bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of suicidal behavior among elders in Northwest Ethiopia: implications for prevention
Authors: Siraj Seid , Belete Habte , Beka Michael , Shegaw Maregu , Belete Asmare , Birhan Zelalem
Published: February 2025

Background

Worldwide suicide rates increases with age. Globally, suicidal behavior is a leading cause of injury and death. In many countries, older adult suicidal behavior is highly lethal because old people are unwilling to talk about their emotional problems and are less likely to report depression and suicidal thoughts. Exploring the phenomenon of suicide in the elderly in Ethiopia can provide a dependable source of reflection and add to the global aging, and suicide prevention conversation, generally in the low-income countries and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal behavior and its associated factors among elders in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia.

Method

A community-based cross-sectional study and multistage sampling technique were conducted among elders in Bahir Dar city. A systematic random sampling procedure was used to choose 626 elderly people over 65 years old in total who had lived in Bahir Dar city. Utilizing the revised Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ-R), suicidal behavior was assessed. We quantify the related components using multivariable logistic regressions. The factors’ associations were delineated with odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values that were deemed statistically significant at less than 0.05.

Result

Overall, 12.8% (95% CI: 10.2, 15.3) of the population engaged in suicidal behaviors. The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts were 13.9%, 8.15%, and 1%, respectively. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was 10.86%. The odds of being single (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.06), having no social networks (AOR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01, 5.01), being depressed (AOR: 4.01, 95% CI: 1.97, 8.17), having a chronic illness (AOR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.69, 5.44), and geriatric mistreatment (AOR: 7.81, 95% CI: 4.06, 15.05) were the independent predictors of suicidal behavior.

Conclusion

The extent of suicidal behavior was found to be high in this study. The associated factors of suicide behavior include being unmarried, having a poor social network, having depression, chronic illness, and geriatric mistreatments. Therefore, clinicians should do routine mental health examinations for older persons, focusing on those who have a history of elder abuse or chronic illnesses, as these are major risk factors for suicide behavior. To detect and treat suicidal thoughts in elder populations, healthcare professionals should get culturally appropriate training. For legislators: create policies that address elder abuse by instituting community reporting mechanisms and legal protections for elder citizens, and give top priority to developing national healthcare initiatives that include elder-specific mental health and suicide prevention programs.
Prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among small scale industry Workers in Harar Town, eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Debelu Desi , Tolera Sina Temesgen , Baraki Negga , Mengistu Dechasa Adare
Published: February 2025

Background

Currently, small-scale industries pose significant risks for occupational injuries, particularly in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Despite this problem, there is limited evidence on the prevalence of occupation-related injuries in small-scale industries that can be utilized for proposing interventions. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among small-scale industry workers in Harar town, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study employing a quantitative analysis was conducted in Harare town, Eastern Ethiopia, from March 12, 2023, to June 1, 2023. The source of population was all small-scale industry workers in Harar town, while the study population was workers working in selected small-scale industries. The sample size was determined based on the previous study finding reported 35.98% prevalence of occupational injuries. A simple random sampling method was employed to select the study participant, resulting in the inclusion of 639 participants in the study. Data were collected using pretested questionnaires and observational checklists, covering sociodemographic, occupational injuries, occupational health and safety practices, work environment, and behavioral related factors. The data were analyzed via SPSS version 22, and a p value of <0.05 was considered the cut-off point for statistical significance in multivariate analysis.

Results

Out of the 639 small-scale industry workers included in the current study, 634 provided a response, resulting in a 99.2% response rate. Among these workers, 417 workers (65.8%) reported exposure to occupational injuries at least once in their careers, of which 223 (35.2%) were exposed to injuries in the last 12 months. The most commonly injured body parts were the hands (34.11%), legs (29.13%), and fingers (26.69%). The study found a significant associations between occupational injuries and type of industry (AOR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.07, 5.46), educational status (AOR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.83), training (AOR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.35, 3.22), working space (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.62, 7.51), and workload (AOR: 2.88, 95% CI: 2.78, 11.64).

Conclusion

More than six out of 10 workers experienced injuries during their careers, with more than one-third being injured in the last 12 months. Workers with lower educational status, have no training, working in poor working conditions, and with higher workloads are at high risk of exposure. This highlights the need for improving occupational health and safety practices, including tailored training and supportive supervision to reduce injury in small-scale industries.

