bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“I lock myself in my room and cry in frustration”: an analysis of adolescent behaviors of child-to-parent violence
Authors: Arias-Rivera Shirley , Lorence Barbara , Maya Jesus
Published: February 2025

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) encompasses behaviors such as hitting, insulting, or threatening parents. Over the past decade, the number of CPV cases has increased significantly. While previous research has largely focused on classifying CPV behaviors and examining their causes, there is limited investigation into what happens immediately after CPV episodes. This study aims to describe the behaviors of adolescents following violent actions in both mild and severe cases of CPV. A randomized sample of 1,067 Spanish adolescents, participating in a national CPV project, was studied using the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Among them, 410 adolescents (41.91% boys and 57.84% girls) reported engaging in some form of CPV behavior in the past year, and 47 adolescents met the criteria for severe and repeated CPV. Specifically, 26 adolescents exhibited psychological and 27 exhibited physical CPV toward their mother, while 21 adolescents exhibited psychological and 15 physical CPV toward their father. Adolescents were asked, “What do you do after?” Following thematic analysis, adolescents’ responses were categorized into 6 themes and 17 sub-themes in mild cases. A possible sequence in adolescents’ responses was identified, divided into three phases. In the first phase, adolescents felt bad after their violent behavior, expressed remorse, reflected on it, and sought a safe place. In the second phase, apologizing to parents was the most common response, reported by 70.52% of adolescents. Finally, in the third phase, in addition to apologizing, adolescents attempted to talk with their parents, gave them a hug, or committed to not repeating the behavior. In contrast, 8% of adolescents normalized their behavior, joked about it, or justified their actions. In severe cases, most subthemes were consistent with those observed in mild CPV cases. However, in contrast to milder cases, severe cases showed a lower percentage of adolescents who felt bad or apologized and a higher proportion who normalized, avoided talking about, or justified their violent actions (23.4% of adolescents with severe CPV). This study highlights practical implications for interventions, such as the importance of helping them express their emotions, recognize the harm caused, identify safe spaces, people, or activities, and support them in the process of apologizing.
Teacher competency and work engagement among secondary school physical education teachers: the multiple mediating roles of occupational stress, emotional exhaustion, and professional achievement
Authors: Chen Weisong , Huang Zhen , Peng Bo , Li Lin , Chen Jingsong
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study examined the relationships between teacher competency, occupational stress, emotional exhaustion, sense of professional achievement, and work engagement among secondary school physical education teachers. It also investigated demographic differences in these variables and tested the structural invariance of the proposed model across genders.

Method

A total of 1,347 secondary school physical education teachers participated in the study, completing validated scales to measure the key constructs and providing demographic information such as gender, age, education level, professional title, and school location. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM). Mediation effects were assessed through bootstrapping, and structural invariance was tested using multigroup SEM.

Results

Demographic analyses revealed significant differences. Male teachers reported higher competency, professional achievement, and engagement, while female teachers experienced slightly greater emotional exhaustion. Younger teachers and those with lower professional titles reported higher occupational stress and emotional exhaustion. Rural and urban teachers exhibited comparable levels of most variables, except for urban teachers reporting slightly higher emotional exhaustion. Teacher competency directly influenced work engagement (28.27% of the total effect) and indirectly through occupational stress, emotional exhaustion, and professional achievement, with professional achievement being the strongest mediator (25.97% of the total effect). Sequential mediation pathways involving these factors were significant but weaker in magnitude. Structural invariance analysis confirmed that the model was consistent across genders, demonstrating robust applicability across male and female teacher populations.

Conclusion

Teacher competency is a key driver of work engagement, operating through both direct and indirect mechanisms, particularly by alleviating occupational stress and enhancing professional achievement. These findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at fostering teacher well-being, including stress management programs and professional development opportunities, while addressing demographic-specific needs. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and consider additional contextual factors to extend these findings.
Mitigating antimicrobial resistance through effective hospital wastewater management in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Hounmanou Yaovi Mahuton Gildas , Houefonde Adonias ,   I-CRECT Consortium, Nguyen Tram Thuy , Dalsgaard Anders
Published: February 2025

Hospital wastewater (HWW) is a significant environmental and public health threat, containing high levels of pollutants such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), antibiotics, disinfectants, and heavy metals. This threat is of particular concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where untreated effluents are often used for irrigating vegetables crops, leading to direct and indirect human exposure. Despite being a potential hotspot for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), existing HWW treatment systems in LMICs primarily target conventional pollutants and lack effective standards for monitoring the removal of ARB and ARGs. Consequently, untreated or inadequately treated HWW continues to disseminate ARB and ARGs, exacerbating the risk of AMR proliferation. Addressing this requires targeted interventions, including cost-effective treatment solutions, robust AMR monitoring protocols, and policy-driven strategies tailored to LMICs. This perspective calls for a paradigm shift in HWW management in LMIC, emphasizing the broader implementation of onsite treatment systems, which are currently rare. Key recommendations include developing affordable and contextually adaptable technologies for eliminating ARB and ARGs and enforcing local regulations for AMR monitoring and control in wastewater. Addressing these challenges is essential for protecting public health, preventing the environmental spread of resistance, and contributing to a global effort to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics. Recommendations include integrating scalable onsite technologies, leveraging local knowledge, and implementing comprehensive AMR-focused regulatory frameworks.
Socioeconomic status correlates with clinical outcomes in patients with acral melanoma
Authors: Huang Rong , Wang Jiayu , Zheng Kelin , Zhao Mengke , Zou Zhengyun
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status on survival in Chinese patients with acral melanoma.

