bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Administration of Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonist Decreases Binge-like Intake of Palatable Food in Mice
Authors: Rodríguez-Serrano Luis Miguel , Chávez-Hernández María Elena
Published: February 2025

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by uncontrollable episodes of eating in a short period of time, with a subjective loss of control of overconsumption behavior. The role CB2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) plays in binge-like intake has not yet been identified. In this regard, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of the administration of CB2R agonist, antagonist, or both on binge-like intake of palatable food (PF) in adolescent mice. We used 35 C57BL6/J male mice of 30 postnatal days in this research; all animals were housed individually and had ad libitum access to a standard diet (SD) and water. Animals were evaluated for a total of 15 sessions of the Binge Eating Test (BET), which consisted of 1 h access to PF (chocolate sandwich cookies) according to intermittent diet protocol, with one-day access/one-day no-access. PF and SD caloric intake, as well as the PF binge index (defined as consuming ≥20% of total caloric intake per day during the 1 h access to PF), were analyzed. Mice were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: (1) control; (2) vehicle; (3) HU308, selective CB2R agonist; (4) AM630, selective CB2R antagonist; (5) AM630+HU308 coadministration of antagonist and agonists of CB2R. All treatments were administered intraperitoneally before BET sessions. Our results show that HU308 significantly reduced binge-like intake of PF, while no significant differences were found in the rest of the groups. These results suggest that activation of the CB2R decreases the binge-like intake in adolescent mice and that chronic overconsumption in conditions of non-homeostatic feeding can be modulated by the CB2R. Furthermore, the activation of CB2R may also modulate reward pathways, reducing binge-like behavior, which could be further explored in future studies as a treatment for BED.
Establishment of a Novel In Vitro and In Vivo Model to Understand Molecular Carcinogenesis of Endometriosis-Related Ovarian Neoplasms
Authors: Sohel Hasibul Islam , Kiyono Tohru , Zahan Umme Farzana , Razia Sultana , Ishikawa Masako , Yamashita Hitomi , Kanno Kosuke , Sonia Shahataj Begum , Nakayama Kentaro , Kyo Satoru
Published: February 2025

The molecular mechanisms through which endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms (ERONs) develop from benign endometrioma remain unclear. It is especially a long-standing mystery why ovarian endometrioma has the potential to develop into two representative histological subtypes: endometrioid ovarian carcinoma or clear cell ovarian carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the molecular carcinogenesis of ERONs using newly developed in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis models. Epithelial cells were isolated and purified from surgically removed benign endometrioma samples, followed by immortalization by overexpressing cyclinD1/CDK4 in combination with the human TERT gene. Immortalized cells were subjected to various molecular manipulations by combining knockout or overexpression of several candidate drivers, including ARID1A, KRAS, PIK3CA, AKT, and MYC, based on previous comprehensive genome-wide studies of ERONs. These cells were then inoculated into immunocompromised mice and evaluated for malignant transformation. Inoculated cells harboring a combination of three genetic alterations successfully developed tumors with malignant features in mice, whereas those with two genetic manipulations failed to do so. Especially, ARID1A gene knockout, combined with overexpressing the KRAS oncogenic mutant allele (or overexpressing AKT) and c-Myc overexpression led to efficient tumor formation. Of note, these three combinations of genetic alterations produced tumors that histologically represented typical clear cell carcinoma in SCID mice, while the same combination led to tumors with endometrioid histology in nude mice. A combination of ARID1A mutation, KRAS mutation or AKT activation, and c-Myc overexpression were confirmed to be the main candidate drivers for the development of ERONs, as suggested by comprehensive genetic analyses of ERONs. A tumor immune microenvironment involving B-cell signaling may contribute to the diverse histological phenotypes. The present model may help to clarify the molecular mechanisms of ERON carcinogenesis and understand their histological diversity and novel molecular targets.
Analysis of Antigen Expression in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Multicolor Flow Cytometry: Implications for the Detection of Measurable Residual Disease
Authors: Semchenkova Alexandra , Mikhailova Ekaterina , Demina Irina , Roumiantseva Julia , Karachunskiy Alexander , Novichkova Galina , Popov Alexander
Published: February 2025

Multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) is a key method for assessing measurable residual disease (MRD) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, very few approaches were developed for MRD in T-cell ALL (T-ALL). To identify MRD markers suitable for T-ALL, we analyzed the expression of CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD34, CD45, CD48, CD56, CD99, and HLA-DR in T-ALL patients at diagnosis. The median fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of surface CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD45, CD48, CD99, and CD16+CD56 were also evaluated at Day 15 and the end-of-induction (EOI). The MFC data from 198 pediatric T-ALL patients were analyzed retrospectively. At diagnosis, the most common antigens were identified, and the MFI of T-lineage antigens in blasts was compared to that in T lymphocytes. At follow-up, the MFIs of the proposed MRD markers were compared to those observed at diagnosis. The most common T-ALL antigens were CD7 (100.0%), intracellular CD3 (100.0%), CD45 (98.5%), and CD5 (90.9%). The MFIs of T-lineage antigens in blasts differed significantly from those in T lymphocytes. By the EOI, a substantial modulation of sCD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, and CD45 was observed. CD48 and CD99 were the most stable markers. The proposed MRD markers (sCD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD45, CD48, CD99, CD16+CD56) enabled MFC-MRD monitoring in virtually all T-ALL patients.
Native and Recombinant Yeast Producers of Lactic Acid: Characteristics and Perspectives
Authors: Tsaruk Aksyniia , Filip Kamila , Sibirny Andriy , Ruchala Justyna
Published: February 2025

