bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identificación y desarrollo de una cultura ambiental en la educación media superior
Authors: Macías Herrera Karla Elizabeth , Córdova Dávalos Laura Elena , Torres Soto Martha Elena , Rodríguez Cruz José Ricardo
Published: February 2025

Los problemas ambientales actuales son consecuencia de la actividad humana desmesurada y despreocupada. La educación ambiental se presenta como una herramienta para generar un impacto positivo en el medio ambiente. En este trabajo se relata la experiencia docente en la realización de un diagnóstico ambiental dentro de una institución de educación media superior del estado de Aguascalientes. En este proceso, se identificó y evaluó el impacto ambiental de las actividades de la institución, tras lo cual se propusieron proyectos, liderados por los estudiantes, orientados al aprovechamiento de residuos urbanos, fomentando así una cultura de cuidado ambiental.
Desain Aplikasi E-Commerce Berbasis Mobile Di Es Thamrin Kolak Durian Dengan Metode Desain Thingking
Authors: Ansyari Andre , Arista Ruly Dwi , Wulandari Heni
Published: February 2025

Perkembangan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi telah mendorong digitalisasi di berbagai sektor, termasuk Usaha Mikro, Kecil, dan Menengah (UMKM). Es Thamrin Kolak Durian, sebagai salah satu UMKM di bidang kuliner, berupaya memperluas jangkauan pasarnya melalui pengembangan aplikasi e-commerce berbasis mobile. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang aplikasi e-commerce yang user-friendly dengan menggunakan pendekatan Design Thinking, yang terdiri dari lima tahapan utama: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, dan Test. Setiap tahapan dilakukan secara sistematis untuk memahami kebutuhan pengguna dan menghasilkan solusi yang efektif.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi yang dikembangkan memiliki antarmuka intuitif, fitur pemesanan yang mudah digunakan, serta integrasi dengan berbagai metode pembayaran digital. Berdasarkan uji coba yang dilakukan, 90% pengguna menyatakan bahwa aplikasi ini mudah digunakan, 85% menyukai desain dan navigasinya, serta 80% merasa puas dengan fitur checkout yang efisien. Dibandingkan dengan penelitian sebelumnya, studi ini menegaskan bahwa metode Design Thinking dapat meningkatkan pengalaman pengguna dalam layanan e-commerce, khususnya dalam aspek kemudahan akses dan kenyamanan transaksi.
Meskipun penelitian ini masih terbatas dalam skala uji coba awal, hasil yang diperoleh memberikan dasar yang kuat untuk pengembangan lebih lanjut guna meningkatkan kualitas layanan dan pengalaman pengguna dalam bertransaksi secara digital. Pengembangan fitur tambahan seperti pelacakan pesanan dan sistem ulasan pelanggan dapat menjadi langkah selanjutnya dalam penyempurnaan aplikasi ini.
Sistem Informasi Persediaan Barang Badan Pengelolaan Keuangan Pendapatan Dan Aset Daerah Nias Selatan
Authors: Manurung Immanuel H G , Sibero Alexander F.K. , Manao Albert Putra Nias
Published: February 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang dan mengembangkan sistem informasi persediaan barang pada Badan Pengelolaan Keuangan, Pendapatan, dan Aset Daerah (BPKPAD) Kabupaten Nias Selatan. Sistem manual yang digunakan sebelumnya dinilai kurang efisien, rawan kesalahan, dan mempersulit proses pelaporan. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini menganalisis proses pengelolaan persediaan, merancang aplikasi berbasis komputer, dan mengimplementasikan sistem untuk meningkatkan efisiensi operasional. Sistem ini dirancang menggunakan bahasa pemrograman Microsoft Visual Basic dengan basis data MySQL, mengikuti metodologi pengembangan perangkat lunak Waterfall. Fitur utama meliputi login, pengelolaan barang masuk dan keluar, pemantauan stok, serta pembuatan laporan. Pemodelan sistem digambarkan menggunakan alat bantu Unified Modeling Language (UML) seperti diagram use-case dan diagram activity, dan lainnya. Hasil implementasi menunjukkan sistem informasi persediaan barang ini mampu meningkatkan akurasi pencarian data, mempercepat proses pelaporan, dan mempermudah pengendalian stok. Kesimpulannya yang didapat pada penelitian ini adalah sistem pencatatan secara komputerisasi memberikan solusi yang efektif dalam pengelolaan persediaan barang, mendukung efisiensi kerja, serta menyediakan data yang lebih terorganisir dan akurat. Penelitian selanjutnya diharapkan dapat mengembangkan fitur tambahan, seperti peramalan kebutuhan barang secara otomatis.
Exploring Collaborative Advantage: A Comprehensive Review and Synthesis of Research on Collaboration
Authors: Xiao Qian , Zhuang Winston Xiao
Published: February 2025

