bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Optimization of Culture Conditions for Injectable Recombinant Collagen Hydrogel Preparation Using Machine Learning
Authors: Li Mengyu , Zhao Long , Ren Yanan , Zuo Linfei , Shen Ziyi , Wu Jiawei
Published: February 2025

Injectable recombinant collagen hydrogels (RCHs) are crucial in biomedical applications. Culture conditions play an important role in the preparation of hydrogels. However, determining the characteristics of hydrogels under certain conditions and determining the optimal conditions swiftly still remain challenging tasks. In this study, a machine learning approach was introduced to explore the correlation between hydrogel characteristics and culture conditions and determine the optimal culture conditions. The study focused on four key factors as independent variables: initial substrate concentration, reaction temperature, pH level, and reaction time, while the dependent variable was the elastic modulus of the hydrogels. To analyze the impact of these factors on the elastic modulus, four mathematical models were employed, including multiple linear regression (ML), decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), and neural network (NN). The theoretical outputs of NN were closest to the actual values. Therefore, NN proved to be the most suitable model. Subsequently, the optimal culture conditions were identified as a substrate concentration of 15% (W/V), a reaction temperature of 4 °C, a pH of 7.0, and a reaction time of 12 h. The hydrogels prepared under these specific conditions exhibited a predicted elastic modulus of 15,340 Pa, approaching that of natural elastic cartilage.
Genetic Variants in RASSF1 (rs2073498), SERPINE1 (rs1799889), and EFNA1 (rs12904) Are Associated with Susceptibility in Mexican Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Clinical Associations and Their Analysis In Silico
Authors: Tovar-Jácome César de Jesús , Juárez-Vázquez Clara Ibet , Gallegos-Arreola Martha Patricia , García-Ortiz José Elías , Marín-Contreras María Eugenia , Pineda-Razo Tomás Daniel , Mariscal-Ramírez Ignacio , Durán-Anguiano Oscar , Alcaraz-Wong Aldo Antonio , González-Sánchez Rubria Alicia , Mundaca-Rodríguez Marina Lizbeth , Godínez-Rodríguez Miriam Yadira , Corona-Padilla Marlín , Rosales-Reynoso Mónica Alejandra
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Variants in genes that regulate processes such as apoptosis and angiogenesis play a significant role in CRC. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible association between RASSF1 (rs2073498), SERPINE1 (rs1799889), EFNA1 (rs12904), and RAD51 (rs1801320) variants and clinicopathological characteristics of Mexican patients with CRC. Methods: DNA of peripheral blood samples was obtained from 631 individuals (349 patients and 282 control individuals). The RASSF1 (rs2073498), SERPINE1 (rs1799889), EFNA1 (rs12904), and RAD51 (rs1801320) variants were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The association was calculated using the odds ratio (OR) test. p-values were adjusted by the Bonferroni test (0.0125). In silico analysis programs, including Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD), Polymorphism Phenotyping-2 (PolyPhen-2), and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), were conducted to predict the functional impact of these variants. Results: Patients carrying the G/A genotype of the RASSF1 (rs2073498) variant showed an association with CRC characteristics, including TNM stages and tumor location (OR > 2.5, p = 0.001). Regarding the SERPINE1 (rs1799889) variant, patients carrying the 5G/4G genotype showed an association between TNM stages and tumor location in the rectum (OR > 1.5, p ≤ 0.05). Patients with the G/G genotype for the EFNA1 (rs12904) variant showed an association with TNM stages and rectal tumor location (OR > 2.0, p = 0.001). The RAD51 (rs1801320) variant had no association with colorectal cancer. Conclusions: RASSF1 (rs2073498), SERPINE1 (rs1799889), and EFNA1 (rs12904) variants significantly influence colorectal cancer risk.
Unveiling Racial Disparities in Localized Prostate Cancer: A Systems-Level Exploration of the lncRNA Landscape
Authors: Morgan Rebecca A. , Hazard E. Starr , Savage Stephen J. , Halbert Chanita Hughes , Gattoni-Celli Sebastiano , Hardiman Gary
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in men globally, and one which displays significant racial disparities. Men of African descent (AF) are more likely to develop PC and face higher mortality compared to men of European descent (EU). The biological mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), recognized as key regulators of gene expression and immune processes, have emerged as potential contributors to these disparities. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of lncRNAs in localized PC in AF men relative to those of EU and assess their involvement in immune response and inflammation. Methods: A systems biology approach was employed to analyze differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and their roles in prostate cancer (PC). Immune-related pathways were investigated through over-representation analysis of lncRNA–mRNA networks. The study also examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation on lncRNA expression in African descent (AF) PC patients, highlighting their potential regulatory roles in immune response and inflammation. Results: Key lncRNAs specific to AF men were identified, with several being implicated for immune response and inflammatory processes. Notably, 10 out of the top 11 ranked lncRNAs demonstrated strong interactions with immune-related genes. Pathway analysis revealed their regulatory influence on antigen processing and presentation, chemokine signaling, and ribosome pathways, suggesting their critical roles in immune regulation. Conclusions: These findings highlight the pivotal role of lncRNAs in PC racial disparities, particularly through immune modulation. The identified lncRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets to address racial disparities in PC outcomes.
Testing Semi-Automated Landforms Extraction Using Field-Based Geomorphological Maps
Authors: Giano Salvatore Ivo , Pescatore Eva , Siervo Vincenzo
Published: February 2025

