bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multipole Multi-Layered Magnetorheological Brake with Intermediate Slots
Authors: Shiao Yaojung , Kantipudi Mahendra Babu
Published: December 2024

Magnetorheological (MR) brakes are flourishing in low-torque applications due to their dynamic controllability nature. Researchers have introduced multi-layer and multipole concepts to increase the torque–volume ratio (TVR) of the MR brake. However, the combination of these two ideas did not exist due to the design limitations. Therefore, this study aims to design a brake that combines the multipole magnetic field and multi-layered structure concepts. The axial slots were introduced on the brake rotor and the stator drum axial surfaces to achieve a high TVR. These slots stop the flux bypass in the inner layers; therefore, the magnetic flux can also reach the brake’s outer layers. This brake was designed with multiple stator and rotor drums and MR fluid layers. The number of poles was placed so that the magnetic field from these poles traveled in a closed loop via the stator, rotor, and MR layers. A 3D model of the brake was prepared for the virtual study. Electromagnetic simulations were conducted to analyze the effect of axial slots’ and other design parameters of the brake. According to those simulation results, the axial slots’ width and position significantly affect the brake output torque. The maximum torque obtained from the brake is 38 Nm, and the TVR value of the brake is 41 Nm/dm3. Additionally, multiphysics simulations were performed to understand the Joule-heating effect of the magnetic coil and the frictional heating in MR fluid. Results showed that the maximum possible temperature in the brake is under the MR fluid temperature limits. Therefore, this multipole multi-layered (MPML) MR brake with axial slots idea is very useful for high-torque MR brake growth.
Method for Recognizing Disordered Sugarcane Stacking Based on Improved YOLOv8n
Authors: Liu Jiaodi , Zhang Bang , Xu Hongzhen , Zhang Lichang , Zhang Xiaolong
Published: December 2024

In order to enhance the efficiency and precision of grab-type planting operations for disordered stacked sugarcane, and to achieve rapid deployment of the visual detection model on automatic sugarcane seed-cane planters, this study proposes a sugarcane detection algorithm based on an improved YOLOv8n model. Firstly, the backbone network of YOLOv8n is replaced with VanillaNet to optimize feature extraction capability and computational efficiency; the InceptionNeXt deep convolutional structure is integrated, utilizing its multi-scale processing feature to enhance the model’s ability to recognize sugarcane of different shapes and sizes. Secondly, the ECA attention mechanism is incorporated in the feature fusion module C2F to further enhance the recognition model’s capability to capture key features of sugarcane. The MPDIOU loss function is employed to improve the resolution of recognizing overlapping sugarcane, reducing misidentification and missed detection. Experimental results show that the improved YOLOv8n model achieves 96% and 71.5% in mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95 respectively, which are increases of 5.1 and 6.4 percentage points compared to the original YOLOv8n model; moreover, compared to the currently popular Faster-RCNN, SSD, and other YOLO series object detection models, it not only improves detection accuracy but also significantly reduces the number of model parameters. The research results provide technical support for subsequent sugarcane grab-type planting recognition and mobile deployment.
Degradation Assessment of In-Service Transformer Oil Based on Electrical and Chemical Properties
Authors: Mustafa Ehtasham , Ahmad Bilal , Ali Malik Imran , Afia Ramy S. A. , Ullah Rahmat
Published: December 2024

In order to ensure the long-term reliability and safety of power transformers, it is important to continuously monitor the characteristics of insulating oil, which not only helps in understanding its behavior over time but also ensures the safety of the equipment. The current study analyzes in-service insulating oil with the aim of relating deterioration and changes in the oil with service aging. Insulating oil samples were collected from three power transformers, with a voltage level of 220 kV and 132 kV, installed at a 220 kV substation. Electrical and chemical characteristics were obtained, and the impact of service aging and the relationships among load variation, oil, and winding temperatures with the characteristics were evaluated. Variations in the dielectric dissipation factor and breakdown voltage with service aging were recorded for all transformers, while the moisture content increased with each service year. Among the concentrations of gases present in the insulating oil, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitrogen concentrations increased after each service year. The impact of load variation on the breakdown voltage of the 132 kV transformer oil was more prominent than for the 220 kV transformers. The analysis of gas ratios and moisture content identified the degradation of cellulose insulation in all transformers, which was due to the presence of electrical faults.
Noise Reduction in CWRU Data Using DAE and Classification with ViT
Authors: Jang Jun-gyo , Lee Soon-sup , Hwang Se-yun , Lee Jae-chul
Published: December 2024

