bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Plant Additives on Changes in the Composition of Fatty Acids, Lipid Quality Indices and Minerals of Fermented Dairy Products from Cow’s Milk
Authors: Paszczyk Beata , Tońska Elżbieta
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of selected plant additives on changes in the content of fatty acids, lipid quality indicators and mineral composition of yogurts produced from cow’s milk. The analysis included natural yogurts and yogurts enriched with 10% of chia seeds, hulled hemp seeds, quinoa seeds and oat bran. The fatty acid composition, the content of lipid quality indicators and the content of mineral components was varied in all analyzed yogurts. The plant additives used caused significant (p ≤ 0.05) changes in their fatty acid content, i.e., a significant decrease in the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and a significant increase in the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The plant additives used caused significant (p ≤ 0.05) changes in the content of fatty acids, i.e., a significant decrease in the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and a significant increase in the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). It was shown that additives such as chia seeds and peeled hemp seeds caused the greatest changes in the analyzed yogurts. Yogurts with these additives were characterized by a significant increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including n-3 acids, and a more favorable n-6/n-3 ratio. Yogurts with these additives were also characterized by significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (TI) indices and a higher hypocholesterolemia-to-hypercholesterolemia ratio (H/H). The addition of peeled hemp seeds caused the greatest changes in the content of minerals. Yogurts with hemp seeds were characterized by the highest content of all measured macroelements, as well as copper, iron and zinc. In turn, the highest manganese content was determined in the yogurts with the addition of chia seeds.
Discovery of Quinazolone Pyridiniums as Potential Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Dai Jie , Li Qianyue , Li Ziyi , Zang Zhonglin , Luo Yan , Zhou Chenghe
Published: January 2025

The overprescription of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture has accelerated the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which severely limits the arsenal available to clinicians for treating bacterial infections. This work discovered a new class of heteroarylcyanovinyl quinazolones and quinazolone pyridiniums to surmount the increasingly severe bacterial resistance. Bioactive assays manifested that the highly active compound 19a exhibited strong inhibition against MRSA and Escherichia coli with extremely low MICs of 0.5 μg/mL, being eightfold more active than that of norfloxacin (MICs = 4 μg/mL). The highly active 19a with rapid bactericidal properties displayed imperceptible resistance development trends, negligible hemolytic toxicity, and effective biofilm inhibitory effects. Preliminary explorations on antibacterial mechanisms revealed that compound 19a could cause membrane damage, embed in intracellular DNA to hinder bacterial DNA replication, and induce metabolic dysfunction. Surprisingly, active 19a was found to trigger the conformational change in PBP2a of MRSA to open the active site, which might account for its high inhibition against MRSA. In addition, the little effect of molecule 19a on the production of reactive oxygen species indicated that bacterial death was not caused by oxidative stress. The above comprehensive analyses highlighted the large potential of quinazolone pyridiniums as multitargeting broad-spectrum antibacterial agents.
Study on the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of TiC Particle-Reinforced Copper Matrix Composites Regulated by Different Rare Earth Elements
Authors: Li Denghui , Sun Changfei , Zhai Zhenjie , Wang Zhe , Chen Cong , Lei Qian
Published: January 2025

Copper matrix composites (CMCs) synergistically reinforced with rare earth oxides (Re2O3) and TiC were prepared using a powder metallurgy process with vacuum hot-pressing and sintering technology, aiming to explore new ways to optimize the properties of composites. Through this innovative approach, we propose a new solution strategy and idea for the difficult problem of mutual constraints between electrical and mechanical properties faced by traditional dual-phase reinforced Cu-matrix composites. Meanwhile, the modulation mechanism of Re2O3 in CMCs and the electrical and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The compressive yield strength was improved from pure Cu (50 MPa) to TiC/Cu (159 MPa). The yield strength of Eu2O3-TiC/Cu obtained after biphasic strengthening is 213 MPa, which is 326% higher than that of pure Cu, and the ultimate compressive strength reaches 790 MPa. The conductivity was enhanced from TiC/Cu (81.4% IACS) to La2O3-TiC/Cu (87.3% IACS).
LncRNA 3222401L13Rik Is Upregulated in Aging Astrocytes and Regulates Neuronal Support Function Through Interaction with Npas3
Authors: Schröder Sophie , Sakib M. Sadman , Krüger Dennis M. , Pena Tonatiuh , Burkhardt Susanne , Schütz Anna-Lena , Sananbenesi Farahnaz , Fischer André
Published: January 2025

