bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental Health-Related Work Disabilities During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Gutiérrez Naharro Eva María , Fernández Sáez José , Sillero Sillero Amalia , Tolo Espinet Pau , Ponce Blandón José Antonio
Published: January 2025

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown posed unprecedented psychological challenges worldwide. In Spain, Mutual Collaborators with Social Security manage work-related disabilities, including mental health cases. Objectives: To describe and analyze work-related disabilities with mental health diagnoses during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain from the perspective of a Mutual Collaborator with Social Security in the Spanish healthcare system. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of a sample of 5135 patients. Descriptive statistics reported mean values and standard deviation by sex and age. Inferential analyses were conducted using the Mann–Whitney U-test and correlation analysis. Results: The study population included 5135 patients managed by a Mutual Collaborator with Social Security during the COVID-19 lockdown, 63.5% of whom were women. Cantabria reported the highest average sick leave duration (62.80 days), while La Rioja had the lowest (39.19 days). Generalized anxiety disorder was the most prevalent diagnosis (69.17%), followed by adaptive disorders and mild depression. Women had a slightly higher prevalence of anxiety, while men showed higher rates of adaptive disorders. Conclusions: The findings underscore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 lockdown, revealing significant sex and regional differences in mental health diagnoses and sick leave duration. Generalized anxiety disorder was the predominant diagnosis, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions during crises.
When from Technology Comes Beauty: A Glass-Gem Case Study to Promote Inclusive and High-Quality Learning Paths in Heritage Science
Authors: Di Martino Daniela , Musa Maya , Gagetti Elisabetta , Lemasson Quentin , Marcucci Giulia , Novello Marta , De Franzoni Annalisa , Zatti Giacomo , Sgarbi Francesca , Rabaioli Claudia , Cristina Laura , Veneriano Martina , Zanon Monica , Riccardi Maria Pia
Published: January 2025

The glass-gem collection at the National Archeological Museum of Aquileia (Italy) was recently studied by in-depth archaeometric investigation campaigns, which are still running. Some objects in this very rich collection were characterized by performing a completely non-destructive analysis. In order to enhance our knowledge of Heritage Science, specific educational paths were designed, which, in one case, were already tested in a summer school involving Italian middle-school students. This article will characterize a single glass-gem (as a case study), highlighting how ancient craftsmen combined technical skill and product beauty expertly. A multidisciplinary approach yielded valuable details about morphology, composition, and production technique, demonstrating additional information beyond that gleaned from typological and iconographic studies. At the same time, educational pathways based on this research study are valuable, inclusive, and high-quality examples in the so-called STEM field that develop better knowledge, conservation methods, and techniques for the enhancement of cultural heritage collections.
Plasma and Visceral Organ Kynurenine Metabolites Correlate in the Multiple Sclerosis Cuprizone Animal Model
Authors: Polyák Helga , Galla Zsolt , Rajda Cecilia , Monostori Péter , Klivényi Péter , Vécsei László
Published: January 2025

The cuprizone (CPZ) model of multiple sclerosis (MS) is excellent for studying the molecular differences behind the damage caused by poisoning. Metabolic differences in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan (TRP) degradation are observed in both MS and a CPZ mouse model. Our goal was to analyze the kynurenine, serotonin, and indole pathways of TRP degradation on the periphery, in the neurodegenerative processes of inflammation. In our study, mice were fed with 0.2% CPZ toxin for 5 weeks. We examined the metabolites in the three pathways of TRP breakdown in urine, plasma, and relevant visceral organs with bioanalytical measurements. In our analyses, we found a significant increase in plasma TRP, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels, while a decrease in the concentrations of 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine (3-HK), xanthurenic acid (XA), kynurenic acid (KYNA), and quinaldic acid in the plasma of toxin-treated group was found. A marked decrease in the levels of 3-HK, XA, KYNA, quinaldic acid, and indole-3-lactic acid was also observed in the visceral organs by the end of the poisoning. Furthermore, we noticed a decrease in the urinary levels of the TRP, KYNA, and XA metabolites, while an increase in serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the CPZ group was noticed. The toxin treatment resulted in elevated tryptamine and indoxyl sulfate levels and reduced IAA concentration. Moreover, the urinary para-cresyl sulfate concentration also increased in the treated group. In the present study, we showed the differences in the three main metabolic pathways of TRP degradation in the CPZ model. We confirmed the relationship and correlation between the content of the kynurenine metabolites in the plasma and the tissues of the visceral organs. We emphasized the suppression of the KP and the activity of the serotonin and indole pathways with a particular regard to the involvement of the microbiome by the indole pathway. Consequently, this is the first study to analyze in detail the distribution of the kynurenine, serotonin, and indole pathways of TRP degradation in the periphery.
Recent Advances in Studies of Serum Amyloid A: Implications in Inflammation, Immunity and Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Chang Yixin , Liu Yezhou , Zou Yuanrui , Ye Richard D.
Published: January 2025