With the Fourth Industrial Revolution unfolding worldwide, technologies including the Internet of Things, sensors, and artificial intelligence are undergoing rapid development. These technological advancements have played a significant role in the dramatic growth of the predictive maintenance market for mechanical equipment, prompting active research on noise removal techniques and classification algorithms for the accurate determination of the causes of equipment failure. In this study, time series data were preprocessed using the denoising autoencoder technique, a deep learning-based noise removal method, to improve the accuracy of failure classification from mechanical equipment data. To convert the preprocessed time series data into frequency components, the short-time Fourier transform technique was employed. The fault types of mechanical equipment were classified using the vision transformer (ViT) technique, a deep learning technique that has been actively used in recent image analysis research. Additionally, the classification performance of the ViT-based technique for vibration time series data was comparatively validated against existing classification algorithms. The accuracy of failure classification was the highest when the data, preprocessed using a Denoising Autoencoder (DAE), were classified by a Vision Transformer (ViT).
Perception of Familiar Second Language Accents and the Role of Linguistic Background
Authors: Georgiou Georgios P.
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the ability of listeners to categorize second language (L2) accents with high familiarity and examines how their linguistic background affects their categorization accuracy. The participants were first language (L1) Greek bilingual and multilingual listeners, who completed a task involving the categorization of talkers’ origins. After listening to samples of English (the listeners’ L2) and Greek-accented English, they assigned each sample to either England or Greece. Both bilingual and multilingual listeners showed accuracy above chance levels. This suggests among other findings that shared knowledge of the target language structure by both the talkers and listeners who speak the same L1 (i.e., Greek) and the use of common interlanguage patterns by the talkers may have aided in the easy identification of Greek-accented English by the listeners. Interestingly, multilinguals did not demonstrate higher accuracy than bilinguals in categorizing accents, indicating that the exposure advantage found in previous research may not apply when familiarity effects are strong. Another important finding was the better identification of Greek-accented English compared to English by the listeners; this provides evidence that listeners were more attuned to the acoustic features characteristic of the former accent. The findings carry theoretical and pedagogical implications for L2 acquisition and crosslinguistic speech perception.
A Fundamental Study on an SAP Mixed Asphalt Mixture for Reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect
Authors: Jang Dae-Seong , Lim Chi-Su , Lee Kanghwi , Baek Cheolmin
Published: December 2024

As the average temperature in summer rises and heat waves occur more frequently, the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon is becoming a social problem. Asphalt road pavement stores heat during the day, raising the surface temperature, and releases the stored heat at night, thereby aggravating the UHI phenomenon. Government authorities often spray water to lower the temperature of road pavement for the safety and convenience of citizens. However, the effect is immediate and does not last long. Therefore, in order to reduce the urban heat island phenomenon by spraying water, the recovery time of the surface temperature must be delayed. In this study, Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), a highly absorbent polymer that absorbs 100 to 500 times its weight in water, was applied to asphalt road pavement. SAP is commonly used in diapers, feminine hygiene products, soil moisturizers, and concrete, and its scope is gradually expanding. The purpose of this study is to reduce the urban heat island phenomenon by mixing the SAP into asphalt and to increase the latent heat flux by evaporating the water absorbed by the SAP, thereby delaying the recovery time of the surface temperature of the road pavement. In this study, the performance of asphalt mixtures mixed with the SAP and the thermal characteristics according to the mixing amount were analyzed. In this study, the physical properties and temperature reduction performance of the asphalt mixture according to the SAP type and content were studied. The results of indoor and outdoor experiments on asphalt mixtures using the SAP showed that they satisfied the mechanical performance criteria as asphalt pavement materials and that the temperature recovery delay effect was improved.
Crossover Operator Inspired by the Selection Operator for an Evolutionary Task Sequencing Algorithm
Authors: Ciepliński Piotr , Golak Sławomir
Published: December 2024

This paper proposes a novel crossover operator for evolutionary algorithms in task sequencing and verifies its efficacy. Unlike the conventional blind and entirely stochastic selection of sequence fragments exchanged with the second individual, the proposed operator employs a method where the probability of fragment selection is influenced by the total cost of internal connections within the exchanged fragments. At the same time, the new operator retains its stochastic nature and is not a deterministic operator, which reduces the risk of the evolutionary algorithm getting stuck in a local minimum. The idea of the proposed crossover operator was based on the main mechanism of the evolutionary algorithm that determines the success of this type of algorithm selection. To assess its effectiveness, the new operator was compared against previously employed crossover operators using a traveling salesman problem (TSP) instance in a multidimensional space in order to map the problem of symmetric sequencing tasks described with multiparameters (e.g., a symmetric variant of production tasks sequencing).
Preferred Chemical Agent for Electrochemical Modification of Physical and Mechanical Parameters of Mudstone
Authors: Chen Xiangchen , Han Liu , Tovele Gerson S. V. , Kong Jiangrong , Yang Han
Published: December 2024

