bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A lack of meaningful human control for automated vehicles: pressing issues for deployment and regulation
Authors: Calvert Simeon C. , Zgonnikov Arkady
Published: February 2025

The introduction of automated driving systems (ADS) presents significant regulatory and operational challenges to ensure safe and responsible deployment in mixed traffic environments. Despite much academic work and efforts of practitioners, these challenges remain open, requiring a transdisciplinary integration of perspectives. This paper draws on insights from a recent transdisciplinary workshop, highlighting the key issues in ADS deployment, including misalignment between regulations and system capabilities, emerging accident types, and gaps in driver understanding and training. Current regulations struggle to keep pace with the advancing capabilities of ADS, resulting in unclear accountability frameworks and inadequate safety measures. The concept of meaningful human control was used as a basis to identify issues. Workshop participants agreed that meaningful human control has an essential role to play to address the identified issues by ensuring that humans can adequately interact with ADS and that ADS are designed in a manner that ensures safe and responsible deployment with clear fail-safes and redundancy mechanisms. The paper advocates for meaningful human control through continuous driver and vehicle assessment, dynamic safety certifications, and stronger communication between regulators and manufacturers to ensure safe and responsible design, regulation and deployment of automated vehicles. Implementing these actions will strengthen ADS regulation and help navigate the ethical and operational complexities of automated driving systems.
ADAM-multi: software to simulate complex breeding programs for animals and plants with different ploidy levels and generalized genotypic effect models to account for multiple alleles
Authors: Chu Thinh Tuan , Jensen Just
Published: February 2025

Stochastic simulation software, ADAM, has been developed for the purpose of breeding optimization in animals and plants, and for validation of statistical models used in genetic evaluations. Just like other common simulation programs, ADAM assumed the bi-allelic state of quantitative trait locus (QTL). While the bi-allelic state of marker loci is due to the common choice of genotyping technology of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip, the assumption may not hold for the linked QTL. In the version of ADAM-Multi, we employ a novel simulation model capable of simulating additive, dominance, and epistatic genotypic effects for species with different levels of ploidy, providing with a more realistic assumption of multiple allelism for QTL variants. When assuming bi-allelic QTL, our proposed model becomes identical to the model assumption in common simulation programs, and in genetic textbooks. Along with the description of the updated simulation model in ADAM-Multi, this paper shows two small-scale studies that investigate the effects of multi-allelic versus bi-allelic assumptions in simulation and the use of different prediction models in a single-population breeding program for potatoes. We found that genomic models using dense bi-allelic markers could effectively predicted breeding values of individuals in a well-structure population despite the presence of multi-allelic QTL. Additionally, the small-scale study indicated that including non-additive genetic effects in the prediction model for selection did not lead to an improvement in the rate of genetic gains of the breeding program.
Case report: A severe myositis mimicking bulbar palsy after administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Rochigneux Philippe , Bertucci Alexandre , Loir Elika , Mattei Alexia , Robert Danielle , Dassa Michael , Chanez Brice , Ebbo Mikael , Gaigne Lea , Chretien Anne Sophie , Corazza Giovanni , Schleinitz Nicolas
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) are nowadays a cornerstone of anti-cancer treatments. However, the wide spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) represents a challenge in the oncological practice. Our objective is to document rare complications of ICI to help the community of onco-immunologists.

Methods

We reported the case of a severe myositis mimicking bulbar palsy treated in our Medical Oncology Department together with Internal Medicine Department. We present the clinical work-up (neurological exam, capillaroscopy) and the diagnostic tests (myositis specific and associated antibodies, nerve conduction study, electromyography) leading to this diagnosis. We also discussed the elimination of differential diagnoses (notably with normal MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis) and finally the clinical management of this severe irAE.

Results

A 57 years woman presented multiple sub-diaphragmatic adenopathies related with an advanced melanoma of unknown primary. She started a treatment with Ipilimumab (Ipi, anti CTLA-4) and Nivolumab (Nivo, anti PD-1) and presented at day 10 a grade IV myositis mimicking bulbar palsy with dysphonia, dysarthria and aphagia. In a multidisciplinary setting, she was treated with IV corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg started at day 10, with a progressive decrease until 1 mg of prednisone in March 2024), IV immunoglobulins started at day 18 (1.5 g/kg in 2 days, administered monthly, with a progressive decrease and a cessation in June 2022), enteral nutrition, speech therapy and physical therapy, with noticeable improvement. After 4 years of follow-up, and only one infusion of Ipi/Nivo, the melanoma is still in complete response.

