bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sepse pediátrica em pronto socorro: Uma revisão de literatura
Authors: Silva Daniele Peres da , Bisol Andrea Helena Érnica
Published: February 2025

A pesquisa aborda o manejo da sepse pediátrica em prontos-socorros e a importância da implementação de protocolos baseados em evidências para a identificação precoce e tratamento adequado dessa condição crítica. O objetivo foi analisar como a adoção de diretrizes padronizadas influencia a redução das taxas de mortalidade e morbidade em crianças acometidas por sepse. A metodologia adotada consistiu em uma revisão bibliográfica qualitativa e narrativa, com análise crítica de estudos, diretrizes clínicas e artigos científicos relevantes extraídos de bases acadêmicas qualificadas. Os principais resultados destacam que a aplicação sistematizada de protocolos, envolvendo administração precoce de antibióticos, reposição volêmica guiada por metas e monitoramento contínuo, melhora significativamente os desfechos clínicos, reduzindo a mortalidade e as complicações associadas. Além disso, ferramentas como escores prognósticos, algoritmos de triagem e alertas eletrônicos contribuem para o reconhecimento rápido da sepse, enquanto a capacitação contínua das equipes de saúde é fundamental para a efetividade dessas intervenções. A conclusão aponta que a padronização do manejo da sepse pediátrica, aliada ao treinamento profissional e ao uso de tecnologias de suporte, representa uma estratégia eficiente para otimizar o cuidado em prontos-socorros, garantindo a redução de complicações e a melhoria dos índices de sobrevivência.
Vultures on the Brink of Extirpation: Massive Decline in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria
Authors: Williams Michael Manja , Egwumah Pius O. , Orsar Joe T. , Iwar Michael I. , Ottosson Ulf , Tende Talatu
Published: February 2025

Vultures promote ecosystem health by removing waste (carcasses) and pathogens from the environment but they are experiencing a serious decline globally. Vulture population decline is large in Nigeria, despite various conservation efforts. We investigated vulture abundance across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State, central Nigeria, in 2017 and 2024. We recorded only two species of vultures in 2017, and only one species, Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), in 2024. The median number of vultures recorded per site was 4.06 ± 7.99 in 2017 and 0.26 ± 1.49 in 2024, a 94% decline in 7 yr. Numbers of adult Hooded Vultures decreased 94% and numbers of immatures decreased 95%. This study revealed an urgent conservation crisis for vultures in Plateau State, which is similar to that in most states in northern Nigeria. Based on anecdotal information from local residents and visits to markets, this decline is most likely attributable to the widespread trade in vulture parts for belief-based use. Other threats include food scarcity due to competition among scavengers at abattoirs and dump sites. Immediate conservation actions, including habitat protection, anti-poaching campaigns, and public awareness initiatives, are critical for conservation of vultures in Plateau State. Continued monitoring and research for developing effective conservation strategies and enforcement of laws protecting threatened species are necessary for long-term protection of vulture populations.
Advancing antibiotic discovery with bacterial cytological profiling: a high-throughput solution to antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Salgado Jhonatan , Rayner James , Ojkic Nikola
Published: February 2025

Developing new antibiotics poses a significant challenge in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical global health threat responsible for approximately 5 million deaths annually. Finding new classes of antibiotics that are safe, have acceptable pharmacokinetic properties, and are appropriately active against pathogens is a lengthy and expensive process. Therefore, high-throughput platforms are needed to screen large libraries of synthetic and natural compounds. In this review, we present bacterial cytological profiling (BCP) as a rapid, scalable, and cost-effective method for identifying antibiotic mechanisms of action. Notably, BCP has proven its potential in drug discovery, demonstrated by the identification of the cellular target of spirohexenolide A against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. We present the application of BCP for different bacterial organisms and different classes of antibiotics and discuss BCP’s advantages, limitations, and potential improvements. Furthermore, we highlight the studies that have utilized BCP to investigate pathogens listed in the Bacterial Priority Pathogens List 2024 and we identify the pathogens whose cytological profiles are missing. We also explore the most recent artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques that could enhance the analysis of data generated by BCP, potentially advancing our understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and the discovery of novel druggable pathways.
Beyond the traditional oncology patient: the role of palliative care in patients with sickle cell disease receiving stem cell transplantation or gene therapy
Authors: Collins Griffin S. , Levine Deena R. , Leonard Alexis , Sharma Akshay , Johnson Liza-Marie
Published: February 2025

