bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Trimethylamine N-Oxide on Atrial Fibrillation Presence in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Florea Cristian Marius , Rosu Radu Ovidiu , Minciuna Ioan Alexandru , Cismaru Gabriel , Pop Dana , Vlase Ana-Maria , Nenu Iuliana , Filip Gabriela Adriana
Published: February 2025

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common human heart rhythm disorder, yet its underlying causes remain largely unknown. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a by-product derived from the gut microbiota contributed by red meat, has been linked to numerous cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of serum TMAO levels on the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with cardiovascular disease. Results: Utilizing a cross-sectional study design, fasting serum TMAO levels were measured and compared between 153 patients without cardiovascular disease and patients hospitalized for cardiovascular disease, stratified by the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation. While patients with more comorbidities had higher TMAO overall, the TMAO levels were not significantly different between cardiovascular disease patients with and without atrial fibrillation (p = 0.57). Moreover, there was no difference between atrial fibrillation progression phenotypes (p = 0.27). In multivariate analysis, a significant association was found with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (p = 0.04) and chronic kidney disease (p < 0.001), but there was no significant association between TMAO and atrial fibrillation (p = 0.9). Conclusions: Serum TMAO levels are not associated with the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and disease progression phenotypes in patients with cardiovascular disease, but are associated with ASCVD and CKD.
Understanding the Heterogeneity and Dynamics of Factors Influencing Tourist Sentiment with Online Reviews
Authors: Wang Bingbing , Zhao Qiuhao , Zhang Zhe , Xu Pengfei , Tian Xin , Jin Pingbin
Published: February 2025

Online reviews are crucial for identifying the factors that affect the dynamic evolution of tourist sentiment, improving tourist satisfaction. This study employs pre-trained models BERT and BERTopic and social network analysis to examine 228,062 reviews collected from Ctrip using Python. The factors influencing tourist sentiment across natural tourism attractions (NTAs), cultural tourism attractions (CTAs), and theme park tourism attractions (TPTAs) were explored before, during, and after the pandemic. The findings reveal that there was minimal change in the types of factors influencing before and during the pandemic, significant changes in the values of factors during the pandemic, and fluctuations in both the types and values of factors after the pandemic. Regardless of the period, influences on negative sentiment were more dispersed, while positive emotions were more polarized. Based on these insights, we propose theoretical contributions and improvement strategies for enhancing resilience and promoting high-quality development in different types of attractions.
The Role of Digital Marketing in Online Shopping: A Bibliometric Analysis for Decoding Consumer Behavior
Authors: Figueiredo Natália , Ferreira Bruno M. , Abrantes José Luís , Martinez Luis F.
Published: February 2025

Over the past two decades, digital evolution has radically transformed how consumers interact with brands and purchases. Highly informed consumers actively seek news, knowledge, and inspiration and often interact with multiple touchpoints over an extended period before purchasing. Thus, companies face diverse and complex challenges in engaging with and retaining consumers in virtual contexts. This systematic literature review aims to understand what influences consumer behavior, that is, the impact of digital marketing on online shopping. Based on Web of Science database articles, bibliometric analysis was used to verify the state-of-the-art of digital marketing in consumer behavior topics. This study systematizes the existing literature into six themes: (1) Digital Consumer Behavior and E-Commerce Dynamics; (2) Engagement Strategies in a Virtual Environment; (3) Factors Influencing Online Consumer Decisions and Digital Strategies; (4) E-Commerce in the Era of Social and Technological Change; (5) Innovative Approaches to Digital Consumer Engagement; and (6) Digital Transformation and Cross-Channel Shopping Behavior. The results provide insights and help to develop a more profound understanding of this theme. An agenda for further research is presented based on the existing literature.
The Extent of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Wetland Area in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta, Canada Between 2000 and 2018
Authors: Montgomery Joshua , Mahoney Craig , Nasr Mina , Cobbaert Danielle
Published: February 2025

Wetlands globally have and continue to undergo modification from anthropogenic and natural environmental factors. To bridge this gap, this study utilised a GIS-based approach to quantify the areal extent of human footprint disturbances to wetlands over time. This approach attributed wetland disturbance by wetlands class, disturbance type and sector during two notable disturbance transitions, from 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2018, in the oil sands region (OSR) of northern Alberta, Canada. The wetland disturbance area was calculated using a physical disturbance dataset intersected with the Alberta Merged Wetland Inventory. Results indicate that 3284 km2 (2616 km2 between 2000 and 2010, 668 km2 between 2010 and 2018) of wetlands have undergone disturbance in the OSR. Examination of disturbance by the industrial sector between 2010 and 2018 indicates that the oil and gas and forestry sectors are the greatest sources of disturbance (402 km2 and 179 km2, respectively). Monetary assessment of wetland ecosystem services per year results in a minimum yearly loss of USD 30.05 million for peatlands and USD 197.86 million for marshes and swamps in USD (2007). This analysis is valuable for quantifying the impact of human footprint on wetlands, which is critical for ensuring sustainable development in wetland-rich areas.
Effect of Ultra-Fine Mineral Admixture on the Performance of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete
Authors: Bo Shiwei , Gong Li , Guo Haizhen , Guo Fucheng , Yao Tengfei , Wei Dingbang
Published: February 2025

