bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Flow Performance of Combined Gas Blowing at the Vacuum Chamber and Up-Snorkel in the Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH) Degasser for Electrical Steel Production
Authors: Xue Liqiang , Zhao Yansong , Wang Jia , Wang Huan , Miao Zheng , Xiong Ruixiang , Xu Zhibo , Lin Wanming , Niu Xiaofeng , Chen Chao
Published: February 2025

In the production process of electrical steel, with respect to the industrial RH (Ruhrstahl–Heraeus), the steel producers must balance the high-circulation flow rate (operating efficiency) and the frequent cleaning of cold steel in the vacuum chamber due to the splashing of liquid steel (high maintenance costs). Excessive lifting gas flow can induce splashing, causing cold steel to adhere to the inner walls of the vacuum chamber. To address this issue, this study utilized an 80-ton RH vacuum refining unit from a specific plant as the research prototype and established a 1:2.6 scale water model for physical model simulation. Two innovative blowing methods were implemented by adding gas injection nozzles to the sidewalls and to the bottom of the vacuum chamber, respectively. The study investigated the effects of altering the blowing method on liquid surface fluctuations, flow patterns, the circulation flow rate, and the mixing time without changing the total gas flow rate. For the macroscopic flow in the RH unit, implementing side-blowing on the sidewalls of the vacuum chamber can accelerate the diffusion rate of the ink tracer, whereas implementing bottom-blowing in the vacuum chamber has little effect on the diffusion rate. The results show that modifying the blowing method can effectively reduce liquid surface fluctuations and suppress the splashing behavior within the vacuum chamber. Firstly, implementing side-blowing causes the ink tracer flow pattern within the vacuum chamber to become triangular, to increase the circulation flow rate, to shorten the residence time of the ink tracer within the chamber, and simultaneously to promote mixing in the ladle, which reduces the mixing time. Secondly, implementing bottom-blowing results in the formation of a gas column at the center of the vacuum chamber, which suppresses fluid flow within the chamber. Compared with side-blowing, it reduces the circulation flow rate and increases the mixing time in the ladle. Combined gas blowing through the up-snorkel and sidewalls is effective in solving splashing issues and reducing the mixing time in RH vacuum refining, and this method is a good candidate for industrial applications.
Quality Control of Electro-Discharge Texturing of Rolls Through Six Sigma
Authors: Evin Emil , Kokarda Vladimír , Tomáš Miroslav
Published: February 2025

This article presents the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology in the electro-discharge texturing process of cold mill work rolls. The final surface quality of sheet metal must meet the specific demands of car body part producers, which require a specific surface texture described by surface microgeometry parameters: the average roughness and the peak density. The requirements for the surface microgeometry of sheet metal are mainly related to improving the formability and adhesion of the paint in the body painting process. These microgeometry parameters can be controlled by the texture of work rolls: this texture is transferred onto the sheet metal surface. The electro-discharge texturing process allows for control of the average roughness and peak density according to individual customer specifications. In this study, a model is proposed to predict the average roughness based on the input parameters of the electro-discharge texturing process: current, voltage, and time. Compared to previous models, this model includes more input parameters. The process suitability was analyzed using control charts, capability indices, and Z scores. The modified weighted product method was used to create a purpose function describing the relationships between the input and output quality parameters. Based on the agreement of the target quality characteristics and the calculated values according to the models obtained, an algorithm to control the texturing process of the work rolls was designed. The proposed model was also validated on results published by other authors and demonstrated good agreement. This study should contribute to the philosophy of continuously improving the surface quality of cold-rolled sheet metal.
Antidiabetic Potential of Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)-Derived Peptide: Isolation and Characterization of DPP4 Inhibitory Peptides
Authors: Lee Chi-Wei , Sutopo Christoper Caesar Yudho , Lee Jong-Yuan , Hung Wei-Ting , Chen Yu-Kuo , Hsu Jue-Liang
Published: February 2025