Originality/value

The findings from this study will be important for concerned bodies aiming to improve the occupational health and safety practices in small-scale industries and enhance the safe practices by addressing the safety culture in the working environment and policy making process.
Safeguarding rural-urban linkages: modeling drivers of peri-urban sprawl and impacts on ecosystem services
Authors: Dekolo Samuel , Ekum Matthew I. , James Omobolanle K. , Aigbavboa Clinton , Gumbo Trynos
Published: February 2025

Africa is experiencing unparalleled urbanization, with projections suggesting that by 2030, more than 50% of its inhabitants will live in urban areas. Uncontrolled spatial expansion threatens sustainability, especially in megacities like Lagos. Urban sprawl in peri-urban areas has led to the loss of valuable agricultural lands, food security risks, and breaking the link between rural and metropolitan regions. This study investigates the proximate factors driving urban sprawl on statutory agricultural lands in peri-urban areas of Lagos. An interdisciplinary methodology that employs remote sensing, land change analysis, field surveys, and structural equation modeling was adopted. The findings revealed that built-up areas in the Ikorodu municipality increased by 127% over 32 years, leading to fragmented and uncontrolled development in statutory agricultural zones. The structural equation modeling for 322 homeowners sampled shows a lack of policy awareness and weak development control as major underlying drivers, explaining 37% of peri-urban expansion. Also, declining per capita arable lands indicate risks to regional food self-sufficiency. A strategic land management approach is needed to leverage rural–urban linkages that safeguard food provisioning services and achieve resilient African megacities. Also, rapidly growing African cities should adopt spatial planning incorporating agroecological perspectives and collaborative governance of urban and rural lands for a sustainable future.
The role of thermal density currents in the generation of planetary magnetic fields
Authors: Bologna Mauro , Chandía Kristopher J. , Tellini Bernardo
Published: February 2025

In this study, we propose a conjecture regarding generating magnetic fields in the interior of planets. Specifically, we investigate the potential contribution of a thermal density current, which is generated by the Seebeck effect, to the intensity of the planetary magnetic field. Our analysis reveals that the scale of the magnetic field associated with the thermal density current is of comparable magnitude to the observed magnetic fields on planets within our solar system. To assess this hypothesis, we leverage degenerate Fermi gas approximation for the fluid internal cores of the planets, enabling us to evaluate the magnitude of thermal contribution to the planetary magnetic field for Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Finally, we validate our results by comparing them with the magnetic fields measured by several spatial missions. We will not solve the magnetohydrodynamic equations; instead, our discussion will focus on the order of magnitude of the magnetic field and its associated physics. At this level, we will not consider the specific mechanisms, such as dynamo conversion, responsible for generating the observable magnetic field. Our goal is to provide a scaling that aligns with astronomical observations.
How does credit guarantee promote the organized participation of smallholder farmers in agricultural production outsourcing?
Authors: Qiao Mei , Wang Jing , Wang Bowen
Published: February 2025

The participation of smallholder farmers in agricultural production outsourcing through organizational means is of significant importance for enhancing agricultural production capacity and promoting agricultural modernization. Based on survey data from 648 households in the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi Province, this study analyzes the incentives for smallholder farmers to obtain credit guarantees provided by village collectives and grassroots supply and marketing cooperatives using a Logit model. It employs the Propensity Score Matching method to construct a counterfactual hypothesis, estimating the average treatment effect of credit guarantees on smallholder farmers’ organizational participation in agricultural production outsourcing. The study also uses regression adjustment methods to verify the mechanism through which credit guarantees affect smallholder farmers’ organizational participation in agricultural production outsourcing. The results show that: (1) Apart from the gender, education level, and number of plots of the household head, other characteristics of the household head and family, village, and market characteristics are important factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to credit guarantees. (2) After obtaining credit guarantees, the participation of smallholder farmers in agricultural production outsourcing through organizational means significantly increases. (3) The pathways through which credit guarantees promote smallholder farmers’ organizational participation in agricultural production outsourcing, in order of contribution rate, are increasing agricultural income, reducing operational risks, and enhancing organizational trust. Therefore, support for village collectives and grassroots supply and marketing cooperatives should be increased, and organizational forms should be promoted to facilitate the integration of smallholder farmers with agricultural modernization.
Trends in Indicators of Violence Among Adolescents in Europe and North America 1994–2022
Authors: Molcho Michal , Walsh Sophie D. , King Nathan , Pickett William , Donnelly Peter D. , Cosma Alina , Elgar Frank J. , Ng Kwok , Augustine Lilly , Malinowska-Cieślik Marta , Bjereld Ylva , Craig Wendy
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To describe age and gender specific time trends in adolescent violence across 19 countries over 28 years.

Methods

The paper presents analysis of eight cycles of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study from 1994–2022, involving 789,531 children aged 11, 13, and 15. Indicators of violence included physical fighting, school bullying and cyberbullying (from 2018). Log-binomial regression models were used to test for linear temporal trends, with Generalized Estimating Equations used to account for clustering by country.

Results

School bullying perpetration and victimization declined over time in each age/gender group in most countries. Similar declines were reported for frequent physical fighting among boys (all ages) and girls (age 15 only). The prevalence of violent behaviour was almost universally higher in boys in the early cycles than in girls, but this gender difference attenuated over time. For cyberbullying, significant increases were observed since 2018 in all groups except age 15 girls in most countries.