Aging leads to cognitive decline and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. While molecular changes in central nervous system (CNS) cells contribute to this decline, the mechanisms are not fully understood. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of cellular functions. Background/Objectives: The roles of lncRNAs in aging, especially in glial cells, are not well characterized. Methods: We investigated lncRNA expression in non-neuronal cells from aged mice and identified 3222401L13Rik, a previously unstudied lncRNA, as upregulated in astrocytes during aging. Results: Knockdown of 3222401L13Rik in primary astrocytes revealed its critical role in regulating genes for neuronal support and synapse organization, a function conserved in human iPSC-derived astrocytes. A 3222401L13Rik interacts with the transcription factor Neuronal PAS Domain Protein 3 (Npas3), and overexpression of Npas3 rescues deficits in astrocytes lacking 3222401L13Rik. Conclusions: These data suggest that 3222401L13Rik upregulation may help delay age-related cognitive decline.
Optimizing Nutrient Availability in Decoupled Recirculating Aquaponic Systems for Enhanced Plant Productivity: A Mini Review
Authors: Al Tawaha Abdel Razzaq , Megat Wahab Puteri Edaroyati , Jaafar Hawa ZE
Published: January 2025

Nutrient management in coupled aquaponic systems presents significant challenges due to competing requirements between fish and plant production within a single-loop framework. These challenges often result in suboptimal nutrient concentrations, compromised system efficiency, and reduced yields. This critical review examines the Decoupled recirculating aquaponics system (DRAPS) as an innovative solution that separates fish and plant nutrient cycles while maintaining water recirculation benefits. This study provides a comprehensive review of DRAPS, emphasizing how its decoupled structure enhances nutrient management and promotes sustainable production. It specifically evaluates the ability of DRAPS to optimize macronutrient and micronutrient levels, control agronomic factors independently, and improve both nutrient and water use efficiency. Additionally, this review highlights the advantages of using urea as a nitrogen source, which can enhance plant productivity without compromising fish health. The findings indicate that the loops of DRAPS facilitate customized nutrient concentrations, fostering optimal growth conditions for both plants and fish. By safely incorporating urea as a nitrogen source, DRAPS increases plant productivity while reducing the risk of ammonia toxicity for fish. Furthermore, independent control over agronomic factors enhances nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, and water use efficiency. This approach minimizes the risks of cross-toxicity and enables higher levels of essential micronutrients, such as iron and nickel, which are beneficial for plant health but can be toxic in coupled systems. DRAPS signifies a significant advancement in sustainable agriculture, particularly in regions with limited water and land resources. By optimizing nutrient management and supporting the high-density production of plants and fish, DRAPS presents a scalable, resource-efficient model that aligns with sustainable development goals. Its capacity for precise nutrient control with minimal environmental impact positions it as a valuable solution for sustainable, high-yield food production in resource-constrained settings.
Coenzyme Q and Selenium Co-Supplementation Alleviate Methionine Choline-Deficient Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis in Mice
Authors: Choi Hyewon , Choi Jiwon , Go Yula , Chung Jayong
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: The pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is closely associated with increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Coenzyme Q (CoQ) and selenium (Se) are well-established antioxidants with protective effects against oxidative damage. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CoQ and Se in ameliorating MASH induced by a methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet in mice. Methods: C57BL/6J male mice were fed either a methionine choline-sufficient (MCS) or MCD diet and treated with vehicle, CoQ (100 mg/kg), Se (158 μg/kg), or their combination (CoQ + Se) for 4 weeks. Results: The MCD diet significantly increased hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis compared to MCS controls. Treatment with CoQ and Se, particularly in combination, markedly reduced the MAFLD activity score, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis. Combined supplementation of CoQ and Se significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and hepatic TG and cholesterol concentrations. CoQ and Se effectively mitigated hepatic oxidative stress by enhancing catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, increasing glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, and restoring the GSH/GSSG ratio. Lipid peroxidation markers, such as malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal, were significantly reduced. Furthermore, the expression of ferroptosis-related markers, including acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4, arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase, and hepatic non-heme iron content, was significantly downregulated, while GPX4 expression was upregulated by combined CoQ and Se treatment. Conclusions: CoQ and Se synergistically alleviate MASH progression by reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which may contribute to the suppression of ferroptosis. Combined CoQ and Se supplementation demonstrates therapeutic potential for managing MASH and related liver injury.
Intervention Programmes for First-Episode Psychosis: A Scoping Review
Authors: Gouveia Marta , Morgado Tânia , Costa Tiago , Sampaio Francisco , Rosa Amorim , Sequeira Carlos
Published: January 2025

The aim of this scoping review was to map intervention programmes for first-episode psychosis by identifying their characteristics, participants, and specific contexts of implementation. It seems reasonable to suggest that early intervention may be beneficial in improving recovery outcomes and reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). Despite the expansion of these programmes, there are still some significant variations and barriers to access that need to be addressed. In line with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the Participants, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework, this review encompasses studies focusing on individuals grappling with early-stage psychosis and their caregivers across a range of settings, including hospital and community environments. The review identified 47 studies from 2002 to 2023, which revealed a great deal of diversity in programme characteristics and implementation contexts. This reflects a global perspective. The results showed that there is a great deal of variety in the characteristics of the programmes, with interventions ranging from single-component strategies, such as cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) and cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), to multicomponent programmes that integrate a number of different approaches, including psychosocial, pharmacological, and family-focused strategies. The objectives included attempts to improve cognitive functioning; enhance coping skills; reduce caregiver burden; and address symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and hallucinations. It is notable that there was considerable variation in the frequency, duration, and follow-up periods of the interventions, with some lasting just three sessions over one month and others spanning five years and 48 sessions. The majority of the programmes were delivered in community or outpatient settings, although there were also examples of hospital- and home-based interventions. These findings highlight the value of early interventions and provide a useful resource for adapting programmes to different social and cultural contexts. It would be beneficial for future research to explore how these interventions can be tailored to diverse settings.
A Series of 40 Congenital Lung Malformation Cases and the Informative Value of CPAM Lesion Ratios
Authors: Le Melanie , Harms Phillip , Peldschus Kersten , Junge Carl-Martin , Tomuschat Christian , Reinshagen Konrad
Published: January 2025

