bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-grade serous cancer of left fallopian tube with right inguinal lymph node enlargement: a case report
Authors: Zhou Aizhi , Gu Weiyong , Yang Yumei , Chen Xin , Ye Wenfeng , Wang Mei
Published: February 2025

A 47-year-old woman with a two-month history of right inguinal lymphadenopathy visited Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Hospital for a biopsy. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a metastasis of high-grade serous carcinoma, likely of gynecological origin. A PET-CT scan identified a tumor in the left adnexa, with no other organ involvement. The patient underwent primary cytoreduction, including laparoscopy, hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and resection of the right deep inguinal lymph nodes at the Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology. No residual disease was found post-surgery. Pathological examination revealed high-grade serous cancer in the fimbria of the left fallopian tube and left ovary, while the right deep inguinal lymph nodes were negative. The patient received standard chemotherapy (Carboplatin and Taxol) and showed no new lesions after three cycles, as confirmed by imaging.
Biomarkers of inflammation and colorectal cancer risk
Authors: Li Yuting , Luo Yuexin , Ran Yue , Lu Furong , Qin You
Published: February 2025

Globally, colorectal malignancy ranks among the most prevalent forms of cancer and stands as the third principal cause of cancer-associated mortality. Recent studies indicate that inflammatory processes play a significant role in the initiation and advancement of various malignancies, colorectal cancer included. It explores inflammatory biomarkers, with C-reactive protein (CRP) being a key focus. While CRP’s elevation during inflammation is linked to tumorigenesis, studies on its association with CRC risk are inconsistent, showing gender and methodological differences. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF - α, and their receptors also play roles in CRC development, yet research findings vary. Adiponectin and leptin, secreted by adipocytes, have complex associations with CRC, with gender disparities noted. In terms of screening, non-invasive methods like fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) are widely used, and combining biomarkers with iFOBT shows potential. Multi-omics techniques, including genomics and microbiomics, offer new avenues for CRC diagnosis. Overall, while evidence highlights the significance of inflammatory biomarkers in CRC risk prediction, larger prospective studies are urgently needed to clarify their roles due to existing inconsistencies and methodological limitations.
Hypovitaminosis D in patients with oral leukoplakia: insights from a cross-sectional study
Authors: Maturana-Ramirez Andrea , Aitken-Saavedra Juan , Mora-Ferraro Dante , Rojas-Zúñiga Gabriel , Espinoza-Santander Iris , Rojas-Alcayaga Gonzalo , Ortega-Pinto Ana , Reyes Montserrat , Lazo Diego , Caamanão Egardo
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Oral leukoplakia is one of the most frequent oral potentially malignant disorders. The present study aims to compare serum vitamin D levels between patients with and without oral leukoplakia, by smoking habit.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved a group of 45 cases with oral leukoplakia and a control group with 45 individuals. In both groups a pathology report was done, and for leukoplakia a binary classification of low- and high-grade epithelial dysplasia was employed. Serum 25(OH)D3 vitamin D levels, and data on smoking status, age, gender, comorbidities, and clinical and pathological characteristics were collected for both groups.

Results

vitamin D levels were lower in the oral leukoplakia group with a median of 19.1 ng/ml, while the control group had a median of 24.8 ng/ml. When subdividing each group by smoking habit, the smoking case group had a median of 19.4 ng/ml (IQR: 15.7-21.5 ng/ml), the non-smoking case group had 18.8 ng/ml (IQR: 13.6-29.2 ng/ml), the smoking control group had 21.8 ng/ml (IQR: 17.5-27.3 ng/ml), and the non-smoking control group had 25.4 ng/ml (IQR: 20.4-32.9 ng/ml) (p<0.05). When comparing serum vitamin D levels, statistically significant differences were found between the smoking case group versus the non-smoking control group and between the non-smoking case group versus the non-smoking control group (p<0.05). Serum vitamin D levels by histopathological diagnosis showed no differences between leukoplakia groups.

Discussion

This study shows that serum vitamin D levels were lower in patients with OL compared to those without OL, which was more evident in the smoking group. Patients with OL were previously observed to have hypovitaminosis D, without assessing smoking habits. This finding suggests a possible role of vitamin D deficiency in the development of OL, which could be more marked in smokers. This opens the possibility of future research on vitamin D as a chemopreventive agent in the malignant transformation of OL, and to evaluate the relationship between smoking and hypovitaminosis D.
Telework preference: an understanding from theory of planned behavior
Authors: Leiva Pedro I. , Kausel Edgar E. , Madrid Hector P. , Alday Rodrigo A.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The massive implementation of teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted its advantages for employees and organizations. Afterwards, transitioning back to the office, some companies are considering hybrid arrangements to sustain the positive effects of teleworking on job performance. This study, performed during the COVID-19 pandemic, argues that effective telework depends not only on organizational support but also on employees' preferences for telework.

Objective

The purpose of the study was to examine predictors of employee telework preference. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we propose that employees' telework preference is influenced by their attitudes and subjective norms regarding teleworking, moderated by their perceptions of telework behavioral control.