The paper aimed to identify three influential factors that will impact collaborative performance. The first conceptualization of collaboration is discussed to illustrate the nature of collaboration. In the further examination, three factors of collaboration capability, timing of collaboration and relationship structure are discussed that, if manipulated well, contribute to collaborative advantage. In the end of the paper, implications of this research are discussed briefly.
The Impacts of Organizational Changes on Work Engagement and Quiet Quitting
Authors: Ling Juan , Chok Jay I. , Zhang Weiqi , Lowery Christopher M.
Published: February 2025

Change has become a constant theme in the world where all organizations face new challenges and opportunities that require them to constantly adapt and evolve. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of organizational agility and adaptability in the face of challenges and uncertainties. A recent Gallup poll revealed that most workers in the U.S. workforce are either quiet quitting or highly disengaged. This study aims to investigate the relationship between various organizational changes and the likelihood of work engagement, quiet quitting, and high disengagement. Drawing on a survey on 252 employees in various companies, we find that organizational changes including higher demand for competence, improved results monitoring, enhanced informal communication, and job redesign increased the likelihood of work engagement relative to quiet quitting and high disengagement. Furthermore, organizational and job characteristics such as perceived organizational support and job autonomy moderated the relationship between organizational changes and the likelihood of work engagement, quiet quitting, and high disengagement. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Eastern Christians in Seventeenth-and Eighteenth-century Catholic Europe
Authors: Heyberger Bernard
Published: February 2025

Through an investigation into the archives of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (De Propaganda Fide), this chapter reconstructs the life of some of the Eastern Christians who circulated between the Middle East and Catholic Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The inquiry is not limited to evoking picturesque fragments of life, but also tries to make sense of them to reveal some of the characteristic configurations of Eastern Christian mobility across the Mediterranean: family networks, the economic value of knowledge of oriental languages, and the conscious or unconscious role as mediators between the Ottoman Empire and Catholic Europe.
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, or the Consecration of Maronite Identity
Authors: Heyberger Bernard
Published: February 2025

Saint Charbel Makhlouf (1828–98) was a Lebanese Maronite monk canonised by the Catholic Church in 1977. His little-known life facilitated the production of hagiographic publications aimed at promoting his reputation for holiness in the second half of the twentieth century, especially between the Second Vatican Council and the beginning of the Lebanese civil war. This narrative is part of the construction of a Maronite identity that emphasizes an Eastern ‘authenticity’ devoid of Western influence, alongside a celebration of the Lebanese homeland.
Foreword
Authors: Sharkey Heather J.
Published: February 2025

Across his long and continuing career, Bernard Heyberger has explored the “connected history” linking Christians of western and southern Europe with the region that we now call the Middle East, from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries. The ten articles in this volume, most translated for the first time from French into English and focusing on links between Catholics from Syria and Rome, reflect the distinctive features of his scholarship. Above all, his articles emphasize the energy and resourcefulness of his subjects. Far from presenting Christians as passive victims of Muslim majoritarian rule, Heyberger has insisted on their historical agency (“agentivité”) as integral members of Islamic societies.
Kemampuan Membaca Kritis dan Penguasaan Kalimat Efektif : Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Kemampuan Menulis Karya Ilmiah
Authors: Fitri Rahayu , Sartika Rina
Published: February 2025

The aims of this research is to describe the contribution between critical reading skills and mastery of effective sentences on the ability to write scientific papers of phase F students at SMK Negeri 6 Padang. This research is quantitative research using correlational methods. In this research, the population consisted of ten classes of class XI students at SMK Negeri 6 Padang in the 2022/2023 academic year with a total of 334 students. The sampling technique used was a simple random technique. The instruments in this research are objective tests with multiple choice types and performance tests. Before the data was analyzed, analysis requirements were tested, namely the normality test with the Liliefors test, homogeneity test with the Cohran test, and the linearity test. In this study, the data were analyzed using simple and multiple correlation tests. It can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between critical reading ability and mastery of effective sentences together on the ability to write scientific papers. Based on the results of testing variables X1 and X2 together against Y, the rxy result was 0,42 with a calculated fvalue = 6,69 and ftable = 3,34. The contribution made by the ability to read critically and mastery of effective sentences together to the ability to write scientific papers is 17,64%.
Can Lp(a) become the next A1C? A case for digital health management tools to overcome inertia to Lipoprotein (a) testing
Authors: Wedemeyer Christof , Peters Martin , Jones Graham
Published: February 2025

Despite its known correlations with risk of cardiovascular disease, awareness and testing for Lipoprotein (a) lags that of other serological markers with estimates that less than 1% of the US population have undergone screening. Herein we outline how digital tools framed around motivational models (COM-B and SEM), might help increase likelihood of patients seeking Lp(a) testing as part of their managed care. Furthermore, we highlight how recent trends in prescription of GLP-1 receptor antagonists are serving to motivate patients to manage biomarkers related to T2D and obesity, which are also relevant in cardiovascular disease. Capitalizing on this trend to stimulate interest in Lp(a) management could have near term consequence, and with disease modifying therapies in development ultimately improve outcomes in cardiovascular disease.
Three local plants adapt to ecological restoration of abandoned lead-zinc mines through assembly of rhizosphere bacterial communities
Authors: Gao Wei , Chen Shuyi , Yu Xin , Chen Sumin , Wan Caijing , Wang Ying , Wu Peng , Li Qiang
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The plant restoration and ecological restoration of lead-zinc mines are very important.

