bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowering vital fruit crops with enhanced nutritional contents
Authors: Jha Avinash , Jayswal D. K. , Shikha Deep , Kumar Adyant , Ahmad Feza
Published: February 2025

Increasing the nutritional value of any crop plant through various Conventional or non-Conventional methods is known as Biofortification. Deficiency of proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals leads to ailing health and increased vulnerability to various diseases, which in turn lead to uncountable and unpredicted loss in Gross Domestic Product leading to poor economic growth of the country. It is forthcoming and cost-effective approach that will provide a balance of micronutrient deficiency among the people of developing & underdeveloped nations not having the availability to diverse nutritional access. The Biofortified varieties not only provide required calories but also essential nutrients needed for proper growth and development of an individual. It is advantageous in combating malnutrition and hidden hunger by enhancing the micronutrient content of commonly consumed fruits. By increasing essential vitamins, minerals, and beneficial compounds through methods like traditional breeding, genetic engineering, and agronomic practices, biofortified fruits provide a sustainable solution to address deficiencies in regions with limited access to diverse foods. For instance, mango, guava, papaya, and citrus have been improved to offer higher levels of nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. This makes biofortified fruits a cost-effective way to enhance nutrition, particularly for vulnerable populations, helping to reduce the risks associated with hidden hunger and malnutrition. One of the important targets of United Nation is to provide fortified food enriched with important minerals to the targeted undernourished population in different parts of the world. The lack of essential nutrients, notably minerals such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and vitamin A, is one of the main causes of “hidden hunger”, especially in underdeveloped nations. The review covers most of the important aspects of Biofortification in important fruit crops.
Assessment of metal residues in soil and evaluate the plant accumulation in copper mine tailings of Dongchuan, Southwest China
Authors: Deng Lijuan , Yin Min , Yang Shuanglin , Wang Xiaoyun , Chen Juan , Miao Deren , Yin Genshen , Zhai Shuhua , Su Yuan , Wu Cheng , Ren Zhen
Published: February 2025

Introduction

This study aimed to identify suitable plants for remediating metal pollution in copper tailing soil and supporting ecological reclamation in Dongchuan, Yunnan, focusing on three major mining regions: Tangdan, Yinmin, and Lanniping.

Methods

The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index was employed to evaluate the metal contamination levels, and the enrichment and transfer capacities of the dominant plants for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were analyzed to identify remediation candidates.

Results

The findings revealed severe pollution in the copper tailing soil, with Cu as the primary pollutant, and with a pollution rate of 77.778%. A total of 96 plant species from 42 families and 87 genera were recorded, including 29 dominant species across 17 families and 26 genera, with herbs comprising 62.068% of the dominant types. Among the tested plants, Leucaena leucocephala, Rumex acetosa, Festuca rubra, and Salix balfouriana exhibited significantly higher metal enrichment and transfer capacities, rendering them for ecological restoration. Salix balfouriana with the highest comprehensive membership function score of 5.298 was identified as the preferred species for ecological restoration in the Dongchuan Cu tailing area. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between the metal content in underground plant parts and both the total metal content and organic matter (OM) in the rhizosphere soil, whereas a negative correlation was observed with soil pH.

Discussion

The soil in the Dongchuan Cu tailing area is severely contaminated by metals, mainly Cu. Among the identified plants, S. balfouriana emerged as the most suitable candidate for metal accumulation. This study establishes a comprehensive theoretical framework for the application and promotion of phytoremediation technology in the Dongchuan copper tailings area.
Divergent response associates with the differential amplitudes of immunity against Magnaporthe oryzae by different blast resistance genes
Authors: Hassan Beenish , Bhutto Sadam Hussain , Yin Xiao-Xiao , Yan Xiu-Lian , Liao Rong , Guo Mao-Lin , Tang Ya-Ping , Guo Dai-Ming , Yang Si-Jia , Gulzar Faiza , Li Yan , Zeng Xian-Yin , Zhao Zhi-Xue , Wang Wen-Ming
Published: February 2025

Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, poses the most devastating threat to global rice production. The products of most blast resistance (R) genes specifically recognize corresponding a virulence effectors from the pathogen, thereby mediating robust immune responses that are crucial for disease resistance. However, it is unclear why different R genes endow with differential amplitudes of immunity against M. oryzae. Here, we demonstrated that different blast R genes confer differential amplitudes of immunity against M. oryzae, presumably due to divergent reprogramming of transcriptional responses. We detected that three rice restorer lines exhibited differential amplitudes of immune responses, despite all lines displaying resistance to M. oryzae. Consistently, different accessions carrying different single R genes exhibited remarkable differentially expressed genes (DEGs) count, indicating different transcriptional re-programming that leads to different fitness cost. Comparative analysis revealed varying degrees of overlap among DEGs across different accessions. By integrating RNA-seq and RT-qPCR data, we recommended some marker genes that distinguish the differential amplitude of immunity against M. oryzae mediated by different blast R genes. Thus, our study provides valuable insights into the specific and overlapping roles of R gene-mediated immunity. We also propose marker genes that can be used to effectively evaluate the amplitude of immune responses to M. oryzae, thereby facilitating the assessment of R genes with relatively lower amplitude of immunity in order to minimize fitness cost.
The mediating roles of cognitive emotion regulation and resilience in the association between life events and sleep quality among medical students
Authors: Zhu Bo , Gao Xiao-meng , Zhou Mei , Wang Hong-hong
Published: February 2025