Methods

Data was collected with a two-wave survey from 162 employees of two service organizations in Chile, South America.

Results

Our findings reveal that positive attitudes toward teleworking significantly predict telework preference. Additionally, the subjective norm positively influences telework preference when employees perceive high behavioral control.

Conclusion

These findings contribute to TPB and telework management literature broadening the scope of TPB on telework and offering practical insights for enhancing telework management.
The association of physical activity and carotid intima-media-thickness in adolescents—data of the prospective early vascular ageing-tyrol cohort study
Authors: Winder Bernhard , Kiechl Sophia J. , Bernar Benoît , Gande Nina , Staudt Anna , Stock Anna K. , Hochmayr Christoph , Geiger Ralf , Griesmacher Andrea , Kiechl Stefan , Kiechl-Kohlendorfer Ursula , Knoflach Michael ,   the Early Vascular Ageing (EVA)-Tyrol Study Group
Published: February 2025

Background

Physical activity (PA) protects against cardiovascular disease. However, previous research has shown that high PA is associated with an increased carotid intima-media-thickness (cIMT), an independent predictor for future cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to further investigate this unexpected association with two different measurement methods of PA and two established markers for Early Vascular Ageing: cIMT and carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV).

Methods

The community-based Early Vascular Ageing-Tyrol cohort study included adolescents in western Austria and northern Italy. Medical examinations included anthropometric measurements, fasting blood analysis, a physician guided interview to assess lifestyle factors, measurement of cIMT and cfPWV. PA was rated by an in-person interview on the basis of average minutes of moderate- or vigorous sports per day and by the Baecke questionnaire expressed as Baecke score (BS).

Results

Complete data set was available for 1,001 adolescents with a mean age of 17.8 years (standard deviation ±0.9 years). 558 (55.7%) of participants were female. cIMT was positively associated with both measures of PA in univariate (minutes sports per day: p < 0.001; BS: p < 0.001) as well as multivariable analysis adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors (minutes sports per day: p = 0.001; BS: p = 0.002). Using cfPWV in a multivariate model an inverse correlation with the BS (p = 0.023) was observed, but not for minutes sports per day (p = 0.554).

Conclusion

In our large community-based cohort of adolescents, PA was associated with an increased cIMT but shows a trend towards lower aortic stiffness measured by cfPWV. We hypothesize that the association of PA with increased cIMT is not caused by early atherosclerotic vessel wall changes but is rather a physiologic adaptive process of the vessel wall.

Trial Registration Number

The EVA-Tyrol Study has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov under NCT03929692 since April 29, 2019.
Efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao San in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Qianqian , Zhou Jian , Gong Guanwen
Published: February 2025

Background

Xiaoyao San (XYS) has been increasingly used in China for treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but its efficacy and safety remain unclear.

Objective

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of XYS compared to standard biomedical treatments (SBT) in CFS patients.

Methods

A comprehensive search of English and Chinese databases was conducted up to December 2024. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials comparing XYS or XYS + SBT to SBT alone. Primary outcomes were effective rate (ER) and fatigue scale-14 (FS-14). Secondary outcomes included self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and adverse events (AEs). Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4, and evidence quality was assessed using the GRADE approach.

Results

Six studies involving 623 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that XYS-based interventions significantly improved ER (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.18–1.37, I2 = 0%) and FS-14 (MD = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.49–2.06, I2 = 54%). Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent efficacy for both XYS vs. SBT and XYS + SBT vs. SBT. Anxiety and depression improved significantly in the XYS + SBT group, with SAS (MD = 5.16, 95% CI: 3.84–6.48, I2 = 24%) and SDS (MD = 4.62, 95% CI: 3.15–6.09, I2 = 0%). Additionally, the risk of AEs was significantly reduced in the XYS + SBT group compared to SBT alone (RR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32–0.72, I2 = 0%). However, the quality of evidence was rated “low” due to risk of bias and potential publication bias among the studies.

Conclusion

XYS, whether alone or with SBT, is effective and safe for improving ER, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in CFS patients. However, due to the low quality of the evidence, results should be interpreted cautiously. High-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are needed to provide stronger evidence for the clinical use of XYS in managing CFS.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=493084, identifier CRD42023493084.
Transcriptome analysis of ovarian cancer uncovers association between tumor-related inflammation/immunity and patient outcome
Authors: Wang Jingfang , Zhu Wenrui , Li Xia , Wu Yuanyuan , Ma Wenhui , Wang Yangzhou , Zhao Weihong , Wei Fang , Wang Wenhao
Published: February 2025

Background

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a cancer that affects the female reproductive system and is highly lethal. It poses significant challenges in terms of treatment and often has a poor prognosis. In recent years, with the advent of PARPi, the treatment of ovarian cancer has entered a new stage of full-process management. Although more and more drugs have been approved, the therapeutic effect of PARPi is still very limited. With the rapid development of PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, etc., tumor immunotherapy has provided new opportunities for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Methods

This study used comprehensive transcriptome analysis across multiple databases to gather gene transcripts and clinical features of normal ovarian samples and tissue samples from ovarian cancer. The aim was to explore the mechanisms underlying tumor immunotherapy resistance and to reveal the relationship between ovarian cancer’s immune microenvironment and genes linked to inflammation. Various R packages were used for differential gene analysis, enrichment analysis, co-expression network construction, and prognostic model building.