To study the influence of electrochemically modified mediums on the physical and mechanical parameters of mudstone samples, focusing on electrolyte solutions and electrode materials, this paper combines theoretical analysis and experimental research. It analyzes the modification mechanism of mudstone through electrochemical techniques, clarifying that the main factors improving the strength of mudstone are electro-osmotic drainage consolidation and electrochemical reaction cementation. The mudstone was electrochemically modified using the controlled variable method. The mudstone sample’s hydraulic properties and shear strength were measured before and after modification. The study compared and analyzed the effectiveness of different modified materials. The results indicated that the liquid limit of the modified mudstone samples decreased by 7.874%, while the plastic limit increased by 9.499%. The type of ions introduced by the electrolyte solution influenced the cementation strength of the mudstone. AlCl3 solutions with a 10% mass fraction and CaCl2 solutions with a 25% mass fraction both effectively modify the reinforcement; however, the AlCl3 solution with a 10% mass fraction is the most effective for modifying mudstone samples. The electrochemical modification of mudstone samples with the three electrode materials (graphite, iron and aluminum) revealed that the samples modified with graphite electrodes had the highest shear strength, while those modified with aluminum electrodes had the lowest shear strength. The internal friction angle of graphite electrode-modified mudstone specimens was 26.7°, compared to the original value of 23.9°, and the cohesion was 34.4 kPa, compared to the original value of 12.3 kPa, nearly three times the original value. It is recommended to use graphite electrodes and a 10% mass fraction of AlCl3 for the electrochemical modification of this type of mudstone in engineering applications.
Optimization Design Study of Pipe Curtain Freezing Scheme for Sanya Estuary Submarine Channel
Authors: Ye Tingfen , Hu Jun , Wang Yongwei , Gan Huajing , Zhang Shuai , Wang Ying
Published: December 2024

The artificial freezing construction technology, compared to other methods, offers several advantages, including superior waterproofing capabilities and the absence of environmental pollution. This technique is particularly prevalent in the construction of tunnels in challenging environments, where the dynamics of the freezing temperature field during the freezing process have consistently been a key area of interest during actual construction activities. In the Sanya Estuary Channel Submarine Tunnel Project, a three-dimensional transient model was developed using COMSOL finite element software to deeply analyze the formation and temperature distribution of the permafrost curtain. Two alternative schemes were designed to improve the original design by optimizing the layout of the permafrost pipeline. Comparative analysis shows that the isotherm −10 °C intersected at 14 days in the original scheme, 23 days in Optimized Scheme 1, and 24 days in Optimized Scheme 2, indicating a 10-day delay in Scheme 2 versus the original, yet still meeting the 25-day deadline. After 40 days of active freezing, the greatest difference in permafrost curtain thickness was observed at the east wall (downstream), with Scheme 2 differing by 1.05 m from the original and by 0.23 m from Scheme 1. Scheme 2 achieved an average permafrost curtain thickness of 4.18 m around the tunnel, exceeding the 3.5-m design requirement. The mean temperatures in the strong and weak freezing zones of Scheme 2 were below −10 °C and −8 °C, respectively, aligning with design standards. Given the conservative nature of the initial plan, Optimized Scheme 2 is highly practical for implementation and offers significant cost savings.
Performance Evaluation of Hybrid PSO-BPNN-AdaBoost and PSO-BPNN-XGBoost Models for Rockburst Prediction with Imbalanced Datasets
Authors: Li Shujian , Lu Pengpeng , Liang Weizhang , Chen Ying , Da Qi
Published: December 2024

The rockburst hazard is a primary geological disaster endangering the environment in underground engineering. Due to the complexity of the rockburst mechanism, traditional methods are insufficient to predict the rockburst hazard objectively, especially when dealing with an imbalanced dataset. To address this issue, the hybrid models of PSO-BPNN-AdaBoost and PSO-BPNN-XGBoost were developed to predict rockburst hazards in this study. First, a rockburst dataset with 266 cases was constructed, containing six indicators: the maximum tangential stress, uniaxial compressive strength, uniaxial tensile strength, elastic deformation energy index, tangential stress index, and brittleness coefficient of strength. Then, the original dataset was oversampled using the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) for dataset balancing. Subsequently, the PSO-BPNN-AdaBoost and PSO-BPNN-XGBoost models were constructed and evaluated to have the best accuracies of 0.901 and 0.851, respectively. Finally, the developed models were applied to predict the rockburst hazard in the Daxaingling Tunnel, the Cangling Tunnel, and the Zhongnanshan Tunnel shaft. The results indicate that the obtained rockburst hazard levels are consistent with engineering records, and the developed PSO-BPNN-AdaBoost and PSO-BPNN-XGBoost models are reliable for rockburst prediction.
Lower Limb Osteochondrosis and Apophysitis in Young Athletes—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Maruszczak Krystian , Madej Tomasz , Gawda Piotr
Published: December 2024

