bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultivating nutrition: exploring participants’ perspectives on nutrition gardens and nutrition education program in rural Tamil Nadu and Odisha, India
Authors: Jaleel Abdul , Chukkala SuryaGoud S. , Sriswan Raja , Panda Hrusikesh , Singnale Pooja , Meshram Indrapal I. , Avula Laxmaiah , Hariharan G. N. , Arlappa Nimmathota , Gavaravarapu SubbaRao M.
Published: February 2025

Malnutrition persists as a critical public health concern in India, aggravated by widespread nutrition insecurity due to lack of dietary diversity. Integrating the promotion of nutrition gardens with nutrition education offers a promising strategy to mitigate these challenges, particularly among vulnerable populations. This paper examines the perceptions of households participated in an intervention to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture and improve nutrition education to combat undernutrition in small-scale farming households in rural India. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from participants in Tamil Nadu and Odisha through structured interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The qualitative data were thematically analysed, and a SWOT analysis was conducted to assess the intervention’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The findings show that by integrating nutrition-sensitive approaches into agricultural activities, the intervention has transformed traditional home gardening practices by diversifying homegrown produce. Participants highly valued the training sessions, and the provision of seeds and saplings, which facilitated the establishment of nutrition gardens and improved nutrition-related knowledge. However, while many participants reported improved nutrition knowledge, improvements in dietary diversity and overall nutrition were less commonly reported. Achieving a sustained impact will require context-sensitive implementation, sustained engagement, and addressing structural barriers.
Real-Time Motor Control Using a Raspberry Pi, ROS, and CANopen over EtherCAT, with Application to a Semi-Active Prosthetic Ankle
Authors: Nichols Kieran M. , Roembke Rebecca A. , Adamczyk Peter G.
Published: February 2025

This paper focused on the implementation method and results of modifying a Raspberry Pi 4 for real-time control of brushless direct-current motors, with application in a semi-active two-axis ankle prosthesis. CANopen over EtherCAT was implemented directly on the Raspberry Pi to synchronize real-time communication between it and the motor controllers. Kinematic algorithms for setting ankle angles of zero to ten degrees in any combination of sagittal and frontal angles were implemented. To achieve reliable motor communication, where the motors continuously move, the distributed clock synchronization of Linux and Motor driver systems needs to have a finely tuned Proportional-Integral compensation and a consistent sampling period. Data collection involved moving the ankle through 33 unique pre-selected ankle configurations nine times. The system allowed for quick movement (mean settling time 0.192 s), reliable synchronization (standard deviation of 4.51 microseconds for sampling period), and precise movement (mean movement error less than 0.2 deg) for ankle angle changes and also a high update rate (250 microseconds sampling period) with modest CPU load (12.48%). This system aims to allow for the prosthesis to move within a single swing phase, enabling it to efficiently adapt to various speeds and terrains, such as walking on slopes, stairs, or around corners.
The Evolution of Social Entrepreneurship: Broadening the Framework for the Digital and Sustainable Era
Authors: Pérez-Barea José Javier
Published: February 2025

This research expands and updates a previous analysis of social entrepreneurship, incorporating the academic literature published between 2017 and 2024. Using the Web of Science database and Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) technique, 1262 articles were analyzed, organized into three time periods (2017–2018, 2019–2021, and 2022–2024). The results show a clear evolution of the field, where sustainability, digitization, and resilience emerge as fundamental axes. Compared to the original research, which identified the convergence between the third sector and corporate social responsibility (CSR), this research reveals a consolidation of hybrid models, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainability is positioned as a transverse axis, integrating economic, social, and environmental objectives. Digital transformation, driven by the pandemic, has facilitated scalability, organizational efficiency, and social impact measurement, but also poses challenges in terms of technological equity. In addition, organizational and community resilience takes center stage as an adaptive response to global crises. Research provides a comprehensive and up-to-date view of social entrepreneurship, identifying key trends and emerging challenges, while mapping new lines of research needed to strengthen the field in an increasingly globalized and technological world.
Telework Uncovered: Employees’ Perceptions Across Various Occupations in an Industrial Company
Authors: Korkeakunnas Tea , Lohela-Karlsson Malin , Heiden Marina , Rambaree Komalsingh
Published: February 2025