Results

It has been found that the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients is closely associated with sets of genes involved in inflammation. The immune infiltration microenvironment, clinicopathological features, and survival rates differed significantly between two inflammatory gene expression patterns identified using cluster and immune microenvironment analyses. Further analysis revealed that the high-risk group had a higher abundance of M2-type macrophage infiltration, more active anti-tumor immune response, higher tumor stemness score, potentially worse prognosis, and lower response rates to multiple chemotherapy drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Conclusion

These findings provide new perspectives and potential targets for immunotherapy and prognostic evaluation of ovarian cancer and offer new strategies and directions for clinical treatment and patient management. This study provides crucial information to further our comprehension of drug response mechanisms and tumor immunotherapy. It offers new strategies and methods for the treatment and prognostic improvement of ovarian cancer.
Work rate adjustments needed to maintain heart rate and RPE during high-intensity interval training in the heat
Authors: Yoder Hillary A. , Mulholland Anne M. , MacDonald Hayley V. , Wingo Jonathan E.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Higher work rates may be sustainable when maintaining target rating of perceived exertion (RPE) compared to maintaining target heart rate (THR) during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise in hot conditions, but may also result in greater thermal strain and cardiovascular drift, as well as greater decrements in maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max).

Purpose

To test the hypotheses that maintaining target RPE compared to THR during HIIT in the heat results in 1) smaller work rate adjustments, 2) greater thermal and cardiovascular strain, and 3) larger decreases in V˙O2max.

Methods

Eight adults (4 women) completed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer in 22°C and then 4 cycling trials in 35°C, consisting of an 8-min warm-up at 70% maximal heart rate (HRmax) or 12 RPE followed by 1 (15HR and 15RPE) or 5 (43HR and 43RPE) rounds of HIIT (1 round = 4 min work at 90% HRmax or 17 RPE and 3 min recovery at 70% HRmax or 12 RPE) totaling 15 min or 43 min of exercise, respectively. Each trial ended with a GXT to measure V˙O2max.

Results

In the 43-min trials work rate decreased from the first to the fifth work interval in both conditions, but by a non-significant, yet moderately larger (ES = 0.53) amount during 43HR (46 ± 29 W) compared to 43RPE (30 ± 28 W). From the first to fifth work interval HR increased over time by 12 b⋅min–1 in 43RPE (p < 0.001), but did not increase during 43HR (p = 0.36). Rectal temperature increases were not different between conditions (43HR = 0.7°C, p < 0.001; 43RPE = 0.8°C, p < 0.001). V˙O2max decreased 15.6% (ES = 0.41) between 15RPE and 43RPE (p = 0.005), but it was not different over time during the HR-based trials [6.5%, ES = 0.16 (α adjusted for multiple comparisons = 0.0125) p = 0.03].

Conclusion

Maintaining target RPE and THR require considerable declines in work rate during HIIT in the heat, with ∼53% larger declines needed to maintain THR. The mitigation of cardiovascular drift in the THR trial may have contributed to the preservation of V˙O2max.
Co-inoculation of Trichoderma viride with Azospirillum brasilense could suppress the development of Harpophora maydis-infected maize in Egypt
Authors: Elmeihy Rasha M. , Hewedy Omar A. , Alhumaidi Maryam S. , Altammar Khadijah A. , Hassan Eman O. , El-Debaiky Samah A.
Published: February 2025

Plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens are responsible for severe damage to strategic crops worldwide. Late wilt disease (LWD) is a vascular disease that occurs late in maize development. Harpophora maydis, the causative agent of maize LWD, is responsible for significant economic losses in Egypt. Therefore, the aim of this study was to control LWD of maize using an alternative approach to reduce the use of chemical pesticides. A combination of Trichoderma viride, a fungal biocontrol agent, and Azospirillum brasilense, a bacterial endophytic plant growth promoter, was applied in vitro and in planta. T. viride showed high mycoparasitic potential against H. maydis via various antagonistic activities, including the production of lytic enzymes, secondary metabolites, volatile compounds, and siderophores. A. brasilense and T. viride filtrates were also shown to suppress H. maydis growth, in addition to their ability to produce gibberellic and indole acetic acids. A significant change in the metabolites secreted by T. viride was observed using GC/MS in the presence of H. maydis. A field experiment was conducted on susceptible and resistant hybrids of maize to evaluate the antagonistic activity of T. viride combined with A. brasilense on LWD incidence as well as plant growth promotion under field conditions. The data revealed a significant decrease in both disease incidence and severity in maize plants treated with T. viride and/or A. brasilense. Further, there was a noticeable increase in all plant growth and yield parameters. An anatomical examination of the control and inoculated maize roots was also reflective of plant responses under biotic stress. Taken together, the obtained results provide successful eco-friendly management strategies against LWD in maize.
Efficient and accurate identification of maize rust disease using deep learning model
Authors: Wang Pei , Tan Jiajia , Yang Yuheng , Zhang Tong , Wu Pengxin , Tang Xinglong , Li Hui , He Xiongkui , Chen Xinping
Published: February 2025