Amid the global rise in type 2 diabetes, natural peptide-based therapies provide a safer alternative to synthetic drugs with fewer side effects. This study highlights the antidiabetic potential of peptides derived from cultured Chinese giant salamander (CGS) meat hydrolyzed by Alcalase 2.4L FG through DPP4 inhibitory activity. The hydrolysate exhibited significant DPP4 inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 1317.0 ± 29.5 μg/mL. Using activity-guided modified-SPE fractionation, the most potent DPP4 inhibitory peptide, PPAAQLL (PL7), was identified from CGS alcalase hydrolysate, with an IC50 of 230.1 ± 4.9 μM. PL7 was identified as a non-competitive inhibitor through enzyme kinetic studies, and intermolecular docking simulations suggested that it does not interact with the active site of DPP4. Additionally, PL7’s stability against DPP4 and simulated gastrointestinal protease digestion suggested that its inhibitory activity remains intact, indicating potential for effective oral administration. SRM quantification analysis revealed nearly a six-fold enrichment of PL7 in the RP-SPE fraction S1 compared to the crude hydrolysate, underscoring the effectiveness of the fractionation method. These findings highlight CGS alcalase hydrolysate as a promising source of DPP4 inhibitory peptides for managing type 2 diabetes. Future studies should focus on the in vivo efficacy, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of PL7.
Design and 3D Printing of Low-Cost Functional Sports Devices for the Upper Limb
Authors: Bogliolo Michela , Turolla Lea , Salvatore Francesco , Segre James , Parodi Elena , Casadio Maura
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Upper limb deficiencies pose a series of challenges, and current traditional prosthetic solutions often come with limitations and high costs. This is particularly true for sports applications, leading to a high percentage of people with congenital or acquired limb amputations abandoning their preferred physical activities and, consequently, missing out on numerous health benefits. Design and 3D Printing: this paper outlines the design and 3D printing process for upper limb sports devices, emphasizing a user-centered approach and harnessing the customization potential of additive manufacturing technology to create affordable and fully personalized functional devices. Results: The five case studies presented in this paper—a swimming aid, binding bicycle aid, non-binding bicycle aid, handlebar extender bicycle aid, and tennis serve aid—demonstrate the iterative design process, the incorporation of user feedback, and the 3D printing and assembly process of the devices. User Feedback: The questionnaires sent to the end users and the continued communication resulted in a 100% satisfaction rate and the request for new devices.
“Sleeper Awake, Rise from the Dead”: Future Resurrection and Present Ethics in Ephesians
Authors: Covington Eric
Published: February 2025

Within Ephesians, resurrection is the defining evidence of God’s divine power. A scholarly consensus contends that the letter is characterized by a realized eschatology in which the two references to individuals’ resurrection in Eph 2:5–6 and Eph 5:14 refer to an already accomplished salvation. This article, however, argues that interpreting the reference to believers’ resurrection in overly realized terms breaks the logic by which the letter roots Christian ethical action in future expectation. It reevaluates both references to resurrection within its epistolary context, demonstrating how the already accomplished resurrection of Christ is the surety of believers’ future resurrection and the basis for life in the present. This analysis challenges the overly realized interpretation of Ephesians’ eschatology and suggests that, rather than an already accomplished event or a spiritualized metaphor, Ephesians’ references to resurrection refer to the future hope that Christian believers will be bodily resurrected—a hope that is patterned on Christ’s resurrection in history. It is this vision of future hope, then, that acts as the foundation for ethical action within the letter. Christ’s resurrection light—the light that will fully be realized in the eschatological resurrection—becomes the evaluative measure of ethical action in the present.
Polarimetric SAR Ship Detection Using Context Aggregation Network Enhanced by Local and Edge Component Characteristics
Authors: Hu Canbin , Chen Hongyun , Sun Xiaokun , Ma Fei
Published: February 2025

Polarimetric decomposition methods are widely used in polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data processing for extracting scattering characteristics of targets. However, polarization SAR methods for ship detection still face challenges. The traditional constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detectors face sea clutter modeling and parameter estimation problems in ship detection, which is difficult to adapt to the complex background. In addition, neural network-based detection methods mostly rely on single polarimetric-channel scattering information and fail to fully explore the polarization properties and physical scattering laws of ships. To address these issues, this study constructed two novel characteristics: a helix-scattering enhanced (HSE) local component and a multi-scattering intensity difference (MSID) edge component, which are specifically designed to describe ship scattering characteristics. Based on the characteristic differences of different scattering components in ships, this paper designs a context aggregation network enhanced by local and edge component characteristics to fully utilize the scattering information of polarized SAR data. With the powerful feature extraction capability of a convolutional neural network, the proposed method can significantly enhance the distinction between ships and the sea. Further analysis shows that HSE is able to capture structural information about the target, MSID can increase ship–sea separation capability, and an HV channel retains more detailed information. Compared with other decomposition models, the proposed characteristic combination model performs well in complex backgrounds and can distinguish ship from sea more effectively. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a detection precision of 93.6% and a recall rate of 91.5% on a fully polarized SAR dataset, which are better than other popular network algorithms, verifying the reasonableness and superiority of the method.
Real-Time Multiresolution Management of Spatiotemporal Earth Observation Data Using DGGS
Authors: Mirzai Golpayegani Amir , Hasan Mahmudul , Samavati Faramarz F.
Published: February 2025