The semi-automated extraction of landforms using GIS analysis is one of the main topics in computer analyses. The use of digital elevation models (DEMs) in GIS applications makes the extraction and classification procedure of landforms easier and faster. In the present paper, we assess the accuracy of semi-automated landform maps by means of a comparison with hand-made landform maps realized in the Pleistocene Agri intermontane basin (southern Italy). In this study, landform maps at three different scales of 1:50,000, 1:25,000, and 1:10,000 were used to ensure a good level of detail in the spatial distribution of landforms. The semi-automated extraction and classification of landforms was performed using a GIS-related toolbox, which identified ~48 different landform types. Conversely, the hand-made landform map identified ~57 landforms pertaining to various morphogenetic groups, such as structural, fluvial, karst landforms, etc. An overlap of the two landform maps was produced using GIS applications, and a 3D block diagram visualization was realized. A visual inspection of the overlapping maps was conducted using different spatial scales of patch frames and then analyzed to provide information on the accuracy of landform extraction using the implemented tools.
Curious Travellers: New Journeys for the Home Tour
Authors: Constantine Mary-Ann
Published: February 2025

This short concluding chapter reflects on the work of an ongoing collaborative academic project focused on the C18th home tour. Curious Travellers could be described as a ‘crucible’ project—a space in which different media, different perspectives, and different research skills combine and collide. Currently funded by the AHRC, it is a digital humanities project involving TEI tagging and crowd-sourcing, but its foundation is archival research into manuscripts. It is focused through the influential Tours of Wales and Scotland published by the naturalist and antiquarian Thomas Pennant, yet it seeks to unpick the multiple voices and collaborations behind his texts and to explore their legacy in the journeys and texts of others. The creation of new editions continues to generate new topics and research questions, including Anglophone/Celtic-language interactions; the writings of women tourists; the role of material objects (specimens and souvenirs) and of visual culture in knowledge exchange and production. Increasingly, project researchers are relating their work to broader global contexts of colonialism and environmental history. The diversity of the genre has proved hugely stimulating for a range of audiences beyond academia: community engagement and creative practices have been a key feature from the start. There are, of course, challenges—practical, methodological, financial. This reflective piece will acknowledge the constraints, as well as the possibilities, of being multi-stranded, cross-disciplinary—and intermittently funded.
Developing an Ecotoxicological Classification for Frequently Used Drugs in Primary Care
Authors: Charmillot Tiphaine , Chèvre Nathalie , Senn Nicolas
Published: February 2025

Most drugs excreted in urine are not filtered by wastewater treatment plants and end up in aquatic systems. At concentrations measured in waters, toxic effects on species have been described. Second, most of the drug consumption is attributable to primary care prescriptions. We thus present here, an ecotoxicity classification of the most sold drugs in primary care in Switzerland. Three datasets were combined: (1) surveyed ecotoxic drugs by the Swiss National Surface Water Quality Monitoring Programme and its European equivalent, (2) the top 50 drugs by sale in primary care in Switzerland, and (3) active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) concentrations in Lake Geneva and the rivers of the canton of Vaud between 2017 and 2022. We classified APIs into five categories from the safest to the least safe: (1) APIs found in concentrations (C) <10× their environmental quality standard (EQS·10−1), (2) EQS·10−1 < C < EQS and not listed by the Swiss or the EU Watch List, (3) EQS·10−1 < C < EQS and listed, (4) C > EQS and not listed, and (5) C > EQS and listed. We obtained full ecotoxicological data for 35 APIs. Fifteen APIs were designated as safe (category (1):paracetamol, tramadol, amisulpride, citalopram, mirtazapine, metformin, gabapentin, lamotrigine, primidone, candesartan, irbesartan, atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, ofloxacin, sulfadiazine), eleven as intermediately safe, and nine were of concern (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, iomeprol, iopromide). Full data were available for only one-third of the drugs most sold in primary care. Where data do exist, we observed significant differences in environmental impact among the same class of drugs. Our classification could therefore help guide doctors to adopt more eco-friendly prescriptions.
Chronic Care in Primary Care: Exploring the Role and Impact of General Practice Pharmacists in Managing Long-Term Conditions in Northern Ireland
Authors: Abuelhana Ahmed , Clark Petra Garlone , Courtenay Aaron , Coleman Heather , Ali Nermeen , Rajiah Kingston
Published: February 2025