Conclusion

We report an ICI-induced severe myositis mimicking bulbar palsy after the administration of Ipi/Nivo. The diagnosis and clinical care management of this rare complication requires a multi-disciplinary work-up.
Progression and diagnostic challenges of desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma in a non-infant: a case report with 5-year follow-up
Authors: Yang Yan , Chen Xuzhu , Liu Xin , Li Shiguang
Published: February 2025

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma (DIG) is a rare intracranial benign tumor occurring in infants under 2 years of age. It has good biological and behavioral characteristics and occasionally has malignant characteristics, such as multiple intracranial lesions, postoperative progression or recurrence, meningeal diffusion, and metastasis. We present a non-infant with DIG who underwent tumor progression. A 16-year-old girl presented with DIG in the cerebral cistern and underwent subtotal resection. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain 2 years later revealed that the area of abnormal enhancement in the surgical site was approximately the same as before, and follow-up was continued. A reexamination 5 years later showed that the residual extent of the operative area was significantly larger than before and involved the right frontal and temporal lobes, considering the progression of the residual part of the tumor. This case report focuses on the occurrence of DIG and its potential malignant features, as assessed through magnetic resonance imaging.
Glucoraphanin conversion into sulforaphane and related compounds by gut microbiota
Authors: Dmytriv Tetiana R. , Lushchak Oleh , Lushchak Volodymyr I.
Published: February 2025

Glucosinolate glucoraphanin, common in cruciferous vegetables, is a biologically stable precursor of isothiocyanates, such as sulforaphane and erucin, potent activators of Nrf2 signaling coordinating an adaptive response to oxidative stress. Sulforaphane is formed by the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin by a plant enzyme called myrosinase, which is inactivated in the stomach of mammals. Since the latter do not have enzymes possessing myrosinase-like activity, glucoraphanin can be metabolized by the gut microbiota, to sulforaphane, sulforaphane-nitrile, glucoerucin, erucin, and erucin-nitrile. Emerging evidence suggests that variations in gut microbiota composition significantly influence the efficiency and outcome of glucoraphanin metabolism, while sulforaphane itself may reciprocally modulate gut microbiota composition and functionality. This review examines the bidirectional interactions between glucoraphanin, sulforaphane, and gut microbiota. We assume that sulforaphane alleviates intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress maintaining intestinal homeostasis and gut barrier integrity. Besides, the role of sulforaphane in breaking the vicious cycle of oxidative stress and gut dysbiosis is reported, demonstrating the potential of dietary isothiocyanates to support gut barrier function.
The effects of circuit hydraulic weight interval training on body composition and progression of resistance in recreationally exercising pre- and postmenopausal women: an 18-week quasi-experimental study
Authors: Socha Małgorzata , Ćwieląg Paulina , Andrzejewski Waldemar
Published: February 2025

Background

The lack of physical activity, stress, and unhealthy eating habits contribute to body mass disorders, which form the basis of most civilization diseases. Mature women are increasingly turning to fitness clubs to improve their physique and protect themselves from diseases and the progressive aging process. The multitude of training systems proposed to women by fitness clubs leads to the search for solutions that will bring positive health results. The response to an exercise stimulus may depend on the menopausal status.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study aimed to determine the effects of 6, 12, and 18 weeks of circuit hydraulic weight interval training (CHWIT) on anthropometric indices, body composition estimated by the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and muscle performance in inactive pre- and post-menopausal women from an urban population. A total of 100 women aged between 35 and 69 (mean 51.5 ± 9.61) years with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.3 (±5.4 kg/m2) were divided by menopausal status and assigned to the training CHWIT group (25 pre- and 25 postmenopausal women) and the control group (25 pre- and 25 postmenopausal women). Each participant from the CHWIT group took part in a total of 54 training sessions, developed for the Mrs.Sporty network, under the constant supervision of a qualified trainer.

Results

After 18 weeks of training in both intervention groups, ANCOVA demonstrated statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreased body fat (%), reduced thigh and arm circumference, and increased muscle component (kg) as the main part of fat-free body mass. Additionally, premenopausal women decreased their body mass, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences. A significant increase in the muscle component was noticed after 6 weeks of CHWIT in pre-menopausal women and only after 18 weeks in postmenopausal women. Significant progression of resistance (amount of repetitions on hydraulic machines) was observed after 6 weeks and at each subsequent stage of CHWIT in both intervention groups (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the controls.

