bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioadhesive Nanoparticles in Topical Drug Delivery: Advances, Applications, and Potential for Skin Disorder Treatments
Authors: Almuqbil Rashed M. , Aldhubiab Bandar
Published: February 2025

Skin disorders are the fourth most common cause of all diseases, which affect nearly one-third of the world’s population. Topical drug delivery can be effective in treating a range of skin disorders, including microbial infections, skin cancer, dermatitis, burn injury, wounds, and psoriasis. Bioadhesive nanoparticles (BNPs) can serve as an efficient topical drug delivery system as they can serve dual purposes as bioadhesives and nanocarriers, which can mediate targeted drug delivery, prolong retention time, and deepen drug penetration through skin layers. There is an increasing demand for BNP-based applications in medicine because of their various advantages, including biodegradability, flexibility, biocompatibility, and enhanced adhesive strength. A number of BNPs have already been developed and evaluated as potential topical drug delivery systems. In addition, a range of studies have already been carried out to evaluate the potential of BNPs in the treatment of various skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, skin cancer, psoriasis, microbial infections, wounds, and severe burn injuries. This review article is timely and unique, because it provides an extensive and unique summary of the recent advances of BNPs in the treatment of wide-ranging skin disorders. Moreover, this review also provides a useful discussion on the bioadhesion mechanism and various biopolymers that can be used to prepare BNPs.
Medicinal Potential of Broussonetia papyrifera: Chemical Composition and Biological Activity Analysis
Authors: Li Ying , Huang Renhua , Zhang Weiwei , Chen Qiangwen , Wang Qijian , Ye Jiabao , Xu Feng
Published: February 2025

Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent., a dioecious tree species that belongs to the Moraceae family, is a perennial plant found extensively throughout China. Its leaves are rich in essential trace elements such as copper, molybdenum, manganese, and iron, as well as various biologically active compounds, including amino acids, polysaccharides, proteins, as well as flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and other polyphenolic compounds. These compounds exhibit significant pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, lipid-lowering, heat-clearing, detoxifying, blood-cooling, diuretic, and immunomodulatory activities. In recent years, B. papyrifera has gained attention for its medicinal potential; however, breeding efforts, especially those aimed at increasing the flavonoid content, have lagged. This study reviews the progress in research on the active medicinal ingredients of B. papyrifera, with a focus on identification methods, classification criteria, and enrichment technologies for its medicinal components. The biosynthesis of structural genes and transcription factors in flavonoids has been investigated in B. papyrifera. The pharmacological effects of the secondary metabolites of B. papyrifera were systematically examined, aiming to offer strategies for enhancing the flavonoid content and promoting its medicinal value.
Metabolite Profiling of the Resurrection Grass Eragrostis nindensis During Desiccation and Recovery
Authors: Baluku Erikan , van der Pas Llewelyn , Hilhorst Henk W. M. , Farrant Jill M.
Published: February 2025

Resurrection plants employ unique metabolic mechanisms to protect themselves against damage caused by desiccation. This study aimed to identify metabolites, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, which were differentially abundant in Eragrostis nindensis at different stages of dehydration and rehydration in leaves which are destined to senesce on desiccation termed “senescent tissue” (ST) and those which remain desiccation-tolerant during water deficit and are termed “non-senescent tissue” (NST). Furthermore, the study compared the shoot and root systems during extreme water deficit and recovery therefrom to unravel similarities and differences at the whole plant level in overcoming desiccation. Shoot metabolomics data showed differentially abundant metabolites in NST, including raffinose, sucrose, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, and allantoin, which act as major drivers for plant desiccation tolerance and aid the plant post-rehydration. The metabolites which accumulated in the ST-indicated initiation of programmed cell death (PCD) leading to senescence. The roots accumulated fewer metabolites than the shoots, some exclusive to the root tissues with functions such as osmoprotection, reactive oxygen species quenching, and signaling, and thus proposed to minimize damage in leaf tissues during dehydration and desiccation. Collectively, this work gives further insight into the whole plant responses of E. nindensis to extreme dehydration conditions and could serve as a model for future improvements of drought sensitive crops.
A Ralstonia solanacearum Effector Targets Splicing Factor SR34a to Reprogram Alternative Splicing and Regulate Plant Immunity
Authors: Li Yunyun , Kou Song
Published: February 2025

