bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Aging of Urban Gardens Can Enhance Their Role as Refuges for Local Ant Species
Authors: Trigos-Peral Gema , Reyes-López Joaquín L.
Published: January 2025

Urban gardens can be crucial for preserving the biodiversity in cities, but their construction often leads to shifts in local ant communities due to drastic habitat changes. Over time, ant communities can recover as species arrive from surrounding habitats. In this study, we explored ant community dynamics over ten years in four gardens of varying maturity on a university campus in South Spain. We examined: (1) ant community composition in the gardens and surrounding natural/seminatural areas; (2) changes in biodiversity over time; (3) indicator values of species in the campus; and (4) population dynamics of the most representative species. We found distinct ant community compositions in gardens and natural/seminatural habitats. The ant community in older gardens showed greater similarity to surrounding natural areas than in young gardens. In the youngest garden, biodiversity initially declined post-construction but later increased to levels comparable to older gardens. Exotic species were more abundant in the young garden, and the population of native species like the garden ant Lasius niger increased over the years. We found that disturbances promote the establishment of exotic species, regardless of habitat maturity. We emphasize the importance of a context-dependent interpretation of species bioindicator information to assess habitat ecological status accurately.
Hypercalcemia Following Adrenalectomy for Cushing Syndrome in a Patient with Post-Surgical Hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Locantore Pietro , Oliva Alessandro , Cera Gianluca , Paragliola Rosa Maria , Novizio Roberto , Policola Caterina , Corsello Andrea , Pontecorvi Alfredo
Published: January 2025

Background: Hypercalcemia is a frequently encountered laboratory finding in endocrinology, warranting accurate clinical and laboratory evaluation to identify its cause. While primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancies represent the most common causes, many other etiologies have been described, including some reports of hypercalcemia secondary to adrenal insufficiency. On the contrary, hypoparathyroidism is a relatively common cause of hypocalcemia, often arising as a complication of thyroid surgery. In real-world clinical practice, however, many challenges come into play, and a comprehensive approach may not be enough to establish a diagnosis. Case presentation: we describe a peculiar case of severe hypercalcemia occurring in a 47-year-old woman with a previous history of post-surgical permanent hypoparathyroidism treated with calcitriol (0.5 µg bid) and calcium carbonate (1 g qd), which persisted after withdrawal of these drugs. During her follow-up, an ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome was diagnosed, leading to a unilateral right adrenalectomy. In the two months following surgery, she was admitted to the emergency ward on three occasions because of severe, persistent, idiopathic hypercalcemia. On each occasion, parathyroid hormone levels were confirmed to be undetectable, with low vitamin D levels. Common and rare causes of hypercalcemia were excluded, and the persistence of severely elevated calcium levels led to the empirical use of intravenous clodronate, achieving remission of both hypercalcemia and, unexpectedly, hypoparathyroidism. After 8 months, due to borderline-reduced calcium, calcitriol at 0.5 µg qd was restarted. After 18 months of follow-up, the patient is well and normocalcemic, with low-dose calcitriol. Notably, the patient had no acute adrenal insufficiency, distinguishing this case from other post-adrenalectomy hypercalcemia reports. Conclusions: the history of hypoparathyroidism makes this case even more unusual, and it encourages careful follow-up of hypoparathyroid patients with Cushing syndrome. Ongoing observation, as well as new research on the physiopathology of cortisol and calcium metabolism, are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of this case.
6Trace: An Effective Method for Active IPv6 Topology Discovery
Authors: Shen Zhaobin , Chen Pan , Xie Yi , Chen Chiyu , Zhang Yongheng , Yang Guozheng
Published: January 2025

Scanning the large-scale topology of the IPv6 internet presents a significant challenge in network engineering, particularly for understanding the underlying network structure and assessing network security. The sheer size of the IPv6 address space makes traditional brute-force scanning techniques, such as traceroute, inefficient and impractical. Existing methodologies are often unable to cope with the inherent complexity of IPv6’s network structure and its probing requirements, leading to issues such as redundant probes, ICMPv6 rate limits, and network congestion. To address these challenges, this paper introduces 6Trace, an innovative solution that mitigates the impact of rate-limiting and congestion by distributing scanning traffic across the network. Furthermore, 6Trace incorporates a stateless, asynchronous scanning approach combined with a bisection-like dynamic probing strategy, significantly reducing redundancy. Experimental results demonstrate that 6Trace enhances scanning efficiency by 70% over current solutions, discovering the maximum number of interface addresses while minimizing probing time. Notably, this paper also provides the first comprehensive analysis of topology probing results across different types of target networks. The insights gained from this study will inform future research on optimal target selection and IPv6 internet measurement techniques.
Cathode Thermal Experiment Improves Performance of Magnetron Injection Gun for 170 GHz Gyrotron
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Zeng Xu , Feng Jinjun , Gao Dongshuo , Hao Wenteng , Li Boyang , Li Kun
Published: January 2025

