bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Sushi Rice: Preparation Techniques, Physicochemical Properties and Quality Attributes
Authors: Tadele Wondyfraw , Kulawik Piotr , Szymkowiak Andrzej , Endalew Eskindir
Published: February 2025

This study explores, the multifaceted aspects of sushi rice preparation is explored, including washing, soaking and cooking processes, and their impact on the texture and sensory properties of rice. Selenio rice, a premium short-grain rice, was analysed for variations in amylose content and viscosity profiles. The study allows to highlight how the rice's compositional characteristics, particularly the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, influence gelatinisation and cooling behaviour. The effects of soaking duration, vinegar mix composition, and water-to-rice ratio on texture profile analysis (TPA) are also examined, as well as overall sensory quality. Rice reaches maximum water absorption within three minutes of soaking, independent of water temperature (10-50°C). Vinegar mix addition effectively lowered rice pH to below 4.5, contributing to improved shelf stability. Additionally, the TPA of sushi rice was evaluated over a 10-day storage period, with findings suggesting that optimised preparation techniques can improve rice quality, extending its freshness and acceptability. The importance is underscored of precise preparation methods in optimising the quality of sushi rice, contributing to the broader field of rice research and culinary science.
Artificial Empathy in Home Service Agents: A conceptual Framework and Typology of Empathic Human-Agent Interactions
Authors: Lee Joohyun , Kang Hyo-Jin
Published: February 2025

As artificial intelligence(AI) technology advances, there has been a diversification of home service functions and services, as well as a change in the applied technologies and functions. This is due to the fact that the needs and expectations vary depending on the purpose of performing the task in the same environment. Although interactions with AI often occur in the home environment, which is a personal space, there is a need for research that examines interactions in consideration of the concept of empathy. The present study thus aims to identify previous studies that examine the interaction between users and technology, and to systematize the elements of interaction that can be considered based on intelligent agents that are often used in the home environment. To this end, a framework was established to examine multifaceted elements through research that shows that the interaction between technology and users should be natural, with sophisticated psychological anthropomorphism. The present study analyzed the literature for the establishment of an artificial empathy interaction system and presented an initial framework. Subsequently, we proceeded to the application of authentic industry cases to the framework, with the objective of ascertaining the feasibility of mapping groups exhibiting analogous trends. This process culminated in the categorization of these cases into three distinct types, alongside the identification of the empathy interaction elements that should be given consideration for each category. Moreover, we identified additional components necessary for the formulation of the final framework, and elements that were deemed to be superfluous. Thereafter, we initiated the refinement process to propose the framework. The final framework is “Empathic HAX(human-agent interactions) Canvas”, which is designed to examine the necessity of empathic interaction between users and AI agents in the home service domain, and to determine the optimal design for such interaction. The significance of this study lies in the creation of a framework that has not previously existed, and the presentation of a design tool that is highly likely to be used both academically and practically.
Breaking Barriers in Thyroid Cytopathology: Harnessing Deep Learning for Accurate Diagnosis
Authors: Oh Seo Young , Lee Yong-Moon , Kang Dong Joo , Kwon Hyeong-Ju , Chakraborty Sabyasachi , Park Jae Hyun
Published: February 2025

Background: We address the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in thyroid cytopathology, specifically for diagnosing papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common type of thyroid cancer. Methods: Our research introduces deep learning frameworks that analyze cytological images from fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), a key preoperative diagnostic method for PTC. The first framework is a patch-level classifier referrred as "TCS-CNN" based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, hardly predicting thyroid cancer based on the the Bethesda system (TBS) category. The second framework is an attention-based deep multiple instance learning (AD-MIL) model, which employs a feature extractor using TCS-CNN and an attention mechanism to aggregate features from smaller patch-level regions into predictions for larger patch-level regions, referred to as bag-level in this context. Results: The proposed frameworks achieve an accuracy of 97% and a recall of 96% across various patch-level prediction tasks, accurately capturing the local malignancy information and demonstrating their robustness and adaptability to different region sizes. Conclusions: The study provides a feasibility analysis for thyroid cytopathology classification and visual interpretability for AI diagnosis, suggesting potential improvements in patient outcomes and reductions in healthcare costs.
Effect of Mechanical Interlocking Damage on Bond Durability of Ribbed and Sand-Coated GFRP Bars Embedded in Concrete Under Chloride Dry-Wet Exposure
Authors: Yang Zhennan , Lu Chunhua , Yuan Siqi , Ge Hao
Published: February 2025

