bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A combined model of shoot phosphorus uptake based on sparse data and active learning algorithm
Authors: Wang Tianli , Zhang Yi , Liu Haiyan , Li Fei , Guo Dayong , Cao Ning , Zhang Yubin
Published: January 2025

The soil ecosystem has been severely damaged because of the increasingly severe environmental problems caused by excessive application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer, which seriously hinders soil fertility restoration and sustainable farmland development. Shoot P uptake (SPU) is an important parameter for monitoring crop growth and health and for improving field nutrition management and fertilization strategies. Achieving on-site measurement of large-scale data is difficult, and effective nondestructive prediction methods are lacking. Improving spatiotemporal SPU estimation at the regional scale still poses challenges. In this study, we proposed a combination prediction model based on some representative samples. Furthermore, using the experimental area of Henan Province, as an example, we explored the potential of the hyperspectral prediction of maize SPU at the canopy scale. The combination model comprises predicted P uptake by maize leaves, stems, and grains. Results show that (1) the prediction accuracy of the combined prediction model has been greatly improved compared with simple empirical prediction models, with accuracy test results of R2 = 0.87, root mean square error = 2.39 kg/ha, and relative percentage difference = 2.71. (2) In performance tests with different sample sizes, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy i.e., first-order differentially enhanced two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (1Der-2DCOS) and two-trace 2DCOS of enhanced filling and milk stages (filling-milk-2T2DCOS)) can effectively and robustly extract spectral trait relationships, with good robustness, and can achieve efficient prediction based on small samples. (3) The hybrid model constrained by the Newton-Raphson-based optimizer’s active learning method can effectively filter localized simulation data and achieve localization of simulation data in different regions when solving practical problems, improving the hybrid model’s prediction accuracy. The practice has shown that with a small number of representative samples, this method can fully utilize remote sensing technology to predict SPU, providing an evaluation tool for the sustainable use of agricultural P. Therefore, this method has good application prospects and is expected to become an important means of monitoring global soil P surplus, promoting sustainable agricultural development.
Blue rings in trees and shrubs as indicators of early and late summer cooling events at the northern treeline
Authors: Buchwal Agata , Matulewski Pawel , Sjöberg Ylva , Piermattei Alma , Crivellaro Alan , Balzano Angela , Merela Maks , Krže Luka , Čufar Katarina , Kirdyanov Alexander V. , Bebchuk Tatiana , Arosio Tito , Büntgen Ulf
Published: January 2025

The high temperature sensitivity of pine trees in northern Fennoscandia has led to some of the most reliable tree-ring climate reconstructions in the world for the past millennia. However, wood anatomical anomalies that likely reflect temperature-induced reductions in cell wall lignification, the so-called Blue Rings (BRs), have not yet been systematically investigated in trees and shrubs in northern Europe. Here, we present frontier research on the occurrence of BRs in Pinus sylvestris trees and Juniperus communis (L) s.l. shrubs from the upper treeline in northern Norway (69°N) in relation to instrumental temperature data covering the last ca. 150 years. The highest number of BRs was found in 1902, with 96% of Pinus trees and 68% of Juniperus shrubs showing BRs. These corresponded on average to a 42% vs. 27% proportion of the growth ring in 1902 which was less-lignified in Pinus trees and Juniperus shrubs, respectively. Another peak in BRs recorded for 1877 was more pronounced in Pinus trees (88%) than in Juniperus shrubs (36%), with a lower proportion of less lignified rings. We found the lowest monthly sums of growing degree days in June 1902 and August 1877, resulting in more uniform non-lignified BRs in 1902 than in 1877. Prolonged early growing season cooling shortened the growing season in 1902 and resulted in much thinner cell walls in trees and shrubs than in 1877, which was characterized by extended cooling at the end of the growing season. Also, after 1902 BR, Pinus trees exclusively showed no recovery in the mean cell wall thickness in the following year. Our study provides the first evidence for different impacts of early versus late growing season cooling on cell wall lignification in trees and shrubs at the northern treeline. Using the anatomy of BRs, we demonstrated the potential to refine summer cooling event reconstructions at an intra-annual resolution in northern Fennoscandia and beyond.
Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
Authors: Shrestha Avinash , Stephens Christian J. , Angeles-Shim Rosalyn B.
Published: January 2025