Alternative splicing is a critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes. While infection with Ralstonia solanacearum GMI1000 significantly alters plant alternative splicing patterns, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, the effect of the GMI1000 Type III secretion system effectors on alternative splicing in the tomato cultivar Heinz 1706 was investigated. The RNA-seq analysis confirmed genome-wide alternative splicing changes induced by the Type III secretion system in tomato, including 1386 differential alternatively spliced events across 1023 genes, many of which are associated with plant defense. Seven nucleus-localized Type III effectors were transiently expressed in an RLPK splicing reporter system transgenic tobacco, identifying RipP2 as an effector that modulates alternative splicing levels. Sequence analysis, protein–protein interaction assays, and AlphaFold2 structural predictions revealed that RipP2 interacted with the tomato splicing factor SR34a. Furthermore, RipP2 acetylated a conserved lysine at position 132 within the SWQDLKD motif of SR34a, regulating its splicing pattern in defense-related genes and modulating plant immunity. This study elucidates how the “RipP2-SR34a module” influences plant immune responses by regulating the alternative splicing of immune-related genes, providing new insights into pathogen–plant interactions and splicing regulation.
Integrated Analysis of Metabolites and Biological Endpoints Bring New Insights into Sulfamethoxazole Stress Tolerance in Ryegrass
Authors: Yang Yong , Jia Jiangtao , Han Tao , Zhang Heng , Wang Yvjie , Shao Luying , Wang Xinyi
Published: February 2025

Although metabolomics is widely used to assess the detrimental effects of antibiotics and characterize stress response, the relationships between metabolites and biological endpoints following antibiotics remain unknown. In our study, we exposed ryegrass seeds to sulfamethoxazole for five days. The results showed that sulfamethoxazole inhibited plant growth (by 12.90–85.83%). It also decreased chlorophyll content (by 35.40–93.32%), carotenoid content (by 32.76–90.18%), and root cell permeability (by 98.43–99.29%), but increased root reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration (increasing rate: 11.32- to 137.36-times). Moreover, high sulfamethoxazole concentrations increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities. To elucidate the association between metabolites and biological endpoints, we conducted an orthogonal partial least squares analysis. The results showed that sulfamethoxazole significantly altered six metabolic pathways. Among the metabolites modulated by sulfamethoxazole, amino acids mainly affected root growth and ROS concentration, whereas carbohydrates were substantially associated with the effect of sulfamethoxazole on cell permeability. Many metabolites had contrasting effects. For example, some metabolites increased root fresh weight and improved cell permeability by decreasing ROS levels and SOD, POD, and CAT activities. By contrast, some metabolites negatively affected root fresh weight and cell permeability by increasing ROS levels and SOD, POD, and CAT activities. These observations bring new insights into ryegrass responses to sulfamethoxazole-induced stress.
Numerical Simulation Study on Internal Flow Law and Efficiency of Gas-Liquid Mixed Jet Pump
Authors: Wang Xiongxiong , Shi Shuqiang , Zhao Zhengyan , Zhang Yongcai , Cai Jiaming , Lin Shaokang , Mao Jincheng
Published: February 2025

The Sulige Gas Field is a typical low-permeability, low-pressure tight gas field, where pneumatic jetting is crucial for production. However, existing gas jet pumps have low efficiency, limiting field production and overall development. This paper explores the effect of adding water, at specific volume fractions, to the driving gas on pneumatic jet pump performance. Using Volume of Fluid (VOF) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, a three-dimensional fluid domain model was developed to analyze the flow field, turbulent kinetic energy, and energy conversion in the pump. Results show that the water volume fraction significantly impacts pump efficiency, with performance improving over natural gas as the driving medium. The optimal performance occurs at a 0.5 water volume fraction, with efficiency exceeding 40% and a dimensionless mass flow ratio of approximately 2.0. As the volumetric fraction of water increases, the optimal working point of the jet pump (the dimensionless mass flow ratio corresponding to the peak pump efficiency) gradually decreases. It drops from 2.0 at water volumetric fractions of 0.1 and 0.5, to 1.8 at 0.8, and further to 1.5 at 1.0. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing pneumatic jet performance in the Sulige Gas Field.
Appraisal of Fluoride Removal Capability of Al-Fe Oxide-Infused Diatomaceous Earth in a Continuous-Flow Fixed-Bed Column
Authors: Izuagie Anthony A. , Gitari Wilson M.
Published: February 2025

This study was carried out to appraise the groundwater fluoride removal effectiveness of Al-Fe oxide-infused diatomaceous earth (DE) in a continuous-flow fixed-bed column. The adsorbent was optimally synthesized and then characterized. A glass column designed for the experiment was packed with the test adsorbent at specific doses. The effects of flow rate, influent fluoride concentration and bed height (adsorbent dose) on fluoride removal were evaluated by fixing the value of a parameter while varying the others. The breakthrough volume was the volume of treated water obtained until the concentration of fluoride in the treated water reached 1.5 mg/L, which is the World Health Organization’s maximum limit of fluoride in drinking water. The maximum breakthrough volume obtained in this study was 118.2 mL under the optimum conditions of influent F− concentration = 5 mg/L, 1 g of adsorbent with an initial bed height = 7.5 cm and a flow rate = 1.97 mL/min. Channeling and the presence of PO43− as a co-existing anion were limiting factors for the attainment of the breakthrough volume for groundwater defluoridation. Further work is encouraged to investigate a suitable binder that can hold the adsorbent particles firmly together, is not water-soluble, but remains water-permeable when dry. The resulting solid mass could then be pulverized into granules whose weight and rigidity would make them less susceptible to the channeling effect in the column.
Gender Diversity and Mental Health: A Systematic Review of the Impact of Childhood Trauma
Authors: Arena Jan Francesco , Adriani Barbara , Mancino Serena , Sarno Francesca , Modesti Martina Nicole , Del Casale Antonio , Ferracuti Stefano
Published: February 2025