Introduction: In this single-center retrospective analysis, we present case data and insights gathered over the past eight years. Additionally, we computed postnatal, pre-therapy lesion-to-lung ratios of Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations (CPAMs) to retrospectively assess potential outcome prediction using lesion-to-lung ratios. Methods: Data were collected between 2015 and 2022. Information such as chosen therapy, surgical duration, postoperative hospital stay, and follow-up was obtained from electronic case records. Pre-therapy pulmonary lesion volumes [mm3], lesion-to-ipsilateral-lung ratio, and lesion-to-both-lungs ratio of CPAMs were retrospectively calculated from computed tomography images using specialized software. Results: Of the 40 identified cases, 27 had CPAM, 7 had pulmonary sequestration, 4 had bronchogenic cysts, and 2 had congenital lobar emphysema. Histological examinations of resected specimens revealed no malignancy. For CPAMs, the median surgery age was 7 months (interquartile range (IQR): 0.45–11), averaging 9.54 ± 15.01 months. The CPAM surgery lasted on average 126 ± 53 min (median 124 min (IQR 108–172)). The mean length of hospital stay was 6 ± 1.41 days for thoracoscopic surgery and 17 ± 18.23 days for open surgery. No clear link was found between the lesion ratio and management choice or surgical length. Notably, larger lesions tended to result in longer postoperative stays. CPAMs with a lesion-to-ipsilateral-lung ratio of ≤0.11 were asymptomatic. Discussion and Conclusions: If patients present no symptoms, mild symptoms, or smaller CPAM lesions, “wait and watch” and a CT scan of the thorax up to approximately six months of age remain a reasonable approach. The true risk of malignancy remains ambiguous, especially since there was no evidence of malignancy in our biopsies. On the other hand, prophylactic surgery before symptoms arose led to earlier discharge and overall low intraoperative complications compared to symptomatic counterparts. Ultimately, the adopted therapy pathway remains a parental choice. For CPAMs, an increased lesion-to-lung ratio correlated with extended hospital stay and symptomatic presentation. However, there was no cut-off value for conservative or surgical treatment.
Distribution, Phytochemical Insights, and Cytotoxic Potential of the Sesbania Genus: A Comprehensive Review of Sesbania grandiflora, Sesbania sesban, and Sesbania cannabina
Authors: Mokhtar Fatma Alzahraa , Ahmed Mariam , Al Dhanhani Aishah Saeed , Elbehairi Serag Eldin I. , Alfaifi Mohammad Y. , Shati Ali A. , Fakhry Amal M.
Published: January 2025

This review evaluates the cytotoxic potential of the Sesbania genus, with a focus on Sesbania sesban, Sesbania grandiflora, and Sesbania cannabina. These species, known for their diverse phytochemical compositions, exhibit notable cytotoxic effects that suggest their utility in natural cancer treatments. Compounds such as quercetin, kaempferol, and sesbagrandiforian A and B have been highlighted for their strong antioxidant and antiproliferative effects, further emphasizing their therapeutic potential. The genus Sesbania exhibits a wide range of in vitro and in vivo bioactivities. Extensive research on S. grandiflora has uncovered mechanisms such as the activation of caspase cascades and the induction of apoptosis, attributed to its rich content of flavonoids and alkaloids. Notably, sesbanimides derived from S. grandiflora seeds have demonstrated potent cytotoxic effects by disrupting mitochondrial function. While S. sesban and S. cannabina have been less extensively studied, early findings highlight their potential through the inhibition of key cancer pathways and the identification of bioactive compounds such as galactomannan derivatives and 2-arylbenzofurans. Notably, the galactomannan derivatives from S. sesban exhibit significant immune-modulating properties. Additionally, nanoparticles synthesized from Sesbania species, including Cadmium oxide and PEGylated silver nanoparticles, have demonstrated promising cytotoxic activity by disrupting mitosis and enhancing immune responses. While further research is warranted, the Sesbania genus offers a promising basis for the development of innovative anticancer therapies.
Lucidin from Rubia cordifolia Outperforms FDA-Approved Lapatinib as a Potential Multitargeted Candidate for Breast Cancer Signalling Proteins
Authors: Aloqbi Akram Ahmed , Alahdal Hadil , Alqosaibi Amany I. , Alnamshan Mashael M. , Al-Dhuayan Ibtesam S. , Al-Eidan Ahood A. , Alzahrani Hind A. S. , ALaqeel Nouf K. , Alsharif Fatmah Hazza , Al Tuwaijri Abeer
Published: January 2025