Osteochondrosis and apophysitis are common causes of pain in the growing skeleton, each with different causes and treatment approaches. Osteochondrosis involves degenerative processes affecting the epiphyseal ossification centers of the developing bones, while apophysitis results from repetitive traction injuries to the tendon insertions and affects both the cartilage and the underlying bone. Raising awareness of these conditions is crucial to facilitate the recovery of young athletes and prevent their sporting careers from being jeopardized early on. This review presents six known lower limb conditions that occur in young athletes, including three apophysitis such as Osgood–Schlatter disease, Sinding–Larsen–Johansson syndrome, and Sever’s disease, and three osteochondroses, including Perthes’ disease, Köhler’s disease, and Freiberg’s disease. The aim of this review is to outline the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment strategies for each of these conditions to provide a comprehensive understanding of their impact on young athletes. This review will provide clinicians, coaches, and physiotherapists with essential, evidence-based insights to increase their awareness of these conditions and refine treatment strategies for young athletes.
Functional Yogurt: Types and Health Benefits
Authors: Sarıtaş Sümeyye , Mondragon Portocarrero Alicia del Carmen , Miranda Jose M. , Witkowska Anna Maria , Karav Sercan
Published: December 2024

In the past decade, the increasing interest in healthy consumption has encouraged the development of functional products in the yogurt sector. Dairy products are extensively used in the production of functional foods because of their excellent and versatile technological properties. Among dairy products, yogurt is one of the dairy foods that has been most widely used to deliver bioactive compounds to consumers. The market features various types of functional yogurt, including probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic, high protein, lactose free, and novel products known as easy-to-digest yogurt. The added ingredients in these products influence the structural, nutritional, and functional properties of yogurt. These effects vary depending on the chemical and biological characteristics of each ingredient. Additionally, during fermentation, the added substances can impact the number and viability of the bacteria involved, affecting the quality of the products during storage. Furthermore, the consumption of functional yogurt is associated with various health benefits. These benefits are linked not only to supporting health but also to altering the course of a disease or alleviating symptoms. This review article discusses functional yogurt and its health effects, incorporating recent studies.
Analysing Online Reviews Consumers’ Experiences of Mobile Travel Applications with Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modelling: The Example of Booking and Expedia
Authors: Çaylak Pınar Çelik , Kayakuş Mehmet , Eksili Nisa , Yiğit Açikgöz Fatma , Coşkun Artuğ Eren , Ichimov Mirona Ana Maria , Moiceanu Georgiana
Published: December 2024

This study aims to analyse consumer experiences, purchase behaviours, and emotional responses through Booking and Expedia’s mobile applications. The 2000 user reviews collected from Google Play were subjected to a comprehensive sentiment analysis, text mining, and topic modelling process to identify the key elements that shape consumers’ emotional experiences and purchase decisions. According to the results of text mining and sentiment analysis performed with Python’s WordNet library, 81.9% of Booking.com reviews are positive, 8.4% are negative, and 11.3% are neutral, whereas 55.8% of Expedia reviews are positive, 37.8% are negative, and 8.0% are neutral. In the topic modelling analysis, Booking.com emphasised ease of booking, while Expedia emphasised difficulties in cancellation and refund processes. These findings provide valuable insights into how consumers’ emotional states and purchasing behaviours are reflected in their experiences with mobile applications. The study enables the development of strategic recommendations for marketing management to better analyse consumers’ expectations and experiences.
Potential Impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Biotechnology
Authors: Gomes Alexandrina , Gonçalves Beatriz , Inglês Bruno , Silvério Sara , Pinto Carlos A. , Saraiva Jorge A.
Published: December 2024

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in biotechnology has become increasingly significant, driving advancements across multiple subfields in several areas of science. The demand for faster data analysis, integration of extensive databases, pattern recognition, problem solving, and even hypothesis generation has fueled the development of AI technologies in subjects like modern biotechnology, which AI has revolutionized, where the main goal is to develop new advanced products and technologies through the manipulation of biological organisms. The main impacts of AI observed in biotechnology are focused on four colors of biotechnology: green (agricultural sector); red (health sector); white (industries); and blue (marine sector). Numerous AI tools have been developed and made freely available, significantly reducing researchers’ workloads. However, the application of AI in biotechnology also raises questions that must be addressed. This review exhibits and discusses the impacts of AI on biotechnology, the advantages and disadvantages of its current presence, and the potential ethical issues and social impacts.
Correlation Between Impervious Surface and Surface Temperature Change in Typical Urban Agglomerations—The Case Study of Xuzhou City, China
Authors: Gao Yandong , Liu Huiqin , Zhang Hua , Zheng Nanshan , Li Shijin , Zhang Shubi , Zhang Di , Li Zhi , Yan Chao
Published: December 2024

