bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geotechnical Cartography Applied to Territorial Planning: A Pedo-Geotechnical Approach
Authors: Polivanov Helena , Velloso Barroso Emilio , da Silva Ramos Renan , Hilquias Silva Alves Victor Augusto , Ottoni Felipe , Lucas Porto Rian
Published: February 2025

Occupying territories without prior knowledge of the physical environment often leads to problems arising from inadequate planning. On April 10, 2012, Law No. 12,608 was enacted, establishing the National Policy on Protection and Civil Defense (PNPDEC). Article 3° of this law outlines territorial planning policies, highlighting that geotechnical mapping is fundamental for risk mapping and territorial planning. This study aimed to develop a methodology applicable to physical environment planning at a 1:50,000 scale, specifically for urbanization purposes. The proposed method involves creating a pedogeotechnical map, combined with physical indices, providing subsidies for creating of the geotechnical map. A practical application of this methodology was conducted in the municipality of Guapimirim, located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The choice of this test area is justified by its diverse physiographic and environmental conditions, allowing validation of the method in various environmental contexts. The results suggest that developing a pedogeotechnical map, with its pedogeotechnical units and including physical indices as a precursor to the geotechnical map, is a practical and straightforward approach. This methodology enables the identification of suitable and unsuitable areas for urban expansion and indicates potentials and limitations related to their use. Ultimately, implementing this approach contributes to more sustainable urban planning, considering the characteristics of the physical environment, promoting risk prevention, and ensuring community safety.
La condición inmaterial del patrimonio edificado. Perspectivas emergentes desde las categorías de paisaje urbano histórico y de patrimonio cultural inmaterial
Authors: Fuentes Farías Francisco Javier
Published: February 2025

Considerando que el patrimonio construido posee atributos sociales, culturales, simbólicos, y significantes, hoy parece importante ofrecer una perspectiva general, un enfoque holístico o integral, sobre el tipo de fenómenos y procesos que influyen en la preservación histórica de dicho patrimonio.
El presente es un trabajo de reflexión, de revisión y de comparación de teorías y conceptos clave ampliamente utilizados en las teorías del diseño urbano-arquitectónico, y en la especialidad de restauración, preservación y salvaguarda del patrimonio edificado, para mostrar algunos aspectos teóricos y metodológicos importantes a la hora de valorar el punto de vista de las comunidades asociados a este.
Se analizaron conceptos como identidad cultural, patrimonio inmaterial y paisaje urbano histórico como recurso para entender la totalidad de los procesos y fenómenos que intervienen en el surgimiento del espacio urbano, y en su preservación histórica como patrimonio de la humanidad.
Ante un incipiente modelo holista sobre la relación ciudad-preservación-habitantes, y bajo un enfoque integrativo entre ciencias cognitivas, estudios urbanos, filosofía y ciencias sociales, se propone abordar ese punto de vista como un proceso cognitivo de percepción, manejo e interpretación de significados que los actores utilizan para dar sentido a su vida cotidiana, en un proceso colectivo y complejo que involucra la cognición social y la intercorporalidad, y que determina el rumbo y las características intangibles del patrimonio construido.
Five simultaneous peritoneal loose bodies: a case report and literature review
Authors: Liu Zhilong , Li Li , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: February 2025

We present the case of a patient with five peritoneal loose bodies (PLBs). The patient, admitted due to prostatic hyperplasia, had multiple movable masses in the abdomen detected during a routine physical examination. Ultrasound, CT, and MRI revealed several roundish masses in the abdominal and pelvic cavities, which were subsequently removed via laparotomy. PLBs are rare entities, often identified incidentally during surgery. Their formation is believed to result from necrosis and exfoliation of abdominal and pelvic tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case with such a high number of PLBs, contributing to an enhanced understanding of this uncommon condition.
The Influence of Forward Trunk Lean During Single-Limb Landing on Achilles Tendon Force in Physically Active Females
Authors: Atkins Lee T. , Yang Hyung Suk , Chiddarwar Vaishnavi , James C. Roger
Published: February 2025

It is unknown if forward trunk lean during single-limb landing influences the Achilles tendon force (ATF). This study examined the effect of forward trunk lean during single-limb landing on the ATF in physically active females. Thirty physically active females (23.7 [3.6] y) performed 5 landing trials (0.25 m) using self-selected and forward trunk lean strategies. Dependent variables included peak ATF; average ATF development rate; and sagittal trunk, hip, knee, and ankle angles and moments at the time of peak ATF. The increased forward trunk lean (mean difference (MD) = 14.1°; 95% CI, 11.0 to 17.2; P < .001) caused a decrease in peak ATF (MD = −3.5 N/kg; 95% CI, −5.8 to −1.2; P = .004) and ankle plantar flexion moment (MD = −0.2 N·m/kg; 95% CI, −0.4 to −0.1; P = .002). In contrast, forward trunk lean resulted in greater hip (MD = 15.2°; 95% CI, 11.9 to 18.4; P < .001) and knee flexion (MD = 7.7°; 95% CI , 4.7 to 10.7; P < .001) angles, and hip extension moment (MD = 0.3 N·m/kg; 95% CI, 0.1 to 0.5; P = .002). Forward trunk lean changes predicted peak ATF changes (r = .33, P = .04). Sagittal trunk posture influences the ATF in physically active females during single-limb landing and may effectively alter loading in patients recovering from Achilles tendinopathy.
Usefulness of a hub and spoke TDM-guided expert clinical pharmacological advice program of dalbavancin for optimizing very long-term curative or suppressive treatment of chronic staphylococcal infections
Authors: Cojutti Pier Giorgio , Gatti Milo , Tedeschi Sara , Zamparini Eleonora , Meschiari Marianna , Danzi Maria , Menegotto Giacomo , Cotrufo Marco , Soavi Laura , Chiari Erika , Ripa Marco , Mazzitelli Maria , Crapis Massimo , Cattelan Annamaria , Parruti Giustino , Russo Alessandro , Zammarchi Lorenzo , Tascini Carlo , Viale Pierluigi , Pea Federico
Published: February 2025