Background

Sleep quality in medical students can be influenced by numerous factors including life events, resilience, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial for developing effective interventions to enhance medical students’ mental health and well-being.

Objective

This study examined the association between life events and sleep quality and explored the mediating roles of resilience and cognitive emotion regulation in this relationship.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 407 medical students from a university in Central Province, China, surveyed between March 15 and March 20, 2023. We employed the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess variables. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis using the SPSS macro Process.

Results

The valid participants (N = 407) were from a medical university with a gender distribution of 29.5% male and 70.5% female. Our findings indicate that higher scores on negative life events significantly predict poorer sleep quality. Furthermore, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation was also a predictor of poor sleep quality, while resilience was positively associated with beneficial cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Notably, resilience and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation partially mediated the impact of life events on sleep quality.

Conclusion

The study highlights that life events significantly affect medical students' sleep quality both directly and indirectly through mechanisms involving resilience and cognitive emotion regulation. These insights are vital for framing interventions to improve psychological resilience and adaptive emotion regulation strategies, thereby enhancing sleep quality and overall mental health in medical students. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how life events impact sleep quality, offering pathways and conditions that could be targeted in future interventions.
Building capacity and capability for science diplomacy: challenges in decolonizing the curriculum for Global Health System Leadership
Authors: Millar Ross , Abu-Agla Ayat , Badr Elsheikh
Published: February 2025

Education policy is the front and center of contemporary science diplomacy. This is particularly the case in global health where nation-states are being called upon to equip their health workforce with leadership skills and competencies to improve population health and engage in health system development. In the perspective that follows, we argue that successfully meeting such demands requires not only a high-quality education offering but also one that is aware of and engaged with the coloniality underpinning its underlying assumptions. This perspective makes two significant contributions to further understanding of this area. First, it shares the challenges being faced in developing an education offer for Global Health System Leadership at an International Branch Campus (IBC). Second, it provides an overview of how we are proactively seeking to overcome these challenges. The perspective argues that by engaging in a spirit of dialog and reflexivity, there is scope for decolonizing education science diplomacy.
First Coprological Survey of Semiferal Goat (Capra hircus) Parasites in Relation to Environmental Factors on the Island of Socotra, Yemen
Authors: Maděrová Lucie , Šipoš Jan , Maděra Petr , Modrý David , Červená Barbora , Suchomel Josef
Published: February 2025

Parasites play a significant role in biodiversity, yet research on these organisms remains limited, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Parasites are also an essential aspect of domestic animal husbandry, and their prevalence depends on various factors, such as husbandry conditions and the environment. However, no studies have been conducted on parasites affecting domestic animals on Socotra Island. This study aimed to investigate parasites in selected goat populations on the island using intravital fecal diagnosis. A total of 406 samples from adult goats across different locations (lowlands and highlands) and seasons (dry and rainy) were collected, fixed in 10% formalin, and transported to the Czech Republic for coprological examination using flotation and ether sedimentation methods. Statistical analyses, including partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA), the Monte Carlo permutation test, and the chi-squared test, revealed a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infections, with 89% of goats infected. Eimeria spp. had the highest prevalence (76%). Co-infection was common, with 55.9% of goats infected with multiple parasites. Seasonality influenced parasitism, with other Protostrongylidae, Muellerius spp., and Trichuris spp. predominating during the rainy season, and Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal strongylids predominating during the dry season. This first study on Socotra Island, Yemen, provides crucial insights into effective intervention strategies for controlling goat parasite infections.
Bacterial Community Composition and Its Relationship with Environmental Factors in the Artificial Reef Area for Marine Ranching in Changhai County
Authors: Yan Jiamin , Wei Xu , Si Liwei , Zhang Zheng , Zhao Jingsi , Deng Liyu , Tian Tao , Li Qingxia , Yin Zengqiang , Wu Zhongxin
Published: February 2025