Impervious areas are one of the important indicators for evaluating the urbanization process, while surface temperature is one of the reference factors for evaluating the urban environment. In order to investigate whether the spatial distribution of an impervious surface has any influence on urban surface temperature, Xuzhou City was selected as the study area, and the impervious surface information was extracted based on the maximum likelihood classification method for Xuzhou City for the period of 2013–2022, and surface temperature inversion was performed using Landsat 8 remote sensing imagery and nighttime lighting data. In order to reduce the confusion between bare soil and impervious surfaces, the study area was divided into built-up and non-built-up areas for the selection of impervious and pervious surface samples using nighttime lighting data, and, finally, the maximum likelihood classification method was used to realize the extraction of impervious surfaces. The experimental results show that, by extracting the impervious surface of Xuzhou City, the impervious surface of Xuzhou City continued to increase from 2013 to 2022, in which the growth rate was faster in 2014–2016 and 2019–2021, and slower in 2017–2018 and 2021–2022, after performing surface temperature inversion as well as temperature grading. The results of impervious surface extraction and surface temperature inversion were subjected to overlay analysis and linear regression analysis. It was found that most of the impervious surface area is in high-temperature areas, and the density of the impervious surface is proportional to the surface temperature in the impervious surface and its surrounding area. Therefore, it can be concluded that the expansion of impervious surfaces is one of the reasons for the increase in urban surface temperature.
SMS Spam Detection System Based on Deep Learning Architectures for Turkish and English Messages
Authors: Altunay Hakan Can , Albayrak Zafer
Published: December 2024

Short Message Service (SMS) still continues its existence despite the emergence of different messaging services. It plays a part in our lives as a communication service. Companies use SMS for advertisement purposes due to the fact that e-mail filtering systems have rooted, short message systems are being undersold by the operators, and spam detection and blocking systems used for short messages are ineffective. Individuals falling victim to SMS spam messages sent by malevolent persons incur pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses. The aim of this study is to present a hybrid model proposal with the intention of detecting SMS spam messages. This detection model uses a gated recurrent unit (GRU) and convolutional neural network (CNN) as two deep learning methods. However, the fact that both algorithms require high memory capacities is a limitation. The design for this model was laid out by using two different datasets containing combined text messages written in the Turkish and English languages. The datasets used in the study are TurkishSMSCollection and the SMS Spam dataset from the UCI database. The testing process was performed on the dataset through benchmarking as well as other machine learning algorithms. It was revealed in the study that the hybrid CNN + GRU approach attained an accuracy of 99.07% by demonstrating a better performance compared to the other algorithms.
Real-Time Operational Trial of Atmosphere–Ocean–Wave Coupled Model for Selected Tropical Cyclones in 2024
Authors: Lai Sin Ki , Chan Pak Wai , He Yuheng , Chen Shuyi S. , Kerns Brandon W. , Su Hui , Mo Huisi
Published: December 2024

An atmosphere–ocean–wave coupled regional model, the UWIN-CM, began its operational trial in real time at the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) in the second half of 2024. Its performance in the analysis of three selected tropical cyclones, Severe Tropical Storm Prapiroon, Super Typhoon Gaemi, and Super Typhoon Yagi, are studied in this paper. The forecast track and intensity of the tropical cyclones were verified against the operational analysis. It is shown that the track error of the UWIN-CM was lower than other regional numerical weather prediction (NWP) models in operation at the HKO, with a reduction in mean direct positional error of up to 50% for the first 48 forecast hours. For cyclone intensity, the performance of the UWIN-CM was the best out of the available global and regional models at HKO for Yagi at forecast hours T + 36 to T + 84 h. The model captured the rapid intensification of Yagi over the SCS with a lead time of 24 h or more. The forecast winds were compared with the in situ measurements of buoy and with the wind field analysis obtained from synthetic-aperture radar (SAR). The correlation of forecast winds with measurements from buoy and SAR ranged between 65–95% and 50–70%, respectively. The model was found to perform generally satisfactorily in the above comparisons.
Numerical Solution of the Sine–Gordon Equation by Novel Physics-Informed Neural Networks and Two Different Finite Difference Methods
Authors: Savović Svetislav , Ivanović Miloš , Drljača Branko , Simović Ana
Published: December 2024

This study employs a novel physics-informed neural network (PINN) approach, the standard explicit finite difference method (EFDM) and unconditionally positivity preserving FDM to tackle the one-dimensional Sine–Gordon equation (SGE). Two test problems with known analytical solutions are investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques. While the three employed approaches demonstrate strong agreement, our analysis reveals that the EFDM results are in the best agreement with the analytical solutions. Given the consistent agreement between the numerical results from the EFDM, unconditionally positivity preserving FDM and PINN approach and the analytical solutions, all three methods are recommended as competitive options. The solution techniques employed in this study can be a valuable asset for present and future model developers engaged in various nonlinear physical wave phenomena, such as propagation of solitons in optical fibers.
Computing the Set of RBF-FD Weights Within the Integrals of a Kernel-Based Function and Its Applications
Authors: Liu Tao , Ding Bolin , Shateyi Stanford
Published: December 2024