The role of General Practice Pharmacists (GPPs) has expanded in response to increasing demands on primary care services, particularly in managing chronic conditions. While GPPs are recognised for their contributions to medication optimisation and patient care, challenges such as role clarity, workload pressures, and confidence in clinical decision-making remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the tasks, professional identity, confidence levels, and challenges faced by GPPs in Northern Ireland. A mixed-methods design was employed, incorporating a questionnaire distributed to GPPs across Northern Ireland. The questionnaire comprised 20 multiple-choice questions and 5 open-ended questions, focusing on demographics, tasks, confidence levels, role clarity, and professional challenges. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis using NVIVO software. A total of 44 GPPs participated, with a majority being female and aged 34–39 years. Most participants had 4–6 years of experience as GPPs. Quantitative findings revealed significant correlations between clinical confidence and factors such as years of experience, age, and employment type. Qualitative analysis revealed key themes: clinical confidence was enhanced by training and experience, but workload pressures often limited time for patient care. Variability in role integration and the lack of public awareness were highlighted as barriers to maximising the GPP role. This study highlights the key challenges of workload distribution and role ambiguity in the GPP role. Delegating administrative tasks and developing clear frameworks for role integration could address these barriers. Additionally, targeted training programs and public education campaigns are essential to enhance the impact of GPPs in primary care.
The Extent and Predictors of Fathers’ Involvement in the Raising of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the UAE
Authors: Opoku Maxwell , Mohamed Ahmed , Almarzooqi Shamsa , Cheikhmous Aisha
Published: February 2025

Background: Raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has consistently been found to be challenging for parents. However, available studies have mainly focused on mothers, raising questions about fathers’ involvement in raising children with ASD. Indeed, fathers’ involvement has consistently been reported as fundamental to the development of children with ASD. Thus, it necessitates extensions of Western-dominated literature to novel contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore the extent and predictors of fathers’ participation in the nurturance of children living with ASD. Methods: The survey was completed by 177 fathers raising children with ASD in the UAE and was based on the revised 27-item Fathers’ Involvement in Development and Rehabilitation Scale. The Statistical Package for Social Science was used to compute means and perform a multivariate analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Fathers’ ratings were high on involvement: attitude, support, and participation in training to assist their children with ASD. Also, support and participation in training significantly contributed to the variance in attitude towards children with ASD. Moreover, the place of residence of participants made a significant contribution to the variance in attitude towards children with ASD. Conclusions: There is a need for policymakers to capitalize on the gains already made in creating a favorable environment for the development of children with ASD in the UAE. Regular engagement between policymakers and fathers could enhance their engagement in raising their children.
Graph and Multi-Level Sequence Fusion Learning for Predicting the Molecular Activity of BACE-1 Inhibitors
Authors: Zheng Shaohua , Zhang Changwang , Chen Youjia , Chen Meimei
Published: February 2025

The development of BACE-1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) inhibitors is a crucial focus in exploring early treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, graph neural networks (GNNs) have demonstrated significant advantages in predicting molecular activity. However, their reliance on graph structures alone often neglects explicit sequence-level semantic information. To address this limitation, we proposed a Graph and multi-level Sequence Fusion Learning (GSFL) model for predicting the molecular activity of BACE-1 inhibitors. Firstly, molecular graph structures generated from SMILES strings were encoded using GNNs with an atomic-level characteristic attention mechanism. Next, substrings at functional group, ion level, and atomic level substrings were extracted from SMILES strings and encoded using a BiLSTM–Transformer framework equipped with a hierarchical attention mechanism. Finally, these features were fused to predict the activity of BACE-1 inhibitors. A dataset of 1548 compounds with BACE-1 activity measurements was curated from the ChEMBL database. In the classification experiment, the model achieved an accuracy of 0.941 on the training set and 0.877 on the test set. For the test set, it delivered a sensitivity of 0.852, a specificity of 0.894, a MCC of 0.744, an F1-score of 0.872, a PRC of 0.869, and an AUC of 0.915. Compared to traditional computer-aided drug design methods and other machine learning algorithms, the proposed model can effectively improve the accuracy of the molecular activity prediction of BACE-1 inhibitors and has a potential application value.
Microbial Guardians or Foes? Metagenomics Reveal Association of Gut Microbiota in Intestinal Toxicity Caused by DON in Mice
Authors: Cui Yujing , Guan Haoyue , Okyere Samuel Kumi , Hua Zixuan , Deng Youtian , Deng Huidan , Ren Zhihua , Deng Junliang
Published: February 2025

The role of gut microbiota has become a research hotspot in recent years; however, whether the gut microbiota are involved in the alleviation or exacerbation of Deoxynivalenol (DON) toxicity has not been fully studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether the gut microbiota are involved in reducing or aggravating the intestinal damage induced by DON in mice. Mice that received or did not receive antibiotic-induced intestinal flora clearance were orally given DON (5 mg kg/bw/day) for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, serum, intestinal tissue samples and colon contents were collected for further analysis. DON caused development of severe histopathological damage, such as necrosis and inflammation of the jejunum and colon in mice without gut microbiota clearance. The levels of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were reduced in the jejunum and colon of mice without gut microbiota clearance. In addition, the mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were increased in mice without gut microbiota clearance. The presence of microbiota exacerbate the intestinal damage induced by DON via changes in gut microbiota abundance and production of gut damaging metabolites.
The Mulberry WRKY Transcription Factor MaWRKYIIc7 Participates in Regulating Plant Drought Stress Tolerance
Authors: Su Xueqiang , Zhao Manli , Zhou Rong , Xu Cuimin , Zhang Ran , Li Ruixue , Wang Taichu
Published: February 2025

