bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon Emission Accounting for 220 kV Transmission and Transformation Projects Based on a Whole Life Cycle Improvement Method
Authors: Wang Chunli , Gao Xian , Long Houyin
Published: February 2025

As an important link and bridge for emission reduction, power grid companies are more willing to build clean power transmission and transformation projects under the “3060” carbon emission target. With this problem at its core, this paper uses a typical 220 kV line and substation in a province as the case data. This study improves the carbon emission measurement method for the entire lifecycle of power transmission and transformation equipment, compiles and summarizes the carbon emission coefficients of each equipment and duration according to different typical scenarios, and measures the carbon emission of power transmission and transformation projects. The results show that the carbon emission of the line is 8169.58 tons, mainly concentrated in materials such as steel, water, concrete, and cement; the carbon emission of the substation is 4483.48 tons, mainly concentrated in materials such as concrete, cement and steel; and the carbon emission of the operation and maintenance stage is 9939.70 tons. The carbon emission coefficient in this paper can be extended to all the carbon emission accounting of power transmission and transformation projects in China.
Research on Distribution Network Fault Location Based on Electric Field Coupling Voltage Sensing and Multi-Source Information Fusion
Authors: Li Bo , Tang Lijun , Gu Zhiming , Liu Li , Wu Zhensheng
Published: February 2025

As the last link of power transmission, the safe operation of the distribution network directly affects the experience of power users, and short-time distribution network faults can cause huge economic losses. There are few fault recording devices in rural or suburban distribution networks, and it is difficult to upload information, which brings difficulties to accurate fault location. In order to improve the accuracy of fault location, this study proposes a fault location method for distribution networks based on electric field-coupled voltage sensing and multi-source information fusion. First, an optimized resource pool architecture is proposed, and a distribution network data fusion platform is established based on this architecture to effectively integrate voltage, current and other fault data. Second, in order to overcome the problem of expanding the fault location range that may be caused by the current-based matrix algorithm, this study proposes an improved directed graph-based matrix algorithm and combines it with the matrix algorithm of voltage quantities to form a joint location criterion, which improves the accuracy of fault location. Finally, for the single-ended ranging method, which is easily affected by the wave impedance discontinuity points in the system or the transition resistance in the line, this article introduces a fault ranging algorithm based on double-ended electrical quantities, which improves the accuracy and applicable range of fault ranging. Through simulation verification, we found that the matrix algorithm based on the electrical quantity can accurately locate the fault section in the case of a single fault with a single power supply. The proposed joint matrix algorithm can accurately locate the fault section in the case of a single fault with multiple power sources. The ranging algorithm based on double-ended electrical quantities has higher ranging accuracy in both interphase short circuits and grounded short circuits, and the ranging results are not affected by the fault type, fault location and transition resistance, which can effectively improve the efficiency and reliability of fault location.
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LT12—A Probiotic Strain That Reduces Hyperuricemia via Inhibiting XO Activity and Regulating Renal Uric Acid Transportation Protein
Authors: Tseng Wei-Ting , Kong Xiang-Ru , Han Yu-Tsung , Lin Wen-Yang , Yin Deyi , Du Lei , Xie Jingli , Chang Tien-Hung
Published: February 2025

Hyperuricemia (HUA), characterized by elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels, is a key risk factor for gout. In human purine metabolism, approximately 70% of UA is excreted via the kidneys, while the remaining 30% is eliminated through the intestines. Thus, the intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating UA metabolism through the gut–kidney axis. However, the detailed mechanisms by which the microbiota reduces serum UA levels and supports kidney health remain unclear. In this study, researchers investigated the potential of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LT12, a strain exhibiting xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition activity and the ability to degrade inosine and guanosine, in reducing UA levels in a hyperuricemia mouse model. Hyperuricemia was induced by gavaging mice with 300 mg/kg of potassium oxonate and hypoxanthine for two weeks. The subsequent 4-week intervention included five groups: a normal control group, a model group, a positive control group receiving allopurinol (5 mg/kg body weight), a low-dose LT12 group (1.5 × 10⁶ CFU/kg), and a high-dose LT12 group (4.5 × 10⁹ CFU/kg). The results demonstrated that L. paracasei LT12 effectively reduced serum UA levels, inhibited serum and hepatic XO activity, regulated renal uric acid transporter proteins (OAT1, URAT1, GLUT9, and ABCG2), and reduced the abundance of the intestinal pathogenic bacterium Corynebacterium stationis in both the low-dose and high-dose groups. Notably, only the high-dose LT12 group significantly increased gut butyrate levels. In conclusion, L. paracasei LT12 shows promise as a potential probiotic strain for ameliorating hyperuricemia. Future human clinical studies are needed to validate its efficacy.
A Review and Experimental Evaluation on Split Learning
Authors: Hu Zhanyi , Zhou Tianchen , Wu Bingzhe , Chen Cen , Wang Yanhao
Published: February 2025