Background: Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern, with approximately 2.3 million diagnosed cases and 670,000 deaths annually. Current targeted therapies face challenges such as resistance and adverse side effects. This study aimed to explore natural compounds as potential multitargeted breast cancer therapeutics, focusing on Lucidin, an anthraquinone derived from Rubia cordifolia, and comparing its efficacy with Lapatinib, an FDA-approved drug. Methods: We performed multitargeted molecular docking studies on key breast cancer proteins using a natural compound library from ZINC. Comparative analyses of Lucidin and Lapatinib included molecular interaction fingerprints, pharmacokinetics, WaterMap computations (5 ns) to assess water thermodynamics and binding interactions, and Molecular Dynamics Simulations (100 ns) in water to evaluate complex stability and dynamic behaviour. Results: Lucidin demonstrated significant binding affinity and interaction potential with multiple breast cancer targets, outperforming Lapatinib in stability and binding interactions. WaterMap analysis revealed favourable hydration site energetics for Lucidin, enhancing its efficacy. The multitargeted profile of Lucidin suggests a broader therapeutic approach with potential to overcome resistance and side effects associated with Lapatinib. Conclusions: Lucidin shows promise as a novel, multitargeted anti-breast cancer agent with improved efficacy over Lapatinib. These findings provide a foundation for further in vitro and in vivo validation to develop Lucidin as a potential therapeutic option for breast cancer treatment.
From Infection to Tumor: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ciprofloxacin Derivatives as Anticancer Agents
Authors: Hassan Hesham M. , Hassan Roket , Elmagzoub Ranya Mohammed , Al-Emam Ahmed , Kossenas Konstantinos , Abdel-Samea Ahmed S. , Khalifa Hazim O. , Akocak Suleyman , Bräse Stefan , Hashem Hamada
Published: January 2025

Ciprofloxacin, a widely used second-generation fluoroquinolone for treating bacterial infections, has recently shown notable anticancer properties. This review explores progress in developing ciprofloxacin derivatives with anticancer properties, emphasizing key structural changes that improve their therapeutic effectiveness by modifying the basic group at position 7, the carboxylic acid group at position 3, or both. It further investigates the mechanisms by which these derivatives fight cancer, such as inducing apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle, inhibiting topoisomerase I and II, preventing tubulin polymerization, suppressing interleukin 6, blocking thymidine phosphorylase, inhibiting multidrug resistance proteins, and hindering angiogenesis. Additionally, it outlines their future directions, such as enhancing their efficacy, selectivity, and investigating potential synergy with other chemotherapeutic agents, offering a promising avenue for developing new therapies for cancer.
Optimization and Evaluation of Cannabis-Based Magistral Formulations: A Path to Personalized Therapy
Authors: Grimling Bożena , Fast Magdalena , Okoniewska Magdalena , Owczarek Artur , Karolewicz Bożena
Published: January 2025

Introduction: The official implementation of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis raw materials for medicinal use has permitted doctors to prescribe and pharmacists to prepare cannabis-based formulations. The objective of the pharmaceutical development and manufacturing process optimization work was to propose a suppository formulation containing doses of 25 mg and 50 mg of tetra-hydrocannabinol (∆-9-THC) as an alternative to existing inhalable or orally administered formulations. The formulation could be used for rectal or vaginal administration, thereby providing dosage control in the treatment of endometriosis and other conditions involving pain. In this study, two substrates from suppositories with standardized Cannabis extractum normatum (CEX) were used: cocoa butter and Witepsol® H15. Materials and Methods: The long-term stability of CEX was investigated over a period of up to 24 months. The concentrations of ∆-9-THC, cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) were determined using an HPLC method. Furthermore, the water content of the extract, the ethanol residue, and the microbiological purity were determined. The pharmaceutical properties of CEX-incorporated suppositories, namely content uniformity, hardness, softening time, total deformation time, disintegration time, and the release profile of ∆-9-THC, CBD, and CBN, were evaluated in order to develop optimal preparation procedures for pharmacists. Results and Discussion: Following a 24-month stability study on CEX, no significant alterations in component content were observed beyond the specified requirements. The disintegration time, total deformation time, and hardness of the suppositories based on Witepsol® H15 with CEX were found to be longer and higher, respectively, than those of suppositories formulated with cocoa butter. In vitro studies demonstrated that suppositories prepared with Witepsol® H15 exhibited superior release of ∆-9-THC compared to those prepared with cocoa butter. Conclusions: We suggest that pharmacists making prescription drugs in a pharmacy setting in the form of medical marijuana suppositories will receive a better release profile of the drug by choosing Witepsol® H15 as a substrate.
Room-Temperature Fiber-Coupled Single-Photon Source from CdTeSeS Core Quantum Dots
Authors: Chiangga Surasak
Published: January 2025