In this study, samples were collected from different types of artificial fish reefs and prevention and control areas in the sea areas of the northern part of Da Changshan Island and the northeastern part of Xiao Changshan Island in the North Yellow Sea. The purpose is to compare the differences in the bacterial communities among different regions, determine the impacts of environmental factors on the bacterial communities, and evaluate the ecological effects of artificial fish reefs on the marine bacterial communities. We obtained a total of 2,128,186 effective sequences and 4321 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were classified into 14 phyla and 76 genera. Proteobacteria were the most abundant phylum across the 32 samples, followed by Bacteroidetes. We found that all samples from the deep-sea control area exhibited the highest bacterial richness. In addition, all samples from the shallow-water concrete reef exhibited high community richness. The distribution of bacterial communities showed differences among different regions. In two specific sea areas, the bacteria in the sediment samples exhibited particularly remarkable characteristics of high diversity. Importantly, environmental factors significantly influence bacterial communities. In seawater samples, salinity (Sal) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were the primary factors affecting bacterial communities. Furthermore, grain size (GS) emerged as the most critical physicochemical factor influencing bacterial communities in sediment. This study compared the characteristics of bacterial communities in different types of artificial reefs and control areas in two marine ranches and revealed the main environmental factors affecting the bacterial communities. This is of great significance for protecting biodiversity and evaluating the ecological effects of artificial reef placement.
Proxy-Based Semi-Supervised Cross-Modal Hashing
Authors: Chen Hao , Zou Zhuoyang , Zhu Xinghui
Published: February 2025

Due to the difficulty in obtaining label information in practical applications, semi-supervised cross-modal retrieval has emerged. However, the existing semi-supervised cross-modal hashing retrieval methods mainly focus on exploring the structural relationships between data and generating high-quality discrete pseudo-labels while neglecting the relationships between data and categories, as well as the structural relationships between data and categories inherent in continuous pseudo-labels. Based on this, Proxy-based Semi-Supervised Cross-Modal Hashing (PSSCH) is proposed. Specifically, we propose a category proxy network to generate category center points in both feature and hash spaces. Additionally, we design an Adaptive Dual-Label Loss function, which applies different learning strategies to discrete ground truth labels and continuous pseudo-labels and adaptively increases the training weights of unlabeled data with more epochs. Experiments on the MIRFLICKR-25K, NUS-WIDE, and MS COCO datasets show that PSSCH achieves the highest mAP improvements of 3%, 1%, and 4%, respectively, demonstrating better results than the latest baseline methods.
P-Distill: Efficient and Effective Prompt Tuning Using Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Won Hyun-Sik , Choi Joon-Young , Zaman Namrah , Aliyeva Dinara , Kim Kang-Min
Published: February 2025

In the field of natural language processing (NLP), prompt-based learning is widely used for efficient parameter learning. However, this method has the drawback of shortening the input length by the extent of the attached prompt, leading to the inefficient utilization of the input space. In this study, we propose P-Distill, a novel prompt compression method that mitigates the aforementioned limitation of prompt-based learning while maintaining performance via knowledge distillation. The knowledge distillation process of P-Distill consists of two methods, namely prompt initialization and prompt distillation. Experiments on various NLP tasks demonstrated that P-Distill exhibited comparable or superior performance compared to other state-of-the-art prompt-based learning methods, even with significantly shorter prompts. Specifically, we achieved a peak improvement of 1.90% even with the prompt lengths compressed to one-eighth. An additional study further provides insights into the distinct impact of each method on the overall performance of P-Distill. Our code will be released upon acceptance.
Mechanochemical-Activated Organomontmorillonite for Uranium Pollution Protection
Authors: Kovalchuk Iryna , Farbun Iryna , Sydorchuk Volodymyr , Lakhnik Andrey , Diyuk Olena
Published: February 2025

The modification of the layered silicate with a structural type 2:1 montmorillonite by the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide was carried out. The obtained organomontmorillonite was milled for 2–25 min in a high-energy planetary ball mill. The structural and physicochemical characteristics of the modified montmorillonite and the mechanochemically activated montmorillonite were investigated using various methods such as X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and determination of the specific surface area as well as the parameters of the porous structure by the low-temperature adsorption–desorption of nitrogen. The modification of montmorillonite with the quaternary ammonium salt led to a slowdown of deformation and subsequent amorphization of the montmorillonite structure during the high-energy milling. Mechanochemical activation of the modified montmorillonite increased its sorption capacity nine times, with the maximum uranium sorption achieved after mechanochemical treatment for 10 min.
On a Sum of Two Akash Distributions: Inference and Applications
Authors: Firinguetti-Limone Luis , Olmos Neveka M. , Venegas Osvaldo , Gómez Héctor W.
Published: February 2025