Lactic acid (LA) is a key chemical used in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and bioplastics. Although traditionally produced using lactic acid bacteria, yeasts offer significant advantages, such as higher tolerance to acidic environments, a broader substrate range, and the potential for genetic and metabolic engineering. This review explores the potential use of Lachancea thermotolerans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Kluyveromyces lactis, Candida utilis, and Pichia kudriavzevii as LA producers, highlighting their unique characteristics and industrial applications. S. cerevisiae stands out due to its robust genetic toolkit and acid tolerance, while K. marxianus offers thermotolerance and the efficient utilization of lactose and pentoses, making it ideal for high-temperature fermentations. K. lactis is particularly suited for valorizing dairy by-products like whey, P. kudriavzevii exhibits high tolerance to multiple stresses, while C. utilis demonstrates superior resilience to lignocellulosic inhibitors, enabling its use in biorefineries. Key challenges, including enhancing LA tolerance and optimizing metabolic pathways, are addressed through strategies like heterologous lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) expression, redox balance modification, and adaptive laboratory evolution. The review also discusses industrial applications, particularly in the context of circular economy approaches, where yeasts can convert waste streams into high-value LA. Future research should focus on integrating yeasts into scalable, sustainable bioprocesses to meet the growing demand for renewable and biodegradable materials.
Special Issue: Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects 4.0
Authors: Hoffmann Klaus H.
Published: February 2025

Insects make up the largest number of species and individuals in the world [...]
Long-Term IGF-1 Maintenance in the Upper-Normal Range Has Beneficial Effect on Low-Grade Inflammation Marker in Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency
Authors: Klinc Ana , Janež Andrej , Jensterle Mojca
Published: February 2025

The distinctive effects of maintaining the upper- (0–2) versus lower-normal (−2–0) range of IGF-1 SDS in adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) remain understudied. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 31 patients with AGHD receiving growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) with daily GH for >5 years, with a 2-year mean IGF-1 SDS ranging between −2 and +2. Patients were categorized into the upper- or lower-normal range IGF-1 SDS groups according to their 2-year mean. Associations of clinical characteristics, anthropometric parameters, laboratory tests, and vascular markers of subclinical atherosclerosis with the 2-year IGF-1 SDS range and 5-year mean IGF-1 SDS were explored. Long-term maintenance of upper-normal IGF-1 SDSs was more common in men and in patients with a longer duration of GHRT. Patients with tumor-related AGHD had a lower 5-year mean IGF-1 SDS. Long-term maintenance of IGF-1 SDS in the upper-normal range was associated with lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (median (25–75% range): 0.8 (0.6–1.1) vs. 1.8 (0.8–4.6); p = 0.005). Moreover, a negative correlation was identified between a hs-CRP and the 5-year mean IGF-1 SDS. The association between the upper-normal IGF-1 SDS range and lower body fat percentage lost significance after adjusting for sex, due to the higher proportion of male patients in the upper-normal IGF-1 SDS group. In conclusion, long-term maintenance of upper-normal IGF-1 SDSs was associated with male sex and reduced low-grade inflammation. Randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate the long-term and sex-specific effects of targeting the upper- vs. lower-normal IGF-1 range in AGHD.
Determinants of the Intention to Use Digital Technology
Authors: Tseng Shu-Mei
Published: February 2025

To gain a competitive advantage, enterprises are increasingly leveraging digital technologies to create unique value through innovative business models, streamlined operations, and enhanced customer experiences. Despite the widespread adoption of digital technology (DT) to drive digital transformation, research on the factors influencing the public’s intention to use DT for engaging in innovative business activities remains sparse. This study explores the determinants of the public’s intention to adopt DT by integrating the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), alongside dynamic individual differences such as perceived risk, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety. The findings demonstrate that perceived innovative characteristics and dynamic individual differences significantly impact the public’s intention to use DT through their attitude toward using DT. Finally, this study offers specific recommendations for enhancing the public’s intention to use DT, providing valuable insights for both industry practitioners and academic researchers.
Accentuation as a Mechanism of Visual Illusions: Insights from Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART)
Authors: Pinna Baingio , Šķilters Jurģis , Porcheddu Daniele
Published: February 2025