This paper offers an approach to computing Radial Basis Function–Finite Difference (RBF-FD) weights by integrating a kernel-based function. We derive new weight sets that effectively approximate both the first and second differentiations of a function, demonstrating their utility in interpolation and the resolution of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). Particularly, the paper evaluates the theoretical weights in interpolation tasks, highlighting the observed numerical orders, and further applies these weights to solve two distinct time-dependent PDE problems.
UPLC-MS/MS High-Risk Screening for Sphingolipidoses Using Dried Urine Spots
Authors: Martineau Tristan , Maranda Bruno , Auray-Blais Christiane
Published: December 2024

Background: Early detection of sphingolipidoses is crucial to prevent irreversible complications and improve patient outcomes. The use of urine samples dried on filter paper (DUS) is a non-invasive strategy that simplifies the collection, storage, and shipping of samples compared to using liquid urine specimens. Objectives: (1) Develop and validate a multiplex ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methodology using DUS to quantify twenty-one lysosphingolipids normalized to creatinine for eight different sphingolipidoses. (2) Establish normal reference values to evaluate the clinical utility of the methodology. Methods: Samples were eluted from a 5 cm filter paper disk (~1 mL of urine) and extracted on Oasis MCX solid-phase extraction cartridges prior to injection in the UPLC-MS/MS system. Results: Urinary lysosphingolipids were stable on DUS at −80 °C and −30 °C for 117 days, at 21.5 °C and 4 °C for at least 26 days, and at 35 °C for 3 days. Globotriaosylsphingosine, glucosylsphingosine, and their analogs were elevated in patients with Fabry disease and Gaucher disease, respectively, compared to controls (p-value < 0.0001). The analysis of related analog profiles suggests a better overall reliability in detecting patients early, especially for Fabry patients. Conclusions: This approach is feasible and might be useful for the early detection, monitoring, and follow-up of patients with sphingolipidoses.
Scouting as a Strategy in Support of Mental Health Development Through the Formation of Sense of Self-Efficacy
Authors: Szałachowski Roman Ryszard , Własak Weronika , Tuszyńska-Bogucka Wioletta
Published: December 2024

Background: This research project examining the moderating role of the Scout Movement in supporting mental health through the shaping of personal competence is based on Bandura’s conception of social development (social cognitive theory) in terms of generating a sense of general self-efficacy. Methods: This research examined the moderating value of Scouting with regard to the connection between self-esteem and a sense of efficacy and styles of coping with stress in a group of 683 volunteers. Results: The results suggest that Scouting is a moderator of the relationship between the intensity of an emotion-focused stress coping style and a sense of self-efficacy—being a Scout intensifies the blocking effect of self-esteem on emotions in stressful situations, which can positively influence emotion regulation. Conclusions: The features described suggest the need to research Scouting as a non-formal education strategy to support the development of young people’s mental health in different theoretical and methodological contexts. This work provides conclusions regarding understanding the role of Scouting as a moderator in coping with stress and, consequently, ensuring good mental health. It detailed the knowledge pertaining to specific mechanisms thanks to which Scouting can influence the development of emotional regulation and adaptive response to stressful situations.
Mismatch Negativity Unveils Tone Perception Strategies and Degrees of Tone Merging: The Case of Macau Cantonese
Authors: Wang Han , Gao Fei , Zhang Jingwei
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have examined the role of working memory in cognitive tasks such as syntactic, semantic, and phonological processing, thereby contributing to our understanding of linguistic information management and retrieval. However, the real-time processing of phonological information—particularly in relation to suprasegmental features like tone, where its contour represents a time-varying signal—remains a relatively underexplored area within the framework of Information Processing Theory (IPT). This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the real-time processing of similar tonal information by native Cantonese speakers, thereby providing a deeper understanding of how IPT applies to auditory processing. Methods: Specifically, this study combined assessments of cognitive functions, an AX discrimination task, and electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the discrimination results and real-time processing characteristics of native Macau Cantonese speakers perceiving three pairs of similar tones. Results: The behavioral results confirmed the completed merging of T2–T5 in Macau Cantonese, and the ongoing merging of T3–T6 and T4–T6, with perceptual merging rates of 45.46% and 27.28%, respectively. Mismatch negativity (MMN) results from the passive oddball experiment revealed distinct temporal processing patterns for the three tone pairs. Cognitive functions, particularly attention and working memory, significantly influenced tone discrimination, with more pronounced effects observed in the mean amplitude of MMN during T4–T6 discrimination. Differences in MMN peak latency between T3–T6 and T4–T6 further suggested the use of different perceptual strategies for these contour-related tones. Specifically, the T3–T6 pair can be perceived through early signal input, whereas the perception of T4–T6 relies on constant signal input. Conclusions: This distinction in cognitive resource allocation may explain the different merging rates of the two tone pairs. This study, by focusing on the perceptual difficulty of tone pairs and employing EEG techniques, revealed the temporal processing of similar tones by native speakers, providing new insights into tone phoneme processing and speech variation.
Consequences of the Pandemic on Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in the NHS
Authors: Vyas Arjun , Butakhieo Nantapong , Vyas Lina
Published: December 2024