Conclusion

This analysis of a large cross-national dataset suggests a decline in traditional forms of adolescent violence. However, the increases in cyberbullying warrant further monitoring.
A Comparative Study on the Consumption Patterns of Processed Food Among Individuals With and Without Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Mahajan Anu , Deshmane Aditi , Muley Arti
Published: February 2025

Objective

The study aims to analyse the eating patterns and consumption of ultra-processed food (UPFs) among individuals with and without diabetes.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted across Pune, India, with 100 individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 208 without diabetes. A detailed FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire) developed by NOVA-UPF Screener with 33 ultra-processed food items was used to evaluate the consumption patterns of UPF.

Results

Most of the participants with diabetes have a habit of eating breakfast daily (68%), prefer lunch from home (72%), and about 20% avoid eating at a restaurant. While only 45.7% of the participants without diabetes have breakfast daily, and 88.4% prefer to eat lunch outside rather than homemade food. Comparative analysis shows that all 33 UPFs were consumed significantly less by individuals with diabetes than those without diabetes (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The reduced intake of UPFs highlights greater dietary caution among individuals with T2D. Therefore, these findings emphasize the importance of promoting healthy eating habits and limiting UPF consumption among the general population to prevent the onset of metabolic conditions like diabetes.
Road Event Detection and Classification Algorithm Using Vibration and Acceleration Data
Authors: Aguilar-González Abiel , Medina Santiago Alejandro
Published: February 2025

Road event detection is critical for tasks such as monitoring, anomaly detection, and optimization. Traditional approaches often require complex feature engineering or the use of machine learning models, which can be computationally intensive, especially when dealing with real-time data from high-frequency vibration and acceleration sensors. In this work, we propose a Random Forest-based event classification algorithm designed to handle the unique patterns of vibration and acceleration data in road event detection for an urban traffic scenario. Our method utilizes vibration and acceleration data in three axes (x, y, z) to classify events in a robust and scalable manner. The Random Forest model is trained to identify patterns in the sensor data and assign them to predefined event categories, providing an efficient and accurate classification mechanism. Experimental results prove the effectiveness of our approach: it reaches an accuracy of 91.99%, with a precision of 80% and a recall of 75%, demonstrating reliable event classification. Additionally, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) score of 0.9468 confirms the model’s strong discriminative capability. Further, compared to a rule-based approach, our method offers greater generalization and adaptability, reducing the need for manual parameter tuning. While the rule-based approach attains a higher precision of 92%, it requires frequent adjustments for each dataset and lacks robustness across different road conditions.
Soft Robot Workspace Estimation via Finite Element Analysis and Machine Learning
Authors: Ambaye Getachew , Boldsaikhan Enkhsaikhan , Krishnan Krishna
Published: February 2025

Soft robots with compliant bodies offer safe human–robot interaction as well as adaptability to unstructured dynamic environments. However, the nonlinear dynamics of a soft robot with infinite motion freedom pose various challenges to operation and control engineering. This research explores the motion of a pneumatic soft robot under diverse loading conditions by conducting finite element analysis (FEA) and using machine learning. The pneumatic soft robot consists of two parallel hyper-elastic tubular chambers that convert pneumatic pressure inputs into soft robot motion to mimic an elephant trunk and its motion. The body of each pneumatic chamber consists of a series of bellows to effectively facilitate the expansion, contraction, and bending of the body. The first chamber spans the entire length of the soft robot’s body, and the second chamber spans half of it. This unique asymmetric design enables the soft robot to bend and curl in various ways. Machine learning is used to establish a forward kinematic relationship between the pressure inputs and the motion responses of the soft robot using data from FEA. Accordingly, this research employs an artificial neural network that is trained on FEA data to estimate the reachable workspace of the soft robot for given pressure inputs. The trained neural network demonstrates promising estimation accuracy with an R-squared value of 0.99 and a root mean square error of 0.783. The workspaces of asymmetric double-chamber and single-chamber soft robots were compared, revealing that the double-chamber robot offers approximately 185 times more reachable workspace than the single-chamber soft robot.
ARC-LIGHT: Algorithm for Robust Characterization of Lunar Surface Imaging for Ground Hazards and Trajectory
Authors: Cushen Alexander , Bueno Ariana , Carrico Samuel , Wettstein Corrydon , Adalja Jaykumar Ishvarbhai , Shi Mengxiang , Garcia Naila , Garcia Yuliana , Gamba Mirko , Ruf Christopher
Published: February 2025