Methods

We collected clinical and socioeconomic information of 298 primary acral melanoma patients and performed Kaplan–Meier curves, log-rank tests, Cox proportional hazards models, and Pearson’s chi-squared tests to evaluate the relationships between clinical characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and survival outcomes.

Results

Among the clinical characteristics, age, gender, stage, Breslow thickness, and primary tumor site significantly impacted survival in acral melanoma patients (p = 0.01, p = 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Compared to individual socioeconomic factors such as education, occupation, medical insurance, and marital status, the socioeconomic level derived from these four dimensions accurately predicted patient survival. Patients with higher socioeconomic status demonstrated significantly reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.40–0.91, p = 0.02). However, socioeconomic level was not found to be an independent prognostic factor for acral melanoma patients after multivariable adjustment. Notably, a negative correlation was observed between socioeconomic level and Breslow thickness.

Conclusion

Socioeconomic level is associated with survival in Chinese acral melanoma patients. However, this association may be attributable to Breslow thickness rather than socioeconomic status itself.
Deep reinforcement learning for time-critical wilderness search and rescue using drones
Authors: Ewers Jan-Hendrik , Anderson David , Thomson Douglas
Published: February 2025

Traditional search and rescue methods in wilderness areas can be time-consuming and have limited coverage. Drones offer a faster and more flexible solution, but optimizing their search paths is crucial for effective operations. This paper proposes a novel algorithm using deep reinforcement learning to create efficient search paths for drones in wilderness environments. Our approach leverages a priori data about the search area and the missing person in the form of a probability distribution map. This allows the policy to learn optimal flight paths that maximize the probability of finding the missing person quickly. Experimental results show that our method achieves a significant improvement in search times compared to traditional coverage planning and search planning algorithms by over 160%, a difference that can mean life or death in real-world search operations Additionally, unlike previous work, our approach incorporates a continuous action space enabled by cubature, allowing for more nuanced flight patterns.
Mining the ocean floor vs mining the Moon: what can we learn from our past experiences?
Authors: Pelton Joseph N. , Mishra Nishith , Elia Vitoloni Martina
Published: February 2025

This perspective piece examines the parallels and distinctions between ocean floor mining and potential lunar extraction, emphasizing the necessity of protecting the Moon as a global common. It traces the historical evolution of global commons governance, highlighting key international treaties that have shaped the management of shared resources. The analysis delves into the practical implementation challenges of maintaining equitable access and environmental sustainability in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial contexts. Through a case study of the Pacific Ocean seabed mining initiative by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc., the paper illustrates the complexities and controversies surrounding resource exploitation in recognized global commons. It underscores the inadequacies of current legal frameworks, such as the Moon Agreement and the Law of the Sea, in addressing emerging technological and geopolitical dynamics. The discussion extends to the unique challenges posed by celestial bodies like the Moon and asteroids, advocating for tailored regulatory mechanisms that consider their distinct environmental and regenerative capacities. Last, this perspective piece argues that without just and equitable regulatory decisions in ocean mining, similar oversights are likely in lunar endeavours, thereby jeopardizing the sustainable and fair utilization of outer space resources.
Prognostic impact of tumor size on cancer-specific survival for postoperative WHO grade II oligodendroglioma: a SEER-based study
Authors: Lu Qin , Wu Yongyan , Xie Yonglin , Yang Shuxu , Jin Hongchuan
Published: February 2025

Background

WHO grade II oligodendroglioma (OG/II) is a rare primary brain tumor with various outcomes. Our study aims to investigate prognostic factors for postoperative OG/II patients and then evaluate the instructional value of tumor size.

Methods

We retrospectively studied the cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to identify and assess prognostic factors. The optimal cut-off value of tumor size was determined by X-tile analysis and verified by multivariate analyses. Subsequently, Subgroup analyses were performed based on tumor size.

Result

676 OG/II patients were enrolled in our study. Multivariate Cox analyses revealed that age > 60 (HR 3.52), male (HR 1.48), total resection (HR 0.38), and tumor size (HR 2.04) were independent factors in predicting cancer-specific survival (CCS). The optimal cut-off value for tumor size was 60 mm. Patients with tumor size less than 60 mm, age > 60 (HR 3.82), and radiation (HR 1.58) were associated with worse CSS, while total resection (HR 0.35) was associated with better CSS. Lastly, a tumor size-based nomogram was established objectively and accurately.