This study introduces and examines the principle of accentuation as a novel mechanism in perceptual organization, analyzing its effects through the framework of Grossberg’s Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART). We demonstrate that localized accentuators, manifesting as minimal dissimilarities or discontinuities, can significantly modulate global perceptions, inducing illusions of geometric distortion, orientation shifts, and apparent motion. Through a series of phenomenological experiments, we establish that accentuation can supersede classical Gestalt principles, influencing figure-ground segregation, shape perception, and lexical processing. Our findings suggest that accentuation functions as an autonomous organizing principle, leveraging salience-driven attentional capture to generate perceptual effects. We then apply the ART model to elucidate these phenomena, focusing on its core constructs of complementary computing, boundary–surface interactions, and resonant states. Specifically, we show how accentuation-induced asymmetries in boundary signals within the boundary contour system (BCS) can propagate through laminar cortical circuits, biasing figure-ground assignments and shape representations. The interaction between these biased signals and top–down expectations, as modeled by ART’s resonance mechanisms, provides a neurally plausible account for the observed illusions. This integration of accentuation effects with ART offers novel insights into the neural substrates of visual perception and presents a unifying theoretical framework for a diverse array of perceptual phenomena, bridging low-level feature processing with high-level cognitive representations.
Reproductive Behavior of the Polyembryonic Parasitoid Copidosomopsis nacoleiae (Eady) at Different Ages
Authors: Ouyang Huili , Chen Dongyu , Xiang Peng , Wang Xiaoyun , Lu Wen , Zheng Xialin
Published: February 2025

In the control of agricultural and forestry pests, excessive reliance on chemical pesticides has led to increasingly severe issues, such as toxic residues and heightened pest resistance. The effective use of biological control has become a major focus in pest management. Parasitoid wasps, as a critical natural enemy of pests, are widely distributed, diverse in species, and play an essential role in natural pest control. Copidosomopsis nacoleiae, a recently discovered polyembryonic endoparasitoid wasp, parasitizes Diaphania angustalis; yet, its biological characteristics remain insufficiently studied. The artificial rearing and population propagation of this wasp have not yet been achieved, and its reproductive behavior and rhythm are not fully understood. To better utilize natural enemy resources and maximize their pest control benefits, we conducted laboratory rearing, behavioral observation, and population surveys to investigate the morphological characteristics, life history, and behavioral patterns of C. nacoleiae. Under laboratory conditions, C. nacoleiae has a generational cycle of 48.71 ± 0.48 days, with an egg–larval period of 32.17 ± 0.20 days and a pupal period of 14.36 ± 0.27 days. Adult wasps require nutritional supplementation and have a maximum lifespan of 2.18 ± 0.09 days when fed 10% honey water. The pre-mating period for adults is 4.72 ± 0.24 h, with an average mating frequency of 5.17 ± 1.65 times per lifetime. Females have a pre-oviposition period of 2.80 ± 0.31 h and an oviposition period of 4.52 ± 0.12 h, laying between 2 and 95 eggs, with an average of 12.75 ± 9.99 eggs, totaling 107.55 ± 28.38 eggs over their lifespan. Offspring production increases with the body length of the host’s mature larvae. Through the successful establishment of a laboratory population of D. angustalis, the biological characteristics, reproductive behavior, and rhythms of C. nacoleiae were systematically examined in this study, and its occurrence dynamics in the field were investigated. These results provide a theoretical foundation for the large-scale propagation and application of C. nacoleiae to control D. angustalis populations effectively.
Effects of Alkaline and Carboxilated Graphene Oxide (CGO) Treatment on Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrical Properties of Jute Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Authors: Chowdhury Hironmoy , Saha Atik , Hasan Mahbub , Haider Julfikar
Published: February 2025

Sustainable and eco-friendly materials are vital for structural and energy storage applications. Synthetic fiber composites have long been utilized, but their high manufacturing cost and negative environmental impacts are concerning. This study aims to enhance the mechanical strength, thermal stability and electrical conductivity of jute fiber–reinforced epoxy composites by hand-lay-up technique with fiber surface modification with alkali (KOH) and carboxilated graphene oxide (CGO). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed fiber surface modification and the presence of CGO particles over the fiber surface. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to analyze the thermal stability and crystallinity of the samples. The electrical conductivity was measured by an electrometer, and the mechanical properties were assessed through tensile and flexural strength tests. Alkaline and CGO-treated jute fiber epoxy composites exhibited remarkable enhancement in mechanical properties, which were attributed to improved fiber-matrix interfacial bonding. Electrical conductivity also improved significantly. However, a trade-off between mechanical and electrical properties, particularly due to the susceptibility of cellulose to alkaline treatment, warrants optimizing the performance of the composites. The developed composites would be suitable for industrial applications where improved mechanical properties, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity are required.
Acute Effects of a Single Whole-Body Vibration Session on Mobility and Postural Control in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Christofoletti Gustavo , Cancian Nepomuceno de Almeida Azriel , Lorentz Camilly , Sobrinho Sidney Afonso , Terra de Oliveira Renata , Miziara Barbosa Suzi Rosa
Published: February 2025