Wide hybridization is an important plant breeding strategy that can be used to expand the available genetic variation in present-day crops towards breeding for enhanced agronomic performance. The primary challenge in wide hybridization is the presence of reproductive barriers and genetic incompatibilities that limit the transfer of desirable wild or distant alleles in the genetic background of cultivated plant species. Here we provide perspectives on the possible role of hybrid sterility and gametocidal genes on the observed preferential introgression in exotic germplasm of rice. We argue that while these aberrant introgression and segregation behavior of wild or distant chromosomes presents significant barriers in exploiting ancestral germplasm in breeding, the same mechanisms can also be exploited to enhance the transfer of wild alleles in a cultivated genetic background. Understanding the genetic basis of preferential introgression and segregation in wide hybrids will have serious implications in our ability to capture ancestral genetic variation that can add significant agronomic value to staple crops like rice.
Association of inflammation cytokines with cognitive function in first-episode major depressive disorder
Authors: Xi Yan Qing , Wang Zong Qi , Li Guo Juan , Hao Zhuo Qun , Nie Jia Hui , Li Jin Xiang , Tan Yu Ting , Hu Xiao Dong , Wang Gen Wei , Liu Sha , Wang Yan Fang
Published: January 2025

Objective

Abnormal cognitive functioning is a core symptom of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and is strongly correlated with MDD prognosis. Current studies suggest that the occurrence of MDD may be related to oxidative stress-induced inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis disorders, diminished monoamine function and microbe-brain-gut axis, among other pathways. In recent years, the relationship between the immune-inflammatory response and MDD has been a hot topic of research, but how the relationship between immunoinflammation and cognitive function is manifested in MDD is still unclear. In this study, we examined cognitive function characteristics, serum inflammatory factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and their correlations before and after pharmacological treatment(paroxetine hydrochloride tablets) in patients with first-episode major depressive disorder, aiming to identify objective biomarkers for cognitive function assessment.

Methods

We included 22 patients with first-episode major depressive disorder and 27 healthy volunteers from the community during the same period. The Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17) assessed the severity of depressive symptoms at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status(RBANS) evaluated cognitive function, and serum samples were collected to determine levels of inflammatory and neurotrophic factors at these two time points. For healthy volunteers, only HAMD-17 scale scores, RBANS scale scores, and serum samples were taken at baseline. Spearman’s correlation analyzed the relationship between inflammatory factors, neurotrophic factors, and cognitive function. Multiple linear regression determined factors affecting cognitive function in first-time patients.

Results

Baseline findings indicated that patients’ IL-6 and TNF-α levels exceeded those of healthy individuals, while their IFN-α levels were below; their scores in language, attention, delayed memory, and the RBANS scale were also lower than healthy counterparts. Post-treatment, patients’ BDNF, IL-6, and TNF-α levels remained higher than those of healthy subjects, and their IFN-α levels were still lower; their language and attention scores were also inferior. Association analyses revealed an association between BDNF and visuospatial/constructional ability scores and language scores in patients with MDD at baseline, and a positive relationship between TNF-α and attention score. Multiple regression analysis indicated an association between TNF-α levels and attention scores in MDD patients at baseline.

Conclusions

Our study concludes that TNF-α and BDNF correlate with cognitive function in MDD at baseline, and furthermore, TNF-α could potentially serve as an objective biomarker to support the assessment of attentional function at baseline.
The relationship between childhood trauma and romantic relationship satisfaction: the role of attachment and social support
Authors: Quan Lijuan , Zhang Kun , Chen Haiyan
Published: January 2025

Objective

To investigate the impact of childhood trauma on romantic relationship satisfaction among college students, focusing on the mediating role of attachment and the moderating role of social support.

Methods

A total of 1,404 college students from Wuhu, Anqing, Chaohu, Bengbu, Fuyang, and Wuhan participated in this study. Participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and the Romantic Relationship Satisfaction Scale (RRSS). Demographic variables such as grade were collected to control for potential confounding factors. Statistical analyses included correlation analyses, regression models, and moderated mediation analyses using PROCESS Macro.

Results

Childhood trauma negatively predicted romantic relationship satisfaction both directly (β = -0.06, t = -2.11, p < 0.05) and indirectly through attachment (β = -0.07, t = -2.59, p < 0.05). Social support moderated the relationship between childhood trauma and attachment, with the effect of childhood trauma on attachment strengthening as social support increased (low: t = 2.18, p = 0.03; high: t = 4.37, p < 0.001). However, social support did not significantly moderate the direct effect of childhood trauma on romantic relationship satisfaction.

Discussion

Attachment mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and romantic relationship satisfaction, while social support moderated the relationship between childhood trauma and attachment. These findings suggest that interventions should focus on improving attachment styles and strengthening social support to mitigate the negative effects of childhood trauma on romantic relationships.
Age-related differences in borderline personality disorder traits and childhood maltreatment: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Li GuoRong , Lin Yong , Xu Yun , Zhou Yong , Wei YanYan , Xu LiHua , Tang XiaoChen , Wang Zixuan , Hu Qiang , Wang JiJun , Wu HaiSu , Yi ZhengHui , Zhang TianHong
Published: January 2025

Introduction

This study investigates age-related differences in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) traits and childhood maltreatment (CM) experiences among adolescents, young adults, and older adults within a clinical sample.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 2029 outpatients aged 15-50 years from the Shanghai Mental Health Center. BPD traits were assessed using the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4th Edition Plus (PDQ-4+), and CM experiences were evaluated using the Child Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF). Participants were categorized into three age groups: adolescents (15-21 years), young adults (22-30 years), and older adults (31-50 years).