Conclusion

Our study identified four crucial prognostic factors related to CSS in postoperative OG/II patients: age, sex, the extent of recession, and tumor size. A tumor size of 60 mm was an optimal cut-off point for dividing patients into low and high-risk groups. Patients in the low-risk group may not benefit from extended resection and radiation. Tumor size can be a valuable factor for making therapeutic schedules.
Molecular characterization and lineage analysis of canine astrovirus strains from dogs with gastrointestinal disease in Ecuador based on ORF-2 gene analysis
Authors: Loor-Giler Anthony , Santander-Parra Silvana , Castillo-Reyes Sara , Campos Martín , Mena-Perez Renan , Prado-Chiriboga Santiago , Nunez Luis
Published: February 2025

Canine Astrovirus (CaAstV) part of the Astroviridae family and genus Mamastrovirus, is a linear RNA virus with a genome of approximately 6.6 kb with three open reading frames (ORF): ORF1a and ORF1b, which code for the most conserved non-structural proteins, and ORF2, which code for the capsid protein, the most variable region of the genome. This pathogen has been linked to gastrointestinal infections, primarily causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and severe dehydration, mainly in co-infection with other enteric viruses. In the present study, the presence of CaAstV was identified in dogs with gastrointestinal disease in Ecuador using RT-qPCR with hydrolysis probes, these samples have also tested positive for canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and canine coronavirus (CCoV). Positive samples were used for end-point RT-PCR amplification and sequencing of ORF-2 using Sanger technology. The sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis to determine lineages and possible recombination events. Of the 502 samples tested, 336 were found to be positive for CaAstV, 49.4% in co-infection with CPV-2, 1% in co-infection with CCoV, and 4% in simultaneous infection with all three viruses. The presence of 4 of the 5 previously reported CaAstV lineages were identified, and three possible recombinant strains were identified. Given the high frequency of CaAstV infections in dogs with gastroenteritis and its high genetic variability, it emphasizes the need to implement routine diagnostic measures that include this pathogen as one of the main causes of the disease and a risk agent in case of multiple infections.
Cancer Mortality by Ethnicity in Colombia Between 2011 and 2022: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Urrea Suescun Maria Camila , Garcés-Palacio Isabel C. , Soliman Amr S.
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To examine cancer mortality rates in Colombia by ethnic groups (Indigenous, Rom, Raizal, Afro-Colombian, and Mestizo) and assess trends from 2011 to 2022.

Methods

National vital statistics from death certificates and the Colombian census data were used. Crude and direct age-standardized mortality rates were determined by ethnicity for the study period, by year, sex, and cancer type and Joinpoint analysis was conducted to examine trends.

Results

Age-standardized cancer mortality of Mestizos (60.1 per 100,000 population) was lower than in Rom and Raizales (557.3 and 77.7 per 100,000), and higher than for Afro-Colombians and Indigenous (37.2 and 20.0 per 100,000). Indigenous people in Colombia had greater proportions of individuals under 45 dying of cancer than Mestizos (18.7% vs. 9.7%, p-value = <0.01). Compared to the Mestizo population, Raizales and Afro-Colombians experienced disproportionately higher age-standardized mortality rates due to prostate cancer (26.6/100,000 and 8.6/100,000 vs. 8.1/100,000), and for Raizales and Rom breast cancer (14.0/100,000 and 103.2/100,000 vs. 9.1/100,000).

Conclusion

The disparities in cancer mortality in ethnic minorities in Colombia call for investigating cancer etiology and access to care among the Rom and the Raizal populations.
Drivers of VR Adoption by Generation Z: Education, Entertainment, and Perceived Marketing Impact
Authors: Surugiu Camelia , Grădinaru Cătălin , Surugiu Marius-Răzvan
Published: February 2025

Virtual reality (VR) can influence people’s lives and business development. It can bring immersive experiences for people and can strengthen the relationships between customers and companies. In this paper, Generation Z (Gen Z) members’ interest in VR is analyzed in various domains, like education, entertainment, and marketing. This study considers the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) theoretical framework and explores the factors influencing Gen Z’s perceptions of VR potential. The approach is based on hypotheses and a survey-based investigation, followed by logistic regression modeling. The results show that VR attracts Gen Z members to educational and entertainment activities. Also, they believe that VR is important for marketing activities. The results show the importance of investments in VR, in all three domains, and the importance of adapting strategies to leverage VR’s potential effectively.
The Effects of Speed on the Running Performance of a Small Two-Wheeled Lunar Rover
Authors: Watanabe Kimitaka , Otani Yamato , Tanaka Kazuto
Published: February 2025