The effective management of spatiotemporal Earth observation data is a significant challenge due to their growing size and scale, geometric distortion, temporal gaps, and restricted access. In this article, we introduce a novel methodology utilizing a Discrete Global Grid System (DGGS) to address a set of challenges related to spatiotemporal data storage with a live updating mechanism, the multiresolution processing of an arbitrary region of interest (ROI) in real time, and the approximation of missing data in a smooth, continuous manner. We use reverse Chaikin subdivision and B-spline curve fitting to handle temporal data gaps, allowing for real-time updates. Additionally, our work presents a triangular wavelet scheme to incorporate a flexible, tensor-based multiresolution storage scheme for spatiotemporal raster data. The case study we present uses data from the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Our system enables the dynamic retrieval and visualization of time-varying data for a user-defined ROI. The obtained results demonstrate that our method ensures high data fidelity while making spatiotemporal data more accessible across various practical applications in Earth observation.
A Modified Preassigned Finite-Time Control Scheme for Spacecraft Large-Angle Attitude Maneuvering and Tracking
Authors: Ma Xudong , Liu Yuan , Cheng Yi , Zhao Kun
Published: February 2025

This paper addresses the problem of large-angle attitude maneuvering and tracking control for rigid spacecraft, considering angular velocity and torque constraints, actuator faults, and external disturbances. First, a sliding-mode-like vector is constructed to guarantee the satisfaction of the angular velocity constraints. A modified preassigned finite-time function, which can adaptively adjust the boundaries, is then proposed to constrain the sliding-mode-like vector. The controller is designed to stabilize the closed-loop system using a barrier Lyapunov function. Additionally, actuator saturation is compensated adaptively, and the system’s lumped disturbance is estimated using a fixed-time disturbance observer. Finally, the practically preassigned finite-time stability of the closed-loop system is demonstrated. In practical applications, the proposed controller can guarantee transient and steady-state performance, prevent excessive angular velocity, and ensure compliance with the physical limitations of the actuators. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Design Key Points of High-Performance Diffuse Reflectance Optical Sensors for Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Measurement
Authors: Liu Wenbo , Han Tongshuai , Chen Wenliang , Chen Jiayu , Ge Qing , Sun Di , Liu Jin , Xu Kexin
Published: February 2025

Optical sensors serve as pivotal components in the realm of non-invasive blood glucose measurement (NBGM) devices, where their efficacy directly influences the detection of weak glucose signals. This research introduces three fundamental design key points tailored for diffuse reflectance optical sensors employed for NBGM: depth resolution, detection signal-to-noise ratio, and human–sensor interface coupling. Guided by these design key points, we presented feasible design proposals for near-infrared diffuse reflectance sensors operating in the range of 1000–1700 nm. As an example, a sensor composed of five-ring detectors with a ring-shaped mask were made and tested on human skin. The innovative sensor developed herein holds promising potential for NBGM.
Real Steps or Not: Auto-Walker Detection in Move-to-Earn Applications
Authors: Lee Sunwoo
Published: February 2025

In recent times, the emergence of Move-to-Earn (M2E) applications has revolutionized the intersection of digital innovation and physical wellness. Unlike their predecessors in the Play-to-Earn (P2E) domain, M2E apps incentivize physical activity, offering rewards for real-world movement such as walking or running. This shift aligns with a growing global focus on health consciousness that is propelled by the widespread adoption of smartphones and an increased awareness of the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle. However, the rising popularity of these platforms has also brought about new problematic activities, with some users exploiting additional automated devices to simulate physical activity and claim rewards. In response, we propose an AI-based method aimed at distinguishing genuine user engagement from artificially generated auto-walker activity to ensure the integrity of reward distributions in M2E platforms. To demonstrate the generalizability of our model, we use a total of six open gait datasets and auto-walker datasets of automatic walking devices measured with various smartphones. Under unbiased and transparent evaluation, our model shows its ability to effectively discriminate auto-walker and genuine gait data not only on the seen datasets but also on the unseen datasets; it attained an F1-score of 0.997 on the auto-walker datasets and an F1-score of 1.000 on the genuine datasets.
Predicting Heart Rate Slow Component Dynamics: A Model Across Exercise Intensities, Age, and Sex
Authors: Teso Massimo , Colosio Alessandro L. , Loi Maura , Boone Jan , Pogliaghi Silvia
Published: February 2025