We propose a new distribution which is the sum of two independent Akash (AK) random variables with the same parameter. We refer to this distribution as the AKS distribution. We study the density and some of its properties. We derive the method of moments (MM) and the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator, along with the Fisher information. The performance of the ML estimator is evaluated through a simulation study. In addition, we present two real data applications, demonstrating in these cases the superiority of the AKS distribution compared to two other distributions.
Efficacy of 177Lu-PSMA-617 Therapy in mCRPC Patients with Liver Metastases: Insights into Survival Outcomes and Predictors of Response
Authors: Kalender Ebuzer , Ekinci Edanur , Elboğa Umut , Şahin Ertan
Published: February 2025

Objectives: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is associated with poor prognosis, particularly in cases of liver metastases. 177Lu-PSMA-617 (commercially known as Pluvicto) is an FDA-approved radioligand therapy for mCRPC patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy (RLT) in mCRPC patients with liver metastases, focusing on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and factors influencing treatment response. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included mCRPC patients (n = 32) with liver metastases treated with Lu-PSMA-617. Patient data, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, liver SUVmax values, Lutetium-PSMA therapy cycles, and survival outcomes, were collected. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to calculate PFS and OS, while regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with treatment response. Results: The median PFS and OS were 6 and 9 months, respectively. Partial regression was observed in patients with significantly lower PSA levels (median: 90.0 ng/mL, range: 22–699 ng/mL, p = 0.001) and liver SUVmax values (median: 17.9, range: 8.3–57.0, p = 0.008). A higher number of Lutetium-PSMA cycles correlated with improved treatment response (p = 0.010) and reduced liver SUVmax values (p = 0.043). Conclusions: Lu-PSMA-617 therapy is effective in managing mCRPC with liver metastases. Increased intensity of therapy exposure, reflected by a higher number of treatment cycles, is associated with a greater biochemical response, as indicated by reduced PSA levels, thereby supporting the rationale for personalized treatment strategies. These findings support the use of Lu-PSMA-617 in mCRPC patients with liver metastases, warranting further prospective studies.
Urinary Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) Point-of-Care (POC) Device with Seamless Data Transmission for Monitoring the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Thiengsusuk Artitaya , Youngvises Napaporn , Pochairach Runtikan , Taha Rehab Osman , Sirisabhabhorn Kridsada , Muhamad Nadda , Meesiri Wanchai , Chaijaroenkul Wanna , Na-Bangchang Kesara
Published: February 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to pose a critical global health challenge, making ongoing monitoring vital for effective management and preventing its progression to end-stage renal disease. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) stands out as a reliable biomarker. MyACR was developed and validated as a novel point-of-care (POC) device for identifying and monitoring the progress of CKD. MyACR device operates using a colorimetric-based spectroscopy to quantify albumin and creatinine levels at 625 nm and 515 nm, respectively. Calculated uACR values were compared with results from the reference turbidimetry method using a dataset of 103 random urine samples from patients at high risk of advanced CKD. The device showed excellent performance in detecting severe nephropathy, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The PPV (positive predictive value) was 100%, indicating perfect identification of patients with severe nephropathy (uACR > 300 mg/g creatinine). The NPV (negative predictive value) was 100%, suggesting a strong ability to rule out severe nephropathy, though a small risk of false negatives remained. Bland–Altman analysis confirmed a high level of agreement, with 96.11% (for all data) and 95.87% (for uACR > 300 mg/g creatinine) of MyACR measurements falling within the 95% confidence interval (−27 to +19). Correlation analysis revealed a significant alignment between MyACR and the reference method (r2 0.9720 to 0.9836). The ROC analysis suggested that combining uACR with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) demonstrated strong predictive performance, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.933 (95% CI: 0.86–1.0). In conclusion, the MyACR device is a robust, affordable, and user-friendly tool for detecting nephropathy, showing performance comparable to the reference method. Its portability and cost-effectiveness make it particularly suitable for use in low-resource environments. Additionally, integrating uACR with eGFR enhances prognostic capabilities, offering a comprehensive approach to assessing kidney function and predicting CKD progression.
A Study of the Influencing Mechanism of Travel Mode Choice for Primary School Students: A Case Study in Wuhan
Authors: Chen Shuting , Hong Mengyao , Wei Wei
Published: February 2025