Training deep learning models collaboratively on decentralized edge devices has attracted significant attention recently. The two most prominent schemes for this problem are Federated Learning (FL) and Split Learning (SL). Although there have been several surveys and experimental evaluations for FL in the literature, SL paradigms have not yet been systematically reviewed and evaluated. Due to the diversity of SL paradigms in terms of label sharing, model aggregation, cut layer selection, etc., the lack of a systematic survey makes it difficult to fairly and conveniently compare the performance of different SL paradigms. To address the above issue, in this paper, we first provide a comprehensive review for existing SL paradigms. Then, we implement several typical SL paradigms and perform extensive experiments to compare their performance in different scenarios on four widely used datasets. The experimental results provide extensive engineering advice and research insights for SL paradigms. We hope that our work can facilitate future research on SL by establishing a fair and accessible benchmark for SL performance evaluation.
Andean Pseudocereal Flakes with Added Pea Protein Isolate and Banana Flour: Evaluation of Physical–Chemical, Microstructural, and Sensory Properties
Authors: Leiva-Castro Briggith , Mamani-Benavente Liliana , Elías-Peñafiel Carlos , Comettant-Rabanal Raúl , Silva-Paz Reynaldo , Olivera-Montenegro Luis , Paredes-Concepción Perla
Published: February 2025

In order to obtain a highly nutritious extrudate, a combination of pseudocereals, vegetable protein, and banana flour, a fruit with high sensory acceptability, was used. The objective of the research was to produce a multi-component extrudate (ME) based on cañihua and quinoa with the addition of pea protein isolate and banana flour. The response variables evaluated were composition, expansion, hydration, colour, and hardness properties, as well as the microscopy and sensory characteristics of the flakes produced. These flakes were compared with three commercial extrudates, commercial quinoa-based extrudate (QE), commercial corn-based extrudate (CE), and commercial wheat-based extrudate (WE), which had similar characteristics. The ME showed a higher protein content compared to commercial extrudates (13.60%), and it had significant amounts of lipids, fibre, and ash. The expansion of the ME was like commercial quinoa but significantly lower than the CE and the WE in terms of expansion (p < 0.05). Regarding the absorption and solubility indices of the ME, these indicated that it had lower starch fragmentation compared to the commercial CE and WE. In addition, the instrumental hardness of the ME was higher than the commercial ones due to the complex nature of the product. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was observed that the ME showed some remaining extrusion-resistant starch granules from quinoa and cañihua with the presence of protein bodies. Finally, the flash profile described the ME as having a pronounced flavour, higher hardness, and lower sweetness, and the free sorting task allowed it to be differentiated from commercial extrudates based on its natural appearance and chocolate flavour.
Clinical, Meteorological, and Air Quality Factors Associated with Ambulatory Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Machala, Ecuador, 2018–2023
Authors: Suryadevara Manika , Wang Dongliang , Fajardo Freddy Pizarro , Aponte Jorge-Louis Carrillo , Heras Froilan , Aponte Cinthya Cueva , Torres Irene , Domachowske Joseph B.
Published: February 2025

Implementation of RSV prevention strategies requires an understanding of seasonal virus epidemiology; yet, such data are lacking in many tropical regions. We describe the seasonality and environmental factors associated with RSV activity in Machala, Ecuador. From July 2018 to July 2023, we analyzed nasopharyngeal samples from children younger than 5 years with an acute respiratory illness using Biofire FilmArray v.1.7™. Meteorological data were obtained from Ecuador’s Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología. RSV detection was associated with mean outdoor air temperature (threshold 27 °C, area under the curve (AUC) 0.74, p < 0.001) that was even stronger when using a 4-week lag (threshold 27 °C, AUC 0.865, p < 0.001) and with precipitation greater than 0.5 mm/week using a 6-week lag (p = 0.008). This finding could provide guidance for the ideal timing to improve RSV surveillance and implement RSV prevention measures in Machala, including universal administration of extended half-life monoclonal antibody to infants entering their first RSV season.
Entropy and Stability in Blockchain Consensus Dynamics
Authors: Anagnostakis Aristidis G. , Glavas Euripidis
Published: February 2025

Every Blockchain architecture relies upon two major pillars: (a) the hash-based, block-binding mechanism and (b) the consensus-achievement mechanism. While the entropic behavior of (a) has been extensively studied in literature over the past decades, the same does not hold for (b). In this work, we explore the entropic behavior of the fully distributed Blockchain consensus mechanisms. We quantify the impact of witnessing as a consensus-achievement process under the perspectives of Shannon information entropy and Lyapunov stability. We demonstrate that Blockchain consensus, expressed as the complement of the collective disagreement in a system, is a Lyapunov function of the number of witnesses W. The more the witnessing in a system, the less the entropy of the system becomes, and it converges to more stable states. We prove that the entropy decline is steepest for low values of W. A new metric for the efficiency of the consensus process based on the Shannon information entropy is introduced, laying the foundations for future studies on Blockchain-based systems optimization.
Heart Failure and Osteoporosis: Shared Challenges in the Aging Population
Authors: Spoladore Roberto , Ciampi Claudio Mario , Ossola Paolo , Sultana Andrea , Spreafico Luigi Paolo , Farina Andrea , Fragasso Gabriele
Published: February 2025

