bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring Urban Space Quality: Development and Validation of a Short Questionnaire
Authors: Mela Athina , Tousi Evgenia , Varelidis George
Published: January 2025

This study introduces a concise questionnaire designed to evaluate the quality of urban public spaces as a simplified method for collecting community needs and perspectives, enabling these insights to be effectively combined with metrics and viewpoints from policymakers and decision-makers. The case study was carried out in one of the smallest municipalities of Attica, in the small town of Kaisariani (Athens), with an emphasis on the central square and the park of the area. Findings show that the majority of respondents prioritize improving the vegetation and lighting of Kaisariani Square, as well as demands for more benches and cultural/art elements. The most important starting experience was the feeling of neglect and lack of cleanliness. Concerns about lighting and lack of care/cleanliness were also key at the park. Addressing current gaps in the public space assessment literature, the study lays the groundwork for future research and supports the creation of easy-to-use quality assessment tools. Unlike existing methods, the proposed tool offers a more accessible and efficient way of collecting data on urban space quality. As the urban environment grows, the adoption of such techniques will become increasingly important in creating viable, sustainable communities that promote the well-being of citizens.
Enhancing Early Diabetic Retinopathy Detection through Synthetic DR1 Image Generation: A StyleGAN3 Approach
Authors: Das Sagarnil , Walia Pradeep
Published: January 2025

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of preventable blindness, with early detection at the DR1 stage being critical but hindered by a scarcity of high-quality fundus images. This study leverages StyleGAN3 to generate synthetic DR1 images characterized by microaneurysms with high fidelity and diversity to address this data scarcity and enhance the performance of supervised classifiers. A dataset of 2,602 DR1 images was used to train the model, followed by a comprehensive evaluation employing quantitative metrics, including Fréchet Inception Distance (FID), Kernel Inception Distance (KID), and Equivariance with respect to translation (EQ-T) and rotation (EQ-R). Qualitative assessments involved Human Turing tests, where trained ophthalmologists evaluated the realism of synthetic images. Spectral analysis further validated the images' quality. The model achieved a final FID score of 17.29, significantly outperforming the mean FID of 21.18 (95% CI: 20.83–21.56) derived from bootstrap resampling. Human Turing tests demonstrated the model’s capacity to produce highly realistic images, though some artifacts near the borders were noted. These findings suggest that StyleGAN3-generated synthetic DR1 images hold significant promise for augmenting training datasets, enabling more accurate early detection of Diabetic Retinopathy. This methodology highlights the potential of synthetic data in advancing medical imaging and AI-driven diagnostics.
Recent Progress in Flexible Microelectrode Arrays for Combined Electrophysiological and Electrochemical Sensing
Authors: Siwakoti Umisha , Jones Steven A. , Kumbhare Deepak , Cui Xinyan Tracy , Castagnola Elisa
Published: January 2025

Understanding brain function requires advanced neural probes to monitor electrical and chemical signaling across multiple timescales and brain regions. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are widely used to record neurophysiological activity across various depths and brain regions, providing single-unit resolution for extended periods.
Recent advancements in flexible MEAs, built on micrometer-thick polymer substrates, have improved integration with brain tissue by mimicking the brain's soft nature, reducing mechanical trauma and inflammation. These flexible, subcellular-scale MEAs can record stable neural signals for months, making them ideal for long-term studies. In addition to electrical recording, MEAs have been functionalized for electrochemical neurotransmitter detection. Electroactive neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and adenosine, can be directly measured via electrochemical methods, particularly on carbon-based surfaces. For non-electroactive neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid, alternative strategies, such as enzyme immobilization and aptamer-based recognition, are employed to generate electrochemical signals. This review highlights recent developments in flexible MEA fabrication and functionalization to achieve both electrochemical and electrophysiological recordings, minimizing sensor fowling and brain damage when implanted long-term. It covers multi-time scale neurotransmitter detection, development of conducting polymer and nanomaterial composite coatings to enhance sensitivity, incorporation of enzyme and aptamer-based recognition methods, and the integration of carbon electrodes on flexible MEAs. Finally, it summarizes strategies to acquire electrochemical and electrophysiological measurements from the same device.
TR-GPT-CF: A Topic Refinement Method using GPT and Coherence Filtering
Authors: Widiastuti Ika , Yong Hwan-Seung
Published: January 2025

Traditional topic models are effective at uncovering patterns within large text corpora but often struggle with capturing the contextual nuances necessary for meaningful interpretation. As a result, these models may produce incoherent topics, making it challenging to achieve consistency and clarity in topic interpretation—limitations that hinder their utility for real-world applications requiring reliable insights. To overcome these challenges, we introduce a novel post-extracted topic refinement approach that uses z-score centroid-based misaligned word detection and hybrid semantic-contextual word replacement with WordNet and GPT to replace misaligned words within topics. Evaluations across multiple datasets reveal that our approach significantly enhances topic coherence, providing a robust solution for more interpretable and semantically coherent topics.
In Vitro Optimization of Artificial Human Epidermis for 3D Tissue Engineering
Authors: Kocsis Dorottya , Sztankovics Dániel , Józsa Liza , Németh Afrodité , Garay Tamás , Naszlady Márton Bese , Lengyel Miléna , Vecsernyés Miklós , Antal István , Sebestyén Anna , Erdő Franciska
Published: January 2025