The sericulture industry is an important component of the agricultural industry. Drought stress can cause yellowing, premature ageing, and the shrinkage of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves, greatly damaging their quality and restricting the high-quality development of the sericulture industry. WRKY transcription factors play important roles in the plant drought stress response. In this study, we found that MaWRKYIIc7 of the mulberry WRKY TFs, had significantly higher expression levels in leaves than in other tissues and was induced to be expressed under drought stress. The MaWRKYIIc7 protein is located in the nucleus and plasma membrane, and its transcriptional activity depends mainly on the N-terminal sequence. The overexpression of MaWRKYIIc7 in Arabidopsis resulted in better drought tolerance. An analysis of the transient overexpression of MaWRKYIIc7 in mulberry seedlings under drought stress revealed that the transgenic seedlings presented decreased stomatal opening, decreased MDA content, increased ROS clearance ability, and increased the expression of ABA biosynthesis-related genes. The Y1H and Dual-luc results indicate that MaWRKYIIc7 can bind W-boxes to positively regulate MaNCED1 and MaRD29A, synergistically regulating the drought tolerance of mulberry. Overall, our research suggests that MaWRKYIIc7 can increase plant drought tolerance by promoting ROS clearance, adjusting stomatal opening, and activating the ABA signalling pathway.
An Integrative Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genus Rhynchium Spinola (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from China Based on Morphology, Genomic Data and Geographical Distribution
Authors: Peng Yun-Lian , He Shu-Lin , Chen Bin , Li Ting-Jing
Published: February 2025

The species of the genus Rhynchium Spinola are important natural insect control resources and widespread in the Old World. Due to the various color patterns of several species in China, it is difficulty to accurately classify and identify the genus. We combined their morphology with population genetic differentiation, phylogenetic relationship and geographical distribution to delimitate the species of Rhynchium from China. Within the genus, more than 600 pinned specimens were examined and a total of 37 whole genomes were analyzed, of which 35 were newly sequenced. Firstly, COI sequences, 13 PCGs and 2 rRNAs sequences of the mitochondrial genomes, USCO nucleotide matrix of 90% completeness (USCO90_fna), and USCO amino acid matrix of 90% completeness (USCO90_faa) were extracted from the whole-genome data. Then, genetic distances were calculated using the COI sequences, and ABGD species delimitation analysis identified three valid species. By integrating the four phylogenetic trees inferred from the four datasets and morphological analysis, the specimens of Rhynchium from China were recognized as R. carnaticum (newly recorded), R. quinquecinctum, and R. brunneum; the last is the most widely distributed in China, while the remaining two only occur in Hainan and Yunnan, respectively, markedly different from previous records. Finally, it is interesting that color patterns of the species R. brunneum seem to closely relate to the geographical distribution, embodying two different modes in the South and the North of China, as well as a transitional state in the middle. The roles of the color patterns are still not resolved and their underlying evolutionary mechanisms need further exploration.
Indications, Management, and Short- and Medium-Term Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Coronary Occlusion Treated with Percutaneous Revascularization—A Single-Center Study
Authors: Barbieri Lucia , Tumminello Gabriele , Mafrici Lorenzo , Pasero Guido , Mircoli Luca , Colombo Federico , Gobbi Cecilia , Rizzuto Alessandra S. , Carugo Stefano
Published: February 2025