Results

Adolescents reported significantly higher frequencies of BPD traits and diagnoses compared to young adults and older adults (p=0.036). Specifically, identity disturbance and impulsivity were more pronounced in adolescents (p<0.001). Additionally, adolescents reported higher levels of emotional (F=15.987, p<0.001) and physical abuse (F=12.942, p=0.002), while older adults reported higher levels of emotional and physical neglect. Logistic regression analysis identified key BPD criteria and CM subtypes that differentiated adolescents from adults.

Discussion

The findings underscore the importance of age-specific interventions in treating BPD and addressing childhood maltreatment. Adolescents exhibit distinct patterns of BPD traits and CM experiences, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches.
Effectiveness of a pain science education programme in middle school students: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Menés Fernández Laura , Salvat Isabel , Adillón Cristina
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Chronic pain in childhood is a prevalent issue affecting approximately 20% of young people aged 8–16 years. This condition negatively impacts their quality of life, as well as their physical, psychological, and social functioning. In recent years, Pain Science Education has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the conceptualization of pain and mitigate maladaptive pain-related behaviours in children and teenagers. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Pain Science Education programme called “Learning Pain” in improving the conceptualization of pain amongst 11–13-year-old children enrolled in their first year of middle school.

Materials and methods

A randomised controlled trial with single-blind parallel groups was conducted. Five participating institutes were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which received the Pain Science Education intervention through the “Learning Pain” programme consisting of two sessions spaced 1 month apart, or the control group, which underwent only study assessments. Both groups underwent initial assessment and follow-up evaluations at 1 month (short term), 7 months (medium-term), and 13 months (long-term). The main outcome measure was the conceptualization of pain, assessed using the Conceptualization of Pain Questionnaire (COPAQ).

Results

The “Learning Pain” programme, a specific Pain Science Education intervention, demonstrated effectiveness in improving the conceptualization of pain at 1, 7, and 13 months follow-up assessments.

Discussion

The “Learning Pain” programme, a specific Pain Science Education intervention, enhances the conceptualization of pain in adolescents aged 11–13 years over short, medium, and long-term periods.
Post-purchase behavioral intention in medical aesthetic: the role of image, perceived value, and satisfaction
Authors: Ma Chen-Chung , Ou Tzu-Chi , Tsai Chun-Mei , Chen Tai-Hsiang
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The technicality and professionalism of medical aesthetics have become one of the most fashionable indicators in the world, and image is the key factor of aesthetic development. This study aims to explore the relationship between medical aesthetic image, perceived value, satisfaction and post-purchase behavioral intention.

Methods

The subjects included customers who had consumed and received treatment in the three years, and the questionnaires were collected from returning clients of each unit in the medical aesthetic group from May 17, 2017 to May 31, 2017. We used the structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data.

Results

The results showed that medical aesthetic image was positively associated with perceived value, satisfaction and post-purchase behavioral intention; perceived value was positively associated with satisfaction and post-purchase behavioral intention; satisfaction was positively associated with post-purchase behavioral intention.

Discussion

This study can provide medical aesthetic practitioners with an understanding of consumers' image and perceived value to improve satisfaction. The changes in consumers' perception of aesthetic medicine can be evaluated more objectively, and suggestions can be provided for medical institutions to strengthen their cultural connotation and external image, so as to establish a strong brand image.
Associations of combined exposure to selected metal mixtures with thyroid hormones in children: a cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Cao Yuhan , Xiang Shiting , Du Yuwei , Chen Meiling , Xue Rumeng , Li Qi , Qiu Jun , Duan Yanying
Published: January 2025

Background

Exposure to several metal elements has been found to be associated with thyroid hormone homeostasis. However, evidence for combined exposure is inconclusive, especially for children.

Objective

To examine the individual and joint effects of blood metal elements on thyroid hormones in children.

Methods

A total of 12,470 children aged 0–14 were collected from January 2018 to December 2021 in Hunan Children's Hospital. The concentrations of lead (Pb), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) in blood were detected via atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (TT3, FT3) and total and free thyroxine (TT4, FT4) were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Generalized linear regression (GLR) model and Quantile-based g-computation (QGC) were employed to estimate the association between metal exposure and thyroid hormone homeostasis.

Results

GLR model showed that a unit increase in ln-transformed Fe was associated with increases in TT3 (β = 0.163; PFDR < 0.001), TT4 (β = 12.255; PFDR < 0.001) and FT3 (β = 0.615; PFDR < 0.001), as well as decreases in TSH (β = −0.471; PFDR = 0.005) and FT4 (β = −1.938; PFDR < 0.001). The result of QGC analysis indicated a positive relationship of the ln-transformed concentration of metal mixture with the levels of TT3 (β = 0.018; P = 0.012), TT4 (β = 2.251; P < 0.001) and FT3 (β = 0.074; P < 0.001) in children. Fe was the predominant contributor among the metal mixture with positive contributions to TT3 (weight = 0.439), TT4 (weight = 0.502) and FT3 (weight = 0.450).