In clinical practice, heart failure (HF) and osteoporosis (OP) are commonly paired conditions. This association is particularly relevant in patients over the age of 50, among whom its prevalence increases dramatically with every decade of life. This can be especially impactful since patient prognosis when facing both conditions is poorer than that of each disease alone. Clinical studies suggest that prior fractures increase the risk for heart failure hospitalization and, conversely, an episode of heart failure increases the risk of subsequent fractures. In other words, the relationship between osteoporosis and heart failure seems to be two-way, meaning that each condition may influence or contribute to the development of the other. However, the details of the pathophysiological relationship between HF and OP have yet to be revealed. The two conditions share multiple pathological mechanisms that seem to be intertwined. Patients affected by OP are more prone to develop HF because of vitamin D deficiency, elevation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) plasma levels, and increased Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) activity. On the other hand, HF patients are more prone to develop OP and pathological fractures because of low vitamin D level, high PTH, chronic renal failure, alteration of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, reduced testosterone level, and metabolic effects derived from commonly used medications. Considering the increasingly aging worldwide population, clinicians can expect to see more often an overlap between these two conditions. Thus, it becomes crucial to recognize how HF and OP mutually influence the patient’s clinical condition. Clinicians attending these patients should utilize an integrated approach and, in order to improve prognosis, aim for early diagnosis and treatment initiation. The aim of this paper is to perform a review of the common pathophysiological mechanisms of OP and HF and identify potentially new treatment targets.
Deficits of Attention and Working Memory in Patients with Gliomas of Supplementary Motor Area
Authors: Bala Aleksandra , Olejnik Agnieszka , Gottman-Narożna Antonina , Rejner Weronika , Koczyk Kacper , Dziedzic Tomasz , Kunert Przemysław
Published: February 2025

Objectives: The effects of brain tumors located in the supplementary motor area (SMA) have so far been described mainly in the context of motor and speech disorders. There are few studies that have considered other cognitive domains, so this study aimed to fill this gap by focusing on examining attention and working memory in a population of patients with gliomas in the SMA region. Methods: This study included 50 patients diagnosed with gliomas located in the SMA who have not yet had any treatment and 57 demographically matched healthy individuals. A set of neuropsychological tests was conducted to assess attention and working memory: Digit Span from WAIS-R, Visual Elevator from TEA, Verbal Fluency Test (switching condition), and Color Trails Test (CTT). Results: The analyses showed that patients scored lower in most of the evaluated tests and indicators, namely in Digit Span-forward (t = −2.05; p = 0.022), Digit Span-backward (t = −2.63; p = 0.005), CTT-2 (t = 4.24; p = 0.001), CTT-interference (t = 2.31; p = 0.012), Visual Elevator-time (t = 1.83; p = 0.035), Visual Elevator-accuracy (t = −2.42, p = 0.010), and Verbal Fluency-switching (t = −3.41; p = 0.001). A significant relationship was also demonstrated between the grade of tumor malignancy and the results achieved in some of the neuropsychological tests. The lateralization of the tumor, the size of the lesion, and the presence of epilepsy did not prove to be particularly significant. Conclusions: Due to the significant decline in cognitive performance in terms of attention and working memory, we believe that every patient with a tumor in the SMA should undergo a detailed neuropsychological examination, which will profile their functioning and help tailor the best possible psychological care.
The Past, Present, and Future Perspective of Photodynamic Therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Honda Shigeru
Published: February 2025

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been approved as a therapeutic modality for the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). PDT can treat macular neovascularization with minimal effects on normal tissue, reducing lesion size and maintaining patients’ visual acuity; consequently, it became the choice of intervention for nAMD around the year 2000. However, the visual outcomes of PDT are inferior to those of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Thus, PDT is no longer favored, except for the management of some specific phenotypes of nAMD (e.g., polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and pachychoroid neovasculopathy) that are good candidates for PDT. Despite these circumstances, PDT remains an effective treatment modality for several retinal and choroidal diseases and should be considered for further use. This review summarizes the past and present positions of PDT in the field of ophthalmology and discusses the future perspectives on PDT.
Evaluation of Deep Learning Models for Polymetallic Nodule Detection and Segmentation in Seafloor Imagery
Authors: Loureiro Gabriel , Dias André , Almeida José , Martins Alfredo , Silva Eduardo
Published: February 2025