The substitution of conventional steel reinforcement with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is a widely adopted strategy for enhancing the durability of concrete structures in chloride environments. However, due to the distinct material properties of FRP and steel bars, conventional degradation theory and formulas of bonding strength cannot be directly applied. This study investigates the bond behavior between Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and concrete under long-term chloride dry-wet cycling exposure. Pull-out tests were conducted on various specimens subjected to exposure durations of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The experimental results demonstrated that factors such as surface textures and effective bond length significantly influenced bond behaviors and the sustained deterioration was observed with increased exposure duration. To predict the GFRP-concrete bond performance after chloride exposure, a novel bond strength model for GFRP bars embedded in concrete, considering the mechanical interlocking by ribs, was proposed and validated by the test results. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted on the main parameters in the model. Finally, the long-term GFRP-concrete bond performance deterioration was estimated using the proposed model. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights into the long-term bond performance and service life prediction of GFRP-concrete members in chloride environments.
On Structural Identifiability of Decentralised Systems
Authors: Karabutov Nikolay
Published: February 2025

The identifiability problem nonlinear decentralised systems (NDS) were not considered. Synthesis of mathematical models for NDS having a complex structure is an urgent problem. The presence of internal relationships and nonlinearities in NDS complicates the identifiability estimation. Therefore, models with uncertainty are used to design control systems for NDS. To describe the processes in NDS, it is necessary to apply adequate models based on verifying their identifiability. We propose an approach for assessing the local structural identifiability of nonlinear decentralised systems. Conditions of local parametric identifiability are obtained as functional constraints for parameters and nonlinearity.The effect of the constant excitation of experimental data on the S-synchronizability of DS is shown. The S-synchronizability condition fulfilment guarantees the structural identifiability estimate of DS with nonlinearity belonging to a certain sector. We introduce the S-congruence concept and propose a method for estimating the S-synchronizability of an input. Geometric structures and criteria are used to assess NDS identifiability. The simulation results are presented.
Are Seasonal Hydropower Storage Dams Cost-Effective in Providing Reliability for Solar PV? A Financial and Economic Analysis
Authors: Ashitey Joy N.A. , Radmehr Mehrshad , Jenkins Glenn P. , Miklyaev Mikhail
Published: February 2025

This paper develops a financial and economic cost-effectiveness framework to evaluate the integrability of solar power with a seasonal storage hydropower dam in off-grid and on-grid situations. Four key variables are evaluated that affect such a system's levelized cost (LC) of electricity generation. These include the initial capital costs of the solar PV system and hydropower plant, and the costs of alternative methods for maintaining service reliability when expanding solar PV generation. Another key variable is whether the hydropower-solar PV generation is off-grid or on-grid, The final parameter studied is the impact of the LC of electricity of the financial and economic cost of capital (discount rates) faced by a country. The analysis shows that when the economic opportunity cost of funds increases from 2 percent to 11.5 percent the levelized cost of renewable electricity generation systems doubles. The levelized financial cost (LC) of the incremental energy when a reliable service is maintained is between 30% and 89% greater than the LC of a stand-alone solar PV plant. For the same set of scenarios, the range of the economic LCs is 28% to 85% greater with reliability than the stand-alone solar PV field without reliability. Increasing service reliability by expanding the generation capacity of the powerplant of a seasonal storage dam is in this case less costly than increasing the thermal alternative.
Diatoms of Gut Content of Crassostrea gasar (Bivalvia: Ostreidae) (Adanson, 1757) Cultivated in an Amazonian Estuary (Emboraí Velho, Northern Brazil)
Authors: Silva Barbara Oliveira , de Oliveira Antonio Gomes , Pinheiro João , Silva Brenda Ribeiro , Costa Remo , Pereira Luci Cajueiro Carneiro , Costa Rauquírio Marinho da
Published: February 2025

The present study investigated the gut contents of oysters cultivated in the Emboraí Velho Estuary (Amazonian littoral) focusing on the analysis of diatoms. Analyses of the stomach contents from 60 adult individuals of the species Crassostrea gasar (Adanson, 1757) collected in the study environment were performed. Additional water samples were collected for the analysis of diatoms present in the estuary. The total number of diatom taxa identified in the estuary was 123, with 35.77% of centric diatoms and 64.23% of pennate diatoms. Organisms recorded in the analyzed oyster stomachs comprised 61 taxa, of which 37.70% were centric and 62.30% pennate diatoms. The relative abundance of Cymatosira belgica was 78.20% in April, 72.10% in June, 51.90% in September, and 91.80% in December in the estuary. However, in the gut content, it was 9.90% in April, 4.30% in June,13.9% in September, and 45.10% in December. The relative abundance of C. belgica, as well as of other less abundant species was not similar between the gut contents and the diatom species identified in the estuary. Our results indicate that cultivated oysters selectively feed on certain diatoms species identified in the estuary, as the main species recorded in the gut contents were not similar to the most abundant and frequent species found in the estuary during the same months of the present study.
What Do We Already Know About Black Soldier Fly and Its Multifaceted Application
Authors: Ment Dana , Mishra Sapna
Published: February 2025