To understand how telework is perceived among occupational groups with different work tasks within the same company, this qualitative study aimed to explore how managers and employees experience telework in relation to well-being, individual performance, and the work environment. This qualitative study used a phenomenographic approach. Fourteen online interviews, comprising seven managers and seven employees from the same industrial company, were conducted between February 2022 and September 2023. The data were analyzed inductively to capture variations in telework perceptions. The findings showed that telework is not universally beneficial or challenging; its effectiveness depends on contextual factors such as team setting, job role, type of work, and organizational culture. Telework benefits both employees and managers engaged in individual tasks (e.g., reading, drafting contracts, and preparing reports) or global collaborations, including improved well-being, work–life balance, and overall performance. However, starting with an office-based period that facilitated team cohesion, faster learning, and a deeper understanding of the organizational culture. Face-to-face onsite work could be time-consuming and, therefore, stressful for some, but it is time-saving for others. Onsite employees and managers faced increased workloads when colleagues teleworked, as employees tended to rely more on colleagues physically present in the office. This research highlights the need for tailored strategies to enhance the advantages of telework while reducing its challenges. It contributes to existing research by providing nuanced insights into the relationship between telework and occupational groups within an industrial setting and offering practical guidance for telework in this field.
Digital Synergy and Strategic Vision: Unlocking Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in Saudi SMEs
Authors: Zaki Karam , Alhomaid Abrar , Ghareb Ashraf , Shared Hany , Raslan Alaa , Khalifa Gamal S. A. , Elnagar Ahmed K.
Published: February 2025

This research examines the proposition that enhancing sustainable innovation can be particularly effective when the focus is on strategy, machine learning, and digitalization. The study specifically targets the complex interactions among strategic alignment (SA), sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI), and digital transformation (DT) within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia, particularly within the service sector. A moderated mediation framework was constructed to analyze the influence of SA on SOI, the mediating role of DT, and the moderating effect of strategic orientation (SO). Data were collected through structured surveys from 339 SMEs using a quantitative research design and a cross-sectional methodology. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed to validate the proposed framework and hypotheses. The results indicate that SA significantly boosts SOI, with DT acting as a strong mediator in this connection. Furthermore, SO moderates the relationships between SA and SOI, SA and DT, and DT and SOI, highlighting its essential role in shaping the dynamics of sustainable innovation. These findings emphasize the necessity of aligning strategic initiatives with digital advancements to foster innovation that achieves a balance among economic, social, and environmental objectives. This study contributes to existing literature by filling the research gap regarding SOI and DT in Saudi SMEs and offers practical insights for SMEs facing sustainability challenges. Future research should delve deeper into digital technology configurations, industry-specific contexts, and cross-national applications to improve the applicability of these findings.
Research on the Prediction Model and Formation Law of Drying Cracks of Paddy Based on Multi-Physical Field Coupling
Authors: Wang Hongchao , Wang Ziyu , Che Gang , Wan Lin , Chen Zhengfa
Published: February 2025

Cracking in paddy during processing and storage can significantly degrade its quality and economic value. This study elucidates the crack formation law in paddy across various drying stages through experiments and simulations that integrate multiple physical fields. A predictive model for crack occurrence, based on the relationship between the probability of cracking and drying time, is developed by introducing a critical moisture evaporation coefficient to delineate safe regio for cracking. The findings indicate a sharp increase in the percentage of drying cracks during the initial rapid drying phase, with continued escalation through the slower drying phase. The predictive model’s coefficient of determination exceeded 0.85, demonstrating its efficacy in forecasting crack progression. The primary driver for crack initiation and growth was identified as the cumulative effect of the moisture gradient, with the yield stress proving inadequate to counteract the stresses induced by this gradient, leading to cracking in paddy grains. These results furnish valuable insights for accurately predicting and managing crack development in paddy.
In-Field Phenotyping Using the Low-Cost and Open Access Fluorescence PhotosynQ Multispeq Sensor Together with NDVI: A Case Study with Durum Wheat
Authors: Gracia-Romero Adrian , Segarra Joel , Rezzouk Fatima Zahra , Aparicio Nieves , Kefauver Shawn C. , Araus José Luis
Published: February 2025

Durum wheat production is concentrated in Mediterranean climate regions, making it essential to develop cultivars that adapt to its changing conditions, including water and heat stress. In this regard, photosynthetic capacity estimates may help improve the selection of the most adapted cultivars. However, the cost and inherent low throughput of the usual methodological approaches makes, in many cases, phenotyping unfeasible, particularly under field conditions. This study uses leaf photosynthetic measurements taken with a low-cost handheld chlorophyll sensor (MultispeQ Photosynq) and a biomass sensitive sensor (GreenSeeker) measuring the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to assess the performance of six modern durum wheat cultivars. The sensors were employed at anthesis and grain filling under two different types of management (rainfed and support irrigation) for two growing seasons. Compared to irrigated plants, rainfed trials had significantly lower photosynthetic performance during the two phenological stages evaluated. Significant genotype differences in steady-state fluorescence yield (Fs) and maximum fluorescence yield (Fm′) across treatments and crop seasons were found. This study shows that leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters can be used to select modern wheat cultivars with an open-source, low-cost, handheld sensor (Photosynq).
Mapping Novel Loci and Candidate Genes Associated with Cadmium Content in Maize Using Genome-Wide Association Analysis
Authors: Lai Ruiqiang , Xue Xiaoming , Chachar Zaid , Zhu Hang , Chen Weiwei , Li Xuhui , Hu Yuanqiang , Chen Ming , Zhang Xiangbo , Li Jiajia , Fan Lina , Qi Yongwen
Published: February 2025