Climate change has led to the need to transition to clean technologies, which depend on an number of critical metals. These metals, such as nickel, lithium, and manganese, are essential for developing batteries. However, the scarcity of these elements and the risks of disruptions to their supply chain have increased interest in exploiting resources on the deep seabed, particularly polymetallic nodules. As the identification of these nodules must be efficient to minimize disturbance to the marine ecosystem, deep learning techniques have emerged as a potential solution. Traditional deep learning methods are based on the use of convolutional layers to extract features, while recent architectures, such as transformer-based architectures, use self-attention mechanisms to obtain global context. This paper evaluates the performance of representative models from both categories across three tasks: detection, object segmentation, and semantic segmentation. The initial results suggest that transformer-based methods perform better in most evaluation metrics, but at the cost of higher computational resources. Furthermore, recent versions of You Only Look Once (YOLO) have obtained competitive results in terms of mean average precision.
Multi-Objective Lightweight Design Method for Lower Control Arms Based on Multi-Axial Random Vibration Fatigue Life
Authors: Zhang Yan , Li Qi , Wan Jie , Sun Haodong
Published: February 2025

To reduce the computational cost of the multi-objective optimization process and improve the accuracy of fatigue life prediction for the lower control arm (LCA) of a vehicle under multiaxial random vibration, this paper focuses on the LCA of a MacPherson suspension in a specific vehicle model and proposes a multi-objective lightweight design method based on multiaxial random vibration fatigue. This method combines the Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) technique, Kriging surrogate modeling, and the second-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). First, static and dynamic analyses are conducted to extract the design parameters required to meet the design specifications of the reference LCA. Subsequently, the LHS technique is employed to obtain 50 sample points, which are used to construct the sample space. The Kriging method is then applied to build surrogate models that capture the relationship between design variables and various responses. Finally, the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm is utilized to obtain the optimized solution. Considering 1.2 times the safe driving distance, the optimal solution with the minimum LCA mass is selected from the Pareto frontier. The optimization results show that compared to the initial LCA model, the mass of the optimized model is reduced by 13.06%, the fatigue life is increased by 47.48%, and the maximum displacement and maximum stress are reduced by 1.78% and 4.31%, respectively. Additionally, the first-order modal frequency decreases by 4.60%.
Descriptive Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Genotype IV SHEV ORF3-Expressing HepG2 Cells
Authors: Jiao Hanwei , Meng Chi , Jiao Fengyuan , Zhou Gengxu , Wang Lingjie , Wu Shengping , Fan Cailiang , Li Jixiang , Cao Liting , Zhao Yu , Luo Yichen
Published: February 2025

Background: Swine hepatitis E (HEV) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the swine hepatitis E virus (SHEV). Open reading frame 3 (ORF3) is a key virulence factor in swine HEV, playing a crucial role in the release of viral particles, the modulation of the host innate immune response, and regulation of autophagy and apoptosis, etc. However, its main function and pathogenic mechanism remain incompletely understood. Results: In our study, adenoviruses ADV4-ORF3 and ADV4-GFP were successfully constructed and mediated the overexpression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-ORF3 and EGFP in HepG2 cells. A total of 217 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were screened by high-throughput sequencing, and 27 statistically significant differentially expressed genes were screened for further quantitative real-time reverse transcription (qRT-PCR) verification by functional enrichment (Gene Ontology [GO] and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes [KEGG]). They are mainly involved in six pathways: the cellular response to unfolded protein, inflammatory response, cytokine activity, TNF signaling pathway, influenza A, and pathways in cancer. In a comparative analysis of transcriptome and mRNA expression profiles of lncRNA sequencing, the results showed that 3 mRNAs of GPX1, MDM4, and CLDN and 39 transcripts overlapped and have been identified. Conclusions: Eight differential genes, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, PLD3, RELA, GPI, SAMHD1, RPS6KA4, and PIK3CB, were successfully verified. Comparing and analyzing the results of the two sequencing methods indicated that the 3 mRNAs of GPX1, MDM4, and CLDN and 39 transcripts overlapped and have been identified in SHEV ORF3-expressing HepG2 cells, which has laid a genetic foundation for the physiological function and mechanism of SHEV ORF3.
Exploring the Effects of Sweet Potato Leaves on Skin Health—From Antimicrobial to Immunomodulator
Authors: Machado Manuela , Silva Sara , Pintado Manuela , Costa Eduardo M.
Published: February 2025

Sweet potato leaves (SPL), an agricultural byproduct, hold significant potential in dermatological applications due to their bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the phenolic profile of SPL extracts and investigates their biological activities relevant to skin health. Extract fingerprinting, through uHPLC-DAD and LC–MS, identified phenolic acids and flavonoids, with cynarin, neochlorogenic acid, and spiraeoside being predominant. The presence of hyperoside was detected. From a biological standpoint, SPL demonstrated notable antimicrobial activity, with MICs ranging from 2.5 to 5 mg/mL against various bacterial strains, such as MRSA and P. aeruginosa, and effective antibiofilm activity, as it reduced biofilm formation by over 80% for most tested strains. When evaluating its effect upon keratinocytes, the cytotoxicity assessment revealed safe usage concentrations at 111 µg/mL and immunomodulatory capacities, as it increased IL-6 production in unchallenged cells but had no synergistic effects under inflammatory stimuli. While preliminary, and with more assays being necessary, these findings highlight SPL’s potential as a natural agent for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory applications in skin-related applications and open a new avenue for a possible added value application of SPL.
Self-Assembled Protein–Polymer Nanoparticles via Photoinitiated Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly for Targeted and Enhanced Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Ediriweera Gayathri R. , Chang Yixin , Yang Wenting , Whittaker Andrew K. , Fu Changkui
Published: February 2025