Conclusion

CHWIT is an effective form of training, improving body composition and physical functions in inactive pre- and postmenopausal women. Changes in the muscle component require a longer intervention of physical effort in women after menopause.
ASD-YOLO: a lightweight network for coffee fruit ripening detection in complex scenarios
Authors: Ye Baofeng , Xue Renzheng , Xu Haiqiang
Published: February 2025

Coffee is one of the most popular and widely used drinks worldwide. At present, how to judge the maturity of coffee fruit mainly depends on the visual inspection of human eyes, which is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, the occlusion between leaves and fruits is also one of the challenges. In order to improve the detection efficiency of coffee fruit maturity, this paper proposes an improved detection method based on YOLOV7 to efficiently identify the maturity of coffee fruits, called ASD-YOLO. Firstly, a new dot product attention mechanism (L-Norm Attention) is designed to embed attention into the head structure, which enhances the ability of the model to extract coffee fruit features. In addition, we introduce SPD-Conv into backbone and head to enhance the detection of occluded small objects and low-resolution images. Finally, we replaced upsampling in our model with DySample, which requires less computational resources and is able to achieve image resolution improvements without additional burden. We tested our approach on the coffee dataset provided by Roboflow. The results show that ASD-YOLO has a good detection ability for coffee fruits with dense distribution and mutual occlusion under complex background, with a recall rate of 78.4%, a precision rate of 69.8%, and a mAP rate of 80.1%. Compared with the recall rate, accuracy rate and mAP of YOLOv7 model, these results are increased by 2.0%, 1.1% and 2.1%, respectively. The enhanced model can identify coffee fruits at all stages more efficiently and accurately, and provide technical reference for intelligent coffee fruit harvesting.
Optimizing the selection of quantitative traits in plant breeding using simulation
Authors: Vieira Rafael Augusto , Nogueira Ana Paula Oliveira , Fritsche-Neto Roberto
Published: February 2025

This review summarizes findings from simulation studies on quantitative traits in plant breeding and translates these insights into practical schemes. As agricultural productivity faces growing challenges, plant breeding is central to addressing these issues. Simulations use mathematical models to replicate biological conditions, bridging theory and practice by validating hypotheses early and optimizing genetic gain and resource use. While strategies can improve trait value, they reduce genetic diversity, making a combination of approaches essential. Studies emphasize the importance of aligning strategy with trait heritability and selection timing and maintaining genetic diversity while considering genotype-environment interactions to avoid biases in early selection. Using markers accelerates breeding cycles when marker placement is precise, foreground and background selection are balanced, and QTL are effectively managed. Genomic selection increases genetic gains by shortening breeding cycles and improving parent selection, especially for low heritability traits and complex genetic architectures. Regular updates of training sets are critical, regardless of genetic architecture. Bayesian methods perform well with fewer genes and in early breeding cycles, while BLUP is more robust for traits with many QTL, and RR-BLUP proves flexible across different conditions. Larger populations lead to greater gains when clear objectives and adequate germplasm are available. Accuracy declines over generations, influenced by genetic architecture and population size. For low heritability traits, multi-trait analysis improves accuracy, especially when correlated with high heritability traits. Updates including top-performing candidates, but conserving variability enhances gains and accuracy. Low-density genotyping and imputation offer cost-effective alternatives to high-density genotyping, achieving comparable results. Targeting populations optimizes genetic relationships, further improving accuracy and breeding outcomes. Evaluating genomic selection reveals a balance between short-term gains and long-term potential and rapid-cycling genomic programs excel. Diverse approaches preserve rare alleles, achieve significant gains, and maintain diversity, highlighting the trade-offs in optimizing breeding success.
Recurrence and chronicity of bonding disorders diagnosed using the structured interview: case report
Authors: Nishikii Yumi , Suetsugu Yoshiko , Yamashita Hiroshi , Yoshida Keiko
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Although emotional rejection, a core concept of bonding disorders, and pathological anger, which may harm the baby, can coexist, they have different clinical features and require different intervention strategies. Only limited reports have been published on the recurrence and chronicity of emotional rejection. To clarify this, in-depth investigations that utilize structured interviews rather than self-reported questionnaires are required.

Methods

The participant was a 29-year-old woman at the first stage of delivery who had experienced three childbirths with different degrees of bonding disorders. We applied a section named “Mother-infant relationship” within the 6th Stafford interview developed by Brockington, which was used to assess bonding disorders, to report this case systematically. We also used the criteria for disorders of the mother-infant relationship developed alongside the interview.

Results

Bonding disorders were diagnosed for this participant, with the first child as “threatened rejection” and the second and third as “mild disorders” (delayed positive feelings). Each improved with treatment within approximately 1 year; however, rejections recurred at different degrees when the next child was born. She was also diagnosed with pathological anger towards her first child, episodes of postpartum depression, and complaints of insomnia after the birth of all three children.