The ultra-high performance of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has led to a significant increase in cement mixing, resulting in an increase in CO2 emissions. Using mineral admixtures to replace cement partially is an effective way to reduce the cement amount. In this study, to investigate the effect of ultrafine fly ash (UFA) and ultrafine mineral powder (UMP) on the performance of UHPC, a series of experiments involving single admixture use of UFA, UMP, and their compound mixing were conducted. Results show that the cement dosage in UHPC can be reduced to 800 kg/m3 by mixing UFA and UMP. Compared with single mixing, compound mixing can effectively improve the fluidity and mechanical properties, and the optimal improvement effect is achieved when the dosage of UFA and UMP is equal. From the viewpoint of microscopic pore structure, the compound addition of ultrafine mineral admixtures can significantly improve the pore size distribution of UHPC by reducing the number of large pores and fissures and increasing the number of micropores and mesopores. From the perspective of microscopic hydration, ultrafine mineral admixtures can promote the cement hydration reaction, generating more C-S-H gels, enhancing the compactness of UHPC, and improving its mechanical properties and durability.
Metasurface-Loaded Biodegradable Mobile Phone Back Cover for Enhanced Radiation Performance
Authors: Acharjee Juin , Ali Jawad , Uzair Muhammad , Phakaew Thipamas , Akkaraekthalin Prayoot , Maiket Yaowaret , Yeetsorn Rungsima , Chalermwisutkul Suramate
Published: February 2025

This article introduces a novel biodegradable metasurface-loaded mobile phone back cover designed to reduce electromagnetic exposure and enhance antenna performance. The cover operates across the low GHz band (2–8 GHz) and the millimeter-wave band (22–25.6 GHz), utilizing polylactic acid as an eco-friendly substrate. Integrated with a six-port multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, the cover achieves port isolation above 20 dB in both bands. Specific absorption rate (SAR) analysis, performed using a human head model, shows significant reductions in electromagnetic exposure—61.1% in the low GHz band (from 1.06 W/kg to 0.412 W/kg) and 55% in the millimeter wave band (from 2.061 W/kg to 0.917 W/kg). Additionally, the metasurface cover enhances antenna gain and increases impedance bandwidth by 20% in the low GHz band and 8.3% in the millimeter-wave band. A comparative study highlights superior SAR reduction and bandwidth improvement of a metasurface on a biodegradable substrate over one on a silicone substrate. Prototypes of the MIMO antenna and the proposed cover were fabricated and tested, revealing strong alignment between simulated and measured results. These findings highlight the potential of biodegradable metasurface-based covers to deliver high-performance, sustainable solutions for mobile communication devices.
Novel Method for Approximating Fixed Point of Generalized α-Nonexpansive Mappings with Applications to Dynamics of a HIV Model
Authors: Okeke Godwin Amechi , Udo Akanimo Victor , Alqahtani Rubayyi T.
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we use an existing fixed point iterative scheme to approximate a class of generalized α-nonexpansive mapping in Banach spaces. We also prove weak and strong convergence results for the mapping using the AG iterative scheme. An example of a generalized α-nonexpansive mapping is given to show the validity of the claims. We apply the main results to the approximation of solution of a mixed type Voltera–Fredholm functional nonlinear integral equation and to the spread of HIV modeled in terms of a fractional differential equation of the Caputo type.
Decentralized Nonstationary Fuzzy Neural Network with Meta-Learning-Net
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Yu Meiling , Jia Hui
Published: February 2025

The nonstationary fuzzy neural network (NFNN) has proven to be an effective and interpretable tool in machine learning, capable of addressing uncertainty problems similarly to type-2 fuzzy neural networks, while offering reduced computational complexity. However, the update of disturbance parameters in an NFNN is restricted due to the necessity of maintaining a regular membership function, which limits its learning capability. To address this limitation, we propose a Decentralized NFNN (DNFNN) that overcomes the obstacles in the backward update process and enhances the efficiency of large-scale optimization. Additionally, we demonstrate improved computational efficiency and establish the linear convergence of the proposed decentralized algorithm. By integrating a meta-learning network, we further enhance the output strategy of the NFNN, enabling it to adaptively determine the contribution of individual sub-networks. Experimental results on various UCI datasets, spanning multiple domains and exhibiting diverse dimensions and sizes, show that the DNFNN outperforms existing methods in terms of classification accuracy, robustness and practicality.
Marine-Derived Diterpenes from 2019 to 2024: Structures, Biological Activities, Synthesis and Potential Applications
Authors: Zhang Lin , Li Debao , Chen Xuan , Zhao Feng
Published: February 2025