Background: Whole-body vibration is a modality of exercise that uses high-frequency mechanical stimuli to enhance motor functions. Previous studies have demonstrated benefits of whole-body vibration in older adults. However, prolonged use of this modality of exercise may be detrimental to certain conditions. Objectives: to verify the acute effects of a single whole-body vibration session on mobility and postural control in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: In this two-arm, single-blind clinical trial, fifty-two participants were randomly allocated to either the experimental (subject to a single whole-body vibration session with a vibration amplitude of 2 mm and a frequency of 40 Hz) or placebo group. The exercise sessions were conducted using a tri-planar vibration platform. The tri-plane plates were adjusted to vibrate up and down, side to side, and front to back. The assessments included mobility and postural control tests. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were performed to examine the main effect of group (experimental vs. placebo), time (baseline vs. after the intervention), and group × time interaction effect. Significance was set at 5%. Results: Compared with the placebo group, participants who underwent whole-body vibration showed positive outcomes in terms of mobility (p = 0.014, effect size: 0.115). Contrastingly, no significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of postural control (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Benefits of a single whole-body vibration session were observed on mobility. Using whole-body vibration to improve postural control may require additional sessions. Contraindications typical of aging should be taken into account.
Error Quantification of Gaussian Process Regression for Extracting Eulerian Velocity Fields from Ocean Drifters
Authors: Xia Junfei , Iskandarani Mohamed , Gonçalves Rafael C. , Özgökmen Tamay
Published: February 2025

Drifter observations can provide high-resolution surface velocity data (Lagrangian data), commonly used to reconstruct Eulerian velocity fields. Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), a machine learning method based on Gaussian probability distributions, has been widely applied for velocity field interpolation due to its ability to provide interpolation error estimates and handle separations between particles. However, its evaluation has primarily relied on cross-validation, which approximates temporal and spatial correlations but does not fully capture their dependencies, limiting the comprehensiveness of performance assessment. Moreover, GPR has not been rigorously tested on model datasets with reference velocity fields to evaluate its overall accuracy and the reliability of the error estimate. This study addresses these gaps by (1) assessing the accuracy of GPR-reconstructed fields and their error estimates, (2) evaluating GPR performance across temporal and spatial dimensions, and (3) analyzing the relationship between training data density and prediction accuracy. Using six metrics, GPR predictions are evaluated on a double-gyre model and a Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM). Results show that GPR achieves high accuracy, contingent on sampling density and velocity magnitude, while validating the posterior covariance matrix as a reliable error predictor. These findings provide critical insights into the strengths and limitations of GPR in oceanographic applications.
A Comparative Study of Combustion Characteristics for the Evaluation of the Feasibility of Crude Bioethanol as a Substitute for Marine Fuel Oil
Authors: Kim Ju-Wan , Lee Tae-Ho
Published: February 2025

In this study, the potential use of corn-based crude bioethanol was investigated as an alternative energy source for marine fuel oil under increasingly stringent maritime emissions regulations. A small-scale combustion chamber with a capacity of approximately 1 ton was developed, and comparative combustion tests were conducted with various fuel types, including MGO, diesel, kerosene, and BE100. In addition, component analysis was performed and compared using the ISO-8217 method. Complete combustion of the fuel was performed under the same experimental conditions of stable atmospheric pressure and temperature. BE100 exhibited an 8.3% increase in the oxygen concentration and a 5.9% reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions compared to MGO. Despite the low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of MGO at approximately 34.4 ppm, BE100 demonstrated superior reduction potential, with a reading of 1.9 ppm. Sulfur oxides (SOx) were not detected in any of the fuels tested, underscoring the high quality of the currently available low-sulfur MGO. The exhaust gas temperatures were reduced by approximately 44.6% when using BE100, from 367.1 °C for MGO to 203.2 °C for BE100. However, the combustion efficiency of BE100 was 8.3% lower than that of MGO. While crude bioethanol shows promise in reducing exhaust gas emissions, its limited thermal output poses a challenge for direct substitution. Future studies should investigate the development of blended fuels combining bioethanol and conventional marine fuels to improve the performance and sustainability.
Cooperative and Hierarchical Optimization Design of Shipboard MVDC System for Adapting to Large, Pulsed Power Load
Authors: Liu Zhimeng , Liu Yongbao , Yu Youhong , Yang Rui
Published: February 2025

Supplying power to large, pulsed power loads in shipboard medium voltage direct current integrated power systems is challenging due to the limited dynamic power responsiveness of the gas turbine. The two main solutions to this problem are improving the gas turbine’s dynamic performance and using energy storage devices for transient power compensation. In this paper, these two approaches are combined to achieve optimal coordination between the gas turbine’s dynamic response and the system’s transient power sharing strategy, and a mechanical–electrical cooperative operation strategy and a hierarchical optimization method of the system are proposed. The hierarchical optimization model is designed with energy storage configuration and dynamic performance as the lower and upper objectives, and an efficient parallel neural network-based genetic algorithm is employed to solve this optimization. The proposed method is applied to determine the system optimal energy storage configuration and dynamic performance across multiple scenarios, including different propulsion conditions with various types of large, pulsed power loads. The results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively reduces energy storage requirements: fuel system optimization, IGV adjustment strategy, and bleeding strategy, respectively, lower the energy storage configuration optimization objective values by 10.6%, 20.1%, 2.4%, and 6.2%, 6.5%, 5.3%. The SVSDP scheme achieves reductions of 19.5%, 7.6%, and 49.6%, 39.7% compared to VRCD and PSO-FS. Furthermore, the method also enhances the system’s dynamic response: under the specified HESS configuration, fuel system optimization, IGV adjustment strategy, and bleeding strategy reduce the dynamic performance optimization objective values by 6.8%, 23.3%, 8.6%, and 9.2%, 21.5%, 6.8%. The SVSDP scheme results in reductions of 21.3%, 15.4%, and 66.2%, 26.0% compared to VRCD and PSO-FS.
Three-Dimensional In Situ Stress Distribution in a Fault Fracture Reservoir, Linnan Sag, Bohai Bay Basin
Authors: Liu Jiageng , Wang Yanzhong , Li Jing , Meng Xiaoyu , Teng Jiayi , Wang Zhicheng , Li Mingzhi , Zhu Rui
Published: February 2025