Conclusions

The combined metal exposure was associated with increased levels of TT3, TT4, and FT3 in children and Fe appeared to be the major contributor. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Analyzing the cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios and health expenditures in the aging population: a 20-year comparative study across high-income countries
Authors: Ramadan Majed , AlGhamdi Shadell , Alsiary Rawiah
Published: January 2025

Background

The global burden of cancer is expected to increase by 60% over the next two decades, largely due to population aging. The study aims to examine the association between cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) with healthcare expenditures (HE), and human development index score for individuals 70 years old or older.

Method

This is an epidemiological study using publicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) for six over the years 1990–2019. A generalized linear model was employed to examine the association between MIR, and health expenditures and health development index score.

Results

Included countries showed a statistically significant negative association between MIR and both HE, and HE, indicating that higher HDI and HE are associated with decreased MIR with the highest decrease was for China, the coefficient for HDI is −1.29 (95% CI: –1.35 to −1.24, p < 0.0001), the coefficient for HE is −0.103 (95% CI: –0.17 to −0.03, p < 0.0001). There are variations exist in MIRs between high and low health expenditure countries for each cancer type.

Conclusion

The study reveals a significant impact of HE and HDI on cancer outcomes in older adults. Variations between high and low HE nations highlight potentially improved cancer outcomes in high HE countries. Considering the anticipated growth in the aging population worldwide, a rise in cancer cases is expected among older individuals. The implications are profound, suggesting an impending strain on healthcare systems, particularly in nations with a high proportion of elderly and low health expenditures.
Sensitizing performance of air purifiers for the high-rise commercial buildings in urban core
Authors: Budde Sandeep , Chani Prabhjot Singh , Agrawal Sandeep
Published: January 2025

There are thousands of pollution monitoring stations which are recording the data 24×7, the present research question is using this data to solve bring out a relationship between natural ventilation and air conditioning. Recently, WHO reported that 14 out of the top 15 most polluted cities are in India. Every year there is a loss of 6.2% to the global economy due to air pollution. The recent urban PM2.5 smog spread over the whole of north India covering about 50% of the country’s population. This event has been increasing the use of air purifiers and affecting the building energy performance. Most air purifiers (PM 10 and PM 2.5) are energy-intensive but are not always equipped with sensors. In commercial buildings, air purifiers are operated based on publicly relayed pollution information. The air pollutants that infiltrate into buildings are based on leaks, cracks, quality of building construction and pressure differences. Since indoor pollution levels are less than outdoor pollution levels, usage of air purifiers based on outdoor information leads to overperformance and hence energy wastage. Therefore, there is a need for optimization in sensitizing the performance of air purifiers at the building level. This study intends to assess the role of building airtightness and air purifier automation in lessening the air purifiers’ electricity consumption in urban areas. Transient building simulation tools do not account for infiltrated pollution levels directly. Virtually evaluating the energy savings through air purifier automation and the building’s airtightness would not be a straightforward assessment. The following paper uses EnergyPlus Energy Management System Class along with air pollution data monitored to model and simulate the Business-as-usual (BAU) and proposed Automation scenarios.
Strength and dynamic balance performance in soccer players in the United States: age, sex, and bilateral differences
Authors: Sha Zhanxin , Dai Boyi
Published: January 2025

Quantification of asymmetries between the two limbs is informative in assessing the risk of injury and performance deficits, but there is a paucity of studies investigating the effects of age and sex on bilateral asymmetry in young soccer players. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effects of age and sex on strength and dynamic balance in 7- to 24-year-old soccer players in the United States. A total of 174 young soccer players participated in the study (Age 7–9 years: 26 females and 16 males; Age 10–12 years: 32 females and 31 males; Age 13–17 years: 17 females and 25 males; Age >18 years: 13 females and 14 males). Jump displacement, peak force, and asymmetry during countermovement jump with arm swing and landing, peak force and asymmetry during push-up, and normalized reaching distances for upper and lower extremity reaching tests were quantified. Preferred legs and arms were defined as the preferred kicking leg or throwing arm. As age increased, both preferred and non-preferred sides demonstrated decreased landing forces, increased jump displacement, and increased normalized peak forces during push-ups in both males and females (p < 0.05). Males showed greater jump displacement, normalized landing forces, and normalized peak forces in push-ups compared to females in several age groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for asymmetry variables between ages or sexes, and on average, most bilateral asymmetry variables were less than 5%. Age was associated with strength but not dynamic balance performance in healthy soccer players in the United States. Male and female players demonstrated similar changes, and bilateral asymmetries were on average small. Soccer players may need more dynamic balance training over time as they progress to higher levels of competition. Landing technique training may be implemented for young soccer players to decrease the high impact landing forces and landing related injury risk. Asymmetries and their relationships with injury risk should be evaluated on an individual basis, as their relationships with age and sex were weak. Future longitudinal and cohort studies are warranted to further elucidate the relationship among strength, dynamic balance, and injury risk in soccer players.
The role of Ashwagandha in modulating gut parameters in dogs—a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Bharani Kala Kumar , Devarasetti Ashok Kumar , Bobbili Rajendar , Khurana Amit , Veera Hanuman Donga Durga , Gudepu Roupesh , Guda Swapna
Published: January 2025