Cadmium is a toxic, carcinogenic element that threatens food safety due to its tendency to be absorbed by plants along with essential nutrients. This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using SNP genotyping data from 170 natural maize populations to analyze cadmium content in maize grains across three environments. The MLM_Q+Kinship and MLM_PCA+Kinship models identified 6424 (HN), 991 (JMO), and 1358 (JMT) SNPs linked to cadmium accumulation in the MLM_Q+Kinship model, with 121 SNPs common across all environments. Additionally, the MLM_PCA+Kinship model detected 824 (HN), 950 (JMO), and 910 (JMT) SNPs, with 14 shared loci. In total, 126 reliable SNP loci, representing 14 QTLs, were identified, highlighting 12 superior haplotypes and 2 favorable alleles. A negative correlation between these loci and cadmium content was observed. Within 100 kbp of the QTLs, 45 candidate genes were identified, associated with 11 GO terms and 5 KEGG pathways. Analysis revealed 12 maize lines with at least one stable locus, all of which showed reduced Cd levels. Key hybrids, such as CAU95×CAU65 and CAU95×CAU266, demonstrated the potential for low Cd accumulation. This study provides valuable insights for breeding maize with reduced Cd uptake using stable gene loci discovered through GWAS.
Screening of Sugarcane Genotypes for Smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) Resistance Under Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: de Fátima Santos Lucélia , da Silva Felipe Brussolo , Anjos Luciana Oliveira Souza , Raiol Júnior Laudecir Lemos , dos Anjos Ivan Antônio , de Carvalho Fernandes Tanuza , da Silva Marcel Fernando , Perecin Dilermando , de Goes Antônio , Pinto Luciana Rossini
Published: February 2025

Sugarcane is one of the most economically important crops, particularly in Brazil, which is the largest sugarcane producer globally. Sugarcane smut, caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum (Syd.), is a major disease of this crop. This study investigated the response of 165 sugarcane genotypes to smut infection under greenhouse conditions using the needle-bud puncture method. The disease incidence, the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC), and the relative Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (rAUDPC) were calculated, along with broad-sense heritability (h2) and the genotype’s effects. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r2) was used to determine the correlation between the number of corresponding genotypes with smut incidence in both the greenhouse and the field. The incidence of smut ranged from 0% to 88%, and AUDPC values varied from 0 to 500 for 131 of the 165 genotypes. Based on the rAUDPC, 54 genotypes were classified as highly resistant. The correlation between greenhouse and field disease expression was positive and moderately strong (r² = 61%), and the h2 value in greenhouse conditions was 74%. The needle-bud puncture method combined with the rAUDPC values was promising for identifying susceptible genotypes and highlighting potential smut-resistant genotypes.
Genetic Trends in Seven Years of Maize Breeding at Mozambique’s Institute of Agricultural Research
Authors: Fato Pedro , Chaúque Pedro , Senete Constantino , Nhamucho Egas , Sneller Clay , Mutiga Samuel , Musundire Lennin , Wegary Dagne , Das Biswanath , Prasanna Boddupalli M.
Published: February 2025

Assessing genetic gains from historical data provides insights to improve breeding programs. This study evaluated the Mozambique National Maize Program’s (MNMP’s) genetic gains using data from advanced germplasm trials conducted at 21 locations between 2014 and 2020. Genetic gains were calculated by regressing the genotypic best linear unbiased estimates of grain yield and complementary agronomic traits against the initial year of genotype evaluation (n = 592). The annual genetic gain was expressed as a percentage of the trait mean. While grain yield, the primary breeding focus, showed no significant improvement, significant gains were observed for the plant height (0.67%), ear height (1.74%), ears per plant (1.31%), ear position coefficient (1.22%), and husk cover (4.7%). Negative genetic gains were detected for the days to anthesis (−0.5%), the anthesis–silking interval or ASI (−9.31%), and stalk lodging (−5.01%). These results indicate that while MNMP did not achieve the desired positive genetic gain for grain yield, progress was made for traits related to plant resilience, particularly the ASI and stalk lodging. MNMP should seek to incorporate new breeding technologies and human resources to enhance genetic gains for grain yield and other key traits in the maize breeding program, while developing and deploying high-yielding, climate-resilient maize varieties to address emerging food security challenges in Mozambique.
The Promises and Pitfalls of Large Language Models as Feedback Providers: A Study of Prompt Engineering and the Quality of AI-Driven Feedback
Authors: Jacobsen Lucas Jasper , Weber Kira Elena
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education (HE), reshaping teaching, learning, and feedback processes. Feedback generated by large language models (LLMs) has shown potential for enhancing student learning outcomes. However, few empirical studies have directly compared the quality of LLM feedback with feedback from novices and experts. This study investigates (1) the types of prompts needed to ensure high-quality LLM feedback in teacher education and (2) how feedback from novices, experts, and LLMs compares in terms of quality. Methods: To address these questions, we developed a theory-driven manual to evaluate prompt quality and designed three prompts of varying quality. Feedback generated by ChatGPT-4 was assessed alongside feedback from novices and experts, who were provided with the highest-quality prompt. Results: Our findings reveal that only the best prompt consistently produced high-quality feedback. Additionally, LLM feedback outperformed novice feedback and, in the categories explanation, questions, and specificity, even surpassed expert feedback in quality while being generated more quickly. Conclusions: These results suggest that LLMs, when guided by well-crafted prompts, can serve as high-quality and efficient alternatives to expert feedback. The findings underscore the importance of prompt quality and emphasize the need for prompt design guidelines to maximize the potential of LLMs in teacher education.
Evidence of Morphological and Morphometric Differences in the Sella Turcica of Pteronotus mesoamericanus and P. mexicanus
Authors: Peralta-Pérez M. A. , Briones-Salas M.
Published: February 2025