The larvae of black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens L., possess versatile bioconversion capabilities and offer a nutrient-rich biomass. Here we review the bioconversion capabilities and microbiota associated with the larvae of BSF in an attempt to raise attention to key points and suggest future perspectives. The main points include current knowledge regarding bioconversion abilities of the BSF larvae; the nutrient composition variation of the larvae depending on its feed; the natural antibiotic properties with focus on antimicrobial peptides; the role of gut microbiota in pathogen elimination; the versatility of the BSF functional substrate bioconversion; and the role of the BSF gut microbiota possess in bioconversion flexibility. BSF larvae are being explored for various applications beyond waste conversion, including their use as a sustainable protein source for animal feed, and as a method for mitigating environmental contaminants like heavy metals. The review emphasizes the importance of optimizing substrate choices to enhance the BSF larvae’s bioconversion efficiency, nutrient output, and antimicrobial activity. The study also highlights the potential of BSF larvae in addressing global challenges related to food security, waste management, and energy sustainability
Psychometric Properties of Instruments for Perpetration and Victimization of Dating Violence in Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ramírez Andrés , Burgos-Benavides Luis , Sinchi Hugo , Herrero Díez Francisco , Rodríguez-Díaz Francisco Javier
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Adolescent dating violence is a public health issue with long-term implications for the emotional and psychological development of young people. Properly evaluating this issue requires instruments with solid psychometric properties. This study aims to identify and analyze the psychometric properties of the instruments used to measure perpetration and victimization in adolescent dating violence. Objective: To identify the psychometric properties of the instruments measuring perpetration and victimization in adolescent dating violence through a systematic review of the scientific literature and meta-analysis of reliability and structural validity. Methods: The study design included a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis. Data sources used were scientific databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were studies that evaluated the reliability and validity of instruments measuring adolescent dating violence, published in English and Spanish. Data analysis was performed through a meta-analysis to calculate reliability indices, such as Cronbach's alpha, and structural validity was assessed using factor analysis techniques. Results: The results showed high reliability and structural validity in the instruments measuring dating violence, with high global alpha and omega coefficients and excellent model fit indices. However, heterogeneity was significant, and lower coefficients in measuring sexual violence indicated areas for improvement. Limitations include variability between studies, possible publication biases, and a lack of detailed demographic data. Conclusion: The instruments are generally reliable and valid, but more research is needed to improve the accuracy in measuring sexual violence and to ensure generalization in diverse contexts.
Application of YOLO Models for Assisted Tumor Diagnosis: A Computer Vision-Based Approach
Authors: Rivera E. Fabian , Falconí Diego Quinde , Calero Hernán Ordoñez
Published: February 2025

Resumen: This study emphasizes the application of deep learning techniques for tumor detection in medical images using YOLOv11. By leveraging convolutional neural networks (CNNs) pre-trained on large-scale datasets, the model fine-tunes its parameters to address the specific challenge of tumor identification. Training and validation are analyzed through loss and metric graphs. The losses associated with bounding box adjustment, classification, and coordinates showed a progressive decrease, indicating continuous improvement in model accuracy during both training and validation. Key metrics such as precision, recall, and mAP were evaluated. The model achieved an accuracy exceeding 95%, while recall increased from 75% to 90%, demonstrating robust capability in identifying true positives. The confusion matrix analysis revealed 287 correctly classified tumors, with 24 false negatives and 36 false positives, suggesting areas for improvement. The results confirm the effectiveness of transfer learning in medical image analysis tasks. The developed model performs accurate detections, making it a computationally efficient and viable solution for applications in resource-constrained environments. This study lays a solid foundation for the development of computer vision-based diagnostic tools that could enhance early tumor detection and improve clinical outcomes in vulnerable populations.
In-Silico Optimization of a FBR Used for the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Chicory Inulin to Fructose by Employing a Dynamic Approach and Various Numerical Algorithms
Authors: Gheorghe Daniela , Maria Gheorghe , Renea Laura , Muscalu Crina
Published: February 2025

Inulin enzymatic hydrolysis becomes in the last years a very promising alternative to produce fructose on a large scale. Genetically modified chicory was used to extract inulin of industrial quality. By using an adequate kinetic model from literature, the present paper is aiming at determining the optimal operating alternatives of a batch (BR), or a fed-batch (FBR) reactor used for the inulin hydrolysis to fructose. Operation of FBR with a constant or a variable/dynamic feeding is compared to the BR operation to determine the most favorable option to maximize the reactor production, with minimizing the enzyme consumption. Multi-objective optimal solutions are also investigated by using the Pareto optimal fronts technique.
Artificial Intelligence for Objective Assessment of Acrobatic Movements: How to Apply Machine Learning for Identifying Tumbling Elements in Cheer Sports
Authors: Wesely Sophia , Hofer Ella , Curth Robin , Paryani Shyam , Mills Nicole , Ueberschär Olaf , Westermayr Julia
Published: February 2025