Safe and reliable lunar landings are crucial for future exploration of the Moon. The regolith ejected by a lander’s rocket exhaust plume represents a significant obstacle in achieving this goal. It prevents spacecraft from reliably utilizing their navigation sensors to monitor their trajectory and spot emerging surface hazards as they near the surface. As part of NASA’s 2024 Human Lander Challenge (HuLC), the team at the University of Michigan developed an innovative concept to help mitigate this issue. We developed and implemented a machine learning (ML)-based sensor fusion system, ARC-LIGHT, that integrates sensor data from the cameras, lidars, or radars that landers already carry but disable during the final landing phase. Using these data streams, ARC-LIGHT will remove erroneous signals and recover a useful detection of the surface features to then be used by the spacecraft to correct its descent profile. It also offers a layer of redundancy for other key sensors, like inertial measurement units. The feasibility of this technology was validated through development of a prototype algorithm, which was trained on data from a purpose-built testbed that simulates imaging through a dusty environment. Based on these findings, a development timeline, risk analysis, and budget for ARC-LIGHT to be deployed on a lunar landing was created.
An Internet of Things Framework for Monitoring Environmental Conditions in Livestock Housing to Improve Animal Welfare and Assess Environmental Impact
Authors: Provolo Giorgio , Brandolese Carlo , Grotto Matteo , Marinucci Augusto , Fossati Nicola , Ferrari Omar , Beretta Elena , Riva Elisabetta
Published: February 2025

Devices for assessing the quality of animal environments are important for maintaining production animals, thus improving animal well-being and mitigating pollutant emissions. Therefore, an IoT system was developed and preliminarily assessed across various livestock housing types, including those for pigs, dairy cows, and rabbits. This system measures and transmits key parameters, such as ambient temperature; relative humidity; light intensity; sound pressure; levels of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide; and particulate matter and volatile organic compound concentrations. These data are sent from the sensors to a gateway and then displayed on a dashboard for monitoring. A preliminary evaluation of the system’s performance in controlled conditions revealed that the device’s accuracy and precision were within 2.7% and 3.3% of the measured values, respectively. The system was deployed in three case studies involving rabbit, pig, and dairy cow farms. The results demonstrated its effectiveness in assessing pollutant emissions and identifying critical situations where gas concentrations exceeded threshold levels, thus posing a risk to the animals. By systematically applying this technology on livestock farms to obtain a detailed understanding of the microclimatic and air quality conditions in which the animals live, animal welfare can be significantly improved.
Evaluating Bezlotoxumab-Fidaxomicin Combination Therapy in Clostridioides Infection: A Single-Center Retrospective Study from Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Hirai Jun , Mori Nobuaki , Hanai Yuki , Asai Nobuhiro , Hagihara Mao , Mikamo Hiroshige
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) poses a significant healthcare challenge, with recurrence rates reaching 30%, leading to substantial morbidity and costs. Fidaxomicin (FDX) and bezlotoxumab (BEZ) have shown potential in reducing recurrence; however, real-world data on the efficacy of their combination in high-risk CDI patients remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FDX + BEZ compared with FDX alone in CDI patients with recurrence risk factors. Methods: CDI patients with ≥two recurrence risk factors treated with FDX alone or FDX + BEZ were analyzed. Sixteen factors were evaluated as risk factors for recurrent CDI based on findings from previous studies. Patients with FDX treatment duration <10 days or other CDI treatment prior to FDX were excluded. Outcomes included recurrence within 2 months, global and clinical cure rates, and adverse events. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate efficacy. Results: Among 82 patients, the FDX + BEZ group (n = 30) demonstrated significantly higher global (86.7% vs. 65.4%; p < 0.05) and clinical cure rates (90.0% vs. 69.2%; p < 0.05) compared with the FDX-alone group (n = 52), despite more severe cases in the combination group. Recurrence rates were non-significantly lower in the FDX + BEZ group (3.3% vs. 11.5%). Combination therapy also accelerated diarrhea resolution without additional adverse events. Multivariate analysis identified FDX + BEZ as significantly associated with improved clinical cure (adjusted odds ratio 4.167; 95% CI: 1.029–16.885). Conclusions: FDX + BEZ therapy offers superior efficacy and safety in CDI patients with recurrence risk factors, presenting a promising strategy for optimizing CDI management.
Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant High-Risk Clone ST244 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Dogs and Cats in Algeria
Authors: Badis Amina , Heleili Nouzha , Merradi Manel , Ayachi Ammar , Martino Piera Anna , Meroni Gabriele , Soggiu Alessio
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes chronic infections in humans and animals, especially cats and dogs. This bacterium’s ability to adapt and acquire antibiotic resistance traits may complicate and exacerbate antibacterial therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns, virulence factors and ability to form biofilms of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from Algerian dogs and cats. Methods: Nineteen samples were collected from healthy and diseased dogs and cats. Isolates were studied for their antibiotic-resistance patterns (disc diffusion method) and biofilm formation (Microtiter assay) and were whole-genome sequenced (MinION). Results: Nineteen P. aeruginosa strains (15 from dogs and 4 from cats) were isolated. Antibiotic-resistance phenotypes were observed against amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (100%); meanwhile, resistance towards ticarcillin was 40% (dogs) and 25% (cats), ticarcillin–clavulanic acid was 13.33% and 25% for dogs and cats, respectively, and imipenem was 75% (cats) and 20% (dogs). Moreover, 95% of strains were biofilm-producers. Different antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were found: beta-lactamase genes, mainly PAO, OXA-494, OXA-50 and OXA-396 and an aminoglycoside gene (aph(3′)-IIb). The main high-risk sequence types (STs) were ST244, 2788, 388 and 1247. A large panel of virulence genes was detected: exoS, exoT, exoY, lasA, toxA, prpL, algD, rhIA and others. Conclusions: The genetic variety in antibiotic-resistance genes of resistant and virulent P. aeruginosa strains in dogs makes public health protection difficult. Continuous monitoring and research in compliance with the One Health policy are needed to solve this problem.
Nutritional Recommendations for Breath-Hold Divers
Authors: Drviš Ivan , Vrdoljak Dario , Foretić Nikola , Dujić Željko
Published: February 2025