The heart rate slow component (scHR) is an intensity-dependent HR increment that emerges during constant exercises, partially dissociated from metabolism (V˙O2). The scHR has been observed during constant-workload exercise in young and older adults. Unless this scHR is accounted for, exercise prescription using HR targets lead to an undesired reduction in metabolic intensity over time. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to characterize scHR across intensities, sex, and age to develop and validate a predictive equation able to maintain the desired metabolic stimulus over time in a constant aerobic exercise session. Methods: In our study, 66 individuals (35 females; 35 ± 13 yrs) performed the following: (i) a ramp-test for respiratory exercise threshold (GET and RCP) and maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) detection, and (ii) 6 × 9-minute constant exercises at different intensities. The scHR was calculated by linear fitting from the fifth minute of exercise (bpm⋅min−1). A multiple-linear equation was developed to predict the scHR based on individual and exercise variables. The validity of the equation was tested on an independent sample by a Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman analysis between the measured and estimated HR during constant exercises. Results: The scHR increases with intensity and is larger in males (p < 0.05). A multiple-linear equation predicts the scHR based on the relative exercise intensity to RCP, age, and sex (r2 = 0.54, SEE = 0.61 bpm⋅min−1). scHR (bpm⋅min−1) = −0.0514 + (0.0240 × relative exercise intensity to RCP) − (0.0172 × age) − (0.347 × Sex (males = 0 and females score = 1)). In the independent sample, we found an excellent correlation between the measured and estimated HR (r2 = 0.98, p < 0.001) with no bias (−0.01 b·min−1, z-score= −0.04) and a fair precision (±4.09 b·min−1). Conclusions: The dynamic of the scHR can be predicted in a heterogeneous sample accounting for the combined effects of relative intensity, sex, and age. The above equation provides the means to dynamically adapt HR targets over time, avoiding an undesired reduction in the absolute and relative training load. This strategy would allow the maintenance of the desired metabolic stimulus (V˙O2) throughout an exercise session in a heterogeneous population.
Gloveport-Assisted Retroperitoneal Pyeloplasty (GARP)
Authors: Arredondo Montero Javier , Rodríguez Ruiz María
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Single-port video-assisted techniques, such as one-trocar-assisted pyeloplasty (OTAP) or Round-Traction-Assisted Pyeloplasty (RoTAP), have proven helpful for correcting congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), especially in infants. Surgical Technique: This manuscript presents a technical variation based on the gloveport system that allows bimanual endocavitary dissection and protects the surgical wound during the procedure without increasing the cost or technical difficulty. Comment: This new technique, called gloveport-assisted retroperitoneal pyeloplasty (GARP), could be a valuable alternative for this pathology.
Climate Change Communication in Vietnam’s Online Newspapers and Its Implications for Climate Actions
Authors: Dang Thi Kim Phung
Published: February 2025

Climate change has become a prominent global issue, demanding the attention of governments and populations due to convincing scientific evidence concerning its sources and effects. Even though a strong commitment to finding ways of reducing individual emissions is an important element of coping with climate change, initiatives to enhance public awareness and engage people in climate-friendly activities seem to be overlooked. Individuals’ reactions to climate change are shaped by their understanding of its causes, consequences, and implications, and this is heavily influenced by communications on the topic in public media. However, the discourses offered on climate change are problematic, leading to oversimplification and differing levels of comprehension. The widespread contentious debate over the causes and implications of climate change, alongside a scarcity of published research on communication about climate change in developing countries, suggests significant information gaps must be addressed. An analysis was performed on 397 articles from Vietnamese online newspapers, employing content analysis and framing to examine the communication of climate change to the public in Vietnam in the past two decades. The findings indicate an anthropocentric framing of climate change, which highlights institutional solutions, set up at a psychological distance from the public. Moreover, the pervasive propaganda advocating for eco-friendly solutions and methods may generate an optimistic perception that this issue can be resolved without altering individual habits.
Land-Use Land-Cover Dynamics and Future Projections Using GEE, ML, and QGIS-MOLUSCE: A Case Study in Manisa
Authors: Gündüz Halil İbrahim
Published: February 2025

Urban expansion reshapes spatial patterns over time, leading to complex challenges such as environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and socio-economic inequality. It is critical to anticipate these transformations in order to devise proactive urban policies and implement sustainable planning practices that minimize negative impacts on ecosystems and human livelihoods. This study investigates LULC changes in the rapidly urbanizing Manisa metropolitan area of Turkey using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and advanced machine learning algorithms. High-accuracy LULC maps were generated for 2018, 2021, and 2024 using Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, k-Nearest Neighbors, and Classification and Regression Trees algorithms. Among these, the Random Forest algorithm demonstrated superior accuracy and consistency in distinguishing complex land-cover classes. Future LULC scenarios for 2027 and 2030 were simulated using the Cellular Automata–Artificial Neural Network model and the QGIS MOLUSCE plugin. The results indicate significant urban growth, with built-up areas projected to increase by 23.67% between 2024 and 2030, accompanied by declines in natural resources such as bare land and water bodies. This study highlights the implications of urban expansion regarding ecological balance and demonstrates the importance of integrating machine learning and simulation models to forecast land use changes, enabling sustainable urban planning and resource management. Overall, effective policies must be developed to manage the negative environmental impacts of urbanization and conduct land use planning in a balanced manner.
The Impact of Carbon Emissions Trading Policy on the ESG Performance of Heavy-Polluting Enterprises: The Mediating Role of Green Technological Innovation and Financing Constraints
Authors: Dai Yuhang , He Rui
Published: February 2025