The fault fracture body, consisting of faults, fracture zones, cracks, and the matrix, plays a crucial role in controlling oil and gas accumulation. Understanding its spatial distribution and analyzing the in situ stress field are essential for optimizing well design and fracturing operations. This study integrates geological, logging, and seismic data, and employs advanced techniques such as ant tracking to establish a skeletal model of the fault fracture body. Reverse modeling and optimization reconstruction are used to construct a three-dimensional geomechanical model of the fracture system. Machine learning techniques, specifically a back propagation (BP) neural network, are utilized to invert the boundary conditions of the study area. Finite element numerical simulation software is then applied to model the three-dimensional in situ stress field under coupled flow–solid interaction. The reservoirs in the study area are characterized by a dense structure, low porosity, and low permeability. The results indicate that the maximum horizontal principal stress in the fault fracture reservoir ranges from 68.0 to 72.8 MPa, while the minimum horizontal principal stress ranges from 58.2 to 63.1 MPa. The stress at fractures is lower than that in the surrounding matrix, and stress concentrations occur at both ends of the faults. The in situ stress field exhibits distinct subarea characteristics, with significant stress reductions across fault fractures and directional deflections at faults. These findings provide valuable insights for improving reservoir development efficiency and optimizing well operations in similar geological settings.
A Tripartite Evolutionary Game-Based Cooperation Model of Cross-Border E-Commerce Logistics Alliances: A Case Study of China
Authors: Miao Xiaohong , Li Zhongbin , Yan Yingzheng , Xu Anxin
Published: February 2025

As a new business model, cross-border e-commerce has become an important way for countries to meet new foreign trade requirements in the Internet economy. The cross-border logistics industry plays a crucial role in supporting cross-border e-commerce. Compared with domestic e-commerce, cross-border logistics faces more challenges. To address the problems in cross-border logistics, this study takes China as an example and constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model to facilitate information collaboration among cross-border e-commerce platforms, domestic logistics enterprises, and foreign logistics enterprises. The collaboration strategies in this tripartite information system are simulated using MATLAB. The study highlights key factors affecting information cooperation, such as standardization levels, risk and payoff distributions, and their implications on collaboration decisions. Specifically, the results show that higher levels of information collaboration standardization promote cooperative strategies among players; the risk associated with information collaboration is the most sensitive factor influencing decision-making within cross-border logistics alliances; and when the payoff distribution coefficient is too high, other members may resist cooperation.
Correction: Qi et al. Heterogeneity Impacts of Farmers’ Participation in Payment for Ecosystem Services Based on the Collective Action Framework. 2022, 11, 2007
Authors: Qi Yunyun , Zhang Tianye , Cao Jing , Jin Cai , Chen Tianyu , Su Yue , Su Chong , Sannigrahi Srikanta , Maiti Arabinda , Tao Shiqi , Zhang Qi , Li Tan
Published: February 2025

Error in Table [...]
Scale-Dependent Relationships Between Urban Morphology and Noise Perception: A Multi-Scale Spatiotemporal Analysis in New York City
Authors: Chen Siting , Yu Bingjie , Shi Guang , Cai Yiping , Wang Yanyu , He Pingge
Published: February 2025

Urban morphology significantly influences residents’ noise perceptions, yet the impact across different spatial and temporal scales remains unclear. This study investigates the scale-dependent relationship between urban morphology and noise perception in New York City using noise complaint rates (NCR) as a proxy for perceived noise levels. A multi-scale analysis framework was applied, including four spatial scales (100 m, 200 m, 500 m, and 1000 m) and three temporal classifications (daytime/nighttime/dawn, weekdays/weekends, and seasonal divisions). Statistical analyses, including Spearman correlation, Moran’s I test, and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), examined spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Results show: (1) NCR and urban morphology indicators vary significantly across spatial and temporal aggregations. (2) Correlations between NCR and urban morphology indicators generally strengthen with larger spatial units, revealing a scale effect. Temporal variations, e.g., residential land ratio (RES) and greenery percentage (SVI Green), show stronger correlations with NCR in summer than in winter. (3) The Moran’s I index revealed significant spatial clustering at the 1000 m scale. Multi-temporal GWR analysis revealed spatial variations in urban morphology-noise relationships across different temporal contexts; in residential areas, building density exacerbates complaints more during non-working periods than during working hours. This study enhances understanding of urban sound environments, offering insights required for more precise urban planning policies.
Compost Mitigates Metal Toxicity and Human Health Risks and Improves the Growth and Physiology of Lettuce Grown in Acidic and Neutral Loam-Textured Soils Polluted with Copper and Zinc
Authors: Ullah Sana , Praspaliauskas Marius , Vaskeviciene Irena , Hosney Ahmed , Barcauskaite Karolina
Published: February 2025