Research on serum amyloid A (SAA) has seen major advancement in recent years with combined approaches of structural analysis and genetically altered mice. Initially identified as an acute-phase reactant, SAA is now recognized as a major player in host defense, inflammation, lipid metabolism and tumor metastasis. SAA binding and the neutralization of LPS attenuate sepsis in mouse models. SAA also displays immunomodulatory functions in Th17 differentiation and macrophage polarization, contributing to a pro-metastatic tumor microenvironment. In spite of the progress, the regulatory mechanisms for these diverse functions of SAA remain unclear. This review provides a brief summary of recent advances in SAA research on immunity, inflammation, tumor microenvironment and in vivo models.
Prodrugs in Oncology: Bioactivation and Impact on Therapeutic Efficacy and Toxicity
Authors: Kurian Ritika , Wang Hongbing
Published: January 2025

A prodrug is a molecule that lacks pharmacological activity, but upon enzymatic bioactivation, it can generate a therapeutically active molecule. The primary reason behind the design of a prodrug is to help circumvent challenges associated with the physicochemical properties of a drug molecule, such as solubility, absorption, distribution, and instability. Chemotherapy has been at the forefront of cancer treatment for over 70 years due to its ability to target rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, a major concern with conventional chemotherapy is the lack of selectivity and its associated side toxicity, which can severely impact patients’ quality of life. In oncology, prodrugs have been explored to enhance the bioavailability, improve efficacy, and minimize systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. Prodrugs activated by enzymes unique to a tumor microenvironment can significantly increase targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. This review aims to highlight commonly used chemotherapeutic prodrugs, including both alkylating and non-alkylating agents, and discuss their clinical relevance, mechanisms of bioactivation, and toxicity concerns.
Stereoselective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Perhydroquinoxaline-Based κ Receptor Agonists
Authors: Hoffmann Jonathan , Schepmann Dirk , Daniliuc Constantin , Bermudez Marcel , Wünsch Bernhard
Published: January 2025

The hydroxylated perhydroquinoxaline 14 was designed by conformational restriction of the prototypical κ receptor agonist U-50,488 and the introduction of an additional polar group. The synthesis of 14 comprised ten reaction steps starting from diethyl 3-hydroxyglutarate (4). The first key step was the diastereoselective establishment of the tetrasubstituted cyclohexane 7 by the reaction of dialdehyde 6 with benzylamine and nitromethane. The piperazine ring was annulated by the reaction of silyloxy-substituted cyclohexanetriamine 8 with dimethyl oxalate. The pharmacophoric structural elements characteristic for κ receptor agonists were finally introduced by functional group modifications. The structure including the relative configuration of the tetrasubstituted cyclohexane derivative (2r,5s)-7a and the perhydroquinoxaline 9 was determined unequivocally by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The hydroxylated perhydroquinoxaline 14 showed moderate κ receptor affinity (Ki = 599 nM) and high selectivity over μ, δ, σ1, and σ2 receptors. An ionic interaction between the protonated pyrrolidine of 14 and D138 of κ receptor anchors 14 in the κ receptor binding pocket.
A Spine-Specific Lexicon for the Sentiment Analysis of Interviews with Adult Spinal Deformity Patients Correlates with SF-36, SRS-22, and ODI Scores: A Pilot Study of 25 Patients
Authors: Gore Ross , Safaee Michael M. , Lynch Christopher J. , Ames Christopher P.
Published: January 2025

Classic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) metrics are cumbersome, time-intensive, and subject to biases based on the patient’s native language, educational level, and cultural values. Natural language processing (NLP) converts text into quantitative metrics. Sentiment analysis enables subject matter experts to construct domain-specific lexicons that assign a value of either negative (−1) or positive (1) to certain words. The growth of telehealth provides opportunities to apply sentiment analysis to transcripts of adult spinal deformity patients’ visits to derive a novel and less biased HRQOL metric. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a spine-specific lexicon for sentiment analysis to derive an HRQOL metric for adult spinal deformity patients from their preoperative telehealth visit transcripts. We asked each of twenty-five (25) adult patients seven open-ended questions about their spinal conditions, treatment, and quality of life during telehealth visits. We analyzed the Pearson correlation between our sentiment analysis HRQOL metric and established HRQOL metrics (the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire [SRS-22], 36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36], and Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]). The results show statistically significant correlations (0.43–0.74) between our sentiment analysis metric and the conventional metrics. This provides evidence that applying NLP techniques to patient transcripts can yield an effective HRQOL metric.
Toolkit for Inclusion of User Experience Design Guidelines in the Development of Assistants Based on Generative Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Peláez Carlos Alberto , Solano Andrés , Ospina Johann A. , Espinosa Juan C. , Montaño Ana S. , Castillo Paola A. , Duque Juan Sebastián , Castro David A. , Nuñez Velasco Juan M. , De la Prieta Fernando
Published: January 2025

