bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Insights into Sall4’s Role in Cardiac Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Yang Jianchang
Published: January 2025

Sall4 as a pivotal transcription factor has been extensively studied across diverse biological processes, including stem cell biology, embryonic development, hematopoiesis, tissue stem/progenitor maintenance, and the progression of various cancers. Recent research highlights Sall4’s emerging roles in modulating cardiac progenitors and cellular reprogramming, linking its functions to early heart development and regenerative medicine. These findings provide new insights into the critical functions of Sall4 in cardiobiology. This review explores Sall4’s complex molecular mechanisms and their implications for advancing cardiac regenerative medicine.
Development and Research of New Hybrid Composites with Increased Requirements for Heat and Wear Resistance
Authors: Rusinov Peter , Zhang Chao , Sereda Polina , Rusinova Anastasia , Kurapov George , Semadeni Maxim
Published: January 2025

Hybrid layered reinforced materials are able to increase the reliability, durability, and expand the functionality of high-temperature components in supercritical and ultra-supercritical power plants and in oil, gas, and petrochemical equipment operating under conditions with multifactorial influences (temperature, force, deformation). As a result of this research, surface reinforced ceramic composite materials with a gradient distribution of properties have been developed. These materials include thermal barrier layers (Gd2O3-Yb2O3-Y2O3-ZrO2) and Ni-based layers reinforced with ceramic carbide and oxide particles. They are strong, have a high heat and wear resistance, and provide the specified functional and mechanical properties. The formation technology for the hybrid composites has also been developed. This technology includes the mechanical alloying of powder compositions, which is followed by vacuum plasma spraying. The structure of the powder compositions and composite layers, the density of the obtained composite materials, and the heat and wear resistance of the composites have also been investigated. The microhardness of the alloy layers of the hybrid composite materials Hastelloy X–GYYZO–material 1 and Hastelloy X–GYYZO–material 2 was as follows: super alloy Hastelloy X, HV0.2 = 3.8–3.95 GPa; layer GYYZO, HV0.3 = 16.1–16.7 GPa; layer material 1, HV0.3 =18.3–18.8 GPa; layer material 2, HV0.3 =19.1–19.6 GPa. The influence of the refractory phase of HfC and TaC on the strength of the composites was studied. It was found that the maximum strength (710–715 MPa) in the composites Hastelloy X—GYYZO—material 1 and Hastelloy X–GYYZO–material 2 is achieved with a content of HfC and TaC–27–28%.
Investigating Australian Calcined Clays as Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Authors: Canda Emily , San Nicolas Rackel , Rupasinghe Madhuwanthi , Rasekh Haleh , Castel Arnaud
Published: January 2025

Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) has become a highlighted research topic over the past decade. Through various research, LC3 demonstrated the capability to supplement portions of cement, highlighting the possibility to decrease CO2 emissions due to the low calcination temperatures and low levels of CO2 released from the material during calcination. At this stage, there is no research into the feasibility of LC3 in any parts of Australia, limited research in finding clay, and incomplete research understanding how low calcination temperatures affect the compressive strength. The results show the feasibility of LC3, where we demonstrated the feasibility of a low calcination temperature of 650 °C and found that various overburden waste clays (clay in quarries and mines that are not needed) across the East Coast of Australia produced comparable compressive strength results to conventional Portland cement-based mixes. The results also indicate that optimising the particle size distribution of the calcined clay enhanced both the workability and compressive strength of the mortars.
Theoretically Based Factors Affecting Diet Quality of Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Oudat Qutaibah , Couch Sarah , Miller Elaine , Lee Rebecca C. , Bakas Tamilyn
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Diet quality during early childhood significantly influences long-term health outcomes, including obesity and chronic disease risks. Parental feeding practices, dietary beliefs, and demographic factors have been shown to impact children’s diet quality. This study aimed to determine the extent to which the demographic characteristics and the factors of primary caregivers (dietary beliefs, intention to provide a healthy diet, feeding practices) can explain the variance in the diet quality of preschoolers in the US Methods: This descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A total of 146 primary caregivers of preschool children (aged 3–5) were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire and a structured telephone interview. Diet quality was assessed using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with preschoolers’ diet quality. Results: The mean DASH score was 40.5 (SD = 10.1), reflecting moderate to low diet quality. The results showed that 16% of the variance in diet quality was significantly explained by race (non-White) and three caregiver feeding practices (food as a reward, restriction food for health, and restriction for weight control). Of these, race (non-White) and restriction food for health were significant predictors and associated with lower diet quality in preschoolers. Conclusions: These findings align with previous studies and suggest that the conceptual framework of this study might be further refined and tested in future studies.
Compositional Design, Microstructure, and Thermal Processing of Aluminum-Based Complex Concentrated Alloys
Authors: Chaskis Spyridon , Tiktopoulos Constantinos , Gavalas Evangelos , Bouzouni Marianthi , Tsiolis Fotis , Papaefthymiou Spyros
Published: January 2025

