bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Increasing CO2 Concentration on Crop Growth and Soil Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms in a Fababean (Vicia faba L.) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum Yunmai) Intercropping System
Authors: Dong Xingshui , Lin Hui , Wang Feng , Shi Songmei , Ma Junwei , He Xinhua
Published: February 2025

Elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2) levels can enhance crop yields but may simultaneously reduce quality, impacting both macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations, and potentially decreasing protein content in cereal grains. This study examined the effects of elevated CO2 (eCO2) and nitrogen (N) fertilization on crop growth, yield, and soil nitrogen cycling through a glass greenhouse experiment using Eutric Regosol soil. The experimental design incorporated two CO2 gradients: ambient CO2 (aCO2) at approximately 410 ppm during the day and 460 ppm at night, and eCO2 at approximately 550 ppm during the day and 610 ppm at night. Additionally, two nitrogen fertilization treatments were applied: no fertilizer (N0) and 100 mg N kg−1 dry weight (DW) soil (N100). Crops were cultivated under two cropping systems: the monoculturing of fababean (Vicia faba L.) or wheat (Triticum aestivum Yunmai) and the intercropping of both species. The results demonstrated that eCO2 significantly enhanced the growth and yield of both fababean and wheat, particularly when nitrogen fertilization was applied. Nitrogen fertilizer application did not always enhance crop yield, considering the complexity of nitrogen management under elevated CO2 conditions. Furthermore, the intercropping of fababean and wheat presented multiple advantages, including improved crop yields, enhanced soil health, and increased ecosystem services. These findings suggest that intercropping can serve as a sustainable strategy to boost productivity and ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change. The changes in nitrogen application and CO2 concentration affect the gene copy number of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea, which may affect the nitrogen cycling process in soil. There are complex interactions between crop biomass, nitrogen accumulation, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance with soil properties (e.g., pH, organic matter, nitrogen content) and microbial community structure. The interaction between CO2 concentration, nitrogen application level and crop intercropping pattern had significant effects on crop growth, soil properties and microbial communities. Future research should prioritize investigating the long-term effects of intercropping on soil productivity and the development of management strategies that optimize the benefits of this cropping system.
Effect of Late Preharvest Deficit Irrigation on Physiological and Agronomical Responses in ‘Regina’/Gisela 6 Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Cultivar
Authors: Huerta-Mendoza Vanessa , Catalán-Paine Rocio , Romero Iverly , González-Villagra Jorge , Tighe-Neira Ricardo , Bota Josefina , Jorquera-Fontena Emilio
Published: February 2025

This study evaluated the impact of deficit irrigation during preharvest on the physiological and productive responses of ‘Regina’/Gisela 6 sweet cherry. After harvest, deficit-irrigated trees were water recovered, and physiological variables were measured. Fruit condition was evaluated after 45 days of cold storage. The experiment was carried out during the 2023–2024 season in an orchard located in La Araucanía, Chile. At 37 days after starting treatment (DAST), deficit irrigation (DI) depressed stem water potential (Ψs), photosynthesis (Asat), stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration with respect to controls (WI). Findings suggest that stomatal behavior was near-anisohydric on a temporal scale. Carbon partitioning into sorbitol was favored over sucrose in DI leaves, indicating improved osmoprotection. At 51 DAST, water-recovered DI trees had a Ψs equivalent to WI trees but lower Asat. Chlorophylls (SPAD) remained unaffected throughout the trial. Treatments produced similar yields, whereas DI inhibited trunk cross-sectional area growth. The DI treatment had no effect on any of the fruit quality traits other than size. Similarly, fruit condition following 45 days of cold storage was not influenced by reduced irrigation. The physiological and productive responses of ‘Regina’/Gisela 6 sweet cherry trees to preharvest deficit irrigation increased water productivity in the field.
WRKY36–PIL15 Transcription Factor Complex Negatively Regulates Sheath Blight Resistance and Seed Development in Rice
Authors: Wang Siting , Sun Qian , Yang Shuo , Chen Huan , Yuan Depeng , Gan Changxi , Chen Haixia , Zhi Yongxi , Zhu Hongyao , Gao Yue , Zhu Xiaofeng , Xuan Yuanhu
Published: February 2025

Sheath blight (ShB) causes severe yield loss in rice. Previously, we demonstrated that the sugar will eventually be exported and the transporter 11 (SWEET11) mutation significantly improved rice resistance to ShB, but it caused severe defects in seed development. The present study found that WRKY36 and PIL15 directly activate SWEET11 to negatively regulate ShB. Interestingly, WRKY36 interacted with PIL15, WRKY36 and PIL15 directly activates miR530 to negatively regulate seed development. WRKY36 interacted with a key BR signaling transcription factor WRKY53. AOS2 is an effector protein from Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) that interacts with WRKY53. Interestingly, AOS2 also interacts with WRKY36 and PIL15 to activate SWEET11 for sugar nutrition for R. solani. These data collectively suggest that WRKY36–PIL15 negatively regulates ShB resistance and seed development via the activation of SWEET11 and miR530, respectively. In addition, WRKY36 and PIL15 are the partners of the effector protein AOS2 by which R. solani hijacks sugar nutrition from rice.
Effects of Modified Biochar on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Brassica chinensis L. in Cadmium Contaminated Soils
Authors: Pan Guojun , Geng Shufang , Wang Liangliang , Xing Jincheng , Fan Guangping , Gao Yan , Lu Xin , Zhang Zhenhua
Published: February 2025