Small wheeled lunar rovers tend to dig into surfaces via wheel rotation, causing them to slip and get stuck on regolith. Additionally, reducing power consumption remains a longstanding challenge. This study created a small two-wheeled rover and conducted tests at various wheel rotation speeds to assess the effects of rotation speed on its running performance. Through running tests and the measurement of reaction force, the influence of different wheel rotation speeds on running performance was clarified. Running at low rotation speeds prevented slipping and sinking. Additionally, the amount of sinkage was shown to converge to a certain level even at higher rotation speeds. These findings suggest that the maximum wheel rotation speed at which the rover avoids getting stuck allows the rover to achieve running with low-power consumption.
Methods for Analyzing Avionics Reliability Reflecting Atmospheric Radiation in the Preliminary Development Phase: An Integrated Failure Rate Analysis
Authors: Lee Dongmin , Na Jongwhoa
Published: February 2025

Advances in deep submicron semiconductor technology have increased the significance of studying soft errors caused by atmospheric radiation in avionics systems. Atmospheric radiation particles, such as protons and neutrons, can induce Single Event Upsets (SEUs) in sensitive electronic components, leading to system malfunctions and data corruption. Traditional reliability analysis based on older IC or LSI components may fail to account for radiation-induced effects. However, modern avionics systems equipped with state-of-the-art VLSI components are increasingly susceptible to Single Event Upsets (SEUs), potentially leading to underestimated failure rates in these advanced systems. This study introduces an integrated failure rate analysis that incorporates both the physics of failure rates resulting from aging and wear-out and soft error rates induced by atmospheric radiation. The proposed failure rate analysis of the reliability of avionics operating at altitudes of up to 18 km by combining the physics of failure rates with radiation-induced failure rates was derived using a semi-empirical SEU estimation method. Case studies using the Zynq 7000 board, sourced from AMD (San Jose, CA, USA), confirmed that the integrated failure rate analysis provides more accurate reliability predictions compared to conventional analysis. This approach is expected to improve the accuracy of safety assessments during the preliminary development stages, leading to a shortened development timeline and enhanced design quality.
Analysis of the Distribution Pattern of Asparagus in China Under Climate Change Based on a Parameter-Optimized MaxEnt Model
Authors: Yang Qiliang , Ji Chunwei , Li Na , Lin Haixia , Li Mengchun , Li Haojie , Heng Saiji , Liang Jiaping
Published: February 2025

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) has high health and nutritional values, but the lack of scientific and rational cultivation planning has resulted in a decline in asparagus quality and yield. Important soil, climatic, anthropogenic, and topographic environmental factors influencing the distribution of asparagus cultivation were chosen for this study. The Kuenm package in the R language (v4.2.1) was employed to optimize the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). Pearson’s correlation analysis, optimized MaxEnt, and geographic information spatial technology were then utilized to identify the main environmental factors that influence suitable habitats for asparagus in China. Potential distribution patterns, migration, and changes in trends concerning the suitability of asparagus in China under various historical and future climate scenarios were modeled and projected. Human activities and climate factors were found to be the primary environmental factors that influence the suitability distribution of asparagus cultivation in China, followed by soil and topographic factors. Historical suitable habitats covered 345.6 × 105 km2, accounting for 36% of China. These habitats are projected to expand considerably under future climatic conditions. This research offers a basis for the rational planning and sustainable development of asparagus cultivation.
Assessing Honey Quality: A Focus on Some Physicochemical Parameters of Honey from Iasi County (Romania)
Authors: Albu Aida , Bora Florin Dumitru , Cucu-Man Simona-Maria , Stoleru Vasile , Nistor Cătălin-Emilian , Brumă Ioan Sebastian , Rusu Oana-Raluca
Published: February 2025

The study of honey in Iasi County reveals its ecological, economic and health importance, emphasizing its unique properties, role in biodiversity and value in promoting sustainable beekeeping and regional identity. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of honey from Iasi County, Romania, analyzing 27 samples collected in 2020 and 2021. The samples include tilia (8 raw, 7 commercial), acacia (2 raw, 2 commercial), rapeseed (3 raw), sunflower (3 raw) and lavender (2 raw) honey. Analyses were carried out under Romanian/EU standards, assessing parameters such as color, electrical conductivity, moisture, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity (free, lactone, total), pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), ash and mineral composition (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe). The results revealed significant differences between raw and commercial honeys. Notably, in commercial tilia honey, higher values were found for color (38.58 mm Pfund vs. 24.14 mm Pfund), total acidity (25.93 meq·kg−1 vs. 17.36 meq·kg−1) and HMF levels (8.84 mg·kg−1 vs. 3.68 mg·kg−1). Conversely, water-insoluble solids (0.08% vs. 0.15%) and ash content (0.21% vs. 0.30%) were lower in commercial samples. Potassium was the most abundant mineral detected, while copper and zinc levels were the lowest. Significant correlations were observed between several parameters, including ash with electrical conductivity and HMF with acidity. This study underscores the impact of processing on honey quality and highlights the importance of understanding honey composition for consumers and producers alike.
A Methodology for the Feasibility Assessment of Using Crop Residues for Electricity Production Through GIS-MCD and Its Application in a Case Study
Authors: Dovichi Filho Fernando Bruno , de Sousa Laura Vieira Maia , Lora Electo Eduardo Silva , Palacio José Carlos Escobar , Borges Pedro Tavares , Barros Regina Mambeli , Jaen René Lesme , Errera Marcelo Risso , Quintero Quelbis Roman
Published: February 2025