Three lightweight aluminum-based complex concentrated alloys with chemical compositions that have not been previously studied were manufactured and studied: Al52Mg9.6Zn16Cu15.5Si6.9 w.t.% or Al63Mg13Zn8Cu8Si8 a.t.% (alloy A), Al44Mg18Zn19Cu19 w.t.% or Al55Mg25Zn10Cu10 a.t.% (alloy B), and Al47Mg21.4Zn12Cu9.7Si9.7 w.t.% or Al52.7Mg26.6Zn5.6Cu4.6Si10.4 a.t.% (alloy AM), with low densities of 3.15 g/cm3, 3.18 g/cm3 and 2.73 g/cm3, respectively. During alloy design, the CALPHAD method was used to calculate a variety of phase diagrams for the various chemical compositions and to predict possible phases that may form in the alloy. The CALPHAD methodology results showed good agreement with the experimental results. The potential of the designed alloys to be used in some industrial applications was examined by manufacturing them using standard industrial techniques, something that is a rarity in this field. The alloys were produced using an induction furnace and pour mold casting process, while industrial-grade raw materials were utilized. Heat treatments with different soaking times were performed in order to evaluate the possibility of improving the mechanical properties of the alloys. Alloys A and AM were characterized by a multiphase microstructure with a dendritic FCC-Al matrix phase and various secondary phases (Q-AlCuMgSi, Al2Cu and Mg2Si), while alloy B consisted of a parent phase T-Mg32(Al,Zn)49 and the secondary phases α-Al and Mg2Si. The microstructure of the cast alloys did not appear to be affected by the heat treatments compared to the corresponding as-cast specimens. However, alterations were observed in terms of the elemental composition of the phases in alloy A. In order to investigate and evaluate the mechanical properties of the as-cast and heat-treated alloys, hardness testing along with electrical conductivity measurements were conducted at room temperature. Among the as-cast samples, alloy AM had the highest hardness (246 HV4), while among the heat-treated ones, alloy A showed the highest value (256 HV4). The electrical conductivity of all the alloys increased after the heat treatment, with the highest increase occurring during the first 4 h of the heat treatment.
Analysis of Microstructure and Performance of Cr3C2/Ni60A Coating on 45 Steel for Laser Cladding Piston Rod
Authors: Pu Jiafei , Tarelnyk Viacheslav , Ju Yao , Grigorievicth Bondarev Sergii , Wang Xingrong , Dong Qi , Wang Hongfeng , Song Weiwei
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the preparation of a high-performance Cr3C2/Ni60A coating on 45# steel through laser cladding technology. The microstructure, residual stress, phase composition, hardness, and wear resistance of the coating are analyzed. The results reveal that the solidification structure of the molten pool exhibits a progression from coarse columnar crystals and dendrites near the interface with the substrate to equiaxial crystals at the coating surface. The coating primarily consists of Fe-Ni solid solution, Cr7C3, and Cr23C6 phases. As the Cr3C2 mass percentage in the Cr3C2/Ni60A composite powder increases, the formation of the Cr7C3 and Cr23C6 phases is suppressed. A pronounced stress concentration occurs at the interface between the coating and the substrate, leading to an increased dislocation density and localized grain deformation. When the Cr3C2 mass percentage reaches 45% and 55%, the coating surface exhibits a higher density of induced cracks due to the combined effects of microstructural changes and thermal influences. The maximum microhardness of the coating ranges from 520 HV1 to 556 HV1, approximately three times that of the substrate. The wear resistance of the coating initially increases and then decreases with increasing Cr3C2 content. The wear resistance is optimal at a 35% Cr3C2 mass ratio, with a wear loss of 0.15 mg—five times lower than that of the substrate. The primary wear mechanism is abrasive wear, although localized fatigue and adhesive wear are also observed.
High-Q Resonances Induced by Toroidal Dipole Bound States in the Continuum in Terahertz Metasurfaces
Authors: Guo Lincheng , Gao Yachen
Published: January 2025

The radiation mode of the interaction between electromagnetic waves and materials has always been a research hotspot in nanophotonics, and bound states in the continuum (BICs) belong to one of the nonradiative modes. Owing to their high-quality factor characteristics, BICs are extensively employed in nonlinear harmonic generators and sensors. Here, the influence of structural parameters on radiation modes has been systematically analyzed using band theory; the mechanisms of quasi-BIC mode and BIC mode were also analyzed through multipole decomposition of scattered power and near-field distribution. Notably, this study presents the discovery that the toroidal dipole-BIC (TD-BIC) arises from the interference and cancellation of electric and toroidal dipoles. The research results indicate that the structure, which supports symmetry-protected BICs, is sensitive to variations in the concentration of NaCl solution in its surroundings, making it applicable for liquid detection in miniaturized metal sensors. The proposed scheme broadens the applicability of BIC-based sensors and provides a prospective platform for biological and chemical sensing.
Challenges in Resolubilisation of Rare Earth Oxalate Precipitates Using EDTA
Authors: Henderson Mark Stephen , Dyer Laurence Gerald , Tadesse Bogale
Published: January 2025