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in farmland soil leads to excessive Cd in vegetables, which can be transferred to humans through the food chain, posing a significant threat to human health, and requires urgent measures to combat it. Modified biochar may have the potential to remediate Cd pollution in farmland soils. In this experiment, bulk biochar (YC) derived from reed straw or modified biochar by ball milling (Q) either alone or combined with a combination of several passivation agents {potassium hydroxide (K), attapulgite (A), calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer (M), and polyacrylamide (P)} was applied to soils polluted with Cd, to investigate the growth, yield, and quality of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.). The results showed that bulk biochar (YC) provided pakchoi with plenty of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, while passivation agents enhance macronutrient accumulation. Compared to YC, modified biochar improved pakchoi yields and nutritional quality. Among them, concentrations of nitrates in pakchoi significantly decreased by 51.8% and 51.0%, while vitamin C levels increased by 29.6% and 19.0%, respectively, in QKAMP and QKAM treatments. The contents of Cd in pakchoi significantly decreased by 21.6% and 18.6%, respectively, in QKAMP and QKAM treatments. The implementation of QKAMP led to the cadmium contents in edible vegetables being lower than the maximum stipulated content as defined by the national standard, but QKAM failed to accomplish it. In conclusion, QKAMP effectively reduced the bioavailability of Cd in the middle to slightly Cd-polluted alkaline soils, making it a suitable soil amendment to improve the yield and quality and mitigate Cd accumulation in vegetables.
Investigating the Variation in Leaf Traits Within the Allium prattii C.H. Wright Population and Its Environmental Adaptations
Authors: Zhang Shuai-Shuai , Tang Zi-Jun , Chen Kun , Ma Xiao-Jing , Zhou Song-Dong , He Xing-Jin , Xie Deng-Feng
Published: February 2025

Morphological and micro-morphological traits of characteristics serve as the cornerstone for species identification and taxonomy, and they also ensure the adaptive responses of species to specific environmental conditions. Allium prattii C.H. Wright is mainly distributed in the mountains of southwestern China (MSC) and adjacent regions, and exhibits pronounced variations in leaf morphology and micro-morphology across different growth environments, making it an ideal taxa to study species adaptation to diverse conditions. In this study, we conducted extensive field surveys, sample collections, and morphological experiments, amassing data on leaf morphological and micro-morphological traits from 45 populations of A. prattii. Specifically, we explored the differences in leaf morphology among populations and the patterns of geographical distribution. Consequently, we examined the correlation between seven climatic factors, longitude, latitude, and leaf morphological traits, and simulated the changes in the A. prattii distribution area during different historical periods. Our results indicate that all populations of A. prattii can be categorized into four distinct lineages, characterized by significant leaf morphological divergence and distinct geographical distribution patterns. Populations located in the Hengduan Mountains and neighboring regions demonstrated elevated coefficients of variation (CV) in leaf morphology. The correlation analysis between morphological traits and climatic factors highlighted substantial links between the density of stomata on the upper epidermis and environmental variables, as well as significant correlations between leaf length/width and geographical distribution (latitude and longitude). Simulations of the distribution area revealed that the distribution ranges of A. prattii underwent a significant fluctuation from the Last Interglacial Period (LIG) to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Mid-Holocene (MH), and the current period, accompanied by expansion of its potential distribution area in the future. These results underscore that the leaf morphology of A. prattii has significantly varied in response to climatic environmental factors across different regions, with a decrease in leaf width and an increase in stomatal density on the upper epidermis. The heterogeneous environment of the southwestern mountain region, characterized by variations in altitude, temperature, and precipitation, is the primary driver of morphological variation and geographical distribution patterns in A. prattii leaves. Our findings hold substantial scientific significance, shedding light on the evolutionary adaptation of species in the MSC and adjacent areas.
Innovative Method for Determining the Toxicometric Index of Polymer Materials with the Example of Polyurethane and Polyvinyl Chloride
Authors: Głowacki Arkadiusz , Rybiński Przemysław
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to optimize a method for qualitative and quantitative determination of gaseous degradation products formed in the process of thermal decomposition in the sample. The toxicometric index was determined with the use of the coupled TG-FTIR technique (gas analyzer). The polyurethane (PUR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were used for analytical studies. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the sample mass used for analysis, as well as the spectral range of the IR spectrum, has a crucial role in the qualitative and quantitative assessment of gaseous toxic degradation products generated during the thermal decomposition of polymeric materials. Using a gas analyzer, proprietary toxicity indices were developed, i.e., the partial toxicity index (ITPC) and total toxicity index (ITGC). It should be noted that the determined toxicity indices refer to a test sample not exceeding 10 mg. The small mass of the sample subjected to analysis allows for high resolution and repeatability of the results reading. The results of this study provide a significant methodological contribution to both the identification of gaseous degradation products formed during the thermal decomposition of materials and their quantitative detection.
High-Efficiency Surface-Cooled Rapid Tooling Development for Injection Molding of Low-Density Polyethylene
Authors: Kuo Chil-Chyuan , Lin Pin-Han , Xu Jing-Yan , Farooqui Armaan , Huang Song-Hua
Published: February 2025