Morphological modifications are a potential mechanism for functional species and phylogenetic diversification. The sella turcica in mammals is a structure associated with the basisphenoid bone and serves as the receptacle for the pituitary gland; however, little is known about the morphological variation that may affect functionality in chiropterans. In this study, we provide morphological and morphometric evidence of differences between populations of Pteronotus mesoamericanus [the Gulf of Mexico] and P. mexicanus [the Pacific Coast] by describing variations in the dimensions of the dorsum sellae and the processus clinoideus caudalis of the sella turcica. We obtained 20 a priori designed measurements of the dorsum of the sella turcica from 243 skulls of both species from various locations in Mexico. The dorsum sellae were found at an average distance of 3.4 mm from the lower edge of the foramen magnum. The dorsum of the sella turcica has a truncated pyramidal shape, with the processus clinoideus caudalis located at the tip of the pyramid. Ten of the measurements obtained were found to be significant for both regions (the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico). We propose that these measurements be tested in future studies of populations from the Mormoopidae family in the Antilles, Central America, and South America for comparative purposes, and to help distinguish different lineages and functions.
Significant Detection of Porcine Circovirus 3 and Porcine Circovirus 4 in Wild Boars from Mid-Western Spain Without Apparent Sanitary Consequences
Authors: Holgado-Martín Rocío , Risco David , Ramos Alfonso , Martínez-Pérez Remigio , García-Jiménez Waldo Luis , Hermoso-De Mendoza Javier , Gómez Luis
Published: February 2025