People with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) are now presented with increasing access to curative-intent therapies including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and gene therapy (GT). These high-risk, high-reward therapies offer hope for cure and prevention of further injury due to SCD, but they are toxic therapies that carry risk of additional morbidity and mortality. People with severe SCD suffer due to extreme pain and serious multi-system injury which is compounded by the effects of systemic racism. The increasing availability of these complex, sometimes novel, therapies with curative-intent highlights the role for specialist palliative care (PC) in the care of people with severe SCD. Multidisciplinary PC teams employ a holistic, person-centered approach to alleviating suffering by accompanying patients through high-stakes decision making, coping with life-threatening illness, and symptom management. The role for PC beginning early in HCT has been established, though PC is infrequently integrated in HCT. Little research exists regarding the role for PC in care of people with SCD. We present concepts of PC integration for people with SCD undergoing HCT or GT and advocate for PC integration beginning once patients consider a curative-intent therapy throughout the duration and following completion of treatment. As curative-intent therapies for patients with SCD continue to evolve, there is an opportunity for PC, HCT, and SCD teams to collaborate with patients to develop implementable models for high-quality, multidisciplinary care for people with severe SCD and their families.
Following changes in brain structure and function with multimodal MRI in a year-long prospective study on the development of Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wang Yingjie , Ortiz Richard , Chang Arnold , Nasseef Taufiq , Rubalcaba Natalia , Munson Chandler , Ghaw Ashley , Balaji Shreyas , Kwon Yeani , Athreya Deepti , Kedharnath Shruti , Kulkarni Praveen P. , Ferris Craig F.
Published: February 2025

Aims

To follow disease progression in a rat model of Type 2 diabetes using multimodal MRI to assess changes in brain structure and function.

Material and methods

Female rats (n = 20) were fed a high fat/high fructose diet or lab chow starting at 90 days of age. Diet fed rats were given streptozotocin to compromise pancreatic beta cells, while chow fed controls received vehicle. At intervals of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, rats were tested for changes in behavior and sensitivity to pain. Brain structure and function were assessed using voxel based morphometry, diffusion weighted imaging and functional connectivity.

Results

Diet fed rats presented with elevated plasma glucose levels as early as 3 months and a significant gain in weight by 6 months as compared to controls. There were no significant changes in cognitive or motor behavior over the yearlong study but there was a significant increase in sensitivity to peripheral pain in diet fed rats. There were region specific decreases in brain volume e.g., basal ganglia, thalamus and brainstem in diet fed rats. These same regions showed elevated measures of water diffusivity evidence of putative vasogenic edema. By 6 months, widespread hyperconnectivity was observed across multiple brain regions. By 12 months, only the cerebellum and hippocampus showed increased connectivity, while the hypothalamus showed decreased connectivity in diet fed rats.

Conclusions

Noninvasive multimodal MRI identified site specific changes in brain structure and function in a yearlong longitudinal study of Type 2 diabetes in rats. The identified diabetic-induced neuropathological sites may serve as biomarkers for evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutics.
Unveiling the synergistic effect of icariin and azole drugs on Candida albicans
Authors: Aliaghazadeh Barbod , Pascual-Ortiz Marina , Martínez Alba , Veses Veronica , Sheth Chirag C.
Published: February 2025

Introduction and Method

The current study explores the synergistic effects of icariin, a flavonoid found in plants of the genus Epimedium, in ombination with selected antifungal agents, against Candida albicans in vitro.

Results

This flavonoid significantly enhanced the in vitro effect of fluconazole, by decreasing the minimum inhibitory concentration against C. albicans. This effect was also observed when combining icariin with ketoconazole and itraconazole of the azole family respectively. Interestingly, no activity-enhancing effect was observed when icariin was combined with other classes of antifungals, such as amphotericin B or caspofungin.

Discussion

We conclude that icariin may increase the sensitivity of C. albicans to azoles via a cell membrane mediated mechanism, based on our results from FUN-1 microscopy and coincubation with cell wall and cell membrane stressors. Further research is required to explore these effects in clinical isolates, particularly fluconazole-resistant C. albicans, with a view towards the clinical application of icariin as a co-adjuvant in antifungal azole therapy.
Beyond boundaries: fostering women entrepreneurs’ success through culture, family, and entrepreneurship
Authors: Kurniawan  , Pahrijal Rival , Maulana Agung , Maminirina Fenitra Rakotoarisoa , Budiman Dana , Supriandi
Published: February 2025

Introduction

This study investigates how social capital, family support, culture, entrepreneurial qualities, and self-efficacy influence women’s work-life balance and entrepreneurial success in Indonesia.

Methods

This research employs a quantitative methodology, gathering data via a survey with 350 participants.

Results

The investigation findings indicate that culture, family support, and entrepreneurial tendencies significantly influence self-efficacy, social capital, and business success. Additionally, social capital and self-efficacy significantly mediate the association between the independent variables and satisfaction with work-life balance and company performance.