Introduction

This study explored the role of Withania somnifera/Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) on important gut–microbiome parameters in healthy geriatric dogs. We hypothesized that ARE might promote a healthy gut by its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory effects and improve vital parameters for healthy ageing.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Telangana, India. Twelve healthy geriatric Beagle dogs aged 12–15 years were enrolled. The dogs were divided into two groups to receive ARE (15 mg/kg, once daily, orally, for 2 months) or a placebo control. Various parameters were assessed, including serum haematology, biochemical markers, stool parameters, and gut–microbiome parameters.

Results

The erythrocyte counts and haemoglobin levels were significantly increased with ARE (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant decrease in important serum liver biomarkers (alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST]; p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 at day 60) was observed in the ARE-treated dogs compared to that in the placebo control group. In addition, the levels of L-citrulline were significantly modulated by ARE intervention, whereas the intervention did not affect intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase (I-ALP), lactate, and carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (CPS). Interestingly, the faecal score reduced significantly with ARE (p < 0.001), while the faecal pH remained unaltered. Compared to the baseline, ARE significantly decreased two microbial metabolites, propionic acid, and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels after 60 days of intervention, whereas butyrate and acetic acid levels remained unchanged in the faecal samples.

Conclusion

In summary, these findings suggest that ARE has gut health promoting benefits in healthy geriatric dogs by improving haematological and biochemical profiles; the levels of L-citrulline; propionic acid; and SCFA; thus, reducing age-related changes by modulating the microbiome and the associated metabolites.
Partial replacement of soybean meal with mixed plant proteins yields comparable growth and carcass quality in growing-finishing pigs
Authors: Zhao Wei Han , Ha Joo Hyun , Cho Sungbo , Kim In Ho
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study evaluated the impacts of partial replacement of soybean meal with different concentrations of mixed plant protein products (rapeseed meal (RSM) - palm kernel meal (PKM) -distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS)) on growth performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs.

Methods

A total of 180 crossbred [Yorkshire x Landrace] pigs with average initial weight of 29.72 + 1.65 Kg were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatment groups on the basis of weight and sex, and the experimental duration was 105 days. The basal diet (C23ON) of growing and finishing pigs were partially replaced with increasing level of RSM-PKM-DDGS (1 to 5% for growing pigs, and 2 to 6% for finishers). Each treatment group had 9 replicate pens, each containing 2 barrows and 2 gilts. During the 15-week trial, body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated for the periods of weeks 0–5, weeks 5–10, week 10–15, and for the entire experimental period.

Results

The partial replacement of soybean meal with mixed plant protein products (RSM, PKM-DDGS) showed no significant effect on the growth performance of pigs during the entire experimental period (p > 0.05). However, a decreasing ADG (p = 0.0837) and ADFI (p = 0.0779) were observed during weeks 0–5, while an increasing FCR was noted during weeks 10–15 (p = 0.0835) and the overall period. Furthermore, the replacement of soybean meal with mixed plant protein products (RSM-PKM-DDGS) showed no linear or quadratic effects on the digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), energy (E), fecal scores, or meat quality.

Conclusion

This suggests that mixed plant protein products (RSM, PKM, and DDGS) can effectively replace soybean meal as the primary protein source, providing comparable outcomes while potentially reducing feed costs.
Frequency of Physical Activity-Related Injuries Among Adolescents: An Umbrella Review
Authors: Toivo Kerttu , Bakalár Peter , Leppänen Mari , Parkkari Jari , Abazović Ensar , Šimunič Boštjan , Teraž Kaja , Malinowska-Cieślik Marta , Kopčáková Jaroslava , Zelko Aurel , Michalska Agnieszka , Sigmundová Dagmar , Pišot Rado , Paravlić Armin
Published: January 2025

Objectives

The aim of this umbrella review was to investigate the frequency of physical activity-related injuries (PARI) among adolescents. Our secondary objective was to describe the available reviews of injuries in three settings: organized sports, leisure time physical activity (PA), and school physical education (PE).

Methods

We conducted an overview of reviews consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines on the frequency of physical activity related injuries in adolescents.