The motorization of school commutes reduces the physical activity of children and causes a series of urban traffic and social problems, such as traffic congestion in school districts and parents becoming necessary for transportation. To alleviate traffic jams and related social problems, as well as to encourage physical activity amongst students, we advocate non-motorized travel modes for students, such as walking and cycling. Based on a case study of the Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone, we use a multiple linear regression model to analyze the relationship between influence factors and student travel mode choices. The results show that built environment factors (the built environment factors are divided into density, diversity, accessibility, and destination) have a significant impact on school travel mode choices, especially accessibility and diversity. Furthermore, the study highlights the pivotal role of travel perceptions, particularly perceptions of safety, comfort, and convenience. Through a questionnaire survey, we collect students’ travel perceptions and their actual school travel modes, which offer valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers. The findings indicate the complex interplay between student commuting and the built environment. Additionally, these findings can be valuable, both in academia and for policymakers. We provide strategies that could be beneficial for reducing motor vehicle activities (especially driving).
From Andalusia to the Atlantic During Early Globalization: Multidisciplinary Archaeometric Approach to Ceramic Production from Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Authors: Rivero Saúl Guerrero , Iñañez Javier G. , Carredano Fernando Amores , Torres Joana B. , Teixeira André , Arana Gorka , Zavala José Luis Sánchez
Published: February 2025

The technological development of ceramic production during the early modern period in the Iberian Peninsula is a crucial topic in historical archaeological research. The present study analyzes pottery from Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, focusing on ceramic materials from the Convent of Santo Domingo (late 15th to early 17th centuries). Through the analysis of production wastes, including dolia and olive jars (botijas), this text unveils key aspects of regional ceramics practices. Using a multidisciplinary archaeometric approach, we applied petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate compositional, technological, and provenance characteristics. The petrographic analysis identified clay matrix variability and mineral inclusions, indicating diverse raw material sources and production techniques. The XRD analysis confirmed key mineral phases that reflect controlled firing temperatures, while the ICP-MS analyses provided trace element profiles that were used to distinguish between local and non-local raw materials. Together, these results reveal technological shifts and resource diversity over time, challenging the assumption that Seville was the sole supplier of ceramics for Atlantic trade. This study establishes Jerez as a potential complementary production center, offering a new understanding of early globalization processes and ceramics manufacturing in southwestern Andalusia.
Optimizing Message Range and Ciphertext Storage in Gentry–Sahai–Waters Encryption Using Chinese Remainder Theorem and PVW-like Compression Scheme
Authors: Hu Kung-Wei , Wang Huan-Chih , Lin Wun-Ting , Wu Ja-Ling
Published: February 2025

This paper explores advancements in the Gentry-Sahai-Waters (GSW) fully homomorphic encryption scheme (FHE), addressing challenges related to message data range limitations and ciphertext size constraints. We leverage the well-known parallelizing technology—the Chinese Remainder Theorem (CRT)—to tackle the message decomposition, significantly expanding the allowable input message range to the entire plaintext space. This approach enables unrestricted message selection in the GSW scheme and supports parallel homomorphic operations without intermediate decryption. Additionally, we adapt existing ciphertext compression techniques, such as the PVW-like scheme, to reduce the memory overhead associated with ciphertexts. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of combining the proposed CRT-based decomposition with the PVW-like compression in increasing the upper bound of message values and improving the scheme’s capacity for consecutive homomorphic operations. However, compression introduces a trade-off, necessitating a reduced message range due to error accumulation in successive HE operations. This research contributes to enhancing the practicality and efficiency of the GSW encryption scheme for complex computational scenarios while managing the balance between expanded message range, computational complexity, and storage requirements.
Bridging STEM Education and Sustainability: Insights from Pennsylvania Educators
Authors: Cordaro Jessica A. , Murphy Cliona , Redman Erin
Published: February 2025

STEM education’s focus on interdisciplinary learning presents an ideal platform for integrating education for sustainability (EfS) in K–12 curricula. Understanding STEM educators’ sustainability knowledge and their current incorporation of sustainability topics into STEM lessons is essential for further advancing EfS. To investigate these aspects, a mixed-methods study, involving both surveys and interviews, was conducted on STEM educators in Pennsylvania, United States. The results showed that most STEM educators surveyed had a simplified and incomplete understanding of sustainability, which aligns with the findings of international research. Despite the assumption that greater sustainability knowledge and perceived importance of EfS lead to teaching more about sustainability, no statistically meaningful correlation was found among these variables, indicating additional obstacles to integration. Watersheds, wetlands, and environmental experiences were identified as the least integrated topics in STEM curricula, suggesting a need for targeted efforts to enhance these areas.
Agent-Based Analysis of Financial Crisis Management Strategies to Enhance the Energy Transition in Germany
Authors: Schell Tim , Nebel Arjuna
Published: February 2025

Crises appear to be occurring with increased frequency, whether provoked directly by human actions or through indirect causes such as resource scarcity or natural disasters. Crisis management strategies are frequently implemented with the aim of mitigating the immediate impacts of these crises. Nevertheless, it is critical to also consider the long-term consequences of such strategies. This study investigates both the short- and long-term effects of various crisis management strategies during a financial crisis in relation to the energy transition. An agent-based model of the German electricity sector is developed to analyze the effects of different strategies. The findings suggest that a reduction in electricity demand by 10% achieves the most favorable outcomes, decreasing short-term electricity costs by 11% and long-term carbon dioxide emissions by 9%.
Comparative Analysis of Protection Schemes for Shunt Reactors: Addressing Turn-to-Ground and Turn Faults with Parametric Sensitivity and Transient Evaluations
Authors: de Almeida Maria Leonor Silva , Ferreira Diogo Guilherme , Garcés Negrete Lina P. , López-Lezama Jesús M. , Muñoz-Galeano Nicolás
Published: February 2025

