bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traditional medicine use and associated factors in chronic patients in Jamalpur, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Poli Mahmuda Akter , Hossain Md Jamil , Kholil Ibrahim , Yasmin Sumaya , Bhowmick Bishwjit , Kundu Lakshmi Rani
Published: February 2025

Background

The history of traditional medicine is extensive. While modern medicine is commonly used to treat chronic illness, traditional medicine (TM) is gaining popularity as a healthcare practice in Bangladesh. However, evidence regarding the prevalence, patterns, and associated factors of TM use among chronic illness patients in Bangladesh remains limited. This study aimed to explore the use of traditional medicine among adults with chronic illnesses.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 518 adults with chronic illness from October to December 2023. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews. The Chi-square test was used to determine the association between categorical variables and multinomial logistic regression models to identify the factors associated with the use of traditional medicine.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 43.7 (SD = 15.9) years. Among the respondents, 8.3% used traditional medicine and 5.2% used both traditional and modern medicine. Homeopathy, herbal medicine, and ayurveda were used by 69, 23, and 9%, respectively. Bivariate analysis revealed that gender (p = 0.014), educational qualification (p = 0.010), monthly income (p < 0.001), occupation (p = 0.002) and place of residence (p < 0.001) were statistically significantly associated with traditional medicine use. Among the respondents, 22.9% of people who used traditional medicine claimed that it was effective for disease management. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that rural individuals were seven times more likely to use TM compared to urban residents(AOR = 7.545, 95% CI: 2.933, 19.412, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study revealed that individuals living in rural areas with lower monthly incomes were more likely to use traditional medicine for the treatment of chronic illnesses. Older individuals utilized it more compared to younger ones. Additionally, the study highlighted the perceived effectiveness of traditional medicine in managing chronic illnesses. These findings emphasize the need for a collaborative healthcare approach that integrates traditional medicine with modern practices to better address the diverse needs of populations.
From Llama to language: prompt-engineering allows general-purpose artificial intelligence to rate narratives like expert psychologists
Authors: Dauphin Barry , Siefert Caleb
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) has tremendous potential for use in psychology. Among the many applications that may benefit from development of AI applications is narrative-personality assessment. Use of these tools and research methods is notably time-consuming and resource intensive. AI has potential to address these issues in ways that would greatly reduce clinician and researcher burden. Nonetheless, it is unclear if current AI models are sufficiently sophisticated to perform the complex downstream tasks, such as narrative assessment.

Methodology

The purpose of this study is to explore if an expert-refined prompt generation process can enable AI-empowered chatbots to reliably and accurately rate narratives using the Social Cognition and Object Relations scales – Global Rating Method (SCORS-G). Experts generated prompt inputs by engaging in a detailed review of SCORS-G training materials. Prompts were then improved using an systematic process in which experts worked with Llama-2-70b to refine prompts. The utility of the prompts was then tested on two AI-empowered chatbots, ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI, 2023) and CLAUDE-2-100k, that were not used in the prompt refinement process.

Results

Results showed that the refined prompts allowed chatbots to reliably rate narratives at the global level, though accuracy varied across subscales. Averaging ratings from two chatbots notably improved reliability for the global score and all subscale scores. Experimentation indicated that expert-refined prompts outperformed basic prompts regarding interrater reliability and absolute agreement with gold standard ratings. Only the expert-refined prompts were able to generate acceptable single-rater interrater reliability estimates.

Discussion

Findings suggest that AI could significantly reduce the time and resource burdens on clinicians and researchers using narrative rating systems like the SCORS-G. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Edge computing for detection of ship and ship port from remote sensing images using YOLO
Authors: Sanikommu Vasavi , Marripudi Sai Pravallika , Yekkanti Harini Reddy , Divi Revanth , Chandrakanth R. , Mahindra P.
Published: February 2025

In marine security and surveillance, accurately identifying ships and ship ports from satellite imagery remains a critical challenge due to the inefficiencies and inaccuracies of conventional approaches. The proposed method uses an enhanced YOLO (You Only Look Once) model, a robust real-time object detection method. The method involves training the YOLO model on an extensive collection of annotated satellite images to detect ships and ship ports accurately. The proposed system delivers a precision of 86% compared to existing methods; this approach is designed to allow for real-time deployment in the context of resource-constrained environments, especially with a Jetson Nano edge device. This deployment will ensure scalability, efficient processing, and reduced reliance on central computing resources, making it especially suitable for maritime settings in which real-time monitoring is vital. The findings of this study, therefore, point out the practical implications of this improved YOLO model for maritime surveillance: offering a scalable and efficient solution to strengthen maritime security.
Targeted generative data augmentation for automatic metastases detection from free-text radiology reports
Authors: Ashofteh Barabadi Maede , Zhu Xiaodan , Chan Wai Yip , Simpson Amber L. , Do Richard K. G.
Published: February 2025