Over recent decades, human activities have essentially depended on fossil fuels. The last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports recommend a shift to renewables and a more energy-efficient economy. To fulfill the potential of bioenergy, tools are required to overcome the complexities of the decision-making processes for viable projects. This work presents a decision-making tool to select the most feasible biomass residues and a case study of the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. Among the 13 evaluated criteria, eucalyptus residues demonstrated the highest potential for electricity production, followed by sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks. The choice of Minas Gerais as a case study is important due to its diverse agricultural landscape and the potential for biomass residue generation. The presented methodology uses the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM). Thirteen criteria were required to enable the best choice of biomass residue alternatives for electricity generation, which experts in the bioenergy field evaluated. The technical criterion was shown to be the one with the highest degree of importance. The results of the study identified that CO2eq emissions (11.46%) and electricity demand (ED) were the most relevant sub-criteria for prioritizing the viability of agricultural waste. Eucalyptus was ranked as the most promising biomass, followed by sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks. In addition, the use of GIS tools made it possible to map the regions with the greatest potential in Minas Gerais, providing a robust approach to identifying strategic sites for bioenergy.
A Novel Graph-Based Innovative Trend Analysis Technique for Studying the Crop Trends in Kerala, India
Authors: Thomas Chalissery Mincy , Nair Archana
Published: February 2025

This study introduces a novel graph-based innovative trend analysis (GBITA) technique for detecting trends in time series data, thus fundamentally challenging conventional assumptions in trend assessment. Unlike traditional methods, which often rely on the assumption of a serial correlation, the proposed methodology only requires that the data values conform to a non-negative distribution. The effectiveness of GBITA was validated through 200 Monte Carlo simulations, and it was subsequently applied to analyze the productivity and cultivated area of paddy and coconut crops across Kerala and its 14 districts. The results indicate an upward trend in the productivity of both crops; however, the area under paddy cultivation is decreasing, while the coconut cultivation area is increasing. Notably, the southern districts of Kerala exhibited a declining trend in both the productivity and cultivated area for these crops. This innovative approach holds promise for broader applications across various crop varieties and regions, with potential implications for fields such as statistics, economics, and computer science.
Detection of Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat Using NDVI from Multispectral UAS Measurements and Its Correlation with DON Contamination
Authors: Petrović Igor , Vučajnk Filip , Spanic Valentina
Published: February 2025

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious fungal disease of wheat and other small cereal grains, significantly reducing grain yield and producing mycotoxins that affect food safety. There is a need for disease detection technologies to determine the right time to apply fungicides, as FHB infection begins before visible symptoms appear. Using multispectral remote sensing by an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), wheat plants were observed under field conditions infested with FHB and simultaneously protected with fungicides sprayed with four different types of nozzles, as well as corresponding control plots infested with FHB only. The results showed that the levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) differed significantly between the five treatments, indicating that the control had the highest DON concentration as no fungicide treatment was applied. This study revealed that the assessment of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) after FHB infection could be useful for predicting DON accumulation in wheat, as a significant negative correlation between DON and NDVI values was measured 24 days after anthesis. The decreasing NDVI values at the end of the growth cycle were expected due to senescence and yellowing of the wheat spikes and leaves. Therefore, significant differences in the NDVI were observed between three measurement points on the 13th, 24th, and 45th day after anthesis. Additionally, the green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI) and normalized difference red-edge index (NDRE) were in significant positive correlation with the NDVI at 24th day after anthesis. The use of appropriate measurement points for the vegetation indices can offer the decisive advantage of enabling the evaluation of very large breeding trials or farmers’ fields where the timing of fungicide application is particularly important.
A Comparison of Convolutional Neural Network Transfer Learning Regression Models for Remote Photoplethysmography Signal Estimation
Authors: Sturekova Jana , Kamencay Patrik , Sykora Peter , Hlavata Roberta
Published: February 2025