Epoxy resin filled with aluminum particles constitutes a polymer composite material commonly utilized in research and development departments to fabricate rapid tooling for prototyping new designs. This study developed aluminum-filled epoxy resin molds by incorporating surface-cooled cooling channels (SCCCs) to enhance cooling performance, validated through Moldex3D simulation and experimental analysis. The simulation revealed that a 1 mm mesh size was utilized to balance accuracy and efficiency, with simulations revealing the complete filling of the injection-molded product within 5 s. This study examines rapid tooling with surface-cooled cooling channels in low-density polyethylene injection molding. The reliable parameters include a melt temperature of 160 °C, a mold temperature of 30 °C, an injection pressure of 10 MPa, and a heat dissipation time of 20 s. These parameters effectively minimize the risk of mold cracking while ensuring efficient molding. The SCCC demonstrates superior cooling performance, enhancing cooling efficiency by 58.7% compared to the conventional conformal cooling channel. It reduces cooling time, enhances production capacity, and shortens delivery times. Additionally, it lowers energy consumption, carbon emissions, and the rate of product defects in large-scale manufacturing. A cooling mechanism of SCCC after LDPE injection molding was also proposed.
Reducing Infrared Radiation and Solid Thermal Conductivity by Incorporating Varying Amounts of GnP into Microcellular PMMA
Authors: Largo-Barrientos Antonio , Merillas Beatriz , Sánchez-Calderón Ismael , Rodríguez-Pérez Miguel Angel , Martín-de León Judith
Published: February 2025

Although microcellular foams are potential thermal insulators, their low density and small pore size allow infrared radiation to pass through, increasing the effective thermal conductivity. To address this drawback, graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) have previously been added to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) samples as infrared blockers, enhancing insulation by reducing the radiative component of heat transfer. In this work, the effect of the content of GnPs is studied. Cellular PMMA samples with GnP contents ranging from 0.5 to 10 weight total percentage (wt. %) and pore sizes between 2 and 5 microns were tested. Thermal conductivity measurements showed that GnP additions from 0.5 to 5 wt. % significantly decrease the radiative term, achieving a 33% reduction compared to pure PMMA and reaching thermal conductivity values of 38 mW m−1 K−1. Moreover, the structural factor is diminished up to 45% in comparison to pure microcellular PMMA, which, in samples with contents of GnPs such as 1 wt. %, results in a reduction in the conductivity of the solid phase. This approach demonstrates that incorporating small contents of GnPs effectively enhances the thermal performance of microcellular foams, a strategy that could be applied to other polymers to achieve better thermal insulation properties.
Study on an Injectable Chitosan–Lignin/Poloxamer Hydrogel Loaded with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Intrauterine Adhesion Treatment
Authors: Yu Zhipeng , Min Yang , Ouyang Qi , Fu Yuting , Mao Ying , Xiang Shuanglin , Hu Xiang , Jiang Liuyun
Published: February 2025

It is a great challenge to obtain an ideal hydrogel for the clinical treatment of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) disease. Here, a novel injectable chitosan–lignin/poloxamer hydrogel loaded with platelet-rich plasma (CL-PF127@PRP) was prepared by self-assembly at room temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheological analysis, and injectable writing were used to characterize the structure of the hydrogel. The results confirmed that the amino group of chitosan and the sulfonic group of sodium lignosulfonate were ionic-crosslinked by electrostatic attraction, which stabilized the three-dimensional structure of the PF127 hydrogel loaded with PRP, and PRP made the porous structure gradually become tight. Moreover, the CL-PF127@PRP hydrogel displayed good injectability and a solid state. The soaking experiment showed that the CL-PF127@PRP hydrogel had suitable degradation at pH = 7 and a good PRP release rate (PRP release 70% at 96 h). Cell experiments in vitro demonstrated that the CL-PF127@PRP hydrogel possessed good biocompatibility, an anti-inflammatory function, and pro-angiogenic activity. Furthermore, an animal experiment of skin wound and IUA confirmed that the skin wound closure rate of the CL-PF127@PRP hydrogel was over 50% on the seventh day. PRP improved the thickness of the endometrium and uterus receptivity, suggesting that the CL-PF127@PRP hydrogel offers great promise for the clinical treatment of IUA.
Optimization of Mexican Oregano Essential Oil (Lippia Graveolens) Extraction with Fungicidal and Oomyceticidal Effects Against Plant Pathogens
Authors: Valdez-Baro Octavio , Cruz-Lachica Isabel , Tovar-Pedraza Juan Manuel , Heredia José Basilio , Bastidas-Bastidas Pedro de Jesús , Manjarrez-Quintero Juan Pablo , García-Estrada Raymundo Saúl
Published: February 2025