The diagnosis of chronic total occlusion (CTO), characterized by the complete obstruction of a coronary artery for at least three months, remains challenging and can be entirely asymptomatic. Since the indications for performing a recanalization procedure for CTO do not originate from randomized controlled trials, this study aimed to assess the indications, management, and procedural outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous revascularization (PCI) for a CTO, ensuring that the population was as uniform as possible regarding technologies and methodological approaches. Forty-one consecutive patients who underwent PCI for CTO recanalization were enrolled from January 2021 to 2024. Additional outcomes included mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, and the presence of residual cardiac symptoms, with a median follow-up of 449 days and an interquartile range of 230–643 days. Our real-life study confirmed that PCI for CTO has a high success rate and a low incidence of major complications.
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ramos-Galarza Carlos , Obregón Jennifer
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain lesion caused by external or internal factors, resulting in cognitive, behavioral, physical, relational, and sensory sequelae, depending on the affected brain area and the severity of the injury. Within neuropsychological rehabilitation (NR), multiple methods have been developed that are aimed at restoring, compensating, and substituting deteriorated cognitive functions resulting from a TBI. This systematic review aimed to identify the state of the scientific literature regarding the efficacy of NR methods in individuals with a TBI. Methods: Articles were analyzed in the SCOPUS and PUBMED databases. Initially, 5347 studies were found. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 articles remained and were included in the data extraction process. Results: Of the seventeen included articles, eleven employed randomized or semi-randomized controlled trials, five were clinical studies, and one was a comparative study, in which the percentage of computerized NR methods was 58.82% in the experimental and clinical groups. In contrast, traditional methods constituted 35.3%, and the remaining 5.88% conducted holistic NR. Ninety percent of the methods employed in these investigations showed efficacy. Conclusions: While most of the evaluated NR methods demonstrated efficacy, the analysis of these findings should not be isolated from variables such as the etiology and phase of the TBI, the intervention duration, and the symptoms treated. Furthermore, the NR implementation must be adapted to the specific context of each patient.
Adaptation Characteristics in the Range of Motion of the Shoulder Among Young Male Volleyball Players
Authors: Chou Kun-Yu , Wu Wan-Ling , Chiu Chun-Wen , Cheng Shih-Chung , Chang Hsiao-Yun
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Repeated spiking and serving movements in volleyball can lead to alterations in shoulder range of motion among athletes, potentially increasing the risk of shoulder instability and injury. Hence, assessing and understanding the shoulder range of motion of volleyball players is a critical concern. Therefore, this study aimed to understand and evaluate the bilateral shoulder joint range of motion (ROM) in high-school male volleyball athletes and to discover the adaptation characteristics. Methods: Forty high-school male volleyball athletes participated in this study. Shoulder ROM measurements were taken via video with an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and we analyzed the ROM data using Kinovea software (Version 0.9.5) for both the dominant and non-dominant side. The shoulder ROM measurements included shoulder hyper-extension (SE), flexion (SF), internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), horizontal adduction (Sadd), and horizontal abduction (Sabd). After taking shoulder ROM measurements, the total rotational range of motion (TROM) was calculated based on the participants’ shoulder internal rotation and external rotation data, and we calculated the incidence of glenohumeral internal rotation deficiency (GIRD) among participants. Paired samples t-tests were used to analyze shoulder ROM differences between the dominant and non-dominant side. Results: The dominant side of the shoulder showed significantly lower internal rotation (dominant side: 42.17 ± 11.23°; non-dominant side: 52.14 ± 10.46°; p = 0.000) and total rotational ROM (dominant side: 137.11 ± 13.09°; non-dominant side: 141.96 ± 13.22°; p = 0.021) compared to the non-dominant side. Conversely, the dominant side of the shoulder exhibited significantly greater external rotation (dominant side: 94.96 ± 10.02°; non-dominant side: 89.83 ± 7.84°; p = 0.001) and shoulder horizontal adduction (dominant side: 44.87 ± 8.10°; non-dominant side: 39.60 ± 7.24°; p = 0.000) than the non-dominant side. No significant differences were found in other measured parameters. The incidence of glenohumeral internal rotation deficiency (GIRD) among all subjects was 37.5%. Conclusions: High-school male volleyball athletes in this study exhibited tightness in the posterior shoulder of their dominant side, indicating specific adaptations in shoulder ROM and a considerable prevalence of GIRD, observed in approximately one-quarter of the athletes. In conclusion, these data suggest that stretching and eccentric muscle training focusing on the posterior shoulder have potential value in mitigating these adaptations and reducing the risk of shoulder injuries.
Investigating Eye Movements to Examine Attachment-Related Differences in Facial Emotion Perception and Face Memory
Authors: Török-Suri Karolin , Németh Kornél , Baradits Máté , Csukly Gábor
Published: February 2025

Individual differences in attachment orientations may influence how we process emotionally significant stimuli. As one of the most important sources of emotional information are facial expressions, we examined whether there is an association between adult attachment styles (i.e., scores on the ECR questionnaire, which measures the avoidance and anxiety dimensions of attachment), facial emotion perception and face memory in a neurotypical sample. Trait and state anxiety were also measured as covariates. Eye-tracking was used during the emotion decision task (happy vs. sad faces) and the subsequent facial recognition task; the length of fixations to different face regions was measured as the dependent variable. Linear mixed models suggested that differences during emotion perception may result from longer fixations in individuals with insecure (anxious or avoidant) attachment orientations. This effect was also influenced by individual state and trait anxiety measures. Eye movements during the recognition memory task, however, were not related to either of the attachment dimensions; only trait anxiety had a significant effect on the length of fixations in this condition. The results of our research may contribute to a more accurate understanding of facial emotion perception in the light of attachment styles, and their interaction with anxiety characteristics.
Accurate Prostate Segmentation in Large-Scale Magnetic Resonance Imaging Datasets via First-in-First-Out Feature Memory and Multi-Scale Context Modeling
Authors: Zhu Jingyi , Zhang Xukun , Luo Xiao , Zheng Zhiji , Zhou Kun , Kang Yanlan , Li Haiqing , Geng Daoying
Published: February 2025