Conclusion

Emotional rejection, pathological anger towards the baby, and infant-focused anxiety, in this case, should be diagnosed individually and appropriate care should be provided for each. Cases systematically documented using the Stafford Interview should be accumulated to facilitate clinical and research work on bonding disorders.
Resistance training beyond momentary failure: the effects of past-failure partials on muscle hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius
Authors: Larsen Stian , Swinton Paul Alan , Sandberg Nordis Østerås , Kristiansen Benjamin Sandvik , Fredriksen Andrea Bao , Falch Hallvard Nygaard , van den Tillaar Roland , Wolf Milo
Published: February 2025

Muscle hypertrophy is often a desired goal of resistance training, and strategies that extend training beyond momentary failure may enhance muscular adaptations. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess whether performing additional past-failure partial repetitions beyond momentary failure increased muscle hypertrophy. A total of 23 untrained men completed a 10-week within-participant intervention study. This study comprised two weekly resistance training sessions of four sets of standing Smith machine calf raises. One limb was randomly allocated to the control condition performing sets to momentary failure (PLANTARMF), and the other limb was allocated to the test intervention that included additional past-failure partial repetitions in the lengthened position (DORSIvf). Muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was measured both pre- and post-intervention via ultrasound. Data were analysed within a Bayesian framework using a mixed-effect model with random effects to account for the within-participant design. The average treatment effect (ATE) was measured to assess any difference in condition and inferences made based on the ATE posterior distribution and associated Bayes Factor (BF). The main findings were that the PLANTARMF and DORSIVF legs increased medial gastrocnemius hypertrophy by 6.7 and +9.6%, respectively. The results identified an ATE favouring the inclusion of additional partial repetitions (0.62 [95%CrI: 0.21–1.0 mm; p(>0) = 0.998]) with ‘strong’ evidence (BF = 13.3) supporting a priori hypothesis. Therefore, when the goal is to train for maximum gastrocnemius hypertrophy over a relatively short time period, we suggest performing sets beyond momentary failure as a likely superior option.
Techniques for In Vitro Fertilisation of Vitrified Cattle Oocytes: Challenges and New Developments
Authors: Ledwaba Mahlatsana Ramaesela , O’Neill Hester Adri , Thema Mamonene Angelinah , Maqhashu Ayanda , Mphaphathi Masindi Lottus
Published: February 2025

Cryopreservation is currently an essential technique in reproductive technologies that is used for the extended preservation of genetic material. Vitrification has become the industry’s standard cryopreservation technique for cattle oocytes and embryos. The current results of this technology, however, are still not good in terms of viability, fertilisation capacity, embryo development, or pregnancy. The oocytes’ susceptibility to freezing is associated with significant changes in the structures, functioning of the oocytes, and cryoinjury, which is harmful to the survival of cells and their subsequent growth. The effectiveness of producing embryos with in vitro techniques utilising vitrified cattle oocytes rarely exceeds 30–40%. A significant number of vitrified oocytes do not successfully develop into the embryo stage following in vitro fertilisation and culture. This review focuses on issues related to oocyte cryopreservation, ways to overcome them, and how to enhance the vitrified oocyte fertilisation process.
Review of Methods and Models for Potato Yield Prediction
Authors: Piekutowska Magdalena , Niedbała Gniewko
Published: February 2025

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the development and application of statistical methods, process-based models, machine learning, and deep learning techniques in potato yield forecasting. It emphasizes the importance of integrating diverse data sources, including meteorological, phenotypic, and remote sensing data. Advances in computer technology have enabled the creation of more sophisticated models, such as mixed, geostatistical, and Bayesian models. Special attention is given to deep learning techniques, particularly convolutional neural networks, which significantly enhance forecast accuracy by analyzing complex data patterns. The article also discusses the effectiveness of other algorithms, such as Random Forest and Support Vector Machines, in capturing nonlinear relationships affecting yields. According to standards adopted in agricultural research, the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) in the implementation of prediction issues should generally not exceed 15%. Contemporary research indicates that, through the use of advanced and accurate algorithms, the value of this error can reach levels of even less than 10 per cent, significantly increasing the efficiency of yield forecasting. Key challenges in the field include climatic variability and difficulties in obtaining accurate data on soil properties and agronomic practices. Despite these challenges, technological advancements present new opportunities for more accurate forecasting. Future research should focus on leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology for real-time data collection and analyzing the impact of biological variables on yield. An interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from ecology and meteorology, is recommended to develop innovative predictive models. The exploration of machine learning methods has the potential to advance knowledge in potato yield forecasting and support sustainable agricultural practices.
Enhancing Soil Physical Quality with Diatomite Amendments
Authors: Głąb Tomasz , Gondek Krzysztof
Published: February 2025

Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity due to reduced water availability and increased temperatures. Developing innovative techniques to enhance soil water retention has emerged as a crucial strategy to mitigate these challenges. This study investigates the effects of diatomite addition type, particle size, and application rate on the physical quality of sandy soil, focusing specifically on water retention characteristics. The experiment involved three particle size fractions of diatomite mixed with additives (biochar, dolomite, and bentonite) at different rates. Soil water retention characteristics and differential porosity were evaluated. Results showed that diatomite application increased soil bulk density but improved water retention capabilities, especially when supplemented with additives. Bentonite addition with diatomite resulted in the highest available water capacity, while dolomite had minimal effect on water retention. Biochar supplementation significantly enhanced water retention characteristics, leading to higher field capacity and plant-available water capacity. The study revealed that the particle size of diatomite did not have a substantial effect on soil physical properties, except for its influence on available water capacity. Diatomite application did not lead to water repellency of soil. These findings highlight the potential of diatomite and additives to improve soil water retention, providing valuable insights for sustainable agriculture.
Biological Potential of Tsuga canadensis: A Study on Seed, Cone Essential Oils, and Seed Lipophilic Extract
Authors: Wajs-Bonikowska Anna , Maciejczyk Ewa , Szoka Łukasz , Kwiatkowski Paweł , Meena Surya Nandan , Banaszczak Piotr
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the essential oil (EO) isolated from the seeds and cones of Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), highlighting notable differences in their chemical composition and biological activities. The seed EO was uniquely dominated by oxygenated derivatives of monoterpene hydrocarbons, particularly bornyl acetate (40%), whereas the cone EO exhibited higher levels of monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene (23%), β-pinene (20%), and myrcene (23%). A significant finding was the strong cytotoxic activity of cone EO against melanoma cell lines, with IC50 values as low as 0.104 ± 0.015 μL/mL, compared to the minimal effects of seed EO. Additionally, cone EO demonstrated stronger antimicrobial activity, with lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, further highlighting its therapeutic potential. Lipophilic extracts from seeds were characterized by unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, and sciadonic acids—specific to conifers) and bioactive molecules with high antioxidant and nutritional potential, such as β-tocopherol, β-sitosterol, and campestrol. These findings underscore the unique chemical composition of T. canadensis seed EO and its lipophilic extract, along with the potent cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of cone EO, offering insights into their potential applications in natural products for pharmaceutical and therapeutic uses.
Detection of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia Employing Bayesian-Optimized Grad-CAM-Driven Deep Learning
Authors: Bişkin Osman Tayfun , Candemir Cemre , Selver Mustafa Alper
Published: February 2025

Diagnosing bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SCH) presents significant challenges due to overlapping symptoms, reliance on subjective assessments, and the late-stage manifestation of many symptoms. Current methods using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) as input data often fail to provide the objectivity and sensitivity needed for early and accurate diagnosis. sMRI is well known to be capable of detecting anatomical changes, such as reduced gray matter volume in SCH or cortical thickness alterations in BD. However, advanced techniques are required to capture subtle neuroanatomical patterns critical for distinguishing these disorders in sMRI. Deep learning (DL) has emerged as a transformative tool in neuroimaging analysis, offering the ability to automatically extract intricate features from large datasets. Building on its success in other domains, including autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s disease, DL models have demonstrated the potential to detect subtle structural changes in BD and SCH. Recent advancements suggest that DL can outperform traditional statistical methods, offering higher classification accuracy and enabling the differentiation of complex psychiatric disorders. In this context, this study introduces a novel deep learning framework for distinguishing BD and SCH using sMRI data. The model is specifically designed to address subtle neuroanatomical differences, offering three key contributions: (1) a tailored DL model that leverages explainability to extract features that boost psychiatric MRI analysis performance, (2) a comprehensive evaluation of the model’s performance in classifying BD and SCH using both spatial and morphological analysis together with classification metrics, and (3) detailed insights, which are derived from both quantitative (performance metrics) and qualitative analyses (visual observations), into key brain regions most relevant for differentiating these disorders. The results have achieved an accuracy of 78.84%, an area under the curve (AUC) of 83.35%, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 59.10% using the proposed framework. These metrics significantly outperform traditional machine learning models. Furthermore, the proposed method demonstrated superior precision and recall for both BD and SCH, with notable improvements in identifying subtle neuroanatomical patterns. Depending on the acquired result, it can be said that the proposed method enhances the application of DL in psychiatry, paving the way for more objective, non-invasive diagnostic tools with the potential to improve early detection and personalized treatment.
Bioremediation Potential of Flowering Shrubs Against Soil Cd Pollution: Enrichment Characteristics and Plant Response Mechanisms
Authors: Zou Zhiyou , Zhang Sheng , Tao Zhongyi , Luo Shunshe
Published: February 2025