A hub and spoke model for optimizing long-term treatment of chronic staphylococcal infections with dalbavancin based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-guided expert clinical pharmacological advice (ECPA) was implemented. This multicentric retrospective cohort study included patients receiving dalbavancin monotherapy lasting >6 weeks at different spoke hospitals having treatment optimized by means of a TDM-guided ECPA program at a hub hospital. Optimal pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target against staphylococci with an MIC up to 0.125 mg/L was defined as dalbavancin concentrations >8.04 mg/L. Patients received dalbavancin therapy for curative (curative group) or suppressive (suppressive group) purposes. Clinical outcome was assessed by means of repeated ambulatory visits. A total of 12 spoke hospitals applied for 414 TDM-based ECPA for 101 patients, of whom 64.4% (65/101) were treated for curative and 35.6% (36/101) were for suppressive purposes. In the curative and suppressive groups, TDM-based ECPA optimized treatment for up to 14 and 28 months, respectively, and ensured median optimal exposure of 95.7% and 100%, respectively. In the curative group, having <70% of treatment time with concentrations above the optimal target increased failure risk [odds ratio (OR), 6.71; confidence interval (CI), 0.97–43.3;
P
= 0.05]. In the suppressive group, infective endocarditis was associated with an increased risk of ineffective treatment (OR, 8.65; CI, 1.29–57.62;
P
= 0.046). Mild adverse events were reported in 4.5% (5/101) of cases. A hub and spoke TDM-guided ECPA program of dalbavancin may be cost-effective for optimizing long-term treatment of chronic staphylococcal infections and for patients admitted to hospitals lacking in-house MD clinical pharmacologists.
Using fluorescently labeled wheat germ agglutinin to track lipopolysaccharide transport to the outer membrane in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Dubois Laurent , Vettiger Andrea , Buss Jackson A. , Bernhardt Thomas G.
Published: February 2025

The cell envelope of gram-negative bacteria consists of two membranes sandwiching the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. The outer membrane (OM) contains integrated beta-barrel proteins and has an outer leaflet composed of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS is transported from the inner membrane where it is made to the OM surface by the Lpt system. In the polarly elongating alpha-proteobacterium
Brucella abortus
, LPS transport has been localized to the polar growth zone and division site. However, LPS transport has not been tracked in live proteobacteria like
Escherichia coli
that elongate by dispersed incorporation of envelope material along their cell body. Here, we report an investigation into the binding target of fluorescently labeled wheat germ agglutinin (FL-WGA) on
E. coli
cells that led to the development of a method for visualizing LPS transport. We show that instead of PG or enterobacterial common antigen for which FL-WGA labeling has been used to detect in the past, this probe recognizes LPS modified with a terminal N-acetylglucosamine formed by the defective O-antigen synthesis pathway of laboratory strains of
E. coli
. This finding enabled the construction of mutants inducible for LPS modification that were used together with FL-WGA labeling to track LPS transport to the cell surface. We show that new LPS is inserted throughout the cell cylinder and at the division site, but not at the cell poles. A similar pattern was observed previously for PG synthesis and OM protein insertion in
E. coli
, suggesting that LPS transport to the OM is coordinated with these processes.

IMPORTANCE

Gram-negative bacteria like
Escherichia coli
are surrounded by a multilayered cell envelope that includes an outer membrane (OM) responsible for their high intrinsic resistance to antibiotics. The outer leaflet of this membrane is composed of a glycolipid called lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here, we report the development of an imaging method to track the transport of LPS to the
E. coli
outer membrane. The results indicate that transport occurs throughout the cell cylinder and at the division site, but not at the cell poles. A similar pattern was observed previously when cell wall synthesis and the insertion of proteins into the OM were tracked. Our results therefore suggest that LPS transport to the OM is coordinated with other essential processes that underly gram-negative cell envelope biogenesis.
Complete genome sequence of
Clostridium botulinum
type A strain (X58540) isolated from cattle feces
Authors: Kim Taeho , Lee Jin-Young , Gil Sukju , Gessler Frank , Shin Chang Hun
Published: February 2025

The full genome sequence of
Clostridium botulinum
type A strain X58540 found in fecal samples from cattle exhibiting clinical symptoms of chronic botulism is presented here. The genome of X58540 consists of 2,371,631 bp with a GC content of 28.17% and is predicted to include 2,157 coding sequences.
Complete genome sequencing and probiotic trait analysis of
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
LR110, a human stool isolate from the NORDBIOTIC collection
Authors: Szczepankowska A. , Cukrowska B. , Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk T.
Published: February 2025