Common corn rust and southern corn rust, two typical maize diseases during growth stages, require accurate differentiation to understand their occurrence patterns and pathogenic risks. To address this, a specialized Maize-Rust model integrating a SimAM module in the YOLOv8s backbone and a BiFPN for scale fusion, along with a DWConv for streamlined detection, was developed. The model achieved an accuracy of 94.6%, average accuracy of 91.6%, recall rate of 85.4%, and F1 value of 0.823, outperforming Faster-RCNN and SSD models by 16.35% and 12.49% in classification accuracy, respectively, and detecting a single rust image at 16.18 frames per second. Deployed on mobile phones, the model enables real-time data collection and analysis, supporting effective detection and management of large-scale outbreaks of rust in the field.
Embodied sharpness: exploring the slicing gesture in political talk shows
Authors: Ladewig Silva H.
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the Slicing gesture within German political talk shows, focusing on its role in recurrent gesture sequences observed in German political talk shows. Through a detailed historical overview of recurrent gestures in political communication and an extension of the repertoire of recurrent gestures in German speakers, the study emphasizes the Slicing gesture’s function in stance-taking and self-presentation. Highlighting its forms and functions, the analysis demonstrates how this gesture enacts sharpness, decisiveness, and clarity. The study integrates embodied and phenomenological perspectives, showing how kinesthetic experiences shape the gesture’s meaning and metapragmatic dimensions. By contributing to the understanding of recurrent gestures as multimodal resources in political discourse, the paper sheds light on the interplay between embodied communication and rhetorical style.
The complex social, cultural and psychological drivers of the ‘chemsex’ experiences of men who have sex with men: a systematic review and conceptual thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Authors: Mundy Edward , Carter Alexander , Nadarzynski Tom , Whiteley Christopher , de Visser Richard O. , Llewellyn Carrie D.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Chemsex’ is the sexualised use of drugs among men who have sex with men (MSM). Past systematic reviews have primarily focussed on quantitative research exploring the key characteristics and health consequences of chemsex. However, a large body of qualitative literature exists, drawing on different theoretical frameworks.

Methods

A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the qualitative research on chemsex was conducted with the aim of exploring the chemsex experiences of MSM in the context of substance misuse and addictions, and to reviewing their underlying theoretical frameworks. Six databases were searched, and 43 papers were included in the review.

Results

The thematic synthesis resulted in four key themes: ‘characterising chemsex’, ‘the context around chemsex’, ‘the chemsex experience’, and ‘harms, saying safe, and stopping chemsex’. Only nine papers explicitly drew on theoretical frameworks, which were broadly divided into two categories: those which drew on psychological theories, and those that framed chemsex as a social and cultural phenomenon.

Discussion

The results of the thematic synthesis add further understanding of the key characteristics of chemsex as well as some of the complex social and psychological drivers which may shape why people have chemsex. Finally, the review highlights the clinical implications and inherent complexities in providing clinical services for those reporting chemsex and the need for greater application of theory to advance our understanding of chemsex and continue to develop appropriate forms of therapeutic support.

Systematic review registration

https://osf.io/j6k9r/.
A pilot mixed methods randomized control trial investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored intervention focused on beliefs, mistrust and race-congruent peer support for Black adults with diabetes
Authors: Wen Meng-Jung , Maurer Martha , Pickard Annika L. , Hansen Makenzie , Shiyanbola Olayinka O.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Black adults disproportionately experience poor glycemic control and medication nonadherence, yet few diabetes self-management programs address their unique health beliefs, provider mistrust and sociocultural barriers to taking diabetes medications. This 6-month pilot randomized feasibility trial compared a culturally tailored diabetes self-management program, incorporating beliefs about diabetes, mistrust, and race-congruent peer support to a standard diabetes program.

Methods

An embedded mixed methods design examined the feasibility of the pilot trial, including recruitment, retention, intervention adherence and participant acceptability. Data were collected through participant self-reported questionnaires, field notes, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Qualitative content analysis inductively explored participants’ feedback on the program, participation barriers and potential strategies to overcome the challenges. Mixed methods integration was implemented using a side-by-side joint display to compare, synthesize and interconnect the quantitative and qualitative results across all feasibility domains.

Results

Thirteen participants (93%) completed the trial, demonstrating high adherence and retention. Community outreach and a prerequisite orientation using motivational interviewing were feasible and appropriate to recruit potential participants. Participants expressed high satisfaction and acceptability, highlighting the importance of peer support, cultural relevant content and a safe space for sharing experiences. Barriers to participation were identified including schedule conflicts and difficulties in engagement.