In electrical power systems, shunt reactors control excess reactive power, keeping voltage levels within acceptable limits. As shunt reactors play a crucial role in the operation of electrical systems, it is essential to ensure the use of modern and fast protection schemes for these devices. Furthermore, protection functions must be capable of identifying various fault conditions, including critical operating situations such as turn-to-ground and turn faults, involving only a few short-circuited turns. This paper proposes a comparative evaluation of protection schemes commonly employed by manufacturers to meet the requirements of different grid codes. Thus, the investigation encompasses restricted earth fault, directional, differential, and distance functions. The latter is typically cited as a backup protection function. To support the analyses conducted, an electrical power system with shunt compensation was modeled in the ATPDraw software version 7.3. Through this platform, various internal fault conditions were simulated, encompassing turn-to-ground and turn faults. This facilitated the analysis of the influence of parameters such as the leakage factor value and the number of short-circuited turns. Additionally, external fault conditions were evaluated, including cases involving Current Transformer (CT) saturation.
Artificial Intelligence and Carbon Emissions: Mediating Role of Energy Efficiency, Factor Market Allocation and Industrial Structure
Authors: Liu Jun , Shen Hengxu , Chen Junwei , Jiang Xin , Siyal Abdul Waheed
Published: February 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) plays an important role in promoting energy transformation and achieving global green and low-carbon goals. Based on the panel data of 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2022, this paper empirically examines the impact of AI on carbon emission (CE) and its internal mechanism. It is found that the impact of AI on CE in general shows an “inverted U-shaped” relationship, which is first promoted and then suppressed, and this result still holds after a series of robustness tests. The mechanism test shows that AI affects CE in three main ways: improving energy efficiency, optimizing factor market allocation, and industrial structure. The heterogeneity results show that the “inverted U-shape” relationship of AI on CE is significant in resource cities insignificant in non-resource cities, significant in low-carbon pilot cities, and insignificant in non-low-carbon pilot cities, significant in areas with a high level of industrialization, and insignificant in areas with a low level of industrialization. This study provides valuable insights for the application of AI and the formulation of energy conservation and emission reduction policies.
Combined State-of-Charge Estimation Method for Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Long Short-Term Memory Network and Unscented Kalman Filter
Authors: Pu Long , Wang Chun
Published: February 2025

The state of charge (SOC) of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a pivotal metric within the battery management system (BMS) of electric vehicles (EVs). An accurate SOC is crucial to ensuring both the safety and the operational efficiency of a battery. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is a classic and commonly used method among the various SOC estimation algorithms. However, an unscented transform (UT) utilized in the algorithm struggles to completely simulate the probability density function of actual data. Additionally, inaccuracies in the identification of battery model parameters can lead to performance degradation or even the divergence of the algorithm in SOC estimation. To address these challenges, this study introduces a combined UKF-LSTM algorithm that integrates a long short-term memory (LSTM) network with the UKF for the precise SOC estimation of LIBs. Firstly, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was utilized to accurately identify the parameters of the battery model. Secondly, feature parameters that exhibited a high correlation with the estimation error of the UKF were selected to train an LSTM network, which was then combined with the UKF to establish the joint algorithm. Lastly, the effectiveness of the UKF-LSTM was confirmed under various conditions. The outcomes demonstrate that the average absolute error (MAE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) for the SOC estimation by the algorithm were less than 0.7%, indicating remarkable estimation accuracy and robustness.
Surface Crack Occurrence and Resistance During Moisture Content Changes in MF-Resin-Impregnated Paper-Decorated Blockboard
Authors: Feng Yun , Qu Wei , Wu Guofang , Wu Yuzhang , He Jinrong , Shen Yinlan , Cao Jinzhen , Peng Limin
Published: February 2025