In recent times, with the decline of in vivo animal experiments, there has been an increasing demand for the use of relevant in vitro human cell systems in the development of new drugs. Furthermore, the production of artificial tissues and tissue engineering is also gaining an increasingly important role in regenerative medicine. For example, there is a great demand for the replacement of skin tissue in various acute and chronic wounds and burns. On the other hand, these human skin cell-based in vitro systems can also be used to investigate the side effects (toxicity and irritation) and tissue penetration of topical preparations. In this study, exploratory experiments were performed to produce artificial epidermis using two different hydrogel scaffolds, alginate and GelMA C. Amount of keratinocytes added to the matrix and the duration of tissue maturation were optimized. In addition, the behavior and structure of the two epithelial cell-containing hydrogels were functionally and morphologically tested. Finally, it was concluded that the GelMA C matrix provides a more favorable biological environment for cell survival and tissue differentiation. The 3-week incubation and 50M/mL cell number proved to be the most favorable in the given system. In order to use these results in 3D bioprinting, the fabricated artificial epidermis preparations must be optimized also for biocompatibility and from a physical and mechanical point of view.
Defect Tailoring in HfO2/Si Films upon Post Deposition Annealing and Ultraviolet Irradiation
Authors: Salas-Rodríguez Silvestre , Gonzalez-Moreno Fernanda I. , Woo-Garcia Rosa M , Herrera-May Agustin L. , López-Huerta Francisco , Caballero-Briones F.
Published: January 2025

In the present work, a study of the structural defects in HfO2 thin films deposited by dip-coating on p-type silicon substrates treated under different conditions, such as air-annealing, ultraviolet irradiation, and simultaneous annealing-UV irradiation, is presented. HfO2 thin films were analyzed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical fluorescence, atomic force microscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance. Films treated at 200 ºC and 350 ºC present peaks corresponding to monoclinic HfO2. After UV treatment, films became amorphous. The combination of annealing at 350 ºC with UV treatment does not lead to crystalline peaks, suggesting that the UV treatment causes extensive structural damage. Fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy suggested that films present oxygen vacancies as the main structural defects. A reduction of oxygen vacancies after a second thermal treatment was observed, but in counterpart, after UV irradiation, fluorescence spectroscopy indicates that more defects are created within the mobility gap, irrespectively of the simultaneous annealing at 350 ºC. An electronic band diagram was proposed assigning the observed fluorescence bands and optical transitions. The results suggest that the electronic structure of HfO2 films can be tailored with a careful choice of thermal annealing conditions along with the controlled creation of defects using UV irradiation, which would open the way to multiple applications of the materials either in microelectronics and photocatalytic/electrocatalytic applications such as photodegradation and hydrogen generation.
Comprehensive Metabolomic Profiling of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Reveals Biomarkers Involved in Viral Disease Detection and Monitoring
Authors: Osogo Aggrey Keya , Wekesa Clabe , Muyekho Francis N. , Hassan Karakacha Were Hassan Karakacha Were , Okoth Patrick
Published: January 2025

Common bean production is vital in Western Kenya for its economic, nutritional, environmental, and cultural significance. It provides a key income source for smallholder farmers, supports regional trade, and contributes to food security with affordable, protein-rich food. However, challenges such as pests, diseases, climate change, poor soil fertility, and limited access to quality seeds hinder production. Among these constraints Bean diseases and especially viral diseases have been documented to account for a higher percentage of crop losses in the field This study was commissioned to conduct a comprehensive analysis of small molecule metabolites in diseased common bean biological systems, aiming to identify potential disease biomarkers and improve the understanding of the related metabolic pathways. To achieve this, virus-free Rosecoco bean cultivars were initially planted and later exposed to viral diseases (BCMV and BCMNV) in designated regions. At the same time, control experiments involved the use of healthy plants. Diseased and healthy leaves were collected for metabolite extraction and analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry technology. A total of 354 metabolites were identified across seven pathways, with 51 upregulated metabolites, mainly from fatty acids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Ten metabolites were identified as differentially expressed, two of which had their molecular structures successfully determined. These metabolites hold potential as biomarkers for viral disease detection, monitoring, and conferring resistance in common bean diseases. These findings emphasize the significance of fatty acids and terpenoids in plant stress responses, suggesting that further research into these pathways is crucial for better understanding plant defence resilience.
Can ChatGPT Solve Undergraduate Exams from Logistics Studies? An Investigation
Authors: Franke Sven , Pott Christoph , Rutinowski Jérôme , Pauly Markus , Reining Christopher , Kirchheim Alice
Published: January 2025