This study explores the extraction of remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG) signals from images using various neural network architectures, addressing the challenge of accurate signal estimation in biomedical contexts. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of different models in capturing rPPG signals from dataset snapshots. Two training strategies were investigated: pre-training models with only the fully connected layer being fine-tuned and training the entire network from scratch. The analysis reveals that models trained from scratch consistently outperform their pre-trained counterparts in extracting rPPG signals. Among the architectures assessed, DenseNet121 demonstrated superior performance, offering the most reliable results in this context. These findings underscore the potential of neural networks in advancing rPPG signal extraction, which has promising applications in fields such as clinical monitoring and personalized medical care. This study contributes to the integration of advanced imaging techniques and neural network-based analysis in biomedical engineering, paving the way for more robust and efficient methodologies.
Blood Sampling in Göttingen Minipigs—A Case Study of Two Standard Methods and Clicker Training as a Restraint-Free Alternative
Authors: Schiøler Kathrine , Jensen Mikkel Lykke , Sørensen Dorte Bratbo
Published: February 2025

Blood sampling often requires restraint that negatively affects animal welfare. This case study evaluated three methods for jugular vein blood sampling (V-bench, sling, and clicker training) with the overall aim of assessing the negative impact on animal welfare and providing a general recommendation on the use of methods. First, the effects of simulated blood sampling in V-bench and sling on behaviour, heart rate, and saliva cortisol concentrations 15 min after sampling were assessed. The sling (which had the least negative effects) was re-evaluated after one week of habituation to assess a possible positive effect. Clicker training was evaluated using behavioural observations only. The heart rate was significantly higher in animals placed in the V-bench compared to the sling (p < 0.05), but no significant differences were found in the saliva cortisol concentrations. Habituation to the sling resulted in a further reduction in heart rate compared to the V-bench (p < 0.01). When trained to voluntarily cooperate, three out of six minipigs allowed blood sampling from the jugular vein without restraint. We are convinced that all six minipigs would have succeeded if the training environment had been optimised. In conclusion, clicker training results in blood sampling with no negative behaviours displayed such as struggling or squealing/screaming. When restraint is unavoidable, the sling is preferable compared to the V-bench.
Effects of Feeding Methionine Hydroxyl Analogue Chelated Zinc, Copper, and Manganese on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Mineral Excretion, and Welfare Conditions of Broiler Chickens: Part 2: Sustainability and Welfare Aspects
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Duy , Moss Amy Fay , Yan Frances , Romero-Sanchez Hugo , Dao Thi Hiep
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the effects of the dietary supplementation of mineral methionine hydroxyl analogue chelates (MMHACs) zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) on excreta nitrogen and mineral levels, housing conditions, and the welfare status of broilers. Three-hundred eighty-four day-old Ross 308 male chicks were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments, each consisting of eight replicate pens of twelve birds per pen. The treatments were (1) inorganic trace mineral ZnSO4 (110 ppm), CuSO4 (16 ppm), and MnO (120 ppm) (ITM); (2) MMHAC Zn (40 ppm), Cu (10 ppm), and Mn (40 ppm) (M10); (3) inorganic trace mineral ZnSO4 (110 ppm), tribasic copper chloride (125 ppm), and MnO (120 ppm) (T125); and (4) MMHAC Zn (40 ppm), Cu (30 ppm), and Mn (40 ppm) (M30). Three feeding phases including the starter (days 0–10), grower (days 10–21), and finisher (days 21–42) were used. The findings showed that birds offered MMHACs at both levels had significantly lower Zn and Mn levels, and birds offered the T125 diet had higher Cu levels in the excreta compared to those fed the other diets on days 10, 16, 21, 28, and 42 (p < 0.001). The life cycle assessment showed that MMHAC supplementation at 30 ppm can be expected to improve the sustainability of the poultry industry in terms of reduced emissions into the environment, whereas excreta nitrogen and moisture content, litter conditions, levels of air gases (ammonia, carbon dioxide, and methane), and welfare indicators were similar between the dietary treatments. Hence, the supplementation of MMHACs to broiler diets at 30 ppm could maintain litter quality and welfare status while reducing emissions into the environment and the Zn, Mn, and/or Cu excretion of broilers, therefore reducing the environmental impacts of broiler production.
Current Thinking on Eimeria spp. in Poultry and Potential for Advancements in Control
Authors: Bafundo Kenneth
Published: February 2025

The significance of Eimeria infections in chicken production cannot be understated [...]
Pharmaco-Epidemiological Study and Correlation Between Antibiotic Resistance and Antibiotic Consumption in a Tunisian Teaching Hospital from 2010 to 2022
Authors: Kasbi Yosr , Sellami Fatma , Ferjani Asma , Abbassi Aimen , Boutiba Ben Boubaker Ilhem
Published: February 2025