Single-photon sources with photon antibunching characteristics are essential for quantum information technologies. This paper investigates the potential of quaternary-alloy CdTeSeS colloidal core quantum dots (cQDs) as compact, room-temperature, and fiber-integrated single-photon sources. Single-photon emission from CdTeSeS cQDs was verified by measuring the second-order correlation function, g2τ, using a Hanbury-Brown and Twiss setup. A novel method to determine zero-time delay through afterpulsing analysis is presented. The results demonstrate strong photon antibunching with g20=0.13, confirming that the photoemission from the CdTeSeS cQDs function as a single-photon source. This work highlights the potential of CdTeSeS cQDs as reliable and efficient single-photon sources for practical use in fiber-based quantum information technologies.
Plants from Arid Zones of Mexico: Bioactive Compounds and Potential Use for Food Production
Authors: Márquez-Rangel Isabel , Cruz Mario , Neira-Vielma Alberto A. , Ramírez-Barrón Sonia N. , Aguilar-Zarate Pedro , Belmares Ruth
Published: January 2025

(1) Background: Climate change has several consequences; one of them is increasing the severity of droughts. This has led to an opportunity to study arid zone plants as food sources that have potential biological activities and improve consumer health. (2) Methods: In this work, we review recent research focused on the traditional use and importance of arid zone plants, their nutritional contribution, and their beneficial effects on health when they are consumed; these effects are primarily because of their antioxidant activity, which inhibits free radicals and contributes to improved nutrition and benefits consumer health. (3) Results: Several plant-based functional food studies have shown that the consumption of bioactive compounds is a complement to drugs for preventing some chronic degenerative diseases, such as gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, and obesity. (4) Conclusions: Given all of the previously mentioned factors, plants from arid zones are potential sources for obtaining bioactive compounds with low water requirements.
Random Cross-Validation Produces Biased Assessment of Machine Learning Performance in Regional Landslide Susceptibility Prediction
Authors: Kumar Chandan , Walton Gabriel , Santi Paul , Luza Carlos
Published: January 2025

Machine learning (ML) models are extensively used in spatial predictive modeling, including landslide susceptibility prediction. The performance statistics of these models are vital for assessing their reliability, which is typically obtained using the random cross-validation (R-CV) method. However, R-CV has a major drawback, i.e., it ignores the spatial autocorrelation (SAC) inherent in spatial datasets when partitioning the training and testing sets. We assessed the impact of SAC at three crucial phases of ML modeling: hyperparameter tuning, performance evaluation, and learning curve analysis. As an alternative to R-CV, we used spatial cross-validation (S-CV). This method considers SAC when partitioning the training and testing subsets. This experiment was conducted on regional landslide susceptibility prediction using different ML models: logistic regression (LR), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and C5.0. The experimental results showed that R-CV often produces optimistic performance estimates, e.g., 6–18% higher than those obtained using the S-CV. R-CV also occasionally fails to reveal the true importance of the hyperparameters of models such as SVM and ANN. Additionally, R-CV falsely portrays a considerable improvement in model performance as the number of variables increases. However, this was not the case when the models were evaluated using S-CV. The impact of SAC was more noticeable in complex models such as SVM, RF, and C5.0 (except for ANN) than in simple models such as LDA and LR (except for KNN). Overall, we recommend S-CV over R-CV for a reliable assessment of ML model performance in large-scale LSM.
Orthogonal Capsule Network with Meta-Reinforcement Learning for Small Sample Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Amoako Prince Yaw Owusu , Cao Guo , Shi Boshan , Yang Di , Acka Benedict Boakye
Published: January 2025

Most current hyperspectral image classification (HSIC) models require a large number of training samples, and when the sample size is small, the classification performance decreases. To address this issue, we propose an innovative model that combines an orthogonal capsule network with meta-reinforcement learning (OCN-MRL) for small sample HSIC. The OCN-MRL framework employs Meta-RL for feature selection and CapsNet for classification with a small data sample. The Meta-RL module through clustering, augmentation, and multiview techniques enables the model to adapt to new HSIC tasks with limited samples. Learning a meta-policy with a Q-learner generalizes across different tasks to effectively select discriminative features from the hyperspectral data. Integrating orthogonality into CapsNet reduces the network complexity while maintaining the ability to preserve spatial hierarchies and relationships in the data with a 3D convolution layer, suitably capturing complex patterns. Experimental results on four rich Chinese hyperspectral datasets demonstrate the OCN-MRL model’s competitiveness in both higher classification accuracy and less computational cost compared to existing CapsNet-based methods.
Dynamic Analysis of Spartina alterniflora in Yellow River Delta Based on U-Net Model and Zhuhai-1 Satellite
Authors: Li Huiying , Cui Guoli , Liu Haojie , Wang Qi , Zhao Sheng , Huang Xiao , Zhang Rong , Jia Mingming , Mao Dehua , Yu Hao , Wang Zongming , Lv Zhiyong
Published: January 2025