In multi-layered wood materials, varying rates of dimensional changes can easily lead to cracking, which can have a negative impact on their structure and functionality. This study focuses on cracking issues of decorated blockboard caused by moisture content changes. First, surface cracks on the decorated blockboard were observed and classified using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Second, from modeling perspectives, the critical tensile strength of the surface of the decorated blockboard was predicted to be 16.93 MPa, providing guidance for crack-resistant modification. Subsequently, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were incorporated into MF-resin-impregnated paper, achieving a Grade 5 crack resistance for decorated blockboard. The interaction between HNTs and MF resin forms a multiscale stress–dispersion system, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), indicating hydrogen and covalent bonding between HNTs and the MF resin. With a 5% HNTs addition, the tensile strength and strain break of the MF-resin-impregnated paper reached 36.60 MPa and 1.12%, respectively, representing increases of 97.39% and 60.00%, respectively, effectively preventing surface cracking. This has significant implications for improving the durability and performance of decorated blockboard in practical applications.
Updated Views on Vestibular Physical Therapy for Patients with Vestibular Disorders
Authors: Tramontano Marco , Haijoub Souad , Lacour Michel , Manzari Leonardo
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Vestibular Physical Therapy (VPT) plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of patients with vestibular disorders by promoting vestibular compensation through adaptation, habituation, and substitution mechanisms. While traditional VPT approaches have demonstrated effectiveness in restoring balance and gaze stability, some patients with chronic vestibular dysfunction continue to experience persistent deficits. Methods: review of recent advancements in neuroplasticity research suggest the need for updated rehabilitation strategies that integrate sensorimotor substitution, saccadic training, optokinetic stimulation, and cognitive–motor dual-task training to optimize vestibular compensation. Results: This perspective article explores innovative VPT approaches aimed at improving dynamic gaze and postural stability in a more challenging way. We emphasize the importance of personalized rehabilitation strategies that leverage multisensory integration to enhance neuroplastic recovery. Conclusions: By refining VPT interventions, we can maximize functional outcomes and improve the quality of life for individuals with vestibular disorders.
Propensity-Matched Analysis of Early and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes with Self-Expandable Prostheses in TAVR: Portico vs. CoreValve Evolut R
Authors: Primessnig Uwe , Wiedenhofer Julia M. , Berlinghof Sophie , Ducaruge Juliane , Trippel Tobias D. , Brand Anna , Spethmann Sebastian , Landmesser Ulf , Blaschke Florian , Sündermann Simon H. , Grubitzsch Herko , Falk Volkmar , Klein Christoph , Unbehaun Axel , Dreger Henryk , Sherif Mohammad
Published: February 2025

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a well-established option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who present high or extreme surgical risk. Direct comparisons of outcomes between different valve prostheses are important to assist operators in making an informed device selection. We aimed to perform a comparative analysis of early clinical outcomes at 30 days and long-term outcomes up to 3 years after TAVR using self-expandable Portico or CoreValve Evolut R valve prostheses. Methods: Out of 396 patients treated with either Portico or CoreValve Evolut R valves from January 2018 to December 2021, 79 patients were assigned to each group after 1:1 propensity score matching based on baseline parameters. Peri- and postprocedural outcomes at 30 days and up to a 3-year follow-up period were retrospectively collected according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC-2) criteria. Results: The immediate survival rate was 100% in both groups. The 30-day mortality was 0.0% in the Portico group and 1.3% in the CoreValve Evolut group (p = 1). Minor postprocedural bleeding was more frequent in the Evolut group both at 30 days (8.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.02) and at 3 years (11.4% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.133). There were no statistically significant differences regarding the combined safety endpoint (p = 1), acute kidney injury (AKIN 2 or AKIN 3) (p = 1; p = 0.477), or new pacemaker implantation (p = 0.31), at either 30 days or 3 years. Postprocedural myocardial infarction and stroke showed comparable rates in both groups. Conclusions: In terms of early clinical outcomes, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups of self-expandable valve prostheses, except for a significantly higher rate of minor bleeding in the Evolut group at 30 days. Notably, this trend of increased minor bleeding in the Evolut group persisted over the 3-year follow-up period, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. Both groups demonstrated low rates of all-cause mortality and clinical complications at long-term follow-up. The choice of valve should be customized to the individual characteristics of each patient.
Survey of Clinical Practice in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Croatia: A Study by the MPN Working Group Party of the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases (KROHEM)
Authors: Krecak Ivan , Lucijanic Marko , Kusec Rajko
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), are hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by increased proliferation of mature myeloid cells, a chronic inflammatory state, and high cardiovascular risk. The diagnostic and therapeutic landscape in the field of MPNs is rapidly evolving. Therefore, it is important to assess the behavior of physicians involved in the management of MPN patients to gain insight into how they embrace the current diagnostic and treatment landscape in real-life settings. Methods: An online anonymous survey consisting of 50 questions regarding their MPN practice and divided into four major domains (physician characteristics, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic decisions, and patient follow-up) was sent through the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases’ (KROHEM’s) e-mailing list to all Croatian hematologists. Results: Thirty-one out of ninety adult hematologists (34.4% response rate) from KROHEM responded to this survey. There was a very high rate of self-proclaimed abidance to current international diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations, with no major differences among academic and community practices. However, some areas of uncertainty have been highlighted, especially in the frequency of cytogenetic and molecular testing, as well as very low implementation of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) questionnaire in everyday practice. Conclusions: This study provides an important snapshot of the current MPN practice in Croatia. Similar studies from other countries are needed to provide a more detailed overview of real-life MPN practice globally.
Study on Dynamic Behaviors of Hypoid Gears Under Variable Tidal Current Energy Harvesting Conditions
Authors: Huang Dequan , Li Yan , Zheng Xingyuan , Li Gang
Published: February 2025