Cadmium (Cd) ions can significantly affect plant growth and development. They promote plant growth up to a certain concentration, but high concentrations may inhibit normal plant growth. However, Cd pollution also threatens ecosystem security and may pose a potential risk to human health. Bioremediation has received significant attention as a method for reducing soil pollution, including Cd contamination. Therefore, this study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (Triangle plum), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn (Safflower), and Cuphea ignea (Cigar flower) in Cd-contaminated soil that simulated the conditions found in mine tailings ponds. The results indicated that there were significant differences in Cd ion accumulation among the three flowering shrubs. Triangle plum had the greatest enrichment ability, followed by Cigar flower and then Safflower. Triangle plum leaves showed the greatest enrichment ability, followed by the stems and roots. In contrast, the Cigar flower roots showed the greatest enrichment ability followed by the leaves and the stems. However, their translocation factor (TF) values were similar. The enrichment effect of Safflower leaves was the strongest, followed by its roots, with relatively little accumulation in its stems, and its TF value varied within a certain range. This study provides a scientific basis for the bioremediation of soil Cd pollution and new information about the abilities of different flowering shrubs and their parts to accumulate Cd.
Discrete Element Numerical Simulation of the Effect of River Ice Porosity on Impact Force at Bridge Abutments
Authors: Xu Zibo , Wan Yurui , Xin Dabo , Zhao Ying , Zhou Daocheng
Published: February 2025

In spring, the river ice melts to a certain extent and cracks to form drift ice and impact force on the bridge abutments; the river ice, due to the impact of ablation, has an internal formation of different porosities, and the level of porosity affects the mechanical properties of the river ice, so that the impact force generated by the river ice is also different. In this paper, the Heihe–Blagoveshchensk Amur River Bridge abutment is the object of river ice impact, and the discrete element method (DEM) is employed to analyze the impact process and impact force on the abutment by numerical simulation of the melting river ice. The damage characteristics of the ice rows with different ice speeds, ice thicknesses, and porosity, and the time curve of the impact force are obtained. It is found that the maximum impact force of river ice on the abutment decreases nonlinearly with the increase in river ice porosity; the peak contact force occurs with a lag time, and the damage is gradually concentrated in the vicinity of the area in direct contact with the abutment. In this paper, according to the simulation results, the relationship between river ice porosity and the maximum impact force on the bridge abutment, as well as the time parameters, is obtained by fitting, and the power loading model of the bridge abutment impacted by the river ice is established, which provides a basis for the reasonable calculation of the impact force of the ablated river ice at bridge abutments.
Aesthetic Speech Therapy: A New Protocol of Exercises Against Facial Aging, Focusing on Facial Muscles
Authors: Levrini Luca , Carganico Andrea , Caccia Margherita , Deppieri Alessandro , Marullo Federica , Saran Stefano , Binelli Giorgio , Iera Marco , Zecca Piero Antonio
Published: February 2025

The increasing emphasis on appearance and well-being has underscored the significance of self-care. From an aesthetic perspective, this entails addressing the early onset of wrinkles and the initial signs of aging. In response, new techniques have been developed, supplementing existing methods, to mitigate the signs of aging. Aesthetic speech therapy has emerged in recent years as a non-invasive procedure to combat facial aging. The objective of this study is to evaluate its effects on the signs of facial aging in participants subjected to an experimental exercise protocol over a three-month period, focusing on orbicularis and zygomatic muscles, using both a digital evaluation analysis and a self-assessment questionnaire. A cohort of 21 female subjects, aged between 50 and 65, was instructed to perform a series of 4 targeted exercises for 15 min daily over a span of three months. The participants underwent monthly evaluations, each involving the collection of standardized photographic documentation and a three-dimensional facial scan. These scans were subsequently overlaid and analyzed by a colorimetric assay at the conclusion of the study period. Statistical tests were carried out by two-way ANOVA. Additionally, during the final evaluation (T3), the participants completed a questionnaire assessing their satisfaction with their self-image and the non-invasive aesthetic treatment they received. The statistical analysis of the overlays of the collected three-dimensional scans revealed a significant volumetric change around the orbicularis oris muscle. The difference between green and blue pixels was statistically significant (p < 0.05), as was the difference between blue and yellow pixels (p < 0.05). This change did not achieve statistical significance around the zygomatic muscles. The analysis of the participants’ questionnaire responses indicated an increasing level of satisfaction with their self-image at the end of the study compared to T0. Personal confidence increased by 20%, and participants reported a 53% improvement in satisfaction with their appearance in photographs. The observed volumetric changes may be attributed to modifications in the facial muscles targeted by the exercise protocol undertaken by the participants. However, further studies are warranted to delve deeper into this issue, considering the intricate process of facial aging and the complex three-dimensional structure of the face with its various components.
SKVOS: Sketch-Based Video Object Segmentation with a Large-Scale Benchmark
Authors: Yang Ruolin , Li Da , Hu Conghui , Zhang Honggang
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we propose sketch-based video object segmentation (SKVOS), a novel task that segments objects consistently across video frames using human-drawn sketches as queries. Traditional reference-based methods, such as photo masks and language descriptions, are commonly used for segmentation. Photo masks provide high precision but are labor intensive, limiting scalability. While language descriptions are easy to provide, they often lack the specificity needed to distinguish visually similar objects within a frame. Despite their simplicity, sketches capture rich, fine-grained details of target objects and can be rapidly created, even by non-experts, making them an attractive alternative for segmentation tasks. We introduce a new approach that utilizes sketches as efficient and informative references for video object segmentation. To evaluate sketch-guided segmentation, we introduce a new benchmark consisting of three datasets: Sketch-DAVIS16, Sketch-DAVIS17, and Sketch-YouTube-VOS. Building on a memory-based framework for semi-supervised video object segmentation, we explore effective strategies for integrating sketch-based references. To ensure robust spatiotemporal coherence, we introduce two key innovations: the Temporal Relation Module and Sketch-Anchored Contrastive Learning. These modules enhance the model’s ability to maintain consistency both across time and across different object instances. Our method is evaluated on the Sketch-VOS benchmark, demonstrating superior performance with overall improvements of 1.9%, 3.3%, and 2.0% over state-of-the-art methods on the Sketch-YouTube-VOS, Sketch-DAVIS 2016, and Sketch-DAVIS 2017 validation sets, respectively. Additionally, on the YouTube-VOS validation set, our method outperforms the leading language-based VOS approach by 10.1%.
From Vine to Wine: Coloured Phenolics as Fingerprints
Authors: Heras-Roger Jesús , Díaz-Romero Carlos
Published: February 2025