A pot study was conducted to assess the potential of green waste compost on soil properties, growth, physiology, and metal uptake of lettuce plants grown in acidic and neutral loam-textured soils irrigated with copper- and zinc-polluted wastewater (WW). The experiment consists of sixteen treatments involving two different soils with and without compost addition (compost and NoCompost) and irrigated with unpolluted WW, Cu-polluted WW, Zn-polluted WW, and Cu- plus Zn-polluted WW, arranged following factorial layout with three replications. The results illustrated that Cu- and Zn-polluted WW significantly reduced the growth, chlorophylls, and carotenoid pigments of lettuce plants in both soils under NoCompost conditions. However, the decline in these attributes was more pronounced in acidic soil (45–59%) than in neutral soil (30–38%). In the case of neutral soil, Zn-polluted WW did not negatively affect these attributes compared to control. All the metal-polluted treatments increased total polyphenols, polyphenolic acids, flavonoids, and antiradical activity in lettuce shoots. Alternatively, the compost application consistently increased (8–50%) the growth and physiological attributes of lettuce in both soils. Compost treatment decreased root and shoot metal (Cu, Zn) concentrations and uptake by 25–60% and 16–25%, respectively, in both soils. Likewise, compost decreased the metal health risk index (37%—2.7 folds) in both soils. Copper-polluted WW decreased the dehydrogenase activity of soils more than Zn-polluted WW, but compost significantly increased it in both soils, enhancing the organic matter contents of both soils. Conclusively, the addition of compost at the rate of 2% substantially alleviated the metal toxicity thereafter human health risks in both soils.
Automatic Detect Incorrect Lifting Posture with the Pose Estimation Model
Authors: Hsu Gee-Sern Jison , Wu Jie Syuan , Huang Yin-Kai Dean , Chiu Chun-Chieh , Kang Jiunn-Horng
Published: February 2025

Background: Occupational low back pain (LBP) is a pervasive health issue that significantly impacts productivity and contributes to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Inadequate lifting postures are a primary, modifiable risk factor associated with LBP, making early detection of unsafe practices crucial to mitigating occupational injuries. Our study aims to address these limitations by developing a markerless, smartphone-based camera system integrated with a deep learning model capable of accurately classifying lifting postures. Material and Method: We recruited 50 healthy adults who participated in lifting tasks using correct and incorrect postures to build a robust dataset. Participants lifted boxes of varying sizes and weights while their movements were recorded from multiple angles and heights to ensure comprehensive data capture. We used the OpenPose algorithm to detect and extract key body points to calculate relevant biomechanical features. These extracted features served as inputs to a bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM) model, which classified lifting postures into correct and incorrect categories. Results: Our model demonstrated high classification accuracy across all datasets, with accuracy rates of 96.9% for Tr, 95.6% for the testing set, and 94.4% for training. We observed that environmental factors, such as camera angle and height, slightly influenced the model’s accuracy, particularly in scenarios where the subject’s posture partially occluded key body points. Nonetheless, these variations were minor, confirming the robustness of our system across different conditions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of a smartphone camera and AI-based system for lifting posture classification. The system’s high accuracy, low setup cost, and ease of deployment make it a promising tool for enhancing workplace ergonomics. This approach highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to improve occupational safety and underscores the relevance of affordable, scalable solutions in the pursuit of healthier workplaces.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Everyday Clinical Practice: From Diagnosis to Therapy
Authors: Kosmalski Marcin , Mokros Łukasz
Published: February 2025

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently one of the most common hepatic disorders observed in daily medical practice [...]
Heteroleptic Cobalt Complexes with Catecholate and 1,4-Diaza-1,3-butadiene Ligands
Authors: Ershova Irina V. , Arsenyev Maxim V. , Yakushev Ilya A. , Piskunov Alexandr V.
Published: February 2025

Two new heteroleptic cobalt(II) complexes (3,6-Cat)Co(R-DAD) (where (3,6-Cat)2− is a dianion of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone, R-DAD is diisopropyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (R = i-Pr (1)) or dicyclohexyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (R = c-Hex (2)) have been synthesized and characterized in detail by IR, UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were measured both in a solid state and in a solution. According to the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, the metal ion in 1 has a planar coordination environment, but magnetic susceptibility measurements of the microcrystalline samples of 1 and 2 indicate the formation of both forms with tetrahedral (d7, h.s., SCo = 3/2) and planar (d7, l.s., SCo = ½) coordination environments of the metal ion. Absorption spectra of crystalline samples of 1 and 2 possess intense absorption band in the NIR region. Electrochemical measurements of 1 and 2 were also performed.
The Effect of Thermal Processing on the Microstructure and Properties of a Novel Nickel-Based Powder Metallurgy Superalloy
Authors: Xiong Jiangying , Yin Chao , Long Anping , Cheng Junyi , Feng Ganjiang , Guo Jianzheng
Published: February 2025