The performance of Large Language Models, such as ChatGPT, generally increases with each further model release. In this paper, we investigate whether and how well different ChatGPT models solve the exams of three different logistics undergraduate courses. We contribute to the discussion of ChatGPT’s existing logistics knowledge, particularly in the field of warehousing. Both, the free version (GPT-4o mini) and the chargeable version (GPT-4o) completed three different logistics exams using three different prompting techniques (with and without role assignment as logistics expert or student). The o1-preview model was also used (without role assignment) for six attempts. The tests were repeated three times. A total of 60 tests were completed and compared to in-class results of logistics students. The results show that a total of 46 tests were passed. The best attempt solved 93% of an exam correctly. Compared to the students from the respective semester, ChatGPT outperforms students in one exam. On the other two exams the students perform better on average.
Towards Integrated AI Psychotherapy Supervision: A Proposal for a ChatGPT-4 Study
Authors: Cioffi Valeria , Ragozzino Ottavio , Scognamiglio Chiara , Mosca Lucia Luciana , Moretto Enrico , Stanzione Roberta , Marino Francesco , Acocella Annamaria , Ammendola Angela , D'aquino Rossella , Durante Simona , Tortora Enrica , Morfini Flavia , Montanari Caludia , Rosa Veronica , Rossi Oliviero , Ferrara Antonio , Mori Elisa , Gigante Elena , Pizzimenti Mariano , Zangarini Sonia , Sperandeo Raffaele , Cantone Daniela
Published: January 2025

Psychotherapeutic supervision is crucial for the quality of the development of professionals and the promotion of well-being and therapeutic effectiveness of trainees. Emerging computational technologies can offer new potentials to supervision practice. The aim of this paper is to test the current capabilities of the GPT-4 linguistic model to support the work of psychotherapists, providing secondary and complementary feedback to supervision. This paper represents the initial phase (phase 0) useful for laying the foundations and adequately calibrating the methodology of a future more extensive work which will consist of further and more detailed training of GPT-4on the tasks required. The availability of this possibility, for a trainee or a therapist, would mean significant support for self-monitoring and increasing this competence, an incentive and support for awareness of the need to resort to a supervision meeting. This could result in enhanced training, improved efficiency and clinical effectiveness, maintenance of well-being, prevention of burnout and improved patient outcomes.
Lateral-torsional Buckling Behavior of Low-Carbon H-Shape Bolted-composited Beams(HBCBs)
Authors: Darkwah Kojo Kumah , Lu Linfeng , Liu Bingyou , Huang Zhengzhong , Hao Hanlin
Published: January 2025

The construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Promoting sustainable practices, such as using hot-rolled H-shapes and minimizing welding, can address these challenges. This study introduces Low-Carbon H-Shape Bolted-Composited Beams (HBCBs) as a sustainable alternative. Experimental and numerical investigations into the lateral-torsional buckling behavior of HBCBs demonstrated that high-strength bolts significantly enhance structural stability and capacity. A reliable simulation method was developed and validated based on experimental results. The study revealed that bolt spacing exceeding 1/15 of the beam span has negligible effects on load-bearing capacity, and HBCB performance reaches approximately 95% of plug-welded counterparts. Despite this, longitudinal slip reduction remains challenging, warranting further research to optimize performance.
Monitorization of Cleaning Processes from Digital Video Spatiotemporal Analysis. Cleaning Kinetics from Characteristic Times
Authors: García-Jareño José Juan , Agrisuelas Jerónimo , López Celia , Lorenzo Fernando , Vicente Francisco
Published: January 2025

The cleaning process of metallic surfaces has been studied by means of digital video monitoring. Two theoretical models based on experimental observations are proposed for two possible cleaning mechanisms and two practical cases that can be adapted to these models are analyzed. As a kinetic parameter, the duration of the cleaning of a metallic surface is defined from the time evolution of the color intensities and their variance. These times allow us to characterize and to optimize the cleaning process procedure. Apparent activation energies are estimated from the characteristic times at different temperatures
Challenges with the Disability Policy Framework in Zimbabwe: An In-Depth Qualitative Analysis of Perspectives of Youth with Disabilities
Authors: Mashanyare Tapson , Garutsa Tendayi Clotilda , Odhav Kiran
Published: January 2025

Although Zimbabwe has made significant progress regarding a policy framework that caters for the needs of people with disabilities through various pieces of legislation such as the Disabled Peoples Act (DPA), ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and adopting a new constitution which have provisions for disability rights, people with disabilities in Zimbabwe are yet to benefit from these policies as they are not fully implemented. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 youth aged between 18 to 35 with disabilities and 5 key informants in Gweru, to analyse their perceptions regarding disability policy framework in Zimbabwe. Most of the youth with disabilities lacked knowledge on the various policies on disability. This was attributed to poor implementation of such policies and a general negative attitude of society towards disability rights. Youth with disabilities are not fully benefiting from the current disability policies due to a lack of knowledge and some implementation gaps. The participants suggested full implementation of such policies and involvement of youth with disabilities in policy formulation and implementation.
Marmaricines A-C: Antimicrobial Brominated Pyrrole Alkaloids from the Red Sea Marine Sponge Agelas sp. Aff. Marmarica
Authors: Youssef Diaa , ALqarni Areej , Almohammadi Ameen , Abujamel Turki , Shaala Lamiaa
Published: January 2025