Protein–polymer bioconjugates offer numerous advantages in biomedical applications by integrating the benefits of functional proteins and tunable synthetic polymers. Developing drug-loaded protein–polymer nanoparticles, with a receptor-targeting protein forming the nanoparticle shell, would be ideal for the targeted delivery of drugs to cancer cells that overexpress specific receptors for more effective cancer therapy. In this study, we report the synthesis of reduction-responsive protein–polymer nanoparticles by a photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) approach. Anti-cancer drugs can be efficiently encapsulated at high concentrations within the nanoparticles during the photo-PISA process. These protein–polymer nanoparticles present transferrin (Tf) on their surfaces, capable of targeting the overexpressed Tf receptors found on cancer cells. It was found that the nanoparticles demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake and delivery of the anti-cancer drug, curcumin, to cancer cells via Tf receptor-mediated endocytosis, compared to the control PEGylated nanoparticles that lack targeting capability. Moreover, the nanoparticles can release the encapsulated curcumin in response to a reducing environment, a characteristic of cancer cells compared to health cells. Consequently, the synthesized protein–polymer nanoparticles are more effective in inducing cancer cell death compared to the control nanoparticles, demonstrating their potential as an effective and targeted drug delivery system for cancer therapy.
Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propionic Acid on Regulating Oxidative Stress and Muscle Fiber Composition
Authors: Tong Yishan , Ma Sihui , Awa Riyo , Tagawa Takashi , Seki Yasuhiro , Cao Tiehan , Kobori Haruki , Suzuki Katsuhiko
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Our previous study demonstrated that 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (HMPA) administration improved grip strength and reduced blood urea nitrogen levels, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HMPA on oxidative stress and muscle fiber composition, emphasizing its potential role in modulating redox signaling pathways and influencing muscle development. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were orally administered HMPA solution (50 or 500 mg/kg/day) or distilled water (10 mL/kg) for 14 days, and then divided into sedentary and exhaustive exercise groups to evaluate oxidative stress status, myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression, and underlying mechanisms. Results: Both low and high doses of HMPA reduced oxidative stress by decreasing plasma reactive oxygen metabolites. High-dose HMPA reduced plasma nitrite/nitrate levels and enhanced antioxidant capacity post-exercise, accompanied by changes in the mRNA abundance of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., Sod1 and Nqo1) and reductions in the mRNA abundance of nitric oxide synthases (e.g., Nos2 and Nos3) in the soleus. Additionally, high-dose HMPA administration increased the protein expression of MYH4 in the soleus, while low-dose HMPA enhanced the gene expression of Myh4 and Igf1, suggesting that HMPA may promote fast-twitch fiber hypertrophy through the activation of the IGF-1 pathway. Furthermore, low-dose HMPA significantly increased the gene expression of Sirt1 and Nrf1, as well as AMPK phosphorylation post-exercise, suggesting low-dose HMPA may improve mitochondrial biogenesis and exercise adaptation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that HMPA may serve as a dietary supplement to regulate redox balance, enhance antioxidant defenses, and promote the formation of fast-twitch fibers.
Effect of Supplementation with a Specific Probiotic (Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010) in Pregnancy for the Prevention of Atopic Dermatitis in Children: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Trial
Authors: Anania Caterina , Matys Viviana , Marra Simona , De Canditiis Daniela , Olivero Francesca , Carraro Carlo , Giugliano Anna , Zicari Anna Maria , Piccioni Maria Grazia
Published: February 2025

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by the appearance of recurrent eczematous lesions and intense itching. The World Allergy Organization (WAO) suggested the administration of probiotics in pregnant women at high risk of allergies in their children. Objectives: Our study aims to evaluate the role of administering the Bifidobacterium bifidum strain PRL2010 during pregnancy and breastfeeding in preventing and/or reducing the severity of AD manifestations in children. Methods: It is a monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with probiotic/placebo administration since the 36th week of gestation to mothers with atopy or a family history of atopy; the effects were evaluated over the first 12 months of the children’s lives. Results: No severe adverse effects due to probiotic intake were reported in our cohort. Although proportionally fewer children with AD were in the probiotic group, the statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the probiotic and placebo groups. However, infants who developed the most severe forms of AD in the probiotic group showed a better clinical course during follow-up compared to those in the placebo group. Conclusions: In conclusion, administering the probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum strain PRL2010 during pregnancy and breastfeeding is safe and potentially beneficial; further large-scale studies may confirm its usefulness in improving the clinical manifestation of AD in children with a family history of atopy.
Personalized Diet With or Without Physical Exercise Improves Nutritional Status, Muscle Strength, Physical Performance, and Quality of Life in Malnourished Older Adults: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Arıcı Huzeyfe , Tor Yavuz Burak , Altınkaynak Mustafa , Erten Nilgün , Saka Bulent , Bayramlar Osman F. , Karakuş Zeynep Nur , Akpınar Timur Selçuk
Published: February 2025