Botanical extracts are being considered for integration into disease management programs to control plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. A promising extract with potential is the essential oil of Lippia graveolens. However, its extraction process has not been optimized. Since optimizing process conditions can impact fungicidal and/or oomyceticidal effects, this research implemented time, temperature, and solid/liquid ratio conditions to maximize the fungicidal and oomyceticidal effects. The effectiveness was evaluated through parameters of mycelial growth inhibition, spore germination inhibition, minimum inhibitory and fungicidal/oomyceticidal concentration for the fungi Gilbertella persicaria, Agroathelia rolfsii, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, as well as the oomycete Phytophthora capsici. Optimal conditions were as follows: time: 46.27 min; temperature: 329.34 °C; and solid/liquid ratio: 80.35 g/L. In general, the optimized treatment was more effective in A. rolfsii ≥ P. capsica > G. persicaria ≥ C. gloeosporioides in all assays. These results demonstrate the fungicidal and oomiceticidal effects of L. graveolens essential oil, with potential for commercial product formulation.
Variable-Speed Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on BDVMD, FRTSMFrBSIE, and Parameter-Optimized GRU-MHSA
Authors: Ma Jie , Wei Jun , Li Qiao , Xia Lei
Published: February 2025

To address the challenges of feature extraction and low classification accuracy in fault diagnosis of variable-speed rolling bearings, this paper proposes an intelligent fault diagnosis method based on bandwidth division variational mode decomposition (BDVMD), fractional domain time-shift multiscale fractional Boltzmann-Shannon interaction entropy (FRTSMFrBSIE), and parameter-optimized gated recurrent unit with multi-head self-attention (GRU-MHSA). First, the BDVMD is introduced to decompose and reconstruct signals, obtaining high-quality reconstructed fault signals. Next, the FRTSMFrBSIE is proposed to calculate the entropy of the reconstructed signals and generate a fault feature dataset. Subsequently, the improved dung beetle optimization (IDBO) algorithm is applied to optimize the parameters of the GRU-MHSA model, adaptively determining its optimal configuration. Finally, the fault feature dataset is input into the optimized model for fault classification, achieving a classification accuracy of 98.75%. Experiments conducted on the Ottawa bearing dataset validate the proposed method, and the results demonstrate its effectiveness and superiority in feature extraction and fault classification.
Animal Fats and Vegetable Oils—Promising Resources for Obtaining Effective Corrosion Inhibitors for Oil Refinery Equipment
Authors: Pyshyev Serhiy , Romanchuk Oleksandr , Topilnytskyy Petro , Romanchuk Viktoriya , Miroshnichenko Denis , Rohovyi Yurii , Omelianchuk Hennadii , Parkhomov Yurii
Published: February 2025

The equipment of refineries and oil production facilities is subject to corrosion due to the supply of crude oils with a high content of mineralized water. The use of inhibitors is one of the most common corrosion protection methods. However, increasing requirements of environmental standards give impetus to developing new types of corrosion inhibitors from natural raw materials. The article deals with the synthesis conditions of new corrosion inhibitors (CIs) produced from distilled higher acids of beef fat (DHFAs) or vegetable oils (VO), as well as research on the protective effect of the synthesized corrosion inhibitors compared with industrial inhibitors (5 samples). The gravimetric method studied the protective effect in a solution of salts and jet fuel using a St20 steel plate. At 50 °C and a CIs content of 100 ppm, the protective effect of corrosion inhibitors based on VO and triethanolamine was 9.7–75.6%. Under similar conditions, CIs obtained from DHFAs and diaminoethyl exhibited a protective effect of 81.6–94.1%. When DHFAs and diethanolamine were used to synthesize CIs, the protective effect was 93.0–95.6%. CI synthesized at 130 °C and a DHFAs: diethanolamine ratio of 72:28 showed a 99.2% protective effect at 50 °C and a CI content of 200 ppm, which was higher or equal to the impact of using industrial inhibitors (91.6–99.5%). The results prove the possibility of alternative use of animal fats and waste from their production as new resources for obtaining highly effective equipment corrosion inhibitors. Using alternative inexpensive raw materials (fats, vegetable oils, waste from their output) to obtain CIs will improve the economic performance of inhibitor production. In addition, at least the fatty (oil) part of organic CIs is biodegradable and will not harm the environment.
SPS-RCNN: Semantic-Guided Proposal Sampling for 3D Object Detection from LiDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Xu Hengxin , Yang Lei , Zhao Shengya , Tao Shan , Tian Xinran , Liu Kun
Published: February 2025