Methods

In this study, we used three local plants to carry out ecological restoration of abandoned lead–zinc mining areas and detected the adaptive mechanisms of soil bacterial diversity and function during the ecological restoration of lead–zinc mines through 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results

The results revealed that lead-zinc mining significantly reduced the soil bacterial diversity, including the Shannon, Simpson, and observed species indices, whereas the planting of the three ecological restoration plants restored the soil microbial diversity to a certain extent, leading to increases in the Shannon index and Observed species indices. Mining activities significantly reduced the abundances of RB41 and Bryobacter in the bulk soil compared with those in the nonmining areas, whereas the three ecological restoration plants increased the abundances of RB41 and Bryobacter in the rhizosphere soil compared with those in the bulk soil in the mining areas. Following the planting of the three types of ecologically restored plants, the soil bacterial community structure partially recovered. In addition, different plants have been found to have different functions in the lead-zinc ecological restoration process, including iron complex transport system-permitting proteins and ATP binding cassettes.

Discussion

This study confirms for the first time that plants adapt to the remediation process of abandoned lead-zinc mines by non-randomly assembling rhizosphere bacterial communities and functions, providing a reference for screening microbial remediation bacterial resources and plant microbe joint bioremediation strategies for lead-zinc mines.
Leveraging AI to optimize vaccines supply chain and logistics in Africa: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Musa Sulaiman Muhammad , Haruna Usman Abubakar , Aliyu Lukman Jibril , Zubairu Mubarak , Lucero-Prisno Don Eliseo
Published: February 2025

Examining the current situation of the vaccine supply chain in Africa, the article highlights the importance of AI technologies while outlining the prospects and problems in vaccine supply chain management in Africa. Despite the significance of vaccinations, many African children are unable to receive them due to logistical challenges and a lack of infrastructure. AI has the potential to increase productivity by streamlining logistics and inventory management, but it is hampered by issues with data privacy and technology infrastructure. This perspectiveoffers ways for utilizing AI to enhance vaccine supply chains in Africa, citing successful experiences in Nigeria, Malawi, Rwanda, and Ghana as examples of AI’s advantages. In order to improve healthcare outcomes and immunization coverage in Africa, cooperation among stakeholders is stressed.
How does playfulness (re)frame the world? Evidence for selective cognitive and behavioral redirecting in times of adversity
Authors: Shen Xiangyou , Crawley Zoe
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Do playful people perceive, approach, and respond to their environment and life events differently than less playful individuals? While playfulness has been theorized to affect how individuals frame or reframe situations, this widely accepted premise lacks theoretical specification and empirical validation. This study examined playfulness as a perceptual lens and its potential broader (re)framing effects spanning cognition, emotion, and behavior in the disruptive pandemic context.

Methods

Two groups with contrasting levels of playfulness (high vs. low as measured by the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale) were derived from a nationwide US adult sample (n = 503) and compared across 19 criterion variables representing diverse perceptual, emotional, and behavioral responses during COVID-19. Sequential analyses including MANOVA, ANOVA, and ANCOVA were performed to examine overall, univariate, and adjusted group differences, respectively, validated by sensitivity analysis across three group categorization methods.

Results

Three sets of contrasting findings evidenced selective playful (re)framing effects, wherein more playful individuals (1) shared similar perceptions of current risk and protective factors while adopting a more optimistic future outlook, (2) perceived similar levels of vulnerability and isolation but engaged in significantly higher levels of resilient coping and adaptive leisure, and (3) participated in similar categories and frequencies of leisure activities but with higher experiential quality, marked by greater immersion, activeness, and positive affect.

Discussion

Playfulness functions as a “color spotlight” rather than “rose-tinted glasses,” with selective influence through “lemonading”—creatively imagining and pursuing positive possibilities to cultivate adaptive, enjoyable experiences while maintaining a clear-eyed realism about challenges. This advances a nuanced understanding of playful (re)framing as operating primarily through intrinsic goal-oriented cognitive and behavioral redirecting, underscoring playfulness’ potential as an integrative resilience factor, experiential quality amplifier, and character strength for promoting individual flourishing.
A medical insurance fund operation performance evaluation system under the DRG payment mode reform
Authors: Wang Zijian , Chang Weifu , Luo Aijing
Published: February 2025

Background

An evaluation system for comprehensively measuring medical insurance fund operational performance under China’s Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) payment reform holds critical theoretical and practical significance, especially for enhancing the efficiency of medical insurance fund utilization and the quality of healthcare services. However, few studies undertake performance evaluations of medical insurance funds under DRG payments, especially those incorporating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)-Entropy Weight Method (EWM)- Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) method model.

Methods

This study utilizes operational data from medical insurance funds across eight cities in S Province, China, from 2020 to 2022. It develops an innovative performance evaluation system for medical insurance funds utilizing the AHP-EWM-FCE evaluation method. Finally, it explores the key influencing factors by applying the Tobit regression model.