The two-stage process for the treatment of rare earth phosphate minerals, involving an oxalic acid conversion leach and subsequent EDTA dissolution, has been demonstrated as a promising alternative to conventional extraction methods. To underpin a more detailed understanding, this work serves to further develop knowledge of the linkage between the stages and key practical aspects of the operation of the EDTA dissolution. A more detailed treatment of the phenomena observed in the EDTA treatment, characteristics of the solids, mass loss in dissolution, and the impact of parameter alterations in both stages provide greater holistic knowledge of the proposed flowsheet and considerations that will need to be addressed when increasing scale. Acid production (indicated by a pH decrease) in the EDTA dissolution stage was shown to be a feature of the reaction and not of residual acid associated with the solids from the oxalic acid stage. The consistency with which the rare earths were dissolved with respect to the phosphorus provided greater confidence that Nd and Pr (greater dissolution than P) are recovered at a higher efficiency than Ce and La (poorer dissolution than P). This was only not the case at high solids loading across both tests, leading to both oxalate and EDTA-deficient systems, respectively. Under high conversion conditions, it was demonstrated that Nd and Pr recoveries into solution approaching 70% were achieved. This equated to in excess of 17 gL−1 of total rare earths in solution. Solid/liquid separation was shown to be a significant challenge, created by both the fine particle size distribution of the leached residue and the dispersant nature of EDTA.
Cystatin B Promotes the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Dai , Sun Bao-Ye , Wu Jing-Fang , Wang Zhu-Tao , Zheng Su-Su , Sun Guo-Qiang , Gao Xu-Kang , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Hu Bo , Qiu Shuang-Jian , Zhang Bo-Heng
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims: Cystatin B (CSTB) has been demonstrated to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, including the evolution and progression of multiple cancers. Nevertheless, the function of CSTB in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is yet to be fully elucidated. Methods: By analyzing transcriptome sequencing data from the FU-iCCA cohort, the iCCA-27 cohort, and three public databases, we identified genes associated with iCCA prognosis and selected CSTB as the subject of our study. The expression of CSTB was examined between tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues obtained from iCCA patients via Western blot analysis. The clinical significance of CSTB was analyzed through immunohistochemical staining of a tissue microarray. Subsequently, the biological effects of CSTB overexpression or knockdown on iCCA cells were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results: CSTB expression was markedly elevated in the CCA pathological tissues in comparison to the corresponding adjacent normal tissues. A correlation was identified between higher CSTB expression and poorer patient prognosis in the analysis of 176 iCCA patients. It is noteworthy that overexpression or knockdown experiments demonstrated that CSTB plays a role in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cells. In subcutaneous tumor models in nude mice, the knockdown of CSTB resulted in smaller tumors in terms of size and weight, and a slower growth rate. Conclusions: CSTB plays a significant function in the regulation of iCCA progression and may serve as a promising biomarker for iCCA.
Dysplastic Nevi and Superficial Borderline Atypical Melanocytic Lesions: Description of an Algorithmic Clinico-Pathological Classification
Authors: Menzinger Sébastien , Merat Rastine , Kaya Gürkan
Published: January 2025

The diagnosis, interpretation, and classification of melanocytic tumors is a very complex topic in the pathology and dermatopathology field that lacks standardization and is still subject to discordance and debate. Here, we review the definitions of dysplastic nevus and superficial atypical melanocytic proliferations and provide an overview of some areas still subject to debate and some attempts of standardization. Furthermore, we describe an algorithmic classification, and provide some examples of clinico-pathological correlation. This step-by-step algorithm has an educational purpose and may automatize the work of dermatopathologists. We hope that through further molecular studies, this fine-grained scheme will prove to be related to the biological behavior of these atypical melanocytic lesions.
The Barriers to Caring for a Child Living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Rural Limpopo, South Africa
Authors: Rachamose Ngokwana , Harvey Clare
Published: January 2025

Maternal primary caregivers in rural low-income contexts who care for children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience significant barriers related to their caregiving responsibilities that have a profound impact on all aspects of their lives. This paper reports on a study that aimed to explore barriers related to caring for a child living with CP in the rural province of Limpopo, South Africa. An exploratory qualitative research design was employed. Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling was used to recruit 10 primary maternal caregivers of children living with CP between the ages of 3 and 18 years. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. This study found six barriers related to caring for a child living with CP in rural areas, which included physical, financial, social, emotional, spiritual, and health barriers. The primary maternal caregivers of children living with CP in rural areas experience a significant burden of care. Consequently, they need support and respite care to ease these challenges.
Novel Ensemble Approach with Incremental Information Level and Improved Evidence Theory for Attribute Reduction
Authors: Yu Peng , Zheng Yifeng , Liu Ziwen , Wei Baoya , Zhang Wenjie , Lin Ziqiong , Li Zhehan
Published: January 2025