This paper details the design and fabrication of a triode–anode magnetron injection gun (MIG) for a 170 GHz gyrotron for use in magnetic confinement thermonuclear fusion. To solve the mismatch problem of electric and magnetic fields in the electron emission area caused by geometric deformation under the thermal field, the temperature of the MIG was tested to accurately describe the thermal field distribution, and geometric dimension variables under the operating temperature were simulated. By analyzing the electric and magnetic fields under the thermal field, the design scheme of the MIG was optimized to achieve the goals of reducing the spread of electron beam velocity in the interaction region and improving the interaction efficiency.
Privacy-Preserving Approach to Edge Federated Learning Based on Blockchain and Fully Homomorphic Encryption
Authors: Deng Yun , Guo Baiqi , Chen Shouxue
Published: January 2025

To address the issues of high single-point failure risk, weak privacy protection, and poor resistance to poisoning attacks in edge federated learning, an edge federated learning privacy protection scheme based on blockchain and fully homomorphic encryption is proposed. This scheme uses blockchain technology combined with the CKKS (Cheon–Kim–Kim–Song) fully homomorphic encryption scheme to encrypt computational parameters. This approach reduces the risk of privacy leakage and provides edge federated learning with features such as anti-tampering, resistance to single-point failure, and data traceability. In addition, an unsupervised mechanism for identifying model gradient parameter updates is designed. This mechanism uses the consistency of historical model gradient parameter updates from edge servers as the identification basis. It can effectively detect malicious updates from edge servers, improving the accuracy of the aggregated model. Experimental results show that the proposed method can resist poisoning attacks from 70% of malicious edge servers. It offers privacy protection, transparent model aggregation, and resistance to single-point failure. Furthermore, the method achieves high model accuracy and meets stringent security, accuracy, and traceability requirements in edge federated learning scenarios.
Analysis of Heat Transfer Performance Impact for Passive Containment Air-Cooling System Radiation Plates
Authors: Wang Hongliang , Feng Yu , Yu Mingrui , Guo Yong , Li Wei , Guo Qiang , Yuan Yidan
Published: January 2025

In addition to convective heat transfer, radiation heat transfer constitutes a significant component of the thermal performance of Passive Containment Air-Cooling System (PAS). The installation of radiation plates within the PAS flow channel enhances the convective heat transfer area between the wall and the air, an effect that should not be overlooked. ANSYS Fluent was employed to investigate how the placement and quantity of radiation plates influence the heat transfer efficiency of PAS. The computational results indicate that radiation plates can substantially enhance the thermal performance of PAS. Specifically, when a radiation plate is positioned 0.9 m from the inner wall of the concrete shell, an improvement in PAS heat transfer power by as much as 34.4% can be achieved. However, it was observed that increasing the number of radiation plates has a minimal impact on overall performance; thus, utilizing multiple plates does not further augment the PAS heat transfer capability. Nonetheless, incorporating several radiation plates may contribute to lowering the temperature of the concrete shell. Based on this research, it can be concluded that strategically arranging radiation plates significantly improves the PAS heat transfer capacity. While multiple radiation plates do not provide additional enhancements to heat transfer efficiency under normal conditions, they remain a viable option for mitigating concrete shell temperatures during accident scenarios.
Optimizing Acidic Reductive Leaching for Lithium Recovery: Enhancing Sustainable Lithium Supply for Energy Markets
Authors: Sobianowska-Turek Agnieszka , Zielińska Amelia , Urbańska Weronika , Mielniczek Anna , Fornalczyk Agnieszka , Pawlak Szymon , Małysa Tomasz , Cebulski Janusz
Published: January 2025

The growing demand for lithium, driven by its crucial role in energy storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics, is intensifying the need for sustainable extraction methods. While lithium is sourced from both primary and secondary resources, particularly from recycled materials, the recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries remains challenging. This article presents acidic reductive leaching as a promising alternative for lithium extraction from secondary sources and unconventional ores, emphasizing its potential benefits, such as higher recovery rates, faster processing, and adaptability to various waste materials. Notably, this method facilitates the selective recovery of lithium before cobalt and nickel, providing a strategic advantage. This study highlights the lack of optimization studies on leaching conditions (e.g., acid concentration, reducing agents, temperature, and time) that could maximize lithium recovery while minimizing environmental and economic costs. The article aims to investigate and optimize the parameters of acidic reductive leaching for more efficient lithium recovery. Additionally, the results contribute to the principles of the circular economy and sustainable supply chains in the energy sector, providing a method to reduce dependency on geopolitically constrained lithium resources and supporting the global energy transition toward cleaner energy solutions.
Industrial CFD and Fluid Modelling in Engineering
Authors: De Vanna Francesco
Published: January 2025