Three-dimensional object detection using LiDAR has attracted significant attention due to its resilience to lighting conditions and ability to capture detailed geometric information. However, existing methods still face challenges, such as a high proportion of background points in the sampled point set and limited accuracy in detecting distant objects. To address these issues, we propose semantic-guided proposal sampling-RCNN (SPS-RCNN), a multi-stage detection framework based on point–voxel fusion. The framework comprises three components: a voxel-based region proposal network (RPN), a keypoint sampling stream (KSS), and a progressive refinement network (PRN). In the KSS, we propose a novel semantic-guided proposal sampling (SPS) method, which increases the proportion of foreground points and enhances sensitivity to outliers through multilevel sampling that integrates proposal-based local sampling and semantic-guided global sampling. In the PRN, a cascade attention module (CAM) is employed to aggregate features from multiple subnets, progressively refining region proposals to improve detection accuracy for medium- and long-range objects. Comprehensive experiments on the widely used KITTI dataset demonstrate that SPS-RCNN improves detection accuracy and exhibits enhanced robustness across categories compared to the baseline.
Few-Shot Segmentation of 3D Point Clouds Under Real-World Distributional Shifts in Railroad Infrastructure
Authors: Fayjie Abdur R. , Lens Mathijs , Vandewalle Patrick
Published: February 2025

Industrial railway monitoring systems require precise understanding of 3D scenes, typically achieved using deep learning models for 3D point cloud segmentation. However, real-world applications demand these models to rapidly adapt to infrastructure upgrades and diverse environmental conditions across regions. Conventional deep learning models, which rely on large-scale annotated datasets for training and are evaluated on test sets that are drawn independently and identically from the training distribution, often fail to account for such real-world changes, leading to overestimated model performance. Recent advancements in few-shot learning, which aim to develop generalizable models with minimal annotations, have shown promise. Motivated by this potential, the paper investigates the application of few-shot learning to railway monitoring by formalizing three types of distributional shifts that are commonly encountered in such systems: (a) in-domain shifts caused by sensor noise, (b) in-domain out-of-distribution shifts arising from infrastructure changes, and (c) cross-domain out-of-distribution shifts driven by geographical variations. A systematic evaluation of few-shot learning’s adaptability to these shifts is conducted using three performance metrics and a predictive uncertainty estimation metric. Extensive experimentation demonstrates that few-shot learning outperforms fine-tuning and maintains strong generalization under in-domain shifts with only ~1% performance deviation. However, it experiences a significant drop in performance under both in-domain and cross-domain out-of-distribution shifts, pronounced when dealing with previously unseen infrastructure classes. Additionally, we show that incorporating predictive uncertainty estimation enhances few-shot learning applicability by quantifying the model’s sensitivity to distributional shifts, offering valuable insights into the model’s reliability for safety-critical applications.
Chiral Separation and Determination of Enantiomer Elution Order of Novel Ketamine Derivatives Using CE-UV and HPLC-UV-ORD
Authors: Seibert Elisabeth , Hubner Eva-Maria , Schmid Martin G.
Published: February 2025

Besides the well-known hallucinogenic ketamine, various novel ketamine derivatives are available on the illicit drug market, sold as designer drugs. Minor chemical changes to the parent compound aim to circumvent existing narcotic drug laws while mimicking the effects of the original substance. Ketamine and some of its derivatives possess a chiral centre and therefore exist as two enantiomers. While differences in the effects of S- and R-ketamine are well studied, this is not the case for ketamine derivatives. Therefore, the development and adaptation of suitable enantioseparation methods for those compounds is important to face the problems of the constantly changing drug market. In this study, different chiral separation methods for capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were tested on 11 ketamine derivatives. Some of them were enantioseparated for the first time due to their novelty. All compounds were at least partially separated on both instruments. HPLC separations were conducted using four different polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases. Furthermore, an optical rotation detector coupled to the HPLC enabled the determination of the enantiomer elution order. In CE analysis, enantioseparation was achieved using 2% (w/v) acetyl-β-cyclodextrin or carboxymethyl- β-cyclodextrin in 10 mM di-sodium hydrogen phosphate as the background electrolyte in capillary electrophoresis.
Sustainable Adhesion Additive Improving Road Bitumen Properties with Rapeseed Oil Waste
Authors: Nadirov Rashid , Ketegenov Tlek , Batkal Aisulu , Kalugin Sergey , Teltayev Bagdat , Caputo Paolino , Oliviero Rossi Cesare , Kamunur Kaster , Assylkhanov Zhanibek , Osserov Timur
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a novel method for synthesizing a cationic adhesion additive for road bitumen. The method involves condensing higher carboxylic acids and triglycerides of non-edible rapeseed oil with diethanolamine. The details of this innovative synthesis, the properties of the additive, and its action mechanism are shown in the results of this investigation. The surfactants in the synthesized products were identified by IR spectroscopy. They have significant practical implications. Different methods were used to investigate bitumen adhesion of acidic rock materials without and with additives. The results of the wetting angle study on the surface of rock materials changed from 19.81° to 80.33°, indicating a significant and remarkable improvement in its surface hydrophobicity. Moreover, the unique feature of the additive does not require dilution in organic solvents before use, which makes it highly practical for direct use.
Biological Resources for Renewable Energies in the European Union: A Hierarchical Approach
Authors: Bălan Emilia Mary , Zeldea Cristina Georgiana , Cismaș Laura Mariana , Iordan Marioara , Cismaș Cristian Mihai , Costin Melinda Petronela
Published: February 2025