Gender-diverse populations are at a higher risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and social stigma, with a significant impact on both mental and overall health. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, included 14 studies published between 2016 and 2024. Observational studies were extracted from MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and APA PsycArticles to explore the prevalence of ACEs and their effects on mental and physical health in gender-diverse individuals. Studies were assessed for quality using the AXIS tool. The studies included revealed elevated rates of ACEs, particularly in the form of abuse. ACEs were strongly associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and suicidality. Discrimination further amplified these effects, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, leading to a higher engagement in risky behaviors and poorer physical health outcomes. Protective factors identified included secure attachment, access to gender-affirming care, and strong social support. The findings emphasize the urgent need for trauma-informed and culturally sensitive interventions that address both the immediate and long-term effects of ACEs in gender-diverse populations. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal designs and tailored interventions to meet the healthcare needs of these communities and develop mental health prevention strategies.
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles from Lycium cooperi
Authors: Castillo-Saenz Jhonathan , Salomón-Carlos Jorge , Beltrán-Partida Ernesto , Valdez-Salas Benjamín
Published: February 2025

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) offer promising advantages in semiconductors and biomedical applications due to their optical, electrical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. However, the widely reported synthetic strategies for CeO2-NPs demand toxic precursors and intermediary pollutants, representing a major limitation to CeO2-NPs applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop greener strategies that implicate ecological precursors to reduce the negative impact on the scalability of CeO2-NPs. In this regard, we applied Lycium cooperi (L. cooperi) aqueous extracts as an unexplored potential green reducing agent for the eco-friendly synthesis of CeO2-NPs. The L. cooperi extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and carbohydrate-derived families, which were assessed for spherical monodispersed CeO2-NPs under a rapid chemical reduction. Moreover, the elemental composition revealed Ce and O, indicating highly pure CeO2-NPs characterized by an interplanar cubic crystalline structure. Furthermore, we detected the presence of stabilizing functional groups from L. cooperi, which, after a controlled annealing process, resulted in a band gap energy of 3.9 eV, which was optimal for the CeO2-NPs. Thus, the results indicate that L. cooperi is an environmentally friendly synthesis method that can open a new route for CeO2-NPs in biomedical and industrial applications.
Dual-Band 802.11 RF Energy Harvesting Optimization for IoT Devices with Improved Patch Antenna Design and Impedance Matching
Authors: Ali Ashraf , Eid Rama , Manaseer Digham Emad , AbuJaber Hussein Khaled , Ware Andrew
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the feasibility of harvesting Radio Frequency (RF) energy from the Wi-Fi frequency band to power low-power Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. With the increasing prevalence of IoT applications and wireless sensor networks (WSNs), there is a critical need for sustainable energy sources that can extend the operational lifespan of these devices, particularly in remote locations, where access to reliable power supplies is limited. The paper describes the design, simulation, and fabrication of a dual-band antenna capable of operating at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, the frequencies used by Wi-Fi. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed design is efficient based on the reflection coefficient. Using a high-frequency simulator, we developed two C-shaped and an F-shaped microstrip antenna design, optimized for impedance matching and efficient RF–DC conversion.The captured RF energy is converted into usable electrical power that can be directly utilized by low-power IoT devices or stored in batteries for later use. The paper introduces an efficient design for dual-band antennas to maximize the reception of Wi-Fi signals. It also explains the construction of an impedance-matching network to reduce signal reflection and improve power transfer efficiency. The results indicate that the proposed antennas can effectively harvest Wi-Fi energy, providing a sustainable power source for IoT devices. The practical implementation of this system offers a promising solution to the energy supply challenges faced by remote and low-power IoT applications, paving the way for more efficient and longer-lasting wireless sensor networks.
Loka: A Cross-Platform Virtual Reality Streaming Framework for the Metaverse
Authors: Kao Hsiao-Wen , Chen Yan-Cyuan , Wu Eric Hsiao-Kuang , Yeh Shih-Ching , Kao Shih-Chun
Published: February 2025