Fluids is proud to present the Special Issue “Industrial CFD and Fluid Modelling in Engineering”, a carefully curated collection of pioneering research that underscores the transformative role of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in addressing the challenges of industrial fluid mechanics [...]
Transformations in Flow Characteristics and Fluid Force Reduction with Respect to the Vegetation Type and Its Installation Position Downstream of an Embankment
Authors: Rashedunnabi A H M , Tanaka Norio , Rahman Md Abedur
Published: January 2025

Compound mitigation systems, integrations of natural and engineering structures against the high inundating current from tsunamis or storm surges, have garnered significant interest among researchers, especially following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Understanding the complex flow phenomena is essential for the resilience of the mitigation structures and effective energy reduction. This study conducted a flume experiment to clarify flow characteristics and fluid force dissipation in a compound defense system. Vegetation models (V) with different porosities (Φ) were placed at three different positions downstream of an embankment model (E). A single-layer emergent vegetation model was considered, and a short-layer vegetation with several values of Φ was incorporated to increase its density (decreased Φ). Depending on Φ and the spacing (S) between the E and V, hydraulic jumps occurred in the physical system. The findings demonstrated that a rise in S allowed a hydraulic jump to develop inside the system and contributed to reducing the fluid force in front and downstream of V. Due to the reduced porosity of the double-layer vegetation, the hydraulic jump moved upstream and terminated within the system, resulting in a uniform water surface upstream of V and downstream of the system. As a result, the fluid force in front of and behind V reduced remarkably.
Uncertainty-Based Scale Identification and Process–Topography Interaction Analysis via Bootstrap: Application to Grit Blasting
Authors: Berkmans François , Lemesle Julie , Guibert Robin , Wieczorowski Michal , Brown Christopher , Bigerelle Maxence
Published: January 2025

Finding the relevant scale to observe the influence of a process is one of the most important purposes of multiscale surface characterization. This study investigates various methods to determine a pertinent scale for evaluating the relationship between the relative area and grit blasting pressure. Several media types were tested alongside two different methods for calculating the relative area and three bootstrapping approaches for scale determination through regression. Comparison with the existing literature highlights innovations in roughness parameter characterization, particularly the advantages of relative area over traditional parameters like Sa. This study also discusses the relevance of different media types in influencing surface topography. Additionally, insights from a similar study on the multiscale Sdq parameter and blasting pressure correlation are integrated, emphasizing a scale relevance akin to our Sdr method’s 120 µm cut-off length. Overall, our findings suggest a pertinent scale of 10,000 µm2 for the Patchwork method and a 120 µm cut-off length for the Sdr method, derived from bootstrapping on residual regression across all media. At the relevant scale, every value of R2 inferior to 0.83 is not significant with the threshold of 5% for the two methods of calculation of the relative area. This study enhances the understanding of how media types and blasting pressures impact surface topography, offering insights for refining material processing and surface treatment strategies.
Analytical Techniques for Studying Fractional-Order Jaulent–Miodek System Within Algebraic Context
Authors: Alkhezi Yousuf , Shafee Ahmad
Published: January 2025

The proposed study seeks to investigate various analytical and numerical techniques for solving fractional differential equations, with a particular focus on their applications in mathematical modeling and scientific research within the field of algebra. This study intends to investigate methods such as the Aboodh transform iteration method and the Aboodh residual power series method, specifically for addressing the Jaulent–Miodek system of partial differential equations. By analyzing the behavior of fractional-order differential equations and their solutions, this research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of complex mathematical phenomena. Furthermore, this study examines the role of the Caputo operator in fractional calculus, offering insights into its significance in modeling real-world systems within the algebraic context. Through this research, novel approaches for solving fractional differential equations are developed, offering essential tools for researchers in diverse fields of science and engineering, including algebraic applications.
Eurafrican Invisibility in Zambia’s Census as an Echo of Colonial Whiteness: The Case for a British Apology
Authors: Milner-Thornton Juliette Bridgette
Published: January 2025