Results

We identified 19 systematic reviews with at least moderate quality to include in the review. We were not able to pool data from reviews and conduct meta-analysis due to heterogeneity of injury definitions, exposure times, and sample demographics. All reviews included studies of injuries sustained in organized sports, and injury incidence was higher during matches than training. No systematic reviews were found focusing on leisure time or school-based PA injuries.

Conclusion

High-quality research is essential to understand the frequency of various types of physical activity related injuries among adolescents in organized sports, PE, and leisure time activities to develop more effective prevention strategies.
Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic Approaches of Health Security Systems: A Review
Authors: Mariettou Savina , Koutsojannis Constantinos , Triantafillou Vassilios
Published: January 2025

This paper explores the overall picture regarding healthcare security systems through an extensive literature review. As the healthcare sector has now become digitalized, the security of healthcare systems and, by extension, the protection of patient data is a key concern in the modern era of technological advances. Therefore, a secure and integrated system is now essential. Thus, to evaluate the relationship between security systems and healthcare quality, we conducted literature research to identify studies reporting their association. The timeline of our review is based on published studies covering the period from 2018 to 2024, with entries identified through a search of the relevant literature, focusing on the most recent developments due to advances in artificial intelligence and algorithmic approaches. Thirty-two studies were included in our final survey. Our findings underscore the critical role of security systems in healthcare that significantly improve patient outcomes and maintain the integrity of healthcare services. According to our approach, the studies analyzed highlight the growing importance of advanced security frameworks, especially those incorporating artificial intelligence and algorithmic methodologies, in safeguarding healthcare systems while enhancing patient care quality. According to this study, most of the research analyzed uses algorithmic technology approaches, many researchers prove that ransomware is the most common threat to hospital information systems, and more studies are needed to evaluate the performance of the systems created against this kind of attack.
Estimation of Processing Tomato Nutrient Uptake Based on the QUEFTS Model in Xinjiang
Authors: Yibati Halihashi , Gao Jie , Zhang Yan , Li Qingjun , Xu Xinpeng , He Ping , Yin Xinhua
Published: January 2025

Imbalanced and excessive fertilization leads to low nutrient utilization efficiency and wastage of fertilizer resources in processing tomatoes in Xinjiang. Determining nutrient requirements is vital for devising fertilization strategies that enhance yield, profitability, and environmental sustainability. This study utilized observational data from 181 farms across Xinjiang’s major processing tomato production areas from 2003 to 2023 to explore the relationship between fruit yield and nutrient uptake in aboveground dry matter. The Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model was employed to estimate nutrient requirements. The results indicated that when the target yield reached 60–70% of its potential, nutrient uptake by processing tomatoes increased linearly with fruit yield. To produce 1000 kg of fruit, the aboveground parts required 1.95 kg of nitrogen, 0.33 kg of phosphorus, and 2.28 kg of potassium, reflecting a N:P:K ratio of 1:0.17:1.17. In contrast, during harvesting, alternative plant parts required 1.31 kg of nitrogen, 0.21 kg of phosphorus, and 0.71 kg of potassium, with fruit nutrient uptake rates of 67.3%, 65.6%, and 74.9%, respectively. Field validation showed a strong correlation between the observed and simulated nutrient uptake rates, demonstrating the model’s accuracy in predicting nutrient demands. These findings provide critical insights for developing optimized fertilization strategies to enhance yield and nutrient use efficiency in Xinjiang’s processing tomato production.
A Trustworthy Framework for Skin Cancer Detection Using a CNN with a Modified Attention Mechanism
Authors: Thwin Su Myat , Park Hyun-Seok , Seo Soo Hyun
Published: January 2025

The early and accurate detection of skin cancer can reduce mortality rates and improve patient outcomes, but requires advanced diagnostics. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare enables the precise and timely detection of skin cancer. However, significant challenges remain including the difficulty in differentiating visually similar skin conditions and the limitations of diverse, representative datasets. In this study, we proposed DCAN-Net, a novel deep-learning framework designed for the early detection of skin cancer. The model leverages an efficient backbone architecture optimized for capturing diverse skin patterns, utilizing carefully tuned parameters to enhance the discrimination capabilities and refine the extracted features using modified attention modules, thereby prioritizing relevant foreground information while minimizing background noise. Furthermore, the Grad-CAM explainable AI method was employed, highlighting the most salient features within dermatoscopic images. The fused optimal feature representations significantly enhanced the dermatoscopic image analysis. When evaluated on the HAM10000 dataset, DCAN-Net achieved a precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy of 97.00%, 97.57%, 97.10%, and 97.57%, respectively. Moreover, the application of advanced data augmentation techniques mitigated data imbalance issues and reduced false-positive and false-negative rates across the original and augmented datasets. These findings demonstrate the potential of DCAN-Net for improving clinical outcomes and advancing AI-driven skin cancer diagnostics.
Flexural Wave Propagation and Defect States of Periodic Slab Track Structure in High-Speed Railway
Authors: Yi Qiang , Wu Zeyu , Zhao Lei , Li Zhiheng , Wang Shuguo
Published: January 2025