The bioeconomy is an essential framework for sustainable economic growth in the European Union (EU), leveraging biomass transformation into bioenergy, biofuels, and other high-value products. This study examines the socio-economic impact of bio-based electricity and liquid biofuels in EU from 2008 to 2021, focusing on employment, turnover, and value added at factor cost. Cluster analysis shows that EU countries are divided into four groups based on socio-economic outcomes in the bioenergy sector, highlighting significant differences between Western and Eastern Europe. Notably, countries like Germany, France, and Italy lead in bioenergy development, supported by robust policy frameworks, while several Central and Eastern Europe Countries (CEECs), face challenges in advancing bioeconomy sectors. The analysis also puts forward a socio-economic indicator of bioeconomy (SEIB), which highlights national differences and potential growth paths for the bio-based energy sector. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to address regional inequalities and promote sustainable bioeconomic practices across the EU. The study underscores the need for consistent data collection to support future bioeconomy research and policy formulation.
Integrating Sustainable Energy Development with Energy Ecosystems: Trends and Future Prospects in Greece
Authors: Chatzinikolaou Dimos
Published: February 2025

This study integrates Sustainable Energy Development (SED) with an Energy Ecosystems (EE) framework in Greece to reveal how macrolevel policies, mesolevel infrastructures, and microlevel behaviors shape energy transitions. Drawing on historical data primarily spanning 2010–2024, supplemented by 16 semi-structured expert interviews and a macro–meso–micro analytical approach, it examines SED dimensions—affordability, supply, consumption, and security—within the supplier–producer–distributor–consumer nexus. The findings show notable progress in solar and wind adoption but also underscore persistent challenges such as high import dependency, regulatory inefficiencies, and infrastructural gaps. By proposing targeted policy directions and suggesting a new modus operandi of local-level institutional coordination, the research illustrates how an SED–EE synergy can foster resilience, innovation, and social equity, thereby informing sustainable energy strategies not just for Greece but also for other regions facing similar structural hurdles. The novel integrative perspective of this paper, unlike prior approaches that address either macropolicy targets or microlevel entrepreneurial activity alone, clarifies how mesolevel dynamics facilitate or hamper SED goals. This theoretical and practical synthesis is expected to inform the design of more resilient, equitable, and innovation-driven energy policies.
Selected Properties of Bioconversion Products of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Biodegradable Municipal Waste as a Method for Sustainable Management of Exogenous Organic Matter
Authors: Bekier Jakub , Jamroz Elżbieta , Sowiński Józef , Adamczewska-Sowińska Katarzyna , Wilusz-Nogueira Małgorzata , Gruszka Dariusz
Published: February 2025

In recent decades, there has been a significant decrease in humus resources in the terrestrial environment, including in agriculturally used soils, due to increased mineralisation of soil organic matter (SOM). Using composting as a method for recycling lignin-cellulosic biomass, the application of innovative microbial stimulation seems reasonable for obtaining the most useful product. The aim of this study was the qualitative and quantitative analysis of humic acids during the composting of exogenous organic matter (EOM) of energy willow biomass (WBC) and biodegradable municipal waste (MSWC). Samples were collected at different maturity stages, and the following determinations were performed: total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), carbon of fulvic (CFA) and humic (CHA) acids, carbon of residual fraction (CR), the elemental composition of humic acids, humification index (HR1), and ω (oxidation) ratios. Results indicated the direction and intensity of biotransformation processes were determined by the availability of nitrogen compounds. The innovative use of microbial preparation has resulted in a more useful final product. Inoculation of lignocellulosic substrates stimulated the synthesis of humic acids, and the decomposition of the CR fraction, as well as HR1 and ω ratios, may be used to assess the recycling efficiency.
Something Anomalies Can Tell About Standard Model and Gravity
Authors: Bonora Loriano , Giaccari Stefano Gregorio
Published: February 2025

This is a review/research paper on anomalies applied in a bottom–up approach to standard model and gravity. It is divided into two parts. The first consists of a proper review of anomalies in quantum field theories. Anomalies are analyzed according to three different methods: a perturbative one based on a Feynman diagram, a non-perturbative one relying on the Schwinger–DeWitt approach, and, third, one hinging on the Atiyah–Singer family’s index theorem. The three methods are applied both to chiral gauge anomalies and trace anomalies. The fundamental distinction, which our presentation leads to, is between obstructive (O) and non-obstructive (NO) anomalies. The former is tied to the non-existence of fermion propagators, which fatally maim the corresponding theory. In the second part, we apply this analysis to the SM and a variety of its extensions, which are immersed in a gravitational background, and we find that they are all plagued by a residual chiral trace anomaly. To completely eliminate all kinds of dangerous anomalies in SM-like theories, we propose a somewhat unconventional scheme and exemplify it by means of an explicit model. The latter is a left–right symmetric model. We embed it in a Weyl geometry to render it a conformal invariant. We then deal with some of its quantum aspects, particularly its even (NO) trace anomalies and the means to preserve its conformal invariance at the quantum level. We briefly review renormalization and unitarity in the framework of similar models discussed in the existing literature. Finally, we present a possible (conjectural) application of the model to describe the junction between cosmology and quantum field theory.
Simultaneous Generation of Linear- and Circular-Polarization Vortex Based on Symmetrical Metallic Quasi-Metasurface
Authors: Zhu Daoheng , Yang Xiaokun , Han Lingbo , Yan Jian
Published: February 2025