Marine diterpenes are an important category of secondary metabolites derived from marine sources, found in a variety of marine animals, plants, and fungi. The increasing diversity of diterpene compounds, along with their unique chemical structures and specific biological activities, have attracted widespread attention. These activities include anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial effects, and therapeutic actions against cancer, with many already developed into clinical drugs. Additionally, as marine medicinal resources continue to be exploited over the long term, the natural resources of many marine diterpene compounds are diminishing, and the biosynthesis of key active components has become a hot topic of research. In this review, we summarize diterpene compounds discovered in the ocean over the past five years, reclassify these compounds, and summarize their structures, biological activities, biosynthesis, and potential applications of marine diterpenoids from 2019 to 2024. This review can provide a reference for the basic research and potential applications of marine-derived diterpene compounds.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Sjögren Disease: Organ-Specific Disease Triggered by Systemic Autoimmunity?
Authors: Dogru Atalay , Gur Hatip Fatma
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: Autoimmune thyroid diseases are more prevalent in patients diagnosed with Sjögren disease (SD) than in the general population. SD and autoimmune thyroid diseases are two distinct yet interrelated autoimmune disorders. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT), autoantibody relationships, and clinical features in patients with SD. Materials and Methods: The study included 525 patients. A retrospective evaluation was conducted on the demographic data, biochemical and serological tests, and pathological data of the patients. An anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test was performed using the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) method using HEp-2 (HEp-2000) cells as substrate. The Schirmer test and minor salivary gland biopsy were conducted on all patients. Results: AT was detected in 167 (31.8%) of 525 patients who participated in the study. The anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test and anti-SS-A positivity rate were higher in the AT group (p value < 0.001 and 0.002 respectively). We found that the likelihood of developing AT increased as ANA titres increased. ANA positivity titres were found to be significant at 2+, 3+, and 4+ values (odd ratios 2.41, 3.40, and 4.21, respectively). Additionally, histological examination of salivary gland biopsies revealed a significantly higher prevalence of diffuse lymphocytic infiltration in the AT group. Conclusions: AT was present in 31% of patients with SD. The presence of ANA positivity, anti-SS-A positivity, and diffuse lymphocytic infiltration appears to exert an influence on the association between these two diseases.
Baseline Characteristics Associated with Improved Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Primary Decompressive Craniectomy for Acute Subdural Hematoma Evacuation—A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Vilcinis Rimantas , Juskys Raimondas , Piliponis Lukas , Tamasauskas Arimantas
Published: February 2025

Background and Objective: The study’s aim is to identify a subgroup of patients who would benefit from primary decompressive craniectomy (pDC) after acute subdural hematoma (aSDH) evacuation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 290 patients undergoing aSDH evacuation between 2016 and 2021 was conducted. Osteoplastic craniotomy (OC) was performed in 213 cases (73.4%), whereas 77 individuals underwent pDC. Preoperative characteristics, such as age, initial GCS score, hematoma thickness, midline shift, and cisternal effacement score (CES), were used to predict outcome at discharge by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results: Older age, lower initial GCS, and higher CES preoperatively were independently associated with lower GOS scores at discharge. Age and degree of cisternal compression remained significant predictors of GOS score in the pDC subgroup. Survivors who underwent pDC were younger in comparison to deceased individuals receiving OC (mean age 55.43 ± 14.58 vs. 72.28 ± 14.63, p < 0.001). Patients who achieved favorable outcomes after pDC were significantly younger compared to those who had poor outcomes after OC (mean age 49.20 ± 12.05 vs. 72.28 ± 14.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Younger patients (<55 years old) with initial GCS scores of 4–6, midline shifts of 1 to 2 cm, subdural hematoma thickness of 1 to 2.5 cm, and CES in a range of 7–12 may benefit from pDC as it could potentially improve survival and functional outcomes after aSDH evacuation.
Elucidating the Effects of Material Flow from Deposition Offset on AFSD Repair of AA7050
Authors: Rojas Victor A. , Hidalgo Ismael Y. , Matalgah Khaled , Fleck Trevor J. , Brewer Luke N. , Kubacki Gregory W. , Jordon J. Brian , Allison Paul G.
Published: February 2025

In this work, the effects of tool bias as a processing parameter on an additive friction stir deposition repair of AA7050-T7451 plates were investigated. In this study, the asymmetrical material flow effect was assessed by subjecting a machined groove plate to different tool biases during the AFSD process. The tool bias effectiveness on repairs was quantified through mechanical testing and destructive and non-destructive evaluation. Monotonic tensile tests conducted in parallel with a digital image correlation method captured the mechanical performance of the repairs and the local strain effects of the heat-affected zone. X-ray computed tomography images of the different tool bias repairs were analyzed for any voids or defects to measure the overall bonding effectiveness. The results suggest that the advancing side tool bias had adequate bonding with the substrate, which yielded improved mechanical performance compared to the centered and retreating side depositions.
Impact of Layer Materials, Their Thicknesses, and Their Reflectivities on Emission Color and NVIS Compatibility in OLED Devices for Avionic Display Applications
Authors: Uçar Esin , Ülkü Alper , Kaya Halil Mert , Serin Ramis Berkay , Kaçar Rifat , Oral Ahmet Yavuz , Menşur Ebru
Published: February 2025