Discussion

The research emphasizes the significance of the interaction between social, cultural, and personal aspects in boosting entrepreneurial success and well-being, and the results offer useful insights to assist the growth of women entrepreneurs in Indonesia.
Epidemiological investigation of goose circovirus based on a newly developed indirect ELISA method
Authors: Chen Jialong , Xue Wenchang , Yao Zhanxin , Wang Chao , Zhu Wanjun , Wang He , Zhang Jipei , Tang Yi , Liu Rongchang , Chen Jidang
Published: February 2025

Goose circovirus (GoCV) is a recently identified pathogen in geese that is known to cause slow growth, feather disorder syndrome, and immunosuppression. Infection with GoCV may increase the risk of coinfections with multiple pathogens, leading to significant economic losses in the goose industry. However, due to a lack of serological detection methods, analysis of viral nucleic acids has been widely used in GoCV epidemiological surveys, which has limited accurate monitoring of the prevalence of GoCV. In this study, we developed and optimized an indirect ELISA method based on the prokaryotic-expressed recombinant GoCV capsid protein (△Cap-iELISA). The △Cap-iELISA was then used to test 349 goose serum samples collected from Guangdong, Shandong, and Fujian provinces during 2023 and 2024. The results showed that the positive rate of GoCV antibodies in the sampled geese was 71.06%. Further analysis indicated that the positive rate of GoCV antibodies increased with the age of the geese. In conclusion, we have developed a novel iELISA method that is well-suited for large-scale clinical detection and early diagnosis of GoCV infection. Notably, a significant correlation between age and the positive rate of GoCV antibodies among geese was observed based on this newly established method.
The Prevalence of Corneal Disorders in Pugs Attending Primary Care Veterinary Practices in Australia
Authors: Lau Wai In , Taylor Rosanne M.
Published: February 2025

Pugs are highly predisposed to corneal disorders, such as brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS), due to their disproportionate skull, reduced corneal sensitivity and eyelid anomalies such as distichiasis, entropion and lagophthalmos. The risk of corneal disorders which cause significant suffering is substantial, prompting calls for international efforts to reduce their prevalence. While these debilitating conditions are also likely to be common in pugs in Australia, their prevalence and risk factors have not been reported. The anonymised electronic patient records (EPRs) of 1318 pugs attending 139 primary care veterinary clinics participating in VetCompass Australia (VCA) in 2017 were used to investigate the prevalence of ophthalmological pathologies and associated demographic risk factors. Pugs were diagnosed with overweight/obesity (prevalence: 20.2%, 95% confidence interval {CI}: 18.1–22.4) ophthalmological abnormalities (14.5%, 95% CI: 12.6–16.3), particularly corneal disorders (12.4%, 95% CI: 12–15.7), and other conditions. The most prevalent ophthalmological disorders were corneal ulcers (5.5%, 95% CI: 4.4–6.9), corneal pigmentation (3.6%, 95% CI: 2.8–4.8) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) (3.3%, 95% CI: 2.5–4.5). The risk of all corneal disorders increased with age (odds ratio 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07–1.15), and corneal pigmentation, KCS and keratitis were more prevalent in older pugs (a median age of 7.6 years or older), while entropion, neovascularisation and ulcerative keratitis affected younger dogs (a median age of 3 years or under). The underlying BOS conformation defects, exophthalmos, lagophthalmos and distichiasis, and early signs of corneal damage should be identified through detailed examinations during primary care veterinary visits, and affected pugs should be removed from the breeding population and treated to reduce the severity and duration of their suffering.
Theoretical State and Time-Varying Parameter Estimation for a Susceptible, Infected, Hospitalized, and Immunized Epidemic Model Based on New Hospital Admission and Death Data
Authors: Legarreta Carmen , De la Sen Manuel , Alonso-Quesada Santiago
Published: February 2025

The transmission rate (β(t)) plays a crucial role in disease spread, making its measurement essential for effective control. However, existing techniques for its estimation are impractical as they rely on typically unavailable data. To address this, a prior analysis of the most frequently reported data during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been carried out, namely the number of new hospital admissions (y1(t)) and deaths (y2(t)). Based on this analysis, an SIHR epidemic model is presented, where S, I, H, and R represent susceptible, infected, hospitalized, and immunized subpopulations, respectively, and various observers tailored to the available data are proposed. Assuming both y1(t) and y2(t) are available, an exponential observer has been designed for the state estimation, from which β(t) is obtained. If only y1(t) is available, a combination of output injection and output diffeomorphism is employed to transform the nonlinear system into its observer canonical form, enabling the design of an adaptive observer for estimating both the states and β(t). By considering only y2(t), an explicit equation has been obtained to estimate y1(t), enabling the application of the previously developed methods. These approaches have been validated through a theoretical framework and numerical simulations; the first and third methods successfully estimate the unknown states and β(t) with high accuracy. The second method yields a bounded region where the true value is expected to lie.
Brown Coconut Husks as Media Within an Anaerobic Filter for Improving On-Site Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Brown Nicola , Edwards John , Yarita Shogo , Chia Sylvia
Published: February 2025

