bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explainable sequential unsupervised data driven clustering for feature identification in external flows
Authors: D'Afiero Francesco Mario
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a novel unsupervised clustering algorithm tailored for feature identification in external fluid flows within computational fluid dynamics. By employing sequential clustering techniques, the proposed method extracts key flow features, such as shock waves, boundary layers and wakes, vortices, and laminar separation bubbles from compressible and incompressible flows. Unlike traditional approaches, this algorithm relies on primitive flow variables and their inherent physical properties, eliminating preprocessing requirements and enhancing generalization capabilities. Utilizing Gaussian mixture models and incorporating rescaling and binarization operations, the method partitions the flow domain into distinct regions of interest through transformations of primitive variables and gradients of thereof. The parameter-free design ensures ease of implementation and robustness across diverse flow scenarios, including two- and three-dimensional configurations. The algorithm's versatility and accuracy are demonstrated through its application to various cases, showcasing its potential as a powerful and accessible tool to gain deeper insight into complex fluid phenomena.
Planar device–enabled speckle illumination for dark-field label-free imaging beyond the diffraction limit
Authors: Fan Zetao , You Xinxiang , Zhang Douguo
Published: February 2025

Dark-field microscopy is a technique used in optical microscopy to increase the contrast in unstained samples, making it possible to observe details that would otherwise be difficult to see under bright-field microscopy; thus, it has been widely employed in biological research, material science, and medical diagnostics. However, most dark-field microscopy methods cannot overcome the optical diffraction limit and require a bulky dark-field condenser and precise alignment of each optical element. In this study, we introduce a planar photonic device that can produce random speckles for dark-field illumination and improve the optical resolution. This planar device is made of random distribution fibers for injection of a laser beam, a scattering layer to produce random speckles, a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) to produce a hollow cone of light, and a metallic film to increase the energy efficiency. This planar device can work as a substrate for conventional microscopy. Taking advantage of the hollow cone of light with random speckles generated by the proposed planar device, we achieve a high-contrast, label-free image with a 1.55-fold improvement in spatial resolution. Furthermore, random evanescent speckles can be generated on the 1DPC just through tuning the incident wavelength, which demonstrates the ability for optical surface imaging beyond the diffraction limit. The advantage of this technique is that it does not require complex optical system or precise knowledge of the illumination pattern. This study will expand the potential applications of dark-field microscopy and provide insights into samples that might otherwise be invisible under traditional dark-field microscopy.
Factors driving farmers’ willingness to use organic liquid fertilizer (eco-green) in agricultural production in East Gojjam, north-western Ethiopia
Authors: Tariku Getasew Daru , Kebede Sinkie Alemu
Published: February 2025

Background:
Recently, the government of Ethiopia has started promoting the use of eco-green organic liquid fertilizer in response to high price hikes and shortage of supply of chemical fertilizer. However, the factors driving farmers to apply eco-green organic fertilizer to crop production are poorly studied. Hence, this study aims to identify factors influencing farmers to use eco-green fertilizers.
Methodology:
This study used a multi-stage sampling technique to select the study area and sample respondents. The primary data was collected from randomly selected organic liquid fertilizer users and non-user households through structured and semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Secondary data was collected from documents, publications, and websites. Binary Logit regression was used to analyze the factors deriving farmers’ willingness to use eco-green organic fertilizer.
Result:
According to the model result, annual income, membership to cooperatives, training access, information access, cost of chemical fertilizer, and landholding size positively influenced farmers to use eco-green fertilizer. While access to chemical fertilizers and low levels of awareness about eco-green were negatively influencing farmers’ willingness to use eco-green fertilizers in the study area.
Conclusion
: This result implies that to benefit farmers from organic fertilization, interventions that provided better technical training, better access to information media, and farmers’ group membership were crucial factors influencing farmers to apply eco-green fertilizer. The outcome of this study is expected to benefit farmers, extension agents, eco-green producer companies, input suppliers, and other agricultural growth stakeholders.
Deep learning to improve plant biosecurity and agriculture sustainability: A systematic literature review
Authors: Parul Sharma , Abhilasha Sharma
Published: February 2025