Over the past four decades, cheerleading has evolved from a sideline activity at major sporting events into a professional, competitive sport with growing global popularity. Evaluating tumbling elements in cheerleading relies on both objective measures and subjective judgments, such as difficulty and execution quality. However, the complexity of tumbling - encompassing team synchronicity, ground interactions, choreography, and artistic expression - makes objective assessment challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various scientific fields and industries through precise data-driven analyses, yet their application in acrobatic sports remains limited despite significant potential for enhancing performance evaluation and coaching. This study investigates the feasibility of using an AI-based approach with data from a single inertial measurement unit to accurately identify and objectively assess tumbling elements in standard cheerleading routines. A sample of 16 participants (13 females, 3 males) from a Division I collegiate cheerleading team wore a single inertial measurement unit at the dorsal pelvis. Over a 4-week seasonal preparation period, 1102 tumbling elements were recorded during regular practice sessions. Using triaxial accelerations and rotational speeds, various ML algorithms were employed to classify and evaluate the execution of tumbling manoeuvres. Results indicate that certain machine learning models can effectively identify different tumbling elements despite inter-individual variability and data noise, achieving high accuracy. These findings demonstrate the significant potential for integrating AI-driven assessments into cheerleading and other acrobatic sports, providing objective metrics that complement traditional judging methods.
Maxillary Bone Fracture Due to a Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion - A Case Report
Authors: Hanai Ushio , Muramatsu Hiroyuki , Akamatsu Tadashi
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) has emerged as a non-surgical alternative for maxillary expansion in adults. However, complications associated with MARPE remain underreported. This case report describes a rare instance of maxillary bone fracture following MARPE and discusses its clinical implications. Case Presentation: A brief description of the main methods or treatments applied. This can include any relevant preregistration or specimen information. Results: Sensory disturbances, likely resulting from infraorbital nerve injury, gradually improved over two years and eventually resolved completely. However, due to psychological distress, the patient abandoned the planned orthognathic surgery and pursued orthodontic treatment alone.Conclusions: This case underscores the risk of maxillary bone fractures associated with MARPE, particularly in adults with ossified sutures and reduced bone elasticity. The fracture appears to have resulted from load distribution around the zygomatico-maxillary suture during expansion. Careful patient selection, comprehensive risk assessment, and vigilant monitoring are crucial in minimizing complications. In high-risk cases, surgical approaches for transverse expansion should be considered rather than presurgical orthodontic expansion.
Naturally Occurring Trichogramma Species in an Apple Orchard in Hungary
Authors: Jávorszky Laura , Tóth Ferenc , Kursch-Metz Tore , Talmácsi Anna , Ladányi Márta
Published: February 2025

The genus Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) includes insect egg parasitoids widely used worldwide as biological control agent of pests. The success of these parasitoids in pest management depends, among other factors, on their adaptation to the climatic conditions of the release area, particularly temperature. This study aimed to identify the Trichogramma species naturally occurring in Hungary. Parasitism was observed by trapping Trichogramma spp. individuals using bait cards containing Sitotroga ceraella eggs (provided by the AMW company) in apple orchard between July 8, 2024, and September 30, 2024. We evaluated the relationship between several variables – the rate of cards with observed parasitism, the parasitism rate, the number of host eggs and the hatching rate – and the time of release, the age of the host eggs and meteorological factors. We found that the parasitism rate significantly depends on the time of release. Pearson's correlation coefficients indicated that temperature parameters (average minimum, maximum and the mean temperatures during the exposure period of the cards) are significantly and negatively correlated with both parasitism rate and number of parasitised eggs. Air pressure showed a significant positive correlation with the number of parasitised eggs. The naturally occurring egg parasitoid species was identified as T. evanescens. These results suggest that these parasitoids are well adapted to the local climate and can be considered as candidates for pest management programs in Hungary and in other countries with a temperate continental climate.
Smart Drug Delivery: AI, Nanotech & Future Innovations
Authors: SENGAR ASHUTOSH
Published: February 2025