As the concept of the Metaverse evolves, virtual reality (VR) plays a pivotal role in creating immersive, socially interactive environments that form the backbone of this interconnected digital universe. However, VR technology often faces significant challenges, including hardware limitations, platform incompatibilities, and difficulties supporting seamless multiplayer experiences. VR streaming offers a potential solution by offloading computational tasks to remote servers, enabling high-quality VR experiences on lower-end devices and enhancing accessibility to a broader audience. In this paper, we present Loka, a versatile and extensible VR streaming framework designed to address these challenges, providing the necessary infrastructure to support social interactions and real-time collaboration in virtual environments—the key components of the Metaverse. Loka is built on Unity Engine and WebRTC, enabling seamless cross-platform VR experiences without the need for device-specific SDKs. It also supports real-time integration of custom sensory data streams, such as motion capture and physiological signals from IoT devices, which can enhance user interaction and personalization in virtual environments, as well as provide a more convenient accessible platform for research. Furthermore, Loka’s native multiplayer and multicasting capabilities facilitate collaborative and interactive social experiences, aligning with the core goals of the Metaverse. By leveraging cloud-based rendering with low-latency streaming, Loka allows users to engage in immersive VR environments on a wide range of devices, without requiring high-end hardware. Its modular architecture ensures extensibility, allowing researchers and developers to integrate new data types and experimental setups more easily. With its ability to set up immersive VR scenes to support social interaction and handle complex virtual environments, we believe the proposed work can be leveraged to foster the development and research of the Metaverse.
The Influence of Ambient Factors on Emotional Wellbeing of Older Adults: A Review
Authors: Peralta Arturo , Olivas José A. , Romero Francisco P. , Navarro Pedro
Published: February 2025

This work conducts a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and using software tools like Covidence® 2024 and Nvivo® 15 for thematic analysis, aiming to examine significant studies on the impact of external factors on the emotional wellbeing of older adults and propose new conclusions and future research directions. In this context, studies using sensors to measure factors such as ambient temperature or lighting are key to understanding their impact on the emotional wellbeing of older individuals. These technologies offer opportunities to monitor and adapt environments in real-time, enabling targeted interventions. It is widely recognised that aspects like noise levels, ambient temperature, or lighting can influence an individual’s mood and overall wellbeing; however, it is crucial to further explore the effect of less studied factors. This review not only validates and questions popular beliefs about these factors but also highlights how the results can be useful for designing living environments that enhance the emotional wellbeing of the elderly and for establishing new directions in related research. By addressing these factors, this review provides actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and care providers to design environments that enhance the emotional wellbeing of older adults. Furthermore, this study not only validates previous knowledge but also highlights the need for future interdisciplinary interventions that integrate these factors holistically.
Antibacterial Activity of Polypropylene Meshes for Hernioplasty with Ag and (Ag,Cu) Coatings Deposited via Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Sotova Catherine , Metel Alexander , Vereschaka Alexey , Fyodorov Sergey , Milovich Filipp , Terekhova Raisa , Stepanov Pavel , Ramanouskaya Tatiana , Grigoriev Sergey
Published: February 2025

This article compares the antibacterial properties of single-layer (Ag) and two-layer (Ag,Cu) coatings deposited onto a polypropylene mesh (endoprostheses for hernioplasty) in various gaseous environments (argon or nitrogen) via magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and elemental composition of the coatings were studied via SEM and TEM. The antimicrobial activity of sterile samples was investigated using the Staphylococcus aureus strain. To prevent the overheating of the polymer samples during the coating process, it is advisable to carry out pulse processing (the total coating formation time is divided into cycles of switching the magnetron on and off for equal periods). All the samples, with both single- and double-layer coatings, exhibited good antibacterial properties; however, the Cu–Ag coating enhanced the antimicrobial effect, increasing it from 97.00 to 99.97%. The glow-discharge plasma etching of the samples with a double-layer coating led to the mixing of the copper and silver layers and an increase in the surface copper content, though this did not affect the antibacterial properties of the samples.
Mapping Informal Digital Care Practice in Later Life: A Playshop Model
Authors: McGrane Caitlin , Gerber Katrin , Hjorth Larissa
Published: February 2025

Increasingly, growing older is something we do alongside technologies. Often, through mobile media, our everyday practices of informal caring are being digitally mediated and mediatised. From apps such as Whatsapp to iOS Health, how digital technology is used to provide informal care in later life is poorly understood. Care operates intergenerationally and bilaterally—older adults often caring for young children as well as adult children caring for older adults with declining capacity. Mobile media technology has become an integral part of these informal care practices. Understanding what older people do with technology is important to map different media literacies, possibilities, and limitations in practice. In this paper, which draws on a larger study, we explore older adults’ informal digital practices through creative practice workshops in Victoria, Australia. In what we called ‘playshops’, we deployed playful and creative methods such as postcard prompts and mapping exercises to explore informal care practices used by older adults, many of which are so mundane that they remain invisible and are potentially missed in research. We performed this to map uses, barriers, and possibilities of mobile technologies in providing and receiving care. Based on these playshops, we argue that when digital media is used in everyday ways, it can lead to greater social connection and informal care for, with, and through older people. These everyday acts of care give voice and visibility to the diverse ways older people use technology to facilitate informal care practises.
Involuntary Admission of Substance Users—Total Institutions Through the Perspective of Individuals Deprived of Rights
Authors: Correia Junior Rubens , Brito Emanuele Seicenti de , Pillon Sandra Cristina , Ventura Carla Aparecida Arena
Published: February 2025