In this article, I argue that Eurafricans’ invisibility in Zambia’s national census, history, and social framework is an echo of colonial whiteness stemming from the destructive legacy of illegitimacy perpetuated by British officials in Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia) during the colonial era (1924–64), which continues to the present day. This is evidenced by the absence of Eurafricans in the Zambia national censuses. This contribution calls for the British government to apologise to the Eurafrican community for the legacy of illegitimacy and intergenerational racial trauma it bestowed on the community. Zambia’s tribal ‘ethnic’ and ‘linguistics’ census classification options prevent a comprehensive understanding of Zambia’s multi-racial history and the development of a hybrid space that embraces a ‘mixed-race’ Eurafrican (of European and African heritage) Zambian identity. Through an autoethnographic account of my Eurafrican uncle Aaron Milner, I reflect on Zambian Eurafricans’ historical racial positioning as ‘inferior interlopers’, which has contributed to their obscurity in Zambia’s national history and census. However, my reflection goes beyond Milner’s story in Zambia. It is my entryway to highlight how race and colonial whiteness interconnected and underpinned racial ideology in the wider British Empire, and to draw attention to its echoes in various contemporary sociopolitical contexts, including census terminology in Australia and Zambia and Western nations’ anti-Black immigration policies.
A Retrospective Study of the Influence of Life Events and Social Support on Relapses and Recurrences in Older Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Cusell Hanna , Kok Rob
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Life events and lack of social support are risk factors for a relapse or recurrence in patients with a bipolar disorder, yet studies focusing on older adults remain limited. Our aim was to investigate the influence of life events and social support on the course of bipolar disorder in older adults. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included patients aged 55 years and older in treatment for bipolar disorder and who used lithium. During a follow-up of maximum 5 years, relapses and recurrences, life events and six social support variables were constructed based on patients’ electronic medical files. Results: We included 100 older patients with a mean age of 68.1 (SD 8.6) years; 69% were female. At least one relapse or recurrence was observed within the 5 years of observation in 52% of our patients. Life events were noted in the medical files in 24 out of these 52 (46.2%) patients. Living alone, a lower quality of social support and having at least two children was significantly associated with the onset of a relapse or recurrence (p = 0.024, p < 0.001, p = 0.022, respectively). Conclusions: Older adults with bipolar disorder have a high rate of relapses or recurrences within 5 years of observation, and half of the relapses or recurrences were preceded by life events. Social factors may also play a significant role in the onset of relapses and recurrences. Our results underline the necessity for incorporating social and environmental factors into prevention of relapses or recurrences for older bipolar patients.
Exploring Seasonality Indices for Low-Flow Analysis on Tibagi Watershed (Brazil)
Authors: de Macedo Alexandre Sokoloski de Azevedo Delduque , Männich Michael
Published: January 2025

This study investigated the seasonality of low-flow discharges in the Tibagi watershed, Paraná, Brazil, through the analysis of three indices: Seasonality Ratio (SR), Seasonality Index (SI), and Seasonality Histogram (SH). The indices were computed and compared using previously calculated low-flow discharge data (Q95) and physiographic information on sub-watersheds. A ‘Seasonality Calendar’ was developed, illustrating the period and intensity of low-flow discharge occurrences in the watershed. The results indicate that, despite the watershed not presenting a strong seasonality, there is a tendency for low-flow discharges to concentrate in certain months, notably in August, September, and October. Spatial analysis reveals varied patterns with a certain trend of increased seasonality intensity (parameter r) towards downstream (north) and as the watershed area increases. These indices emerge as valuable tools for water resource management, aiding decision-making for allocation and hydrological regionalization, such as optimizing granting water resource distribution during dry seasons based on the identified low-flow patterns and establishing different reference low-flow values throughout the year.
Understanding the Intricate Pathophysiology of Psoriasis and Related Skin Disorders
Authors: Orzan Olguța Anca , Tutunaru Cristina Violeta , Ianoși Simona Laura
Published: January 2025

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that is polygenic and multisystemic, impacting approximately 2–3% of the global population. The onset of this disease is influenced by an intricate interplay of genetic and environmental factors, predisposing individuals to the psoriasis phenotype. The complex pathogenesis of psoriasis contains certain key aspects found in other autoinflammatory and autoimmune dermatological diseases. Among these, vitiligo, alopecia areata, hidradenitis suppurativa, vitiligo, connective tissue diseases, bullous dermatoses, and atopic dermatitis are conditions that share overlapping immune system dysfunction, making their relationship with psoriasis particularly significant. For our research, we explored various terms including “shared”, “concomitant”, “coincident”, “overlap”, “coexist”, and “concurrent”, in relation to conditions such as “psoriasis”, “alopecia areata”, “hidradenitis suppurativa”, “atopic dermatitis”, “vitiligo”, “bullous pemphigoid”, “pemphigus vulgaris”, “lupus erythematosus”, “dermatomyositis”, and “systemic sclerosis.” Additionally, we used specific search queries like “atopic dermatitis overlapping syndrome” and “psoriasis and vitiligo concomitant disease” in the PubMed and Web of Science databases. While distinct in their clinical presentation, the skin diseases related to psoriasis may become associated, complicating diagnosis and treatment. In this narrative review, the complex pathophysiology of psoriasis is described, along with its close relationship to other skin conditions. This review provides an exhaustive description of both immunological and non-immunological pathways contributing to their development. Understanding the intricate interconnection between psoriasis and these conditions is of interest to scientists in developing novel research directions and to clinicians in providing holistic care, as managing one condition may influence the course of others.
The Use of Multifrequency Tympanometry in Ménière’s Disease. Comment on Tsilivigkos et al. Can Multifrequency Tympanometry Be Used in the Diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 1476
Authors: de Jong M. A. , Thomeer H. G. X. M.
Published: January 2025