This study addresses the need to integrate ethical, human-centered principles into user experience (UX) design for generative AI (GenAI)-based assistants. Acknowledging the ethical and societal challenges posed by the democratization of GenAI, this study developed a set of six UX design guidelines and 37 recommendations to guide development teams in creating GenAI assistants. A card-based toolkit was designed to encapsulate these guidelines, applying color theory and Gestalt principles to enhance usability and understanding. The design science research methodology (DSRM) was followed, and the toolkit was validated through a hands-on workshop with software and UX professionals, assessing usability, user experience, and utility. The quantitative results indicated the high internal consistency and effectiveness of the toolkit, while the qualitative analysis highlighted its capacity to foster collaboration and address GenAI-specific challenges. This study concludes that the toolkit improves usability and utility in UX design for GenAI-based assistants, though it identifies areas for future enhancement and the need for further validation across varied contexts.
The Effects of Different Cotton Varieties on the Growth and Feeding Preferences of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Yue Lei , Shao Xuehua , Dong Jianhao , Xia Guoyi , Yan Xiang , Tuerxun Aizimaitijiang , Lu Wei
Published: January 2025

Xinjiang is an autonomous province in northwest China [...]
Structural and Functional Analysis of Hemoglobin Binding to the Peritrophic Matrix During Blood Digestion in Aedes aegypti
Authors: Orozimbo Karla Barreto da Silva , Tauil Desiely da Silva Gusmão , Licurgo Aline Melila , Moreira Felipe Figueirôa , Araújo Jucélia da Silva , Bertonceli Maria Aparecida Aride , Seabra Sérgio Henrique , Machado Olga Lima Tavares , Lemos Francisco José Alves
Published: January 2025

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible for transmitting pathogens such as the Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses. The peritrophic matrix (PM) is an extracellular chitin-rich structure that lines the midgut of arthropods, providing a crucial protective barrier for the gut epithelium against mechanical damage, ingested pathogens, and toxic substances. During blood digestion, hemoglobin is lysed, releasing free heme into the midgut lumen. Part of this heme binds strongly to the PM, mitigating its harmful effects on the mosquito epithelial cells. Our study focused on investigating the interaction dynamic between hemoglobin and the PM during blood digestion in A. aegypti. Optical microscopy was employed to observe the temporal progression of blood digestion in the A. aegypti midgut, highlighting significant morphological changes in the blood bolus. An electrophoresis analysis revealed distinct protein bands in the PM extract, some of which were associated with hemoglobin and its subunits. The presence of PM-associated hemoglobin was confirmed by amino-terminal sequencing and an immunoblot analysis using anti-hemoglobin antibodies. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy revealed overlapping labeling between hemoglobin and chitin, suggesting an interaction between hemoglobin and PM chitin. Corroborating these results, hemoglobin showed an affinity with chitin in the chromatography and molecular docking assays, in which the hemoglobin subunits interacted with the oligosaccharide (NAG)4. Thus, hemoglobin may perform a function similar to that of peritrophins. Further experiments demonstrated the protective role of the PM against hemoglobin proteolysis during blood digestion. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the intricate interactions between hemoglobin and the PM, enhancing our understanding of mosquito digestive physiology and potentially contributing to the development of vector control strategies.
Evaluation and Treatment of Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome and Early-Onset Scoliosis
Authors: Bowen Margaret , Desai Vineet , Anari Jason B. , Cahill Patrick J.
Published: January 2025

Thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS) and early-onset scoliosis (EOS) are complex pediatric conditions involving deformities of the spine and chest wall, which can significantly impact respiratory function and overall development. Managing these conditions requires a comprehensive approach that combines precise diagnosis and innovative treatment strategies. This opinion article provides a critical discussion of the diagnosis and treatment of TIS and EOS and reflects upon the advancement of methods that are crucial for assessing these conditions and guiding treatment decisions.
Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies
Authors: Tran Vivie , Flores Jackeline , Sheldon Meagan , Pena Camilo , Nugent Kenneth
Published: January 2025

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) cause direct central nervous system injury. The presentation depends on the location, the type, and the severity of the injury. Additional injury may develop secondary to compression, the disruption of cerebral perfusion, and changes in sodium levels, resulting in either cellular edema or dehydration. Plasma osmolality (Posm) is a critical parameter influenced by solute concentrations, including sodium, glucose, and urea, and is a relevant concern when considering sodium levels in these patients. While Posm can be calculated using a standard formula, direct measurements via osmometry offer better accuracy. It is essential to differentiate between osmolality and tonicity; the latter refers specifically to effective solutes that drive water movement in the extracellular fluid. Sodium and its anions are effective solutes, whereas urea and glucose have variable effects due to their permeability and insulin dependence. Following TBI, the dysregulation of osmoregulation may occur and affect neurological outcomes. Osmoreceptors in the brain regulate arginine vasopressin secretion in response to changes in effective solute concentrations, with sodium chloride and mannitol being potent stimuli. The regulation of plasma osmolality, typically maintained within ±5% of the 280–295 mOsm/kg H2O range, is crucial for homeostasis and relies on antidiuresis and thirst mechanisms. This review narrative underscores the complexities of osmoregulation in the context of TBIs and their clinical implications, particularly concerning the development of conditions such as diabetes insipidus, the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and abnormal thirst.
Electrophysiological Variations in Auditory Potentials in Chronic Tinnitus Individuals: Treatment Response and Tinnitus Laterality
Authors: Manta Ourania , Kikidis Dimitris , Schlee Winfried , Langguth Berthold , Mazurek Birgit , Lopez-Escamez Jose A. , Martin-Lagos Juan , Cima Rilana , Bromis Konstantinos , Vellidou Eleftheria , Zachou Zoi , Markatos Nikos , Vassou Evgenia , Kouris Ioannis , Matsopoulos George K. , Koutsouris Dimitrios D.
Published: January 2025