PCV-3 and PCV-4 are novel viruses that can infect domestic pigs and wild boars. Both viruses are associated with multiple disorders in domestic pigs (reproductive failure, respiratory damage, etc.). However, the clinical impact on wild boars remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the presence of these viruses in wild boars from mid-western Spain and their sanitary impact on the species. A total of 166 submandibular lymph nodes were collected from hunted wild boars, along with available information about their reproductive status, lung injuries, body condition, and tuberculosis status. The samples were used to detect PCV-3 and PCV-4 using real-time PCR. In total, 84.9% of the sampled animals were positive for PCV-3, and 33.7% were positive for PCV-4. The detection of PCV-4 was more frequent in wild boars that had received supplementary feeding, suggesting that the direct contact favored by this practice could increase the transmission of this virus in wild boar populations. The infections did not seem to influence the body condition, reproductive status, lung lesions, or TB lesion severity patterns in the studied animals. Thus, although these viruses have been widely detected throughout wild boar populations from the studied area, they do not seem to be a health threat to this species. Nevertheless, their monitoring in wild boars is recommended, as they are often in contact with extensively reared pigs, which are susceptible to these viruses.
The Clinical Implications of Inappropriate Therapy in Community-Onset Urinary Tract Infections and the Development of a Bayesian Hierarchical Weighted-Incidence Syndromic Combination Antibiogram
Authors: Gómez-Quiroz Adolfo , Avila-Cardenas Brenda Berenice , De Arcos-Jiménez Judith Carolina , Perales-Guerrero Leonardo , Martínez-Ayala Pedro , Briseno-Ramirez Jaime
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: The rise in multidrug-resistant pathogens complicates UTI management, particularly in empirical therapy. This study aimed to develop and describe a Bayesian hierarchical weighted-incidence syndromic combination antibiogram (WISCA) model to optimize antibiotic selection for adult patients with community-onset UTIs. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using a Bayesian hierarchical model. Data from microbiology laboratory records and medical databases were analyzed, focusing on age, prior antibiotic exposure, and clinical characteristics. Clinical outcomes, including extended hospital stays and in-hospital mortality, were evaluated before WISCA model development. Unlike traditional antibiograms, a WISCA integrates patient-specific factors to improve antimicrobial coverage estimations. A total of 11 monotherapies and 18 combination therapies were tested against 15 pathogens, with posterior coverage probabilities and 95% highest density intervals (HDIs) used to assess coverage. Results: Inappropriate final antibiotic treatment was associated with worse outcomes. The Bayesian framework improved estimations, particularly for rare pathogen–antibiotic interactions, increasing model applicability in high-resistance settings. Combination regimens showed superior coverage, especially in MDR cases and older adults. Conclusions: This study employed a comprehensive methodological approach for WISCA development, enhancing empirical antibiotic selection by incorporating local resistance data and patient-specific factors in a middle-income Latin American country with a high antimicrobial resistance profile. These findings provide a foundation for future clinical applications and antimicrobial stewardship strategies in high-resistance environments.
Clonality, Virulence Genes, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Dairy Ruminants in Mastitic Milk-Associated Staphylococcus aureus in Sicily
Authors: Russo Nunziatina , Fazio Nunzio Alberto , Licitra Francesca , Gajewska Joanna , Stamilla Alessandro , Salonia Rosario , Chajęcka-Wierzchowska Wioleta , Randazzo Cinzia L. , Caggia Cinzia , Antoci Francesco , Cascone Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent pathogens causing mastitis in dairy animals and represents a serious issue of public health concern due to its resistance against multiple antimicrobials. Objectives: This study assessed 101 S. aureus isolates obtained from quarter milk of animals with subclinical mastitis in the Ragusa area (Sicily, Italy). Methods: Antibiotic resistance against nine antibiotics was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer method, and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were measured for oxacillin (OXA) and vancomycin (VA). Additionally, the isolates were genetically characterized through multiplex PCR to identify the presence of spa, mecA, mecC, pvl, vanA, vanB, and vanC genes, along with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Results: The highest rates of antibiotic resistance were found against gentamicin (47.5%) and erythromycin (29.7%), with 86.1% of strains exhibiting resistance to at least two antimicrobials and 33.7% showing resistance to three antimicrobial classes. Furthermore, the results indicated that the presence of antibiotic resistance genes was not correlated with phenotypic resistance, and a phylogenetic analysis revealed varying phenotypic resistance profiles even within the same PFGE cluster. Lastly, alongside a new allelic profile ST 9471, MLST analysis identified five additional STs clustered into three CCs, with CC5 originating from human ancestral strains through human-to-animal host transfers, making it the dominant group. Conclusions: This study provided valuable insights into regional trends, allowing for the identification of significant antibiotic-resistant patterns and offering an understanding of bacterial dynamics in these environments, underscoring the importance of routine resistance surveillance in dairy farms.
Investigation of a Driver’s Reaction Time and Reading Accuracy of Speedometers on Different Instrument Clusters of Passenger Cars
Authors: Ružić Dragan , Bratić Davor , Nikolić Nebojša , Stojić Boris , Mačužić-Saveljić Slavica
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an experimental investigation of drivers’ reading reaction times and errors when reading a speedometer as a part of a complex instrument cluster. The laboratory-based experiment involved 32 participants and 7 instrument clusters from existing passenger cars. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of different instrument cluster (IC) designs on the time and accuracy of information retrieval from the speedometer, including correlations with participants’ age and gender. Reaction times ranged from 451 ms to 11,116 ms. Reading accuracy was assessed based on the number of coarse errors, among other factors. The results indicated no influence of participants’ gender on performance, while a moderate positive correlation was observed between reaction time and participants’ age. Specific design features of both the speedometer and the IC that could be related to the results were identified. From the point of view of both reaction time and reading accuracy, centrally located speedometers (whether digital or analog) were found to be more effective. The highest number of coarse errors occurred when participants misread information, attributed to unfavorable layouts and designs of two instrument clusters.
Research on Damage Detection Methods for Concrete Beams Based on Ground Penetrating Radar and Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Ning , Ge Ya , Bai Xin , Zhang Zi , Shangguan Yuhao , Li Yan
Published: February 2025

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a mature and important research method in the field of structural non-destructive testing. However, when the detection target scale is small and the amount of data collected is limited, it poses a serious challenge for this research method. In order to verify the applicability of typical one-dimensional radar signals combined with convolutional neural networks (CNN) in the non-destructive testing of concrete structures, this study created concrete specimens with embedded defects (voids, non-dense solids, and cracks) commonly found in concrete structures in a laboratory setting. High-frequency GPR equipment is used for data acquisition, A-scan data corresponding to different defects is extracted as a training set, and appropriate labeling is carried out. The extracted original radar signals were taken as the input of the CNN model. At the same time, in order to improve the sensitivity of the CNN models to specific damage types, the spectrums of A-scan are also used as part of the training datasets of the CNN models. In this paper, two CNN models with different dimensions are used to train the datasets and evaluate the classification results; one is the traditional one-dimensional CNN model, and the other is the classical two-dimensional CNN architecture AlexNet. In addition, the finite difference time domain (FDTD) model of three-dimensional complex media is established by gprMax, and the propagation characteristics of GPR in concrete media are simulated. The results of applying this method to both simulated and experimental data show that combining the A-scan data of ground penetrating radar and their spectrums as input with the CNN model can effectively identify different types of damage and defects inside the concrete structure. Compared with the one-dimensional CNN model, AlexNet has obvious advantages in extracting complex signal features and processing high-dimensional data. The feasibility of this method in the research field of damage detection of concrete structures has been verified.
Carbon Emission from Land Use in Yanshan-Taihang Mountain Area of Hebei Province: Study on Spatial and Temporal Differentiation of Risk
Authors: Piao Lichao , Zhang Pengtao , Zhao Shuaiqi , Dong Jie , Duan Qixuan
Published: February 2025