Discussion

Future large-scale effectiveness trials should consider combining multimedia into recruitment methods, tailoring the program to address medication-taking goals, and addressing social and environmental barriers to support sustained lifestyle changes.
Utilizing physical educators to monitor muscular strength and neuromuscular control among children with varied recess time
Authors: Webb G. Kate , Zhang Yan , Rhea Deborah J.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Inactivity levels among children are climbing at alarming rates, leading to a lack of physical activities that produce muscular strength (MusS) development, which in turn creates effective neuromuscular control (NC) development. Developing appropriate MusS during childhood decreases the chances of physical injuries and many chronic diseases such as type II diabetes and cancer, which leads to healthier, active future adults. The purpose of this study was to utilize the physical education setting to examine MusS and NC factors in the Fall and Spring (Time 1 to Time 2) of one school year in a predominately Hispanic sample of second-grade children who received 60 min or 20 min of daily recess.

Methods

This quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study administered four MusS tests and one NC test to District 1 (N = 59) which received 60 min of recess daily (intervention), and District 2 (N = 49) which received one 20 min daily recess (control). ANCOVAs were run for group differences at Time 2 while controlling for Time 1.

Results

Intervention children significantly outperformed control children on the single leg 3-hop muscular strength test F(1,105) = 13.1, p < .001, n2 = .05, and the neuromuscular control side-step test F(1,105) = 4.77, p = .03, n2 = .04. Between group ANCOVAs controlling for body fat percentages showed the single leg 3-hop test remained significant between groups F(1,91) = 23.5, p < .001, n2 = .09.

Discussion

Increased recess was shown to aid in improved lower body muscular strength and neuromuscular control among second grade children, even when controlling for body fat percentages. As 70% of American children are not participating in the recommended daily activity guidelines, and roughly 20% of American children are overweight, exploring movement opportunities for children and efficient means of monitoring MusS and NC is pivotal to future health and movement functions of children.
Representing unsegmented vessels using available vascular data for bioheat transfer simulation
Authors: Amare Rohan , Bahadori Amir A. , Eckels Steven
Published: February 2025

Introduction

A primary challenge with voxel domains generated from imaging data is associated with voxel resolution. Due to the dimensional scale of blood vessels, not all vessels are captured in a given voxel resolution, leading to discontinuous blood vessels in the segmentation. Pre-capillary vessels like arterioles, which provide the highest resistance to blood flow, are often modeled with tissue as a porous domain due to resolution limitations. This results in a loss of information that could have been modeled if these vessels were segmented and modeled distinctly from the capillary bed.

Methods

This paper focuses on developing mathematical equations to calculate the flow resistance of unsegmented vasculature with reference to flow resistance of available segmented vascular data. A 3D vascular domain of 32 terminal vessels and five generations of bifurcation is simulated. Each generation is successively removed and substituted with the new flow resistance equations to analyze the error in heat transfer due to a lack of segmentation data.

Results

The effect of using mathematical equations of flow resistance on bioheat transfer is analyzed. Two methods are proposed and demonstrated to show considerable error reduction in bioheat transfer.

Discussion

Very high image resolution, which could allow modeling of pre-capillary vessels, increases the computational cost of the entire simulation domain. Instead, a mathematical representation of the pressure drop induced in these unsegmented blood vessels is used. The proposed methods show potential in reducing the error resulting from the lack of segmentation data, improving the accuracy of bioheat transfer simulations.
YOLOv8-CBAM: a study of sheep head identification in Ujumqin sheep
Authors: Qin Qing , Zhou Xingyu , Gao Jiale , Wang Zhixin , Naer A. , Hai Long , Alatan Suhe , Zhang Haijun , Liu Zhihong
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The facial coloration of sheep is not only a critical characteristic for breed and individual identification but also serves as a significant indicator for assessing genetic diversity and guiding selective breeding efforts.

Methods

In this study, 201 Ujumqin sheep were used as research objects and 1713 head image data were collected. We delineated feature points related to the facial coloration of Ujumqin sheep and successfully developed a head color recognition model (YOLOv8-CBAM) utilizing the YOLOv8 architecture in conjunction with the CBAM attention mechanism.

Results

The model demonstrated impressive performance in recognizing four head color categories, achieving an average precision (mAP) of 97.7% and an F1 score of 0.94. In comparison to YOLOv8n, YOLOv8l, YOLOv8m, YOLOv8s, and YOLOv8x, the YOLOv8-CBAM model enhances average accuracy by 0.5%, 1%, 0.7%, 0.7%, and 1.6%, respectively. Furthermore, when compared to YOLOv3, the improvement is 1%, while YOLOv5n and YOLOv10n show increases of 1.4% and 2.4%, respectively.

Discussion

The findings indicate that the smaller model exhibited superior performance in the facial color recognition task for Ujumqin sheep. Overall, the YOLOv8-CBAM model achieved high accuracy in the head color recognition task, providing reliable technical support for automated sheep management systems.
Residue depletion profile and withdrawal interval estimation of ivermectin in eggs following topical administration of injectable ivermectin to domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus): a pilot study
Authors: Mercer Melissa A. , Davis Jennifer L. , Wetzlich Scott E. , Clapham Maaike O. , Tell Lisa A.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Topical ivermectin is commonly prescribed extra-label for the control of mite infestations in backyard chicken flocks in the US.