Dear Editor, [...]
Evaluating ChatGPT-4 for the Interpretation of Images from Several Diagnostic Techniques in Gastroenterology
Authors: Saraiva Miguel Mascarenhas , Ribeiro Tiago , Agudo Belén , Afonso João , Mendes Francisco , Martins Miguel , Cardoso Pedro , Mota Joana , Almeida Maria Joao , Costa António , Gonzalez Haba Ruiz Mariano , Widmer Jessica , Moura Eduardo , Javed Ahsan , Manzione Thiago , Nadal Sidney , Barroso Luis F. , de Parades Vincent , Ferreira João , Macedo Guilherme
Published: January 2025

Background: Several artificial intelligence systems based on large language models (LLMs) have been commercially developed, with recent interest in integrating them for clinical questions. Recent versions now include image analysis capacity, but their performance in gastroenterology remains untested. This study assesses ChatGPT-4’s performance in interpreting gastroenterology images. Methods: A total of 740 images from five procedures—capsule endoscopy (CE), device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), digital single-operator cholangioscopy (DSOC), and high-resolution anoscopy (HRA)—were included and analyzed by ChatGPT-4 using a predefined prompt for each. ChatGPT-4 predictions were compared to gold standard diagnoses. Statistical analyses included accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC). Results: For CE, ChatGPT-4 demonstrated accuracies ranging from 50.0% to 90.0%, with AUCs of 0.50–0.90. For DAE, the model demonstrated an accuracy of 67.0% (AUC 0.670). For EUS, the system showed AUCs of 0.488 and 0.550 for the differentiation between pancreatic cystic and solid lesions, respectively. The LLM differentiated benign from malignant biliary strictures with an AUC of 0.550. For HRA, ChatGPT-4 showed an overall accuracy between 47.5% and 67.5%. Conclusions: ChatGPT-4 demonstrated suboptimal diagnostic accuracies for image interpretation across several gastroenterology techniques, highlighting the need for continuous improvement before clinical adoption.
Emerging Healthcare Trends in Prosthetic Treatment of Hand Osteoarthritis
Authors: Siegmund Andreas M. , Ruewe Marc , Szymski Dominik , Loucas Rafael , Oliinyk Dmytro , Pagani Andrea , Ecklmaier Cassandra , Geis Sebastian , Anker Alexandra M. , Prantl Lukas , Klein Silvan M.
Published: January 2025

Background: For many years, advancements in hand joint replacement (JR) were relatively minor compared to those for large joints. However, the caution previously exercised due to high complication rates is gradually being replaced by the expanding use of JR therapies for small joints in the hand. Despite this progress, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the outcomes of hand JR and on the optimal infrastructure required to meet the growing demand for these therapies. Methods: This study examined trends and revision rates of JR for thumb carpometacarpal (CMC-1) and finger (MCP and PIP) joints in both inpatient and outpatient settings in Germany. Data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) and the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (ZI) were analyzed, focusing on the incidence, demographics, and outcomes of these procedures. Results: This study found a substantial national increase in prosthetic treatments specifically for CMC-1, with a 2.18-fold rise in the outpatient sector compared to a 1.65-fold increase in inpatient treatments. Despite this shift, 83.7% of JR procedures were still performed in an inpatient setting. Conclusions: The overall complication rates appear to be declining, suggesting that while the management of these procedures is shifting towards outpatient care, the quality remains stable.
Functional Outcome and Balance Compensation in Patients with Unilateral Vestibular Schwannoma After Surgical Treatment—Short- and Medium-Term Observation
Authors: Torchalla Patrycja , Jasińska-Nowacka Agnieszka , Lachowska Magdalena , Niemczyk Kazimierz
Published: January 2025