Aim: To understand the perception of substance users involuntarily committed to a mental health clinic concerning the institution where they are enclosed against their will. Methods: This is a qualitative research study conducted in a Therapeutic Community in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nine substance users who were involuntarily committed to the TC. The participant observation technique was also used for data collection. The observation was carried out within the TC premises. The principal investigator used an observation script, focused on the TC infrastructure, hierarchical relationships, work routine and patient care routine, and verbal and non-verbal communication between patients and professionals. Results: Data analysis resulted in four major themes: (1) The individual and the institution; (2) The total institution—hierarchical relationships in the context of the Therapeutic Community; (3) Routine of work and care for the committed substance users; (4) Routine and religious manifestations in the Therapeutic Community. Results reveal Therapeutic Communities are regarded as places that reaffirm the power of the former mental asylum. Conclusions: From the study results, it is possible to conclude that substance users become vulnerable before the rigid structure of Therapeutic Communities, where the non-democratic, homogenous, and sometimes violent environment does not resemble the diverse, plural society to which the individual must return shortly.
How Has the Aquaculture Supply Chain’s Competitiveness Changed After the COVID-19 Pandemic in Emerging Countries? The Case of Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thanh-Thuy , Pham Chi Minh , Thai Vinh Van , Tan Jackie Yen , Pham Hong-Van , Thi Thu Huong Trinh
Published: February 2025

Global supply chains are facing many changes after the COVID-19 pandemic. This change impacts the way each supply chain measures its key performance indicators and determinants for its competitiveness. Aquaculture supply chains (SCA) play an essential role in global trading and fluctuated significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic when many aquaculture supply chains from emerging countries faced disruption. Therefore, after the COVID-19 pandemic, these supply chains have changed their measures and determinants to improve global competitiveness. This paper examines the change in this measure and determinants of the aquaculture supply chain in Vietnam, one of the world’s top 10 biggest exporting countries of aquaculture products. The paper reviews the list of measures and determinants of the aquaculture supply chain before and after the COVID-19 pandemic from the literature. It forms the framework under the shade of Resource-Based View theory. A total of 38 interviews with managers and CEOs of 36 enterprises and two government agencies in the aquaculture supply chain in Vietnam were conducted to explore the strategic changes in the measures of determinants to cope with the new circumstances of current global trade. The findings contribute to enriching the theory in the new VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) business environment after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, SCA should be defined by supply chain virtues that are associated with the new business environment, such as SC resilience, SC sustainability, SC reliability, SC integration, etc. This finding implies a new horizon for RBV applications, highlighting their adaptability. It suggests that the measures defining competitive advantage in the new business environment should extend beyond the traditional tangible and intangible resources under business certainty. They should also encompass those that differentiate the firms and their supply chain during business turbulence.
Meteorological Data Processing Method for Energy-Saving Design of Intelligent Buildings Based on the Compressed Sensing Reconstruction Algorithm
Authors: Jia Jingjing , Kim Chulsoo , Zhang Chunxiao , Han Mengmeng , Li Xiaoyun
Published: February 2025

With the increasingly severe problems of global climate change and resource scarcity, sustainable development has become an important issue of common concern in various industries. The construction industry is one of the main sources of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, and sustainable buildings are an effective way to address climate change and resource scarcity. Meteorological conditions are closely related to building energy efficiency. Therefore, the research is founded upon a substantial corpus of meteorological data, employing a compressed sensing reconstruction algorithm to supplement the absent meteorological data, and subsequently integrating an enhanced density peak clustering algorithm for data mining. Finally, an intelligent, sustainable, building energy-saving design platform is designed based on this. The research results show that in the case of random defects in monthly timed data that are difficult to repair, the reconstruction error of the compressed sensing reconstruction algorithm is only 0.0403, while the improved density peak clustering algorithm has the best accuracy in both synthetic and real datasets, with an average accuracy corresponding to 0.9745 and 0.8304. Finally, in the application of the intelligent, sustainable, building energy-saving design platform, various required information such as HVAC data energy-saving design parameters, cloud cover, and temperature radiation are intuitively and fully displayed. The above results indicate that the research method can effectively explore the potential valuable information of sustainable building energy-saving design, providing a reference for the design of sustainable buildings and climate analysis.
Fostering Sustainability and Resilience in Engineering Education and Practice: Lessons Learnt from the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquakes
Authors: Sadikoglu Emel , Demirkesen Sevilay , Dal Oguz , Seker Onur , Nowak Paweł , Toprak Selcuk
Published: February 2025