Plant stress significantly threatens agricultural productivity and quality, necessitating advanced solutions for effective plant biosecurity. Manual inspection is time-consuming and requires expert knowledge, making automated monitoring crucial for crop protection and food security. While deep learning has shown significant potential in plant stress monitoring and improving plant biosecurity, the existing literature remains unsystematic and highlights numerous challenges that hinder its real-time application. Therefore, a systematic literature review is essential to consolidate current knowledge, offer a comprehensive overview of deep learning-based plant biotic stress monitoring, and identify research gaps, trends, and challenges. In this view, this article employs the PRISMA framework to analyze 745 articles from six recognized electronic databases published between 2016 and April 2024, addressing eight research questions. Findings from this study indicate that convolutional neural networks dominate the field, appearing in 85.23% of articles, with limited consideration for hybrid models. Further, the reliance on supervised learning and high-quality annotated datasets highlights significant challenges related to data availability, diversity, and model generalization. Besides, the limited focus on efficiency metrics for model evaluation further compounds these issues, hindering accurate assessment of model performance in real-world applications. Additionally, only 8.19% of the articles offered directly applicable solutions to farmers, highlighting the necessity for practical and scalable applications. Moreover, while 63.42% of studies originated from the USA and China, research output from Africa, Central Asia, South America, and Southeast Asia remains low. These findings highlight the need for equitable research and localized solutions to address challenges in underrepresented regions. Future research should explore unsupervised and semi-supervised learning to reduce reliance on annotated datasets, integrate IoT, edge computing, and cloud-computing for real-time deployment, and incorporate efficiency metrics to ensure robust real-world performance. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements and outlines potential future directions for computer science, agriculture, and ecology.
Analysis of the convective amplification process of a three-wave parametric instability arises from low frequency plasma fluctuation
Authors: Chen Kunyu , Gao Zhe
Published: February 2025

A formal derivation of the convective amplification of a three-wave parametric instability (PI) in an inhomogeneous plasma is revisited. The confusion of the mixed use of the initial values of PI is clarified and the consistency among the initial values is discussed. Through the exact solutions of the coupling equations of a three-wave PI, it is suggested that the initial amplitude of low frequency plasma fluctuations might be the appropriate initial value for all the PI scenarios, especially in magnetic confinement fusion plasma. The co-effect of plasma inhomogeneity and finite pump profile is accordingly evaluated through the exact solutions of the coupling equations, where the effects of a finite pump profile are found to be totally different for forward scatters and backward scatters.
An improved STT-MRAM energy consumption simulation model
Authors: Liu Yaogeng , Qiang Tian , Jiang Yanfeng
Published: February 2025

Spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) shows promising prospects for the next generation embedded non-volatile memory (NVM). In the paper, an improved model for calculation of the power consumption of STT-MRAM is proposed and verified. In this proposed model, the unique asymmetry properties of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device during STT-MRAM read and write operations are taken into account. To more comprehensively calculate the energy consumption, the impact of temperature variations on the MTJ is considered. A comparison with NVSim on the power calculation is presented. The results indicate that the proposed model can provide energy consumption simulation results with higher accuracy. The results of the read/write delay and the leakage power can be simultaneously provided. An analysis of the results based on the proposed model is conducted. The proposed model shows potential applications for architectural design of power grid in STT-MRAM with large scale storage capacity.
Simultaneous excitation of two atoms by a single photon using shortcut to adiabaticity
Authors: Zhou Kuan-Yu , Yan Ke-Xiong , Chen Ye-Hong , Xia Yan
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we propose a protocol to accelerate a weak nonlinear quantum process: a single photon simultaneously excites two atoms using shortcut to adiabaticity. We consider a physical model composed of a transmission-line resonator and two flux qubits, where the frequency of the resonator is approximately equal to the sum of the frequencies of the two qubits. Using unitary transformation and a series of approximate methods, the system can be reduced to an equivalent two-level model. Since this transition is a weak high-order process, it is relatively sensitive to errors and decoherence. To overcome the flaws, we use the shortcut to adiabaticity method based on Lewis–Riesenfeld invariant for inverse engineering of the effective Hamiltonian, so that the transition rate can be accelerated. The robustness of the system against noise and decoherence can be improved. Therefore, the protocol we proposed can be applicable to quantum information processing and quantum optics in the microwave regime.
Design and performance of trapezoidal honeycomb absorbing structure based on FDM
Authors: Wang Run , Han Yafeng , Lu Jiping , Gong Chenglong , Wang Haoren , Xia Yuhan , Xiang Zezhi
Published: February 2025

The increasing prevalence of electronic devices and the rapid evolution of communication technologies underscore the critical need for effective management of electromagnetic interference and assurance of electromagnetic compatibility. This study presents an innovative trapezoidal honeycomb absorber structure, optimized to enhance the absorption of electromagnetic waves across a broad spectrum. By leveraging Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology, we have fabricated a short-cut carbon fiber composite material that exhibits superior electromagnetic and mechanical properties. Our research specifically focused on optimizing the honeycomb sidewall inclination angle to maximize absorption performance. We discovered that a 15° angle configuration yielded the broadest effective absorption bandwidth and the highest absorption efficiency. The structure demonstrated a significant -10 dB absorption bandwidth of 9.95 GHz within the 2-18 GHz range, underscoring its potential for managing a wide spectrum of electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, we explored the absorber’s performance under various angles of incidence, confirming its robustness across a broad range. These findings significantly advance the development of electromagnetic wave absorption materials, positioning the trapezoidal honeycomb structure as a key technology for future electromagnetic wave shielding applications.
Optimization on welding layout of scroll compressor shell based on vibration noise
Authors: Ma Haoran , Wei Xichu , Lang Xianming , Xu Zhihui , Wang Zhen
Published: February 2025