Anthocyanins are important bioactive compounds crucial for the sensory characteristics of red wines. Anthocyanin profiles of 205 monovarietal red wines from the Canary Islands were investigated. Eleven anthocyanins were identified and determined using HPLC-DAD. Anthocyanin concentrations of red wines produced in Canary Islands fell within the usual range observed in red wines from other regions. Red wines elaborated with international grape cultivars presented, in general, higher mean concentrations than those elaborated using autochthonous cultivars. The influence of grape cultivar, production island, denomination of origin, and wine aging on the anthocyanin concentration was studied, leading to the deduction that aging was the parameter with the highest influence. A high number of significant correlations between the anthocyanins determined were found out supporting a common organic synthetic way for these coloured phenolics. Application of multivariate analysis techniques, such as principal component analysis and discriminant analysis, tended to classify the red wine samples according to grape cultivar, geographical production areas, and aging. This study could contribute to the quality control and verification within the wine industry, which is an interesting tool in the prevention of fraud and for increasing consumer confidence.
Research on the Comprehensive Performance of Gradient-Hardness Polycarbonate-Based Polyurethane Through Different Molding Methods
Authors: Zhu Jia , Cui Yangyang , Wang Song , Liu Weiqiang
Published: February 2025

Thermoplastic polycarbonate polyurethane (PCU) has been applied in numerous biomedical applications owing to its superior properties. The objective of this study is to obtain the comprehensive performance of PCU materials with different hardness processed through various molding methods. The performance will be compared with that of natural intervertebral discs to assess their degree of match, with the expectation of further enhancing the application of PCU in the field of elastic intervertebral disc products. PCU materials with four different hardness grades, namely 75A, 85A, 95A, and 55D, were prepared through injection molding (IM), compression molding (CM), and fused deposition modeling in three-dimensional printing (3D). Material property analysis and mechanical performance characterization were conducted on the PCU materials. The PCU materials processed through the three different molding methods exhibited similar results in terms of hardness, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectra, and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra, indicating that the materials did not degrade or introduce impurities during the molding process and the molding methods used in this study were acceptable. Differences were observed in the tensile and compressive properties of PCU materials. The mechanical properties of 85A- and 95A-hardness materials processed by CM and 3D molding were relatively close to those of natural intervertebral discs. In terms of water contact angle, under the same hardness condition, the materials processed by CM molding exhibited the largest water contact angle, while those processed by IM and 3D molding were similar. The PCU materials with 85A and 95A hardness processed through IM, CM, and 3D exhibited properties that were close to the performance requirements of natural intervertebral discs. There is a high potential for their application in intervertebral disc products to enhance product performance, replace diseased natural discs, and promote the development of cervical total disc replacement (TDR) surgery.
Effect of Werner-Type Complex Formation of Cu2+ and Fe2+ on Oxidative Potentials Assessed Using Ascorbic Acid Assay
Authors: Sekine Hideaki , Ito Hikaru , Sekine Yoshika
Published: February 2025