This study investigates dynamic behaviors of hypoid gear rotor systems under variable tidal current energy harvesting conditions through numerical simulations and experimental validation. The study examines dynamic responses of a hypoid gear rotor system induced by cyclical tidal current variations, which generate fluctuating loads and bidirectional rotational speeds in tidal energy conversion systems. Two hypoid gear pairs, modified through precise manufacturing parameters, are evaluated to optimize tooth contact patterns for bidirectional tidal loading conditions. A coupled torsional vibration model is developed, incorporating variable transmission error and mesh stiffness. Experimental validation of dynamic performances of hypoid gear pairs was conducted on a bevel gear testing rig, which can measure both torsional and translational vibrations across diverse tidal speed profiles. The experimental results demonstrate that second-order primary resonances exhibit heightened vibration intensity during flow-reversal phases. This phenomenon has significant implications for system power efficiency and acoustic emissions. The findings extend the current understanding of hypoid gear optimization for tidal energy-harvesting applications.
Synergetic Effect of Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure, Mild Heat, and Carvacrol on Inactivation of Nontyphoidal Salmonella Serovars in Buffered Environment
Authors: Sibley Junice , Kafle Ranju , Chowdhury Shahid , Fouladkhah Aliyar Cyrus
Published: February 2025

A four-strain mixture of nontyphoidal Salmonella and a strain of Salmonella Tennessee were exposed to elevated hydrostatic pressures of 350 and 650 MPa for 0 (control), 3, 5, and 10 min at temperatures of 4.4 and 60.0 °C with and without 0.2% carvacrol. Treatments were conducted in PULSE tubes inside the chamber of the Hub880 Barocycler unit. In addition to microbial counts and for better assimilation of synergism of selected extrinsic factors of the study, linear (D-value) and non-linear (kmax) inactivation indices were calculated. A combination of mild heat, a low concentration of carvacrol, and mild pressure resulted in >5.0 log CFU/mL reduction (p < 0.05) in Salmonella serovars, surpassing the log reductions obtained by the current high-pressure processing industry standard. Salmonella Tennessee and the selected strain mixture exhibited comparable (p ≥ 0.05) sensitivity to pressure-based treatments, with D-values (350 MPa/4.4 °C) of 9.43 and 8.22 min, respectively. These values were reduced (p < 0.05) to 4.37 and 4.15 min, respectively, with the addition of 0.2% carvacrol to the pressure-based treatment. The application of mild heat at 60.0 °C and a low concentration of carvacrol showed microbiologically important synergism for augmenting the decontamination efficacy of high-pressure processing against nontyphoidal Salmonella serovars.
Nasal Microbiota Profiling as a Predictive Secondary Tool for COVID-19 Diagnosis: The Critical Role of Taxonomic Resolution
Authors: De Jaegher Simon , D’Aguanno Maria , Pinzauti David , Biazzo Manuele
Published: February 2025

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to an urgent need for effective and rapid diagnostic tools. In the present study, we have evaluated the predictive diagnostic potential of nasal microbiota by analyzing microbial community structures at different taxonomic level resolutions—species, genus, family, order, class and phylum—using Random Forest modelling. A total of 179 nasal swabs from COVID-19-positive (n = 85) and COVID-19-negative (n = 94) individuals were sequenced using a full-length 16S rRNA sequencing (Oxford Nanopore) approach. During each iteration of the Random Forest model, the dataset was randomly split into a training set (70%) and a testing set (30%). Model performance improved with finer taxonomic resolution, achieving the highest accuracy at the Species level (AUROC = 0.821 ± 0.059) and a sensitivity of 55.6% at a specificity threshold of 90%. A progressive decline in AUROC and sensitivity was observed at broader taxonomic levels. Furthermore, Beta diversity analysis supported that microbial community structures are more distinct between COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative groups at finer taxonomic levels. These findings highlight the potential role of nasal microbiota profiling as a secondary diagnostic tool for COVID-19, particularly at species- and genus-level classification, and underscore the importance of high taxonomic resolution in microbiome-based diagnostics. However, limited by an uneven sample distribution and the lack of medical evaluations, further large-scale studies are needed before the nasal microbiota can be implemented in the clinical diagnostics of COVID-19.