One of the key indicators for assessing scroll compressor quality is noise, primarily attributed to vibration noise. In addressing the significant influence of welding layout on the vibration noise of scroll compressor shells, this study employed vibration mode analysis to determine the optimal welding seam position. A combination of simulation analysis and noise experiments was then utilized to investigate the effect of this position on vibration noise. By establishing a dynamic model of the compressor and analyzing the time-domain characteristics of the excitation force, the loading conditions for the finite element model were derived. Furthermore, the frequency-domain characteristics of the shell’s vibration acceleration were examined, revealing the interaction between acceleration and the layout of the weld seams. These findings were validated through noise experiments. The study concluded that avoiding welding seams near structural openings significantly reduces vibration acceleration, reducing both vibration and noise. This approach offers a solution for enhancing the noise quality of scroll compressors.
Research on strength reliability improvement of a high-speed cam based on stress-strength interference theory
Authors: Wang Shuman , Gu Bin , Zhang Fanfan , Zhang Pengfei
Published: February 2025

To realize the control of high speed, heavy load, and intermittent motion law, the rotary bore automatic machine often adopts the “herringbone” cylindrical roller cam mechanism. Under the high-speed transient impact, the stress in the curved groove and commutator of the cam mechanism is on the high side, and it is easy to cause structural damage. In the past, deterministic models are often established without considering the influence of randomness such as load and materials on structures. Based on the stress-strength interference theory, considering the random characteristics of structural clearance material and load, the strength reliability of the cam mechanism is evaluated. The results show that the strength reliability of curved grooves and commutator structures is low. By optimizing the curvature of the curved groove and commutator transition part, the stress level of the curved groove and commutator is effective, and the reliability of the cam mechanism is improved. This has important reference significance for carrying out the strength reliability improvement of similar problems.
A study on the corrosion resistance of t-shaped bolts in modular equipment cabins of multiple units under different repair processes
Authors: Liu Zijing , Kou Huaizhi , Su Yunhai
Published: February 2025

The corrosion of T-bolts in the modular equipment compartment of the high-speed train unit caused by its environmental impact greatly affects operational safety and reduces transportation efficiency. In order to restore safe operating speed and improve transportation efficiency, it is necessary to conduct disease-cause analysis and treatment. This article analyzes and explains the corrosion of the T-bolts in the modular equipment compartment of the high-speed train unit, and adopts the zinc infiltration method and Dacromet method as repair processes. Salt spray corrosion experiments, thermal shock corrosion experiments, and electrochemical experiments are conducted on the original parts, zinc infiltrated parts, and Dacromet parts to simulate the actual application conditions of T-bolts. The results indicate that the corrosion of T-bolts is caused by alkaline environments and is divided into two types: T-bolt head corrosion and T-bolt thread corrosion. The Dacromet process treatment of T-shaped bolts improves their corrosion resistance, thereby achieving the reuse of T-shaped bolts.
Analysis and research on deformation of vacuum brazed fin of finned part
Authors: Li Heng
Published: February 2025

Based on the analysis of the aluminum alloy finned case, the deformation of the finned part was simulated by the UG NX finite element module, and the temperature range of the vacuum brazing was determined. On this basis, according to the process flow and the determined welding temperature interval, the trial production of aluminum alloy finned chassis was carried out. After vacuum brazing, the chassis size, shape, and position tolerance met the design requirements, the weld quality met the product requirements, and the vacuum brazing welding temperature was verified.
Research on the aerodynamic characteristics of simulated ice-covered aluminum stranded wire under wind tunnel
Authors: Zhao Mingguan , Li Meng , Ou Yang , Wan Yuanhao , Hai Yang , Li Yujie
Published: February 2025

This study studied the aerodynamic characteristics of a wire through wind tunnel experiments. The purpose of simulating icing conditions by wrapping conductors with plastic packaging tape is to evaluate the influence of icing on the aerodynamic characteristics of transmission lines. The tension and aerodynamic coefficients of aluminum-stranded wire and simulated ice-covered aluminum-stranded wire are tested using a wind tunnel. The results indicate that the increase in wind speed causes an increase in tension and drag coefficient. It is also found that icing significantly enhances the aerodynamic effect of the cable. This has guiding significance for the design and maintenance of transmission lines.
Research on recognition and localization of workpieces on rotating body surfaces based on vision recognition algorithm
Authors: Guan Peng , Lin Renliang , Feng Zehao , Chen Jiaying
Published: February 2025