With the development of intelligent technology, data in practical applications show exponential growth in quantity and scale. Extracting the most distinguished attributes from complex datasets becomes a crucial problem. The existing attribute reduction approaches focus on the correlation between attributes and labels without considering the redundancy. To address the above problem, we propose an ensemble approach based on an incremental information level and improved evidence theory for attribute reduction (IILE). Firstly, the incremental information level reduction measure comprehensively assesses attributes based on reduction capability and redundancy level. Then, an improved evidence theory and approximate reduction methods are employed to fuse multiple reduction results, thereby obtaining an approximately globally optimal and a most representative subset of attributes. Eventually, using different metrics, experimental comparisons are performed on eight datasets to confirm that our proposal achieved better than other methods. The results show that our proposal can obtain more relevant attribute sets by using the incremental information level and improved evidence theory.
Bringing Science to the Periphery Through Distance Learning: Barriers and Opportunities
Authors: Levy Eilat Chen , Ravid Gilad , Shwartz Yael , Avriel-Avni Noa
Published: January 2025

Students in peripheral areas often score lower in the sciences than those in urban areas. This study explores the feasibility of distance learning in making quality science education accessible everywhere. In 2016, the Israeli government established technological infrastructure in southern peripheral schools, but these resources remained largely unused. From 2018 to 2019, we interviewed school principals and education department directors, and surveyed teachers and students about distance learning. The findings showed hesitance among educators to implement distance learning for expanding science subjects, despite their confidence in using it when necessary. After the mandatory shift to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, attitudes towards technology in remote schools improved. Barriers to implementing distance learning were found to be mainly due to internal factors like preconceived notions, which limited the development of necessary skills among teachers and students. We recommend addressing internal resistance to distance learning in teacher training programs.
Virtual Professional Development to Increase Knowledge, Use, and Self-Efficacy of Teachers Teaching Emergent Multilingual Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Social Studies Content: A Mixed Methods Case Study
Authors: Guerrero Karen
Published: January 2025

The number of English language learners, often referred to as emergent multilinguals (EMs), in schools has significantly increased over the last decade, and teachers are not fully prepared to teach this growing population because of limited training and a lack of skills necessary to address academic needs in both language and content. This mixed-methods study explored the effectiveness of an online professional development (PD) to increase teachers’ knowledge, skills, use, and self-efficacy in teaching science, technology, engineering, math, and social studies (STEMSS) content and the English language in tandem. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory and Lave and Wenger’s community of practice theory guided the development, documentation and analysis of the impact of the professional development. Twenty-four Arizona K-12 teacher participants completed a pre-survey, an online PD, and, finally, a post-survey and interview. Dependent t-test results provided evidence the PD significantly increased participants’ self-reported knowledge, use, and self-efficacy to support EMs’ academic vocabulary in content areas. The impact of the PD on these three constructs was further supported with data-driven themes generated from the interview data. Participants overwhelmingly valued the peer interaction for increasing their knowledge and understanding of effective pedagogical practices and their self-efficacy in supporting EMs in their classrooms.
Activating STEAM Learning in Young Children Through Aha-Experiences: Supporting Creativity and Aesthetic Sensitivity in Infants and Toddlers
Authors: Tsuchiya Kanako , Gyobu Ikuko
Published: January 2025

This research explored the occurrence of aha-experiences in young children during participatory creative processes within STEAM learning. The study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the specific conditions that contribute to the emergence of these aha-experiences. A series of activities were designed and implemented as part of a participatory observation study at the Municipal Center for Early Childhood Education and Care in Tokyo, Japan. The STEAM sessions involved the use of a Wind Tunnel and colorful scarves, engaging infants and toddlers in exploratory interactions with the device and materials alongside their classmates, teachers, and the first author, referred to as researcher T. Through video recordings, the researchers conducted microanalysis of the collected data. The findings confirmed that children’s aesthetic sensitivity was activated during aha-experiences. Furthermore, this heightened sensitivity encouraged active participation from their teachers in the creative process. The study employed a socio-cultural approach to creativity theory to interpret these aha-experiences in the context of STEAM learning. It highlighted the participatory nature of creativity and the role of aesthetic sensitivity in young children’s learning. Additionally, the study provided insights for educators and caregivers on how to support the development of creativity in infants and toddlers within STEAM learning environments.
Correction: Popoola, G.; Sheppard, J. Investigating and Mitigating the Performance–Fairness Tradeoff via Protected-Category Sampling. Electronics 2024, 13, 3024
Authors: Popoola Gideon , Sheppard John
Published: January 2025