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology is preferred in modern display applications due to its superior efficiency, color quality, and flexibility. It also carries a high potential of applicability in military displays where emission color tuning is required for MIL-STD-3009 Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVISs), as compatibility is critical. Herein, we report the effects of different OLED device layer materials and thicknesses such as the hole injection layer (HIL), hole transport layer (HTL), and electron transport layer (ETL) on the color coordinates, luminance, and efficiency of OLED devices designed for night vision (NVIS) compatibility. In this study, simulation tools like SETFOS® (Semi-conducting Emissive Thin Film Optics Simulator), MATLAB®, and LightTools® (Illumination Design Software) were used to verify and validate the luminance, luminance efficiency, and chromaticity coordinates of the proposed NVIS-OLED devices. We modeled the OLED device using SETFOS®, then the selection of materials for each layer for an optimal electron–hole balance was performed in the same tool. The effective reflectivity of multiple OLED layers was determined in MATLAB® in addition to an optimal device efficiency calculation in SETFOS®. The optical validation of output luminance and luminous efficiency was performed in LightTools®. Through a series of simulations for a green-emitting OLED device, we observed significant shifts in color coordinates, particularly towards the yellow spectrum, when the ETL materials and their thicknesses varied between 1 nm and 200 nm, whereas a change in the thickness of the HIL and HTL materials had a negligible impact on the color coordinates. While the critical role of ETL in color tuning and the emission characteristics of OLEDs is highlighted, our results also suggested a degree of flexibility in material selection for the HIL and HTL, as they minimally affected the color coordinates of emission. We validated via a combination of SETFOS®, MATLAB®, and LightTools® that when the ETL (3TPYMB) material thickness is optimized to 51 nm, the cathode reflectivity via the ETL-EIL stack became the minimum enabling output luminance of 3470 cd/m2 through our emissive layer within the Glass/ITO/MoO3/TAPC/(CBP:Ir(ppy)3)/3TPYMB/LiF/Aluminum OLED stack architecture, also yielding 34.73 cd/A of current efficiency under 10 mA/cm2 of current density. We infer that when stack layer thicknesses are optimized with respect to their reflectivity properties, better performances are achieved.
A Hardware Accelerator for Real-Time Processing Platforms Used in Synthetic Aperture Radar Target Detection Tasks
Authors: Zhang Yue , Tang Yunshan , Cao Yue , Yu Zhongjun
Published: February 2025

The deep learning object detection algorithm has been widely applied in the field of synthetic aperture radar (SAR). By utilizing deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and other techniques, these algorithms can effectively identify and locate targets in SAR images, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of detection. In recent years, achieving real-time monitoring of regions has become a pressing need, leading to the direct completion of real-time SAR image target detection on airborne or satellite-borne real-time processing platforms. However, current GPU-based real-time processing platforms struggle to meet the power consumption requirements of airborne or satellite applications. To address this issue, a low-power, low-latency deep learning SAR object detection algorithm accelerator was designed in this study to enable real-time target detection on airborne and satellite SAR platforms. This accelerator proposes a Process Engine (PE) suitable for multidimensional convolution parallel computing, making full use of Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) computing resources to reduce convolution computing time. Furthermore, a unique memory arrangement design based on this PE aims to enhance memory read/write efficiency while applying dataflow patterns suitable for FPGA computing to the accelerator to reduce computation latency. Our experimental results demonstrate that deploying the SAR object detection algorithm based on Yolov5s on this accelerator design, mounted on a Virtex 7 690t chip, consumes only 7 watts of dynamic power, achieving the capability to detect 52.19 512 × 512-sized SAR images per second.
Acinetobacter baumannii Complex Infections: New Treatment Options in the Antibiotic Pipeline
Authors: Arshad Noayna , Azzam Wael , Zilberberg Marya D. , Shorr Andrew F.
Published: February 2025

Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC) can result in a panoply of severe syndromes, including pneumonia and septic shock. Options available for treating infections caused by ABC and, more importantly, by carbapenem-resistant ABC (CRAB) are limited because of the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, many older agents, such as polymyxin and colistin, have limited lung penetration and are associated with significant toxicities. These factors underscore the urgent need for new paradigms to address ABC and CRAB. Two agents, cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam, are now available to treat CRAB infections. In addition, several anti-infectives that target CRAB are in later-stage clinical trials. In order to place these newer molecules in context and to help clinicians appreciate the emerging potential drug development pipeline, we describe the in vitro activity, mechanisms of action, and clinical trial data not only for the commercially now available alternatives, such as cefiderocol and sulbactam-durlobactam, but also review these topics for molecules undergoing phase II and III clinical trials. Specifically, we discuss and analyze data related to four novel drugs from ABC: BV-100, cefepime-zidebactam, zosurabalpin, and OMN6.
Machine Learning-Assisted High-Throughput Screening for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Yin Guohao , Zhu Haiyan , Chen Shanlin , Li Tingting , Wu Chou , Jia Shaobo , Shang Jianxiao , Ren Zhequn , Ding Tianhao , Li Yawei
Published: February 2025

Hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy carrier, has many significant advantages, such as cleanliness, recyclability, and high calorific value of combustion, which makes it one of the major potential sources of energy supply in the future. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is an important strategy to cope with the global energy shortage and environmental degradation, and given the large cost involved in HER, it is crucial to screen and develop stable and efficient catalysts. Compared with the traditional catalyst development model, the rapid development of data science and technology, especially machine learning technology, has shown great potential in the field of catalyst development in recent years. Among them, the research method of combining high-throughput computing and machine learning has received extensive attention in the field of materials science. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the recent research on combining high-throughput computing with machine learning to guide the development of HER electrocatalysts, covering the application of machine learning in constructing prediction models and extracting key features of catalytic activity. The future challenges and development directions of this field are also prospected, aiming to provide useful references and lessons for related research.
Coenzyme Q10 as an Inhibitor of Effector Release from One-Electron-Reduced Bioreductive Anticancer Prodrugs
Authors: Anderson Robert F. , Qi Wen
Published: February 2025

The kinetic parameters for the release of anticancer effectors from the radical anions of prodrugs through fragmentation have been measured under conditions that model the interfacial region where the enzymatic reduction in the prodrugs takes place. While the back-oxidation of the radical anions via O2 mainly occurs under normoxia, preventing radical anion fragmentation, this is not the case for the lower concentrations of O2 found in hypoxic regions of tumors. Rate-constant data show that O2 concentrations known to bring about a 50% decrease in the level of cell kill arising from the prodrugs in anoxia (the K-value) do not significantly inhibit the fragmentation of radical anions. Evidence is put forward suggesting that radical anions can undergo an electron transfer to ubiquinone (CoQ10, UQ) in competition with the fragmentation of the radical anions releasing effectors. The prior inhibition of the synthesis of UQ in cells is put forward as a possible approach to increase the effectiveness of such prodrugs in killing hypoxic tumor cells.
Influence of Neutralization Precipitation Conditions on the Physical Stability of Amorphous Solid Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Yuan Zhihui , Liao Xu , Zhang Bowen , Nawaz Asad , Li Zunhua
Published: February 2025

This research focused on the precipitation of amorphous forms of nilotinib with high physical stability through the manipulation of various parameters in the neutralization reaction, specifically the quantity of nilotinib, the pH value, and the concentration of HCl. To assess the physical stability of the amorphous nilotinib, various characterization techniques, including PXRD, DSC, and FBRM, were utilized in conjunction with analytical methods such as PDF, PCA, and Rc value. The findings demonstrated that the ideal physical stability was attained with a nilotinib quantity of 0.5 g, a pH value of 11.70, and 7.5 mL of HCl with a concentration of 2.0 mol/L. It is important to acknowledge that this observation is specific to the current experimental configuration and may not hold in the context of a scaled-up experiment. Furthermore, the combination of PDF and Rc was identified as an innovative and effective method for assessing physical stability, demonstrating advantages over traditional accelerated stability testing approaches.
Study on the Properties of Ag-Nb2AlC Composite as an Electric Contact Material
Authors: Huang Xiaochen , Zhang Hongdi , Wang Dazhang , Zhou Zijue
Published: February 2025

Ag-Nb2AlC composite materials with a Nb2AlC volume percentage ranging from 10% to 40% were prepared using the spark plasma sintering method. The composite with 10% Nb2AlC achieved a high density of 99.2%. The microhardness exhibited a peak value of 84.8 HV at a Nb2AlC content of 30%. The conductivity of the composite material decreases linearly with an increase in Nb2AlC content, ranging from 0.134 MS·cm−1 to 0.086 MS·cm−1. A three-dimensional laser scanning microscope was employed to characterize the morphology following arc erosion, and the erosion area was subsequently measured. Results indicated that arc erosion was concentrated on the Ag-20 vol.% Nb2AlC composite material, resulting in a smaller circular erosion area. As Nb2AlC content increased to 30% and 40%, the arc shifted, leading to an expansion of the erosion area. Notably, the Ag-30 vol.% Nb2AlC composite material exhibited the highest arc energy (3.401 kJ). The eroded surface displayed spattered particles and a convex morphology. Additionally, EDS and Raman spectroscopic analyses revealed the formation of Nb2O5, Ag2O, and Al2O3 on the surface. The arc erosion mechanism was analyzed from an electrical perspective, indicating that the formation of the arc is attributed to the development of a positive streamer and air breakdown within a strongly nonuniform field. Consequently, the surface atoms of Ag-Nb2AlC absorb energy, leading to the formation of metal ions that combine with the ionized air to create oxides. This research lays a theoretical foundation for the application of silver-based electrical contact materials.
Nutritional Intake and Sensory Processing in School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Olson Audrey , Krall Jenna R. , Baranova Ancha , Slavin Margaret
Published: February 2025

Background: Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience sensory processing that differs from general-population norms, and the autistic lived experience of eating includes preferences for routine, and sensory processing difficulty related to scents, tastes, temperatures, and textures of food. Meanwhile, research indicates that nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism (OCM) may be related to sensory processing. Methods: This study enrolled 33 school-aged children with autism to assess whether OCM nutrient intake is associated with sensory processing. Parents completed two parent-report assessments: the youth and adult food frequency questionnaire (YAFFQ), and a sensory processing tool, Sensory Profile 2 (SP2). Results: Participant data showed generally good nutritional profiles mirroring those of general-population U.S. children. A group-binarized linear regression model showed the following relationships (p < 0.05): vitamin B12 consumption had a negative association with the SP2 Oral and Sensor domain scores. Choline intake had a positive association with the SP2 Avoider domain score. Vitamin B1 showed a positive association with the SP2 Visual domain score. Conclusions: These results support the possible existence of a relationship between sensory symptoms and OCM nutrient consumption levels in school-aged children diagnosed with autism. Future research is needed to confirm and explore the potential for causality.
Extensions of the Variational Method with an Explicit Energy Functional for Nuclear Matter with Spin-Orbit Force
Authors: Kitanaka Kento , Osuka Toshiya , Sato Tetsu , Ichikawa Hayate , Takano Masatoshi
Published: February 2025