The intersection of nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and intelligent drug delivery systems is revolutionizing contemporary pharmaceutics, thus enabling precision medicine, improved bioavailability, and site-specific therapy. To this end, a few of the upcoming technologies such as AI-designed drugs, biodegradable drug carriers for delivery, and targeted medication are emphasized in line with their potential to improve efficacy, adherence, and drug safety. Intelligent nanocarriers such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers are transforming drug delivery by facilitating controlled release and site-specific targeting. At the same time, AI-based analytics facilitate strategy development, accelerate drug discovery, and deliver the optimal therapeutic values.Antibiotic resistance, the biggest issue of modern medicine, is also discussed in the paper as well as the role played by nanocarrier-based antibiotic delivery systems and artificial intelligence drug designing in combating bacterial adaptation and increased drug penetration. The paper also discusses the potential of herbal medicine, personalized therapy, and smart biosensors in the field of drug delivery and personalization of treatment possibilities.Despite these developments, scalability, regulatory, cost, and ethics are still the biggest challenges to broad adoption. Yet through ongoing research and harmonization, AI-augmented pharmaceutical discovery and new delivery systems have the potential to redefine the future of medicine.
Conceptual Design of the Process of Making Cosmetic Emulsion
Authors: Guardado Yordi Estela , Guambuguete Guaman Irma Sofia , Freire Fuentes Mayra Elizabeth , Radice Matteo , Scalvenzi Laura , Abreu-Naranjo Reinier , Bravo Sánchez Luis Ramón , Pérez Martínez Amaury
Published: February 2025

The present research focuses on the creation of a prototype cosmetic emulsion from two amazonian oils, Morete oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.) and Ungurahua oil (Oenocarpus Bataua Mart). The objective was to realize a conceptual design of the process. The development of the methodology contains three phases, for which the recovery of information and collection of experimental data performed, followed by the identification of operations and equipment proposal. Finally, the construction and description of the diagrams was carried out. The design was achieved by means of simulation with SuperPro Designer V10.0. The experimental data from the research show that it is possible to realise the conceptual design of a technological process for its subsequent scaling up. The unit operations, equipment and operation time of the case study designed in this research are an example of the previous statement. In the conceptual design for obtaining cosmetic emulsion, an operation time of 4, 25 hours is estimated, which would allow the production of 2 or more batches per day, depending on the demand. In addition, the initial investment is expected to be recovered within 6,24 years.
The Particularities of Arterial Hypertension in Female Sex. From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Management
Authors: Lazaridis Antonios , Malliora Anastasia , Gkaliagkousi Eugenia
Published: February 2025

Arterial hypertension is the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and a major cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. In daily clinical practice, the hypertensive patient is often treated in a uniform way, thus ignoring the significant effects of sex on several aspects of hypertension including its prevalence, pathophysiology, response to antihypertensive treatment, and outcomes. The substantial hormonal changes during a woman's life cycle along with the immune response and several cardiometabolic risk factors that frequently coexist are among the main pathophysiological mechanisms driving hypertension in women. Concurrently, women exhibit increased cardiovascular risk at lower blood pressure (BP) levels compared to age-matched men and present certain disparities in the incidence of cardiovascular events and subsequent hypertension-related cardiovascular prognosis. In addition, women respond differently to antihypertensive treatment, experiencing more drug-related side effects, and exhibit lower rates of BP control compared to men. Currently, international guidelines propose the same targets and the same therapeutic algorithms for the treatment of hypertension in both sexes, without taking into account the sex differences that exist. In this review we aim to describe the certain particularities of arterial hypertension in female sex, moving from pathophysiological aspects to clinical and therapeutical management.
Activation Mechanism of Water Dissociation for Catalytic Hydrogen Production: Insights from First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Liu Tingting , Pan Xinglong , Wang Yanbiao
Published: February 2025

One of the most challenging issues in catalytic water dissociation hydrogen production technology is understanding the activation mechanism of water. To gain insights into this process, a first-principles molecular dynamics method was used to simulate the catalytic dissociation of H2O on 88 alloy catalysts. The study's results revealed that a larger red shift of the center of the v1 and v3 modes of adsorbed H2O corresponds to a lower dissociation temperature. The resonance absorption of heat from water molecules by the frontier electron promotes the dissociation reaction. Comparing the frontier orbitals of precursors and intermediate states shows that the number of involved frontier orbitals significantly influences the catalytic reaction.
Improved Arterial Stiffness and Bone Mineral Density in Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Treated with Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Case Study and Literature Review
Authors: Joo Eun Young , Park Ji Sun , Shin Hyun-Tae , Yoo Myung Ji , Kim Su Jin , Lee Ji-eun , Choi Gwang Seong
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Hutchinson‒Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare ge-netic disorder caused by LMNA gene mutations, leading to the accumulation of farne-sylated progerin. It is characterized by severe growth failure, premature aging, rapid progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular- related early disease. Lonafarnib, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, extends life expectancy in HGPS, but it does not stop progression. As Progeria is associated with stem cell depletion and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown efficacy in treating atherosclerosis, we aimed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in HGPS. Methods: A 7-year-old male with classic HGPS re-ceived intravenous bone marrow-derived MSCs (2.5x10⁵ cells/kg) over four sessions. The first three sessions were administered at one-month intervals, followed by a final session six months later (Months 0, 1, 2, and 8). The study protocol included compre-hensive baseline assessment (growth, metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, au-ditory and proinflammatory markers including cytokines). Preventive enoxaparin was administered to mitigate vascular complications. Results: MSC therapy increased lean body mass (total: pre -0.8% vs. post 11.5%), improved BMD (TBLH: pre -20.5% vs. post +2.8%, lumbar: pre +0.6% vs. post +26.5%), decreased PWV by a mean of 9.98%, and promoted weight gain (z score change: pre -1.13 to post + 0.75). Additionally, it en-hanced ROM, improved the low frequency of hearing loss, and consistently reduced sICAM-1. Conclusions: MSC therapy demonstrated potential efficacy in improving clinical outcomes, including arterial stiffness and bone mineral density, with no severe safety concerns related to therapy. Further research is needed for long-term efficacy and to maximize benefits.
Prehabilitation in Major Surgery: An Evaluation of Cost Savings in a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Mudarra-García Natalia , Roque-Rojas Fernando , Izquierdo-Izquierdo Visitación , García-Sánchez Francisco Javier
Published: February 2025