We present the complete genome of
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus
strain LR110, a human stool isolate from the NORDBIOTIC strain collection. The genome consists of a 2,867,184-bp chromosome with 46.8% GC content. Genomic analysis revealed genes related to thiamine salvage, lactose metabolism, and putrescine biosynthesis, providing insight into the strain’s potential probiotic properties.
First-ever ASM Global Research Symposium on Microbes in Human Health in Tsinghua, Beijing, China
Authors: Luo Sai , Wang Ya-Ting
Published: February 2025

The American Society for Microbiology Global Research Symposium on Microbes in Human Health, hosted in partnership with Tsinghua University, was held in Beijing, China, on 25 to 27 September 2024. The conference provided an international forum for microbiologists from different disciplines to present and discuss new findings. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, spanning across bacteria, virus, fungi, and hosts. This report summarizes the presentations and emerging themes.
CD86 immunohistochemical staining for the detection of
Talaromyces marneffei
in lesions
Authors: Fang Jinling , Chen Huiyuan , Hamal Krishna , Liu Donghua
Published: February 2025

Talaromycosis is an invasive fungal disease caused by the pathogenic thermodimorphic fungus
Talaromyces marneffei
(TM), which is often overlooked in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. In view of the diversity of clinical manifestations in patients with TM infection, early diagnosis remains challenging. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of a novel immunohistochemical staining by performing CD86 immunohistochemical staining on 56 tissue sections from patients with talaromycosis who had fungal culture or metagenomic next-generation sequencing confirmed to exist in clinical specimens, as well as 26 patients with other fungi that had been culture-proven. Hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stains were also applied to each specimen. We found that anti-CD86 antibody can label TM pathogens in 38 HIV-negative specimens (38/42) and 14 HIV-positive specimens (14/14); conversely, PAS staining yielded positive results in seven cases of HIV-negative specimens (7/42) and 13 cases of HIV-positive specimens (13/14). Additionally, CD86 immunohistochemical staining was negative in other fungi. Importantly, CD86 immunohistochemical staining significantly outperformed PAS staining in terms of localizing and highlighting TM yeasts, as well as demonstrating the specificity of 100% and a significantly higher sensitivity compared to PAS staining at 92.9% versus 35.7% (
P
< 0.05, McNemar test). Our findings suggest that CD86 immunohistochemical staining has the potential for the rapid diagnosis of talaromycosis.

IMPORTANCE

Talaromycosis is an opportunistic endemic disease without typical clinical manifestations that has emerged as a fungal disease impacting the survival and mortality of immunocompromised individuals and HIV-positive individuals in endemic regions. Nonetheless, talaromycosis is completely curable if it is accurately diagnosed and treated effectively at an early stage. Rapid pathological diagnosis relies on the unique morphological features of
Talaromyces marneffei
observed under the microscope. This study introduces a novel pathological diagnostic approach, CD86 immunohistochemical staining, to enhance the early detection of TM-infected lesions.
Revising the late Cambrian time scale and the duration of the SPICE event using a novel Bayesian age modeling approach
Authors: Farrell T.P. , Cothren H.R. , Sundberg F.A. , Schmitz M.D. , Dehler C.M. , Landing E. , Karlstrom K.E. , Crossey L.J. , Hagadorn J.W.
Published: February 2025

We present a refined global Furongian (late Cambrian) time scale derived through the application of Bayesian age modeling, using an integrative assemblage of conditioning likelihoods (age constraints) including U-Pb zircon maximum depositional ages in the Steptoean positive isotopic carbon excursion (SPICE) reference section in Smithfield Canyon (Utah, USA) and nearby McPherson Canyon (Idaho, USA); Re-Os geochronology from the SPICE-bearing interval of the Andrarum-3 core (Scania, Sweden); and new high-precision chemical abrasion−isotope dilution−thermal ionization mass spectrometry U-Pb zircon tuff ages from Avalonian Wales. We embed these radioisotopic ages within a novel probabilistic treatment of biozones to establish temporal constraints on rock accumulation rates in the Great Basin (USA), the duration of the SPICE event, and Laurentian trilobite biozones correlated to the global Cambrian time scale. Results reveal a beginning of 494.5 (+0.7/−0.6) Ma and an end of 487.3 ± 0.08 Ma for the Furongian Epoch, representing a reduction of the traditional late Cambrian by ∼30% and an extension of the Ordovician by nearly half a million years. Furthermore, the SPICE is confined to a duration of 2.6 (+0.9/−0.8) m.y. Our new approach to integrating faunal succession into Bayesian age modeling can help to constrain rock accumulation rates and possible hiatuses in sections with limited radioisotopic ages. Additionally, it offers a robust calibration tool for further refining the numerical calibration of the geologic time scale, for testing hypotheses about the rates of trilobite evolution and extinction, for evaluating causes of the SPICE, and for constraining paleoclimatic conditions including atmospheric O2 levels.
Supplemental Material: Structural analysis of brittle-plastic shear zones in the Sangre de Cristo Range, southern Colorado, USA: Superposition of Rio Grande rift extension on Laramide contraction
Authors: Sitar Michael C. , al. et
Published: February 2025