The Red Sea is the home of a rich diversity of sponge species, with unique ecological adaptations that thrive in its saline, warm, and nutrient-poor waters. Red Sea sponges offer potential as sources of novel drugs and bioactive compounds. The organic extract of the Red Sea sponge Agelas sp. aff. marmarica was investigated for its antimicrobial constituents. Through bioassay-guided fractionation of the antimicrobial fraction of the extract on SiO₂, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC purification, three bioactive compounds, marmaricines A-C (1-3), were isolated. Structural elucidation of the compounds was performed using 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) NMR, as well as (+)-high-resolution electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy, leading to the identification of the compounds. Marmaricines A-C exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with inhibition zones of 14, 15, and 12 mm, respectively. Further, marmaricines B and C showed activity against Candida albicans, with inhibition zones of 15 and 14 mm, while compound 1 displayed no activity. The results indicate that compounds 1-3 are selectively active against MRSA, and compounds 2 and 3 demonstrate potential against C. albicans, making them promising candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents targeting resistant pathogens.
Risk Factors and Post-Partum Hemorrhage Among Women with Vaginal Delivery
Authors: Dube Rajani , Kar Subhranshu Sekhar , Satapathy Sanghamitra , Bahutair Shadha Nasser , Younus Haider Ali , Abdulsalam Khawla Fadil Noori
Published: January 2025

Background: This study aims to find the correlation between risk factors and the incidence of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) in normal vaginal deliveries. Methods: The present research is an observational cohort study. 239 women undergoing normal labor who delivered vaginally were given 0.2mg of Ergometrine or 600 μg of Misoprostol as a prophylaxis to prevent PPH. The blood loss was estimated by the use of blood collection drapes during delivery. All statistical analysis was conducted via SPSS version 27. The risk factors were compared between the groups with or without PPH.Results: The majority 87 (36.4%) of the participants were in the 25-29 years age group, had zero parity status 113 (47.3%), and 93 (38.9%) were primigravida. The prevalence of PPH was 4.6% (11/239). Almost half of the cases of PPH (5/11, 45.5%) had no risk factors, whereas those with risk factors had twin pregnancy (25%), low-lying placenta (50%), grand multipara (33.3%) and previous history of PPH (33.3%). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation be-tween the risk factors and the incidence of PPH was observed (R= 0.512). Conclusion: In this study, women with risk factors like twin pregnancy, low-lying placenta, grand multipara, and previous history of PPH developed PPH despite giving prophylaxis and close monitoring. However, almost half of the cases of PPH occurred in people where there was no risk factor.
Challenges in Multiple Myeloma Therapy in Older and Frail Patients
Authors: Aureli Anna , Marziani Beatrice , Sconocchia Tommaso , Pasqualone Gianmario , Franceschini Luca , Spagnoli Giulio Cesare , Venditti Adriano , Sconocchia Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

Every year, more than 150,000 cases of multiple myeloma (MM) are diagnosed worldwide, and over 100,000 deaths caused by this malignancy are recorded. MM incidence is increasing globally, particularly in high-income countries and in the male population aged ≥50. While advances in treatment strategies have led to improvement of survival over the past decades, MM remains incurable in a large percentage of cases. Importantly, about one third of patients diagnosed with MM are >75 years old and are characterized by relatively low fitness or frailty. These patients are more vulnerable to stressors and present a lower resistance to cancer and related treatment. Therefore, patients’ fitness and frailty should become part of standard assessment in MM, and flexible therapeutic options should apply. A careful review of studies investigating the management of frail patients with MM, strongly supports the use of a dynamic assessment of effectiveness and adverse events associated with current treatments in the context of patient-specific frailty and co-morbidities.
Emotional Reactivity and Behavioral Problems in Preschoolers: The Interplay of Parental Stress, Media-Related Coping and Child Screen Time
Authors: Jusienė Roma , Breidokienė Rima , Baukienė Edita , Rakickienė Lauryna
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Excessive screen time has been linked to poorer developmental outcomes in preschool years, with the impact depending on context. Parents of emotionally reactive children, in particular, may use screens to manage their child's emotions, especially when experiencing distress themselves. This reliance on screens can hinder the development of self-regulation, leading to behavioral difficulties. Our study aimed to explore how emotional reactivity, parental distress, screen time, and media-related coping interact while contributing to externalizing (behavioral) problems in preschool-aged children. Methods: The study included 754 children (49.1% girls), aged 2–5 years (M = 44.6 months, SD = 13.7). Parents reported children’s emotional reactivity and externalizing problems using the Child Behavior Checklist and provided data on daily screen time and media-related coping behaviors. Bivariate correlations, group comparisons, and structural equation modeling were employed to analyze the data. Results: Children averaged 111.86 minutes of daily screen time (SD = 83.94), with 35.2% of parents using screens as a coping strategy. Emotional reactivity was the strongest predictor of externalizing problems, while the role of screen time was weak, yet significant. Parental distress was positively associated with child emotional reactivity and screen time. Structural equation modeling showed that child emotional reactivity related to behavioral problems both directly and indirectly via parental distress, media-related coping, and increased screen time. Conclusions: The findings highlight emotional reactivity as a key factor in child behavioral problems, emphasizing the cumulative risks posed by parental distress and screen use. The results suggest interventions promoting healthier screen habits and supporting parental well-being.
Refocusing the Confronting the Wildfire Crisis Program on Fire-Resistant Land Uses and Fuel-Reduction Treatments Around Western US Communities Could Protect Them All?
Authors: Baker William L.
Published: January 2025