Coastal wetlands are critical for global biodiversity and ecological stability, yet the invasive Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) poses severe threats to these ecosystems. This study evaluates the effectiveness of management efforts targeting S. alterniflora in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) using Zhuhai-1 hyperspectral imagery and the U-Net method. The U-Net model, coupled with the Relief-F algorithm, achieved a superior extraction accuracy (Kappa > 0.9 and overall accuracy of 93%) compared to traditional machine learning methods. From 2019 to 2021, S. alterniflora expanded rapidly, increasing from 4055.06 hm2 to 6105.50 hm2, primarily in tidal flats and water bodies. A clearing project reduced its extent to 5063.62 hm2 by 2022, and by 2023, only 0.55 hm2 remained. These results underscore the effectiveness of Shandong’s management policies but highlight the risk of regrowth due to the species’ resilience. Continuous monitoring and maintenance are essential to prevent its resurgence and ensure wetland restoration. This study offers critical insights into dynamic vegetation monitoring and informs conservation strategies for wetland health.
Effects of the Interface Properties on the Performance of UV-C Photoresistors: Gallium Oxide as Case Study
Authors: Pavesi Maura , Parisini Antonella , Calvi Pietro , Bosio Alessio , Fornari Roberto
Published: January 2025

Electrical contacts are of the greatest importance as they decisively contribute to the overall performance of photoresistors. Undoped κ-Ga2O3 is an ideal material for photoresistors with high performance in the UV-C spectral region thanks to its intrinsic solar blindness and extremely low dark current. The quality assessment of the contact/κ-Ga2O3 interface is therefore of paramount importance. The transfer length method is not applicable to undoped Ga2O3 because the interface with several metals shows a non-ohmic character, and a non-equivalent contact resistance could restrict its applicability. In this work, a new methodological procedure to evaluate the quality of contact interface and its effect on the sensing performance of UV-C photoresistors is presented, using the SnO2−x/κ-Ga2O3 contact interface as a case study. The proposed method includes a critical comparison between two-point and four-point probe measurements, over a wide range of voltages. The investigation showed that the effect of contact resistance is more pronounced at low voltages. The presented method can be easily extended to any kind of metal/semiconductor or degenerate-semiconductor/semiconductor interface.
Studies on the High-Power Piezoelectric Property Measurement Methods and Decoupling the Power and Temperature Effects on PZT-5H
Authors: Xue Wenchao , Wang Xiaobo , Zhu Yuliang , Luo Chengtao
Published: January 2025

For those piezoelectric materials that operate under high-power conditions, the piezoelectric and dielectric properties obtained under small signal conditions cannot be directly applied to high-power transducers. There are three mainstream high-power characterization methods: the constant voltage method, the constant current method, and the transient method. In this study, we developed and verified a combined impedance method that integrated the advantages of the constant voltage and current methods, along with an improved transient method, for high-power testing of PZT-5H piezoelectric ceramics. The results from both methods indicated that with increasing power, the electromechanical coupling coefficient k31 , the piezoelectric constant d31, and the elastic compliance s11E of the PZT-5H showed increasing trends, while the mechanical quality factor Qm first decayed rapidly and then stabilized at a fixed level. Additionally, under the combined impedance method, the temperature of the vibrators rose significantly due to self-heating, whereas the transient method generated almost no heat, and the vibrators remained at room temperature. By comparing the results from the two methods, we decoupled the effects of temperature and power on the high-power piezoelectric performance. The results showed that the self-heating temperature amplified the effects of power on k31, d31, and s11E, while its influence on Qm remained negligible.
Embedding Trust in the Media Access Control Protocol for Wireless Networks
Authors: Alocious Chaminda , Xiao Hannan , Christianson Bruce , Spring Joseph
Published: January 2025

IEEE 802.11 is one of the most common medium access control (MAC) protocols used in wireless networks. The carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanisms in 802.11 have been designed under the assumption that all nodes in the network are cooperative and trustworthy. However, the potential for non-cooperative nodes exists, nodes that may purposefully misbehave in order to, for example, obtain extra bandwidth, conserve their resources, or disrupt network performance. This issue is further compounded when receivers such as Wi-Fi hotspots, normally trusted by other module nodes, also misbehave. Such issues, their detection, and mitigation have, we believe, not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. This research proposes a novel trust-incorporated MAC protocol (TMAC) which detects and mitigates complex node misbehavior for distributed network environments. TMAC introduces three main features into the original IEEE 802.11 protocol. First, each node assesses a trust level for their neighbors, establishing a verifiable backoff value generation mechanism with an incorporated trust model involving senders, receivers, and common neighbors. Second, TMAC uses a collaborative penalty scheme to penalize nodes that deviate from the IEEE 802.11 protocol. This feature removes the assumption of a trusted receiver. Third, a TMAC diagnosis mechanism is carried out for each distributed node periodically, to reassess neighbor status and to reclassify each based on their trust value. Simulation results in ns2 showed that TMAC is effective in diagnosing and starving selfish or misbehaving nodes in distributed wireless networks, improving the performance of trustworthy well-behaving nodes. The significant feature of TMAC is its ability to detect sender, receiver, and colluding node misbehavior at the MAC layer with a high level of accuracy, without the need to trust any of the communicating parties.
Efficient Multi-Task Training with Adaptive Feature Alignment for Universal Image Segmentation
Authors: Qu Yipeng , Kim Joohee
Published: January 2025