The exponential rise of bacterial resistance poses a threat to antibiotic efficacy, with a great impact on public health. This study aims to analyze the correlation between antibiotic consumption and the emergence of bacterial resistance. Conducted retrospectively at Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia, from 2010 to 2022, this study was based on STKMED® software for antibiotic consumption data, hospital administrative records for the number of hospitalization days, and SIRSCAN® software for bacteriological data. Data processing was performed using Excel® software version 2019, and analysis was conducted using SPSS23®. In 2022, consumption was almost evenly split between the two major “AWaRe” groups, with 49.33% for “Access” and 46.89% for “Watch”, and the consumption of the “Reserve” group also increased, accounting for 3.77% of the total. Bacterial resistances, notably carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, increased. Seventy-four significant correlations were identified, including those between carbapenem consumption and resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. However, no significant correlation was observed with imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The significant correlations between the emergence of bacterial resistance and antibiotic use, particularly with antibiotics in the “Watch” and “Reserve” groups, underscore the urgent need to continue efforts to combat this threat through rational antibiotic use.
Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing for Polymicrobial UTI Performs Within CLSI Validation Standards
Authors: Festa Richard A. , Cockerill Frank R. , Pesano Rick L. , Haley Emery , Luke Natalie , Mathur Mohit , Chen Xiaofei , Havrilla Jim , Percaccio Michael , Magallon Jesus , Erickson Shane , Ghashghaie Mandana , Rosas Alain , Baunoch David
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose an increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance, and novel diagnostic tests have been developed to address the limitations of standard urine culture in these cases. It is important that these novel tests be validated for agreement and error rates against the standard antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) methods. Methods: Polymicrobial (≥two non-fastidious microorganisms) consecutive clinical urine specimens submitted for UTI diagnostic testing were included in this analysis. Specimens were tested with Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (P-AST) and with broth microdilution/disk diffusion (BMD/DD) in parallel. Performance characteristics, such as essential agreement (EA%), very major errors (VMEs), and major errors (MEs), were assessed using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards. Specimens with P-AST-resistant and BMD/DD consensus-sensitive results were assessed for heteroresistance. Real-world clinical sample data were used to assess associations between increasing organism counts and average “sensitive” antibiotic count per sample. Results: The essential agreement between P-AST and standard isolate AST was ≥90%, VMEs were <2.0%, and MEs were <3.0%, meeting the CLSI guidelines for AST verification and validation studies. When heteroresistance was accounted for, overall VMEs and MEs were both <1.5%. The presence of additional non-fastidious organisms dropped the number of average “sensitive” antibiotics from 9.8 with one organism to 2.5 with five or more organisms. The presence of fastidious organisms did not have any meaningful impact. Conclusions: P-AST, a component of the Guidance® UTI assay (Pathnostics, Irvine, CA, USA), performed within CLSI standards for AST in polymicrobial UTI diagnostic urine specimens.
Oxidative Score and Microvesicle Profile Suggest Cardiovascular Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Valera-Arévalo Gemma , Rodríguez-San Pedro María del Mar , Caro Paula Jara , Cabanillas Víctor , Ortiz-Diaz María Gabriela , Figuer Andrea , Yuste Claudia , Ramírez Rafael , Alique Matilde , Morales Enrique , Guerra-Pérez Natalia , Carracedo Julia
Published: February 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to the accumulation of uremic toxins, altered redox state, and chronic systemic inflammation. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the redox status of patients with CKD and the phenotype of microvesicles (MVs) subtypes, and cardiovascular events. The oxidative stress level of each participant was determined using an individualized OXY-SCORE. The relationship between pro-oxidant and antioxidant parameters and the expression of membrane markers in endothelial-derived microvesicles (EMVs) and platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs) was established. Patients with advanced CKD (ACKD) and hemodialysis (HD) had a higher OXY-SCORE than healthy subjects (HS), whereas peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients had similar scores to HS. PD patients showed elevated PMVs and CD41 expression, whereas HD patients had higher EMVs and CD31 expression. Patients with ACKD had higher tissue factor (TF) expression in the PMVs and EMVs. TF expression was correlated with xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and was negatively correlated with antioxidant parameters. Patients with cardiovascular events show elevated TF. In conclusion, microvesicles and oxidative stress may serve as markers of cardiovascular risk in CKD, with TF expression in PMVs and EMVs being potential predictive and prognostic biomarkers of CVD.
The Modularized Development of a Wheel-Side Electric Drive System Using the Process of Hobbing and Form Grinding
Authors: Ding Xiaoyu , Wang Wei , Chen Xinbo
Published: February 2025