Through comprehensive research on the working principles of the generalized Snell’s law, this paper presents a quasi-metasurface based on the theory of wavefront difference. The proposed structure successfully demonstrates the vortex manipulation of both linearly polarized waves and circularly polarized waves. The symmetrical metallic column design modulates the phase of one period at 18 GHz with a reflection loss of less than −0.5 dB. By decomposing circularly polarized waves into a set of mutually orthogonal linearly polarized waves with a phase difference of π/2, a simple synthesis method is proposed to convert existing linearly polarized waves into circularly polarized waves, thereby demonstrating vortex wave effects. The quasi-metasurface exhibits excellent performance, and the vortex characteristics of both linearly and circularly polarized waves are verified through simulations.
A Q-Learning Evolutionary Algorithm for Solving the Distributed Mixed No-Idle Permutation Flowshop Scheduling Problem
Authors: Zeng Fangchi , Cui Junjia
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a Distributed Mixed No-Idle Permutation Flowshop Scheduling Problem with Sequence-Dependent Setup Times (DMNIPFSP/SDST) is studied. Firstly, a multi-objective optimization model with completion time (makespan), Total Energy Consumption (TEC), and Total Tardiness (TT) as objectives is established. Based on problem characteristics and multi-objective characteristics, a Q-Learning Evolutionary Algorithm (QLEA) is proposed. Secondly, in order to improve the quality and diversity of the initial solution, two improved initialization strategies are proposed. Based on the characteristics of the problem solved (In the distributed system, symmetry design is adopted to ensure that the load of each workstation is relatively balanced in different time periods, avoid resource waste or bottleneck, and achieve the goal of no idle.), a novel population updating mechanism is designed to balance the ability of global exploration and local development of the algorithm. At the same time, a variable neighborhood local search based on Q-Learning is used to refine the non-dominated solution, thus guiding the population evolution. Finally, the simulation results show that this method has good performance in solving the multi-objective DMNIPFSP/SDST and can provide good economic benefits for enterprises.
Economic Optimal Dispatch of Networked Hybrid Renewable Energy Microgrid
Authors: Ye Xiaoqin , Yang Peng
Published: February 2025

With the increasing importance of renewable energy in the global energy transition, the microgrid has attracted wide attention as an efficient and flexible power solution. However, there are some problems in current networked microgrid systems, such as complex structure, numerous parameters, and significant fluctuations in generation capacity. Aiming at the parameter optimization problem of networked microgrids integrating multiple energy generation and energy storage forms, this paper constructs a multi-objective microgrid structure decision-making model. The model comprehensively considers operation and maintenance costs, fuel costs, power abandonment and lack-of-power punishment costs, power transaction costs, and pollution treatment costs, aiming to realize the joint optimization of economic benefits and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, an improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization (IMOPSO) algorithm is designed to solve the model. In order to verify the effectiveness of the model in the scenarios of distributed energy and energy load fluctuation, this paper uses the scenario analysis method to realize the data analysis of 2000 scenarios, and obtains four typical deterministic scenarios for simulation experiments. The experimental results show that, compared with the traditional microgrid, when the capacity configuration is determined by the number of wind driven generators, photovoltaic panels, diesel generators, and batteries being 5, 189, 2, and 107, respectively, the proposed net-connected economic dispatch optimization method based on hybrid renewable energy in this paper reduces the generation cost and environmental cost of the system by 96.76 ¥ to 428.19 ¥, and keeps the load loss rate stable between 0.34% and 4.56%. The utilization rate of renewable energy has been raised to about 95%.
Panoramic Video Synopsis on Constrained Devices for Security Surveillance
Authors: Ingle Palash Yuvraj , Kim Young-Gab
Published: February 2025

As the global demand for surveillance cameras increases, the digital footage data also explicitly increases. Analyzing and extracting meaningful content from footage is a resource-depleting and laborious effort. The traditional video synopsis technique is used for constructing a small video by relocating the object in the time and space domains. However, it is computationally expensive, and the obtained synopsis suffers from jitter artifacts; thus, it cannot be hosted on a resource-constrained device. In this research, we propose a panoramic video synopsis framework to address and solve the problems of the efficient analysis of objects for better governance and storage. The surveillance system has multiple cameras sharing a common homography, which the proposed method leverages. The proposed method constructs a panorama by solving the broad viewpoints with significant deviations, collisions, and overlapping among the images. We embed a synopsis framework on the end device to reduce storage, networking, and computational costs. A neural network-based model stitches multiple camera feeds to obtain a panoramic structure from which only tubes with abnormal behavior were extracted and relocated in the space and time domains to construct a shorter video. Comparatively, the proposed model achieved a superior accuracy matching rate of 98.7% when stitching the images. The feature enhancement model also achieves better peak signal-to-noise ratio values, facilitating smooth synopsis construction.
Clinical Characteristics and a Novel Prediction Nomogram (EASTAR) for Patients with Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Ma Ke , Wu Ting , Guo Wei , Wang Jun , Ming Quan , Zhu Jun , Wang Hongwu , Chen Guang , Wang Xiaojing , Yan Weiming , Luo Xiaoping , Chen Tao , Ning Qin
Published: February 2025