Background: This study investigates electrophysiological distinctions in auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) among individuals with chronic subjective tinnitus, with a specific focus on the impact of treatment response and tinnitus localisation. Methods: Early AEPs, known as Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR), and middle AEPs, termed Auditory Middle Latency Responses (AMLR), were analysed in tinnitus patients across four clinical centers in an attempt to verify increased neuronal activity, in accordance with the current tinnitus models. Our statistical analyses primarily focused on discrepancies in time–domain core features of ABR and AMLR signals, including amplitudes and latencies, concerning both treatment response and tinnitus laterality. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in ABR wave III and V latencies, ABR wave III peak amplitude, and AMLR wave Na and Nb amplitudes when comparing groups based on their response to treatment, accompanied by varying effect sizes. Conversely, when examining groups categorised by tinnitus laterality, no statistically significant differences emerged. Conclusions: These results provide valuable insights into the potential influence of treatment responses on AEPs. However, further research is imperative to attain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms at play.
Optimizing Reservoir Separability in Liquid State Machines for Spatio-Temporal Classification in Neuromorphic Hardware
Authors: Alvarez-Canchila Oscar I. , Espinal Andres , Patiño-Saucedo Alberto , Rostro-Gonzalez Horacio
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we propose an optimization approach using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to enhance reservoir separability in Liquid State Machines (LSMs) for spatio-temporal classification in neuromorphic systems. By leveraging PSO, our method fine-tunes reservoir parameters, neuron dynamics, and connectivity patterns, maximizing separability while aligning with the resource constraints typical of neuromorphic hardware. This approach was validated in both software (NEST) and on neuromorphic hardware (SpiNNaker), demonstrating notable results in terms of accuracy and low energy consumption when using SpiNNaker. Specifically, our approach addresses two problems: Frequency Recognition (FR) with five classes and Pattern Recognition (PR) with four, eight, and twelve classes. For instance, in the Mono-objective approach running in NEST, accuracies ranged from 81.09% to 95.52% across the benchmarks under study. The Multi-objective approach outperformed the Mono-objective approach, delivering accuracies ranging from 90.23% to 98.77%, demonstrating its superior scalability for LSM implementations. On the SpiNNaker platform, the mono-objective approach achieved accuracies ranging from 86.20% to 97.70% across the same benchmarks, with the Multi-objective approach further improving accuracies, ranging from 94.42% to 99.52%. These results show that, in addition to slight accuracy improvements, hardware-based implementations offer superior energy efficiency with a lower execution time. For example, SpiNNaker operates at around 1–5 watts per chip, while traditional systems can require 50–100 watts for similar tasks, highlighting the significant energy savings of neuromorphic hardware. These results underscore the scalability and effectiveness of PSO-optimized LSMs on resource-limited neuromorphic platforms, showcasing both improved classification performance and the advantages of energy-efficient processing.
Investigation into the Motion Characteristics and Impact Loads of Buoy Water Entry Under the Influence of Combined Waves and Currents
Authors: Ge Wei , Ying Xiaolong , Chen Hailong , Wu Sheng , Zhang Jian , Jiang Lixue , Liu Hengxu
Published: January 2025

As a crucial component in marine monitoring, meteorological observation, and navigation systems, studying the motion characteristics and impact loads of buoy water entry is vital for their long-term stability and reliability. When deployed, buoys undergo a complex motion process, including the impact of entering the water and a stable floating stage. During the water entry impact phase, the motion characteristics and impact loads involve interactions between the buoy and the water, the trajectory of motion, and dynamic water pressure, among other factors. In this paper, the VOF model is used to calculate the buoy’s water entry motion characteristics, and then the STAR-CCM+&ABAQUS bidirectional fluid–structure interaction (FSI) method is used to calculate the water entry impact load of the buoy under different water surface conditions and different initial throwing conditions, considering the influence of the flow field on the structure and the influence of the structure deformation on the flow field. The study finds that under the influence of wave and current impacts, changes in wave height significantly affect the buoy’s heave motions. Under different parametric conditions, due to the specific direction of wave and current impacts, the buoy’s pitch amplitude is relatively more intense compared to its roll amplitude, yet both pitch and roll motions exhibit periodic patterns. The buoy’s pitch motion is sensitive to changes in the entry angle; even small changes in this angle result in significant differences in pitch motion. Additionally, the entry angle significantly impacts the peak vertical overload on the buoy. Instantaneous stress increases sharply at the moment of water entry, particularly at the joints between the crossplate and the upper and lower panels, and where the mast connects to the upper panel, creating peak stress concentrations. In these concentrated stress areas, as the entry speed and angle increase, the maximum equivalent stress peak at the monitoring points rises significantly.
Framework for Assessing Impact of Wave-Powered Desalination on Resilience of Coastal Communities
Authors: Ruehl Kelley , Klise Katherine A. , Hinks Megan , Grasberger Jeff
Published: January 2025