Results

As the reform of DRG payment methods has advanced, the operational performance scores related to the management, fundraising, utilization, and satisfaction of DRG medical insurance funds have consistently improved. Notably, the comprehensive indexes of QD and JN cities exhibit significant comparative advantages, resulting in higher performance evaluation scores for their medical insurance funds. Additionally, the performance scores assessed by the proposed evaluation system align closely with actual operational outcomes. Regression analysis further indicates that medical service capability is the key determinant influencing the operational performance of medical insurance funds.

Conclusion

This study develops a novel evaluation system for measuring medical insurance funds’ operational performance. The insights can help proactively foster the high-quality development of these funds, and modernization of the medical insurance governance system and governance capabilities; stimulate the fund’s productivity; and enhance the health and wellbeing of people.
The impact of centralization on structural changes in healthcare: when it works
Authors: Shishkin Sergey , Sheiman Igor , Potapchik Elena , Vlassov Vasily , Sazhina Svetlana
Published: February 2025

Purpose

After a decade of post-Soviet decentralization of the healthcare in Russia the opposite trend has been dominating. This paper explores the impact of centralization of healthcare governance on the structure of the healthcare system in Russia, including shift in service delivery structure, the institutional organization of healthcare providers, and their interactions.

Methodology

We employ quantitative and qualitative analysis to study how centralization has contributed to restructuring service delivery with instruments of utilization planning, vertical health programs, and centrally determined pathways of patients flows in a multi-level health care system.

Findings

Centralization of healthcare governance has contributed to restructuring the Russian healthcare system, providing positive changes in structure of inpatient/outpatient care utilization, the organizational structure of service providers, and the structure of their activities. Inpatient care is increasingly replaced by outpatient care and day wards. Centralization contributed to creation of new types of medical organizations (perinatal centers, vascular centers, etc.), development of prevention, and strengthening of providers activity integration in a multi-level system of medical care. However, centralization has not been accompanied by the effective interaction of different levels of governance in developing structural reforms and their implementation in the regions. Uniform activities for the entire country do not take into account specific regional and local conditions. Some unified solutions are implemented in regions with negative consequences for the accessibility of care locally. The excessively centralized model of preventive measures does not provide an effective balance between detection of diseases and follow-up treatment. A so-called “new primary healthcare model”, initiated from the top, limits the development of alternative models that are needed in many regions of the country. The analysis concludes with a set of conditions that should be followed in designing and implementing a centralized model of healthcare governance.
Antimicrobial drug use and its association with antimicrobial resistance in fecal commensals from cows on California dairies
Authors: Abdelfattah Essam M. , Ekong Pius S. , Okello Emmanuel , Chamchoy Tapakorn , Karle Betsy M. , Black Randi A. , ElAshmawy Wagdy , Sheedy David , Williams Deniece R. , Lehenbauer Terry W. , Byrne Barbara A. , Aly Sharif S.
Published: February 2025

The current study objective was to investigate the risk factors associated with the isolation of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. (ES) from the feces of dairy cows in California (CA). A longitudinal study was conducted on ten dairies, and a random sample of cattle (late pregnant heifers and dry cows) stratified by each herd’s parity distribution were followed monthly from close-up to 120 days in milk during fall to winter 2018 (winter season) and spring to summer 2019 (summer season). Gastrointestinal commensals were isolated from fecal samples and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using the broth microdilution method against a selected panel of antimicrobial drugs (AMD). Eight dairies used blanket AMD therapy at dry-off for all lactating cows, while the remaining two dairies did not use any AMD treatment at dry-off. Clinical mastitis was identified as the most common indication for AMD use across the study dairies. Intramuscular administration of ceftiofur hydrochloride to treat lameness and unknown disease during lactation was significantly associated with the isolation of tetracycline-resistant fecal E. coli. Resistance to ceftiofur, tetracycline, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in fecal E. coli was significantly higher in the winter than in the summer season. In contrast, resistance to tetracycline, florfenicol, tilmicosin, tildipirosin, or tiamulin in fecal gram-positive commensals was significantly higher in the summer than in the winter. In conclusion, AMD usage practices and seasonal variations significantly influenced the AMR of E. coli and ES in the feces of dairy cattle.
Effect of icatibant on sweating-induced dermal pain
Authors: Takahagi Shunsuke , Matsubara Daiki , Murakami Emi , Aoyama Yumi , Imamura Shinya , Fukunaga Atsushi , Oda Yoshiko , Murota Hiroyuki , Hide Michihiro
Published: February 2025

Background

Exposure to sweating stimuli triggers transient and severe dermal pain in certain individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect of icatibant, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, for the dermal pain induced by sweating stimuli and explored the role of bradykinin in its pathomechanism.

Methods

This single-blind, randomized, crossover study enrolled adult patients who had experienced severe sweating-induced dermal pain. Participants randomly received icatibant (30 mg) or placebo on Day 1 and vice versa on Day 2. Before and after drug administration, dermal pain induced by an artificial thermal loading was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS).