Wildfires have burned hundreds of communities in the 11 western US states (11WS) over the last two decades, and a federal program, Confronting the Wildfire Crisis (CWC), is using fuel-reduction treatments (FRTs) over 7-9 million ha in 10 years to reduce exposure of communities to fires in forests, but could a landscape system of fire-resistant land uses and FRTs near communities better protect them all? I used GIS to estimate fire rates from 2000-2021 in 55 land covers to identify potential fire-resistant land uses, then used rates to place them into five categories from Safest to Very Dangerous. I added buffers of 100, 850, 2500, and 5000 m, representing different fire threats, to maps of 4,484 community complexes in the 11WS, then measured the extent of Safeness categories in complexes and their buffers. On average, a surprising 34-39% of area inside complexes and 53% in the outermost buffer was dangerous land uses. When fires from 2000-2021 burned into 788 complexes, 88% of burned area was in dangerous, only 6% in safe land uses, validating both dangerous and safe land uses. For landscape fire protection, communities could: (1) replace dangerous internal land uses with safe uses, (2) retain existing safe uses internally and in buffers, (3) link them with added safe uses, averaging as little as ∼25 m wide by 12-15 km long, across dangerous uses externally, and (4) supplement these externally with continuous FRTs to reduce fire intensity and ember and smoke production. Nearly all 4,484 community complexes could feasibly be protected in a decade if CWC funding were refocused on this effort.
A Nonlinear ODE Model for a Society Strongly Dependent on Non-Renewable Resources
Authors: Badiale Marino , Cravero Isabella
Published: January 2025

In this work we study an ODE system intended to model the interaction between nature and society in the case of a society heavily dependent on non-renewable resources. In the model this dependence translates into the fact that the rates of consumption of resources and wealth depend on non-renewable resources. We first obtain that the relevant trajectories of the system are bounded, then we compute all the equilibria of the system and study their stability.
Authentication Approaches in Spring Security
Authors: Mohammad Zahir Raheba , Esenalieva Gulzada
Published: January 2025

This article provides an in-depth exploration of essential authentication approaches in Spring Security, focusing on Basic Authentication, JWT (JSON Web Token), and OAuth2. It discusses each method's advantages, typical use cases, and security implications, with a step-by-step guide on implementing them within Spring Security configurations. Basic Authentication offers straightforward access control, ideal for internal services, while JWT enables stateless, scalable token-based security for distributed systems. OAuth2 provides a powerful framework for third-party access and delegated permissions, widely used in modern web applications. Through this guide, developers gain practical insights into safeguarding Spring applications effectively.
How to Solve the Problem of Inherited Behavior Patterns and Increase the Sustainability of Technological Civilization
Authors: Vinn Olev
Published: January 2025