Automatic identification of metastatic sites in cancer patients from electronic health records is a challenging yet crucial task with significant implications for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we demonstrate how advancements in natural language processing, namely the instruction-following capability of recent large language models and extensive model pretraining, made it possible to automate metastases detection from radiology reports texts with a limited amount of gold-labeled data. Specifically, we prompt Llama3, an open-source instruction-tuned large language model, to generate synthetic training data to expand our limited labeled data and adapt BERT, a small pretrained language model, to the task. We further investigate three targeted data augmentation techniques which selectively expand the original training samples, leading to comparable or superior performance compared to vanilla data augmentation, in most cases, while being substantially more computationally efficient. In our experiments, data augmentation improved the average F1-score by 2.3, 3.5, and 3.9 points for lung, liver, and adrenal glands, the organs for which we had access to expert-annotated data. This observation suggests that Llama3, which has not been specifically tailored to this task or clinical data in general, can generate high-quality synthetic data through paraphrasing in the clinical context. We also compare metastasis identification accuracy between models utilizing institutionally standardized reports vs. non-structured reports, which complicate the extraction of relevant information, and show how including patient history with a customized model architecture narrows the gap between those two setups from 7.3 to 4.5 points on F1-score under LoRA tuning. Our work delivers a broadly applicable solution with remarkable performance that does not require model customization for each institution, making large-scale, low-cost spatio-temporal cancer progression pattern extraction possible.
Advanced Dynamic Vibration of Terfenol-D Control Law on Functionally Graded Material Plates/Cylindrical Shells in Unsteady Supersonic Flow
Authors: Hong Chih-Chiang
Published: February 2025

The thermal vibration of thick Terfenol-D control law on functionally graded material (FGM) plates/cylindrical shells in nonlinear unsteady supersonic flow with third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT) is investigated by using the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method. The effects of the coefficient term of TSDT displacement models on the thermal stress and center displacement of Terfenol-D control law on FGM plates/cylindrical shells in nonlinear unsteady supersonic flow are investigated. The coefficient term of TSDT models of thick Terfenol-D control law on FGM plates/cylindrical shells provide an additional effect on the values of displacements and stresses.
Cascade DeepLab Net: A Method for Accurate Extraction of Fragmented Cultivated Land in Mountainous Areas Based on a Cascaded Network
Authors: Li Man , Wang Renru , Dai Ana , Yuan Weitao , Yang Guangbin , Xie Lijun , Zhao Weili , Zhao Linglin
Published: February 2025

Approximately 24% of the global land area consists of mountainous regions, with 10% of the population relying on these areas for their cultivated land. Accurate statistics and monitoring of cultivated land in mountainous regions are crucial for ensuring food security, creating scientific land use policies, and protecting the ecological environment. However, the fragmented nature of cultivated land in these complex terrains challenges the effectiveness of existing extraction methods. To address this issue, this study proposed a cascaded network based on an improved semantic segmentation model (DeepLabV3+), called Cascade DeepLab Net, specifically designed to improve the accuracy in the scenario of fragmented land features. This method aims to accurately extract cultivated land from remote sensing images. This model enhances the accuracy of cultivated land extraction in complex terrains by incorporating the Style-based Recalibration Module (SRM), Spatial Attention Module (SAM), and Refinement Module (RM). The experimental results using high-resolution satellite images of mountainous areas in southern China show that the improved model achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of 92.33% and an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 82.51%, marking a significant improvement over models such as U-shaped Network (UNet), Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet), and DeepLabV3+. This method enhances the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring cultivated land in mountainous areas and offers a scientific basis for policy formulation and resource management, aiding in ecological protection and sustainable development. Additionally, this study presents new ideas and methods for future applications of cultivated land monitoring in other complex terrain regions.
Tapping into the Potential of Underutilized Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.) Through Breeding and Biotechnological Tools
Authors: Papade Jayashri Narayan , Ingle Krishnananda Pralhad , Thakur Niranjan Ravindra , Gomashe Sunil Shriram , Padmavathy Munagapati , Ceasar Stanislaus Antony
Published: February 2025

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.), an oilseed crop from the Compositae family, thrives in temperate and tropical climates. Its small seeds, rich in oil (50–60% biocrude), are widely used for biodiesel, soap production, and as a condiment in culinary applications. Additionally, harvested Niger plants serve as green manure, improving soil health. However, Niger cultivation in India has significantly declined over the past decade due to low yields, a poor seed set, self-incompatibility, a low harvest index, and seed shattering. A lack of genetic diversity further restricts breeders from developing high-yielding cultivars. The discovery of hereditary male sterility in India has facilitated heterosis utilization and laid the foundation for breeding improved varieties. This review explores the use of traditional breeding methods and genetic tools to enhance Niger, emphasizing plant tissue culture, molecular markers, and the identification of promising gene targets to produce desirable traits. Advanced technologies like CRISPR/Cas, including base and prime editing, are promising to revolutionize Niger breeding and functional genomics research. The insights in this paper stress the urgent need to genetically improve Niger and other underutilized oil crops to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable and diverse oil crops. Such interventions could transform Niger cultivation, ensuring its role in global agriculture.
Tractor Power Take-Off and Drawbar Pull Performance and Efficiency Evolution Analysis Methodology and Model: A Case Study
Authors: Herranz-Matey Ivan
Published: February 2025