Results

Four patients were enrolled, three of whom completed the full procedure with the termination in the other. Among the three patients, the pain-VAS score decreased more with icatibant than with saline in one patient, whereas it decreased more with saline than with icatibant in the other two patients. The pain duration decreased more with icatibant than with saline in two patients, whereas it decreased equally with both treatments in the other. Icatibant did not affect the changes in whole blood and plasma histamine, and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels after the induction of the dermal pain. A safety profile showed injection site pain associated with icatibant.

Conclusion

Blockade of bradykinin B2 receptor signaling by icatibant contributed to the reduction of dermal pain during sweating stimuli in one patient but not in two others. The role of bradykinin in the dermal pain varies among patients.

Clinical trial registration

https://jrct.niph.go.jp/, identifier jRCTs061210021.
Glyphosate Biodegradation by Airborne Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria: Influence on Soil Microbiome Dynamics
Authors: Guardado-Fierros Beatriz Genoveva , Lorenzo-Santiago Miguel Angel , Gumiere Thiago , Aid Lydia , Rodriguez-Campos Jacobo , Contreras-Ramos Silvia Maribel
Published: February 2025

Due to its persistence, glyphosate contamination in soil poses environmental and health risks. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) offer a potential solution for mitigating glyphosate pollution. This study assessed the glyphosate degradation capacity of three airborne PGPB isolates (Exiguobacterium indicum AS03, Kocuria sediminis AS04, and Rhodococcus rhodochrous AS33) individually and in a consortium (CS) compared to natural attenuation in microcosms as the control (CTL), where soil autochthonous microorganisms (MS) were present. AS03 exhibited the highest glyphosate degradation (86.3%), followed by AS04 and AS33 at 14 days (61.6% and 64.7%). The consortium accelerated glyphosate removal, reaching 99.7%, while the control treatment removal was 94% at 60 days. Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is the main metabolite in glyphosate degradation, and it had a maximum peak in concentration at 28 days in the CS + MS (1072 mg kg−1) and CTL (990 mg kg−1) treatments. Subsequently, a decrease in AMPA concentration was observed at 60 days up to 349 mg kg−1 and 390 mg kg−1, respectively. These results suggested that soil autochthonous microorganisms and their interactions with a consortium have similar biotransformation of glyphosate, but the AMPA conversion to other intermedium metabolites through degradation was slow. A minimum AMPA concentration of 15–45 mg kg−1 over time was detected with the consortium. The microbiome analysis revealed shifts in microbial composition, with an increase in glyphosate-degrading genera like Psychrobacter and Lyzobacter. These changes enhance soil resilience and fertility, demonstrating the potential of airborne PGPB for bioremediation and environmental sustainability.
Assessment of Fishery By-Products for Immobilization of Arsenic and Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soil and Evaluation of Heavy Metal Uptake in Crops
Authors: Park Se Hyun , Park Sang Hyeop , Moon Deok Hyun
Published: February 2025

The contamination of soil with arsenic (As) and heavy metal is an increasing global environmental concern. The objective of this study was to rehabilitate soil contaminated with As, Pb, and Zn using fishery by-products as stabilizers to achieve both soil restoration and waste resource recycling. Cockle shells (CS) and manila clam shells (MC), selected as fishery by-product stabilizers, were processed into −#10-mesh and −#20-mesh materials. Additionally, a −#10-mesh material was calcined at a high temperature to produce calcined cockle shells (CCS) and calcined manila clam shells (CMC). Contaminated soil was treated with 2–10 wt% of these stabilizers and subjected to wet incubation for 1–4 weeks. Subsequently, the concentrations of As, Pb, and Zn eluted by 0.1 M HCl were evaluated. Additionally, lettuce was grown in stabilized soil to evaluate the reduction in contaminant mobility. The stabilization treatment results indicated that the concentrations of eluted As, Pb, and Zn were significantly reduced when treated with the −#10-mesh and −#20-mesh CS and MC, and they were rarely detected when treated with the calcined materials (CCS and CMC). The Pb concentration in lettuce grown in the contaminated soil pot exceeded the criterion for leafy vegetables (0.3 mg/kg); however, Pb was not detected in lettuce from the stabilized soil pot. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that CaCO3, the main component of CS and MC, was converted to CaO after calcination. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and SEM elemental dot map analyses revealed that the immobilization of As was related to Ca–As precipitation and the immobilization of Pb and Zn to the pozzolanic reaction. Thus, recycling and processing CS and MC as stabilizers for contaminated soil can restore the agricultural value of the soil by immobilizing As, Pb, and Zn into safe forms, thus effectively preventing their uptake by crops.
High-Throughput Field Screening of Cassava Brown Streak Disease Resistance for Efficient and Cost-Saving Breeding Selection
Authors: Sikirou Mouritala , Adetoro Najimu , Sheat Samar , Musungayi Eric , Mungangan Romain , Pierre Miafuntila , Fowobaje Kayode , Dieng Ibnou , Bamba Zoumana , Rabbi Ismail , Mushoriwa Hapson , Winter Stephan
Published: February 2025