The carbon emissions trading policy is a key policy driving China’s low-carbon economic transition. Based on the policy environment of China’s carbon emissions trading pilot program from 2010 to 2021, this research selects representative heavy-polluting listed enterprises from this period as research subjects. Using the DID model, it investigates the impact of the carbon emissions trading policy on corporate ESG performance. The results of the research show that: (1) The carbon emissions trading policy significantly improves the ESG performance of heavy-polluting enterprises. (2) The carbon emissions trading policy enhances corporate ESG performance primarily by alleviating external financing constraints and stimulating green technological innovation within enterprises. (3) Due to differences in corporate characteristics and decision-making structures, the impact of carbon emissions trading policies on the ESG performance of heavily polluting enterprises exhibits heterogeneity. The findings of research are of great significance for a comprehensive understanding of the carbon emissions trading policy, facilitating fundamental changes in enterprises, promoting the construction of the carbon emissions trading market, and ensuring the timely achievement of the “dual carbon” goals.
Topoclimatic Zoning of Three Native Amazonian Forest Species: Approach to Sustainable Silviculture
Authors: Martorano Lucietta Guerreiro , Junior Silvio Brienza , de Moraes Jose Reinaldo da Silva Cabral , Lisboa Leila Sheila Silva , Nascimento Werlleson , Correa Denison Lima , Santos Thiago Martins , Lima Rafael Fausto de , Magalhães Kaio Ramon de Sousa , Dias Carlos Tadeu dos Santos
Published: February 2025

Anthropized areas in the Brazilian Amazon require detailed mapping to identify zones for sustainable use. This study developed a topoclimatic zoning framework to evaluate the conservation and agroforestry potential of three native species: Carapa guianensis (Andiroba), Dipteryx odorata (Cumaru), and Bertholletia excelsa (Amazon Nut). The hypothesis was that integrating topographic and climatic data can effectively identify high-potential areas for these species to support forest restoration and sustainable management. This study applied ecological modeling and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to classify zones into high, medium, and low potential for each species. Results showed Carapa guianensis has high potential in 64% of anthropized areas, Dipteryx odorata in 72% of the Legal Amazon, and Bertholletia excelsa in 58%, highlighting their adaptability and strategic value for restoration efforts. The findings emphasize the importance of topoclimatic zoning as a tool for conservation and sustainable use strategies. By aligning with Brazil’s Payment for Environmental Services (PES) Law, this approach can foster agroforestry practices, enhance biodiversity conservation, and strengthen the Amazon bioeconomy, ensuring ecological resilience and sustainable development.
Creating a ‘Full-Age Sharing’ Community: Analysing the Results of the Supply–Demand Matching of Sports Spaces for All Residents
Authors: Huang Wenxin , Deng Jinsong , Fei Wenjun
Published: February 2025

Urban community open spaces are external spaces for public use that meet the needs of residents in their daily lives, and which gradually become the basic unit for activities and fitness. The arrival of the era of ‘national fitness’ requires the formation of public activity spaces that benefit all ages. Yet most construction targets of urban community open spaces are homogenised and are not diversified for all age groups. This phenomenon leads to a spatial and temporal mismatch between the allocation of space for community sports activities and the needs of residents. We quantitatively analysed time periods, demanded area and preferred types of activities required by all age groups. We further defined the objectives for the provision of physical activity functions in community open spaces. We also constructed a method for matching and optimising the supply and demand of sports and fitness functions in community open spaces, which was based on the calculation of supply and demand, the matching analysis model and the optimisation of supply and demand gaps. Accordingly, based on the distribution of demand points, we can clarify the amount and radius of each point, and calculate the matching relationship with the Maximum Capacity Limitation Coverage Model. When the implementation rate of demand at the covered points is less than 67%, it means that there is a demand gap. In response to the gap, optimisation has been achieved by establishing a time-sharing utilisation mechanism and using excessive supply space for renovation. The results of the study can help optimise the mismatch and long-term layout of physical activities for all residents in urban communities. The proposed sustainable optimising strategy suggests the importance and necessity of meeting the spatial needs of sports activities for all age groups in high-density cities with insufficient open spaces.
SGDID: A Privacy-Enhanced Supervised Distributed Identity Model for Smart Grid and Electric Vehicle Integration
Authors: Tang Bo , Yao Shixiong , Su Ling , Xu Fuxiang
Published: February 2025