Prostate cancer, a prevalent malignancy affecting males globally, underscores the critical need for precise prostate segmentation in diagnostic imaging. However, accurate delineation via MRI still faces several challenges: (1) The distinction of the prostate from surrounding soft tissues is impeded by subtle boundaries in MRI images. (2) Regions such as the apex and base of the prostate exhibit inherent blurriness, which complicates edge extraction and precise segmentation. The objective of this study was to precisely delineate the borders of the prostate including the apex and base regions. This study introduces a multi-scale context modeling module to enhance boundary pixel representation, thus reducing the impact of irrelevant features on segmentation outcomes. Utilizing a first-in-first-out dynamic adjustment mechanism, the proposed methodology optimizes feature vector selection, thereby enhancing segmentation outcomes for challenging apex and base regions of the prostate. Segmentation of the prostate on 2175 clinically annotated MRI datasets demonstrated that our proposed MCM-UNet outperforms existing methods. The Average Symmetric Surface Distance (ASSD) and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) for prostate segmentation were 0.58 voxels and 91.71%, respectively. The prostate segmentation results closely matched those manually delineated by experienced radiologists. Consequently, our method significantly enhances the accuracy of prostate segmentation and holds substantial significance in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
Novel Polarization Construction Method and Synchronization Algorithm for Underwater Acoustic Channel Under T-Distribution Noise Environment
Authors: Xian Jiangfeng , Li Zhisheng , Wu Huafeng , Wang Weijun , Chen Xinqiang , Mei Xiaojun , Zhang Yuanyuan , Han Bing , Ma Junling
Published: February 2025

Underwater acoustic channel (UWAC) is characterized by significant multipath effects, strong time-varying properties and complex noise environments, which make achieving high-rate and reliable underwater communication a formidable task. To address the above adverse challenges, this study first presents a novel, robust and efficient polar code construction (NREPCC) method using the base-adversarial polarization weight (BPW) algorithm tailored for typical ocean channel models, including invariable sound velocity gradient (ISVG) channels, negative sound velocity gradient (NSVG) channels, and positive sound velocity gradient (PSVG) channels. Subsequently, a robust and reliable polar-coded UWAC system model based on the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique is designed using the t-distribution noise model in conjunction with real sea noise data fitting. Then, an enhanced time synchronization and packet detection algorithm based on t-distribution is proposed for the performance optimization of the polar-coded UWAC OFDM system. Finally, extensive numerical simulation results confirm the excellent performance of the proposed NREPCC method and polar-coded UWAC OFDM system under a variety of channel conditions. Specifically, the NREPCC method outperforms low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes by approximately 0.5~1 dB in PSVG and ISVG channels while maintaining lower encoding and decoding complexity. Moreover, the robustness of the NREPCC method under t-distribution noise with varying degrees of freedom is rigorously validated, which renders vital technical support for the design of high-precision and high-robustness UWAC systems.
Target-Defense Games with One or Two Unmanned Surface Vehicles Defending an Island: A Geometric Analytical Approach
Authors: Wang Keyang , Wang Yintao , Sun Qi
Published: February 2025

This paper considers a target-defense game in an open area with one or two defenders as well as an intruder. The intruder endeavors to reach the boundary of the island, while the defenders strive to prevent that by capturing the intruder through contact. Islands, as closed areas, restrict the free movement of the defenders, since the defenders—represented by USVs—cannot traverse the target area directly. First, we are concerned with the barrier, which is the boundary of the winning zones, taking into account the impact of the target. For the initial states lying in the defenders’ winning zone, there exists a strategy for the defenders to intercept the intruder regardless of the intruder’s best effort, while for the initial states lying in the intruder’s winning zone, the intruder can always invade successfully. We propose a geometric method to construct the barrier analytically for two kinds of speed ratios. Then, by taking index functions into consideration, we present optimal strategies for the players after constructing the dominance regions when their initial states lie in different winning zones. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. This study can be extended to scenarios involving multiple defenders.
Anatomy-Based Filler Injection: Treatment Techniques for Supraorbital Hollowness and Charming Roll
Authors: Hong Gi-Woong , Choi Wonseok , Wan Jovian , Yoon Song Eun , Bautzer Carlos , Basmage Lucas , Leite Patricia , Yi Kyu-Ho
Published: February 2025

Supraorbital hollowness and pretarsal fullness, commonly known as the sunken eyelid and charming roll, respectively, are significant anatomical features that impact the aesthetic appearance of the periorbital region. Supraorbital hollowness is characterized by a recessed appearance of the upper eyelid, often attributed to genetic factors, aging, or surgical alterations, such as excessive fat removal during blepharoplasty. This condition is particularly prevalent among East Asians due to anatomical differences, such as weaker levator muscles and unique fat distribution patterns. Pretarsal fullness, also known as aegyo-sal, enhances the youthful and expressive appearance of the lower eyelid, forming a roll above the lash line that is considered aesthetically desirable in East Asian culture. Anatomical-based filler injection techniques are critical for correcting these features, involving precise placement within the correct tissue planes to avoid complications and achieve natural-looking results. This approach not only improves the aesthetic appeal of the eyelid but also enhances the overall facial harmony, emphasizing the importance of tailored procedures based on individual anatomy and cultural preferences.
Health Benefits of Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Supplementation in Adults with Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis; A Placebo Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sinclair Jonathan , McLaughlin Graham , Allan Robert , Brooks-Warburton Johanne , Lawson Charlotte , Goh Shan , Desai Terun , Bottoms Lindsay
Published: February 2025

Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) significantly impacts individuals’ self-perception, body image, and overall quality of life, while also imposing considerable economic costs. These challenges highlight the necessity for complementary therapeutic strategies with reduced adverse effects to support conventional pharmacological treatments. Among natural interventions, Montmorency tart cherries, noted for their high anthocyanin content have emerged as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for UC. The current trial aimed to investigate the effects of Montmorency tart cherries compared to placebo in patients with mild to moderate UC. Materials and methods: Thirty-five patients with UC were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or Montmorency tart cherry juice, of which they drank 60 mL per day for 6 weeks. The primary outcomes and health-related quality of life, measured via the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBDQ), and the secondary measures, including other health-related questionnaires, blood biomarkers, and faecal samples, were measured before and after the intervention. Linear mixed-effects models were adopted to contrast the changes from baseline to 6 weeks between trial arms. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: There were significantly greater improvements in the IBDQ (22.61 (95% CI = 5.24 to 39.99) d = 0.90) and simple clinical colitis activity index (−3.98 (95% CI = −6.69 to –1.28) d = −1.01) in the tart cherry trial arm compared to placebo. In addition, reductions in faecal calprotectin levels were significantly greater in the tart cherry trial arm compared to placebo (−136.17 µg/g (95% CI = −258.06 to –4.28) d = −1.14). Loss to follow-up (N = 1) and adverse events (N = 1) were low and compliance was very high in the tart cherry (95.8%) trial arm. Conclusions: Given the profoundly negative effects of UC on health-related quality of life and its fiscal implications for global healthcare systems, this trial indicates that twice-daily tart cherry supplementation can improve IBD-related quality of life as well as the severity of symptoms and therefore may be important in the management of UC.
Efficacy of Dupilumab in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chu Szu-Hung , Chen Jeng-Jung , Chen Chung-Chu , Lei Wei-Te , Lien Chi-Hone , Weng Shung-Long , Yeung Chun-Yan , Liu Lawrence Yu-Ming , Tai Yu-Lin , Huang Ya-Ning , Lin Chien-Yu
Published: February 2025

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder of the esophagus with rising prevalence. Dupilumab (DUPI), a monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin-4 receptor α, has shown promise as a treatment option. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials searching the PubMed/Medline database, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the medRxiv preprint server up to 31 July 2024, assessing DUPI’s efficacy and optimal dosing in the treatment of EoE. Finally, three randomized-controlled trials comprising 470 participants, including 102 children under 12 years of age, were included in the qualitative synthesis. Both high-exposure (HE-DUPI, 300 mg weekly) and low-exposure (LE-DUPI, 300 mg biweekly) regimens achieved significant histologic remission relative to placebo (OR = 26.88, 95% CI 11.98–60.29 for LE-DUPI; OR = 29.15, 95% CI 13.68–62.12 for HE-DUPI). Although overall adverse events were comparable between groups, HE-DUPI was associated with a notable increase in serious adverse events. These findings suggest that DUPI is effective in promoting histologic remission in EoE, with LE-DUPI emerging as a preferred option for balancing efficacy and safety. This study highlights the efficacy and safety profiles of different dosing regimens and pediatric groups. Further studies are warranted to explore long-term outcomes and identify patient subgroups that may derive the greatest benefit from DUPI therapy.
Some Considerations to the Energy Dissipation of Frictionally Stressed Lubricating Greases
Authors: Kuhn Erik
Published: February 2025

The introduction of mechanical energy during a friction process stimulates the system to eliminate this disturbance and find ways for energy dissipation. There are two principal situations: the system is either near equilibrium or far from equilibrium. Near equilibrium, it can be expected that the disturbance will be damped after a certain time, and the system will settle in a stationary state at a level where it began. However, the situation could be entirely different when the system is far from equilibrium. After a phase of instability and crossing a critical parameter, there is a probability of a change in the order level. This means that a new structure will be formed. This paper describes some aspects of the criteria that lead a friction process inside the grease film to instability and examines the influence of different dependencies. In this publication, the dependencies are extended to verify the stability criterion. Finally, the rest phase of a thixotropic experiment is examined from the perspective of potential instability and, thus, the possibility of self-organizing processes occurring.
Wear Resistance of Additively Manufactured Footwear Soles
Authors: Xu Shuo , De Shuvodeep , Khaleghian Meysam , Emami Anahita
Published: February 2025