Previous studies on tractor performance and efficiency were conducted prior to the implementation of emission reduction technologies and the increased density and complexity of tractor portfolios. This study presents a robust methodology for forecasting specific fuel consumption based on public information, which incorporates physical attribute-based cohorts and technological generation groupings, alongside variables such as wheelbase, mass, and power take-off power. The proposed model significantly improves forecasting accuracy, enhancing the current R-squared (RSq) from 0.6091 to 0.8519 and reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) from 0.0098 to 0.0065. Additionally, the model provides accurate predictions of drawbar performance and efficiency. Its simplicity results in low cognitive and computational demands, making it accessible via widely available spreadsheet software on any computer or handheld device. This accessibility supports data-driven decision-making for tractor replacement strategies, ultimately promoting sustainable profitability in agricultural business operations.
The Long-Term Survivorship and Cause of Failure of Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Wakabayashi Hiroki , Hasegawa Masahiro , Naito Yohei , Tone Shine , Sudo Akihiro
Published: February 2025

Background: Complications associated with metal-on-metal (MOM) prostheses, such as adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMDs), include pseudotumor (PT) formation, metallosis, and soft tissue necrosis. High short-term failure rates have been reported for various MOM total hip arthroplasties (THAs) due to ARMDs. ARMDs in MOM THAs can potentially lead to secondary failure modes, such as dislocation or infection. Objectives: This study aims to examine the cumulative incidence of revisions due to ARMDs and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in primary MOM total hip arthroplasty and to compare the outcomes of ARMD and PJI cases. Methods: Between 2006 and 2011, 247 primary MOM THAs were performed on 230 patients (39 men, 191 women) with a mean age of 64.1 years. The average follow-up duration was 10.5 years. Results: Thirty-eight hips were converted to metal-on-polyethylene articulation between 1.2 and 14.7 years postoperatively (mean: 7.2 years) due to pain, swelling, infection, and/or implant failure. Eight hips (3.2%) were complicated by infection, while 30 hips (12.1%) were diagnosed with ARMDs. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was significantly more prevalent in patients with PJI. Preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly elevated in THAs diagnosed with PJI compared to ARMD cases. Additionally, the preoperative white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophil counts, and neutrophil-to-WBC ratios were significantly higher in THAs with PJI, while the lymphocyte-to-WBC ratios were significantly lower. Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative infection in MOM THA cases was 3.2%, with a notable occurrence of late-onset infections. Differentiating ARMDs from PJI in MOM THA cases remains crucial.
Long-Distance Shield Tunnelling Performance Prediction Based on Informer
Authors: Hu Min , Cheng Peng
Published: February 2025

Shield performance prediction plays a critical role in construction decision-making. However, current models suffer from significant performance degradation in long-distance prediction. To address this gap, we propose a novel Long-Distance Shield Performance Prediction model (LSPP), which leverages the long-term prediction capabilities of Informer. The LSPP model incorporates conventional monitoring data, tunnelling parameters, and stratigraphic spatial information and is optimized using a ProbSparse self-attention mechanism and dynamic decoding techniques. A series of experiments demonstrate that LSPP significantly outperforms traditional models, such as LSTM and GRUs, particularly in long-distance predictions and under conditions of stratigraphic changes. Notably, the model achieves an R2 of 0.82 when predicting penetration after six rings, making it highly accurate and stable for engineering decision-making.
Health Risk Assessment by Exposure to BTEX Ambient Levels in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey During Two Climatic Seasons
Authors: Breton Rosa Maria Ceron , Breton Julia Griselda Ceron , de la Luz Espinosa Fuentes Maria , Guzman Alberto Antonio Espinosa , Martinez Rocio Garcia , Ucan Claudia Alejandra Aguilar , Romero Carlos Montalvo , del Carmen Lara Severino Reyna , Lozada Simon Eduardo Carranco , Chi Martha Patricia Uc , Martinez Morales Stephanie
Published: February 2025

Levels of BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and p-Xylene) were determined in the ambient air of two urban sites located in the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey (MAM) during two climatic seasons of 2023. The study revealed that BTEX compounds in Santa Catarina and Obispado had the following relative abundance: p-Xylene (20.09 µg m−3) > Toluene (19.50 µg m−3) > Ethylbenzene (19.34 µg m−3) > Benzene (17.39 µg m−3). Their concentrations were consistent with global reports, showing diurnal and seasonal variability. Levels were higher during the dry season due to elevated temperatures, low wind speeds, and lack of precipitation, which reduced pollutant dispersion. BTEX concentrations in Santa Catarina (industrial site) and Obispado (urban site) were influenced by local activities like industrial processes, area sources, and vehicular traffic. Wind rose analysis confirmed the influence of local sources, with higher BTEX levels when winds came from the east. This was linked to pollutant transport within MAM and thermal inversions trapping pollutants during the dry season. Benzene/Toluene (B/T) and p-Xylene/Ethylbenzene (X/E) ratios showed that the sampling sites were influenced by vehicular sources and local fresh emissions. Benzene inhalation has an unacceptable lifetime cancer risk, urging MAM authorities to implement stricter regulations to protect public health. While non-cancer risks were within acceptable limits, controlling Benzene and p-Xylene emissions remains critical to improving air quality.
Geometric Self-Supervised Learning: A Novel AI Approach Towards Quantitative and Explainable Diabetic Retinopathy Detection
Authors: Pu Lucas , Beale Oliver , Meng Xin
Published: February 2025