1:10,000-scale geologic map (File S1); locations and descriptions of all samples (File S2); mineralogy and monazite scans (File S3); zircon U-Pb data (File S4); zircon fission track data (File S5); and monazite U-Th-Pb data (File S6).
Supplemental Material: Testing different scenarios of freshwater emplacement on the New England continental shelf using hydrologic modeling constrained by electromagnetic, isotopic, and salinity data
Authors: Person Mark A. , et al.
Published: February 2025

Section S1 discusses a geologic fence diagram of Nantucket, Cape Code, and Martha’s Vineyard. Sections S2–S4 present the governing groundwater transport and geodynamic equations used in this paper. Details of the noble gas analysis are included in Table S1.
Reversal treatment and clinical outcomes in acute intracranial haemorrhage associated with oral anticoagulant use: protocol of a planned systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tallroth Mattias , Östlundh Linda , Büki András , Cao Yang , von Euler Mia , Ström Jakob O
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Reversal treatment is commonly used for managing oral anticoagulant (OAC)-associated intracranial haemorrhages. Its effects on mortality are still understudied, particularly in various subtypes of intracranial haemorrhages. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesise the available data to study the impact of reversal therapies on mortality following various OAC-associated acute intracranial haemorrhages.

Methods and analysis

This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Protocols, and the final review will be reported in accordance with the PRISMA reporting guidelines. This systematic review and meta-analysis will include studies that assess contemporary reversal treatment in comparison to no reversal treatment, in cases of OAC-associated intracranial haemorrhage. Stratification will be performed for the types of bleeding as well as OAC at bleeding onset. Preliminary searches to determine search term inclusions were conducted in May–August 2024 in the electronic databases Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science without language and publication date restrictions. Randomised controlled studies, non-randomised controlled trials, and observational studies will be considered for the final meta-analysis. Three reviewers (MT, JOS and AB) will screen titles and abstracts, and one reviewer (MT) will subsequently conduct full-text screening.

Risks of bias will be assessed by MT using tools such as Risk of Bias 2, Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Heterogeneity among the study results will be assessed using the I² statistic. If appropriate, a random-effects meta-analysis model will be performed. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression (if applicable) will be performed to assess sources of heterogeneity among (1) intracranial haemorrhage types, (2) OAC drugs and (3) study types, with randomised controlled trials being the primary focus.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not needed as this project involves previously published data. We intend to publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42024556420.
Lie symmetry reductions and exact solutions of (2+1)-dimensional Boiti–Leon–Manna–Pempinelli equation in shallow water
Authors: Kumar Rajat , Tanwar Dig Vijay , Singh Satya Jeet , Ray Atul Kumar
Published: February 2025

This work aims to derive symmetry reductions and exact solutions of Boiti-Leon-Manna-Pempinelli (BLMP) equation using the Lie symmetry approach. The BLMP equation is highly nonlinear integrable shallow water wave model. It describes propagation of solitary waves in shallow water. The method is based on invariance property under one parameter transformation, which ensures the reducibility of test equation and results to infinitesimals. Therefore, BLMP equation reduces independent variable and gets first symmetry reductions. A twice implementation of method transforms the BLMP equation into corresponding ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Such ODEs are determined under suitable conditions and thus, derive exact solutions. These solutions are novel and never addressed in literature. The derived solutions contain various arbitrary functions and constants, therefore significant to express rich physical structures of governing phenomena. To study physical importance of the solutions and associated phenomena, these solutions have been supplemented via numerical simulations. Thus, variety of physical structures like periodic, parabolic, multisoliton and transition in soliton nature are analysed systematically.
Estimating the abundance of a polar bear subpopulation at their southern global extent
Authors: Northrup Joseph , Atkinson Stephen , Howe Eric J. , Lunn Nicholas J. , Middel Kevin , Obbard Martyn Ernest , Ross Tyler , Szor Guillaume , Walton Lyle , Ware Jasmine
Published: February 2025

Climate warming is causing global biodiversity loss, with impacts to ecosystem function. Warming in the Arctic outpaces global averages, and projected declines in Arctic-sea ice have led to predictions of local extirpations for ice-associated species. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) exemplify these challenges as they rely on sea ice for much of their life cycle. Further, polar bears are harvested throughout much of their range, increasing the importance of robust population monitoring in the face of climate warming. We conducted an aerial survey in summer 2021 to estimate abundance of the Southern Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation. We estimated 1119 polar bears (95% CI = 860-1454) within the boundaries of the subpopulation, which suggested a 29% increase from the previous aerial survey in 2016. This increase was likely driven by a combination of interannual variation in the on-land distribution of bears in the Southern Hudson Bay and adjacent Western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulations as well as reduced harvest and improved survival. Evidence from concurrent research suggests that variation in on-land distribution is the most likely driver. These results exemplify the challenges of monitoring and, particularly, managing harvest of sensitive species under the rapid environmental change caused by climate warming. Further research is needed and critical for effective harvest management of this subpopulation.
Accurate Stock Market Prediction Method Based on Ant Lion Optimization Machine Learning
Authors: Youwen Wang , Shuo Zhang
Published: February 2025