Methods

Domestic laying hens (n = 8; 78 weeks of age, weight 1.7–2.2 kg) were administered injectable ivermectin solution topically over the jugular vein (0.4 mg/kg every 7 days for 2 doses). Ivermectin concentrations in egg white and egg yolk were determined using UPLC with fluorescence detection.

Results

The average period between eggs laid was 1.52 days. Ivermectin preferentially distributed to the egg yolk with an observed Cmax of 3.54 ng/g occurring at observed Tmax of 6.6 days and a T1/2 of 9.5 days. Residues persisted at low concentrations in egg yolk for up to 71 days after the final dose. WDIs for the egg yolk matrix were estimated using the FDA, EMA, and terminal-elimination half-life multiplier methods (HLM). The longest estimated WDI was 102 days for the EMA 95/95 method (95% confidence interval for 95th population percentile) with the limit of detection (LOD; 0.03 ng/g) set as the maximum residue limit. The FDA 95/99 method using the LOD as the tolerance estimated an 81 day WDI, the HLM method estimated a 96 day WDI.

Discussion

This study improves the understanding of the residue depletion kinetics of ivermectin in eggs after topical administration to older hens with inconsistent egg production. Ivermectin is systemically absorbed following topical administration of the injectable formulation in domestic egg laying chickens, resulting in prolonged egg residues. Ivermectin is preferentially distributed to the egg yolk over the egg white following topical administration of the injectable formulation in egg laying chickens. Since plasma kinetics were not evaluated, the impact of systemic exposure on egg residue kinetics following topical administration remains unknown. The results provide insight into how the estimated ivermectin egg WDIs using regulatory methods differ based on the maximum residue limit/tolerance applied and portion of the terminal elimination phase sampled.
ECG Signal Classification Using Interpretable KAN: Towards Predictive Diagnosis of Arrhythmias
Authors: Cui Hongzhen , Ning Shenhui , Wang Shichao , Zhang Wei , Peng Yunfeng
Published: February 2025

To address the need for accurate classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, we employ an interpretable KAN to classify arrhythmia diseases. Experimental evaluation of the MIT-BIH and PTB datasets demonstrates the significant superiority of the KAN in classifying arrhythmia diseases. Specifically, preprocessing steps such as sample balancing and variance sorting effectively optimized the feature distribution and significantly enhanced the model’s classification performance. In the MIT-BIH, the KAN achieved classification accuracy and precision rates of 99.08% and 99.07%, respectively. Similarly, on the PTB dataset, both metrics reached 99.11%. In addition, experimental results indicate that compared to the traditional multi-layer perceptron (MLP), the KAN demonstrates higher classification accuracy and better fitting stability and adaptability to complex data scenarios. Applying three clustering methods demonstrates that the features extracted by the KAN exhibit clearer cluster boundaries, thereby verifying its effectiveness in ECG signal classification. Additionally, convergence analysis reveals that the KAN’s training process exhibits a smooth and stable loss decline curve, confirming its robustness under complex data conditions. The findings of this study validate the applicability and superiority of the KAN in classifying ECG signals for arrhythmia and other diseases, offering a novel technical approach to the classification and diagnosis of arrhythmias. Finally, potential future research directions are discussed, including the KAN in early warning and rapid diagnosis of arrhythmias. This study establishes a theoretical foundation and practical basis for advancing interpretable networks in clinical applications.
Optimization of Multimodal Transport Paths Considering a Low-Carbon Economy Under Uncertain Demand
Authors: Liu Zhiwei , Zhou Sihui , Liu Song
Published: February 2025

Aiming at the uncertainty in cargo demand in the transportation process, the multimodal transportation path optimization problem is studied from the perspective of a low-carbon economy, and the robust optimization modeling method is introduced. Firstly, a robust optimization model for multimodal transportation is built using the multimodal transportation path optimization model under demand certainty, and the total transportation cost is then calculated by taking into account not just only the cost of transportation and trans-shipment but, additionally, the price of waiting because of schedule restrictions on trains and airplanes. Secondly, carbon emissions are added into the model as a constraint or cost by converting four different low-carbon policies. Then, the simulated annealing mechanism is introduced to improve the ACO algorithm. Finally, solomon calculus is used for the solution. The outcomes demonstrate that the improved annealing ant colony hybrid algorithm simulation can essentially improve the multimodal transportation path optimization problem with uncertain demand and promote multimodal transportation emission reduction. Among the four carbon emission policies, the mandatory carbon emission policy means are tough, and the greatest impact comes from reducing emissions and using less energy. Energy conservation and emission reduction have the second-best impact, while the three policy tools of carbon taxes, carbon trading and carbon payment are more modest.
A Monitoring Method for Agricultural Soil Moisture Using Wireless Sensors and the Biswas Model
Authors: Zhang Yuanzhen , Wang Guofang , Li Lingzhi , Huang Mingjing
Published: February 2025