Background: Prehabilitation emerges as a program designed to enhance the patient’s functional capacity before surgery by addressing three key aspects: physical activity, proper nutrition, and the reduction of anxiety and frustration. Various prehabilitation models exist to optimize patients before surgery, including programs led by anesthesiologists, surgeons, endocrinologists, etc. The existing models demonstrate that appropriate patient optimization before surgery reduces postoperative complications, hospital stay, and re-admissions.(2) Methods: A total of 211 patients were included, of whom 76 were not enrolled in the surgical prehabilitation program based on the advanced practice nursing and internist model (control group), while 135 benefited from this program (intervention group).; (3) Results: Following the surgical prehabilitation model led by an advanced practice nurse in collaboration with an internist, a significant reduction was achieved in blood transfusions (p=0.014), postoperative complications (p<0.001), and hospital length of stay (p=0.004). Likewise, annual costs were reduced by a total of €593,453. (4) Conclusions: Following a surgical prehabilitation model reduces the number of postoperative complications, decreases hospital length of stay, and increases the savings on red blood cell transfusions. Likewise, implementing a model led by an advanced practice nurse in collaboration with an internist significantly reduces the annual costs of a tertiary hospital.
Small Scale Channel Modeling in Vacuum Tube Scenarios
Authors: Wang Yan , Wen Yinghong , Ren Jie
Published: February 2025

In order to meet the requirements of higher economic operating speed, constructing a vacuum tube operating environment is an important direction for the future development of ultra high speed rail transit technology. Due to the non-stationary nature of wireless channels during ultra high speed movement, traditional wireless channel models are no longer suitable for ultra high speed train communication systems in vacuum tube scenarios. Existing channel modeling methods cannot accurately reflect the wave propagation characteristics. This article is based on the GBSM (Geometry based Stochastic Model) modeling method, which abstracts it as a two sphere geometric model from the actual scene and simulates the vehicle ground wireless channel model. In the model, obstacles encountered on the propagation path of waves are fitted into effective scatterers randomly distributed on the surface of a geometric object. The space-time correlation function (STCF), cross correlation function (CCF), and auto correlation function (ACF) of the model are derived to analyze the time-varying characteristics of the channel. The experimental results indicate that LOS components and Doppler effects have an impact on the channel characteristics of the entire system. This provides theoretical and technical support for the wireless communication system of the vacuum tube maglev system.
Fan-Shaped Pneumatic Soft Actuator that Can Operate Bending Motion for Ankle-Joint Rehabilitation Device
Authors: Shimooka So ,   Editorial Office, Yokoya Hirosato , Hamada Masanori , Shiomi Shun , Uehara Takenori , Hirayama Takahiro , Kamegawa Tetsushi
Published: February 2025

Nowadays, owing to declining birthrates and an aging population, patients and the elderly requiring rehabilitation are not getting enough physical activity. In addressing this issue, devices for rehabilitating them have been researched and developed. However, rehabilitation devices are almost exclusively used for patients who can get up, rather than those who are bedridden. In this study, we aim to develop a rehabilitation device that can provide passive exercise for bedridden patients. The ankle joint was selected as the target joint because the patients who have undergone surgery for cerebrovascular disease remain bedridden, and early recovery in the acute stage is highly desirable. We proposed and tested a fan-shaped pneumatic soft actuator (FPSA) that can expand and bend stably at angles when supply pressure is applied as an actuator for a rehabilitation device to encourage patient exercise. However, the previous FPSA’s movement deviates from the arch of the foot owing to increased supply pressure. In the ideal case, FPSA should push the arch of the foot in an arc motion. This study proposes and tests the FPSA that can operate a bending motion to provide passive exercise to the ankle joint using tensile springs and a winding mechanism powered by a servo motor. The proposed FPSA has a significant advantage of exhibiting no hysteresis in its pressure-displacement characteristics. The configuration and static analytical model of the improved FPSA are described.
Respiration Differentiating Using Wavelet Transform and Autoencoder
Authors: Sekimoto Kazuki ,   Editorial Office, Satake Junji
Published: February 2025