Sustainability involves continuously enhancing processes to yield long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits. The construction industry necessitates innovative and practical approaches in both education and construction practice to foster sustainable development. This study contributes to the discourse on sustainability in engineering education and construction practice by presenting the outcomes of the European-funded project “CLOEMC VI—Common Learning Outcomes for European Managers in Construction”. The main aim of this study is to investigate construction practices and civil engineering education from the perspective of sustainability considering the impact of earthquakes on the construction sector. This study incorporates insights from interviews conducted with construction professionals in the region affected by the February 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes in Turkey. The interviews examine reflections on building sustainable cities through earthquake-resilient practices. This study also conducts a questionnaire survey targeting academics in civil engineering departments in Turkey. The questionnaire survey evaluated the integration of sustainability and resilience into civil engineering curricula. The key contribution of this research lies in demonstrating how the manuals developed under the EU-funded project can be effectively integrated into engineering education and how insights from disaster-affected communities can inform a more robust framework for sustainability. This study provides valuable guidance for policymakers and researchers in developing strategies for implementing sustainability in engineering education and the construction industry, ultimately contributing to the advancement of sustainable development practices.
Carbon Dioxide Emission Forecast: A Review of Existing Models and Future Challenges
Authors: Tian Yaxin , Ren Xiang , Li Keke , Li Xiangqian
Published: February 2025

In the face of global climate change, accurately predicting carbon dioxide emissions has become an urgent requirement for environmental science and policy-making. This article provides a systematic review of the literature on carbon dioxide emission forecasting, categorizing existing research into four key aspects. Firstly, regarding model input variables, a thorough discussion is conducted on the pros and cons of univariate models versus multivariable models, balancing operational simplicity with high accuracy. Secondly, concerning model types, a detailed comparison is made between statistical methods and machine learning methods, with a particular emphasis on the outstanding performance of deep learning models in capturing complex relationships in carbon emissions. Thirdly, regarding model data, the discussion explores annual emissions and daily emissions, highlighting the practicality of annual predictions in policy-making and the importance of daily predictions in providing real-time support for environmental policies. Finally, regarding model quantity, the differences between single models and ensemble models are examined, emphasizing the potential advantages of considering multiple models in model selection. Based on the existing literature, future research will focus on the integration of multiscale data, optimizing the application of deep learning models, in-depth analysis of factors influencing carbon emissions, and real-time prediction, providing scientific support for a more comprehensive, real-time, and adaptive response to the challenges of climate change. This comprehensive research outlook aims to provide scientists and policymakers with reliable information on carbon emissions, promoting the achievement of environmental protection and sustainable development goals.
Evaluating Climate Change Effects on Coastal Tourism over the Black Sea Region by Using the Summer Simmer Index
Authors: Zeydan Özgür , Zeydan İlknur , Gürbüz Ahmet
Published: February 2025

Climate change will have a tremendous effect on tourism activities. Tourism revenue plays a crucial role in the Turkish economy; therefore, it is vital to assess the impacts of climate change on tourism. This research aims to investigate the effects of climate change on seaside tourism on the Black Sea region in Türkiye. The summer simmer index (SSI) was utilized to determine the climatic comfort conditions in the summer months. Meteorological data, over 30 years, was used to observe the impact of climate change. Mann–Kendall trend analysis and Şen’s innovative trend analysis were applied to reveal the trends. As a result, SSI zones were computed as zones 1, 2, 3, and 4. Zone 4 was rarely observed. Thermal comfort conditions in the summer were found to not pose a health threat to tourists. Both trend methods determined an upward trend of SSI scores in Akçakoca, Samsun, Rize, and Hopa. These destinations are becoming more favorable in terms of seaside tourism due to climate change. The results of this study can be used for destination marketing. Tourism decision makers may benefit from these results for developing coastal tourism in this region.
Preliminary Study of Yucatan Porcine Breast Morphology: Identifying Basic Differences and Similarities for Surgical Model Applications
Authors: Gagne Darcy H. , Steele Catherine C. , Keating John , Bradbury Kasia , Badhwar Amit , Elahi Sakib F.
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: The porcine mammary anatomy is poorly characterized, and structures are difficult to differentiate macroscopically, unlike human mammary tissue. The objective of this exploratory study was to describe the Yucatan porcine breast tissue morphology and identify the basic differences and similarities to human breast tissue. Methods: Samples from an adult, non-parous female Yucatan pig were prepared utilizing various methods: freezing at −80 °F (−26.67 °C) with a thickness of 0.5 cm/post-fixation in formalin; freezing at −20 °F (−6.67 °C) with a thickness of 0.5 cm/post-fixation in formalin; or formalin fixed and incised at ~0.8 cm. A descriptive comparison of the gross and microscopic images of the porcine breast morphology to the previously described human breast anatomy was performed. Results: As examined grossly, frozen sections allowed narrower serial cross-sectioning and better visualization of the structures and relationships. The mammary glands were poorly demarcated with extensive interspersed adipose tissue throughout the periphery. The mammary tissue appeared grossly as pigmented tissue and extended within ~0.5 cm from the skin surface, ~2.0 cm deep (within ~0.5 cm of the deep muscle layer), and ~6.5 cm laterally (centered on a teat). There were a number of similarities between Yucatan porcine and human breast tissue, yet there were several inherent structural differences. In contrast to human mammary tissue, porcine mammary glands consist of more diffuse acinar tissue, less well demarcated by defined fascial, lamellar, and ligamentous structures. Conclusions: The Yucatan porcine mammary morphology and similarities to the human mammary region allow for the use of this animal model to guide those developing relevant technologies or performing local surgical interventions in the preclinical setting.
HPV-Associated Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cervical Cancer Screening: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Latorre-Millán Miriam , Tristancho-Baró Alexander , Burillo Natalia , Ariza Mónica , Milagro Ana María , Abad Pilar , Baquedano Laura , Borque Amparo , Rezusta Antonio
Published: February 2025