Objective: The aim was to evaluate vestibular function in patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma before and in the short and medium term after surgical treatment to analyze vestibular compensation. The identification of the prognostic factors determining incomplete and slower balance recovery was assessed. Methods: Forty-five patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma treated surgically through the middle cranial fossa and translabyrinthine approach were enrolled in this study. The data were collected in the period between April 2022 and August 2023. The clinical data, vestibular tests (video head impulse test, sensory organization test) and the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) before and after surgery were evaluated. Results: One month after surgery, a temporary deterioration in the DHI results occurred (DHI total score before surgery 24.36 vs. one month after surgery 31.64); however, a significant increase was found only by analyzing the functional subscale (p = 0.0395) for the DHI functional, emotional and physical subscale results; in addition, the total score before and three months after the surgery did not differ significantly. No statistically significant differences between the preoperative sensory organization test and the test one month after the surgery were found, while a significant improvement in the vestibular parameters was observed three months after the surgery compared to the preoperative results (C5 0.0306, C6 0.0002, VEST 0.0294, COMP 0.0023). A negative correlation was found between the DHI total score and C5 (−0.3198, −0.3266), C6 (−0.3448, −0.46379), VEST (−0.3100, −0.3252) and COMP (−0.4018, −0.4854) one and three months after the surgery, respectively. A significant deterioration was found between the LSC gain results on the tumor side (p < 0.001) and on the healthy side before the surgery vs. one month afterwards (p = 0.0079) and before the surgery vs. three months afterwards (p = 0.0419). The middle cranial fossa or translabyrinthine approach had no influence on the postoperative results. Conclusions: In the postoperative period, vestibular compensation occurs spontaneously. The results show that the functional level deteriorates one month after surgery but then improves significantly three months after the surgery, which confirms that compensation occurs gradually. The DHI functional subscale results before surgery and three months afterwards did not differ significantly, which demonstrates that functional recovery after vestibular denervation should take place within that time. In the present study, no predictive factors for unsatisfactory functional postoperative outcomes were found.
The Influence of Resin Infiltration on the Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kiryk Sylwia , Kiryk Jan , Matys Jacek , Dobrzyński Maciej
Published: January 2025

The quality of the enamel plays a critical role in the retention and performance of orthodontic brackets. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of resin infiltration pretreatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets. An electronic search was conducted in October 2024 using PubMed, Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus databases, employing the keywords (resin infiltration AND bracket); (ICON AND bracket). The review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and utilized the PICO framework. Of the 143 articles initially identified, 63 underwent screening. Strict inclusion criteria were applied of which the most important were resin infiltration pretreatment, studies conducted on natural teeth and SBS evaluation. This left 19 studies for final analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the checklist for quasi-experimental studies (Non-Randomized Experimental Studies) developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Among these, 13 studies used human teeth and 13 utilized Transbond XT as the adhesive. Metal brackets were predominantly examined (n = 17). The Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) was assessed in 13 studies. Importantly, 11 studies concluded that resin infiltration significantly enhances SBS, 8 of which were conducted on human teeth. The meta-analysis revealed significantly higher SBS results when resin infiltrate was applied to healthy enamel. This finding underscores the dual benefits of resin infiltration: increased bond strength and the protection of enamel integrity during debonding procedures. The results suggest that resin infiltration not only improves the mechanical retention of orthodontic brackets but also serves as an enamel-preserving approach.
Robotic Versus Sternotomy, Thoracotomy and Video-Thoracoscopy Approaches for Thymoma Resection: A Comparative Analysis of Short-Term Results
Authors: Trabalza Marinucci Beatrice , Tiracorrendo Matteo , Vanni Camilla , Messa Fabiana , Piccioni Giorgia , Siciliani Alessandra , Fiorelli Silvia , Ibrahim Mohsen , Rendina Erino A. , D’Andrilli Antonio
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVE. The optimal surgical approach for thymoma resection is still an object of debate. The increasing experience in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has led to the progressive affirmation of this technique as a valid alternative to Sternotomy, Thoracotomy and Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) in this setting. The present study aims to compare the post-operative and short-term results of RATS Thymectomy for thymoma with those of other main surgical approaches (sternotomy, thoracotomy and VATS) from a high-volume single center. METHODS. Between May 2021 and September 2023, 40 consecutive patients underwent RATS Thymectomy for stage I to limited-stage III thymoma in our center. Three homogenous groups of patients who received thymoma resection through main alternative approaches (sternotomy, thoracotomy, VATS) over the last 5 years, were identified in order to perform a comparative analysis. Data including surgery duration, associated resections, conversion rate, overall morbidity, tumor size, radicality of resection, post-operative pain, length of hospital stay and cosmetic results were retrospectively collected and compared between the RATS and each control group. RESULTS. Mean tumor size was higher in the sternotomy group, but not significantly. The mean operative time of RATS interventions was significantly lower than that of sternotomy and VATS. It was significantly shorter compared to thoracotomy if excluding docking-undocking time. A higher rate of associated adjacent structures resection was reported in the sternotomy group (p = 0.005). Conversion rate was significantly higher in the VATS group (p = 0.026) compared to RATS. Post-operative pain at 24 and 48 h was significantly lower in the RATS group compared to the others. Improved cosmetics results were reported after RATS compared to sternotomy (p = 0.0001) and thoracotomy (p = 0.001) groups, with a trend towards better results compared to VATS (p = 0.05). Length of hospital stay was shorter in the RATS group with a significant difference vs. the sternotomy group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. These results from a single center confirm the safety and efficacy of RATS for the treatment of limited stage thymoma. An advantage in terms of operative outcomes, post-operative pain, cosmetic results and hospital stay was observed if compared to the alternative approaches. The short-term oncologic outcome was excellent based on the high complete resection rate of the tumor.
Materials with Negative Permittivity or Negative Permeability—Review, Electrodynamic Modelling, and Applications
Authors: Krupka Jerzy
Published: January 2025