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) remains the most severe threat to cassava production in the Great Lakes region and Southern Africa. Screening for virus resistance by subjecting cassava to high virus pressure in the epidemic zone (hotspots) is a common but lengthy process because of unpredictable and erratic virus infections requiring multiple seasons for disease evaluation. This study investigated the feasibility of graft-infections to provide a highly controlled infection process that is robust and reproducible to select and eliminate susceptible cassava at the early stages and to predict the resistance of adapted and economically valuable varieties. To achieve this, a collection of cassava germplasm from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a different set of breeding trials comprising two seed nurseries and one preliminary yield trial were established. The cassava varieties OBAMA and NAROCASS 1 infected with CBSD were planted one month after establishment of the main trials in a 50 m2 plot to serve as the source of the infection and to provide scions to graft approximately 1 ha. Grafted plants were inspected for virus symptoms and additionally tested by RT-qPCR for sensitive detection of the viruses. The incidence and severity of CBSD and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) symptoms were scored at different stages of plant growth and fresh root yield determined at harvesting. The results from the field experiments proved that graft-infection with infected plants showed rapid symptom development in susceptible cassava plants allowing instant exclusion of those lines from the next breeding cycle. High heritability, with values ranging from 0.63 to 0.97, was further recorded for leaf and root symptoms, respectively. Indeed, only a few cassava progenies were selected while clones DSC260 and two species of M. glaziovii (Glaziovii20210005 and Glaziovii20210006) showed resistance to CBSD. Taken together, grafting scions from infected cassava is a highly efficient and cost-effective method to infect cassava with CBSD even under rugged field conditions. It replaces an erratic infection process with a controlled method to ensure precise screening and selection for virus resistance. The clones identified as resistant could serve as elite donors for introgression, facilitating the transfer of resistance to CBSD.
Microbial Selenium-Enriched Bacterial Fertilizer: Biofortification Technology to Boost Pea Sprout Quality and Selenium Content
Authors: Wang Yaqi , Li Ying , Wu Yu , Liu Yang , Chen Yadong , Zhang Yanlong , Jia Xiangqian
Published: February 2025

Selenium-enriched vegetables are a safe way to combat selenium deficiency in humans. Here, a new microbial selenium-enriched bacterial fertilizer (named “HJ”) was prepared and studied by dipping, and then its application strategy was optimized and compared with other commercially available selenium fertilizers. The results showed that the application of HJ selenium fertilizer to peas by soaking (Se concentration 10 μg/mL) and foliar application (Se concentration 8 μg/mL) could effectively enhance their growth, selenium enrichment ability, stress tolerance and nutritional quality. In particular, the selenium content of peas in the HJ-treated group exhibited a significant increase of 69.86% in comparison with the control group. Moreover, HJ treated pea sprouts demonstrated enhanced antioxidant activity, as well as elevated levels of vitamin C and protein, amongst other observations. The findings of this study offer novel insights into the development of eco-friendly selenium fertilizers and provide guidance for optimal fertilizer application techniques.
Four Years of Promising Trap–Neuter–Return (TNR) in Córdoba, Spain: A Scalable Model for Urban Feline Management
Authors: Luzardo Octavio P. , Vara-Rascón Mercedes , Dufau Agnès , Infante Emma , Travieso-Aja María del Mar
Published: February 2025

Urban free-roaming cat populations (or community cats, according to the Spanish legislation) present complex challenges, including public health risks, coexistence conflicts with residents, animal welfare, and threats to biodiversity conservation. In 2020, Córdoba, Spain, initiated one of the most extensive citywide trap–neuter–return (TNR) programs, incorporating 225 groups of cats (usually named colonies) into a meticulously structured management framework. Over four years, the program stabilized cat populations, achieving 95% sterilization coverage and effectively limiting population growth despite external challenges, including abandonment, influxes from unmanaged areas, and compensatory effects. Although the overall population showed a modest decline of 2.68%, this outcome reflects not only the recent inclusion of numerous colonies still undergoing stabilization but also the prevention of an estimated 70% population growth without intervention, as projected by our population viability analysis (PVA). Key results highlight the program’s cost-effectiveness, with an average annual cost of EUR 0.62 per person. The long-term projections from a population viability analysis (PVA) using demographic modeling suggest a potential 55% population reduction by 2028, contingent on sustained efforts. The program’s integration of citizen science, systematic data collection, and adaptive management demonstrates its scalability and replicability as a model for urban and peri-urban feline management globally. Its significance lies not only in its scope and scale but also in demonstrating the ethical and practical feasibility of large-scale TNR initiatives in urban contexts. Córdoba’s program, which predates Spain’s Animal Welfare Law 7/2023 mandating structured feline colony management plans, demonstrates a pioneering framework for compliance and innovation in urban animal management. These findings underscore the critical role of sustained interventions, community collaboration, and legal frameworks in ensuring long-term success and addressing global challenges in urban animal welfare and biodiversity conservation.
Monitoring of Antioxidant Efficacy of Mangrove-Derived Polyphenols in Linseed Oil by Physicochemical and Fluorescence Methods
Authors: Singh Manjeet , Botosoa Eliot , Karoui Romdhane
Published: February 2025