Many small communities rely on on-site wastewater treatment systems such as septic tanks; however, there are concerns regarding the level of wastewater treatment being achieved. Appropriate solutions for these communities are needed to upgrade existing septic tanks. Anaerobic filters are a potential solution, which can be added downstream of the septic tank and operate by containing media which allow a biofilm to form. Ideally, this media would be easily accessible and affordable. In this work, the use of brown coconut husks is investigated, and it is found that 68% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) can be removed by these systems. Nutrient levels were also monitored in the effluent to determine whether the leaching of nutrients from the coconut husks is a concern. It was found that initially some nitrogen and phosphorus had leached but these were washed out of the reactor very quickly and had a minimal impact on the effluent concentrations. Examination of the coconut husks after 10 months of operation showed no signs of the coconut husks beginning to break down, suggesting that the use of coconut husks as media in anaerobic filters should be investigated further.
Prototypical Graph Contrastive Learning for Recommendation
Authors: Wei Tao , Yang Changchun , Zheng Yanqi
Published: February 2025

Data sparsity caused by limited interactions makes it challenging for recommendation to accurately capture user preferences. Contrastive learning effectively alleviates this issue by enriching embedding information through the learning of diverse contrastive views. The effectiveness of contrastive learning in uncovering users’ and items’ latent preferences largely depends on the construction of data augmentation strategies. Structure and feature perturbations are commonly used augmentation strategies in graph-based contrastive learning. Since graph structure augmentation is time consuming and can disrupt interaction information, this paper proposes a novel feature augmentation contrastive learning method. This approach leverages preference prototypes to guide user and item embeddings in acquiring augmented information. By generating refined prototypes for each user and item based on existing prototypes to better approximate true preferences, it effectively alleviates the over-smoothing issue within similar preferences. To balance feature augmentation, a prototype filtering network is employed to control the flow of prototype information, ensuring consistency among different embeddings. Compared with existing prototype-based methods, ProtoRec achieves maximum gains of up to 16.8% and 20.0% in recall@k and NDCG@k on the Yelp2018, Douban-Book, and Amazon-Book datasets.
Optimization of Cable Pre-Tension Forces in Multi-Tower Cable-Stayed Bridges with Crossing Cables Considering the Dead Load Allocation
Authors: Huang Kaijie , Chai Shengbo , Wang Xiulan
Published: February 2025

In a multi-tower cable-stayed bridge with crossing cables, the crossing cable pre-tension forces can not only control the vertical displacement of the deck under dead load, but also affect the structural performance. This paper presents an optimization method for pre-tension forces of crossing cable multi tower cable-stayed bridge. This method uses the conic quasi-uniform B-spline curve to represent the distribution of cable pre-tension forces, and the shape of the curve is optimized by particle swarm optimization algorithm. The displacement of the tower and deck under dead load and the displacement of the deck under dead load + live load are taken as optimization objectives, and the two-objective optimization problem is solved by linear weighting method. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with practical methods. The calculation results indicate that when the stress level of the cable under dead load is consistent, this method minimizes the vertical displacement of the deck under dead load and live load.
Space-Based Limb-Imaging Spectrometer for Atmospheric O2 Airglow Detection
Authors: Zhao Minjie , Zhou Haijin , Jiang Yu , Huang Shuhua , Zhao Xin , Zeng Yi , Chen Jun , Liu Fenglei , Qiu Xiaohan , Zhang Quan , Zhu Lei , Wang Shimei , Zhan Kai , Yan Ge , Si Fuqi
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a space-based limb-imaging spectrometer (LIS) for detecting atmospheric O2 airglow; it scans the atmosphere with a vertical range of 10–100 km and has a vertical resolution of 2 km. The LIS’s detection performance needs to be examined before launch. A forward radiative transfer model (RTM) of airglow is studied to determine the airglow emission intensity. Spectral and radiation calibration is conducted to obtain the response parameters. Based on the airglow emission intensity, calibration results, and airglow spectral lines, the LIS’s simulated spectra are obtained, and then an optimal estimation inversion method for the LIS is studied. The results show that the LIS’s spectral range is 498.1 nm–802.3 nm, with a spectral resolution of 1.38 nm. Simulation results show that the LIS can detect airglow emission spectral lines, which characterize their dependence on temperature. The digital number response value is 20% to 50% of the saturation value. An inversion error analysis shows that, when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the LIS is 1000 and the prior temperature error is 10%, the inversion errors are 6.2 and 3 K at 63 and 77 km, respectively. This study shows that the LIS can achieve good SNR detection for airglow.
A Study on Staging Cystic Echinococcosis Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Tegshee Tuvshinsaikhan , Dorjsuren Temuulen , Lee Sungju , Batjargal Dolgorsuren
Published: February 2025

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic parasitic disease characterized by slow progression and non-specific clinical symptoms, often leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Early and precise diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, particularly considering the five stages of CE as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study explores the development of an advanced system that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to classify CE cysts into stages using various imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of ten ML algorithms were evaluated across these datasets, using performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall (sensitivity), specificity, and F1 score. These metrics offer diverse criteria for assessing model performance. To address this, we propose a normalization and scoring technique that consolidates all metrics into a final score, allowing for the identification of the best model that meets the desired criteria for CE cyst classification. The experimental results demonstrate that hybrid models, such as CNN+ResNet and Inception+ResNet, consistently outperformed other models across all three datasets. Specifically, CNN+ResNet, selected as the best model, achieved 97.55% accuracy on CT images, 93.99% accuracy on US images, and 100% accuracy on MRI images. This research underscores the potential of hybrid and pre-trained models in advancing medical image classification, providing a promising approach to improving the differential diagnosis of CE disease.
Development of a Widely Accessible, Advanced Large-Scale Microfluidic Airway-on-Chip
Authors: Rae Brady , Vasse Gwenda F. , Mosayebi Jalal , Berge Maarten van den , Pouwels Simon D. , Heijink Irene H.
Published: February 2025