A review of natural materials that exhibit negative permittivity or permeability, including gaseous plasma, metals, superconductors, and ferromagnetic materials, is presented. It is shown that samples made of such materials can store large amount of the electric (magnetic) energy and create plasmonic resonators for certain values of permittivity, permeability, and dimensions. The electric and the magnetic plasmon resonances in spherical samples made of such materials are analyzed using rigorous electrodynamic methods, and the results of the analysis are compared to experimental data and to results obtained with other methods. The results of free oscillation and Mie scattering theories are compared. Similarities and differences between permittivity and permeability tensors for magnetized plasma and magnetized ferromagnetic materials are underlined. Several physical phenomena are explained on the grounds of rigorous electrodynamic analysis and experiments. These phenomena include unequal electric and magnetic energies stored in plasmonic resonators, the small influence of dielectric losses on the Q-factors of magnetic plasmon resonances, the role of radiation and dissipation losses on the properties of plasmonic resonators, and the theoretical possibility of the existence of lightning plasma balls.
Macro-Micro Mechanics of Granular Soils Under Shear Considering Coupled Effects of Particle Size Distribution and Particle Morphology
Authors: Xiong Wei , Wang Jianfeng
Published: January 2025

This paper investigates the effects of particle morphology (PM) and particle size distribution (PSD) on the micro-macro mechanical behaviours of granular soils through a novel X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT)-based discrete element method (DEM) technique. This technique contains the grain-scale property extraction by the X-ray μCT, DEM parameter calibration by the one-to-one mapping technique, and the massive derivative DEM simulations. In total, 25 DEM samples were generated with a consideration of six PSDs and four PMs. The effects of PSD and PM on the micro-macro mechanical behaviours were carefully investigated, and the coupled effects were highlighted. It is found that (a) PM plays a significant role in the micro-macro mechanical responses of granular soils under triaxial shear; (b) the PSD uniformity can enhance the particle morphology effect in dictating the peak deviatoric stress, maximum volumetric strain, contact-based coordination number, fabric evolution, and shear band formation, while showing limited influences in the maximum dilation angle and particle-based coordination number; (c) with the same PSD uniformity and PM degree, the mean particle volume shows minimal effects on the macro-micro mechanical behaviours of granular soils as well as the particle morphology effects.
Identification of Industrial Occupational Safety Risks and Selection of Optimum Intervention Strategies: Fuzzy MCDM Approach
Authors: Demir Gülay , Bouraima Mouhamed Bayane , Badi Ibrahim , Stević Željko , Das Dillip Kumar
Published: January 2025

Over 1.1 million deaths occur annually from workplace injuries and diseases, with higher risks in developing countries. Occupational safety studies commonly use quantitative or qualitative methods, but these often fail to address uncertainty. This research targets the Libyan Steel Company (LISCO), aiming to analyze safety risks and develop a structured approach to identify optimal risk mitigation strategies. To this end, the Fuzzy Weights by ENvelope and SLOpe (F-WENSLO) method was chosen to determine the weights of three main safety risks and a total of 18 sub-risks belonging to them, and the fuzzy Bonferroni mean aggregation operator is applied to synthesize expert opinions. The Fuzzy Alternative Ranking Technique based on Adaptive Standardized Intervals (F-ARTASI) method was used to identify and rank the most appropriate safety interventions. While the primary risks identified under the main criteria and sub-criteria are occupational diseases and noise-induced diseases, with weights of 0.4737 and 0.1313, respectively, the intervention strategy deemed most effective for enhancing occupational safety is behavioral safety programs, which hold a weight of 11.0341. The sensitivity test of the analysis results reveals that although the criteria weights and the parameters used in the analysis vary under various scenarios, the ranking of the alternatives remains consistent. Since the general ranking of the alternatives is the same in other methods, decision makers will reach similar results no matter which method they use. This shows that a flexible and reliable decision-making approach is adopted in the process of optimizing occupational safety risks. This research emphasizes the critical importance of prioritizing occupational diseases and natural hazards in the formulation of occupational safety strategies and thus aims to contribute to the protection of workers in industrial plants such as LISCO.
Enhancing Therapy Adherence: Impact on Clinical Outcomes, Healthcare Costs, and Patient Quality of Life
Authors: Religioni Urszula , Barrios-Rodríguez Rocío , Requena Pilar , Borowska Mariola , Ostrowski Janusz
Published: January 2025