Coastal communities face unique challenges in maintaining continuous service from critical infrastructure. This research advances capabilities for evaluating the impact of using wave energy to desalinate water on the resilience of coastal communities. The study focuses on the feasibility of using wave energy conversion to provide drinking water to communities in need and applying resilience metrics to quantify its impact on the community. To assess the feasibility of wave-powered desalination, this research couples the open-source software Wave Energy Converter SIMulator (WEC-Sim) and Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR). This research explores variations in both the wave resource (location, seasonality, and duration) and the ability to maintain drinking water service during a disruption scenario by applying the simulation framework to three case studies, which are based on communities in Puerto Rico. The simulation framework provides a contextualized assessment of the ability of wave-powered desalination to improve the resilience of coastal communities, which can serve as a methodology for future studies seeking the integration of wave-powered desalination with water distribution systems.
New Species of Byssosphaeria (Melanommataceae, Pleosporales) from the Mexican Tropical Montane Cloud Forest
Authors: Cobos-Villagrán Aurora , Pérez-Valdespino Abigail , Valenzuela Ricardo , Martínez-González César Ramiro , Luna-Vega Isolda , Villa-Tanaca Lourdes , Rodríguez-Tovar Aída Verónica , Raymundo Tania
Published: January 2025

Byssosphaeria Cooke is a monophyletic genus of the family Melanommataceae. The genus is characterized by ascomata smaller than 1000 µm, globose, well-developed subiculum, with a flat ostiole, and yellow-orange or reddish-brown color around the ostiole. The peridium is composed of an external layer of irregular cells followed by an internal layer of thinner cells. Clavate asci have fusiform ascospores, a hyaline-to-brown color, with one or more septa. The genus Byssosphaeria is composed of 29 species: saprophytes, endophytes, and parasites of woody angiosperms, and they are found in wood, leaves, and other decaying substrates. The distribution of these species is cosmopolitan, and four species have been described in Mexico. This study describes, through morphological characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis of molecular markers (ITS, SSU, LSU, tef1-α), four new species of Byssosphaeria: B. bautistae, B. chrysostoma, B. neorhodomphala, and B. neoschiedermayriana. These species are saprophytes on wood rot and are distributed in mountainous mesophilic forests from the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and Oaxaca. The significance of this study is in the diversity of this genus in Mexico since eight species have been described.
Participation of Social Media Influencers in Communicating the Global Health Crisis: An Observation of Chinese-Origin Influencers Across Argentina, the UK, and Spain During COVID-19
Authors: Wang Yiheng , Navarro Nicoletti Felipe
Published: January 2025

This work focuses on the digital communicative practices of influencers, as the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a communicational doorway from diverse perspectives, and social media has emerged as an important tool for people to maintain contact and acquire information. Additionally, the preventive and obligatory social distancing measures have driven us to reconsider methods of human interaction. Digital communication as the primary means of connection in the context of COVID-19 encompasses social interaction, entertainment, and informative channels. These facets usually coalesce within a single space or intersect when the practices of influencers are observed. Therefore, three influencers of Chinese origin residing in different countries are analysed, given that China was the initial epicentre of COVID-19. Influencers of Chinese descent living in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Argentina are selected to enable an exploration of more sociocultural diversity. The significance of influencers in disseminating information and content to society continues, according to observation, particularly among younger demographics. Although their main efforts do not reside in communicating COVID-19 within the context of the pandemic, their contribution indicates a complementary solution to fostering social interaction and debunking discourses of hatred aimed at individuals of Chinese or Asian descent.
Urinary Bladder Acute Inflammations and Nephritis of the Renal Pelvis: Diagnosis Using Fine-Tuned Large Language Models
Authors: Ma’aitah Mohammad Khaleel Sallam , Helwan Abdulkader , Radwan Abdelrahman
Published: January 2025

Background: Large language models (LLMs) have seen a significant boost recently in the field of natural language processing (NLP) due to their capabilities in analyzing words. These autoregressive models prove robust in classification tasks where texts need to be analyzed and classified. Objectives: In this paper, we explore the power of base LLMs such as Generative Pre-trained Transformer 2 (GPT-2), Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), Distill-BERT, and TinyBERT in diagnosing acute inflammations of the urinary bladder and nephritis of the renal pelvis. Materials and Methods: the LLMs were trained and tested using supervised fine-tuning (SFT) on a dataset of 120 examples that include symptoms that may indicate the occurrence of these two conditions. Results: By employing a supervised fine-tuning method and carefully crafted prompts to present the data, we demonstrate the feasibility of using minimal training data to achieve a reasonable diagnostic, with overall testing accuracies of 100%, 100%, 94%, and 79%, for GPT-2, BERT, Distill-BERT, and TinyBERT, respectively.
Globalization and European Integration: A Central European Perspective
Authors: Csaba László
Published: January 2025