The wheel-side electric drive system is a melding of a vehicle powertrain and suspension system, which saves chassis space and can adapt to different models. To achieve the goal of highly modularized development, the system is supposed to meet the requirements of various working conditions without changing the interface state. The electric motor drives the wheel through two-stage fixed axis helical gears, so the transmission is short in path and acts as the suspension arm at the same time. As a result, the gears are critical to output robustness and NVH performance. The modeling accuracy is decisive for simulations and tests, so it is necessary to build a precise geometric model instead of the data-fitting estimation. The gears are manufactured by a hobbing and form grinding process, which is described functionally along with the relationship between the tooling parameters and tooth profile curves. Based on the rain flow methodology and extrapolation theory, a comprehensive load spectrum with nine stages is formulated, which can cover the working conditions of a basic version, a NVH version, and a durability version. According to the Miner cumulative damage hypothesis, the equivalent durability mileage of 150,000 km is converted. The prototype machine is simulated and verified on the test bench, and the test results show that the wheel-side electric drive system has a reliable output performance. The equivalent damage of the comprehensive load spectrum is 63.27%, where the 2# stage driving gear is the most vulnerable component of the whole system. The research in this paper can provide data support for damage calculation and lightweight optimization with modularized development and applications in the future.
Impact of Cross-Linking-Monomer Characteristics on Pore-Filling-Membrane Performance and Durability in Anion-Exchange Water Electrolysis
Authors: Park Jong-Hyeok , Park Yeri , Jeon Tae-Seok , Seo Yuna , Park Jin-Soo
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the development of pore-filling anion-exchange membranes (PFAEMs) for water-electrolysis applications. Ionomers using two different cross-linking monomers, namely hydrophilic C10 and hydrophobic C11, along with a common electrolyte monomer, E3, were compared in terms of through-plane ion conductivity, hydrogen permeability, mechanical and chemical stability, I-V polarization, and water-electrolysis durability. The results revealed that the E3-C10 PFAEM exhibited 40% higher OH− conductivity (98.7 ± 7.0 mS cm−1) than the E3-C11 PFAEM with a similar ion-exchange capacity. This improvement was attributed to improved separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains, creating well-connected ion channels by the hydrophilic C10. Alkaline stability tests demonstrated that the E3-C10 retained higher ion conductivity compared to E3-C11, due to the absence of ether linkages and increased resistance to nucleophilic attack. During water-electrolysis operations, the E3-C10 PFAEMs showed 10% better durability and 87% lower hydrogen permeability, confirming their suitability for anion-exchange-membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). Despite the higher ion conductivity of the E3-C10 PFAEM, performance was limited by interfacial resistance. It is suggested that ionomer-coated electrodes could further enhance AEMWE performance by leveraging the higher ion conductivity of the E3-C10. Overall, this study provides valuable guidance on strategies for utilizing pore-filling membranes in water electrolysis.
6-DoF Pose Estimation from Single RGB Image and CAD Model Retrieval Using Feature Similarity Measurement
Authors: Park Sieun , Jeong Won-Je , Manawadu Mayura , Park Soon-Yong
Published: February 2025

This study presents six degrees of freedom (6-DoF) pose estimation of an object from a single RGB image and retrieval of the matching CAD model by measuring the similarity between RGB and CAD rendering images. The 6-DoF pose estimation of an RGB object is one of the important techniques in 3D computer vision. However, in addition to 6-DoF pose estimation, retrieval and alignment of the matching CAD model with the RGB object should be performed for various industrial applications such as eXtended Reality (XR), Augmented Reality (AR), robot’s pick and place, and so on. This paper addresses 6-DoF pose estimation and CAD model retrieval problems simultaneously and quantitatively analyzes how much the 6-DoF pose estimation affects the CAD model retrieval performance. This study consists of two main steps. The first step is 6-DoF pose estimation based on the PoseContrast network. We enhance the structure of PoseConstrast by adding variance uncertainty weight and feature attention modules. The second step is the retrieval of the matching CAD model by an image similarity measurement between the CAD rendering and the RGB object. In our experiments, we used 2000 RGB images collected from Google and Bing search engines and 100 CAD models from ShapeNetCore. The Pascal3D+ dataset is used to train the pose estimation network and DELF features are used for the similarity measurement. Comprehensive ablation studies about the proposed network show the quantitative performance analysis with respect to the baseline model. Experimental results show that the pose estimation performance has a positive correlation with the CAD retrieval performance.
The Valorization of Coffee By-Products and Waste Through the Use of Green Extraction Techniques: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Navajas-Porras Beatriz , Castillo-Correa María , Navarro-Hortal María D. , Montalbán-Hernández Cristina , Peña-Guzmán Diego , Hinojosa-Nogueira Daniel , Romero-Márquez Jose M.
Published: February 2025

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. This has motivated the coffee industry to adopt sustainable practices, with an increased emphasis on environmentally friendly extraction methods. The objective of this study was to explore, through a bibliometric analysis, the identification of influential researchers, institutions, emerging topics, and gaps concerning the valorization of coffee by-products and residues using green extraction techniques. A total of 7306 scientific publications on green extraction were identified, 72 specifically addressing coffee or its by-products. The analysis highlights a focus on innovative green technologies, such as natural deep eutectic solvents, ultrasound-assisted or microwave-assisted extraction. These methods enable the efficient and sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, with potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, and energy industries. Despite this, research on coffee by-products remains limited, partly due to their use in other applications, such as biochar, animal feed, and construction materials, which do not rely heavily on green technologies. Key contributors to the field include countries such as Spain, Italy, Brazil, and China. This study emphasizes the potential of coffee waste to generate high-value products through sustainable methodologies, identifies noteworthy research and key actors in the field, and underscores the necessity for further innovation and collaboration.