Two extensions of the variational method with explicit energy functionals (EEFs) with respect to the spin-orbit force were performed. In this method, the energy per nucleon of nuclear matter is explicitly expressed as a functional of various two-body distribution functions, starting from realistic nuclear forces. The energy was then minimized by solving the Euler–Lagrange equation for the distribution functions derived from the EEF. In the first extension, an EEF of symmetric nuclear matter at zero temperature was constructed using the two-body central, tensor, and spin-orbit nuclear forces. The energy per nucleon calculated using the Argonne v8’ two-body nuclear potential was found to be lower than those calculated using other many-body methods, implying that the energy contribution caused by the spin-orbit correlation, whose relative orbital angular momentum operator acts on other correlations, is necessary. In a subsequent extension, the EEF of neutron matter at zero temperature, including the spin-orbit force, was extended to neutron matter at finite temperatures using the method by Schmidt and Pandharipande. The thermodynamic quantities of neutron matter calculated using the Argonne v8’ nuclear potential were found to be reasonable and self-consistent.
Phytotoxic and Antifungal Effects of Plantago major and Sambucus nigra Bioextracts on Key Agricultural Pathogens: Corynespora cassiicola, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium oxalicum
Authors: Lam-Gutiérrez Anayancy , Díaz-López María Guadalupe , Cristóbal-Alejo Jairo , Ruíz-Lau Nancy , Vázquez-Villegas Paola Taydé , Valdespino-León Mariana , Rodríguez-Hernández Ludwi
Published: February 2025

Sustainable agricultural practices increasingly focus on natural bioactive agents for managing phytopathogens. This study investigates the antifungal and phytotoxic properties of methanolic bioextracts derived from Plantago major leaves (MBPm) and Sambucus nigra roots (MBSn) to explore their potential applications. Bioextracts were prepared through methanolic maceration, with yields of 6.02% (P. major) and 6.42% (S. nigra). Antifungal assays evaluated inhibitory effects on Fusarium oxysporum, Corynespora cassiicola, and Penicillium oxalicum, while phytotoxicity assays assessed concentration-dependent impacts on Solanum lycopersicum seed germination. A qualitative evaluation of major polyphenolic compounds was conducted using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with a Photodiode Array Detector and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS) to identify bioactive compounds known for their significant biological activity. P. major bioextracts demonstrated significant inhibition of F. oxysporum (90.06%) and C. cassiicola (83.19%), while S. nigra bioextracts achieved 89.65% and 92.16% inhibition, respectively. Both bioextracts showed minimal impact on P. oxalicum, with effects observed only at 50 mg/mL. Low concentrations of S. nigra bioextract enhanced seed germination, whereas higher doses inhibited it. Identified bioactive compounds included acteoside, isoacteoside, chlorogenic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers. The findings highlight the potential of these bioextracts as biocontrol agents and modulators of seed germination processes, contributing to sustainable agricultural strategies. While this study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, these results provide a strong foundation for future evaluations in field settings to explore their broader agricultural applications.
Pharmacokinetics of Snake Antivenom Following Intravenous and Intramuscular Administration in Envenomed Large Animal Model
Authors: Gamulin Erika , Mateljak Lukačević Sanja , Lang Balija Maja , Smajlović Ana , Vnuk Dražen , Gulan Harcet Jadranka , Tomičić Maja , Hećimović Ana , Halassy Beata , Kurtović Tihana
Published: February 2025

Background: The parenteral administration of antivenoms is the mainstay in snakebite envenoming therapy. The standardized protocol does not exist, but it is agreed that the intravenous (i.v.) route is more effective than the others, especially the intramuscular (i.m.) route, based on the monitoring of venom/antivenom pharmacokinetics in the systemic circulation. Recent evidence suggests that the lymphatic system may be crucial in abolishing venom action. Methods: A preclinical study was performed to determine the optimal administration route with emphasis on venom/antivenom interplay in both the blood and lymph of experimentally envenomed sheep. Timed level measurements were used to compare the antivenom effect on the decrement of venom quantities in both relevant body compartments. Hematological and coagulation parameters, as well as proportions of developed anti-antivenom IgGs, were evaluated. Results: The i.m. antivenom resulted in faster and greater lymphatic absorption and complete neutralization of the venom, whereas the i.v. antivenom only slowed its absorption. The total amount of venom reaching the lymph (AUC0-t) was two times lower after i.m. administration. In the systemic circulation, i.m. antivenom had a lower peak concentration (cmax) and a longer time to reach it (tmax). However, the total venom exposure was three times lower than with i.v. antivenom. Irrespective of the treatment approach, both groups showed improvement in blood disorders with no significant difference in humoral response against equine F(ab’)2 fragments. Conclusions: I.m. administration proved to be a viable option for the snakebite management.
Hydrogels and Nanogels: Pioneering the Future of Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Delgado-Pujol Ernesto J. , Martínez Guillermo , Casado-Jurado David , Vázquez Juan , León-Barberena Jesús , Rodríguez-Lucena David , Torres Yadir , Alcudia Ana , Begines Belén
Published: February 2025