In the original publication [...]
An NTRU-Based Key Encapsulation Scheme for Underwater Acoustic Communication
Authors: He Peng , Xu Ming
Published: January 2025

With the increasing emphasis on safeguarding maritime sovereignty and developing marine resources, the security of underwater acoustic communication has risen to a new level of importance. Given the complex environmental challenges faced by underwater acoustic channels, this paper proposes an NTRU-based key encapsulation scheme designed to ensure secure and reliable underwater data transmission, while maintaining privacy and integrity. In the public–private key pair generation phase, a ring sampling technique is employed to generate a compact NTRU trapdoor, which not only guarantees security but also effectively reduces the communication overhead. During the encapsulation phase, underwater acoustic channel characteristics during communication are introduced as temporary identity information to ensure the confidentiality and reliability of the key encapsulation mechanism. Furthermore, the traditional key encapsulation mechanism is extended by integrating a digital signature process, where the encapsulated ciphertext is signed. The use of digital signature technology verifies the authenticity and integrity of the transmitted data, ensuring that communication data remain secure and unaltered in complex underwater acoustic environments. Finally, we conduct a rigorous correctness analysis and security proofs, demonstrating that the proposed scheme achieves chosen ciphertext security, while meeting the demands of low bandwidth and limited computational capacity in underwater acoustic communication.
Defense Scheme of Federated Learning Based on GAN
Authors: Zhang Qing , Zhang Ping , Lu Wenlong , Zhou Xiaoyu , Bao An
Published: January 2025

Federated learning (FL), as a distributed learning mechanism, can have model training completed without directly uploading original data, effectively reducing the risk of privacy leakage. However, through the shared gradient information, research shows that adversaries may reconstruct the original data. To further protect the privacy of federated learning, a federated learning defense scheme is proposed based on generative adversarial networks (GAN), which is combined with adaptive differential privacy. Firstly, the real data distribution features are learned through GAN, and replaceable pseudo data are generated. Then, the pseudo data are added with adaptive noise. Finally, the pseudo gradient generated by the pseudo data in the model is used to replace the real gradient so that adversaries cannot obtain the real gradient to further protect the privacy of user data. After simulation experiments are carried out on the MNIST dataset, the algorithm is verified using the gradient attack method. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is superior to the federated learning algorithm based on differential privacy in accuracy. Compared with the FedAvg algorithm, only 0.48% accuracy is lost. Therefore, it achieves a good balance between algorithm accuracy and data privacy.
Optimal Management of Commercial Electric Vehicle Fleets with Recharging Stations and Time-Varying Electricity Prices
Authors: Coppo Massimiliano , Agostini Marco , De Matteis Giulia , Bertolini Marina
Published: January 2025

The promotion of electric mobility is a key objective of energy transition, and it is aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport being understood as a major contributor. Despite its potential, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in logistics faces critical challenges, including limited battery range, charging time, and the availability of charging infrastructure. Moreover, deploying charging stations must be carefully coordinated with the public grid to ensure seamless integration. This paper proposes a novel methodology for the optimal design and management of EV fleets in logistics. Our approach introduces innovations such as leveraging self-produced electricity and incorporating time-varying energy prices that can be tailored to individual nodes. This marks an important step toward a comprehensive interdisciplinary framework that integrates technical solutions with public policy considerations. Through case studies, we explore how various parameters and resource distributions influence optimal decisions. The findings demonstrate significant potential for cost reduction and enhanced efficiency when applying this methodology to EV-based logistics, thereby offering actionable insights for advancing sustainable transportation.
Characteristics of High-Temperature Torrefied Wood Pellets for Use in a Blast Furnace Injection System
Authors: Deutsch Richard , Kienzl Norbert , Stocker Hugo , Strasser Christoph , Krammer Gernot
Published: January 2025

As the iron and steel industry needs to cut its CO2 emissions drastically, much effort has been put into establishing new—less greenhouse-gas-intensive—production lines fueled by hydrogen and electricity. Blast furnaces, as a central element of hot iron production, are expected to lose importance, at least in European production strategies. Yet, blast furnaces could play a significant role in the transitional phase, as they allow for the implementation of another CO2-reducing fuel, carbonized wood reducing agents, as a substitute for coal in auxiliary injection systems, which are currently widely used. Wood carbonization yields vastly differing fuel types depending on the severity of the treatment process, mainly its peak temperature. The goal of this study is to define the lowest treatment temperature, i.e., torrefaction temperature, which results in a biogenic reducing agent readily employable in existing coal injection systems, focusing on their conveying properties. Samples of different treatment temperatures ranging from 285 to 340 °C were produced and compared to injection coal regarding their chemical and mechanical properties. The critical conveyability in a standard dense-phase pneumatic conveying system was demonstrated with a sample of pilot-scale high-temperature torrefaction.
A Fault Early Warning Method Based on Auto-Associative Kernel Regression and Auxiliary Classifier Generative Adversarial Network (AAKR-ACGAN) of Gas Turbine Compressor Blades
Authors: Zhu Yimin , Zhang Xiaoyi , Luo Mingyu
Published: January 2025