Breath-hold diving (BHD) is defined as enduring apnea for more than 4 min. It is characterized by resistance of reactive oxygen species, reduced sensitivity to hypoxia, and low mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The energetic demands of different BHD disciplines (static, dynamic, and spearfishing) are various. Hence, the nutrition of these athletes may play an important role on their performance. The main aim of this study is to examine and propose recommendations for this specific population. Also, the aim is to divide nutrition according to main BHD disciplines (static, dynamic, and spearfishing). Mediterranean and alkaline diet could represent an appropriate BHD diet. Nutritional requirements differ between freediving (static and dynamic) and spearfishing, mainly because of the workload. Also, spearfishing includes multiple consecutive dives and hence has different recommendations. However, the proper nutrition for freedivers is based on a variety of natural foods that support acid–base balance, provide a stable source of energy, and facilitate quality recovery. By adopting healthy eating habits based on the Mediterranean and alkaline diet, along with regular hydration and adapting your diet to the specific needs of diving, divers can improve performance and ensure long-term health.
The Effects of Combined Cervical and Scapular Stabilization Exercises on Muscle Tone, Pain, and Cervical Range of Motion in Cervical Extension Type: A Controlled Experimental Study
Authors: Tian Qiu-Shuo , Zhou Xing-Han , Kim Tae-Ho
Published: February 2025

Background: The prolonged use of smartphones may lead to cervical posture deformities and other associated issues. Among these conditions, cervical extension type is one of the most commonly observed, characterized by increased cervical lordosis, forward head posture, and thoracic kyphosis. These biomechanical changes may lead to neck pain, a restricted range of motion (ROM), and heightened cervical muscle tone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of combining cervical stabilization exercises with either scapular stabilization or thoracic exercises on the mechanical properties of cervical muscles, the pressure pain threshold (PPT), and the ROM in individuals with cervical extension type. Methods: This study included 32 subjects with cervical extension type who were randomly divided into two groups: 16 subjects were placed in either the cervical and scapular stabilization exercises group (CSG) or the cervical stabilization with thoracic exercises group (CTG). After four weeks of exercise intervention, the following assessments were conducted: measurement of muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles using Myoton PRO; evaluation of the PPT of the SCM and UT muscles using a pressure pain threshold meter; and assessment of cervical ROM (extension, flexion, and rotation) using motion analysis equipment. Results: Both groups showed significant differences in muscle tone, stiffness, elasticity, PPT, and cervical ROM (p < 0.05). The PPT of the UT muscle was significantly improved in the CSG compared to the CTG (p < 0.05). Conclusions: There were significant improvements in muscle tone, stiffness, elasticity, pain, and cervical ROM after exercise intervention in both groups of subjects with cervical extension. Cervical stabilization exercises, along with scapular stabilization, have better effects on improving UT muscle pain.
Housing Informalities Between Formal Designs and Informal Reality
Authors: Mrani Rim , Chenal Jérôme , Radoine Hassan , Yakubu Hassan
Published: February 2025

Housing informality (HI), and particularly unauthorized modifications, are a widely spread phenomenon in Morocco’s rapidly growing coastal suburb of Harhoura, Rabat. While previous research has already focused on the socio-economic aspects of informal adaptations in affordable and middle-class housing contexts in Morocco, it leaves a gap regarding how HI is expressed in affluent settings independently and in relation to the other contexts. This research aims to visually capture how residents adapt their housing through unauthorized modifications. The research objectives are to analyze informalities that are unique to affordable, middle-class, and affluent housing and to examine if there are any shared HI patterns that transcend socio-economic contexts. This paper utilizes a mixed-methods approach by superposing fieldwork data, including the recollection of existing buildings and authorized archival data, with the help of a referential grid based on three case studies in Harhoura, Rabat, affordable, middle-class, and affluent settings, which enables effective individual and communal spatial-morphological analyses. The findings reveal distinctive and shared patterns from one side and propagation dynamics from the other, including important concepts, such as mirroring (the replication of similar informalities) and contrast (the implementation of informalities in contrast with the existing ones), between the different socio-economic contexts, which suggest higher transcending shared needs between them. By showcasing that people of diverse socio-economic means adapt their homes in strikingly similar ways, this study discredits the assumption that poverty is the primary driver of renovation approaches. This broadened lens enriches our understanding of how urban housing evolves and points to the urgency of inclusive strategies addressing key housing priorities for all.
The Sombor Index (Coindex) and Lanzhou Index (Coindex) of Some Graphs
Authors: Guji Raxida , Wali Mihrigul
Published: February 2025