This study systematically evaluated the wear resistance and mechanical performance of 3D-printed thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and flexible stereolithography (SLA) resin materials for footwear outsoles. Abrasion tests were conducted on 26 samples (2 materials × 13 geometries) to analyze the weight loss, variations in the friction coefficient, temperature change, and deformation behavior. Finite element method (FEM) simulations incorporating the Ogden hyperelastic model were employed to investigate the stress distribution and wear patterns. The results revealed that TPR exhibits superior abrasion resistance and stable wear curves, making it suitable for high-load applications. On average, the TPR samples showed 27.3% lower weight loss compared to the SLA resin samples. The SLA resin samples exhibited a 65% higher mean coefficient of friction (COF) compared to the TPR samples. Furthermore, the SLA resin samples demonstrated a 94% higher temperature change during the sliding tests, reflecting greater friction-induced heating. The FEM simulations further validated TPR’s performance in high-stress regions and SLA resin’s deformation characteristics. This study’s findings not only highlight the performance differences between these two 3D-printed materials but also provide theoretical guidance for material selection based on wear behavior, contributing to the optimization of outsole design and its practical applications.
Achieving Strength–Ductility Balance in TWIP Steel by Tailoring Cementite
Authors: Zhao Zhenyu , Sheng Jian , Li Dazhao , Bai Shaobin , Chen Yongan , Lu Haitao , Cao Pengfei , Liu Xin
Published: February 2025

High-Mn steels are widely used in various fields. However, the FCC structure is not conducive to improving strength, limiting their development and application. In this work, hot-rolled Fe-25Mn-1Al-3Si-1C (wt.%) steel was annealed at various temperatures to tailor the cementite particles and recrystallized grains, thus achieving a balance between strength and ductility. As the annealing temperature increased from 550 to 650 °C, the volume fraction of recrystallized grains slightly increased and the volume fraction of cementite particles initially increased and then decreased, which was explained and verified by the quantitative calculation. Especially, the high-density pre-dislocation and finely dispersed cementite particles in sample AN550 resulted in a relatively low volume fraction of recrystallized grains. Interestingly, secondary deformation twinning was activated during the subsequent tensile deformation in addition to the dislocations, stacking faults, and previous deformation twinning. This complex interaction among various deformation mechanisms indued a good balance between strength and ductility, achieving an outstanding result (58.9 GPa%) regarding tensile strength and total elongation. This work offers an effective route for developing a high-Mn TWIP steel with outstanding strength–ductility balance.
Understanding the Effect of Waiting for the Dissolution of Sodium Hydroxide in Geopolymer Concrete Mixes
Authors: Altameemi Samara , Adeleke Blessing O. , Kinuthia John M. , Oti Jonathan
Published: February 2025

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) can be produced by the chemical activation of industrial by-products and processed natural minerals that contain aluminosilicates with the presence of an alkaline activator. Raw components are one of the critical parameters affecting geopolymer performance. On the other hand, the mixing procedure of geopolymer concrete is not any less important. Few demonstrative constructions have been built using GPC as a greener alternative to Portland cement concrete. Numerous variables affect GPC manufacture, such as raw material specification, activator type and dosage, and curing regimes. Despite the conventions of the building industry, the lack of proper mix design methods limits the wide acceptance of GPC in the industry. This report conducted experimental trials on GGBS-based GPC to optimize a mixing design procedure to achieve best mechanical strength and structural integrity. Geopolymer concrete properties were evaluated through slump and unconfined compressive strength tests. The laboratory trials in this report revealed that all geopolymer mixes, except SD0HV and 1W-SG, exhibited high workability values. Also, the presence of an alkaline activator was vital to attain satisfactory compressive strength values. The alkaline activator could be used when cooled and reached room temperature after two hours of preparation and was not necessary after 24 h. Mix G-(0.5W-S) with a 0.5A.A. (alkaline activator)/precursor (GGBS) ratio, SSA (sodium silicate alternative)/SH (sodium hydroxide with 10 M molarity) ratio of 1:1, and 0.55 W/B (water to binder) ratio is recommended to achieve best mechanical performance and structural integrity.
Thermoelectric Energy Equations Considering Convective Heat Transfer Between Thermoelectric Materials and the Environment
Authors: Xiao Heng
Published: February 2025

Thermoelectric power generation is increasingly becoming a research field with practical application value and broad application prospects. Many researchers and engineers have used the classic thermoelectric energy equations in the analysis of thermoelectric systems. However, it is assumed that the thermoelectric material is thermally insulated from its surroundings except at the junctions of the hot and cold ends where heat enters and leaves. Based on a detailed study of the classic thermoelectric effects and heat transfer theory, the revised thermoelectric energy equations are derived, which take into account the convective heat dissipation from the surface of thermoelectric materials to the ambient. The revised equations have a very simple form, which is very convenient for engineering calculation and analysis. A comparison of the results of formula calculation and numerical simulation was conducted to verify the reasonableness of the linear temperature distribution assumption in the derivation process. Within the computational range of this study, the differences between the simulated values and the calculated values are controlled to be a little more than 1%, which is sufficient to meet the needs of engineering calculation and analysis.