The inherited behavior patterns (IBPs) that are incompatible with the technological civilization could present challenges which all emerging intelligences and civilizations must confront, and that may help explain Fermi paradox, at least in part, why we have not yet detected any alien civilizations. The civilizations that cannot solve the problem of incompatible IBPs may inevitably become extinct shortly after the appearance of advanced technologies. The current technological civilization is addressing the dangers posed by IBPs too ineffectively to ensure the long-term survival of civilization. One of the first steps that can be taken currently is to increase public awareness of the threats posed by incompatible inherited behavior patterns (IBPs). This can be achieved through widespread education, aimed at both the general population and key decision-makers. Looking toward the future, one potential solution to the problem of incompatible inherited behavior patterns (IBPs) is genetic reprogramming, which could be developed over the next 50 to 100 years. Through advanced genetic engineering techniques, we could potentially modify human behavior to be better suited for conditions prevailing in a technological civilization.
Clinical Implications of Inappropriate Therapy in Community-Onset Urinary Tract Infections and Development of a Bayesian Hierarchical Weighted Incidence Syndromic Combination Antibiogram
Authors: Gómez-Quiroz Adolfo , Avila-Cardenas Brenda Berenice , De Arcos-Jiménez Judith Carolina , Perales-Guerrero Leonardo , Martínez-Ayala Pedro , Briseno-Ramirez Jaime
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: The rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens complicates the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in empirical antibiotic therapy. This study aimed to develop Weighted Incidence Syndromic Combination Antibiogram (WISCA) models to optimize antibiotic therapy for adult patients with community-onset UTIs presenting to emergency care settings at our institution. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using a hierarchical Bayesian model to develop WISCA models for UTI management. Data were extracted from microbiology laboratory records and medical databases, focusing on adult patients stratified by age, prior antibiotic exposure, and clinical characteristics. Clinical outcomes, such as extended hospital stays and in-hospital mortality, were evaluated before WISCA model development. Eleven monotherapies and 18 combination therapies were tested against 15 pathogens, with posterior coverage probabilities and 95% highest density intervals (HDIs) used to assess antibiotic coverage. Results: Inappropriate antibiotic treatment (both empirical and directed) was initially associated with worse clinical outcomes. After adjusting for covariates, inappropriate directed treatment during the UTI episode was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality, highlighting the need for tailored therapeutic strategies. WISCA models provided robust estimates of antibiotic coverage probabilities, revealing subgroup differences. Combination regimens demonstrated superior coverage, particularly in patients with multidrug-resistant pathogens, older adults, and those with conditions linked to MDR organisms. Conclusions: WISCA models show promise in optimizing antibiotic selection for UTIs requiring hospitalization by integrating local resistance patterns and patient-specific factors. These findings support WISCA-informed strategies to potentially improve clinical outcomes and mitigate antibiotic resistance in UTIs.
Optimizing Cloud Resource Allocation Using AI Techniques for eCommerce Industry
Authors: Kaipu Sandeep
Published: January 2025

The eCommerce industry's explosive growth has highlighted how important it is to allocate cloud resources effectively in order to handle workloads that are unpredictable and dynamic. Traditional methods of allocating resources frequently lead to either over-provisioning, which wastes resources, or under-provisioning, which causes performance bottlenecks. To overcome these obstacles, this paper presents an AI-driven optimization strategy based on reinforcement learning (RL), neural networks (NN), and genetic algorithms (GA). The combined AI approaches optimize settings for different eCommerce workloads, forecast workload demands, and dynamically modify resources.
Simulated cloud environments with situations such as seasonal spikes in sales traffic were used to test the suggested approach. In comparison to static allocation methods, the results demonstrated a 27% improvement in performance stability and a 35% reduction in operational expenditures. The RL component successfully managed periods of high demand with an 85% success rate, lowering latency by 22% and increasing resource efficiency by 42%. In order to avoid service interruptions and financial losses, a case study using the fictitious eCommerce platform ShopEase showed 95% accuracy in forecasting a 400% spike in traffic during a mock Black Friday event.
These results demonstrate how AI has the ability to completely transform cloud resource management by making it possible to create scalable, reasonably priced, and adaptable infrastructure that is ideal for the eCommerce industry.
Prognostic Value of Lactate, Standard Base Excess, and Alactic Base Excess in Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kilic Ozgur , Isevi Melda , Colak Ozkul Yilmaz , Akman Tugcehan Sezer
Published: January 2025

Sepsis and septic shock are severe medical conditions associated with high morbidity and mortality, necessitating accurate risk stratification to optimize clinical management. Lactate is a well-established biomarker for sepsis prognosis, reflecting tissue hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism. Standard Base Excess (SBE) is commonly used to assess metabolic acidosis, but its prognostic value in sepsis remains uncertain, particularly in the presence of elevated lactate levels. Alactic Base Excess (aBE), calculated as SBE + lactate, has been proposed as an alternative marker to differentiate non-lactate metabolic derangements.
This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the prognostic accuracy of lactate, SBE, and aBE in predicting mortality among patients with sepsis and septic shock. A total of 218 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were analyzed, including 90 survivors and 128 non-survivors. Elevated lactate levels were significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.001) and remained an independent predictor in multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.77, p = 0.005). SBE showed a weak association with mortality in univariate analysis but lost significance in multivariate models. ABE did not demonstrate significant prognostic value.
Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis confirmed lactate as the most reliable predictor, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.742. These findings suggest that lactate remains the superior prognostic biomarker in sepsis and septic shock, whereas SBE and aBE do not provide additional predictive value. Further research is needed to explore the dynamic changes in these biomarkers over time to refine risk stratification in septic patients.
Maternal Undernutrition Programs Energy Metabolism and Alters Metabolic Profile and Morphological Characteristics of Skeletal Muscle in Postnatal Beef Cattle
Authors: Nishino Daichi , Haginouchi Taketo , Shimogiri Takeshi , Muroya Susumu , Kawabata Kenji , Urasoko Saki , Oshima Ichiro , Yasuo Shinobu , Gotoh Takafumi
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study investigated the long-term effects of maternal undernutrition on overall muscle metabolism, growth performance, and muscle characteristics in postnatal offspring of Wagyu (Japanese Black) cattle. Methods: Wagyu cows were divided into nutrient-adequate (control, CNT; n=4, 120% of requirements) and nutrient-restricted groups (NR; n=4; 60% of requirements), and treated from day 35 of gestation until parturition. Diets were delivered on the basis of crude protein requirements, meeting 100% and 80% of dry matter requirements in CNT and NR groups, respectively. All offspring were provided with the same diet from birth to 300 days of age (d). Longissimus thoracis muscle (LM) samples were collected from the postnatal offspring. Results: The NR offspring had lower birth body weight, but their body weight caught up before weaning. Comprehensive analyses of metabolites and transcripts revealed the accumulation of proteinogenic amino acids in NR offspring LM at 300 d, while the abundance of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and succinate were reduced. These changes were accompanied by decreased gene expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A12 (NDUFA12), and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5), which are essential for mitochondrial energy production. Maternal undernutrition also altered the abundance of glycolysis-related metabolites and mRNA. Additionally, NR offspring LM exhibited decreased neurotransmitter levels, along with a higher proportion of slow-oxidative myofibers and a lower proportion of fast-oxidative myofibers at 300 d. Conclusions: Offspring from nutrient-restricted cows might suppress muscle energy production, primarily in the mitochondria, and conserve energy expenditure for muscle protein synthesis, compromising neurodevelopment necessary for proper myofiber contractility. These findings suggested that maternal undernutrition programs a thrifty metabolism in offspring muscle, with long-term effects.
God Educator of the Jewish People: Old Testament Aspects
Authors: Vasile Adrian
Published: January 2025