Objectives: Malnutrition (MN) is prevalent in older adults and closely related to sarcopenia, frailty, morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of a personalized diet combined with planned physical exercise on nutritional status, physical performance, and quality of life (QoL) in malnourished older adult patients. Methods: In this prospective study, 20 older adults with MN risk according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment—Short Form (MNA-SF) were randomized into (i) personalized diet (PD) and (ii) personalized diet with physical exercise (PDE) groups, and followed up with for 12 weeks. The physical exercise included warm-up, strengthening, balance, and cooldown phases, with a frequency of 3–4 days per week. Anthropometric measurements, physical performance, and quality of life were assessed using standardized tools at baseline and at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. QoL was measured using the EQ–5D index and EQ–5D visual analog scale (VAS) scores. Results: A total of 20 patients (55% male) participated in the study. During the study, BMIs, MNA-SF scores, and hand grip strength were increased, and the patients’ average duration on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test decreased significantly in both groups. The EQ–5D index score of the PD group and the EQ–5D VAS scores of both groups were increased. Conclusions: A personalized diet with or without physical exercise therapy was associated with improved nutritional status, physical performance, and QoL.
Financial Toxicity and Its Association with the Quality of Life of Greek Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Pitis Athanasios , Diamantopoulou Maria , Panagiotou Aspasia , Papageorgiou Dimitrios , Tzavella Foteini
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Greek cancer patients deal with high out-of-pocket medical expenses in comparison with the European Union average. All these high costs affect the quality of life of cancer patients, leading to financial toxicity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between financial toxicity and quality of life in patients undergoing cancer treatment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four hospitals in Greece. The Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) Scale was used for the evaluation of financial toxicity, and the EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used for the assessment of quality of life. Quantitative variables were first tested for normality using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov criterion. Spearman correlation coefficients (rho) were used to explore the association of two continuous variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used with dependent the QoL subscales. Logarithmic transformations of the QoL scales were used for the regression analyses. Internal consistency reliability was determined by the calculation of Cronbach’s α coefficient. All reported p values are two-tailed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software (version 27.0). Results: Greater financial toxicity score, i.e., lower toxicity, was significantly associated with greater global health status (rho = 0.34; p < 0.001) and greater physical (rho = 0.37; p < 0.001), role (rho = 0.17; p = 0.001), emotional (rho = 0.34; p < 0.001), cognitive (rho = 0.22; p < 0.001), and social (rho = 0.27; p < 0.001) functioning. Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between a greater financial toxicity score and the quality of life of Greek cancer patients, meaning the lower their financial toxicity, the better their quality of life.
General Anesthetics: Aspects of Chirality, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Čižmáriková Ružena , Habala Ladislav , Valentová Jindra
Published: February 2025

The introduction of general anesthetics in the mid-19th century is considered one of the greatest contributions to medical practice. It was the first time that complicated surgical interventions became feasible, without putting an excessive strain on the patient. The first general anesthetics—diethyl ether, chloroform, and nitrous oxide—were limited by often severe adverse reactions and a narrow therapeutic window. They were later succeeded by modern anesthetics, with high anesthetic effect along with diminished toxicity. As with other medical drugs, many anesthetic compounds contain chiral centers in their molecules. Although currently used as racemates, the pharmacological activity of the respective enantiomerically pure antipodes can vary considerably, as can their adverse effects. Herein, we report on the available studies into the differences in bioactivity and toxicity between the enantiomers of chiral anesthetic agents. Both inhalational and intravenous anesthetics are discussed. Aspects of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are surveyed as well. The results could stimulate further research into the potential application of single-enantiomer anesthetics in clinical practice.
Characterization and Emulsifying Ability of Cassava Peels Solubilized Using Hydrothermal Treatments
Authors: Ogbonna Jane Chizie , Nakajima Mitsutoshi , Neves Marcos Antonio das
Published: February 2025