The unit slab track structure in high-speed railways exhibits multiple periodic characteristics, which result in bandgaps of elastic wave propagation within the track structure. Moreover, local defects inevitably occur in the ballastless track structure, disrupting its periodicity and leading to the generation of defect states. An analytical model for infinite periodic slab track structure was established using the Floquet transform and supercell method, accounting for local defects, to clarify the propagation of flexural waves in slab tracks. The formation mechanism of elastic wave bandgaps in periodic slab tracks can be explained by Bragg scattering and local resonance. In the low-frequency below 200 Hz, the local resonances of the slab interact with the flexural waves in the rail, forming an approximately broad coupling bandgap. The bandgaps expand significantly with the increasing fastening stiffness. Besides, when the stiffness of the isolating layer beneath the slab is within the range of 0.9 to 1.0 × 109 N/m3, a broad coupled bandgap is generated in the frequency range of 180–230 Hz. Local damage caused by contact loss between the composite slab and baseplate leads to defect states, and the frequencies of the defect states correspond to unique wave modes, demonstrating the localization of elastic waves near the defect location. The formation mechanism of defect states can be elucidated by the local resonance of the structure at the defect. The frequency of the first-order defect state is significantly affected by the defect size, the second-order defect state exhibits unidirectional propagation characteristics, and the third-order defect state shows localized vibration characteristics, which can provide a reference for defect identification.
Research on Personalized Course Resource Recommendation Method Based on GEMRec
Authors: Wang Enliang , Sun Zhixin
Published: January 2025

With the rapid growth of online educational resources, existing personalized course recommendation systems face challenges in multimodal feature integration and limited recommendation interpretability when dealing with complex and diverse instructional content. This paper proposes a graph-enhanced multimodal recommendation method (GEMRec), which effectively integrates text, video, and audio features through a graph attention network and differentiable pooling. Innovatively, GEMRec introduces graph edit distance into the recommendation system to measure the structural similarity between a learner’s knowledge state and course content at the knowledge graph level. Additionally, it combines SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) value computation with large language models to generate reliable and personalized recommendation explanations. Experiments on the MOOCCubeX dataset demonstrate that the GEMRec model exhibits strong convergence and generalization during training. Compared with existing methods, GEMRec achieves 0.267, 0.265, and 0.297 on the Precision@10, Recall@10, and NDCG@10 metrics, respectively, significantly outperforming traditional collaborative filtering and other deep learning models. These results validate the effectiveness of multimodal feature integration and knowledge graph enhancement in improving recommendation performance.
Design and Testing of a Gasoline Engine Muffler Based on the Principle of Split-Stream Rushing
Authors: Ao Shiyi , Yang Huaiyu , Liu Yikun , Jin Min , Su He , Ma Yanhua , Jiao Wei , Xue Jing
Published: January 2025

In order to reduce the exhaust noise, which is the main source of gasoline engine noise, this paper uses on orthogonal test to optimize the parameters of the main structure of split-stream rushing muffler (the perforation rate of the perforated pipe, perforation aperture of the perforated pipe, perforation rate of the perforated plate). It also comprehensively evaluates its acoustic and aerodynamic performances to determine the optimal structural model. The acoustic performance and aerodynamic performance of the split-stream rushing muffler and the original muffler are compared and analyzed in the simulation test. The results show that the average Transmission Loss of the split-stream rushing muffler is greater than that of the original muffler, and its Pressure Loss is also lower than that of the original muffler. Through the insertion loss experiment, it was found that the average insertion loss of the main muffling frequency band is 19.14 dB, which is higher than that of the original muffler, and the peak frequency of the insertion loss of the split-stream rushing muffler corresponds well with the peak frequency of the engine exhaust noise. The Pressure Loss of the split-stream rushing muffler was tested on the experiment bench, and the relative error between the experiment data and the simulation data is within 8%. In summary, the split-stream rushing muffler can effectively reduce the exhaust noise problem of gasoline engines.
Blow-Up of Solutions in a Fractionally Damped Plate Equation with Infinite Memory and Logarithmic Nonlinearity
Authors: Fahim Aslam Muhammad , Hao Jianghao , Boulaaras Salah , Bashir Luqman
Published: January 2025

In this article, we consider the dynamics of a viscoelastic plate equation with internal fractional damping, a nonlinear logarithmic source, and infinite memory effects. The existence of a local weak solution is shown effectively through the framework of semigroup theory. Furthermore, we show that the blow-up in finite time of the local solution may occur under specific conditions and is demonstrated within the development of a suitable Lyapunov functional. Our result offers an insight into the challenges presented by this class of equations and their relevance to physical systems.
Low-Cost Embedded System Applications for Smart Cities
Authors: Herrera Victoria Alejandra Salazar , de Araújo Hugo Puertas , Penteado César Giacomini , Gazziro Mario , Carmo João Paulo
Published: January 2025