Education is a fundamental theme in Jewish culture. In the Old Testament we find didactic and pedagogical ideas expressed in different ways, e.g. in the figurative language of parables, regarding wisdom texts, etc. The Holy Scripture reveals a creative God who transformed a tribe of nomads into an organized people through a long process of education. In order to contemplate God as the educator of the Jewish people, several perspectives can be followed, but we will limit ourselves to presenting a few ideas that are related to education in the biblical context of ancient Israel, God's Pedagogy in the Bible and Divine Pedagogy which is the foundation for the education of children and young people today. The perspectives of Old Testament concerning to religious education are as relevant today as they were then, in the time of the patriarchs, kings or Old Testament prophets.
Enhancing EEG-Based Emotion Detection with Hybrid Models: Insights from DEAP Dataset Applications
Authors: Mouazen Badr , Benali Ayoub , Chebchoub Nouh Taha , Abdelwahed El Hassan , De Marco Giovanni
Published: January 2025

Emotion detection using EEG signals is a rapidly growing field with significant potential in mental health diagnostics and human-computer interaction. This study leverages the DEAP dataset to explore and evaluate various machine learning and deep learning techniques for emotion recognition. Extensive experimentation was conducted with models such as K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Decision Trees (DT), and Random Forests (RF), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM), Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Autoencoders, and Transformers, achieving an accuracy of up to 90%. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of advanced neural architectures in decoding emotional states from EEG signals. Furthermore, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were employed to interpret the model predictions, enhancing transparency and providing deeper insights into the contribution of individual features to the decision-making process. In addition, A real-time emotion detection system was developed, enabling instantaneous classification of emotional states from EEG signals, which has significant implications for real-world applications such as affective computing, neurofeedback, and human-computer interaction. This real-time capability, combined with the high accuracy and interpretability of the models, ensures that the decisions are not only accurate but also understandable, fostering trust and enabling more informed application in critical areas such as mental health and human-computer interaction.
Cascadable First-Order and Second-Order Inverse Filters Based On Second-Generation Voltage Conveyors
Authors: Roongmuanpha Natchanai , Likhitkitwoerakul Nutcha , Pukkalanun Tattaya , Faseehuddin Mohammad , Tangsrirat Worapong
Published: January 2025

This study introduces four novel configurations of first-order and second-order multifunction inverse filters in both voltage-mode (VM) and current-mode (CM) using second-generation voltage conveyors (VCIIs). The first-order VM and CM inverse filters utilize only three passive components together with one VCII for VM and two VCIIs for CM realizations, which can provide lowpass (LP) and highpass (HP) inverse filter responses through appropriate impedance selections. The latter, second-order VM and CM multifunction inverse filters, can be constructed using the corresponding first-order inverse filters as their core circuits. These filters offer all the basic inverse filter functions, including LP, bandpass (BP), and HP inverse responses with all gains obtained from the same design. All the CM inverse filter realizations possess low-input and high-output impedances, enabling them to be fully cascaded in CM operation. For the VM filter realizations, they exhibit low-output impedances, which directly connect to the next stage without any buffer requirement. No component matching requirements are necessary for all filter responses. The non-ideal effects of the VCII on the performance of the proposed inverse filters are thoroughly examined, taking into account undesirable aspects such as tracking errors and parasitic impedances. To prove the feasibility of the designs, PSPICE program performed several simulations, utilizing model parameters of 0.18-µm CMOS technology. In addition, some testing experiments are conducted using the commercially available IC-type AD844s for evaluating the practical performance of the designed inverse filters.
A Critical Comparison Among High-Resolution Methods for Spatially Resolved Nano-Scale Residual Stress Analysis in Nanostructured Coatings
Authors: Rossi Edoardo , Rashid Saqib , Diplas Spyros , Almeida Carvalho Patricia , Pucicki Damian , Kuna Rafal , Sebastiani Marco
Published: January 2025