Two decades after the biggest ever enlargement of the European Union, post-transition countries face a series of challenges, posed primarily by de-globalization and growing illiberalism. Declining European competitiveness, as highlighted by the Draghi Report (2024), calls for major restructuring both regionally and community-wide. This invited survey article attempts to solve a puzzle: if Europeanization has not been very successful, how could it promote globalization? Furthermore, Central Europe counts as a success story, both in terms of convergence and in terms of stabilizing west Europe’s previously restive neighborhood. Sustaining this success is not automatic. We posit the two main conditions. These are: more focus on Ordnungspolitik (single market, competition policy, and capital markets union) and de-emphasis of re-distrubution (CAP and Cohesion). We also show why and how Central Europe will decide the future of the EU and the ways it can cope with globalization.
Spatiotemporal Assessment of Habitat Quality in Sicily, Italy
Authors: Giuffrida Laura , Cerro Marika , Cucuzza Giuseppe , Signorello Giovanni , De Salvo Maria
Published: January 2025

We measured the spatiotemporal dynamics of habitat quality (HQ) in Sicily in two different reference years, 2018 and 2050, assuming a business-as-usual scenario. To estimate HQ and related vulnerability, we used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) Habitat Quality model and data on land use/land cover provided by the Esri Land Cover 2050 project. We also implemented a Coarse–Filter approach to validate the reliability of HQ measures and detect biodiversity hotspots that require priority conservation. Further, we used spatial statistic tools for identifying clusters or hotspot/coldspot areas and uncovering spatial autocorrelation in HQ values. Finally, we implemented a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model for explaining local variations in the effects on HQ estimates. The findings reveal that HQ in Sicily varies across space and time. The highest HQ values occur in protected areas and forests. In 2018, the average HQ value was higher than it was in 2050. On average, HQ decreased from 0.29 in 2018 to 0.25 in 2050. This slight decline was mainly due to an increase in crop and urbanized areas at the expense of forests, grasslands, and bare lands. We found the existence of a positive spatial autocorrelation in HQ, demonstrating that areas with higher or lower HQ tend to be clustered, and that clusters come into contact randomly more often in 2050 than in 2018, as the overall spatial autocorrelation moved from 0.28 in 2018 to 1.30 in 2050. The estimated GWR model revealed the sign and the significance effect of population density, compass exposure, average temperature, and patch richness on HQ at a local level, and that such effects vary either in space and time or in significance level. Across all variables, the spatial extent of significant effects intensifies, signaling stronger localized influences in 2050. The overall findings of the study provide useful insights for making informed decisions about conservation and land planning and management in Sicily.
Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Generic and Brand-Name Cefepime: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Chih-Huang , Chang Peng-Hao , Huang Ching-Tai , Ng Chip-Jin
Published: January 2025

The clinical effectiveness of generic and brand-name cefepime in real-world settings remains unclear. Given the potential implications for healthcare costs and patient outcomes, this study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of these two formulations. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study (2017–2022), enrolling adults who received either generic or brand-name cefepime as initial monotherapy for at least three consecutive days. Demographics, comorbidities, disease severity, infection sites, cefepime dosage, and serial laboratory data were analyzed. Propensity score matching was employed to adjust key confounding variables. A total of 2370 patients were included, 877 receiving generic and 1493 receiving brand-name cefepime. After matching, no significant differences were observed in primary (in-hospital mortality, p = 0.841) or secondary outcomes (30-day mortality, readmission, length of stay, ICU stay, and incidence of seizures; all p > 0.05). Biomarker trends and clinical recovery patterns were comparable across groups. Receiving the maximal dosage or not did not alter outcomes among both groups. Generic cefepime showed comparable efficacy and safety to brand-name cefepime, offering a cost-effective alternative without compromising therapeutic outcomes.
Influence of Radical Generation and Elimination on Sebum Production of Hamster Sebaceous Gland Cells
Authors: Tokudome Yoshihiro , Sasaki Asami
Published: January 2025