The ascorbic acid (AA) assay is a widely recognized tool for assessing the oxidation potential (OP) of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), including PM2.5. OP quantified through the cell-free AA assay can be used to study the association between chemical properties and harmful biological effects, such as the degradation of AA in the lungs by PM sample. AA is oxidized and depleted in solutions containing redox-active species such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon quinones and heavy metal ions (Cu2+ and Fe2+), which are potential PM components. The metal ions form a Werner-type complex with ligands; thus, the AA depletion rate changes with the co-existing ligands in the PM sample. However, how the coordination structure of the complexes affects the AA depletion rate is poorly understood. This study examined the impact of the Werner-type complex formation of Cu2+ and Fe2+ on the AA depletion rate. Cu2+ and Fe2+ complexes were prepared by mixing them with three ethyleneamine forms: ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and triethylenetetramine. The AA depletion rate was determined by measuring the changes in absorbance at 265 nm in the reaction solutions. Results indicated that the AA depletion rates of Cu2+ and Fe2+ were suppressed by the formation of complexes, and the degree of suppression depended on the coordination number and stability constants of the ethyleneamines. Additionally, AA depletion rates decreased with decreasing oxidative reduction potential in the solutions and changes in the coordination structures of the metal ion complexes. These findings demonstrate that the formation of Werner-type complexes with Cu2+ and Fe2+ reduces the AA depletion rate. As the number of ligands coordinating to the metal ions increases, the ORP decreases, creating a reducing environment that suppresses the oxidation of AA.
Brazilian Plume (Justicia carnea L.) Leaf Wine-Colored Extract for Natural Dyeing of Mordant-Functionalized Cellulosic Fabric: Color Strength, Coordinates, and Fastness
Authors: Jabar Jamiu Mosebolatan , Oluwasina Olugbenga Oludayo , Agunloye Odunayo Michael , Akinmoladun Afolabi Clement , Akande Olamide Abigael , Ojo Elizabeth Toyin , Olojuolawe Hannah Olubukola
Published: February 2025

Increasing awareness of protecting the environment from chemically aided naive ecosystem degradation has encouraged the use of eco-friendly (biomass) materials in industrial production globally. This study investigated the application of a natural wine-colored extract from Brazilian plume (BP) leaf, obtained through a microwave-assisted modern aqueous extraction technique, for toxic-free dyeing of mordant-functionalized cotton fabric. Dyeing of mordanted cotton fabric was optimized by varying dyeing parameters, such as dyeing contact time (10 to 90 min), pH (1 to 11), liquor ratio (1:5 to 1:30), and temperature (30 to 90 °C). UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses confirmed that the chemical constituents of the extract were not altered by microwave radiation. The desired color strength (K/S) and dye-uptake (Q) were obtained at a dyeing time of 50 min, a pH of 7, a liquor ratio of 1:20, and a dyeing temperature of 60 °C. Varieties of elegant shades with desired colorfastness were developed through the involvement of less-toxic electrolyte and herbal mordants as functionalizing agents. BP extract is established as a potential sustainable and ecological colorant for textile industrial application.
Impact of School Nurses on Children with Food Allergies: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Simeone Silvio , Aquilone Greta , Mercuri Caterina , Lotito Flavia , Bosco Vincenzo , Rea Teresa , Berni Canani Roberto , Nocerino Rita
Published: February 2025

Background. Food allergies (FAs) are a significant public health concern, affecting 6–8% of children worldwide, with a growing prevalence. Schools are high-risk environments for allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Alarmingly, up to 16–18% of children with FAs experience allergic reactions at school, often due to accidental exposure. Additionally, up to 25% of anaphylactic reactions in schools occur in children with no prior diagnosis of FA, emphasizing the critical need for school-wide preparedness and robust emergency action plans. School nurses play a pivotal role in managing FAs through individualized health plans, emergency preparedness, staff training, and psychosocial support. This review aims to evaluate the multifaceted role of school nurses in ensuring the safety, health, and psychosocial well-being of children with FAs. It also seeks to identify systemic challenges and gaps in allergy management to inform targeted interventions and future research. Methods. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence on the role of school nurses in FA management. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane, targeting studies published between 2014 and 2024. The search identified 6313 articles, of which 5490 remained after duplicate removal. After title and abstract screening, 60 articles were selected for full-text evaluation, with 59 included in the final review. Thematic analysis identified six domains: preventive measures, emergency preparedness, communication, health outcomes, psychosocial support, and systemic challenges. Results. The review highlights the critical contributions of school nurses to FA management. They improve safety by implementing Individualized Health Plans (IHPs) and Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), ensuring timely administration of epinephrine and reducing delays during emergencies. Preventive strategies, such as allergen-free zones and comprehensive training for staff, minimize exposure risks. Psychosocial interventions led by nurses alleviate stigma, bullying, and anxiety, enhancing the quality of life for children with FAs. Despite these benefits, barriers persist, including insufficient nurse-to-student ratios, limited access to emergency resources like stock epinephrine, and disparities in allergy management across socioeconomic and geographic contexts. Conclusions. School nurses are integral to managing FAs, ensuring safety, fostering inclusion, and addressing psychosocial needs. Addressing systemic barriers and ensuring equitable resource distribution are essential to optimize their impact. Future research should focus on the long-term outcomes of nurse-led interventions, strategies to reduce disparities, and the potential role of digital tools in improving allergy management.