Efficient monitoring of soil moisture is crucial for optimizing water usage and ensuring crop health in agricultural fields, especially under rainfed conditions. This study proposes a high-throughput soil moisture monitoring method that integrates LoRa-based wireless sensor networks with region-specific statistical models. Wireless sensors were deployed in the top 0–0.2 m soil layer to gather real-time moisture data, which were then combined with the Biswas model to estimate soil moisture distribution down to a depth of 2.0 m. The model was calibrated using field capacity and crop wilting coefficients. Results demonstrated a strong correlation between model predictions and actual measured soil moisture storage, with a coefficient of determination (R2) exceeding 0.94. Additionally, 83% of sample points had relative errors below 18.5%, and for depths of 0–1.2 m, 90% of sample points had relative errors under 15%. The system effectively tracked daily soil moisture dynamics during maize growth, with predicted evapotranspiration relative errors under 10.25%. This method provides a cost-effective and scalable tool for soil moisture monitoring, supporting irrigation optimization and improving water use efficiency in dryland agriculture.
Optimization of Light Quality for Plant Factory Production of Brassica campestris (Pakchoi)
Authors: Zhou Chengbo , Zhou Kangwen , Hu Jiangtao , Zhang Xu , Li Qingming
Published: February 2025

Light is a key factor influencing the growth and quality of crops in plant factories. To explore the optimal light quality for pakchoi production, five light formulations were applied to ‘Youguan NO.3’ pakchoi: white LEDs (W; CK); white/red = 4:1 (WR); white/blue = 4:1 (WB); white/red/blue = 3:1:1 (WRB); and white/green = 4:1 (WG), all with a light intensity of 250 ± 10 µmol·m−2·s−1. The results showed significant variations in growth indices, nutritional quality, enzyme activity, and other parameters under different light qualities. The best growth results were observed under the WRB treatment. Chloroplasts under WRB treatment appeared well-developed, with clear grana lamellae. The thylakoids in the chloroplast grana of the WRB plants were densely stacked, and a large number of starch grains were detected. The contents of total sugar, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and protein nitrogen were significantly higher under the WB, WRB, and WR treatments compared to the CK treatment, along with a significant reduction in nitrate content. Among all the treatments, WRB treatment resulted in the highest levels of total sugar, starch, free amino acids, soluble protein, total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, and ascorbic acid (AsA). Enzyme activity assays revealed that the activities of sucrose phosphate synthetase (SPS), nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthetase (GOGAT), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were highest under WRB treatment. Therefore, supplemental red-blue mixed light can effectively improve the growth and nutritional properties of pakchoi grown under white light. This supplementary lighting strategy provides a new way to enhance the nutritional value of leafy vegetables in plant factories.
Agronomic Performance of Faba Bean in Mediterranean Environments
Authors: Barilli Eleonora , Luna Pedro , Flores Fernando , Rubiales Diego
Published: February 2025

The faba bean (Vicia faba) is an important grain legume that, despite decades of decline, is regaining interest in the Mediterranean basin due to an increasing demand for plant-based proteins and other ingredients, particularly for the food industry. However, the crop’s sensitivity to weather conditions (mainly drought and heat) as well as its high susceptibility to diseases hinder its yield performance and stability. For this reason, in this study, we present the results of multi-environment field trials conducted in southern Spain, where the performance of six new elite faba bean cultivars, developed through local breeding programs focused on selection for increased yield and chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) resistance, was compared with two popular commercial cultivars. Data analysis across six diverse environments showed the significant effects of environment, genotype, and genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) on yield and several morphologic traits. Grain yield was positively influenced by rainfall and negatively affected by high temperatures, with no evidence of damage due to cold temperatures. Stress tolerance indexes helped identify cultivars Omeya, Faraon Negro, and Navio6, which excelled across all metrics. The trials were intentionally conducted in broomrape (Orobanche crenata)-free plots, where chocolate spot emerged as the major biotic constraint, with the infection level highly influenced by rainfall. Significant differences were observed among accessions in their response to chocolate spot, with the cultivar Arrechana showing resistance. Overall, cultivars Omeya, Arrechana, Faraon Negro, Navio6, and Quijote demonstrated outstanding grain yield and excellent adaptation to the region.
Frequency Response Extension Method of MET Vector Hydrophone Based on Dynamic Feedback Network
Authors: Bian Fang , Li Ang , Yang Hongyuan , Zheng Fan , Yang Dapeng , Zhang Huaizhu , Zhang Linhang , Li Ruojin
Published: February 2025