We focused on the effects of radical induction on cell differentiation and sebum production when antioxidants and oxidants were applied to normal hamster sebaceous gland cells. We also examined the relationship between sebum production and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging rate in these cells. Eight antioxidants (fullerene, epigallocatechin gallate, α-glucosylrutin, copper (II) gluconate, tannic acid, sodium copper-chlorophyllin, phytic acid, and ascorbyl tocopheryl phosphate) and one oxidant (hydrogen peroxide, H2O2) were used. The number of differentiated cells was determined by counting the viable cells, the intracellular triglyceride (TG) level was determined by separation and quantification by HPTLC, and the superoxide anion radical scavenging rate, nitric oxide scavenging rate, and H2O2 scavenging rate were also investigated. Adding various antioxidants decreased the differentiated cell number and TG content in the hamster sebaceous gland cells. Meanwhile, adding an oxidant (H2O2) increased the differentiated cell number and cellular TG. Pretreatment with antioxidants also prevented the oxidants from increasing the differentiated cell number and TG level. A strong correlation between the intracellular TG content and the H2O2 scavenging rate was identified. These results indicate that radical generation and scavenging are involved in sebum production in hamster sebaceous gland cells, and that the scavenging rate of H2O2 may be particularly important.
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Blood Lipids in People with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chen Zhuying , Zhou Runyu , Liu Xiaojie , Wang Jingqi , Wang Leiyuyang , Lv Yuanyuan , Yu Laikang
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) on triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in people with overweight or obesity. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science, covering data up to 27 October 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. AE significantly improved blood lipids in people with overweight or obesity (TG: SMD = −0.54; p < 0.00001; TC: SMD = −0.24; p = 0.003; HDL: SMD = 0.33; p = 0.003; LDL: SMD = −0.42; p = 0.0005). Both moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity AE demonstrated significant impacts in reducing TC, TG, and LDL, whereas only moderate-intensity exercise significantly elevated HDL. Additionally, AE significantly optimized blood lipids in those with overweight, with TG being the only parameter showing improvement in individuals with obesity. Moreover, continuous AE notably improved HDL and TG, while interval AE significantly reduced TG, TC, and LDL. Lastly, a clear positive correlation emerged between the duration of the intervention and the decrease in LDL, and a distinct negative correlation was observed between session duration and the reduction of LDL.
Comparative Study of Squalane Products as Sustainable Alternative to Polyalphaolefin: Oxidation Degradation Products and Impact on Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Pichler Jessica , Agocs Adam , Pisarova Lucia , Minami Ichiro , Frauscher Marcella , Dörr Nicole
Published: January 2025

The growing demand for sustainable lubricant solutions is driving the exploration of bio-based materials that deliver comparable performance to conventional, primarily fossil-based lubricant chemistries. This study focuses on squalane as a sustainable base oil, which can be derived from different renewable sources. A total of two squalane products were evaluated for thermal-oxidative stability and benchmarked against a polyalphaolefin, PAO 4, of the same total carbon number. Oils artificially altered in a closed reactor were sampled and subjected to conventional lubricant analyses, including infrared spectroscopy, to determine the changes due to autoxidation over time. For in-depth information, direct-infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry were employed to identify degradation products from thermo-oxidative stress. The results revealed substantial variability in the stability of squalane products, suggesting that differences in raw materials and production processes have a major impact on their performance, including rheological properties. The degradation products of polyalphaolefin and squalane, identified through detailed mass spectrometry, were analyzed to understand their impact on conventional physicochemical properties. While polyalphaolefin predominantly generated carboxylic acids with short to medium chain lengths as degradation products, squalane oxidation produced carboxylic acids with medium to long chain lengths as well as several alcohols and ketones. Despite these differences, squalane demonstrates its potential as a non-fossil hydrocarbon base oil, as squalane products matched and even exceeded PAO 4 stability.
Investigating the Influence of Laser-Etched Straight and Wavy Textures on Grinding Efficiency and Tool Quality of WC–Co Carbide Cutting Tools
Authors: Li Chao , Li Tielin , Zhang Xiaohong , He Tianzhongsen , Su Linzhi , Wen Dongdong , Shao Sizhen , Cai Xiao , Cao Qingzheng
Published: January 2025

WC–Co cemented carbide has been widely used as machining tool material due to its good mechanical properties. Grinding is an important process in the manufacture of cemented carbide tools. When grinding tools, there are problems such as excessive grinding force, small chip space, and poor lubrication and cooling performance, which in turn contribute to surface defects such as burrs, burns, and even edge damage such as edge chipping. These problems constrain the use of carbide tools, so that the cutting force is unstable and the machining surface quality is poor when the tool is in service. In this paper, straight-line and wavy-texture patterns were designed and formed on the surface of WC–Co tools using a picosecond laser. Grinding experiments were conducted on the ablated tool using a resin-bonded diamond wheel, and surface morphology, roughness, grinding force, and cutting edge quality were evaluated. Finally, turning experiments were conducted to compare the cutting performance of the tools after conventional and laser-assisted grinding. The experimental results showed that the tools with wavy texture showed superior surface and cutting edge quality, with 53.7% and 51.2% reduction in normal and tangential grinding forces, respectively, and 66.6% maximum reduction in edge chipping for the wavy textured tools. Therefore, this study not only reveals the advantages of laser-assisted grinding in machining WC–Co cutting tools, but also provides a valuable theoretical basis for realizing high-efficiency and low-loss tool machining.
Incorporation of Concrete Polishing Waste as a Partial Substitute for Cement in Mortar
Authors: Alassaad Farjallah , Affan Houssam , Haddad Bechara , Mohamad Abdelrahman , Sebaibi Nassim
Published: January 2025