The compressor blades of the gas turbine continually operate under extreme conditions, including elevated temperature, increased pressure, rapid rotation speed, and high-load environments, and are also subjected to complex vibrations, which inevitably lead to performance degradation and failures. Early fault warning based on historical operation data and real-time working conditions can enhance the safety and economy of gas turbines, preventing severe accidents. However, previous studies often faced challenges, such as a lack of fault data, imbalanced datasets, and low data utilization, which limited the accuracy of the algorithms. This study proposes a fault warning technique for gas turbine compressor blades based on AAKR-ACGAN. First, a digital twin model of the gas turbine is constructed using long-term operation data and simulation data from the mechanism model. Then, an auto-associative kernel regression (AAKR) model is used for the fault warning, monitoring multiple parameters to provide effective early warnings of potential faults. Additionally, an auxiliary classifier generative adversarial network (ACGAN) is employed to fully extract hidden data features of the fault points, balance the dataset, and accurately simulate the process of fault occurrence and development. The proposed approach is utilized for the early detection of faults in the compressor blades of a high-capacity gas turbine, and its precision and applicability are confirmed. The multisource early warning indicator can provide an early warning of a failure up to one year in advance of its occurrence. It was also able to detect a severe surge that occurred six months before the failure, which is speculated to be one of the causes that led to the failure.
Long-Duration Energy Storage: A Critical Enabler for Renewable Integration and Decarbonization
Authors: Zeng Yuyang , Zhou Tuo , Wang Tong , Zhang Man , Zhang Shuping , Yang Hairui
Published: January 2025

This paper focuses on the critical role of long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies in facilitating renewable energy integration and achieving carbon neutrality. It presents a systematic review of four primary categories: mechanical energy storage, chemical energy storage, electrochemical energy storage, and thermal energy storage. The study begins by analyzing the technical advantages and geographical constraints of pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) and compressed air energy storage (CAES) in high-capacity applications. It then explores the potential of hydrogen and synthetic fuels for long-duration clean energy storage. The section on electrochemical energy storage highlights the high energy density and flexible scalability of lithium-ion batteries and redox flow batteries. Finally, the paper evaluates innovative advancements in large-scale thermal energy storage technologies, including sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermochemical heat storage. By comparing the performance metrics, application scenarios, and development prospects of various energy storage technologies, this work provides theoretical support and practical insights for maximizing renewable energy utilization and driving the sustainable transformation of global energy systems.
Internal Model Control for Onboard Methanol-Reforming Hydrogen Production Systems
Authors: Chen Fengxiang , Duan Yuanyuan , Pei Yaowang , Zhang Bo
Published: January 2025

Methanol reforming is considered to be one of the most promising hydrogen production technologies for hydrogen fuel cells. It is expected to solve the problem of hydrogen storage and transportation because of its high hydrogen production rate, low cost, and good safety. However, the strong nonlinearity and slow response of the pressure and temperature subsystems pose challenges to the tracking control of the methanol reforming hydrogen production system. In this paper, two internal model-based temperature and pressure controllers are proposed, in which the temperature is adjusted by controlling the air flow and the pressure is adjusted by controlling the opening of the back-pressure valve. Firstly, a lumped parameter model of the methanol reforming hydrogen production system is constructed using MATLAB/Simulink® (produced by MathWorks in Natick, Massachusetts, USA). In addition, the transfer function model of the system is obtained by system identification at the equilibrium point, and the internal model controller is further designed. The simulation results show that the control method achieves the robustness of the system, and the temperature and pressure of the reforming reactor can quickly and accurately track the target value when the load changes. Small-load step tests indicate stable tracking of the temperature and pressure for the reforming reactor, without steady-state errors. Under large-temperature step signal testing, the response time for the reforming temperature is about 148 s, while the large-pressure step signal test shows that the response time for the reforming pressure is about 8 s. Compared to the PID controller, the internal model controller exhibits faster response, zero steady-state error, and no overshoot. The results show that the internal model control method has strong robustness and dynamic characteristics.
Phyto-Fabrication, Structural Characterization and Antibacterial Properties of Hybanthus enneaspermus-Assisted Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposites
Authors: Kannan Kanmani , Muruganandham Sankareswaran , Ganeshan Archana , Periakaruppan Rajiv , Kathiravan Nithish , Narayanan Sathyabama
Published: January 2025