The rapidly growing number of electric vehicles and the large-scale user privacy management in smart grids have led to a symmetrical phenomenon. While decentralized identifiers (DIDs) offer a promising solution for users to better control their private data, the frequent interactions between vehicles and the grid require a vast number of identities. Existing methods, while focusing on efficiency, often neglect privacy protection, especially in Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) scenarios. They also overlook fundamental features such as resistance to Sybil attacks and the ability to supervise malicious identities, which may seem contradictory to privacy protection. In this paper, we propose an identity authentication scheme based on decentralized identifiers (DIDs) that allow massive numbers of electric vehicle users to autonomously control the disclosure of their information. We also introduce a mechanism that simultaneously protects privacy while resisting Sybil attacks and strengthening privacy in V2G scenarios. Furthermore, our scheme enables anonymity while maintaining supervisory capabilities. Experimental results and formal proofs demonstrate that the proposed scheme performs well in terms of authentication efficiency and security, making it suitable for large-scale V2G deployments.
The Population Health Impacts of Changes to the National Health Service Health Check Programme: A System Dynamics Modelling Approach in a Local Authority in England
Authors: George Abraham , Badrinath Padmanabhan , Newton Stephanie , Hooper Amy , Bhavsar Aaron , Chambers Mark , Lacey Peter , Kulkarni-Johnston Rutuja , Whitlow Harry
Published: February 2025

Health checks aim to improve the health of the population by identifying individuals with risk factors earlier and intervening to prevent disease. The role of commissioners is to ensure health checks provide as much benefit as possible for taxpayer funds invested into them. As such, evidence of the potential impacts of different commissioning choices is beneficial in this decision-making process. System dynamics modelling can be used to provide this evidence by modelling the health check programme using a pre-existing cohort model of a given population. This modelling considers local data, literature findings, and stakeholder views, from which nine different scenarios of a local health check programme have been tested. These scenarios found that extending the duration of health checks to 20 years and improving treatment uptake for those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol reduced rates of cardiovascular disease, improved healthy life expectancy and reduced years lived in ill health. In contrast, improving attendance in the most deprived quintile of the population made very little change to the health of the population overall, although a larger effect was observed in the most deprived areas. These findings helped guide local commissioning decisions by showing the long-term impact of different health check scenarios.
Utilizing Vision Transformers for Predicting Early Response of Brain Metastasis to Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Stage Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Treatment
Authors: Volovăț Simona Ruxandra , Boboc Diana-Ioana , Ostafe Mădălina-Raluca , Buzea Călin Gheorghe , Agop Maricel , Ochiuz Lăcrămioara , Rusu Dragoș Ioan , Vasincu Decebal , Ungureanu Monica Iuliana , Volovăț Cristian Constantin
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: This study explores the application of vision transformers to predict early responses to stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with brain metastases using minimally pre-processed magnetic resonance imaging scans. The objective is to assess the potential of vision transformers as a predictive tool for clinical decision-making, particularly in the context of imbalanced datasets. Methods: We analyzed magnetic resonance imaging scans from 19 brain metastases patients, focusing on axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and high-resolution contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences. Patients were categorized into responders (complete or partial response) and non-responders (stable or progressive disease). Results: Despite the imbalanced nature of the dataset, our results demonstrate that vision transformers can predict early treatment responses with an overall accuracy of 99%. The model exhibited high precision (99% for progression and 100% for regression) and recall (99% for progression and 100% for regression). The use of the attention mechanism in the vision transformers allowed the model to focus on relevant features in the magnetic resonance imaging images, ensuring an unbiased performance even with the imbalanced data. Confusion matrix analysis further confirmed the model’s reliability, with minimal misclassifications. Additionally, the model achieved a perfect area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC = 1.00), effectively distinguishing between responders and non-responders. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of vision transformers, aided by the attention mechanism, as a non-invasive, predictive tool for early response assessment in clinical oncology. The vision transformer (ViT) model employed in this study processes MRIs as sequences of patches, enabling the capture of localized tumor features critical for early response prediction. By leveraging patch-based feature learning, this approach enhances robustness, interpretability, and clinical applicability, addressing key challenges in tumor progression prediction following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The model’s robust performance, despite the dataset imbalance, underscores its ability to provide unbiased predictions. This approach could significantly enhance clinical decision-making and support personalized treatment strategies for brain metastases. Future research should validate these findings in larger, more diverse cohorts and explore the integration of additional data types to further optimize the model’s clinical utility.
Cosmic Ray Spectra and Anisotropy in an Anisotropic Propagation Model with Spiral Galactic Sources
Authors: Li Aifeng , Lv Zhaodong , Liu Wei , Guo Yiqing , Zhang Fangheng
Published: February 2025