On-chip microfluidics are advanced in vitro models that simulate lung tissue’s native 3D environment more closely than static 2D models to investigate the complex lung architecture and multifactorial processes that lead to pulmonary disease. Current microfluidic systems can be restrictive in the quantities of biological sample that can be retrieved from a single micro-channel, such as RNA, protein, and supernatant. Here, we describe a newly developed large-scale airway-on-chip model that employs a surface area for a cell culture wider than that in currently available systems. This enables the collection of samples comparable in volume to traditional cell culture systems, making the device applicable to any workflow utilizing these static systems (RNA isolation, ELISA, etc.). With our construction method, this larger culture area allows for easier handling, the potential for a wide range of exposures, as well as the collection of low-quantity samples (e.g., volatiles or mitochondrial RNA). The model consists of two large polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cell culture chambers under an independent flow of medium or air, separated by a semi-permeable polyethylene (PET) cell culture membrane (23 μm thick, 0.4 μm pore size). Each chamber carries a 5 × 18 mm, 90 mm2 (92 mm2 with tapered chamber inlets) surface area that can contain up to 1–2 × 104 adherent structural lung cells and can be utilized for close contact co-culture studies of different lung cell types, including airway epithelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. The parallel bi-chambered design of the chip allows for epithelial cells to be cultured at the air–liquid interface (ALI) and differentiation into a dense, multi-layered, pseudostratified epithelium under biological flow rates. This millifluidic airway-on-chip advances the field by providing a readily reproducible, easily adjustable, and cost-effective large-scale fluidic 3D airway cell culture platform.
Application of Pseudoinfectious Viruses in Transient Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells: Combining Efficient Expression with Regulatory Compliance
Authors: Zauatbayeva Gulzat , Kulatay Tolganay , Ingirbay Bakytkali , Shakhmanova Zhanar , Keyer Viktoriya , Zaripov Mikhail , Zhumabekova Maral , Shustov Alexandr V.
Published: February 2025

Transient gene expression (TGE) is commonly employed for protein production, but its reliance on plasmid transfection makes it challenging to scale up. In this paper, an alternative TGE method is presented, utilizing pseudoinfectious alphavirus as an expression vector. Pseudoinfectious viruses (PIV) and a replicable helper construct were derived from the genome of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. The PIV carries a mutant capsid protein that prevents packaging into infectious particles, while the replicable helper encodes a wild-type capsid protein but lacks other viral structural proteins. Although PIV and the helper cannot independently spread infection, their combination results in increased titers in cell cultures, enabling easier scale-up of producing cultures. The PIV-driven production of a model protein outperforms that of alphavirus replicon vectors or simple plasmid vectors. Another described feature of the expression system is the modification to immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), allowing purification of His-tagged recombinant proteins from a conditioned medium in the presence of substances that can strip metal from the IMAC columns. The PIV-based expression system allows for the production of milligram quantities of recombinant proteins in static cultures, without the need for complex equipment such as bioreactors, and complies with regulatory requirements due to its distinction from common recombinant viruses.
Chronic Stress and Headaches: The Role of the HPA Axis and Autonomic Nervous System
Authors: Sic Aleksandar , Bogicevic Marko , Brezic Nebojsa , Nemr Clara , Knezevic Nebojsa Nick
Published: February 2025

Chronic stress significantly influences the pathogenesis of headache disorders, affecting millions worldwide. This review explores the intricate relationship between stress and headaches, focusing on the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Persistent stress could lead to neuroinflammation, increased pain sensitivity, and vascular changes that could contribute to headache development and progression. The bidirectional nature of this relationship creates a vicious cycle, with recurrent headaches becoming a source of additional stress. Dysregulation of the HPA axis and ANS imbalance could amplify susceptibility to headaches, intensifying their frequency and severity. While pharmacological interventions remain common, non-pharmacological approaches targeting stress reduction, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques, offer promising avenues for comprehensive headache management. By addressing the underlying stress-related mechanisms, these approaches provide a sustainable strategy to reduce headache frequency and improve patients’ quality of life.
An Efficient Multi-Objective White Shark Algorithm
Authors: Guo Wenyan , Qiang Yufan , Dai Fang , Wang Junfeng , Li Shenglong
Published: February 2025