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs-O) are promoters to the development of cervical cancer (CC), especially when they co-exist. This study aims to determine the prevalence of the major STIs-O and the rate of co-infection in women previously diagnosed with HR-HPV infection. For this observational study, 254 women aged 25–65 years who were being followed up for HR-HPV infection (without a CC history) were recruited at a hospital’s Gynaecology Department from February 2024 to November 2024. Their endocervical specimens were collected and processed for HR-HPV, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis detection by RT-PCR using commercially available reagents and equipment. The overall rate of infection was 38.6% for HPV and 4.3% for ITSs-O (3.8% in HPV-negative women and 5.1% in HPV-positive women). The presence of ITSs-O in women aged 25–34 was higher in those with a persistent positive result for HR-HPV (20.0% vs. 4.2%). Diverse multiple co-infections were found in HPV-positive women, whilst some single STIs-O were found in HPV-negative women. These results support the benefits of STI-O screening beyond an HR-HPV positive result, especially in those women under 35 years old.
Choose Your Own Adventure: Using Twine for Gamified Interactive Learning in Veterinary Anaesthesia
Authors: Redondo José I. , Marti-Scharfhausen M. Reyes , Martínez-Albiñana Agustín , Cañón-Pérez Ariel , Gutiérrez-Bautista Álvaro J. , Viscasillas Jaime , Hernández-Magaña E. Zoe
Published: February 2025

Veterinary anaesthesia requires theoretical knowledge and quick decision-making skills. Traditional education may not adequately prepare students, while simulation-based learning enhances engagement and skill development. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Twine-based web system in improving experiential learning, engagement, knowledge retention, and decision-making skills in veterinary anaesthesia students. Five interactive clinical cases were developed using Twine, simulating realistic anaesthesia scenarios with decision points and gamified elements, such as scoring systems and resource management. These modules were accessible on various devices via the web. Following a workshop for second- to fourth-year students of the Degree in Veterinary Sciences, an anonymous survey assessed the module’s effectiveness. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative feedback was processed through a hybrid AI–human thematic analysis. Out of 849 invited students, 367 responded (42% response rate). Feedback was highly positive; 90.8% found it effective for training, and 97.0% agreed it improved knowledge. User-friendliness was rated as “easy” or “very easy” by 94.6%. Regarding overall satisfaction, 96.7% of students described the workshop as “good” or “excellent”. Some participants suggested improvements in mobile device compatibility and the need for additional resources to understand the concepts better. Twine’s interactive format fosters experiential learning while reducing reliance on live animals, aligning with modern ethical standards. Its accessibility via web and translation-enabled browsers enhances its reach. Future research should examine Twine’s impact on clinical skills retention and adaptability in various educational contexts, providing a flexible approach to veterinary anaesthesia education through gamified learning.
Advanced Biotechnologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Hung Yung-Tse , Abdel Rahman Rehab O. , Al-Khatib Issam A. , Imai Tsuyoshi
Published: February 2025

The use of biotechnology to control and prevent the contamination of water resources has a long track record that goes back to the beginning of the 20th century [...]
Reactive Transport Modeling of Uranium in Subsurface: Impact of Field-Scale Heterogeneity and Biogeochemical Dynamics
Authors: Gökçe Selin , Şengör S. Sevinç
Published: February 2025