With rapid economic development and the change in land use patterns, the region faces the environmental challenge of increasing carbon emission risk. The research on analyzing and identifying carbon emission risk of land use is helpful to realize regional sustainable development. This study takes the Yanshan-Taihang Mountain area of Hebei Province as a case study. Based on the remote sensing monitoring data of land use in 2010, 2015, and 2020, the carbon emissions of land use are calculated by direct and indirect calculation methods. Then, the carbon footprint pressure index and land use carbon emission risk index are introduced to analyze the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of land use carbon emission risk in the study area. The findings indicate that carbon emissions associated with land use in the study area initially exhibited an increasing trend, followed by a subsequent decline over time. In space, the high-value areas of carbon emissions are mainly distributed in the south of the study area, and the low-value areas of carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in the northeast of the study area. The region experiences significant carbon-cycling pressure and environmental risk, with the proportion of counties in carbon balance areas decreasing from 27.27% in 2010 to 18.18% in 2020, and the proportion of counties in carbon imbalance areas increasing from 72.72% in 2010 to 81.82% in 2020. The carbon emission risk of land use is divided into micro-risk area, low-risk area, medium-risk area, high-risk area, and severe-risk area. From 2010 to 2020, there was an 18.18% increase in the percentage of counties classified as high-risk and severe-risk areas. Additionally, the regions identified as hotspots for land use emissions exhibited a trend in expansion. This phenomenon indicates that these areas have not successfully managed to mitigate environmental pollution or ensure the sustainable use of resources in the context of their economic development efforts. This series of dynamic changes shows that the study area is facing the challenge of increasing carbon emission risk from land use. Governments at all levels should strengthen environmental governance in high-risk areas, implement stricter land use policies, and promote green development and cleaner production to attain a mutually beneficial outcome for both economic development and ecological protection.
Validity and Reliability of an iOS Mobile Application for Measuring Change of Direction Across Health, Performance, and School Sports Contexts
Authors: Moreno-Azze Alejandro , López-Plaza Daniel , Alacid Fernando , Falcón-Miguel David
Published: February 2025

This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the Fitnessmeter mobile application for measuring change of direction (COD) performance compared to a gold-standard photocell system. Forty-six trained adolescent soccer players performed the 5 + 5 m COD test, with simultaneous data collection using the Fitnessmeter app and photocells. A strong correlation was observed between the two instruments (r = 0.971), with no significant differences in COD times (p > 0.05). Bland–Altman analysis indicated minimal systematic bias (0.02 ± 0.05 s) and acceptable limits of agreement. Reliability analysis demonstrated high consistency for both devices (Fitnessmeter ICC = 0.66–0.72; Photocells ICC = 0.57–0.76), with reproducibility confirmed by a low coefficient of variation values (<3%). The Fitnessmeter app also effectively measured inter-limb asymmetries, showing results comparable to photocells (p = 0.42). These findings validate Fitnessmeter as a reliable, portable, and cost-effective tool for COD assessment. Its accessibility makes it suitable for applications in sports, education, and rehabilitation, offering a practical alternative to expensive equipment. Further studies are recommended to confirm its reliability in other COD tests and contexts. Fitnessmeter’s innovative motion detection technology has the potential to democratize performance assessment, making it accessible to a broader audience beyond elite sports.
ReTrackVLM: Transformer-Enhanced Multi-Object Tracking with Cross-Modal Embeddings and Zero-Shot Re-Identification Integration
Authors: Bayraktar Ertugrul
Published: February 2025