Universal image segmentation aims to handle all segmentation tasks within a single model architecture and ideally requires only one training phase. To achieve task-conditioned joint training, a task token needs to be used in the multi-task training to condition the model for specific tasks. Existing approaches generate the task token from a text input (e.g., “the task is panoptic”). However, such text-based inputs merely serve as labels and fail to capture the inherent differences between tasks, potentially misleading the model. In addition, the discrepancy between visual and textual modalities limits the performance gains in existing text-involved segmentation models. Nevertheless, prevailing modality-alignment methods rely on large-scale uni-modal encoders for both modalities and an extremely large amount of paired data for training, and therefore it is hard to apply these existing models to lightweight segmentation models and resource-constrained devices. In this paper, we propose Adaptive Feature Alignment (AFA) integrated with a learnable task token to address these issues. The learnable task token automatically captures inter-task differences from both image features and text queries during training, providing a more effective and efficient solution than a predefined text-based token. To efficiently align the two modalities without introducing extra complexity, we reconsider the differences between a text token and an image token and replace image features with class-specific means in our proposed AFA. We evaluate our model performance on the ADE20K and Cityscapes datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that our model surpasses baseline models in both efficiency and effectiveness, achieving state-of-the-art performance among segmentation models with a comparable amount of parameters.
Error Characteristic Analysis and Filtering Algorithm for GNSS Time-Series Data
Authors: Zhang Hongli , Chen Yijin , Li Kemeng , Wang Yinggang
Published: January 2025

Under regional environmental conditions such as open-pit mines and construction sites, there are usually fixed GNSS measurement points. Around these fixed stations, there are also mobile GNSS measurement modules. These mobile measurement modules offer advantages such as low power consumption, low cost, and large data volume. However, due to their low accuracy, these modules can only provide approximate positions as monitoring data, such as for vehicle management in open-pit mines. To extract more information from the existing large volume of low-accuracy data, it is necessary to process these low-accuracy data. Under conditions of the same time and space in a small area, factors affecting measurement accuracy can be comprehensively considered. By analyzing the temporal GNSS data within the same spatiotemporal small region and understanding the variation patterns of measurement errors, a general equation for measurement error variation can be formulated. Using filtering methods, the data quality can be improved. Through the analysis of the experimental data in this study, it was found that the variation patterns of measurement data obtained by devices of the same accuracy during the same time period are generally consistent. After applying filtering methods, the measurement accuracy of each station improved by up to approximately 95.9%, with a minimum improvement of approximately 84.4%. Under the condition of a 95% confidence level, the reliability increased by up to approximately 73.2%, with a minimum improvement of approximately 58.2%. These experimental results fully demonstrate that under regional spatiotemporal conditions, the temporal data obtained by GNSS measurement devices with similar accuracy exhibit similar error distribution patterns. Applying the same filtering method can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of measurement data.
An Investigation of the Domain Gap in CLIP-Based Person Re-Identification
Authors: Asperti Andrea , Naldi Leonardo , Fiorilla Salvatore
Published: January 2025

Person re-identification (re-id) is a critical computer vision task aimed at identifying individuals across multiple non-overlapping cameras, with wide-ranging applications in intelligent surveillance systems. Despite recent advances, the domain gap—performance degradation when models encounter unseen datasets—remains a critical challenge. CLIP-based models, leveraging multimodal pre-training, offer potential for mitigating this issue by aligning visual and textual representations. In this study, we provide a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the domain gap in CLIP-based re-id systems across standard benchmarks, including Market-1501, DukeMTMC-reID, MSMT17, and Airport, simulating real-world deployment conditions. We systematically measure the performance of these models in terms of mean average precision (mAP) and Rank-1 accuracy, offering insights into the challenges faced during dataset transitions. Our analysis highlights the specific advantages introduced by CLIP’s visual–textual alignment and evaluates its contribution relative to strong image encoder baselines. Additionally, we evaluate the impact of extending training sets with non-domain-specific data and incorporating random erasing augmentation, achieving an average improvement of +4.3% in mAP and +4.0% in Rank-1 accuracy. Our findings underscore the importance of standardized benchmarks and systematic evaluations for enhancing reproducibility and guiding future research. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the domain gap in re-id, while highlighting pathways for improving model robustness and generalization in diverse, real-world scenarios.
Passive Monitoring of Parkinson Tremor in Daily Life: A Prototypical Network Approach
Authors: Evers Luc J. W. , Raykov Yordan P. , Heskes Tom M. , Krijthe Jesse H. , Bloem Bastiaan R. , Little Max A.
Published: January 2025