With the increasing complexity of financial markets, it is gradually becoming a research hotspot in the field of accurate stock market prediction. The ant lion optimization algorithm, due to its excellent global search ability and the advantages of machine learning models in data mining, aims to further improve the accuracy of stock market prediction. Therefore, this paper will explore how to combine the ant lion optimization algorithm with machine learning models to achieve effective prediction of stock market trends. First, a stock relationship graph is constructed using graph neural networks, with stocks as nodes and relationships between stocks as edges. The node embedding technique of graph neural networks is used to extract feature representations of stocks. Then, the ant lion algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of the graph neural network, enabling it to better fit the historical data of the stock market. Finally, the trained model is used to predict the future trend of the stock market. Through experimental verification, it has been found that the proposed method has high fitness during the training process and short training time; the loss value of ant lion’s optimized machine learning algorithm is relatively small, and the model prediction accuracy is high. Applying this method to Apple, Facebook, and Tesla results in higher strategic trading returns. This method improves the accuracy of stock market prediction by optimizing machine learning algorithms with ant lions, providing investors with more reliable decision support.
Dynamic behavior of a magnetic system driven by an oscillatory external temperature
Authors: Rubio Puzzo M. Leticia
Published: February 2025

The dynamic effects on a magnetic system exposed to a time-oscillating external temperature are studied using Monte-Carlo simulations on the classical 2D Ising Model. The time dependence of temperature is defined as [Formula: see text]. Magnetization [Formula: see text] and period-averaged magnetization [Formula: see text] are analyzed to characterize out-of-equilibrium phenomena. Hysteresis-like loops in [Formula: see text] are observed as a function of [Formula: see text]. The area of the loops is well-defined outside the critical Ising temperature ([Formula: see text]) but takes more time to close it when the system crosses the critical curve. Results show a power-law dependence of [Formula: see text] (the averaged area of loops) on both L and [Formula: see text], with exponents [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Furthermore, the impact of shifting the initial temperature [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text] is analyzed, suggesting the existence of a [Formula: see text]-dependent effective temperature [Formula: see text]. A scaling law behavior for [Formula: see text] is found on the base of this [Formula: see text]-dependent temperature.
MHD rotating flow of a viscous fluid with heat sink and Prabhakar fractional derivative
Authors: Sarwar Noman , Asjad Muhammad Imran , Almusawa Musawa Yahya
Published: February 2025

The unsteady hydromagnetic free convection flow of rotating incompressible viscous fluids across an infinite moving plate with fractional thermal transportation is explored in the presence of heat source, Hall current and slip velocity effects. The Laplace transform method is used to convert the controlling PDEs corresponding to the temperature and velocity profiles into linear ODEs. To get the results, the classical model is modified to a fractional-order model using constitutive relations of the generalized Fourier’s law for heat flux. After making the equations dimensionless, solutions to the energy and velocity equations may be found. Graphs are plotted to check the insight of physical characteristics. Moreover, the Mittag-Leffler kernel is most affected. The memory of temperature improved by using generalized Mittag-Leffler kernel in comparison of exponential kernel. Some graphical representations of the temperature and velocity were created using the software application Mathcad. As a result, it is found that with the application of a generalized Mittag-Leffler kernel, the thermal and momentum boundary layers as well as the memory of fluid properties can be enhanced for larger values of the fractional parameter.
An Innovative Onion Disease Classification Framework Using Smart IoT Assisted Multi-Scale Attention-Based ResNeXt with SPP via Modified Cat–Mouse Optimizer
Authors: Vhatkar Kapil , Kathole Atul B. , Katti Jayashree , Dharmale Gulbakshee
Published: February 2025

The application of smart agriculture is enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based platforms, and these techniques have reshaped conventional methods of farming. Producers may prevent onions from spoilage by using storage procedures. However, humans can fail to identify the decaying onions, in which case managers may depend on sensors and deep learning strategies for detecting the decomposition of onions. The conventional techniques estimate data improperly because of external factors, and the system that covers the IoT framework encountered several challenges while using the currently accessible techniques to recognize onion disease. Hence, an IoT-based onion disease classification framework using deep learning is proposed for increasing the onion yield by recognizing the onion disease. At first, the required data are collected using the IoT devices. Further, the region of interest (ROI) detection process is done using the developed adaptive residual fully convolutional network (ARFCN), and finally, the ROI cropped images are attained with the support of the ARFCN technique. Here, the variables of the ARFCN approach are tuned with the help of a revised random parameter-based cat and mouse optimizer (RRP-CMO). The preservation of valuable regions is highly augmented by the ROI detection process. In addition to that, the acquired image from the dataset has few unwanted regions, and it is removed by the ROI detection process. The cropped images are then preceded for disease classification using the proposed multi-scale attention-based ResNeXt with spatial pyramid pooling (MARSPP). The final classification results are validated with various conventional algorithms and classifiers.
Co-Design and User Evaluation of a Robotic Mental Well-Being Coach to Support University Students’ Public Speaking Anxiety
Authors: Rasouli Samira , Ghafurian Moojan , Dautenhahn Kerstin
Published: February 2025