This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant potential of polyphenolic extracts from Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia marina as natural preservatives in comparison with synthetic butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and rosemary extract. Antioxidant activities were assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and total phenolic content (TPC). Extracts were blended into linseed oil and evaluated for oxidative stability using a 15-day Schaal oven test. Physicochemical analyses, including peroxide value (PV), acid index (AI), p-anisidine value (p-AnV), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), showed that mangrove-treated oils exhibited the highest stability against oxidation compared to the negative and positive controls. R. mucronata mature leaves presented the highest DPPH inhibition (93.40%) and the lowest TBARS value (0.33 ± 0.0 mg MDA/kg of oil) on day 11. Fluorescence spectroscopy provided complementary and valuable information. Statistical analysis using factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) achieved a classification accuracy of 91.43%, underlining the different oxidative profiles of the treated samples. These findings demonstrated the potential of extracts from mangrove plants as a sustainable alternative to synthetic antioxidants for food preservation. Future studies should explore broader food applications using advanced analytical techniques to optimize their efficiency and performing a series of toxicity evaluations.
Resveratrol Ameliorates Chronic Stress in Kennel Dogs and Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Related to Tryptophan Metabolism
Authors: Bian Zhaowei , Li Ziyang , Chang Hao , Luo Jun , Jian Shiyan , Zhang Jie , Lin Peixin , Deng Baichuan , Deng Jinping , Zhang Lingna
Published: February 2025

Chronic stress poses threats to the physical and psychological well-being of dogs. Resveratrol (Res) is a polyphenol with antidepressant properties and has rarely been studied in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the stress-relieving effects and underlying mechanism of Res in dogs. Dogs were fed a basal diet supplemented with Res for 35 days. The fecal microbiota of the dogs was cultured with Res in vitro. The results show that Res improved the stress-related behaviors and increased the serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), immunoglobulin A, and antioxidant capacity in dogs. Res downregulated the hormones of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The abundance of butyric-producing bacteria, like Blautia, increased, while the growth of Fusobacterium related to gut inflammation was inhibited in the Res group. A higher content of fecal butyric acid was observed in the Res group. The metabolome indicated that Res increased the fecal and serum levels of tryptophan (Trp) and decreased the consumption of Trp by microorganisms. A chronic unpredictable mild stress mouse model was established, and Res was administered for 35 days. The results show that Res ameliorated the stress-related behavior and increased the levels of Trp and 5-HT in the whole brains of mice. The relative mRNA expression of genes associated with the tight junction protein, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and Trp transporters in the colon were upregulated. In conclusion, Res could ameliorate canine stress by increasing 5-HT, BDNF, and the antioxidant capacity and improving the immune function and stress response, which was attributed to the role of Res in the restructuring of gut microbiota and the modulation of tryptophan metabolism.
Cultural Heritage Color Regeneration: Interactive Genetic Algorithm Optimization Based on Color Network and Harmony Models
Authors: Jiang Zhonghua , Xia Qianlong , Wang Zhizhou , Zhu Kaiwei , Su Qianyu , Wang Jiajun , Huang Yirui , Wu Bo , Hong Yan
Published: February 2025

In response to the inadequate color-matching effectiveness and the difficulty of restoring color intentions in cultural heritage recreation, a Cultural Color Interactive Genetic Algorithm (Cultural Color IGA) is proposed, which combines a color network model and a color harmony prediction model. First, the role of the color network model in providing color genes for subsequent design is emphasized. Then, a dataset of 10,743 color and color rating data points is used to train 12 color harmony prediction models, with the most efficient stacking model selected to improve the efficiency of user evaluation of color schemes. A prototype system for color regeneration is built in Python, and a user interface is designed. The example analysis is conducted using the Yungang Grottoes as the source of color imagery, and image colorization is tested. Independent experiments compare the proposed method with traditional IGA in terms of average fitness, maximum fitness, and evaluation time. Fuzzy evaluation is applied to assess the effectiveness of cultural heritage color regeneration design. The results show that the trained stacking model achieves an accuracy of 65.52% in color harmony prediction, outperforming previous methods. Compared to the traditional IGA algorithm, Cultural Color IGA reduces the number of user evaluations by 67.4%, improves the average fitness by 22.68%, and increases the maximum fitness by approximately 13.37%. Regarding cultural heritage color regeneration effectiveness, 80.6% of respondents considered the generated color schemes to be of good or higher quality. This method not only generates design solutions with high cultural representation and color harmony but also improves the efficiency and sustainability of the design process by reducing trial numbers and manual evaluation workload. It demonstrates the potential of digital technologies in the protection and sustainable application of cultural heritage color, offering valuable references for the digital preservation and innovative design of cultural heritage.
Analysis of Surface Roughness After Ball Burnishing of Pure Titanium Under Environmentally Friendly Conditions
Authors: Cagan Suleyman Cinar , Leksycki Kamil
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the optimization of ball burnishing parameters for enhancing the surface quality of pure Titanium (Ti) grade 2 titanium alloy under dry and Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) conditions. Using a Taguchi L18 experimental design, the research systematically examines the effects of three critical parameters: burnishing force (50–200 N), feed rate (0.5–2 mm/min), and number of passes (1–4). Surface quality was evaluated through roughness measurements (Ra and Rz values), with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) employed to determine the statistical significance of each parameter. The results demonstrate that MQL conditions consistently outperform dry burnishing, contributing 50.93% to the total variance in surface quality. The optimal surface finish (Ra = 0.306 μm) was achieved under MQL conditions with a burnishing force of 200 N, feed rate of 0.5 mm/min, and four passes. Statistical analysis revealed that the burnishing environment was the most influential factor, followed by the number of passes (23.87%) and burnishing force (9.97%). A regression model with an R-squared value of 87.66% was developed to predict surface roughness under various parameter combinations. These investigations will be helpful in the development of sustainable and efficient methods for the surface engineering of Ti-based materials for the aerospace and biomedical industries.
A New Design for Switched-Mode Dental Iontophoresis System Using a Dual-Return Probe
Authors: Dişlitaş Serkan
Published: February 2025