Understanding the fate of contaminants in heterogeneous aquifer systems is crucial to explain their transport behavior. Although it has been proven that heterogeneity has a significant control over the quantification of these processes, the extent of this impact is yet to be studied. The unique contribution of this work lies in the assessment of field-scale physical and chemical heterogeneity in modeling reactive transport processes in the subsurface. The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of physical and chemical heterogeneity in understanding biogeochemical processes of contaminants in the subsurface environment, coupled with advective and dispersive transport in situ with mixing limitations. This study is particularly focused on an example of uranium, where especially coupled bioreduction and reoxidation processes in the presence of Fe (III) hydroxides are considered. For this purpose, 2D numerical biogeochemical reactive transport models are developed to simulate the fate and transport of uranium in a heterogeneously distributed subsurface. Results have shown that neglecting spatial heterogeneity might lead to an overestimation of uranium bioreduction, where physical heterogeneity has been observed to have a greater impact than chemical heterogeneity in the absence of adsorption reactions. On the other hand, when adsorption of uranium is included, the significance of chemical heterogeneity is more pronounced. Thus, when potential adsorption of contaminants is ignored or if chemical heterogeneity is ignored in the presence of adsorption reactions, the contaminant concentrations might be underestimated. The underestimation is more pronounced in low hydraulic conductivity zones due to the mixing limitations for soluble compounds, whereas for immobile phase interactions, high hydraulic conductivity regions became significant. The impact of U(IV) reoxidation process is also more pronounced in the presence of chemical heterogeneity and particularly enhanced in the zones with the highest mixing. The findings of this study can shed light on identifying the conditions that necessitate the accurate characterizations of physical and chemical heterogeneity in predicting contaminant transport with mixing limitations subject to competing biogeochemical reactions in the natural subsurface.
Methods for Estimating Flow Discharge in Ice-Covered Channels
Authors: Zhao Haojie , Mao Zeyu
Published: February 2025

River ice formation is common in high-latitude areas, where it significantly impacts the accuracy of river flow measurements. The most commonly used method to solve the ice-covered channel flow measurement problem is to combine physical boundary conditions, which effectively reduces the large amount of work required for measuring flow in frozen channels, especially for hard-to-obtain flow characteristic data. Through theoretical analysis, this study proposes a general formula applicable to flow discharge prediction in ice-covered channels. It is unaffected by the shape of the channel and somewhat unifies the flow prediction formulas for ice-covered channels. Two simplified flow discharge prediction formulas are proposed based on the general formula. Experimental data from the literature are collected to verify the applicability of the general formula and the two simplified formulas, which are compared with the Lotter, Sabaneev, Larsen, and Pavlovskiy formulas. The results show that the proposed general formula and the two simplified formulas are more accurate in estimating flow in ice-covered channels compared to traditional formulas.
Rapid Prediction and Inversion of Pond Aquaculture Water Quality Based on Hyperspectral Imaging by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Ma Qiliang , Li Shuimiao , Qi Hengnian , Yang Xiaoming , Liu Mei
Published: February 2025

Water quality in aquaculture has a direct impact on the growth and development of the aquatic organisms being cultivated. The rapid, accurate and comprehensive control of water quality in aquaculture ponds is crucial for the management of aquaculture water environments. Traditional water quality monitoring methods often use manual sampling, which is not only time-consuming but also reflects only small areas of water bodies. In this study, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with high-spectral cameras were used to take remote sensing images of experimental aquaculture ponds. Concurrently, we manually collected water samples to analyze critical water quality parameters, including total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Regression models were developed to assess the accuracy of predicting these parameters based on five preprocessing techniques for hyperspectral image data (L2 norm, Savitzky–Golay, first derivative, wavelet transform, and standard normal variate), two spectral feature selection methods were utilized (successive projections algorithm and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling), and three machine learning algorithms (extreme learning machine, support vector regression, and eXtreme gradient boosting). Additionally, a deep learning model incorporating the full spectrum was constructed for comparative analysis. Ultimately, according to the determination coefficient (R2) of the model, the optimal prediction model was selected for each water quality parameter, with R2 values of 0.756, 0.603, 0.94, and 0.858, respectively. These optimal models were then utilized to visualize the spatial concentration distribution of each water quality parameter within the aquaculture district, and evaluate the rationality of the model prediction by combining manual detection data. The results show that UAV hyperspectral technology can rapidly reverse the spatial distribution map of water quality of aquaculture ponds, realizing rapid and accurate acquisition for the quality of aquaculture water, and providing an effective method for monitoring aquaculture water environments.
Enseñanza creativa y la conciencia ambiental en estudiantes de secundaria de una institución privada Perú
Authors: Vicente Cuzcano María Ysabel
Published: February 2025

El deterioro ambiental constituye un problema global, donde la educación juega un papel esencial en la formación de ciudadanos comprometidos con la sostenibilidad. Este estudio analiza la influencia de la enseñanza creativa en la conciencia ambiental de estudiantes de secundaria en una institución privada de Cañete, Perú. Con un enfoque cuantitativo y diseño correlacional, se trabajó con una muestra de 63 estudiantes, utilizando la Escala General de Comportamiento Ecológico (GEB-50) y el Test de Pensamiento Creativo de Torrance (TTCT). Los resultados evidenciaron que la enseñanza creativa influye positivamente en la conciencia ambiental, con significancia estadística en todas las dimensiones evaluadas. En conclusión, la enseñanza creativa resulta fundamental para promover una conciencia ambiental significativa y fomentar comportamientos sostenibles en los estudiantes.