Multi-object tracking (MOT) is an important task in computer vision, particularly in complex, dynamic environments with crowded scenes and frequent occlusions. Traditional tracking methods often suffer from identity switches (IDSws) and fragmented tracks (FMs), which limits their ability to maintain consistent object trajectories. In this paper, we present a novel framework, called ReTrackVLM, that integrates multimodal embedding from a visual language model (VLM) with a zero-shot re-identification (ReID) module to enhance tracking accuracy and robustness. ReTrackVLM leverages the rich semantic information from VLMs to distinguish objects more effectively, even under challenging conditions, while the zero-shot ReID mechanism enables robust identity matching without additional training. The system also includes a motion prediction module, powered by Kalman filtering, to handle object occlusions and abrupt movements. We evaluated ReTrackVLM on several widely used MOT benchmarks, including MOT15, MOT16, MOT17, MOT20, and DanceTrack. Our approach achieves state-of-the-art results, with improvements of 1.5% MOTA and a reduction of 10. 3% in IDSws compared to existing methods. ReTrackVLM also excels in tracking precision, recording a 91.7% precision on MOT17. However, in extremely dense scenes, the framework faces challenges with slight increases in IDSws. Despite the computational overhead of using VLMs, ReTrackVLM demonstrates the ability to track objects effectively in diverse scenarios.
Research on the Diffusion and Deposition Characteristics of Refrigerant Under Vertical Upward Leakage in a Confined Space
Authors: Ling Yongjun , Jiang Ning , Zhou Xuan , Li Yalun , Zhou Peixu , Lu Yongjie , Han Xiaohong
Published: February 2025

In a confined space, the flammability of alternative refrigerants (such as R717, R290, R32, and R1234yf) poses significant safety risks during leaks. However, in the actual refrigeration systems, the direction of refrigerant leakage is difficult to predict, complicating explosion risk assessment. In this work, R717, R290, R32, and R1234yf were selected as the research objects to analyze the diffusion process and deposition characteristics of different refrigerants leaking vertically upward into a confined space, and to explore the migration characteristics of flammable refrigerants under different leakage amounts and flammability area in a confined space. The results show that after vertical upward leakage, the refrigerants tend to impact the top wall and then move along the top wall away from the leak source. High-density refrigerants diffuse primarily near the floor, while less dense refrigerant diffuses along the top and side wall of the space. After the refrigerant leakage stops, R1234yf, with the highest density, exhibited the most pronounced deposition, with the highest concentration near the floor and the lowest at the top (1.69% and 0.7%, respectively). Conversely, lower-density refrigerants showed decreasing floor concentrations and increasing top concentrations, with reduced overall deposition. Compared to the deposition concentration of R290 at the bottom of the room (1.32%), R744 demonstrated higher deposition near the floor than R290, likely due to its higher viscosity at similar densities. In addition, using R290 as an example, the study reveals that the increase in leakage amount and the prolonged time result in a gradual expansion and upward diffusion of the flammability area, encompassing the top of the space, walls, and floor.
Research on a Wind-Energy-Harvesting Device Based on a Non-Contact Electret–Piezoelectric Coupling Structure
Authors: Wang Qian , Bao Jiankang , Wu Haitao , Wang Jingang , Zhao Pengcheng , Yu Changli
Published: February 2025

Persistently and reliably harvesting wind energy to power intelligent online monitoring devices for transmission lines promotes the intelligent and sustainable development of the Internet of Things. Current small-scale wind-energy-harvesting devices, relying on a single energy conversion principle, face challenges such as low efficiency and poor performance at low wind speeds. This paper presents a coaxial rotating non-contact coupling transducer structure, and its optimization methods have been studied, which are based on electret electrostatic induction and magnetically actuated piezoelectric conversion. By analyzing the principles of alternating positive–negative unipolar electret components and constructing a finite element model, improved output capacity is demonstrated. The electric signals from electret components are more suitable for inferring the shaft and wind speeds compared to piezoelectric components. The piezoelectric components utilize frequency up-conversion theory to enhance output while addressing the low power density of the electrostatic components. Experimental results indicate that the proposed structure operates reliably at rotational speeds of 100–700 rpm, achieving a maximum output power of 6.742 mW. The output power of the electret electrostatic component’s electrodes nearly doubled, with the signal positively correlated to rotation speed. The optimized structure of the magnetically actuated piezoelectric component achieved a power increase of 11.51% at four excitations and 250 rpm. This study provides a new design approach for more durable and efficient small-scale wind-energy-harvesting devices, as well as for achieving integrated measurement and supply.
Form and Detail in the Half-Timbered Architecture of Western Pomerania, Poland
Authors: Arlet Piotr Krzysztof
Published: February 2025

The conducted archival and field research focused on the analysis of details in timber-frame construction in Western Pomerania within the borders of the Republic of Poland. The researcher examined the influence of high architecture on the vernacular architecture of towns and villages in Western Pomerania throughout historical development, specifically on distinct, characteristic building types. In this study, I took into account the impact of local traditions as well as those brought by settlers. The groups of timber-frame structures that were investigated included residential buildings in small towns, rural cottages and farmsteads. The analyzed structures were erected from the second half of the 17th century to the early 20th century. This broad timeframe is explained by the limited number of structures with preserved wooden ornaments in the studied area. Particular attention was given to the relationship between detail and the form of the structure, as well as its impact on the perception of the whole.
Research on the Attenuation Characteristics of LiDAR Transmission Energy in Different Atmospheric Environments
Authors: Yang Xiaoce , Wang Chunyang , Liu Xuelian
Published: February 2025