This study proposes a novel respiration differentiation method using a wavelet transform and an autoencoder. Depth changes in a person’s chest were acquired from the depth images generated by the Kinect sensor and recorded as waveform data. The extracted waveform data were frequency-analyzed using a wavelet transform for the autoencoder learning. The autoencoder was trained exclusively on normal respiratory data. Respiratory data were identified based on the differences between the autoencoder’s inputs and outputs. To automatically differentiate respiration from other movements, a threshold was set using Hotelling’s theory. The proposed respiration differentiation method was experimentally evaluated to verify its high recognition rates, even for untrained individuals, using cross-validation. Respiration differentiation was also applied to the entire image to confirm that the model could accurately recognize chest movements resulting from respiration.
Pengaruh Fraud Pentagon dalam Mendeteksi Kecurangan Laporan Keuangan Pada Perusahaan BUMN
Authors: Anwar Mika Alaika , Zakaria Adam , Musyaffi Ayatulloh Michael
Published: February 2025

This study aims to experimentally examine the effectiveness of the fraud pentagon in detecting fraudulent financial statements. For the years 2018–2022, state-owned businesses make up the study's population. The sample approach used in this study was purposeful sampling, which produced 125 data points in total. Multiple linear regression analysis was the data analysis method employed in this study, and SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze the data. The results of the study show that only financial targets have a significant impact on the detection of fraudulent financial statements; political connections, frequent changes in the CEO's image, external pressure, insufficient monitoring, and changes in directors or auditors have no effect on the detection of fraudulent financial statements. In elucidating the impact of the fraud pentagon in identifying fake financial statements, this study has bolstered agency theory.
Lower James River sediment transport modeling : Jordan Point
Authors: Lackey Tahirih , Hayter Earl , Bukhari Fatima
Published: February 2025

US Army Corps of Engineers–Norfolk District (NAO) requested assistance from the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to examine currently used placement sites within the James River, Virginia, initiative area, determine potential risk to critical environmental receptors during placement, and predict the life cycle of the placement sites. The focus of the analysis within this work is the Jordan Point placement site. The far-field, fate-transport modeling at Jordan Point shows relatively low maximum values of suspended sediment concentration (less than 40 mg/L) and deposition values (less than 0.2 cm). Material that is placed at Jordan Point appears to quickly disperse through the system, depositing in thin layers at specific areas. The life-cycle analysis performed for the Jordon Point placement site yielded an estimated useable project life of the Jordan Point placement sites of 26 years with an uncertainty of ±4 years. Analysis showed that 97% of the net sediment deposition in the navigation channel in proximity to this site is from the upper James River, 2% is from downstream sources, and 1% is from the two Jordan Point placement sites.
Design and Implementation of the Oral Medicine South Africa Registry: Epidemiology of Oral Lesions at three tertiary academic facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Vedan Theesan Ananda , Holmes Haly , Staden Sune Mulder Van , Moodley Gillian Pryadarshini , Engel Mark
Published: February 2025

Background
There is a dearth of information on the epidemiology of oral lesions in South Africa. Knowledge of the characteristics and distribution of oral lesions in South Africa has many practical and research-related implications.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of patients presenting to the Tygerberg, Mitchells Plain, and Groote Schuur Oral Medicine Clinics from 2010–2022. Data is obtained from collating histopathological reports and from a review of patients’ folders. A REDCap® database was created for the project.
Results
A total of 2021 patients and 2085 biopsy specimens were added to the database. The average age of patients is 42.8 years with a standard deviation of 19.7 (range: 1 month-89 years). Of these, 1087/2021 (53.7%) are women and 786/2021 (38.9%) are men (male: female ratio 1:1.4). The five most observed oral conditions are fibroepithelial hyperplasia 397/2085 (19%), squamous cell carcinoma 285/2085 (13.7%), pyogenic granulomas 199/2085 (9.5%), mucoceles 175/2085 (8.4%), and benign human papilloma virus-induced lesions 120/2085 (12.2%).
Conclusion
This study assisted with the creation of the REDCap®-based database. The reported frequencies of the most prevalent diagnoses are similar to those found in studies from comparable populations. Further research could determine risk factors associated with the diverse pathological diagnoses.
Mental Health Status and Quality of Life Among People living with Leprosy in Southwest and North Central Nigeria.
Authors: Omobowale Olubukola , Odetoye Temitope , Elugbadebo Olufisayo , Fowotade Adeola
Published: February 2025