Objective and continuous monitoring of Parkinson’s disease (PD) tremor in free-living conditions could benefit both individual patient care and clinical trials, by overcoming the snapshot nature of clinical assessments. To enable robust detection of tremor in the context of limited amounts of labeled training data, we propose to use prototypical networks, which can embed domain expertise about the heterogeneous tremor and non-tremor sub-classes. We evaluated our approach using data from the Parkinson@Home Validation study, including 8 PD patients with tremor, 16 PD patients without tremor, and 24 age-matched controls. We used wrist accelerometer data and synchronous expert video annotations for the presence of tremor, captured during unscripted daily life activities in and around the participants’ own homes. Based on leave-one-subject-out cross-validation, we demonstrate the ability of prototypical networks to capture free-living tremor episodes. Specifically, we demonstrate that prototypical networks can be used to enforce robust performance across domain-informed sub-classes, including different tremor phenotypes and daily life activities.
Severe Injuries of Former Portuguese Football Players: A Post-Career Burden?
Authors: Teixeira Eduardo , Silva Carlos , Romero Félix , Miguel Mauro , Vicente António
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Football players have a high injury risk due to the physical demands of their profession, which can negatively affect their quality of life (QoL) in the long term. The aim of this study is to characterize the severe injuries that former Portuguese football players suffered throughout their professional careers and investigate the resulting impacts on the physical domain of QoL after retirement. Methods: This study includes 84 former Portuguese football players (48.8 ± 8.2 years) who underwent reform between 1988 and 2018 and played in professional leagues (15.2 ± 3.2 years of career duration), namely, first division leagues (n = 43) and secondary division leagues (n = 41). Quantitative and qualitative interview data are used by a validated interview guide and from results of the physical domain obtained by the application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref). Results: Former players had 2.1 ± 1.5 severe injuries throughout their careers. The most common injuries involve the knee (47.5%) and foot/ankle (17.2%), with the anatomical area of the knee as the most likely to require surgical intervention (60%). The association between tactical-positional status and the incidence of severe injuries is significant, with defenders sustaining less severe injuries throughout their careers. This study found a statistically significant linear model (F(1.82) = 8.089, p < 0.006) that explains 7.9% of the variation in the physical domain of QoL (R2ajuste = 0.079). For each severe injury sustained throughout a career, there is an estimated decrease of 2.7 values in QoL perception in the physical domain. Conclusions: The higher the number of severe injuries sustained during a career, the lower the perception of QoL in the physical domain of former players in their post-career. These findings highlight the need to optimize training programs and injury prevention and recovery protocols for long-term QoL improvement in the physical domain of football players.
Predicting Community Support for Park Development Using Social Exchange Theory
Authors: Jang Eunmie , Kim Moohan
Published: January 2025

Community support plays a crucial role in driving financial investments, managing system enhancements, ecological initiatives, and governance improvements in urban park development. This study adopts Social Exchange Theory (SET) to analyze and predict the dynamics of community support for urban park development, focusing on the interplay between community attachment, perceived benefits, and perceived costs. SET posits that positive initial perceptions or actions foster trust and commitment through relational exchanges, encouraging continued participation, whereas negative perceptions may inhibit engagement. Based on data from 349 survey responses (58.5% male, 32.4% female, 9.1% undisclosed) collected in Onyang-dong, a region notable for its historic thermal spring attractions in South Korea, this study employs structural equation modeling to examine how these factors contribute to community support. The results demonstrate that community attachment significantly enhances perceived benefits while perceived costs exert a negligible effect on community support. These findings provide actionable insights for strengthening the theoretical and practical application of SET in community-driven urban park initiatives. By addressing conceptual clarity and fostering participatory strategies that enhance community attachment, this study offers a robust framework for achieving long-term success in urban park development.
A Simple Drainage-Friendly Approach for Estimating Waterlogging Impacts on Cotton Yields Regarding Accompanying High Temperatures
Authors: Qian Long , Luo Yunying , Duan Kai
Published: January 2025

Due to climate change, cotton production is extensively restricted by waterlogging, especially under accompanying high temperatures. Yield production functions are powerful tools in agricultural water management, but there is a lack of consideration for crop dynamic growth and the impact of accompanied high temperatures during waterlogging. In this work, to simulate cotton yields under waterlogging regarding accompanying high temperatures, a comprehensive stress index was proposed, and a dynamic yield production function model was accordingly developed. The model was calibrated and evaluated by using multi-year and multi-site experimental data in the Hubei Province of China, and, then, it was applied under various waterlogging scenarios. The results showed that including the impact of accompanying high temperatures can effectively improve model performance, and the temperature threshold for triggering this additional impact was 30 °C. The dynamic model exhibited satisfactory performance during both calibration and evaluation, with low relative mean absolute error values (RMAE = 12.12% and 21.51%) and low coefficient of residual mass values (CRM = -0.028 and 0.063). According to model simulations, even under the same amount of excessive water, yield losses can vary from 3.90% to 33.93% due to different waterlogging timings and air temperature conditions. In summary, the present model is a convenient and powerful tool for crop drainage schedules and sustainable agriculture under global climate change.