In this paper, motivated by the recently introduced topological indices—the Sombor index, Sombor coindex, and Lanzhou index, we define a new index—the Lanzhou coindex of a graph. Furthermore, we investigate the Sombor index (coindex) and the Lanzhou index (coindex) of tadpole graphs, wheel graphs, and two-dimensional grid graphs, as well as their paraline graphs.
Establishment and Characterization of OFT and OFO Cell Lines from Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) for Use as Feeder Cells
Authors: Jo Ja Young , Kim Ju-Won , Noh Eun Soo , Kim Yong-Ok , Gong Seung Pyo , Kong Hee Jeong , Choi Jae Hoon
Published: February 2025

Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is a commercially important fish species in Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea. Despite numerous attempts to improve productivity, there have been no studies of in vitro germline stem cell (GSC) culture in this species. Here, olive flounder testicular and ovarian cell lines (OFT and OFO, respectively) were established and characterized. RT-PCR demonstrated that OFT and OFO expressed several gonadal somatic cell markers, including wt1 and fgf2, but lacked expression of germ cell markers, such as vasa, nanos2, and scp3. In addition, SNP analysis revealed that OFT originated from XY male P. olivaceus and OFO originated from XX female P. olivaceus. These results suggest that OFT was composed of Sertoli cells and OFO was composed of granulosa cells and theca cells. Finally, coculture of OFT or OFO with enriched male P. olivaceus GSCs isolated from the top 20% and 20–30% Percoll density gradient layers showed that GSCs were attached on both cell lines. In conclusion, we established P. olivaceus testicular and ovarian cell lines, which were expected to use for development of an in vitro GSC culture system.
Nestin as a Marker Beyond Angiogenesis—Expression Pattern in Haemangiomas and Lymphangiomas
Authors: Mamilos Andreas , Winter Lina , Wiedenroth Christoph B. , Niedermair Tanja , Zimmer Stefanie , Schmitt Volker H. , Keller Karsten , Topolčan Ondrej , Karlíková Marie , Rupp Markus , Brochhausen Christoph , Cotarelo Cristina
Published: February 2025

Background: The intermediate filament nestin was first described in stem and progenitor cells of neural and mesenchymal origin. Additionally, it is expressed in endothelial cells during wound healing and tumorigenesis. Thus, nestin is widely regarded as a marker for proliferative endothelium. However, little is known about its role in lymphatic endothelium. Methods: Here, we analyzed the expression of nestin in the endothelium of ten human haemangiomas and ten lymphangiomas in situ by immunohistochemistry. This study aimed to investigate the expression of nestin in haemangiomas and lymphangiomas to determine its potential role as a vascular marker. Specifically, we aimed to assess whether nestin expression is restricted to proliferating endothelial cells or also present in non-proliferative blood vessels. Results: Immunohistochemically, haemangiomas were positive for CD31 but negative for D2-40. The endothelial cells within these lesions showed a homogeneous expression of nestin. In contrast, the endothelium of lymphangiomas reacted positively for D2-40 and CD31 but did not show any nestin expression. Additionally, only a few endothelial cells of capillary haemangiomas showed a Ki-67 positivity. Conclusions: The differential expression of nestin in haemangiomas and lymphangiomas indicates a specificity of nestin for the endothelium of blood vessels. The Ki-67 negativity in the majority of the endothelial cells reveals the proliferative quiescence of these cells. These findings indicate that nestin could be used as a marker to differentiate between blood and lymphatic vessels.
Quasi-Static and Low-Velocity Impact Response of 3D Printed Plates Using Bio-Inspired Tool Paths
Authors: Islam Muhammed Kamrul , Hazell Paul J. , Wang Hongxu , Escobedo Juan P. , Chowdhury Harun
Published: February 2025

The study of biomimetics allows for the creation of various structures inspired by nature. This work investigates the impact of using a bio-inspired tool path for manufacturing porous plates via 3D printing. The Bouligand (or plywood-like) structure is prevalent in several biological components. Structures that mimicked the Bouligand design concerning the tool path were printed and compared to uniform plates produced with a rectilinear pattern through mechanical testing. Quasi-static and dynamic tests were conducted on specimens with infill densities ranging from 25% to 100%. Results indicated that the Bouligand pattern displayed superior specific energy absorption at 75% infill density. This bio-inspired path pattern also provided excellent elongation during quasi-static and dynamic failure—the fracture pattern of the bio-inspired path adhered to the Bouligand structure. In contrast, brittle failure was demonstrated by the specimen with a rectilinear pattern at varying infill percentages, while the bio-inspired pattern enhanced the toughness of the polymer specimens.
Emerging Dual-Gate FET Sensor Paradigm for Ultra-Low Concentration Cortisol Detection in Complex Bioenvironments
Authors: Lee Seung-Jin , Cho Won-Ju
Published: February 2025