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Early detection is crucial to reducing DR-related vision loss risk but is fraught with challenges. Manual detection is labor-intensive and often misses tiny DR lesions, necessitating automated detection. Objective: We aimed to develop and validate an annotation-free deep learning strategy for the automatic detection of exudates and bleeding spots on color fundus photography (CFP) images and ultrawide field (UWF) retinal images. Materials and Methods: Three cohorts were created: two CFP cohorts (Kaggle-CFP and E-Ophtha) and one UWF cohort. Kaggle-CFP was used for algorithm development, while E-Ophtha, with manually annotated DR-related lesions, served as the independent test set. For additional independent testing, 50 DR-positive cases from both the Kaggle-CFP and UWF cohorts were manually outlined for bleeding and exudate spots. The remaining cases were used for algorithm training. A multiscale contrast-based shape descriptor transformed DR-verified retinal images into contrast fields. High-contrast regions were identified, and local image patches from abnormal and normal areas were extracted to train a U-Net model. Model performance was evaluated using sensitivity and false positive rates based on manual annotations in the independent test sets. Results: Our trained model on the independent CFP cohort achieved high sensitivities for detecting and segmenting DR lesions: microaneurysms (91.5%, 9.04 false positives per image), hemorrhages (92.6%, 2.26 false positives per image), hard exudates (92.3%, 7.72 false positives per image), and soft exudates (90.7%, 0.18 false positives per image). For UWF images, the model’s performance varied by lesion size. Bleeding detection sensitivity increased with lesion size, from 41.9% (6.48 false positives per image) for the smallest spots to 93.4% (5.80 false positives per image) for the largest. Exudate detection showed high sensitivity across all sizes, ranging from 86.9% (24.94 false positives per image) to 96.2% (6.40 false positives per image), though false positive rates were higher for smaller lesions. Conclusions: Our experiments demonstrate the feasibility of training a deep learning neural network for detecting and segmenting DR-related lesions without relying on their manual annotations.
Effect of Riociguat on Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease in Rats
Authors: Abdelrahman Aly M. , Al Maskari Raya , Ali Haytham , Manoj Priyadarsini , Al Suleimani Yousuf
Published: February 2025

Riociguat is a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator that increases the levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is known to play a key role in regulating kidney function. This research sought to investigate the possible protective effects of riociguat on the kidneys in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD was induced in male Wistar rats through adenine administration. A total of 24 rats were allocated into four groups and administered treatments over a period of 35 days. Group 1 received a normal diet and a vehicle (carboxymethylcellulose (0.5%)), serving as the control. Group 2 received adenine (0.25% w/w) in the feed and a vehicle. Groups 3 and 4 received adenine in the feed (0.25% w/w) plus riociguat (3 mg/kg/day) and riociguat (10 mg/kg/day), respectively. Adenine administration significantly elevated systolic blood pressure, plasma creatinine, urea, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Furthermore, adenine reduced creatinine clearance and increased the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and urinary N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG). Histopathologically, adenine caused renal tubular necrosis and fibrosis. Furthermore, adenine elevated the plasma concentration of interleukins (IL-1β and IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Adenine significantly increased renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Treatment with riociguat attenuated adenine-induced hypertension, improved kidney function, and ameliorated histopathological changes. Riociguat also reduced kidney injury markers, inflammation, and renal oxidative stress. The renoprotective effect of riociguat is probably due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. This indicates that riociguat may have the potential to slow the progression of kidney damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Structural and Stability Analysis of GRP Family Allergens Pru p 7 and Cry j 7, Which Cause Pollen and Food Allergy Syndrome
Authors: Zheng Jingkang , Kumeta Hiroyuki , Kumaki Yasuhiro , Iizuka Tomona , Yoshikawa Ichiho , Hanaoka Ami , Aizawa Tomoyasu
Published: February 2025