Purpose Leprosy significantly impacts mental health and quality of life, yet research on this issue in Nigeria is scarce. This study assessed the mental health status and quality of life among individuals living with leprosy in two settlements in Nigeria.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 53 people living with leprosy in two leprosy settlements in Ondo and Kwara States. A semi-structured instrument consisting of sociodemographic characteristics as well as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess depression, anxiety, and quality of life respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 84.9% and 43.4% respectively. Quality of life was very poor for 94.3% of respondents. Significant associations were found between depression and quality of life (p = 0.037), duration of stay in settlements and depression (p = 0.04), age and anxiety (p = 0.026), and source of income and quality of life (p = 0.03). Respondents aged 70 years and older were more likely to experience anxiety (p = 0.02).Conclusion The high prevalence of depression and anxiety, coupled with very poor quality of life, highlights the need for comprehensive mental health interventions and support systems for individuals affected by leprosy in Southwestern and North Central Nigeria. Targeted strategies addressing age-specific needs and economic empowerment may improve overall well-being and quality of life of this vulnerable population.
Reconstructing emission pathways for developing countries
Authors: Meng Jing , Li Shuping , Wang Jinglei , Guan Dabo
Published: February 2025

Addressing climate change requires accurate emission baseline and robust model-based projections to simulate future emission mitigation pathways. However, emission baseline data in existing Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are inaccurate and inconsistent. In particular, they cannot capture recent emission surges in those small and medium-sized developing countries, causing large discrepancies of projections of global carbon space, which are crucial for setting climate policy. We compiled time-series emission inventories for 60 developing countries, ensuring consistency and full validation using all available regional, national and international energy and socioeconomic data. We refine emission baseline for six leading IAMs, and find that their original baselines differ from the new estimates in a range of -45.7% to 76.4% between 2010 and 2020, primarily due to inappropriate growth rates settings. Adopting refined historical emission trends, we re-calculate future emission pathways for developing countries and the globe. Our new estimates show that countries in Asia would require a median of 81 Gt of carbon space (2.2 times of global total emission in 2023) in the SSP245 scenario from 2020 to 2050 cumulatively, a difference of -30.3% to 35.5% compared to the estimates provided by IAM models. Even under the fast decarbonization scenario of SSP119, developing countries like Vietnam, Benin and Ethiopia reliant on fossil fuels, would need a median carbon space of 120.6 Mt, 4.9 Mt, and 11.5 Mt, respectively, by 2040. In the short term, constrained capacities impede these countries from shifting emissions trajectories, as inertia scenarios incorporating historical trends frequently align with SSP585 scenarios, revealing the dilemma between development priorities and the pursuit of low-carbon goals. These findings emphasize additional carbon space needed by swiftly growing developing countries, which is shadowed by projections from current IAM models and should be fully considered in global carbon budget allocations and future mitigation effort needed.
Sit-up Test for Assessing Blood Pressure Dysregulation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Oyake Kazuaki , Yokokawa Yoshiharu
Published: February 2025

Background
The sit-up test enables the assessment of orthostatic hypotension without using a tilt table in individuals at high risk of falling when standing; however, no studies have compared blood pressure responses between older adults with and without orthostatic hypotension during this test. The primary objective of this study was to compare blood pressure responses during the sit-up test between community-dwelling older adults with and without orthostatic hypotension. The secondary objective was to determine the associations between orthostatic hypotension detected by the sit-up test and poor health conditions in these individuals.
Methods
One hundred-two community-dwelling older adults underwent the sit-up test. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a decrease of ≥ 10 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and/or ≥ 5 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure during the test. Supine and seated hypertension were evaluated, defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. Blood pressure responses during the test were compared between participants with and without orthostatic hypotension. Moreover, associations of orthostatic hypotension with demographic, clinical, and geriatric outcomes were examined.
Results
Thirty-four participants (33.3%) showed orthostatic hypotension during the test. Participants with orthostatic hypotension demonstrated a greater decrease in systolic blood pressure (F(3,297) = 47.0, p < 0.001), a smaller increase in diastolic blood pressure (F(3,297) = 26.5, p < 0.001), and higher supine systolic blood pressure (t = 3.363, p = 0.005) during the test than those without orthostatic hypotension. Consequently, 52.9% of participants with orthostatic hypotension had supine hypertension. Orthostatic hypotension was associated with a higher proportion of participants with at least one comorbidity (odds ratio = 4.50, p = 0.002) and those with non-robust status (odds ratio = 3.08, p = 0.022), even after adjusting for supine and seated hypertension.
Conclusion
Community-dwelling older adults with orthostatic hypotension were characterized by an impaired orthostatic increase in diastolic blood pressure and high supine systolic blood pressure during the sit-up test. Orthostatic hypotension was associated with poor health conditions, independently of supine and seated hypertension. These findings contribute valuable insights for the application of the sit-up test in preventive health screenings for older adults.