Public speaking anxiety is one of the most common subtypes of social anxiety and is a prevalent concern among university students. Many students experience excessive anxiety when giving presentations in front of other people, which can negatively impact their academic performance and overall mental well-being. With limited access to human coaches and interventions, there is a need for innovative technological solutions, including social robots, to extend and enhance mental health support and accessibility. In this paper, we first outline a co-design study with five mental health professionals and a participatory design study with six university students, aiming to design a robotic mental well-being coach to help university students manage public speaking anxiety. Afterwards, we detail a user study with 50 university students to evaluate the usability and acceptability of the developed robotic mental well-being coach system. The findings showed that the robotic coach system, which includes the robot and a tablet, received a usability score of 84.05 and had high acceptability among participants who perceived the robot as knowledgeable and competent. Moreover, participants’ self-reported moods significantly improved following the study. Overall, conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis in this study yields promising results on the potential use of robotic coaches to help university students manage their public speaking anxiety.
Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment in Audio Augmented Reality Games
Authors: Giariskanis Fotis , Kritikos Yannis , Protopapadaki Eftychia , Papanastasiou Anthi , Papadopoulou Eleni , Mania Katerina
Published: February 2025

Incorporating Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA) and Conversational User Interfaces (CUIs) in relatively unexplored head-worn Audio Augmented Reality (AAR), puts forward a combination of intelligent interaction modalities including hand and gaze interaction as well as spatial sound and voice input. Seamless interaction modalities driving a culturally engaging experience in AAR is a challenge. This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative, flow-aspired AAR experience for head-worn AAR, presented as a gamified historical narrative. User-driven DDA, spatialized auditory feedback and gaze-based interaction are integrated with location-specific musical elements. The DDA component uses heuristic distributions based on round completion time, hints’ usage, remaining time, and additional time needed, weighted to calculate an overall score. Players regardless of their skill level enjoy the game experience based on customized difficulty. Upon completing AAR missions, the user composes their own personalized soundscape. The proposed AAR experience overcomes interaction challenges of personalized AAR, putting forward a voice-assisted system for universal access, also employing accurate hand and gaze interaction, while the user is moving in a busy museum environment. A thorough evaluation showed that combining voice, hand and gaze interaction was of higher usability compared to voice-only and gaze-only interaction. The DDA component matched players’ individual styles, retaining cultural engagement.
OTM
: Efficient K-Order-Based Core Maintenance in Large-Scale Dynamic Hypergraphs
Authors: Fang Xiangfei , Huan Chengying , Zhang Heng , Liu Yongchao , Ma Shaonan , Wu Yanjun , Zhao Chen
Published: February 2025

The

\(k\)

-core model has garnered widespread adoption for preserving essential cohesive subgraphs owing to its linear-time computability, making it particularly suitable for hypergraph analysis. However, considering the continuously evolving characteristics of real-world hypergraphs, recent research efforts have focused on developing efficient algorithms that can maintain the core value of each vertex amid structural alterations. Despite these efforts, frequent insertions and deletions in dynamic hypergraphs continue to pose significant inefficiencies, primarily due to the increased traversal overhead incurred by hyperedge insertion algorithms. This exacerbates performance disparities between handling hyperedge insertions and deletions, underscoring the persistent challenge of effective

\(k\)

-core analysis in hypergraphs.

To effectively address these challenges, we have gained key insights that enable us to define a specific order, termed the hypergraph

\(k\)

-order, which significantly reduces redundant vertex traversal and narrows down the search space during hyperedge insertions. Based on the proposed hypergraph

\(k\)

-order, we define two indices, the order index and the pivotal index, aimed at minimizing traversal costs and expediting the hyperedge insertion algorithm. Moreover, it is essential to recognize that the recomputation of the support degree (

\(sd\)

) for all vertices following each hyperedge deletion can significantly diminish the performance efficiency of deletion algorithms. To address this, we introduce an optimized approach that leverages the incremental maintenance of the support degree (

\(sd\)

) value to expedite the hyperedge deletion process. By leveraging these optimizations, we introduce a novel Order-based Traversal core Maintenance methodology, designated as
OTM
, which markedly enhances the efficiency of core maintenance in dynamic hypergraphs. Our comprehensive evaluation, which covers 12 real-world hypergraph datasets and a synthetic dataset, reveals that
OTM
achieves staggering speedup, outperforming the state-of-the-art approach with a
41,420

\(\times\)

speedup in the insertion algorithm and
8,284

\(\times\)

speedup in the deletion algorithm, underscoring its remarkable efficiency and effectiveness.
The Effect of Sodium 1-Naphthalene Sulfonate and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Additives on Electrodeposition of Iron in Acidic Sulfate Electrolytes
Authors: Kong Dong , Chen Desheng , Zhao Hongxin , Zhen Yulan , Wang Lina , Liang Jianye , Yuan Zhangfu
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the effects of two additives, sodium 1-naphthalenesulfonate (SNS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), on electrodeposition of iron in acidic sulfate baths. Focusing on their influence on cathodic polarization and back-dissolution, as well as changes in the morphological characteristics and crystallographic orientation of iron deposits, the study utilized electrochemical assessments and morphological evaluations. Results indicate that SNS and SDS significantly reduce the nucleation overpotential (NOP) of iron, from 351 to 154 and 127 mV with optimal concentrations at 1 g/L and 0.1 g/L, respectively. Both additives enhance the corrosion potential (Ec), thereby improving corrosion resistance. The additives can also reduce solution resistance (Rs) and charge transfer resistance (Rct), facilitating faster Fe²⁺ ion charge transfers and reducing dissolution of deposited iron. Moreover, SNS and SDS synergistically adjust the crystallographic plane orientation of Fe, promoting the formation of the (110) and (211) planes while suppressing the (200) planes, resulting in finer iron grains. Additionally, the TChkl index reaches a maximum value of 1.69. These findings underscore the crucial role of SNS and SDS in optimizing the iron electrodeposition process and enhancing the quality and stability of electrodeposited iron.
Latest Updates and Future Perspective on Hybrid Halide Perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 in Humidity Sensing and Energy Conversion Applications
Authors: Gupta Khushboo , Kumar Manish , Singh Dharm Veer , Chaudhary Vishal , Srivastava Abhay Nanda , Thakur O. P. , Dwivedi D.K. , Siqueiros J.M. , Herrera Oscar Raymond , Sharma subhash
Published: February 2025