In recent years, the public health system of the United Kingdom, the National Healthcare System (NHS), has encountered difficulties that have been acknowledged in research studies and public policy discussions, such as resignations and staff shortages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS healthcare workers were confronted with demanding circumstances, exacerbating the constraints of an already struggling system. With this, the authors of this paper aim to better understand the relationships between frustration at work, fear of infection, working hours, and the turnover intention of healthcare workers during the pandemic. This study employed a mixed-methods research approach, as a questionnaire survey was conducted along with an online self-administered interview questionnaire. Using mediation and moderated mediation analyses, it was found that the indirect effect of frustration at work through fear of infection on turnover intention was positively significant. Working hours moderated the mediation effect of fear of infection on the relationship between frustration at work and turnover intention. Surprisingly, the conditional indirect effect of frustration at work on turnover intention through fear of infection was the strongest among those with short working hours. This evidence was supplemented with qualitative results that enhance the understanding of why healthcare workers want to leave the system and the actions that can be taken on the organisational and policy fronts to address this issue.
A Review on the Effect of Synthetic Fibres, Including Macro Fibres, on the Thermal Behaviour of Fibre-Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Mehrabi Peyman , Dackermann Ulrike , Siddique Rafat , Rashidi Maria
Published: December 2024

The mechanical properties of concrete degrade rapidly when exposed to elevated temperatures. Adding fibres to concrete can enhance its thermal stability and residual mechanical characteristics under high-temperature conditions. Various types of fibres, including steel, synthetic and natural fibres, are available for this purpose. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the impact of synthetic fibres on the performance of fibre-reinforced concrete at high temperatures. It evaluates conventional synthetic fibres, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres, as well as newly emerging macro fibres that improve concrete’s fire resistance properties. The novelty of this review lies in its focus on macro fibres as a promising alternative to conventional synthetic fibres. The findings reveal that PE fibres significantly influence the residual mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced concrete at high temperatures. Although PVA fibres may reduce compressive strength at elevated temperatures, they help reduce micro-cracking and increase flexibility and flexural strength. Finally, this review demonstrates that while conventional synthetic fibres are effective in limiting fire-induced damage, macro fibres offer enhanced benefits, including improved toughness, energy absorption, durability, corrosion resistance, and post-cracking capacity. This study provides valuable insights for developing fibre-reinforced concrete with superior high-temperature performance. Steel fibres offer superior strength but are prone to corrosion and spalling, while PP fibres effectively reduce explosive spalling but provide limited strength improvement. PE fibres enhance flexural performance, and PVA fibres improve tensile strength and shrinkage control, although their performance decreases at high temperatures. Macro fibres stand out for their post-cracking capacity and toughness, offering a lightweight alternative with better overall durability.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Ultrasound: Current Developments, Limitations and Future Directions
Authors: Wu Yizhong , Ramai Daryl , Smith Eric R. , Mega Paulo F. , Qatomah Abdulrahman , Spadaccini Marco , Maida Marcello , Papaefthymiou Apostolis
Published: December 2024

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) effectively diagnoses malignant and pre-malignant gastrointestinal lesions. In the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has shown promising results in enhancing EUS sensitivity and accuracy, particularly for subepithelial lesions (SELs) like gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Furthermore, AI models have shown high accuracy in predicting malignancy in gastric GISTs and distinguishing between benign and malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). The utility of AI has also been applied to existing and emerging technologies involved in the performance and evaluation of EUS-guided biopsies. These advancements may improve training in EUS, allowing trainees to focus on technical skills and image interpretation. This review evaluates the current state of AI in EUS, covering imaging diagnosis, EUS-guided biopsies, and training advancements. It discusses early feasibility studies and recent developments, while also addressing the limitations and challenges. This article aims to review AI applications to EUS and its applications in clinical practice while addressing pitfalls and challenges.
Intracystic Glucose Measurement for On-Site Differentiation Between Mucinous and Non-Mucinous Pancreatic Cystic Lesions
Authors: Bruni Angelo , Eusebi Leonardo Henry , Lisotti Andrea , Ricci Claudio , Maida Marcello , Fusaroli Pietro , Barbara Giovanni , Sadik Riadh , Pagano Nico , Hedenström Per , Marasco Giovanni
Published: December 2024