Cry j 7 is a 7 kDa cysteine-rich gibberellin regulatory protein (GRP) with six disulfide bonds. It was isolated from Japanese cedar as the pollen allergen in this study. It exhibits cross-reactivity with food allergens such as Pru p 7 from peach and causes pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS). In this work, recombinant Cry j 7 and Pru p 7 were successfully overexpressed using Pichia pastoris in a high-cell-density fermentation culture, and pure proteins were purified by reverse-phase HPLC. The characterization of Cry j 7 and Pru p 7 were performed by MS, CD, and 1H-NMR experiments to confirm the correct native conformation of Cry j 7 as well as Pru p 7. When compared, the results showed that Cry j 7 exhibits excellent stability in disulfide linkages and preserves its original structure up to 90 °C in various pH buffers in comparison to Pru p 7. Notably, NMR analyses indicated the greater mobility in the α-helix and loop regions of S38-C47 in Pru p 7 compared to those of Cry j 7. Furthermore, our results showed that the sensitivity of Cry j 7 to enzyme digestion differed from that of Pru p 7: Cry j 7 was more susceptible to proteolysis, while Pru p 7 displayed better resistance in the gastrointestinal tract. These variations in structural stability and sensitivity to proteolysis provide valuable insights into the allergenicity within the GRP family.
Effects of Weight Loss on Endothelium and Vascular Homeostasis: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Tiezzi Margherita , Vieceli Dalla Sega Francesco , Gentileschi Paolo , Campanelli Michela , Benavoli Domenico , Tremoli Elena
Published: February 2025

Available knowledge shows that obesity is associated with an impaired endothelial function and an increase in cardiovascular risk, but the mechanisms of this association are not yet fully understood. Adipose tissue dysfunction, adipocytokines production, along with systemic inflammation and associated comorbidities (e.g., diabetes and hypertension), are regarded as the primary physiological and pathological factors. Various strategies are now available for the control of excess body weight. Dietary regimens alone, or in association with bariatric surgery when indicated, are now widely used. Of particular interest is the understanding of the effect of these interventions on endothelial homeostasis in relation to cardiovascular health. Substantial weight loss resulting from both diet and bariatric surgery decreases circulating biomarkers and improves endothelial function. Extensive clinical trials and meta-analyses show that bariatric surgery (particularly gastric bypass) has more substantial and long-lasting effect on weight loss and glucose regulation, as well as on distinct circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. This review summarizes the current understanding of the distinct effects of diet-induced and surgery-induced weight loss on endothelial function, focusing on the key mechanisms involved in these effects.
Evaluating the Real-World Pharmacokinetics of Risperidone ISM® in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Toja-Camba Francisco José , Vidal-Millares María , Duran-Maseda María José , Arrojo-Romero Manuel , Puente-Iglesias María , Hermelo-Vidal Gonzalo , Feitosa-Medeiros Carolina , Fernández-Ferreiro Anxo , Mondelo-García Cristina
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Risperidone ISM® is a long-acting injectable (LAI) formulation approved for monthly administration in schizophrenia treatment. It employs innovative in situ microimplant technology for biphasic drug release, achieving immediate and sustained therapeutic plasma concentrations without the need for oral supplementation or loading doses. This study evaluates the pharmacokinetic profile of Risperidone ISM® in a real-world clinical setting, focusing on plasma concentrations of the active moiety (Risperidone + 9-OH-Risperidone). Methods: An observational study was conducted to measure plasma concentrations of patients receiving Risperidone ISM® (75 mg or 100 mg). Samples were collected at pre-dose, 2 h, 24 h, 14 days, 21 days, and 25 days post-injection. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, Cmin, Tmax, and AUC, were calculated and stratified by dose (75 mg and 100 mg) and injection site (gluteal vs. deltoid). Results: A total of 44 patients were included. Therapeutic plasma levels were reached within hours post-injection and sustained throughout the 28-day interval. Cmin values averaged 34.4 ng/mL and 36.1 ng/mL for the 75 mg and 100 mg doses, respectively. The median Tmax occurred at 24 h with a mean Cmax of 55.7 ng/mL and 59 ng/mL for 75 mg and 100 mg, respectively. Higher systemic exposure was observed for deltoid administration. Significant interindividual variability was noted, with 45.4% of patients exhibiting trough levels outside the therapeutic range. Conclusions: Risperidone ISM® achieves rapid and sustained therapeutic plasma levels, offering significant benefits in schizophrenia treatment. However, the high interindividual variability observed must be thoroughly studied, and the contributing factors identified to ensure the therapy is as effective and safe as possible.
Contribution of Seasonal Streams to the Conservation of Native and Migratory Birds in a Coastal Region Undergoing Urbanization
Authors: Muñoz-Pacheco Catalina B. , Gutiérrez Javiera C. , Villaseñor Nélida R.
Published: February 2025

Urbanization has drastically transformed natural landscapes, threatening biodiversity by reducing species richness and abundance in cities. In this context, seasonal streams serve as refuge areas for various bird species. To determine the role of seasonal streams in conserving native terrestrial avifauna in Algarrobo, an expanding urban environment, we compared bird diversity in ephemeral streams (n = 18) and residential areas (n = 18). Bird counts were conducted during summer and winter. We utilized a diversity index and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) to assess the richness and abundance of native terrestrial birds, as well as the abundance of six migratory birds. Additionally, species accumulation curves verified whether most present species had been adequately sampled. Our results revealed that seasonal streams harbored a greater richness of native bird species than residential areas. Endemic species were also recorded in these streams. The cumulative number of bird species was higher in the seasonal stream environment compared to residential areas. During winter, a higher abundance of migratory birds (Green-backed Firecrown and Gray-hooded Sierra Finch) was observed in seasonal streams. These findings suggest that seasonal streams play a crucial role in conserving native and migratory birds. Thus, protecting and managing these habitats is essential for maintaining avian biodiversity in urbanized areas.
4D Digital Integration for Nanomaterial-Based Monitoring and Treatment of Bridge Piers Defects
Authors: Albaqawy Ghazy Abdullah , Touahmia Mabrouk , Boukendakdji Mustapha , Ouazir Abderrahmane , Mansour Abdulaziz , Sallam Ahmed , Sedek Mohamed Saleh
Published: February 2025