To balance the diversity and stringency of Pareto solutions in multi-objective optimization, this paper introduces a multi-objective White Shark Optimization algorithm (MONSWSO) tailored for multi-objective optimization. MONSWSO integrates non-dominated sorting and crowding distance into the White Shark Optimization framework to select the optimal solution within the population. The uniformity of the initial population is enhanced through a chaotic reverse initialization learning strategy. The adaptive updating of individual positions is facilitated by an elite-guided forgetting mechanism, which incorporates escape energy and eddy aggregation behavior inspired by marine organisms to improve exploration in key areas. To evaluate the effectiveness of MONSWSO, it is benchmarked against five state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms using four metrics: inverse generation distance, spatial homogeneity, spatial distribution, and hypervolume on 27 typical problems, including 23 multi-objective functions and 4 multi-objective project examples. Furthermore, the practical application of MONSWSO is demonstrated through an example of optimizing the design of subway tunnel foundation pits. The comprehensive results reveal that MONSWSO outperforms the comparison algorithms, achieving impressive and satisfactory outcomes.
Recent Advances in MXene-Based Electrochemical Sensors
Authors: Zhao Ziyi , Cao Jiayi , Zhu Boyu , Li Xinru , Zhou Lin , Su Bin
Published: February 2025

MXene is a new family of two-dimensional nanomaterials with outstanding electrical conductivity, tunable structure, biocompatibility, and a large surface area. Thanks to these unique physicochemical properties, MXene has been used for constructing electrochemical sensors (MECSens) with excellent performance. In particular, the abundant surface termination of MXene can contribute to greatly enhancing the analytical sensitivity and selectivity of MECSens. Recently, MECSens have been widely applied in many fields including clinical diagnosis, infectious disease surveillance, and food security. However, not all MXene materials are suitable for building electrochemical sensors. In this article, we present an overview of different MECSens that have been developed so far. We begin with a short summary of the preparation and characterization of MECSens. Subsequently, the electrochemical performance, detection strategies, and application scenarios of MECSens are classified and briefly discussed. The article ends with a short conclusion and future perspectives. We hope this article will be helpful for designing and constructing MECSens with outstanding activity for electrochemical analysis.
The Factors Influencing Feeding Practices of Primary Caregivers of Preschoolers: A Theory-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Oudat Qutaibah , Lee Rebecca C. , Miller Elaine L. , Couch Sarah Collins , Bakas Tamilyn
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Primary caregivers play a pivotal role in shaping children’s dietary behaviors, which are critical in preventing childhood obesity. This study aimed to examine the extent to which demographic characteristics and caregiver factors, including dietary beliefs and intentions to provide a healthy diet, influence feeding practices among primary caregivers of preschool-aged children. Methods: This study included a cross-sectional dataset comprising data collected from 146 primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (3–5 years). Participants were recruited using snowball and convenience sampling from Facebook and community settings in Cincinnati, Ohio. Feeding practices were assessed using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), while caregiver demographic characteristics, dietary beliefs, and intentions were measured through self-administered surveys. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was employed to identify predictors of feeding practices. Results: The findings reveal that primary caregivers’ feeding practices were shaped by multiple factors, including dietary beliefs (behavioral, normative, and control), intentions, and demographic characteristics. Each subscale of feeding practices was predicted by different factors, highlighting the unique influence of these factors on feeding behaviors. Conclusions: This study underscores the complex interplay between caregiver cognitive (dietary beliefs and intentions) and demographic factors in shaping feeding practices. The findings highlight the importance of targeting caregiver beliefs and intentions in interventions aimed at promoting healthier feeding practices, contributing to the prevention of childhood obesity. Importantly, future research is needed to explore these factors in more diverse populations and validate cognitive measures for broader application.
Improvement in Performance Characteristics of Bitumen and Bituminous Mixtures by Means of Polyvinyl Acetate
Authors: Hetemoğlu Yalçın Oğuz , Çubuk Mustafa Kürşat , Gürü Metin
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the improvement in the performance characteristics and the rheological properties of modified bitumen through the addition of the thermoplastic polymer polyvinyl acetate (PVA). PVA is a synthetic polymer derived from the polymerization of the vinyl acetate. The effect of PVA on bitumen and bituminous mixtures was investigated through the conventional (penetration, softening point, force-ductility, elastic recovery, Marshall and Nicholson stripping tests) and Superpave (rotational viscosity (RV), rolling thin film oven (RTFOT), pressure aging vessel (PAV), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and beam bending rheometer (BBR)) tests. PVA was added to bitumen at rates of 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by mass. Based on the bitumen test results, a PVA rate of 6% was selected for the mixture tests. The modification process was carried out at relatively low temperature (150 °C) and mixing time (20 min) based on various trials, considering the short-term aging of the bitumen. With PVA modification, the penetration value of the bitumen decreased while the softening point increased. As a result, the calculated penetration index (PI) increased and the thermal sensitivity of the bitumen decreased. Significant improvements were detected in elastic recovery and force-ductility tests. Additionally, PVA improved the resistance of asphalt to settling and cracking. Similar results were observed in the DSR and BBR tests. Furthermore, the stripping resistance increased and the stability value improved significantly in the mixture tests.
Climate Change Influences on Central European Insect Fauna over the Last 50 Years: Mediterranean Influx and Non-Native Species
Authors: Haris Attila , Józan Zsolt , Schmidt Péter , Glemba Gábor , Tomozii Bogdan , Csóka György , Hirka Anikó , Šima Peter , Tóth Sándor
Published: February 2025