The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a transformative technology that allows interconnected devices to exchange data over the Internet, enabling automation and real-time decision making in a variety of areas. A key aspect of the success of the IoT lies in its integration with low-resource hardware, such as low-cost microprocessors and microcontrollers. These devices, which are affordable and energy efficient, are capable of handling basic tasks such as sensing, processing, and data transmission. Their low cost makes them ideal for IoT applications in low-income communities where the government is often absent. This review aims to present some applications—such as a flood detection system; a monitoring system for analog and digital sensors; an air quality measurement system; a mesh video network for community surveillance; and a real-time fleet management system—that use low-cost hardware such as ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino, and the MQTT protocol used to implement low-cost monitoring systems applied to improve the quality of life of people in small cities or communities.
Focal Molography Allows for Affinity and Concentration Measurements of Proteins in Complex Matrices with High Accuracy
Authors: Dirscherl Lorin , Merz Laura S. , Kobras Ronya , Spies Peter , Frutiger Andreas , Gatterdam Volker , Meinel Dominik M.
Published: January 2025

Characterizing biomolecular receptor–ligand interactions is critical for research and development. However, performing analyses in complex, biologically relevant matrices, such as serum, remains challenging due to non-specific binding that often impairs measurements. Here, we evaluated Focal Molography (FM) for determining KD and kinetic constants in comparison to gold-standard methods using single-domain heavy-chain antibodies in various systems. FM provided kinetic constants highly comparable to SPR and BLI in standard buffers containing blocking proteins, with KDs of soluble CD4 (sCD4) interactions within a 2.4-fold range across technologies. In buffers lacking blocking proteins, FM demonstrated greater robustness against non-specific binding and rebinding effects. In serum, FM exhibited stable baseline signals, unlike SPR and BLI, and yielded KDs of sCD4 interaction in 50% Bovine Serum within a 1.8-fold range of those obtained in standard buffers. For challenging molecules prone to non-specific binding (Granzyme B), FM successfully determined kinetic constants without external referencing. Finally, FM enabled direct analyte quantification in complex matrices. sCD4 quantification in cell culture media and 50% FBS showed recovery rates of 97.8–100.3% with an inter-assay CV below 1.3%. This study demonstrates the high potential of FM for kinetic affinity determination and biomarker quantification in complex matrices, enabling reliable measurements under biologically relevant conditions.
Number Recognition Through Color Distortion Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Henshaw Christopher , Dennis Jacob , Nadzam Jonathan , Michaels Alan J.
Published: January 2025

Machine learning applied to image-based number recognition has made significant strides in recent years. Recent use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in natural language search and generation of text have improved performance for general images, yet performance limitations still exist for data subsets related to color blindness. In this paper, we replicated the training of six distinct neural networks (MNIST, LeNet5, VGG16, AlexNet, and two AlexNet modifications) using deep learning techniques with the MNIST dataset and the Ishihara-Like MNIST dataset. While many prior works have dealt with MNIST, the Ishihara adaption addresses red-green combinations of color blindness, allowing for further research in color distortion. Through this research, we applied pre-processing to accentuate the effects of red-green and monochrome colorblindness and hyper-parameterized the existing architectures, ultimately achieving better overall performance than currently published in known works.
Unclosing Clinical Criteria and the Role of Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Persistent Post-COVID-19 Headaches: A Pilot Case-Control Study from Egypt
Authors: Abualhasan Ahmed , Fathi Shereen , Gabr Hala , Mahmoud Abeer , Khedr Diana
Published: January 2025

(1) Background: Persistent post-COVID-19 headaches are emerging as a significant post-infection symptom. This study investigates the clinical characteristics of persistent post-COVID-19 headaches and the potential role of pro-inflammatory cytokines. (2) Methods: We conducted a pilot case–control study involving 84 participants divided into three groups: post-COVID with headache (n = 28), post-COVID without headache (n = 28), and healthy controls (n = 28). The detailed headache characteristics, including pain intensity, were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were measured. (3) Results: Post-COVID headaches predominantly presented as bilateral (53.6%) and throbbing (60.7%) in nature, with a median of 12 headache days per month and high pain intensity (median VAS score = 80). The associated symptoms were phonophobia (85.7%), fatigue (78.6%), and photophobia (75%). The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in post-COVID headache patients than in the post-COVID without headache and healthy control groups (p < 0.001). A Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis showed that the circulating levels of IL-6 and TNF-α could discriminate our study groups at cutoffs with variable sensitivity and specificity. (4) Conclusions: Persistent post-COVID-19 headaches have diverse clinical characteristics and are associated with elevated circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a potential underlying neuroinflammation.