This study presents an innovative 4D digital model that integrates Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) with several types of data to defect detection in complex bridge structures. The model promotes precise data preparation, navigation, visualization, integration, and monitoring, enabling the identification of defects, like material deterioration, condition changes, and structural clashes in components like trusses. Bridge model provides time-based access to maps, allowing users to explore changes over time and predict future conditions. The integration of time dimension into the 4D model provides dynamic tools for exploring changes over time, allowing for analysis and maintenance planning. Through the use of advanced 4D simulation technology, the study’s effectiveness is in visualizing workflows, identifying constraints, and supporting proactive decision-making in structural management. By incorporating various perspectives and enabling users to interact with detailed visualizations, the model enhances understanding and maintenance practices. This approach advances defect modeling and digitization, supporting automation in defect detection while significantly contributing to the long-term safety and sustainability of bridges. In order to obtain non-destructive images and films of the morphology of the sandstone’s internal structure at the bridge pier in addition to the stone’s grain texture and surface characteristics, this research applied X-ray computed tomography approach (CT scan) and XRF as NDT to the analysis of sandstone.
Body Composition Analysis in Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Depicting Sarcopenia in Portuguese Tertiary Care
Authors: Leão Mendes José , Ferreira Rita Quaresma , Mata Inês , Vasco Barreira João , Rodrigues Ysel Chiara , Silva Dias David , Capelas Manuel Luís , Mäkitie Antti , Guerreiro Inês , Pimenta Nuno M. , Ravasco Paula
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is an emergent prognostic biomarker in clinical oncology. Albeit increasingly defined through skeletal muscle index (SMI) thresholding, the literature cut-offs fail to discern heterogeneous baseline muscularity across populations. This study assesses the prognostic impact of using cohort-specific SMI thresholds in a Portuguese metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) cohort. Methods: Retrospective study including mNSCLC patients treated between January 2017 and December 2022. ImageJ v1.54 g was used to assess cross-sectional CT imaging at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) and calculate L3SMI. Sarcopenia was defined both according to Prado et al. and L3SMI thresholds derived from receiver operating characteristic analysis. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included first-line (1L) progression-free survival (PFS) and sarcopenia subgroup analysis regarding body mass index impact on OS. Results: The initial cohort included 197 patients. Mean age was 65 years (±11.31). Most tumors were adenocarcinomas (n = 165) and presented with metastasis (n = 154). SMI was evaluable in 184 patients: cohort-specific thresholds (<49.96 cm2/m2 for men; <34.02 cm2/m2 for women) yielded 46.74% sarcopenic patients (n = 86) versus 66.30% (n = 122) per the literature definition. Cohort-specific thresholds predicted both OS (12.75 versus 21.13 months, hazard ratio [HR] 1.654, p = 0.002) and PFS (7.92 versus 9.56 months, HR 1.503, p = 0.01). Among sarcopenic patients, overweight (HR 0.417, p = 0.01) and obesity (HR 2.723, p = 0.039) had contrasting impacts on OS. Conclusions: Amid reclassification of nearly one-fifth of the cohort, cohort-specific thresholds improved sarcopenia prognostication in mNSCLC. Homogeneity regarding both cancer treatment setting and ethnicity could be key to defining sarcopenia based on SMI.
Intra-Tumoral CD8+:CD3+ Lymphocyte Density Ratio in Appendix Cancer Is a Tumor Volume- and Grade-Independent Predictor of Survival
Authors: Knotts Chelsea , Park Hyun , Sherry Christopher , Blodgett Rose , Lewis Catherine , Omstead Ashten , Xiao Kunhong , LaFramboise William , Bartlett David L. , Dadgar Neda , Goel Ajay , Zaidi Ali H. , Wagner Patrick L.
Published: February 2025