LiDAR, as a novel detection system, has found extensive applications across diverse industries. However, when lasers propagate through the atmosphere, the energy undergoes significant attenuation due to various environmental factors, thereby impeding the performance of LiDAR systems. This paper focuses on analyzing the distribution patterns of fog particles, haze particles, and typical aerosol particles within the atmospheric environment. By integrating Mie scattering theory, it delves into the absorption and scattering behaviors exhibited by different atmospheric constituents. Employing numerical simulation techniques, the attenuation characteristics of the 1064 nm working-wavelength laser under the influence of diverse particles are simulated and scrutinized. In conjunction with the LiDAR transmission equation, the attenuation law governing the transmission energy of the laser under varying atmospheric conditions is also analyzed. The results reveal that atmospheric pollutant particles such as fog particles, haze particles, dust particles, and bituminous coal particles all contribute to energy attenuation during laser transmission. Notably, bituminous coal particles induce the most severe attenuation.
Bound–Free and Free–Free Pair Production Channels in Forward Delbrück Scattering
Authors: Sommerfeldt Jonas , Yerokhin Vladimir A. , Surzhykov Andrey
Published: February 2025

We present a theoretical study of forward-angle Delbrück scattering of light by the Coulomb field of a target nucleus. Special attention is paid to the Coulomb corrections, which take into account the interaction of the emerging virtual electron–positron pairs with the nucleus to higher orders of αZ. We compare the results from three different computation methods: the direct all-order evaluation of the Delbrück amplitude, the computation from the pair production cross section with the optical theorem and the low-energy limit. We find that the values obtained from the optical theorem are in very good agreement with the all-order calculations and can be used as benchmark data. Moreover, both methods agree with the low-energy limit for photon energies ω<<mec2 when correctly accounting for the bound–free pair production cross section in the optical theorem calculations, and the discrepancy found in the literature originates from neglecting this contribution.
The Sustainable and Green Management of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries Through Hydroxy Acid Recycling and Direct Regeneration of Active Positive Electrode Material: A Review
Authors: Shrestha Ambar B. , Amarasekara Ananda S.
Published: February 2025

The rapid increase in use of lithium-ion batteries in energy storage together with limited supply of critical metals used in batteries and environmental concerns have led to the urgent need for sustainable recycling technologies for these batteries. Li-ion battery chemistry, components, various designs, and two main approaches for recycling: pyrolysis and hydrometallurgical techniques are discussed in this review focusing on the novel, sustainable green approach of hydroxy acid leaching followed by a direct regeneration technique. This two-step emerging technique is compared with other conventional recycling methods in this critical review emphasizing simplicity and commercial potential. Current literature reporting rapid developments on this scalable process with pretreatment phases of sorting, discharging, disassembly of batteries, separation of electrode coatings from current collectors, leaching black mass with hydroxy carboxylic acids, separation of graphite, adjustments of Li, Ni, Mn, and Co compositions, and regeneration via co-precipitation or sol–gel formation techniques followed by pyrolysis are discussed in the detailed review. The conclusion section of this direct regeneration focused critical review gives an insight into challenges in hydroxy acid recycling and direct regeneration technology and practical solutions that may help in development into a mainstream technology.
Heteroatom Doping Strategy of Advanced Carbon for Alkali Metal-Ion Capacitors
Authors: Yin Ti , Guo Yaqin , Huang Xing , Yang Xinya , Qin Leixin , Ning Tianxiang , Tan Lei , Li Lingjun , Zou Kangyu
Published: February 2025

Alkali metal-ion capacitors (AMICs) combine the advantages of the high specific energy of alkali metal-ion batteries (AMIBs) and the high power output of supercapacitors (SCs), which are considered highly promising and efficient energy storage devices. It is found that carbon has been the most widely used electrode material of AMICs due to its advantages of low cost, a large specific surface area, and excellent electrical conductivity. However, the application of carbon is limited by its low specific capacity, finite kinetic performance, and few active sites. Doping heteroatoms in carbon materials is an effective strategy to adjust their microstructures and improve their electrochemical storage performance, which effectively helps to increase the pseudo-capacitance, enhance the wettability, and increase the ionic migration rate. Moreover, an appropriate heteroatom doping strategy can purposefully guide the design of advanced AMICs. Herein, a systematic review of advanced heteroatom (N, S, P, and B)-doped carbon, which has acted as a positrode and negatrode in AMICs (M = Li, Na, and K) in recent years, has been summarized. Moreover, emphasis is placed on the mechanism of single-element doping versus two-element doping for the enhancement in the performance of carbon positrodes and negatrodes, and an introduction to the use of doped carbon in dual-carbon alkali metal-ion capacitors (DC-AMICs) is discussed. Finally, an outlook is given to solve the problems arising when using doped carbon materials in practical applications and future development directions are presented.