A novel nickel-based powder metallurgy superalloy was processed using two different thermal–mechanical processes, including hot isostatic pressed (As-HIP) and hipped + hot extruded + isothermally-forged (IF) heat treatments following two processed alloys, designated as As-HIP-HT and IF-HT. The objective of this study is to investigate the microstructure and mechanical property evolution in a nickel-based powder disk alloy fabricated by two processes. The findings revealed that both As-HIP and IF alloys underwent substantial recrystallization, with grains in the IF alloy being finer. Notable Prior Particle Boundaries (PPBs) were identified in the As-HIP samples. The IF-HT alloy exhibited a larger grain size due to a greater amount of stored energy. Significant differences in the secondary γ′ precipitates were observed between the two processes. More uniform substructures in the IF-HT alloy led to a higher density of finer γ′ precipitates. At temperatures of 704 °C and 760 °C, the As-HIP-HT alloy displayed a higher yield strength, but its plasticity significantly declined as temperature increased, while the IF-HT alloy showed a relatively stable plasticity. The presence of PPBs in the As-HIP-HT alloy minimally affected the alloy’s strength but reduced its plasticity. The creep property of the two processes was compared at 800 °C/330 MPa; the IF-HT alloy demonstrated lower creep rates and a longer creep life, which was attributed to its finer γ′ precipitates. Dominant creep deformation mechanisms in the As-HIP-HT alloy included Orowan dislocation loops and deformation twinning, while the primary mechanisms in the IF-HT alloy involved dislocation cutting through γ′ precipitates, dislocation slip, and micro-twins. These findings support the use of isostatic pressing + hot extrusion+ isothermally-forging process for critical high-temperature components.
An Improved Fault Diagnosis Method for Rolling Bearing Based on Relief-F and Optimized Random Forests Algorithm
Authors: Yang Yueyi , Zhai Jiabo , Wang Haiquan , Xu Xiaobin , Hu Yabo , Wen Jinxia
Published: February 2025

Rolling Bearings are important supporting components of rotating machines in industrial processes; the faults of rolling bearings will cause the deterioration of the operation conditions of rotating machines. How to effectively extract the fault features and identify the fault modes of rolling bearings quickly and accurately has become a key issue for the safe operation of rotating machines. In this paper, a novel hybrid fault diagnosis method of an optimized random forests classifier for rolling bearings is proposed. Firstly, the original vibration signals are decomposed by recursive variational mode decomposition (RVMD), and the typical time–frequency domain features are extracted from decomposed signals at different scales. The Relief-F ranking method is utilized to assess the quality of time–frequency domain features, and the top-ranked features with high weight gain are selected for identifying the fault modes. Then, an improved bee colony algorithm is proposed based on the simulated binary crossover criterion, which is used to optimize the key parameters of random forests (RF). Finally, several experiments are conducted on the Case Western Reserve University bearing dataset and the dataset collected from our rolling bearing fault testbed. The experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately identify bearing faults and outperform other state-of-the-art methods.
Abundant Elliptic, Trigonometric, and Hyperbolic Stochastic Solutions for the Stochastic Wu–Zhang System in Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Mohammed Wael W. , Ali Ekram E. , Ahmed Athar I. , Ennaceur Marwa
Published: February 2025

In this article, we look at the stochastic Wu–Zhang system (SWZS) forced by multiplicative Brownian motion in the Itô sense. The mapping method, which is an effective analytical method, is employed to investigate the exact wave solutions of the aforementioned equation. The proposed scheme provides new types of exact solutions including periodic solitons, kink solitons, singular solitons and so on, to describe the wave propagation in quantum mechanics and analyze a wide range of essential physical phenomena. In the absence of noise, we obtain some previously found solutions of SWZS. Additionally, using the MATLAB program, the impacts of the noise term on the analytical solution of the SWZS were demonstrated.
Multi-Strategy Enhanced Secret Bird Optimization Algorithm for Solving Obstacle Avoidance Path Planning for Mobile Robots
Authors: Xu Libo , Yuan Chunhong , Jiang Zuowen
Published: February 2025

Mobile robots play a pivotal role in advancing smart manufacturing technologies. However, existing Obstacle avoidance path Planning (OP) algorithms for mobile robots suffer from low stability and applicability. Therefore, this paper proposes an enhanced Secret Bird Optimization Algorithm (SBOA)-based OP algorithm for mobile robots to address these challenges, termed AGMSBOA. Firstly, an adaptive learning strategy is introduced, where individuals enhance the diversity of the algorithm’s population by summarizing relationships among candidates of varying quality, thereby strengthening the algorithm’s ability to locate globally optimal obstacle avoidance path regions. Secondly, a group learning strategy is incorporated by dividing the population into learning and teaching groups, enhancing the algorithm’s exploitation capabilities, improving the accuracy of obstacle avoidance path planning, and reducing actual runtime. Lastly, a multiple population evolution strategy is proposed, which balances the exploration/exploitation phases of the algorithm by analyzing the nature of different individuals, improving the algorithm’s ability to escape suboptimal obstacle avoidance path traps. Subsequently, AGMSBOA was used to solve the OP problem on five maps and two OP problems in real-world environments. The experiments illustrate that AGMSBOA achieves more than 5% performance improvement in path length and a 100–win rate in runtime metrics, as well as faster convergence and stability of the solution. Therefore, AGMSBOA proposed in this paper is an efficient, robust, and robust OP method for mobile robots.
Theoretical Study on the Failure of Rocks with Preexisting Cracks Considering the Extension of the Crack Tip Plastic Zone
Authors: Zheng Xuegui , Gao Wei , Chen Xin , Wang Xu
Published: February 2025