Green synthesis of nanocomposites offers an eco-friendly and viable solution to overcome the limitations of conventional chemical and physical methods as it uses biological agents to act as reducing and stabilizing agents. The current study’s novelty is phyto-fabricated manganese (Mn)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposites using aqueous extract of H. enneaspermus by a biological method. Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized using manganese acetate and zinc acetate. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX analysis. XRD shows the crystalline nature of nanocomposites with particle sizes of 30–40 nm, and FTIR reveals the presence of functional groups responsible for capping and stabilization. SEM analysis indicates spherical morphology with minor aggregation due to phytochemical interactions. EDX analysis of Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposites was used to verify the elemental composition, including Mn, Zn, O, and C. The anti-bacterial property of Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposites was assessed using the agar well-diffusion method against pathogens. The results of the anti-bacterial investigation proved that Mn-doped ZnO nanocomposites inhibit the growth of pathogens at different concentrations. The research concludes that the extract of H. enneaspermus acts as a capping and reducing agent in the synthesis process. The process can offer bio-compatible nanocomposites for new drug development against pathogens.
Sixth Generation Enabling Technologies and Machine Learning Intersection: A Performance Optimization Perspective
Authors: Okere Emmanuel Ekene , Balyan Vipin
Published: January 2025

The fifth generation (5G) of wireless communication is in its finalization stage and has received favorable reception in many nations. However, research is now geared towards the anticipated sixth-generation (6G) wireless network. The new 6G promises even more severe performance criteria than the current 5G generation. New sophisticated technologies and paradigms are expected to be incorporated into the 6G network designs and procedures to meet the ever-dynamic user needs and standards. These 6G-enabling technologies include digital twin (DT), intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), visible light communication (VLC), quantum computing (QC), blockchain, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), among others. Optimal network performance requires that machine learning (ML) techniques be integrated over the 6G wireless network to provide solutions to highly complex networking problems, massive users, high overhead, and computational complexity. Consequently, we have provided a state-of-the-art overview of wireless network generations leading to the future 6G, and huge emphases have been laid on ML’s role in optimization applications for different enabling 6G technologies. Several key performance indicators for the different application scenarios have been highlighted. ML has proved to significantly improve the performance of the existing 6G-enabling technologies, and choosing the appropriate approach can ultimately yield optimal results.
Structural Characterization of, and Protective Effects Against, CoCl2-Induced Hypoxia Injury to a Novel Neutral Polysaccharide from Lycium barbarum L.
Authors: Li Yunchun , Liu Jianfei , Pei Dong , Di Duolong
Published: January 2025

Oxidative stress is closely related to the occurrence and development of ischaemic stroke. Natural plant polysaccharides have potential value in inhibiting oxidative stress and preventing ischaemic stroke. Here, a novel neutral polysaccharide named LICP009-3F-1a with a Mw of 10,780 Da was separated and purified from Lycium barbarum L. fruits. Linkage and NMR data revealed that LICP009-3F-1a has the following backbone: →4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, with a branched chain of β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→, α-L-Araf-(1→ and →6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ connected to the main chain through O-3 of →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→. X-ray and SEM analyses showed that LICP009-3F-1a has a semicrystalline structure with a laminar morphology. Thermal property analysis showed that LICP009-3F-1a is thermally stable. In vivo experiments suggested that LICP009-3F-1a could inhibit hypoxia-induced oxidative stress damage by eliminating ROS, reversing and restoring the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GPx, and reducing the expression levels of the HIF-1α and VEGF genes. Blocking the apoptosis genes Bax and Caspase 3 and upregulating the expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 protected PC12 cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that LICP009-3F-1a may have multiple potential uses in the treatment of IS.
Bee Pollen Phytochemicals and Nutrients as Unequaled Pool of Epigenetic Regulators: Implications for Age-Related Diseases
Authors: Kacemi Rachid , Campos Maria G.
Published: January 2025

Bee pollen is characterized by an exceptional diversity and abundance of micronutrients and bioactive phytochemicals. This richness remains very sparsely investigated, but accumulating evidence strongly supports a promising future for bee pollen in human nutrition and medicine. Epigenetic regulation is among the most compelling biomedical topics that remain completely untapped in bee pollen and bee derivative research. In our current research, we identified numerous ubiquitous compounds that are consistently present in this matrix, regardless of its botanical and geographical origins, and that have been well studied and documented as epigenetic regulators in recent years. Given the relative newness of both bee pollen biomedical research and epigenetic studies within nutritional, pharmaceutical, and medical sciences, this review aims to bridge these valuable fields and advance related experimental investigations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that has aimed to comprehensively investigate the epigenetic modulatory potential of bee pollen compounds. Our findings have also unveiled several intriguing phenomena, such as a dual effect of the same compound depending on the cellular context or the effect of some compounds on the cross-generational heritability of epigenetic traits. Although experimental studies of epigenetic regulation by bee pollen as a whole or by its extract are still lacking, our current study clearly indicates that this research avenue is very promising and worth further investigations. We hope that our current work constitutes a foundational cornerstone of future investigations for this avenue of research.
Well-Posedness of the Mild Solutions for Incommensurate Systems of Delay Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Shiri Babak
Published: January 2025