In our previous work, we investigated the spectra and anisotropy of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) under the assumption of an axisymmetric distribution of galactic sources. Currently, much observational evidence indicates that the Milky Way is a typical spiral galaxy. In this work, we further utilize an anisotropic propagation model under the framework of spiral distribution sources to study spectra and anisotropy. During the calculation process, we adopt the spatial-dependent propagation (SDP) model, while incorporating the contribution from the nearby Geminga source and the anisotropic diffusion of cosmic rays (CRs) induced by the local regular magnetic field (LRMF). By comparing the results of background sources with spiral and axisymmetric distribution models, it is found that both of them can well reproduce the CR spectra and anisotropy. However, there exist differences in their propagation parameters. The diffusion coefficient with spiral distribution is larger than that with axisymmetric distribution, and its spectral indices are slightly harder. To investigate the effects of a nearby Geminga source and LRMF on anisotropy, two-dimensional (2D) anisotropy sky maps under various contributing factors are compared. Below 100 TeV, the anisotropy is predominantly influenced by both the nearby Geminga source and the LRMF, causing the phase to align with the direction of the LRMF. Above 100 TeV, the background sources become dominant, resulting in the phase pointing towards the Galactic Center (GC). Future high-precision measurements of CR anisotropy and spectra, such as the LHAASO experiment, will be crucial in evaluating the validity of our proposed model.
Cytomegalovirus Antibodies and Coronary Artery Disease in People with HIV: A Cohort Study
Authors: Suarez-Zdunek Moises Alberto , Knudsen Andreas Dehlbæk , Fuchs Andreas , Kirkby Nikolai Søren , Benfield Thomas , Gerstoft Jan , Trøseid Marius , Ostrowski Sisse Rye , Køber Lars Valeur , Kofoed Klaus Fuglsang , Nielsen Susanne Dam
Published: February 2025

People with HIV (PWH) have a high risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection is very common in PWH, but little is known about its association with CAD. We aimed to investigate if CMV IgG serostatus and concentrations are associated with CAD in PWH. From the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection (COCOMO) Study we included PWH with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and quantitative CMV IgG concentration measurements. We measured the stenosis grades and plaque volumes in the coronary vessels. Using multivariable regressions adjusted for traditional CAD risk factors, we investigated if CMV IgG serostatus and concentrations were associated with any atherosclerosis, obstructive CAD, or plaque volumes. We included 620 PWH of whom 586 had positive CMV serostatus, which was not associated with any atherosclerosis, obstructive CAD, or plaque volumes. A doubling of CMV IgG concentrations was associated with any atherosclerosis (OR 1.21 [95% CI: 1.06–1.39]), obstructive CAD (OR 1.31 [95% CI: 1.07–1.59]), and higher total plaque volume (1.56 [95% CI: 1.21–2.01] fold increase), but the association did not remain significant after adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors. This indicates that CMV IgG serostatus and concentrations are not independently associated with prevalent CAD in PWH.
Morphological Difference Analysis of Triplophysa strauchii from Different Geographical Populations in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Wang Zhengwei , Gao Shixin , Hamid Syeda Maira , Xiao Qing , Zhu Wentao , Nie Zhulan , Wei Jie
Published: February 2025

Spotted stone loach (Triplophysa strauchii), a common fish species in Xinjiang, China, is ecologically pivotal within the local ecosystem; regrettably, human-induced factors like habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing have gravely imperiled its survival, and compounding this is the dearth of research on the morphological disparities among its geographically diverse populations. Thus, between April and October 2024, 198 specimens were procured from Sayram Lake, Khamusigou Reservoir, and Chaiwopu Lake using cage traps and gillnets; post-collection, an array of morphological metrics were meticulously measured, and then statistical methods such as one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), stepwise discriminant analysis, and cluster analysis were employed for comprehensive data interrogation. Findings show that, across all sampled populations, the mean values of the total length (X1), body length (X2), body height (X3), and body width (X4) of the Chaiwopu Lake population are significantly lower than those of the Sayram Lake population and the Khamusigou Reservoir population; except for head length, the Khamusigou Reservoir population has lower variability in other morphological traits compared to the others. Moreover, significant divergences were detected in multiple trait ratios among the populations; PCA yielded five principal components, cumulatively accounting for 77.45% of the total variance, spotlighting the key ratios; discriminant analysis further validated highly significant morphological distinctions (p < 0.01), with the Khamusigou Reservoir population having the highest discriminant accuracy; cluster analysis graphically showed the Sayram Lake and Chaiwopu Lake populations clustering together while the Khamusigou Reservoir population formed a separate cluster; and the Chaiwopu Lake population had the most pronounced divergence in morphological traits. This research not only provides novel perspectives on the adaptive evolutionary mechanisms of T. strauchii but also serves as a cornerstone for formulating evidence-based conservation and management strategies for this species.
Bioremediation of Sulfamethazine Contaminated Environments by Bacillus cereus J2
Authors: Zhang Jiayu , Tang Yuping , Li Zhaokang , Li Tianyu , Zhao Xinfeng , Wu Zihao
Published: February 2025