Cortisol is a pivotal hormone regulating stress responses and is linked to various health conditions, making precise and continuous monitoring essential. Despite their non-invasive nature, conventional cortisol detection methods often suffer from inadequate sensitivity and reliability at low concentrations, limiting their diagnostic utility. To address these limitations, this study introduces a novel paradigm for high sensitivity cortisol detection using field-effect transistor (FET) sensors with dual-gate (DG) structures. The proposed sensor platform enhances sensitivity through capacitive coupling without requiring external circuits. Cortisol detection performance was evaluated by immobilizing monoclonal antibodies activated via 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide onto a SnO2 thin film-based extended-gate. The results revealed a sensitivity of 14.3 mV/dec in single-gate mode, which significantly increased to 243.8 mV/dec in DG mode, achieving a detection limit of 276 pM. Additionally, the reliability and stability of the sensor were validated by evaluating drift effects, confirming its ability to provide accurate detection even in artificial saliva environments containing interfering substances. In conclusion, the DG-FET-based cortisol detection approach developed in this study significantly outperforms conventional FET-based methods, enabling precise monitoring at ultra-low concentrations. This approach holds significant potential for diverse bioassays requiring high sensitivity and reliability in complex environments.
Towards Rapid and Low-Cost Stroke Detection Using SERS and Machine Learning
Authors: Freitas Cristina , Eleutério João , Soares Gabriela , Enea Maria , Nunes Daniela , Fortunato Elvira , Martins Rodrigo , Águas Hugo , Pereira Eulália , Vieira Helena L. A. , Ferreira Lúcio Studer , Franco Ricardo
Published: February 2025

Stroke affects approximately 12 million individuals annually, necessitating swift diagnosis to avert fatal outcomes. Current hospital imaging protocols often delay treatment, underscoring the need for portable diagnostic solutions. We have investigated silver nanostars (AgNS) incubated with human plasma, deposited on a simple aluminum foil substrate, and utilizing Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) combined with machine learning (ML) to provide a proof-of-concept for rapid differentiation of stroke types. These are the seminal steps for the development of low-cost pre-hospital diagnostics at point-of-care, with potential for improving patient outcomes. The proposed SERS assay aims to classify plasma from stroke patients, differentiating hemorrhagic from ischemic stroke. Silver nanostars were incubated with plasma and spiked with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a biomarker elevated in hemorrhagic stroke. SERS spectra were analyzed using ML to distinguish between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, mimicked by different concentrations of GFAP. Key innovations include optimized AgNS–plasma incubates formation, controlled plasma-to-AgNS ratios, and a low-cost aluminum foil substrate, enabling results within 15 min. Differential analysis revealed stroke-specific protein profiles, while ML improved classification accuracy through ensemble modeling and feature engineering. The integrated ML model achieved rapid and precise stroke predictions within seconds, demonstrating the assay’s potential for immediate clinical decision-making.
ncRNA-Mediated Pyroptosis in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Pathophysiology, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Perspectives
Authors: Xu Ruiyi , Peng Quan , Chen Wen , Cheng Xihua , Wang Guozuo
Published: February 2025

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a complex pathological process triggered by transient obstruction of blood flow and subsequent reperfusion, ultimately leading to intracellular disturbances such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and programmed cell death. Among the various types of cell death, pyroptosis (an inflammatory kind of regulated cell death) has received increasing attention due to its involvement in key neurovascular unit cells, including endothelial cells, neurons, microglia, and astrocytes. Intriguingly, accumulating evidence demonstrates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs, can modulate multiple stages of pyroptosis in CIRI. This review synthesizes recent findings on the ncRNA-regulated pyroptosis in CIRI. We highlight the molecular underpinnings of pyroptotic activation following ischemic injury and discuss how ncRNAs shape these mechanisms. By elucidating the interactions between ncRNAs and pyroptosis-related pathways, we intend to present innovative viewpoints for early diagnosis and the development of potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate CIRI.
Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Decrease Uric Acid Levels in the Sera of Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Perković Dijana , Petrić Marin , Maleš Maja , Erceg Maleš Ivana , Radić Mislav
Published: February 2025