Background: The immune contexture of solid tumors plays a critical role in cancer progression and response to immunotherapy. However, immunologic characterization of appendiceal cancer (AC) has lagged behind advancements in other gastrointestinal malignancies. This study aims to define the AC immune microenvironment by quantifying CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocyte densities and assessing their prognostic significance. Methods: Archival tissue samples from 95 AC patients were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to assess CD3+ and CD8+ T cell densities and their ratios. Associations between lymphocyte density and clinical, pathologic, and oncologic variables were examined using Spearman’s correlation, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: Tumor samples exhibited substantial immunologic heterogeneity with significant rightward skew. CD3+ and CD8+ densities were higher in low-grade tumors (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively) and low-grade histologic subtypes (p = 0.01 and p = 0.006). Lymphocyte density was inversely associated with patient age and was significantly lower in high-grade and non-mucinous tumors. The CD8+:CD3+ ratio emerged as an independent prognostic marker for progression-free survival (HR = 0.39, p = 0.004), whereas absolute CD3+ and CD8+ densities were less predictive. Conclusions: This study highlights the diverse immune microenvironment in AC, with immune infiltration patterns correlating with tumor grade and histologic subtype. The CD8+:CD3+ ratio is a potential prognostic biomarker for patient stratification, underscoring its clinical significance. Future studies should expand immune biomarker panels and explore immunomodulatory therapies for lymphocyte-rich AC subsets.
Long-Term Results of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) with Helical Tomotherapy in Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: Final Analysis
Authors: Loap Pierre , Uakkas Abdelkarim , Allali Sofiane , Bouziane Jihane , Fourquet Alain , Kirova Youlia
Published: February 2025

Background: Intensity modulated radiotherapy with helical tomotherapy (IMRT-HT) is used in the breast cancer (BC) treatment for years now to obtain homogeneous dose distribution in the treated volumes and reduce the doses to organs at risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience in terms of local control, overall survival, progression free survival and adverse events in BC patients treated with IMRT-HT with long term follow-up. Methods: This study is a retrospective data analysis of patients irradiated with IMRT-HT. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) curves were plotted with Kaplan-Meier method. We also analyzed the OS and PFS data by molecular subgroups of the population. Long-term toxicities including skin, cardiac and pulmonary complications were also evaluated. Multivariant logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors of the side effects. Results: Between 2009 and 2015, a total of 194 breasts in 179 women with nonmetastatic breast cancer were treated. Most of the tumors were grade III and N+. With a median follow-up of 10 years, we observed 9 local recurrences, 2 loco-regional recurrences, and 29 patients experienced metastatic disease. Only 18 patients are dear, of them 7 cases with breast cancer death. At 10 years, the Local recurrence free survival was 95.3% [95%CI: 92.1–98.5], the loco-regional relapse free survival was 94.5% [91.1–98.1]. The metastases free survival was 82.9% [76.9–89.3]. The progression free survival was 79.9 [73.6–86.7]. The cancer specific survival was 94.3%, and the overall survival 88% [82.8–93.5]. At long term, there were no cardiac, lung, thyroid, digestive radio induced toxicities. A small number of patients experienced grade I or II fibrosis. Conclusions: IMRT-HT could be safely used for adjuvant breast cancer irradiation in patients with complex anatomy. IMRT-HT provides favourable long-term prognosis, while late toxicity is acceptable.
Correction: Liu et al. Effect of Over-Aging Degree on Microstructures, Precipitation Kinetics, and Mechanical Properties of an Ultra-High-Strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy. Coatings 2024, 14, 1415
Authors: Liu Yuyang , Zhao Zhihao , Wang Gaosong
Published: February 2025

In the original publication [...]
Experimental Investigation of Fire—Technical Characteristics of Selected Flame Retardants for the Protection of Wooden Structures
Authors: Mitrenga Patrik , Vandlíčková Miroslava , Konárik Milan
Published: February 2025

This study evaluates selected flame retardants on the basis of their influence on the change of fire-technical parameters of soft and hard woods (spruce and oak) during exposure to a flame heat source. The parameters evaluated were mass loss, mass loss rate and depth of the charred layer. The experiments were carried out on simple test equipment on which the samples were exposed to direct flame while their mass was monitored. The measured data and their statistical evaluation showed a significant dependence of the mass loss on the type of retardant used (inorganic salt-based flame retardant—IS and intumescent flame retardant—IFR) and on the type of wood species. In spite of the same reaction to fire class specified by the manufacturers for both types of retardants studied, significant differences were observed in the parameters monitored. The mass loss, mass loss rate and charred layer reached much lower values when using IFR retardant, whose efficiency was higher in the order of tens of percent compared to the use of IS retardant. The use of IFR flame retardant reduced the depth of the charred layer on oak samples by up to 84% compared to untreated samples, indicating its high effectiveness and potential to increase the fire resistance of wooden structures. These results show that IFRs are more effective in the parameters studied compared to ISs despite their equal class of reaction to fire, which may have wider implications for the construction industry and highlight the need for a thorough evaluation of flame retardants based on their performance under real-world conditions.
HEALS-A and GRADES: Novel Histological and Clinical Scales for Assessing Skin Regeneration in Murine Wound Healing Models
Authors: Muñoz-Torres Jose R. , Garza-Veloz Idalia , Velasco-Elizondo Perla , Martinez-Fierro Margarita L.
Published: February 2025