Systems of incommensurate delay fractional differential equations (DFDEs) with non-vanishing constant delay of retarded type are investigated. It is shown that the mild solutions are well-posed in Hadamard sense on the space of continuous functions. The analysis is local and carried out for finite intervals. The strong results are obtained with weak conditions by using state-of-the-art new methods. No condition on the Lipschitz parameter is added for well-posedness results. Application of this theorem for the Hopfield neural network is carried out.
Advancements in Tissue-Equivalent Gel Dosimeters
Authors: Sagsoz Mustafa Erdem , Korkut Ozlem , Gallo Salvatore
Published: January 2025

Tissue-equivalent hydrogel dosimeters represent a class of tools that hold significant promise, particularly in the precise measurement of three-dimensional dose distributions in radiotherapy. Due to their physical properties closely resembling those of human soft tissue, these dosimeters effectively replicate the energy transfer phenomena resulting from radiation interactions, such as atomic ionization and scattering by nuclei or electrons. Consequently, tissue-equivalent dosimeters, characterized by their linear energy transfer properties, have been extensively applied in medical physics, radiation oncology, and nuclear safety. Future advancements focusing on developing more stable, less toxic, normoxic, and cost-effective dosimeters could enable their broader adoption. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the key characteristics that make hydrogel dosimeters tissue-equivalent, highlighting their benefits, limitations, and primary application areas. Additionally, it explores current advancements in polymeric gel technology and discusses future directions aimed at optimizing their performance and accessibility for broader adoption.
Hallmarks of DNA Damage Response in Germination Across Model and Crop Species
Authors: Sincinelli Federico , Gaonkar Shraddha Shridhar , Tondepu Sri Amarnadh Gupta , Dueñas Conrado Jr , Pagano Andrea
Published: January 2025

DNA damage response (DDR) contributes to seed quality by guarding genome integrity in the delicate phases of pre- and post-germination. As a key determinant of stress tolerance and resilience, DDR has notable implications on the wider scale of the agroecosystems challenged by harsh climatic events. The present review focuses on the existing and documented links that interconnect DDR efficiency with an array of molecular hallmarks with biochemical, molecular, and physiological valence within the seed metabolic networks. The expression of genes encoding DDR sensors, transducers, mediators, and effectors is interpreted as a source of conserved hallmarks, along with markers of oxidative damage reflecting the seed’s ability to germinate. Similarly, the accumulation patterns of proteins and metabolites that contribute to DNA stability are predictive of seed quality traits. While a list of candidates is presented from multiple models and crop species, their interaction with chromatin dynamics, cell cycle progression, and hormonal regulation provides further levels of analysis to investigate the seed stress response holistically. The identification of novel hallmarks of DDR in seeds constitutes a framework to prompt validation with different experimental systems, to refine the current models of pre-germinative metabolism, and to promote targeted approaches for seed quality evaluation.
The Design of Tanks’ Settlement and Onshore Pipelines to Withstand Earthquake-Induced Geohazards and Difficult Site Conditions: Its Application in the Region of Kalochori, Thessaloniki, Greece
Authors: Savvides Ambrosios Antonios , Antoniou Andreas A. , Markogiannakis Antonis
Published: January 2025

Designing petroleum tanks that are inter-related with pipelines in a founding position containing very compressible soil are a challenging task, particularly when a possible high-water table and considerably high seismicity are also present. Some of the issues that occur are the problems of the time dependence of settlement behavior as well as the earthquake response of the soil–structure interaction system. This work intends to portray the following: (a) an estimation of the foundations and the corresponding consolidation time response and (b) the earthquake-induced geohazard as well as the soil–structure interaction considered for the foundation of the tanks alongside pipelines in a suburban area in Greece, namely Kalochori of Thessaloniki. A numerical analysis considering the dynamic and static behavior and inter-relation among the soil mass and the buried pipeline alongside the system of the foundation type and the soil beneath is performed. Also, the foundation type that was finally chosen as the optimized solution, namely the set of gravel piles and the subsequent prestress loading, is presented and discussed. Taking into account that the soil in the vicinity of the foundation will have its shear strength during an earthquake decreased to almost zero, risk reduction actions may be suggested for large stresses imposed on the pipeline. The methodology for the dimensionality of the gravel pile group as well as the preloading session indicate that a substantial reduction in the displacements of more than 50% is obtained with the combination of the methods, something that would not be feasible if the methods were implemented individually.