Adherence to therapy, defined as the extent to which a patient follows prescribed therapeutic recommendations, is a pivotal factor in the effective management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions. This review highlights the profound influence of adherence on clinical outcomes, healthcare costs, and patient quality of life. Despite its critical importance, non-adherence remains a pervasive challenge globally, contributing to suboptimal treatment results, higher rates of complications, increased hospitalizations, and substantial healthcare expenditures. This narrative review examines the multifaceted impact of adherence, focusing on its role in achieving clinical efficacy, mitigating economic burdens, and enhancing patient well-being. The findings reveal that poor adherence exacerbates the risk of disease progression, complications, and higher healthcare costs. Conversely, improved adherence promotes better disease control, fewer complications, and enhanced patient quality of life. Interventions such as patient education, streamlined treatment regimens, and the integration of digital health tools have shown promise in addressing adherence barriers. Furthermore, the role of healthcare professionals is underscored as fundamental, with their continuous support, effective communication, and efforts to build patient trust being essential to fostering better adherence. In conclusion, adherence significantly affects clinical outcomes, healthcare costs, and patient quality of life. Addressing barriers to adherence requires a comprehensive and personalized approach, considering individual patient needs and circumstances. Future research should prioritize the long-term evaluation of emerging technologies and the development of tailored strategies to improve adherence across diverse patient populations. Strengthening adherence is not only crucial for individual patient outcomes, but also for enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of healthcare systems.
The Role of Long Non-Coding RNA in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis
Authors: Kiełbowski Kajetan , Jędrasiak Anna , Bakinowska Estera , Pawlik Andrzej
Published: January 2025

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease with complex pathogenesis. The altered proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, together with the activity of dendritic cells and T cells, are crucial drivers of psoriasis progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are composed of over 200 nucleotides and exert a large variety of functions, including the regulation of gene expression. Under pathological conditions, the expression of lncRNAs is frequently dysregulated. Recent studies demonstrated that lncRNAs significantly affect major cellular processes, and their aberrant expression is likely involved in the pathogenesis of various disorders. In this review, we will discuss the role of lncRNAs in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. We will summarize recent studies that investigated the relationships between lncRNAs and keratinocyte proliferation and pro-inflammatory responses.
Food Insecurity and Coping Mechanisms: Impact on Maternal Mental Health and Child Malnutrition
Authors: Rahi Berna , Al Mashharawi Farah , Harb Hana , El Khoury-Malhame Myriam , Mattar Lama
Published: January 2025

Background: Household food insecurity (HFI) is a serious public health concern in Lebanon. Adverse mental health issues have been reported among food insecure households in addition to physical and nutritional complications. Caregivers in food insecure families tend to adopt different coping mechanisms to mitigate the effects of food insecurity (FI) on their children. Objective: This cross-sectional observational study aimed to explore the relationship between FI, maternal depression, child malnutrition, and differential coping mechanisms adopted by mothers. Methods: A total of 219 women were enrolled in this study; FI was assessed using the household food insecurity assessment (HFIAS), maternal depression using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and their children’s nutritional status through recall of anthropometric measurements. Pearson’s correlations and logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the associations between HFI, maternal depression, and children’s nutritional status. Results: A strong positive correlation between HFI and maternal depression (p = 0.001) and children’s nutritional status (p = 0.008) was shown. Logistic regressions revealed that being food secure decreased the risk of maternal depression (OR = 0.328, 95% CI 0.125–0.863, p = 0.024), while it did not predict children’s nutritional status. Eight main themes related to coping mechanisms were identified. Conclusions: This study highlights the understudied relationship between food insecurity and maternal depression, showing an increased prevalence of HFI among residents in Lebanon with a positive correlation with increased maternal depression. Further investigation is warranted to better explore how to mitigate the negative impact of food insecurity on mental health, maternal nutritional needs, and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices in Lebanon.
Room Temperature Terahertz and Frequency Combs Based on Intersubband Quantum Cascade Laser Diodes: History and Future
Authors: Razeghi Manijeh , Lu Quanyong
Published: January 2025

The year 2024 marks the 30-year anniversary of the quantum cascade laser (QCL), which is becoming the leading laser source in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) range. Since the first demonstration, QCL has undergone tremendous development in terms of the output power, wall plug efficiency, spectral coverage, wavelength tunability, and beam quality. Owing to its unique intersubband transition and fast gain features, QCL possesses strong nonlinearities that makes it an ideal platform for nonlinear photonics like terahertz (THz) difference frequency generation and direct frequency comb generation via four-wave mixing when group velocity dispersion is engineered. The feature of broadband, high-power, and low-phase noise of QCL combs is revolutionizing mid-IR spectroscopy and sensing by offering a new tool measuring multi-channel molecules simultaneously in the μs time scale. While THz QCL difference frequency generation is becoming the only semiconductor light source covering 1–5 THz at room temperature. In this paper, we will introduce the latest research from the Center for Quantum Devices at Northwestern University and briefly discuss the history of QCL, recent progress, and future perspective of QCL research, especially for QCL frequency combs, room temperature THz QCL difference frequency generation, and major challenges facing QCL in the future.