Sulfamethazine (SM2), a prevalent sulfonamide antibiotic, is commonly detected as an environmental pollutant. Microbial degradation serves as an important approach to treating SM2 contamination. In this study, an SM2-degrading strain, identified as Bacillus cereus J2, was isolated from the activated sludge that had been cultured using SM2 as the exclusive carbon source, which demonstrated exceptional degradation capabilities. Under optimized conditions (30 °C, initial OD600 = 0.1, pH = 8), strain J2 completely degraded 50 mg/L SM2 within 36 h. The strain also showed high degradation efficiency for other sulfonamides, such as sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine, and could grow normally in a mixed system containing these compounds. The growth kinetics with SM2 as the exclusive carbon source conformed well to the Haldane model (R2 = 0.925), revealing that the strain’s maximum specific growth rate was determined to be 0.066 h−1 (µmax) at an initial SM2 concentration of 51.35 mg/L. Seven intermediate degradation products were identified using TQ-LCMS analysis, suggesting three potential degradation pathways for SM2. These findings suggest that Bacillus cereus J2 holds significant promise for the bioremediation of SM2-contaminated environments.
Analysis of Factors and Mechanisms Influencing the Matric Suction and Water-Holding Capacity of Carbonate Saline Soil
Authors: Shan Xuehan , Chen Huie , Ma Bing , Yu Qingbo , Wang Zhaoxi , Wang Qing
Published: February 2025

Unsaturated saline soils are widely present in engineering, and their matric suction is crucial for engineering design and stability analysis. To explore the factors influencing matric suction characteristics, the filter-paper method was used to measure the matric suction of unsaturated saline soils under different compaction degrees and salt contents. The results show that matric suction decreases with increasing water content, and the change is more obvious in the absorbed film regime (water content = 14–22%). The increase in compaction degrees leads to an increase in matric suction, but the impact is relatively minor in the low suction regime. The increase in salt content indirectly changes the thickness of the bound water film, causing the matric suction to decrease first and then increase; the threshold value of the salt content is 1.2%. In addition, the applicability of traditional soil–water characteristic curve models is limited in saline soils. However, the modified Gardner model considering the bound water content can more accurately describe the soil–water relationship of saline soils. These research findings provide a key foundation for the in-depth comprehension of the engineering properties of saline soils and their effective application in practical engineering.
Feeding Habits of the Invasive Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea)
Authors: Mavrič Borut , Ivajnšič Danijel , Lučić Davor , Malej Alenka , Lipej Lovrenc
Published: February 2025

The diet of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste was examined during its peak occurrence in the summer and early-autumn months (July to October) from 2017 to 2019, through the analysis of stomach contents. Altogether 506 specimens were individually caught for the analysis. A total of 3215 prey items were isolated and identified. Copepods emerged as the primary prey (relative abundance 66.7%), followed by cladocerans (7.7%), and bivalve larvae (6%). Notably, specimens of M. leidyi constituted a significant portion of the diet (5.4.%), providing further evidence of cannibalism within this species. Copepods were also the most commonly occurring prey items in the diet of M. leidyi. Most of them were represented by calanoid and cyclopoid nauplii (48.2%), followed by a harpacticoid M. norvegica (28.3%), and calanoids (26.8%). Other frequently occurring taxa were bivalve larvae (19.3%), M. leidyi (18.7%), and cladoceran Penilia avirostris (16.1%). The rate of cannibalism peaked in July, coinciding with a period of limited food availability. Additionally, the study revealed that fish eggs and larvae were infrequently found in the stomachs of M. leidyi. However, the presence of massive aggregations of M. leidyi may impact microzooplankton populations in late summer or autumn, potentially leading to competition with small pelagic fish.
Policies and Strategies for Green Tourism Development of the Jeneberang River Area in Makassar City
Authors: Faisal Faisal
Published: February 2025

The Jeneberang River has enormous potential to be developed as a green tourism destination in the city of Makassar. The potential it has consists of the natural base potential as one of the largest rivers in South Sulawesi province in the form of water and all the biota that form a single river ecosystem, panoramic views of the area located at the estuary, which is directly connected to the sea in the Makassar Strait, richness of land vegetation along the banks, rivers in river border areas, and beaches. This research is descriptive research with a normative approach to determine the objectives, implementation, and impact of tourism development policies on the existence of the Jeneberang River as a green tourism destination in the city of Makassar. The research respondents were 17 people from representatives of each element of Makassar city tourism stakeholders. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and searching for documents relevant to the policy for developing the Jeneberang River as a green tourism destination. The research results found that the development of the Jeneberang river has been stipulated in several regional policies in the form of regional regulations, namely Makassar City Regional Regulation Number 4 of 2015 concerning Makassar City Regional Spatial Plan for 2015-2034 and Makassar City Regional Regulation Number 5 of 2023 concerning Development Master Plan Makassar City Regional Tourism 2023-2025. Operationally, this policy has not been supported by technocratic planning in the form of the Jeneberang River Development Masterplan as a Green Tourism Destination