Objectives: There are many explanations for increased levels of serum uric acid (SUA) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but correlation with different treatment options in PsA is not well elucidated. Our aim was to determine the effects of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on SUA levels in patients with PsA. Materials and methods: We analyzed the data of PsA patients treated with different bDMARDs from January 2007 to June 2021. Patients treated with interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors (secukinumab and ixekizumab) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors (golimumab, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, and etanercept) were included. Results: A total of 87 patients were included. The SUA levels decreased in 60 (69%) patients after a 3–6-month-long follow-up, and in 25 (28.7%), we noticed an increase. The average decrease in SUA levels was 9.4 ± 49.5 µmol/L (p = 0.039); for TNFα patients, it was 7.3 ± 59.8 µmol/L (p = 0.386), and for IL-17 patients, it was 12.6 ± 28.4 µmol/L (p = 0.013). The levels of SUA decreased in 81.8% of patients treated with infliximab, as well as in 76% of those treated with secukinumab and in 72.7% of those treated with etanercept. The largest average decrease in SUA levels was recorded in the group treated with golimumab (23 µmol/L). Conclusions: A significant decrease in SUA levels was noticed, especially in patients treated with IL-17 inhibitors. Further studies should identify which bDMARD is the most potent in the lowering of SUA levels. bDMARDs were efficient in PsA disease activity.
Forest and Population Characteristics of Vulnerable Relict Tsuga forrestii Downie in China
Authors: Han Peng-Bin , Lu Shu-Gang , Tang Cindy Q.
Published: February 2025

Tsuga forrestii Downie, a vulnerable species endemic to China, is confined to small, fragmented habitats in the northwestern Yunnan and southwestern Sichuan Provinces, China. Understanding the current status of its communities and populations is crucial for protecting existing natural forest resources. We surveyed 33 plots in Yunnan and Sichuan, where T. forrestii is the primary dominant species. We analyzed their community characteristics including vertical stratification, species diversity, and population structure, and classified them into four distinct forest types: (1) Tsuga forrestii evergreen coniferous forest; (2) Tsuga forrestii-Lithocarpus variolosus evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest; (3) Tsuga forrestii-Quercus guyayifolia evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest; (4) Tsuga forrestii-Abies forrestii evergreen coniferous forest. These forests exhibited a multilayered vertical structure, and T. forrestii as a dominant species appeared in the arborous and shrub layers, and the associated taxa were mainly species of Abies, Lithocarpus, Quercus, Castanopsis, and Rhododendron. No significant differences in species richness or diversity indices or phylogenetic relatedness metrics among the forest types were found. The maximum age of the remaining wild specimens was 344 years, with individuals under 20 years or over 170 years old being rare. The average growth rate of T. forrestii, based on ring width, fluctuated over time, and the range of mean values was 0.92 to 3.31 mm/year. Established seedlings/saplings were rare and mainly found in unstable microhabitats. These findings highlight the poor regeneration and a decline in its populations. Improving its regeneration status is crucial to maintaining its population status.
Reactive Autonomous Ad Hoc Self-Organization of Homogeneous Teams of Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Sweep Coverage of a Passageway with an Obstacle Course
Authors: Konovalov Petr , Matveev Alexey , Gordievich Kirill
Published: February 2025

A team of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) travels with a bounded speed in an unknown corridor-like scene containing obstacles. USVs should line up at the right angle with the corridor and evenly spread themselves out to form a densest barrier across the corridor, and this barrier should move along the corridor with a given speed. Collisions between the USVs and the corridor walls, other obstacles, and among themselves must be avoided. In the fractions of the scene containing obstacles, the line formation should be preserved, but the demand for an even distribution is inevitably relaxed. This evenness should be automatically restored after such a fraction is fully traversed. Any USV is aware of the corridor direction and measures the relative coordinates of the objects that lie within a given finite sensing distance. USVs do not know the corridor’s width and the team’s size, cannot distinguish between the team-mates and fill different roles, and do not use communication devices. A computationally cheap control law is presented that attains the posed objectives when being individually run at every USV. The robustness of this law to losses of teammates and admissions of newcomers is justified. Its performance is demonstrated by mathematically rigorous non-local convergence results, computer simulation tests, and experiments with real robots.
A Beam Search Framework for Quantum Circuit Mapping
Authors: Qiu Cheng , Zhu Pengcheng , Wei Lihua
Published: February 2025

In the era of noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computing, the limited connectivity between qubits is one of the common physical limitations faced by current quantum computing devices. Quantum circuit mapping methods transform quantum circuits into equivalent circuits that satisfy physical connectivity constraints by remapping logical qubits, making them executable. The optimization problem of quantum circuit mapping has NP-hard computational complexity, and existing heuristic mapping algorithms still have significant potential for optimization in terms of the number of quantum gates generated. To reduce the number of SWAP gates inserted during mapping, the solution space of the mapping problem is represented as a tree structure, and the mapping process is equivalent to traversing this tree structure. To effectively and efficiently complete the search process, a beam search framework (BSF) is proposed for solving quantum circuit mapping. By iteratively selecting, expanding, and making decisions, high-quality target circuits are generated. Experimental results show that this method can significantly reduce the number of inserted SWAP gates on medium to large circuits, achieving an average reduction of 44% compared to baseline methods, and is applicable to circuits of various sizes and complexities.