Background: Wounds affect approximately 15 out of every 1000 individuals, representing a significant healthcare challenge. The preclinical evaluation of novel wound treatments is important for advancing therapies that promote effective skin regeneration and improve healing outcomes. Methods: In this study, we integrated existing knowledge from the literature on murine wound healing models, histological features of the skin, and clinical scores described in humans to propose two complementary assessment tools: the HEALS-A histological score (healing, epithelialization, angiogenesis, leukocytes, scar tissue, appendages) and the GRADES clinical score (granulation tissue, redness/edema, appearance of wound, devitalized tissue). Results: These scales combine real-time clinical observation with detailed histological analysis, providing a practical and comprehensive approach to assessing wound healing. Unlike existing wound assessing approaches, HEALS-A does not require specialized software and considers regenerated tissue structures, ensuring a broader and more-detailed evaluation. Conclusions: The assessment of wound closure over time, combined with clinical evaluation and histological analysis of skin, provides a comprehensive approach to determining the true impact of new treatments on skin regeneration and the recovery of its functions in wounds.
Validation of Ultrasound for Quantification of Knee Meniscal Tissue: A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Rodríguez-Sanz Jacobo , Malo-Urriés Miguel , Borrella-Andrés Sergio , Albarova-Corral Isabel , López-de-Celis Carlos
Published: February 2025

Background: While MRI is the gold standard for meniscal assessment, its cost and accessibility limitations have led to growing interest in ultrasound, though its validity for quantifying meniscal tissue remains unclear. To validate the use of ultrasound in quantifying meniscal tissue across the anterior, middle, and posterior regions of both menisci (medial and lateral) in longitudinal and transverse planes by comparison with cadaveric dissection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on ten cryopreserved anatomical donors, obtaining a total of 120 ultrasound scans from the different meniscal regions. Following ultrasound imaging, cadaveric dissection was performed to facilitate photometric measurements, thereby enabling validation of the ultrasound findings. The intra-examiner reliability of the ultrasound measurements was also assessed. Results: The intra-examiner reliability of ultrasound measurements ranged from moderate to excellent. A strong and statistically significant positive correlation was observed between ultrasound and photometric measurements across all meniscal regions (r > 0.821; p < 0.05). In the medial meniscus, ultrasound visualized 99.1% of the anterior region (8.71 mm with ultrasound; 8.64 mm with photometry), 96.3% of the middle region (9.09 mm with ultrasound; 9.39 mm with photometry), and 98.5% of the posterior region (10.54 mm with ultrasound; 10.61 mm with photometry). In the lateral meniscus, ultrasound visualized 107.1% of the anterior region, 105.1% of the middle region, and 97.8% of the posterior region. The observed excess in tissue visualization in some regions likely reflects the inclusion of adjacent connective tissue, indistinguishable from meniscal tissue on ultrasound. Conclusions: Ultrasound is a valid and reliable modality for visualizing most meniscal tissue across regions, with a measurement discrepancy under 0.7 mm compared to anatomical dissection. However, caution is advised as adjacent connective tissue may sometimes be misidentified as meniscal tissue during evaluations.
Impact of Artistic Expression on the Development of Entrepreneurial Skills in Secondary Education
Authors: Galindo-Durán Alejandro , Uribe-Toril Juan , Martínez-Hernández Fabián
Published: February 2025

This article analyzes the impact of artistic expression on the development of entrepreneurial skills in high school students through an investigation comparing two groups, experimental and control group, in the development of an entrepreneurship project, in which students could incorporate artistic expression tools for the development and design of their business plan. Through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the scores obtained from different perspectives (Idea, Design, Presentation, Feasibility and Rating), significant differences have been observed in different parameters between the groups. The results show how the use of artistic expression favors key competencies such as critical thinking, creativity and problem solving, reflected in better ratings in aspects such as feasibility and presentation of the project. The study, carried out over three academic years, shows how the academic grades obtained are slightly higher in the experimental groups than in the control groups. As an analysis methodology, statistical tests such as Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test as well as an ANOVA analysis have been carried out to reflect the significant differences between the different parameters. The main conclusion is that the incorporation of artistic expression in entrepreneurship education not only enriches the learning process, but also enhances entrepreneurial skills.
Energy Efficiency Potential of Second Homes Heated by Direct Electric Heating Located in Four Regions in Sweden
Authors: Mjörnell Kristina , Johansson Dennis
Published: February 2025

EU countries have committed to taking national measures to reduce the average energy use of residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and 20–22% by 2035. Each country has decided how to achieve this and which buildings to focus on. However, certain categories of residential buildings, including historical buildings but also second homes, may be exempt from these obligations. In Sweden, second homes constitute a substantial part of the housing stock and contribute to energy use for heating and hot water of 2.79 TWh, of which 2.16 TWh is electricity. Even if the owners of second homes are not obliged to take energy efficiency measures, quite simple and inexpensive measures may contribute to substantial energy savings. In this study, simulations of energy use in 862 second homes heated with direct electric heating were carried out for five energy efficiency measures (additional attic insulation, new windows, air-to air heat pump and decreasing the temperature during absence to 10 and 5 °C). With the assumption that the 862 second homes are representative of the entire stock of electric-heated second homes in Sweden, the energy saving potential was estimated to be 1.17 TWh per year if all homes install heat pumps and 0.99 TWh and 1.30 TWh per year if all lower the temperature to 10 °C or 5 °C when the house is not used.