This study examines concrete polishing waste (CFPW) potential as a partial cement substitute in mortar formulation. Concrete polishing waste, a by-product of the grinding and polishing of concrete surfaces, is mainly composed of fine particles of silica and calcium carbonate. The aim of the research was to assess this industry waste incorporation impact on various mortar properties. Four mixes containing different percentages of CFPW were tested for their physic-mechanical properties and environmental impact. The results show that increasing the CFPW percentage leads to higher porosity and shrinkage, as well as lower mechanical strength and density. However, a significant reduction in CO2 emissions was observed with CFPW incorporation (up to 29% reduction for 30% CPFW). Although CFPW use presents technical challenges, it offers an interesting opportunity to reduce mortars’ carbon footprint. The study concludes that moderate CFPW use can offer a balance between environmental benefits and performance, highlighting the need to optimize formulations to maximize benefits while minimizing compromises on mechanical properties.
Optimization Design of Casting Process for Large Long Lead Cylinder of Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Huang Liang , Cao Yan , Zhang Mengfei , Meng Zhichao , Wang Tuo , Zhu Xiaozhe
Published: January 2025

As the core component of chain-less ammunition transmission system, the large long lead cylinder adopts ZL205A alloy, which has the advantages of high strength and wear resistance. However, in its main casting production process, the forming quality is mainly determined by the casting process parameters under the premise of determining a reasonable casting system. Considering that the casting process parameters are the process feedback expression of the macroscopic forming quality and comprehensive mechanical properties by controlling the coupling effect of the metal liquid flow in the microscopic flow field, the directional solidification crystallization of the alloy and the solid–liquid heat transfer and heat transfer during the filling and solidification process, the accurate and reasonable selection of casting process parameters is conducive to the stable guarantee of pouring quality. On the basis of the optimized column gap casting system, this study combined numerical simulation and data statistics. Within the rationality of each casting process parameter constructed by single-factor analysis, the response surface method was used to construct a quantitative guidance relationship of each process parameter coupling mapping casting defect, and based on this model, the optimal process parameter combination was realized as follows: compared with traditional metal mold casting and unoptimized low pressure casting, the tensile strength of non-porous casting with holding pressure 14.68 kPa, casting temperature 717.152 °C and mold preheating temperature 256.12 °C increased by 6.6% and 4.1%, respectively, hardness increased by 14.3% and 8.4% respectively, and the elongation is increased by 16.9% and 10.6%, respectively, thus efficiently and accurately improving the process quality.
Enhanced Fire-Extinguishing Performance and Synergy Mechanism of HM/DAP Composite Dry Powder
Authors: Wang Lijing , Du Shaowen , Zhou Zhiji , Guo Yibo , Yang Qi , Yao Sai , Zhang Haijun
Published: January 2025

Phosphate resources are non-renewable and are increasingly depleting. Currently, the primary raw material for commercial ABC dry powder fire-extinguishing agents is a processed product derived from the limited reserves of phosphorus ore. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to innovate and develop novel types of dry powder fire-extinguishing agents. In this work, a simple physical blending process was utilized to modify the abundant and cost-effective hydromagnesite (HM) powder, which has been proven to be a promising dry powder extinguishant with a pronounced physical cooling effect on fire suppression. The HM powder added to 10 wt.% diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) showed a shorter extinguishing time and a lower agent dosage compared with the unmodified powder and commercially available monoammonium phosphate (MAP) in both the liquid and solid fire experiments. Notably, the HM/DAP composite dry powder extinguished fires with the lowest CO concentration, indicating superior environmental friendliness and human safety. These findings indicate the potential of the HM/DAP composite dry powder as a promising candidate for future fire-extinguishing applications.
Analysis of Blood Stasis for Stent Thrombosis Using an Advection-Diffusion Lattice Boltzmann Scheme
Authors: van der Waerden Ruben , Spendlove James , Entwistle James , Xu Xu , Narracott Andrew , Gunn Julian , Halliday Ian
Published: January 2025

An advection-diffusion solver was applied to assess how stent strut shape and position impact the development of a pro-thrombotic region within the stented human artery. Presented here is a suitably parameterised advection-diffusion equation with a source term that is spatially uniform within a certain sub-domain of interest to compute a “time concentration”. The latter will serve as a surrogate quantity for the “age” of fluid parcels, i.e., the time the fluid parcel has spent in the sub-domain. This is a particularly useful concept in the context of coronary artery haemodynamics, where “stasis of blood” (or residence time) is recognized as the most important factor in thrombotic initiation. The novel method presented in this work has a very straightforward and convenient single lattice Boltzmann simulation framework encapsulation. A residence time surrogate is computed, presented and correlated with a range of traditional haemodynamic metrics (wall shear stress, shear rate and re-circulation region shapes) and finally, the role of these data to quantify the risk of thrombus formation is assessed.