Cassava peels are rich in polysaccharides but highly unexplored and underutilized, as they could be used to meet the increasing demand for clean-label foods. This study investigated the effect of temperature on the solubilization of cassava peel during hydrothermal treatment to determine the emulsifying ability of solubilized cassava peel (SCP). Subcritical water conditions were employed via hydrothermal (120–200 °C; 2 MPa) or autoclave (127 °C; 0.2 MPa) treatments to solubilize cassava peels. The composition of the SCPs was determined, and their emulsifying ability was assessed using interfacial tension and zeta potential measurements. Under the best treatment conditions (140 °C at 2 MPa [hydrothermal]; 127 °C at 0.2 MPa [autoclave]), SCPs reduced interfacial tension against soybean oil to 12.9 mN/m and 13.4 mN/m, respectively. A strengthened co-emulsifier system was developed by incorporating SCPs with Quillaja saponins (QS) or Tween 20 to enhance the performance. Dynamic interfacial tension and zeta potential measurements revealed synergistic interactions, showing a remarkable reduction in interfacial tension from 12.94 to 5.33 mN/m. This suggests that the SCP has a surfactant-like structure owing to its amphiphilic structure and hydrophobic chains (nonpolar region) attached to the -OH functional group (polar region). Combining a second surface-active compound or co-emulsifier results in an additive effect, reducing the interfacial tension. These findings provide novel insights into carbohydrate-saponin binding and elucidate the impact of peel composition, concentration, and hydrothermal treatment conditions on co-emulsifier system performance, which will assist in the development of emulsifiers, contributing to the advancement of clean-label food technologies, effectively replacing synthetic emulsifiers in food formulations, and offering both sustainability and functionality. A systematic investigation of processing conditions and co-emulsifier interactions provides a practical framework for developing high-performance natural emulsifiers from agricultural waste.
Object Detection Based on Improved YOLOv10 for Electrical Equipment Image Classification
Authors: Gao Xiang , Du Jiaxuan , Liu Xinghua , Jia Duowei , Wang Jinhong
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the Efficient Channel Attention (ECA) mechanism is incorporated at the terminal layer of the YOLOv10 backbone network to enhance the feature expression capability. In addition, Transformer is introduced into the C3 module in the feature extraction process to construct the C3TR module to replace the original C2F module as the deepening network extraction module. In this study, both the ECA mechanism and the self-attention mechanism of Transformer are thoroughly analyzed and integrated into YOLOv10. The C3TR module is used as an important part to deepen the effect of network extraction in backbone network feature extraction. The self-attention mechanism is used to model the long-distance dependency relationship, capture the global contextual information, make up for the limitation of the local sensory field, and enhance the feature expression capability. The ECA module is added to the end of the backbone to globally model the channels of the feature map, distribute channel weights more equitably, and enhance feature expression capability. Extensive experiments on the electrical equipment dataset have demonstrated the high accuracy of the method, with a mAP of 89.4% compared to the original model, representing an improvement of 3.2%. Additionally, the mAP@[0.5, 0.95] reaches 61.8%, which is 5.2% higher than that of the original model.
A Novel Improvement of Feature Selection for Dynamic Hand Gesture Identification Based on Double Machine Learning
Authors: Yan Keyue , Lam Chi-Fai , Fong Simon , Marques João Alexandre Lobo , Millham Richard Charles , Mohammed Sabah
Published: February 2025

Causal machine learning is an approach that combines causal inference and machine learning to understand and utilize causal relationships in data. In current research and applications, traditional machine learning and deep learning models always focus on prediction and pattern recognition. In contrast, causal machine learning goes a step further by revealing causal relationships between different variables. We explore a novel concept called Double Machine Learning that embraces causal machine learning in this research. The core goal is to select independent variables from a gesture identification problem that are causally related to final gesture results. This selection allows us to classify and analyze gestures more efficiently, thereby improving models’ performance and interpretability. Compared to commonly used feature selection methods such as Variance Threshold, Select From Model, Principal Component Analysis, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, Artificial Neural Network, and TabNet, Double Machine Learning methods focus more on causal relationships between variables rather than correlations. Our research shows that variables selected using the Double Machine Learning method perform well under different classification models, with final results significantly better than those of traditional methods. This novel Double Machine Learning-based approach offers researchers a valuable perspective for feature selection and model construction. It enhances the model’s ability to uncover causal relationships within complex data. Variables with causal significance can be more informative than those with only correlative significance, thus improving overall prediction performance and reliability.
A Compact Low-Power Chopper Low Noise Amplifier for High Density Neural Front-Ends
Authors: Fava Alessandro , Centurelli Francesco , Monsurrò Pietro , Scotti Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a low-power and area-efficient chopper-stabilized low noise amplifier (CS-LNA) for in-pixel neural recording systems. The proposed CS-LNA can be used in a multi-channel architecture, in which the chopper mixers of the LNA are exploited to provide the time division multiplexing (TDM) of several channels, while reducing the flicker noise and rejecting the Electrode DC Offset (EDO). A detailed noise analysis including the effect of the chopper stabilization on flicker noise, and a design flow to optimize the trade-off between input-referred noise and silicon area are presented, and utilized to design the LNA. The adopted approach to reject the EDO allows to tolerate an input offset of ±50 mV, without appreciably affecting the CS-LNA performance, and does not require an additional DC Servo Loop (DSL). The proposed CS-LNA has been fabricated in a 0.13 μm CMOS process with an area of 0.0268 mm2, consuming about 2 μA from a 0.8 V supply voltage. It achieves an integral noise of 4.19 μVrms (2.58 μVrms) from 1 to 7.5 kHz (from 300 to 7.5 kHz) and results in a noise efficiency factor (NEF) of 2.63 (1.62). Besides achieving a maximum gain of 38.67 dB with a tuning range of about 12 dB, the neural amplifier exhibits a CMRR of 67 dB. A comparison with the recent literature dealing with in-pixel amplifiers shows state-of-the-art performance.
Planning for Change Adaptability and Circularity of Communities and Homes
Authors: Friedman Avi
Published: February 2025