The hybrid halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-based humidity sensors demonstrate significant progress in detection range, response time, and durability. These improvements are attributed to the ionic conductivity of the material, tunable bandgap, and defect engineering. Simultaneously, their progress in energy conversion devices, such as solar cells, has achieved remarkable efficiency gains, exceeding 25%. The key challenges for commercializing these devices are moisture-induced degradation, lead toxicity, and scalability. Therefore, future research should prioritize stabilizing the material through novel encapsulation strategies, exploring lead-free alternatives, and developing multifunctional devices that synergistically exploit humidity sensitivity and energy conversion capabilities.
Impact of SnS2/Fe Nanofiller on PVA/PVP Blended Polymer: Structural, Electrical and Radiation Shielding Properties
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Bakr , El naggar A M , Heiba Zein K. , Kamal A M
Published: February 2025

Structure and morphology of PVA/PVP/SnS2/Fe-doped blends were considered employing X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Maximum dielectric value was attained in the PVA/PVP/1 wt % SnS2/Fe blended polymers. Relaxation time was affected by the amount of filler. Energy density and AC conductivity were improved as the blend loaded with 5 wt % SnS2/Fe. Radiation parameters for all blends were explored using the Phy-X/PSD program. All blends exhibited relatively elevated MAC values at lower energy, specifically 15 keV. MAC diminished to 0.095 cm²/g for all blends when energy increased to 0.5 MeV. Doped blends had enhanced photon attenuation capacities. Doped samples exhibited superior attenuation properties. The doped blend with 10 wt% SnS2/Fe required the least thickness to attenuate photons at select energies relative to other blended polymers. At 0.5 MeV, the TF values were 89.33%, 89.03%, 89.83%, 88.02%, and 86.77% for samples with x values of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10, respectively. At 5 cm thickness, TF % values were 56.88, 55.92, 58.50, 52.83, and 49.17 for samples with x values of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10, respectively. At a distance of 1 cm, RPE values were 10.67%, 10.97%, 10.17%, 11.98%, and 13.23% for samples with x values of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10, respectively. At 5 cm, RPE values rose to 43.12%, 44.08%, 41.49%, 47.17%, and 50.83% for the corresponding blends, respectively
Physicochemical Evaluation of PMMA Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles and Their Antimicrobial Features
Authors: Bakr Ahmed M , Darwish Abdelfattah , Elawady Mohamed , Hamed Ahmed A. , Azab Ali , Elzwawy Amir
Published: February 2025

Herein, the authors have explored the effect of incorporating TiO2 (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 wt%) into the PMMA network. The crystal structure of the pure and doped PMMA displayed amorphous to crystalline shift with a 17 nm for TiO2 and 10 nm of PMMA/TiO2 with the highest wt %. Maximum reflectance scopes 62% for PMMA/TiO2 0.1 wt% at 456 nm. The reduced bandgap from 4.2 for PMMA to 3.3 eV for PMMA/TiO2 0.1 wt% potentilally by the emergence of energy levels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the resembling spectroscopy without shifts in representative peaks except for the increase in the peak cited at 450 cm-1, accredited to the Ti-O bond. The dielectric features verified the insertion of TiO2 into PMMA matrix triggered the permittivity improvement, offering interfaces for the charges accumulation. The Antimicrobial specifications of the PMMA and PMMA/ TiO2 were examined versus B. Subtilis, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, E. Coli, C. albicans, and A. niger. The advanced TiO2 wt % the larger antimicrobial activity, particularly regarding gram-negative bacteria. Highest activity demonstrated 67.42% versus K. pneumoniae for PMMA/TiO2 0.1 wt%, although the antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger was inconsequential.
Design and Optimization of THz Refractive Index Diamond Shaped Hollow Core Biosensor for Brain Tissue Detection and Behaviour Prediction
Authors: N Vithyalakshmi , M S Mohamed Mallick , Mubarakali Azath , Elshafie Hashim
Published: February 2025

