoelectric material and a semiconductor can be incorporated into a nanocomposite system for efficient CO2 reduction via the synergistic photothermoelectric effect on activating the CO2 molecules and promoting the charge carriers’ separation/transfer.