Background: The fatality rate of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), due to hantavirus transmitted by rodents, ranges from 1% to 12%. This study aims to delineate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of HFRS, identify factors associated with disease severity, and construct and validate a nomogram for prognosis prediction of HFRS in the central part of China. Methods: Out of 598 HFRS patients diagnosed via serology tests from four hospitals in Hubei Province, 551 were included. Clinical data were gathered and analyzed, followed by logistic univariate and multivariate analyses to identify independent prognostic factors. A nomogram was developed and validated to forecast the patient’s prognosis. Results: Vaccination led to a notable drop in HFRS incidence from 2018 to 2019, and seasonal trends exhibited bimodal changes with peaks from May to July and November to January. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.17% (23/551). Red blood cell count (RBC), age, two-stage overlap, qSOFA ≥ 2, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and three-stage overlap were identified as independent prognostic factors. A predictive risk classification system using a nomogram chart was developed, and Kaplan–Meier curves indicated that the new system accurately distinguished 30-day mortality among the three risk groups. Conclusions: The risk score (EASTAR) system demonstrated good predictive performance for prognostic prediction, and it can be applied to quickly screen patients who require ICU admission.
A Case of Persistent KSHV Viremia in the Context of HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and Other Co-Infections
Authors: Lambarey Humaira , Blumenthal Melissa J. , Chinna Prishanta , Naude Vincent N. , Jennings Lauren , Orrell Catherine , Schäfer Georgia
Published: February 2025

Despite the high prevalence of latent Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infections in patients from endemic areas with a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, KSHV lytic reactivation in the context of other co-infections is not well understood. Lytic KSHV infections can contribute to severe inflammatory symptoms and KSHV-associated pathogenesis. We have previously reported on KSHV reactivation upon severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure in a non-hospitalised cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH). From this cohort, we identified a 34-year-old male who presented for routine HIV care in May 2021 with an unusually high KSHV viral load (VL) of 189,946.3 copies/106 cells, before SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient was invited into a 2-year follow-up study where his peripheral blood was analysed for selected virological, clinical, and inflammatory parameters every 6 months. He remained highly viremic for KSHV throughout the 2-year study period, during which he was infected with SARS-CoV-2 and developed disseminated tuberculosis, with steadily increasing levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). His HIV VL remained controlled (<1000 copies/mL) and his CD4 count bordered immunosuppression (±200 cells/µL), suggesting some responsiveness to antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, the patient’s uncontrolled lytic KSHV infection may increase his risk for developing a KSHV-associated pathology manifesting with inflammation which should be closely monitored beyond the study period.
Risk Assessment of Spread of the Influenza A Virus in Cows in South Bulgaria
Authors: Goujgoulova Gabriela , Koev Koycho
Published: February 2025

In this article, we present an assessment of the risk of the potential introduction and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in cows in Bulgaria. In the spring of 2024, we witnessed an unprecedented spread of the virus in dairy herds in the USA. This crossing of interspecies barriers by the virus creates a real danger of pandemic manifestations in humans. The continued spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in dairy populations and other mammalian species and efficient animal-to-animal transmission increases the risk of infection and subsequent spread of the virus in human populations. According to registers, as of 1 November 2022, a total of 559,544 cattle were bred in Bulgaria. The total number of dairy cows decreased by 5.2% year-on-year to 197,996. Farms breeding dairy cows as of 1 November 2022 were 12,439, which is 22.1% less than the previous year. The production of cow’s milk in 2022 amounted to 748,278 thousand liters. Traditionally, the largest share in the total yield of cow’s milk is occupied by the south-central region with 25.9%, followed by the southeastern region with 18.5%. Due to potential risk factors such as the high concentration of dairy cows in high-risk areas for avian influenza A, the possibility of HPAI jumping the interspecies barrier and spreading in dairy herds in Bulgaria is very high. We therefore set out to assess the risk of virus penetration in these herds.
A Review of Recent Trends in High-Efficiency Induction Motor Drives
Authors: Azab Mohamed
Published: February 2025

Induction motor (IM) drives are considered one of the important technologies in modern industry. Several industrial applications, such as material handling and food and beverage applications, are driven and operated by modern AC drives. Moreover, modern electric transportation systems such as EVs and e-trucks are based on AC drives. Recently, high-efficiency IM drive systems have been studied as a major opportunity to reduce energy and fuel consumption. This article addresses the recent trends and advancement in high-efficiency IM drives during a particular period (2017–2024), including the development of high-efficiency motors, the utilization of efficient wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices for inverter topology, and commonly used control strategies to achieve high-performance drives. Moreover, the article addresses several manufacturers of industrial IM drives and the corresponding adopted control techniques in their products. A comparison of these control techniques, including their pros and cons, has been conducted as well.