In practice, continuous and pulse direct current (DC) methods are embodied in classical dental iontophoresis systems (CDISs) for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity (DH). Changes in body electrical resistance and polarization occurrence are the main problems in dental iontophoresis applications. Moreover, continuous DC application may cause discomforts such as irritation, burning and itching on the skin. For these reasons, it is preferred to use pulse DC instead of continuous DC. However, in pulse DC applications, the treatment period is prolonged depending on the decrease in the electrical charge flow. On the other hand, the pain threshold of teeth when the electric current is applied varies from person to person. In this study, in order to reduce the problems caused by the use of CDIS methods for the treatment of DH, a microcontroller-based switched-mode dental iontophoresis system (SMDIS) using a dual-return probe (RP) is designed, and its performance is compared with CDIS methods. According to the results, the new SMDIS both reduces the polarization effect as in the classical pulse DC method and shortens the prolonged treatment duration in pulse DC by raising the pain threshold of teeth due to increased ion transfer, which is a great advantage over former methods.
Risk Diagnosis Analysis of Ethane Storage Tank Leakage Based on Fault Tree and Fuzzy Bayesian Network
Authors: Pang Min , Zhang Zheyuan , Zhou Zhaoming , Li Qing
Published: February 2025

This study proposes a risk assessment method for ethane tank leakage based on Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and the Fuzzy Bayesian Network (FBN). It aims to diagnose and probabilistically evaluate system risks in scenarios where leakage data are imprecise and insufficient. Initially, a fault tree for ethane tank leakage risk is constructed using the connectivity of logical gates. Then, through the analysis of minimal cut sets, the fundamental causes of ethane tank leakage risk are identified, including cracking, instability, and corrosion perforation. Subsequently, the fault tree is mapped into a Bayesian network, which is then integrated to transform it into an FTA–FBN risk diagnostic probability model. Prior probabilities of parent nodes and conditional probability tables are obtained through fuzzy mathematics principles and expert guidance. These are combined with Bayesian inference to derive posterior probabilities, thereby determining the contribution of each basic event to the ethane tank leakage risk. By leveraging the advantages of the fuzzy Bayesian network in handling uncertain problems, the model and analysis effectively address the ambiguities encountered in real-world scenarios. In order to better cope with the uncertainty of leakage, the weakest t-norm algorithm and the similarity aggregation method are introduced for the parameter learning of the fuzzy Bayesian network to achieve an accurate solution of the model. Finally, this integrated model is used in a real case to study the causes of ethane storage tank leakage. The research results are of great scientific significance for revealing the evolution mechanism of ethane storage tank leakage accidents and ensuring system safety throughout the life cycle.
Lateral Load-Bearing Performance of a Long Pile in Layered Soils Based on the Modified Vlasov Foundation Model
Authors: Liu Fengjun , Ma Jianjun , Li Da
Published: February 2025

A mechanical model of a laterally loaded long pile in layered soils was established to accurately calculate the lateral load-bearing performance of the pile foundation, and attention was paid to the influence of the complete separation of the pile–soil contact surface in a certain part of the pile on its lateral load-bearing performance. Based on the modified Vlasov foundation model, the displacement equation of the laterally loaded long pile embedded in layered soils was derived by the separation variable method. Using the solution method presented in this study, the deformation and internal force of the free-fixed pile were obtained. Then, the effects of the slenderness ratio of the pile and the complete separation of the pile–soil contact surface on the lateral load-bearing performance of the long pile in layered soils were analyzed. The results show that the deformation of the pile body increases with the increase in the slenderness ratio under the lateral load. Meanwhile, the position of the maximum bending moment and the negative shear force moves upward along the pile as the slenderness ratio increases. When the contact surface of the pile–upper stratum is separated, the deformation of the pile top doubles, and the negative shear force increases by three times compared to the case without the effect of separation of the pile–soil contact surface. When the contact surface between the pile and the middle layer soil is separated, the deformation and bending moment of the pile increase by 25%, and the maximum negative shear force decreases.