Conventional drug delivery approaches, including tablets and capsules, often suffer from reduced therapeutic effectiveness, largely attributed to inadequate bioavailability and difficulties in ensuring patient adherence. These challenges have driven the development of advanced drug delivery systems (DDS), with hydrogels and especially nanogels emerging as promising materials to overcome these limitations. Hydrogels, with their biocompatibility, high water content, and stimuli-responsive properties, provide controlled and targeted drug release. This review explores the evolution, properties, and classifications of hydrogels versus nanogels and their applications in drug delivery, detailing synthesis methods, including chemical crosslinking, physical self-assembly, and advanced techniques such as microfluidics and 3D printing. It also examines drug-loading mechanisms (e.g., physical encapsulation and electrostatic interactions) and release strategies (e.g., diffusion, stimuli-responsive, and enzyme-triggered). These gels demonstrate significant advantages in addressing the limitations of traditional DDS, offering improved drug stability, sustained release, and high specificity. Their adaptability extends to various routes of administration, including topical, oral, and injectable forms, while emerging nanogels further enhance therapeutic targeting through nanoscale precision and stimuli responsiveness. Although hydrogels and nanogels have transformative potential in personalized medicine, challenges remain in scalable manufacturing, regulatory approval, and targeted delivery. Future strategies include integrating biosensors for real-time monitoring, developing dual-stimuli-responsive systems, and optimizing surface functionalization for specificity. These advancements aim to establish hydrogels and nanogels as cornerstones of next-generation therapeutic solutions, revolutionizing drug delivery, and paving the way for innovative, patient-centered treatments.
Medication Non-Adherence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review Identifying Risk Factors and Opportunities for Intervention
Authors: King Kathryn , Czuber-Dochan Wladyslawa , Chalder Trudie , Norton Christine
Published: February 2025

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is treated with medications to induce and maintain remission. However, many people with IBD do not take their prescribed treatment. Identifying factors associated with IBD medication adherence is crucial for supporting effective disease management and maintaining remission. Quantitative and qualitative studies researching IBD medication adherence between 2011 and 2023 were reviewed. In total, 36,589 participants were included in 79 studies. The associated non-adherence factors were contradictory across studies, with rates notably higher (72–79%) when measured via medication refill. Non-adherence was lower in high-quality studies using self-report measures (10.7–28.7%). The frequent modifiable non-adherence risks were a poor understanding of treatment or disease, medication accessibility and an individual’s organisation and planning. Clinical variables relating to non-adherence were the treatment type, drug regime and disease activity. Depression, negative treatment beliefs/mood and anxiety increased the non-adherence likelihood. The non-modifiable factors of limited finance, younger age and female sex were also risks. Side effects were the main reason cited for IBD non-adherence in interviews. A large, contradictory set of literature exists regarding the factors underpinning IBD non-adherence, influenced by the adherence measures used. Simpler medication regimes and improved accessibility would help to improve adherence. IBD education could enhance patient knowledge and beliefs. Reminders and cues might minimise forgetting medication. Modifying risks through an adherence support intervention could improve outcomes.
Unraveling Allelic Impacts on Pre-Harvest Sprouting Resistance in TaVP1-B of Chinese Wheat Accessions Using Pan-Genome
Authors: Wang Danfeng , Xie Jinjin , Wang Jingwen , Mu Mengdi , Xiong Haifeng , Ma Fengshuo , Li Peizhen , Jia Menghan , Li Shuangjing , Li Jiaxin , Zhu Mingyue , Li Peiwen , Guan Haiyan , Zhang Yi , Li Hao
Published: February 2025

The TaVP1-B gene, located on the 3B chromosome of wheat, is a homolog of the Viviparous-1 (VP-1) gene of maize and was reported to confer resistance to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat. In this study, the structure of the TaVP1-B gene was analyzed using the wheat pan-genome consisting of 20 released cultivars (19 wheat are from China), and 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were identified at the 496 bp, 524 bp, and 1548 bp of the TaVP1-B CDS region, respectively. Haplotypes analysis showed that these SNPs were in complete linkage disequilibrium and that only two haplotypes designated as hap1 (TGG) and hap2 (GAA) were present. Association analysis between TaVP1-B haplotypes and PHS resistance of the 20 wheat cultivars in four experiment environments revealed that the average PHS resistance of accessions with hap1 was significantly better than that of accessions with hap2, which infers the effects of TaVP1-B on wheat PHS resistance. To further investigate the impacts of alleles at the TaVP1-B locus on PHS resistance, the SNP at 1548 bp of the TaVP1-B CDS region was converted to a KASP marker, which was used for genotyping 304 Chinese wheat cultivars, whose PHS resistance was evaluated in three environments. The average sprouting rates (SRs) of 135 wheat cultivars with the hap1 were significantly lower than the 169 cultivars with the hap2, validating the impacts of TaVP1-B on PHS resistance in Chinese wheat. The present study provided the breeding-friendly marker for functional variants in the TaVP1-B gene, which can be used for genetic improvement of PHS resistance in wheat.
Potential of Chitosan/Gelatin-Based Nanofibers in Delivering Drugs for the Management of Varied Complications: A Review
Authors: Mohite Popat , Puri Abhijeet , Munde Shubham , Dave Roshan , Khan Showkhiya , Patil Riteshkumar , Singh Anil Kumar , Tipduangta Pratchaya , Singh Sudarshan , Chittasupho Chuda
Published: February 2025