The Central European fauna, in the last decades, has been undergoing a strong transformation due to four main factors: the retreat of living organisms that require cool and wet habitats, the proliferation of organisms that thrive in warm and dry conditions, the northward migration of Mediterranean organisms, and the gradual establishment of plants and animals with tropical origins. In this study, we detail the changes in the orders Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera and analyze the establishment of non native insects and the northward migration of Mediterranean insect species. The transformation towards a Mediterranean-type fauna is prominently indicated by the population in total abundance increase of xerothermic Aculeata, bee flies (Bombyliidae), and horse flies (Tabanidae). Additionally, groups that require cool and wet ecological conditions, particularly hoverflies (Syrphidae), but also sawflies (Tenthredinidae) and tachinid flies (Tachinidae), have shown a notable decline. In nocturnal moths, we observe a decrease in species richness in certain areas, as well as frequent outbreaks in populations of some less climate-sensitive species. Some species of butterflies are less sensitive to the current extent of climate change, exhibiting significant population in total abundance growth under protected conditions. However, most of the previously sporadic and rare butterfly species have proven to be climate-sensitive, unable to achieve significant population in abundance growth even under strict nature conservation. In recent decades, the influx from Mediterranean regions and the establishment of tropical non native insect species have turned at an exponential rate. We have reviewed the presence of alien insect species, recording 803 alien insect species in our region; 298 of them have arrived in the past quarter-century, with a significant proportion (54%) originating from tropical and Mediterranean regions.
Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Estimating the Volume and Biomass of Coniferous Stems in the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Authors: Hernández-Moreno José Antonio , Velázquez-Martínez Alejandro , Pérez-Salicrup Diego R. , Bravo Felipe , MacFarlane David W. , Reyes-Hernández Valentín J.
Published: February 2025

The accurate estimation of tree volume and biomass is necessary for forest ecosystems management. However, traditional estimation methods are expensive, require a large amount of labor and materials, and may involve destructive sampling. In this study, a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) and free software were used to estimate the volume and biomass of the stems of individual trees from two coniferous species, Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. & Cham and Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl, in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), Michoacan, Mexico. TLS is an alternative to traditional measurement methods, which allows tree measurements to be extracted from a point cloud, opening up new opportunities to characterize the volume and biomass of standing trees. The simple linear regression analysis comparing stem volume and biomass estimates from different methods shows that the Vol_TLS and Vol_TModel relationship provides a better fit (R2 = 0.97, RMSE = 0.351 m3) compared to the Vol_TLS and Vol_OModel relationship (R2 = 0.93, RMSE = 0.537 m3). However, comparisons between measurements with predictive models (from destructive methods) and TLS (a non-destructive method) did not show significant differences. The results show that this increasingly accessible technology can be used to adequately estimate forest biomass and volume in a non-destructive manner, which is particularly important in places such as the MMBR.
A Stereo Visual-Inertial SLAM Algorithm with Point-Line Fusion and Semantic Optimization for Forest Environments
Authors: Liu Bo , Liu Hongwei , Xing Yanqiu , Gong Weishu , Yang Shuhang , Yang Hong , Pan Kai , Li Yuanxin , Hou Yifei , Jia Shiqing
Published: February 2025

Accurately localizing individual trees and identifying species distribution are critical tasks in forestry remote sensing. Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (visual SLAM) algorithms serve as important tools for outdoor spatial positioning and mapping, mitigating signal loss caused by tree canopy obstructions. To address these challenges, a semantic SLAM algorithm called LPD-SLAM (Line-Point-Distance Semantic SLAM) is proposed, which integrates stereo cameras with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), with contributions including dynamic feature removal, an individual tree data structure, and semantic point distance constraints. LPD-SLAM is capable of performing individual tree localization and tree species discrimination tasks in forest environments. In mapping, LPD-SLAM reduces false species detection and filters dynamic objects by leveraging a deep learning model and a novel individual tree data structure. In optimization, LPD-SLAM incorporates point and line feature reprojection error constraints along with semantic point distance constraints, which improve robustness and accuracy by introducing additional geometric constraints. Due to the lack of publicly available forest datasets, we choose to validate the proposed algorithm on eight experimental plots, which are selected to cover different seasons, various tree species, and different data collection paths, ensuring the dataset’s diversity and representativeness. The experimental results indicate that the average root mean square error (RMSE) of the trajectories of LPD-SLAM is reduced by up to 81.2% compared with leading algorithms. Meanwhile, the mean absolute error (MAE) of LPD-SLAM in tree localization is 0.24 m, which verifies its excellent performance in forest environments.
Improving Probiotic Strawberry Dairy Beverages with High-Intensity Ultrasound: Syneresis, Fatty Acids, and Sensory Insights
Authors: Mizuta Amanda Gouveia , Alves Eloize da Silva , Silva Jaqueline Ferreira , Fernandes Paula Gimenez Milani , Costa Silvio Claudio da , Barão Carlos Eduardo , Pimentel Tatiana Colombo , Feihrmann Andresa Carla , Abreu Filho Benício Alves de , Santos Suelen Siqueira dos , Madrona Grasiele Scaramal
Published: February 2025