This paper addresses the need to decarbonize built environments by altering community planning and home design. By employing principles of Circular Economy at the community and dwelling levels, the paper argues that having flexible design strategies can contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint of urban areas by minimizing the need for demolition and, as a result, material waste. Currently, depending on location and cultural and economic conditions, large-scale developments might take many years to approve and construct. Moreover, when changes are to be introduced to an initially approved masterplan, the process of obtaining municipal planning approval can be lengthy. By using a case study-based methodology for community and home design, this research argues that, given the rapidly emerging new social challenges, neighbourhoods can be designed to adapt and accommodate changes they may encounter throughout their development and in subsequent years. The proposed approval procedure that this research introduces provides a step-by-step approach to planning that can be readily adjusted based on market demand and newly developing economic and social conditions. To demonstrate his research in partnership with a private developer and the municipality, the author utilized these techniques in the design of a community in La Prairie, a town near Montreal, in Quebec, Canada. The paper also introduces the concepts of adaptability and circularity at the dwelling unit level to minimize demolition and waste. The energy efficient design incorporates demountable partitions and specialized conduits for the installation and improvement of utility lines. By investigating the macro and micro levels, the author concludes that changes to the current system, while considering the needs of key stakeholders, stand to reduce demolition and waste.
Housing Conditions and the Quality of Life of the Populations of the European Union Countries
Authors: Oleńczuk-Paszel Anna , Sompolska-Rzechuła Agnieszka
Published: February 2025

Quality of life (QoL) as a category, which is an overarching goal of sustainable development, dependent on many factors both objective and subjective, should be subjected to constant monitoring in various spatial, temporal and thematic arrangements. This study assesses the spatial differentiation of European Union countries in terms of QoL and housing conditions (HCs) of their populations. Interactions between the studied phenomena were also determined. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method—the TOPSIS method—and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to achieve the objectives of this study. The analysis was conducted using 2019 and 2022 data from the Eurostat database (including the EU-SILC survey) and TheGlobalEconomy.com. The research showed that the housing conditions and QoL of the populations of EU countries vary spatially, being more favorable in Austria, Ireland and Slovenia and the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Finland and Sweden and less favorable in Greece and some of the countries that joined the EU in 2004 and in 2007, viz. Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. This study noted a very strong positive correlation between the positions of countries in the rankings created with QoL in 2019 and 2022 (0.947) and with living conditions in the years under study (0.828), as well as a rather weak correlation between QoL and HCs in both 2019 (0.272) and 2022 (0.292). This article fills a research gap because, to our knowledge, the indicated phenomena have not been analyzed to date in the contexts presented in this article.
Improving Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Security as a Factor in Sustainable Development of Smart City Infrastructure: Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) Data Protection
Authors: Semenov Serhii , Krupska-Klimczak Magdalena , Mazurek Patryk , Zhang Minjian , Chernikh Olena
Published: February 2025

The rapid integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into smart city infrastructures necessitates advanced security measures to ensure their safe and sustainable operation. However, existing Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) systems are highly vulnerable to spoofing, data falsification, and cyber threats, which compromises air traffic management and poses significant challenges to UAV security. This paper presents an innovative approach to improving UAV security by introducing a novel steganographic method for ADS-B data protection. The proposed method leverages Fourier transformation to embed UAV identifiers into ADS-B signals, ensuring a high level of concealment and robustness against signal distortions. A key feature of the approach is the dynamic parameter management system, which adapts to varying transmission conditions to minimize distortions and enhance resilience. Experimental validation demonstrates that the method achieves a tenfold reduction in Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Normalized Mean Squared Error (NMSE) compared to existing techniques such as mp3stego while also improving the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) compared to s-tools. The proposed solution ensures compliance with existing ADS-B standards, maintaining seamless integration with air traffic management systems while enhancing cybersecurity measures. By safeguarding UAV communications, the method contributes to the sustainable development of smart cities and supports critical applications such as logistics, environmental monitoring, and emergency response operations. These findings confirm the practical feasibility of the proposed approach and its potential to strengthen UAV security and ADS-B data protection, ultimately contributing to the resilience and sustainability of urban airspace infrastructure.