Rock failure, which causes instability in rock engineering, is an engineering accident that generally occurs through the coalescence of the preexisting cracks in rocks. Therefore, it is very important to research the coalescence of rock cracks to prevent rock engineering accidents. Based on the mechanical theories of elastoplastic mechanics and fracture mechanics (the generalized Drucker–Prager (D-P) yield criterion and the core concept of the Kachanov method), the propagation of the plastic zones at rock crack tips affected by far-field uniform pressures is theoretically researched considering the interaction of two collinear cracks of unequal length. Moreover, for two cases of two cracks of equal length and unequal length in rocks, the basic laws of crack coalescence by the propagation of the plastic zones at rock crack tips are first studied, and the suggested threshold values of crack spacing for crack coalescence in rocks are provided. The results show that, for equal-length cracks, as the crack spacing decreases, the cracks propagate by a quadratic polynomial function, and the threshold is 0.2 of the ratio of crack spacing to crack length. Moreover, for unequal-length cracks, as the crack spacing decreases, the cracks propagate by a linear function, and the threshold is 0.3 of the ratio of crack spacing to secondary crack length. Finally, using the numerical simulation of a rock slope including equal-length and unequal-length cracks, and a laboratory test with a rock-like material specimen including unequal-length cracks, the main conclusions of the abovementioned theoretical studies have been verified. In this study, although the basic law of crack coalescence is first studied and the threshold value of crack coalescence is suggested first, the researched crack morphology and rock properties are relatively simple.
MHD Taylor–Couette Flow of Oldroyd-B Fluids Through a Porous Medium in an Annulus Induced by Time-Dependent Couples
Authors: Fetecau Constantin , Vieru Dumitru
Published: February 2025

The Taylor–Couette flow of electrically conducting incompressible Oldroyd-B fluids induced by time-dependent couples in an annulus is analytically investigated when magnetic and porous effects are taken into account. Closed-form expressions are established for the dimensionless shear stress, fluid velocity and Darcy’s resistance by means of the integral transforms. Similar solutions for the MHD Taylor–Couette flow of the same fluids through a porous medium induced by a time-dependent couple in an infinite circular cylinder are obtained as limiting cases of previous results. In both cases, the obtained results can generate exact solutions for any motion of this kind of the respective fluids. Consequently, the two MHD motions of the respective fluids through a porous medium are completely solved. For illustration, two case studies are considered and the fluid behavior is graphically investigated. The convergence of the starting solutions to their permanent components is proved and the required time to touch the permanent state is determined.
A Wide-Range Adjustable Conservative Memristive Hyperchaotic System with Transient Quasi-Periodic Characteristics and Encryption Application
Authors: Yu Fei , Tan Bohong , He Ting , He Shaoqi , Huang Yuanyuan , Cai Shuo , Lin Hairong
Published: February 2025

In comparison with dissipative chaos, conservative chaos is better equipped to handle the risks associated with the reconstruction of phase space due to the absence of attractors. This paper proposes a novel five-dimensional (5D) conservative memristive hyperchaotic system (CMHS), by incorporating memristors into a four-dimensional (4D) conservative chaotic system (CCS). We conducted a comprehensive analysis, using Lyapunov exponent diagrams, bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits, equilibrium points, and spectral entropy maps to thoroughly verify the system’s chaotic and conservative properties. The system exhibited characteristics such as hyperchaos and multi-stability over an ultra-wide range of parameters and initial values, accompanied by transient quasi-periodic phenomena. Subsequently, the pseudorandom sequences generated by the new system were tested and demonstrated excellent performance, passing all the tests set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In the final stage of the research, an image-encryption application based on the 5D CMHS was proposed. Through security analysis, the feasibility and security of the image-encryption algorithm were confirmed.
On the Sixth-Order Beam Equation of Small Deflection with Variable Parameters
Authors: Khanfer Ammar , Bougoffa Lazhar , Alhelali Nawal
Published: February 2025

This paper establishes an existence and uniqueness theorem for the nonlocal sixth-order nonlinear beam differential equations with four parameters of the form u(6)+A(x)u(4)+B(x)u″+C(x)u=λf(x,u,u″,u(4)),0<x<1, subject to the integral boundary conditions: u(0)=u(1)=∫01p(x)u(x)dx, u″(0)=u″(1)=∫01q(x)u″(x)dx and u(4)(0)=u(4)(1)=∫01s(x)u(4)(x)dx such that 1−∫01p2(x)dx=α>0,1−∫01q2(x)dx=β>0,1−∫01s2(x)dx=γ>0, under some growth condition on f, and provided that an upper bound exists for the flexural rigidity λ to guarantee that no large deflections will occur.