Background: Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are frequently detected incidentally and vary from benign to malignant. Accurate differentiation between mucinous (M-PCLs) and non-mucinous PCLs (NM-PCLs) is essential for appropriate management. This study aims to validate the accuracy of on-site glucose measurement using a glucometer with a cut-off of 50 mg/dL for distinguishing M-PCLs from NM-PCLs. Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, conducted at three European academic hospitals, patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for PCLs between 2019 and 2020 were included. On-site glucose measurement was performed using a conventional glucometer. Data on demographics, clinical features, EUS findings, and histopathology were collected. Results: Fifty patients were enrolled, with 37 having glucose levels < 50 mg/dL and 13 ≥ 50 mg/dL. M-PCLs were more common in the <50 mg/dL group (81%) compared to the ≥50 mg/dL group (23%, p < 0.001). The median CEA was higher in the <50 mg/dL group (146 ng/mL) than in the ≥50 mg/dL group (3 ng/mL, p = 0.047). On-site glucose testing < 50 mg/dl demonstrated a sensitivity of 93.2%, a specificity of 76.5%, and an accuracy of 89% for detecting M-PCLs with an AUC of 0.74 and an OR of 14.29 (p < 0.001). In comparison, CEA > 192 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 55.6%, a specificity of 87.5%, and an accuracy of 75.8% for M-PCLs, with an AUC of 0.65 and an OR of 4.44. Conclusions: On-site glucose measurement using a glucometer with a cut-off of <50 mg/dL is a highly accurate, rapid, and cost-effective method for differentiating M-PCLs from NM-PCLs. Our results validate the glucose cut-off in a multicentric prospective cohort supporting its integration into standard diagnostic protocols for PCLs.
Are Pediatric Cancer Patients a Risk Group for Vitamin D Deficiency? A Systematic Review
Authors: Alexandru Alexandru , Ivan Cristiana-Smaranda , Tanasescu Sonia , Oprisoni Licina Andrada , Dragomir Tiberiu-Liviu , Varga Norberth-Istvan , Mateescu Diana , Diaconu Mircea , Margan Madalin-Marius , Boeriu Estera
Published: December 2024

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a global health concern, with potential implications for cancer development and progression. This systematic review investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric cancer patients and its potential impact on clinical outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify the relevant studies published between 2009 and July 2024. Studies were included if they assessed vitamin D status in pediatric cancer patients and reported on the clinical outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: The review included 20 original articles encompassing a diverse pediatric population with various cancer types. A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed across the studies. Deficiency was associated with older age and lower socioeconomic status. Several studies reported associations between vitamin D deficiency and the increased risk of infection, poorer treatment response, and decreased survival. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in pediatric cancer patients and may negatively impact clinical outcomes. Routine screening for vitamin D deficiency and personalized supplementation strategies should be considered in this population. Further research is needed to establish optimal vitamin D management protocols and evaluate the long-term benefits of vitamin D repletion in pediatric oncology.
Circulating microRNAs as a Prognostic Tool to Determine Treatment Efficacy in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Pembrolizumab PD-1 Blockade Immunotherapy
Authors: Mohamed Mansoor Mishfak A. , Zhu Xiang , Ashiqueali Sarah Aslam , Alam Md Tanjim , Winiarska Hanna , Pazdrowski Pawel , Kaminski Filip , Copik Alicja , Masternak Michal M. , Kuznar-Kaminska Barbara
Published: December 2024

Background: Pembrolizumab has recently emerged as a PD-1 blockade immunotherapy treatment for lung cancer. It is critical that such treatment strategies for lung cancer should be chosen not only on the basis of histopathological features and the expression of targetable cell surface proteins (such as PD-1), but should rather be selected based on other determinants of treatment success or risk factors for poor prognosis. One method to forecast cancer trajectory is the identification of biomolecular signatures such as microRNAs (miRNAs), non-protein-coding RNA molecules that play a regulatory role in gene expression by modulating the translation or stability of messenger RNA. Methods: To find out which miRNAs have an important influence on anti-PD-1 treatment outcomes, we evaluated miRNA levels in sera from 38 lung cancer patients undergoing 3 months of pembrolizumab treatment. We selected a panel of miRNAs previously shown to be involved in lung cancer or PD-1 signaling and performed qPCR analysis. Results: Overall, we observed a significant decrease in the levels of miR126-5p (4-fold), let-7a (5-fold), miR133a-3p (4-fold), miR3615 (2-fold), miR4516 (3-fold), miR16 (3-fold), miR34c-5p (2-fold), miR20b-5p (5-fold), miR106b-5p (5-fold), miR146a-5p (3-fold) and miR181b-5p (3-fold) in response to treatment indicating effectiveness of immunotherapy. Within our selected panel of miRNAs, we identified two markers relevant to cancer prognosis: miR-217, which is negatively associated with patient survival, and let-7a, which is positively associated with patient survival. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that circulating miRNAs can be used for future treatment evaluation and lung cancer prognosis, with potential as therapeutic targets.