Hydrophone is a key component of marine seismic exploration systems, divided into a scalar hydrophone and vector hydrophone. The electrochemical vector hydrophone has attracted much attention due to its high sensitivity and low-frequency detection capability. With the development of noise reduction technology, high-frequency noise has been effectively suppressed, while low-frequency noise is still difficult to control, which has become a key issue in the monitoring of underwater target radiation noise. The traditional electrochemical vector hydrophone based on the molecular electron transfer (MET) principle is limited in the working bandwidth in the low-frequency band, which affects the detection capability of low-frequency radiation signals from underwater targets. In order to solve this problem, a frequency response extension method of a MET electrochemical vector hydrophone based on dynamic feedback network is proposed. By introducing a dynamic force balance negative feedback system based on a digital signal processor (DSP), the working bandwidth of the hydrophone is extended, and the detection capability of low-frequency signals is enhanced. At the same time, the system has field adjustability and can resist the long-term system frequency characteristic drift. Experimental results show that the proposed method effectively improves the frequency response performance of the electrochemical vector hydrophone, providing a new technical solution for its application in the monitoring of low-frequency radiation noise from underwater targets.
Decision-Making Framework for Aviation Safety in Predictive Maintenance Strategies
Authors: Kabashkin Igor , Fedorov Roman , Perekrestov Vladimir
Published: February 2025

The implementation of predictive maintenance (PM) in aviation presents unique challenges due to strict safety requirements, complex operational environments, and regulatory constraints. This paper develops a comprehensive decision-making framework for evaluating the feasibility of implementing PM for aircraft components, addressing the critical need for systematic integration of technical, economic, and regulatory considerations. Through expert surveys involving 78 aviation maintenance professionals and the application of multi-criteria decision analysis, this study identifies and validates 14 key criteria across four categories: technical and operational, economic and feasibility, regulatory and compliance, and organizational and human factors. The analytic hierarchy process is employed to establish criteria weights, with flight safety impact, reliability predictability, and data sufficiency emerging as primary drivers. The framework’s effectiveness is demonstrated through case studies comparing turbofan engines and avionics units, validating its ability to discriminate between components suitable for PM implementation. Results indicate that successful PM implementation requires not only technological readiness but also organizational alignment and regulatory compliance. This study contributes to aviation maintenance practice by providing a structured, evidence-based approach to PM implementation decisions, while establishing a foundation for future innovations in maintenance strategies. The framework’s practical applicability is enhanced through a detailed implementation roadmap and validation methods, ensuring its relevance for maintenance decision-makers while maintaining alignment with aviation safety standards.
Improving Rock Type Identification Through Advanced Deep Learning-Based Segmentation Models: A Comparative Study
Authors: Aydın İlhan , Kılıç Ayşe Didem , Şener Taha Kubilay
Published: February 2025

The accurate identification of rock types is crucial for understanding geological structures and planning mining activities. Therefore, the precise labeling of rock types is a fundamental requirement for researchers and industry experts in these fields. This study aims to identify rock types by segmenting thin-section rock images using advanced deep learning models. Commonly used models such as DeepLabv3+, SegFormer, ConvNext, and Mask2Former were evaluated to compare the performance of different segmentation models. Additionally, an improved version of Mask2Former was analyzed to enhance its performance. Post-segmentation enhancements with SLIC super pixel and morphological operations further improved boundary delineation. An improved version of Mask2Former achieved a validation accuracy of 91.26% and a mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 82.59%, representing an improvement of more than 5% over the base Mask2Former. Another significant aspect of the study is the detailed analysis of other models using the relevant dataset. The Quartz Feldspar Plagioclase (QAP) diagram was utilized for mineral identification, achieving a mineral recognition accuracy of 85.7%. These results indicate the robustness of the proposed approach, which exceeds the accuracy and mIoU of comparable methods reported in the literature. This study significantly enhances the effectiveness of image processing techniques for rock type identification. Furthermore, the detailed comparison of different models provides valuable guidance for researchers in selecting the most suitable model.
Sustainable Photocatalytic Reduction of Maleic Acid: Enhancing CuxO/ZnO Stability with Polydopamine
Authors: Coccia Francesca , Mascitti Andrea , Rastelli Giorgia , d’Alessandro Nicola , Tonucci Lucia
Published: February 2025

The development of effective photocatalysts for environmental applications is still a critical aspect of green chemistry. This study explores copper oxide (CuxO) catalysts supported on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) for the photocatalytic reduction of maleic acid to succinic acid under ultraviolet (UV) light in water. The main goal was to evaluate the performance of CuO/ZnO compared to CuO/TiO2 in photoreduction. In order to improve the efficiency of the first catalyst, an environmentally friendly synthesis, assisted by polydopamine (PDA), was tested, obtaining the Cu2O/ZnO-PDA catalyst. The results showed that CuO/TiO2 exhibited the highest activity for maleic acid reduction, obtaining a succinic acid yield and a selectivity of 32% after 24 h of reaction time, but comparable results could be reached even with Cu2O/ZnO-PDA increasing the reaction time. Furthermore, the addition of sodium ascorbate as a co-catalyst in the reaction mixture allowed us to overtake the previous results, leading to a succinic acid yield of 61% and a selectivity of 67%. These findings suggest that the PDA shell can be a solution for CuxO photodegradation, making Cu2O/ZnO-PDA an alternative to the toxic CuO/TiO2.