Drug delivery systems have revolutionized traditional drug administration methods by addressing various challenges, such as enhancing drug solubility, prolonging effectiveness, minimizing adverse effects, and preserving potency. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, particularly nanoparticles (NPs) and nanofibers (NFs), have emerged as promising solutions for biomedicine delivery. NFs, with their ability to mimic the porous and fibrous structures of biological tissues, have garnered significant interest in drug-delivering applications. Biopolymers such as gelatin (Ge) and chitosan (CH) have gained much more attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in biomedical applications. CH exhibits exceptional biocompatibility, anti-bacterial activity, and wound healing capabilities, whereas Ge provides good biocompatibility and cell adhesion properties. Ge/CH-based NFs stimulate cellular connections and facilitate tissue regeneration owing to their structural resemblance to the extracellular matrix. This review explores the additive methods of preparation, including electrospinning, force pinning, and template synthesis, focusing on electrospinning and the factors influencing the fiber structure. The properties of Ge and CH, their role in drug release, formulation strategies, and characterization techniques for electrospun fibers are discussed. Furthermore, this review addresses applications in delivering active moieties in the management of orthopedics and wound healing with regulatory considerations, along with challenges related to them. Thus, the review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential of Ge/CH-based NFs for drug delivery and biomedical applications.
Synthesis of a Free-Standing Ternary WO3/CNT/ZnO–Chitosan Composite Photocatalytic Membrane for the Mitigation of Protein Fouling in Membranes
Authors: Chong Wei Tze , Lam Sze Mun , Ong Yit Thai , Don Trong-Ming
Published: February 2025

The application of membrane filtration, particularly micro- and ultra-filtration, in food and pharmaceutical industries often faces the issue of protein fouling. In this study, we aimed to fabricate a free-standing ternary tungsten trioxide/carbon nanotube/zinc oxide (WO3/CNT/ZnO)–chitosan composite photocatalytic membrane via wet processing and infiltration techniques to address the fouling issue. Infiltration with low molecular weight chitosan was found to enhance the mechanical stability of the ternary composite photocatalytic membrane. The ternary composite photocatalytic membrane with a 0.16 g ternary photocatalyst load demonstrated 86% efficiency in the degradation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under sunlight irradiation for 120 min. A reduction in permeation flux accompanied by an increase in BSA rejection was observed as the loading of the ternary photocatalyst in the ternary composite photocatalytic membrane was increased. This can be associated with the decreased average porosity and mean pore radius. The ternary composite photocatalytic membrane demonstrated reasonably good antifouling behavior with an Rfr of 82% and an Rif of 18%. The antifouling property demonstrated by the ternary composite photocatalytic membrane is important in maintaining the reusability of the membrane.
Personalized FedM2former: An Innovative Approach Towards Federated Multi-Modal 3D Object Detection for Autonomous Driving
Authors: Zhao Liang , Li Xuan , Jia Xin , Fu Lulu
Published: February 2025

With the swift evolution of artificial intelligence in the automotive sector, autonomous driving has ascended as a pivotal research frontier for automotive manufacturers. Environmental perception, as the cornerstone of autonomous driving, necessitates innovative solutions to address the intricate challenges posed by data sensitivity during vehicle operations. To this end, federated learning (FL) emerges as a promising paradigm, offering a balance between data privacy preservation and performance optimization for perception tasks. In this paper, we pioneer the integration of FL into 3D object detection, presenting personalized FedM2former, a novel multi-modal framework tailored for autonomous driving. This framework aims to elevate the accuracy and robustness of 3D object detection while mitigating concerns over data sensitivity. Recognizing the heterogeneity inherent in user data, we introduce a personalization strategy leveraging stochastic gradient descent optimization prior to local training, ensuring the global model’s adaptability and generalization across diverse user vehicles. Furthermore, to address the sparsity of point cloud data, we innovate the attention layer within our detection model. Our balanced window attention mechanism innovatively processes both point cloud and image data in parallel within each window, significantly enhancing model efficiency and performance. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets, including nuScenes, ONCE, and Waymo, demonstrate the efficacy of our approach. Notably, we achieve state-of-the-art results with test mAP and NDS of 71.2% and 73.6% on nuScenes, 67.14% test mAP on ONCE, and 83.9% test mAP and 81.8% test mAPH on Waymo, respectively. These outcomes underscore the feasibility of our method in enhancing object detection performance and speed while safeguarding privacy and data security, positioning Personalized FedM2former as a significant advancement in the autonomous driving landscape.