The diagnosis of brain tumors remains a challenging and resource-intensive task due to the complexity of brain tissue and the limitations of existing diagnostic tools. Biosensors operating in THz regime can be used to monitor changes in the characteristics of brain tissues, including refractive index, However, the technical drawbacks of such systems are high costs, long signal acquisition tim,e and the need for high-performance calculations. In this research, we proposed a Terahertz (THz) refractive index-based novel diamond hollow-core biosensor for examining various brain tissues. The biosensor has a sensitivity range of 1.30 to 1.40 RI and a figure of merit that falls between 51000 nm RIU⁻¹, allowing for precise and accurate real-time diagnosis. The second contribution involves applying advanced optimization approach to optimize the model parameters. With a sensitivity of 99.45%, specificity of 99.78%, precision of 99.51%, and total accuracy of 99.93% in identifying malignant brain tissues, performance analysis shows exceptional results.
TRAPping the effects of tobacco smoking: the regulation and function of Acp5 expression in lung macrophages
Authors: Willems Suzanne H. , Qian Shilei , Lång Pernilla , Overtoom Bjarne E. , Alimostafazadeh Sina , Fuentes-Mateos Rocío , Vasse Gwenda F. , van der Veen T. Anienke , Vlasma Jelmer , De Jager Marina H. , Guryev Victor , Fejer Gyorgy , Andersson Göran , Melgert Barbro N.
Published: February 2025

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP, gene Acp5) is highly expressed in alveolar macrophages with proposed roles in lung inflammation and lung fibrosis development. We previously showed that its expression and activity are higher in lung macrophages of smokers and COPD patients, suggesting involvement in smoke-induced lung damage. In this study we explored the function of TRAP and regulation of its different mRNA transcripts (Acp5 201-206) in lung tissue exposed to cigarette smoke to elucidate its function in alveolar macrophages.

In mice exposed to cigarette smoke or air for 4-6 weeks, higher Acp5 mRNA expression in lung tissue after smoking was mainly driven by transcript Acp5-202, which originates from macrophages. Expression of Acp5-202 correlated with transcription factors previously found to drive proliferation of macrophages. Treating fetal liver progenitors-derived alveolar-like macrophages (MPI macrophages) with cigarette smoke extract resulted in more proliferation compared to nontreated cells. In contrast, Acp5-deficient MPI macrophages and MPI macrophages treated with a TRAP inhibitor proliferated significantly less than control macrophages. Mechanistically this lack of proliferation after TRAP inhibition was associated with higher presence of phosphorylated β-catenin compared to nontreated controls. Phosphorylation of β-catenin is known to mark it for ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome, preventing its activity in promoting cell proliferation.

In conclusion, our findings provide strong evidence for TRAP stimulating alveolar macrophage proliferation by dephosphorylating β-catenin. By driving proliferation, TRAP likely helps sustain alveolar macrophage populations during smoke exposure, either compensating for their loss due to smoking or increasing their numbers to better manage smoke-induced damage.
Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of CD79A and CD79B in the Sichuan Taimen (Hucho bleekeri)
Authors: Chen Yeyu , Yang Huanchao , Wu Xiaoyun , Liu Zhao , Chen Yanling , Wei Qinyao , Lin Jue , Yu Yi , Tu Quanyu , Li Hua
Published: February 2025

In the immune system, humoral immunity is mediated by B lymphocytes that destroy antigens through the production of antibodies by plasma cells. The CD79A and CD79B play important roles in the transduction of antigen‐stimulated signals. However, only a few studies have investigated the immune functions of CD79A and CD79B in teleosts. To understand the role of CD79 in teleosts, CD79A and CD79B were identified and functionally analyzed in a glacial relict Hucho bleekeri. CD79A and CD79B contain a typical signal peptide, an immunoglobulin domain, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail. The amino acid sequence of H. bleekeri CD79 showed high homology with CD79 of salmonid fish. Phylogenetic analysis also showed that H. bleekeri CD79A and CD79B clustered with the CD79 of Salmonidae fish, including the genera Salmo, Oncorhynchus, and Salvelinus. Tissue expression analysis showed that CD79A and CD79B were widely expressed in all the tested tissues. The highest expression of CD79A and CD79B was found in the head kidney, spleen, and trunk kidney, whereas the lowest expression was observed in the stomach, skin, gonad, and muscles. After lipopolysaccharides and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid stimulation, the expression levels of CD79A and CD79B in the head kidney and spleen of H. bleekeri changed significantly. Our study showed that CD79 may play a crucial role in the B‐cell receptor signaling pathway and immune response in H. bleekeri.
A model of intra-tumor and inter-patient heterogeneity explains clinical trials of curative combination therapy for lymphoma
Authors: Pomeroy Amy E. , Palmer Adam C.
Published: February 2025

Models of tumor drug response have illuminated important concepts in oncology, but there remains a need for theory that combines intra-tumor and inter-patient heterogeneity to explain patient outcomes, especially for curative treatments. We present a mathematical model of multi-drug therapy that describes both cell-to-cell and patient-to-patient heterogeneity as distributions of drug sensitivity, and apply it to simulate curative combination therapies for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). Simulated trials reproduced Progression-Free Survival and changes in circulating tumor DNA observed under standard therapy, and accurately predicted success or failure of nine randomized trials of first-line combinations based on drugs’ efficacies in relapsed/refractory DLBCL. Finally, we used the model to explore how drug synergies, biomarkers, and subtype-specific endpoints could improve the chance of success of targeted combination therapies. This study offers a quantitative model of curative drug combinations and suggests that predictive simulations could aid the design of new regimens with curative intent.