Residual stresses in multilayer coatings are indeed a complex phenomenon due to intricate interaction between multiple factors such as layer number and thickness, layer and substrate materials, coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch (CTE), deposition technique, process parameters and deposition environment. The measurement of residual stresses is crucial and for that reason a series of AlGaN/GaN multilayer coatings with different layer structure was produced by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on sapphire substrate. These produced coatings were characterized by high-resolution x-ray diffraction to verify their epitaxial growth and structural properties. The coating structure and layer thicknesses were obtained by performing the FIB cross-section and TEM lamella preparation. The residual stresses within the AlGaN/GaN multilayer coatings were evaluated by two different techniques with different spatial resolution from sub-nano scale to micron level: high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy-geometrical phase analysis (HRSTEM-GPA) and focused ion beam-digital image correlation (FIB-DIC). The residual stresses resulting from these techniques (non-destructive and semi-destructive) were critically compared based on variable spatial resolution ranging from sub-micron to sub-nano level, in order to check the reliability and compatibility of both techniques in terms of accuracy and efficiency. This study observes the residual stresses calculated by different spatial resolution techniques are reliable and comparable at required coating depths and locations.
Human Factors Requirements for Human-AI Teaming in Aviation
Authors: Kirwan Barry
Published: January 2025

The advent of Artificial Intelligence in the cockpit and the air traffic control centre in the coming decade could mark a step change improvement in aviation safety, or else could usher in a flush of ‘AI-induced’ accidents. Given that contemporary AI has well-known weaknesses, from data biases and edge or corner effects, to outright ‘hallucinations’, in the mid-term AI will almost certainly be partnered with human expertise, its outputs monitored and tempered by human judgement. This is already enshrined in the EU Act on AI, with adherence to principles of human agency and oversight required in safety-critical domains such as aviation. However, such sound policies and principles are unlikely to be enough. Human interactions with current automation, let alone future AI, already require extensive requirements, methods and validations to ensure a robust (accident-free) partnership. Since AI will inevitably push the boundaries of traditional human-automation interaction, there is a need to revisit Human Factors to meet the challenges of future human-AI interaction design. This paper briefly reviews the origins of AI and its current ‘landscape’, together with the evolution of Human Factors, to identify the critical areas where Human Factors can aid future human-AI system performance and safety. The result is a detailed requirements set organised into eight Human Factors areas, from Human-Centred Design to Organisational Readiness. The requirements set is scalable to different design maturity levels and different levels of AI autonomy. The application of the requirements is illustrated via a cockpit Human-AI Teaming use case.
Adipose Micrograft and Its Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Their Exosomes in a Hyaluronic Acid Scaffold in Infiltrative Therapy in La Peyronie's Disease or Induratio Penis Plastica: A Pilot Study and Cases Report
Authors: Svolacchia Lorenzo , Svolacchia Fabiano , Giuzio Federica , Maurizi Angela
Published: January 2025

The aim of this clinical study was to demonstrate that through a micrograft of viable adipose tissue of cells and its exosomes microfiltered at 35 microns to exclude fibrous shoots and cell debris in a suspension of hyaluronic acid were able to improve symptoms and clinical manifestations of Peyronye's curvature disease or IPP Induratio Penis Plastica with a beneficial effect also in plaques . Background and Objectives: Events leading to Induratio Penis Plastica (PPI) or Peyronie's disease may be discovered in an abnormal healing response within the tunica albuginea. From an anatomopathological point of view, Peyronie's disease derives from an excessive production of extracellular matrix deposited by fibroblasts with the formation of fibrotic tissue that leads to a retractile cicatricial outcome. The clinical course is characterized by an acute phase and a subsequent chronic phase with stabilization of symptoms. Events leading to Induratio Penis Plastica (PPI) or Peyronie's disease may be discovered in an abnormal healing response within the tunica albuginea. Materials and Methods: This study involved 12 patients with a history of symptoms characterized by curvature of the penis and painful erections were analyzed and subjected to this pilot study to verify the improvement of the anatomical area through a suspension containing 1.5 mL of viable micrografts from adipose tissue of cells and its exosomes in a 1.5 mL of hyaluronic acid evaluated by using a modified Vancouver scale. Results: The Modified Vancouver scales showed that with this technique it was possible to obtain excellent results both when the suspension was injected into plaques of Peyronie’s disease when it was injected with the unique pomphs technique, with the intent to revitalize the tissue through progenitors with adult stemness markers. Conclusions: The combination of microfragmented and microfiltered adipose tissue of cells and its exosomes at 35 microns in a scaffold of hyaluronic acid is safe new method to treat Peyronye’s disease or IPP Induratio Penis Plastica.