Consumer acceptance of milk beverages as probiotic beverages is directly linked to their sensory qualities, such as flavor, consistency, visual appearance, and mouthfeel. Overall, products that exhibit syneresis are often viewed as inferior. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of high-intensity ultrasound on the production of probiotic strawberry beverages, aiming primarily to stabilize the beverage by reducing syneresis and improving sensory properties without compromising the viability of probiotic microorganisms. The effects of the ultrasound processing time (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 min) on the physical, chemical, and sensory properties of the beverages were analyzed. Ultrasound was applied using a 750-wW ultrasonic processor (Cole-Parmer®, 750 W, Vernon Hills, IL, USA) at 40% amplitude, consuming 300 W and resulting in an acoustic power density of 1.2 W/mL. The results indicate that ultrasound significantly influenced the syneresis of the samples, with intermediate times (5 and 7.5 min) demonstrating lower liquid separation. Notably, the U7.5 treatment exhibited syneresis values of 52.06% ± 2.14, 60.75% ± 2.33, and 61.17% ± 1.90 at days 1, 14, and 28, respectively, corresponding to reductions of approximately 18%, 12%, and 11% compared to the control (63.43% ± 0.93, 68.81% ± 0.56, and 68.59% ± 0.10, respectively). The fatty acid composition showed changes according to storage time. Notably, palmitic acid (C16:0) concentrations were above 30 g/100 mL, and the ω6/ω3 ratio ranged from 5.92 to 7.47, falling within the recommended dietary values. Ultrasound also reduced the amount of sucrose in the samples, which may benefit the growth of probiotic microorganisms. In terms of sensory analysis, the ultrasound-treated samples (2.5 to 7.5 min) were preferred by the evaluators compared to the control sample. Furthermore, ultrasound treatment did not result in the inactivation of probiotics, supporting its potential for enhancing probiotic beverage quality. Thus, high-intensity ultrasound proved to be a promising technology for enhancing the quality of probiotic strawberry beverages by reducing syneresis, affecting fatty acid composition, and improving sensory characteristics. This may open up new opportunities in the food industry for more appealing and healthier probiotic products.
A Lightweight Accountable Parallel Blockchain Architecture Based on Redactable Blockchain for Agri-Food Traceability
Authors: Chen Feng , Zhao Chunjiang , Yang Xinting , Luo Na , Sun Chuanheng
Published: February 2025

Agri-food safety issues have received widespread attention globally. The emergence of blockchain technology (BCT) effectively addresses trust issues in the agri-food supply chain traceability system (AFSCTS). However, the append-only feature of blockchain has led to continuous linear data growth in BCT-based AFSCTSs, which increases the equipment requirements and has become a bottleneck for BCT-based AFSCTS applications. The storage capacity required by BCT-based AFSCTSs can be effectively reduced by deleting expired data, thereby reducing the storage pressure on blockchain devices and lowering the device requirements. In this paper, we propose an AFSCTS architecture that incorporates redactable blockchain and InterPlanetary file system (IPFS) technologies to achieve traceability with low storage pressure, using the wheat supply chain as a proof of concept. Firstly, the key links were analyzed in agri-food traceability and the demand was proposed for agri-food blockchain traceability based on the timeliness of traceability data. Secondly, a lightweight accountable parallel blockchain architecture called LAP-chain is proposed. This architecture utilizes redactable blockchain technology to offload expired agri-food traceability data to IPFS, thereby reducing the storage pressure on blockchain devices and ensuring data accountability through IPFS. Finally, we evaluate the correctness, collision resistance, and storage performance of the LAP-chain built on the Ethereum private chain. The results show that when expired agri-food traceability data are permanently retained, the storage capacity of the proposed architecture is only 52.38% of that of the traditional blockchain traceability architecture, after running continuously for 36 months. When traceability data of expired agri-food are deleted in accordance with the food laws and regulations of various countries, the storage capacity of the proposed architecture can be reduced from a linear level to a constant level compared to the traditional blockchain traceability architecture. The proposed architecture has the potential to contribute to improving the safety and quality of agri-food.
Universal Relations for Non-Rotating Objects Made of Dark Energy
Authors: Panotopoulos Grigoris
Published: February 2025

We obtain universal relations for fluid spheres without rotation made of dark energy assuming the extended Chaplygin gas equation-of-state. After integrating the relevant differential equations, we make a fit to obtain the unknown coefficients of the functions (a) normalized moment of inertia versus dimensionless deformability and (b) normalized moment of inertia versus factor of compactness. We find that the form of the functions does not depend on the details of the underlying equation-of-state.