Due to the rotary workpiece on the transmission mechanism in the welding automatic production line entering the next process from a certain process, a certain rotation offset will occur along the axis direction, resulting in inaccurate positioning, which in turn reduces the surface machining accuracy of the rotary body. Hence, this paper proposes a positioning method based on visual recognition. Firstly, the industrial monocular array camera is used to collect the surface image of the rotating body, and the image feature information is identified and extracted to calibrate the camera. Then, based on the shape-based template matching method, the processed image information is compared and corrected with the required position information of the workpiece, and the judgment is made in combination with the surface area feature information of the workpiece. Finally, the deviation information is transmitted to the control mechanism for correction. For workpieces of 32 mm, 45 mm, 78 mm, and 96 mm. The experimental results show that the positioning accuracy can be achieved within 20 degrees of rotation of the workpiece along the axis, and the maximum offset error is only 0.5 degrees.
Numerical simulation of the protective properties of ceramic/fiber composite ballistic materials
Authors: Xu Chuang , Ji Weichang , Lu Chunrui
Published: February 2025

With the development of technology, bulletproof vests need to have better impact resistance, but the experiment is difficult, costly, and dangerous. Using ANSYS finite element software is an effective alternative. This paper focuses on the impact resistance of composite materials composed of boron carbide ceramics and UHMWPE ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, respectively, to change the thickness of the two materials to get the effect of the target plate thickness on the performance of the material target plate. Finally, the obtained boron carbide ceramic thickness of 14mm and fiber thickness of 12mm, that is, 24 layers, allowed the material target plate to effectively intercept the bullet, which is in line with expectations.
The effect of printing parameters on the properties of PCL scaffolds prepared by pneumatic extrusion method
Authors: Huang Lin , Zhang Fan , Yuan Pengwei , Yuan Jiangshan
Published: February 2025

3D printing technology has been widely used in tissue engineering applications. Through this technology, tissue engineering scaffolds with complex shapes, variable pore sizes, and certain personalization can be precisely designed to provide an ideal microenvironment for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. In this paper, based on the dual-stage heating nozzle structure designed by the pneumatic extrusion method, we investigated the effects of printing parameters (e.g., gas pressure level, printing speed, and second-stage heating temperature) on the characteristics of PCL scaffolds. Analysis of the results of the one-factor experiments shows that the printing parameters have a significant effect on the line width and pore size of the scaffolds, and the optimal printing parameters for the geometrical characteristics of the prepared PCL scaffolds are the gas pressure size of 0.4 MPa, the printing speed of 1.25 mm/s, and the second-stage heating temperature of 90°C. The results of the single-factor experiments show that the printing parameters have a significant effect on the line width and pore size of the scaffolds. These results lay the foundation for further optimizing the printing conditions for the preparation of PCL scaffolds based on pneumatic extrusion.
Study on the synthesis and properties of highly dispersed and high slump-resistant polycarboxylate superplasticizer
Authors: Lai Huazhen
Published: February 2025

The first polymer containing phosphate groups was prepared by esterification of polyacrylic acid with polyethylene glycol phosphate. The second polymer was prepared by copolymerizing ethylene glycol monovinyl polyethylene glycol ether with hydroxy butyl phosphate methacrylate and acrylic acid. Then, the first and second polymers were uniformly mixed in proportion to prepare the highly dispersed and high-slump-resistant polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE-P). The structure of PCE-P was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) gel chromatography (GPC) and concrete experiments. The results show that PCE-P can be used to control the construction performance of high adsorption machine-made sand concrete, and has strong practical value and broad market prospects.
Diamond anisotropic surface transformation and its effect on the interfacial microstructure of al/diamond composites
Authors: Jin Kang , Ding Jingen , Liang Junning , Ma Xiaoxin , Guo Pingan , Chen Lin , Zhang Yang
Published: February 2025

In this study, Al/diamond high-conductive metal matrix composites were fabricated using the gas pressure infiltration (GPI) method with different times of heat preservation to study the surface microstructure transition and its effect on the interface of composites. The results show that during the fabrication of Al/diamond composites, phase transformation from diamond structure to amorphous structure and the graphitization would happen on the diamond surface. On the different planes of the diamond surface, including {100} and {111}, the phase transition happens differently, which is strongly influenced by the initial state fabricating temperature and time. This difference determines the diffusive reaction between the molten aluminum and diamond particle during the process and has a significant effect on the growth and shape of aluminum carbide. As a result, the interface of GPI Al/diamond composites performs the anisotropic characteristic. Therefore, proactive treatment of diamond particles and fabrication of composites have to be critically controlled and optimized to obtain the ideal combination of anisotropic {100} and {111} interface enhancing and stabilizing the thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion.
Effect on abrasion resistance of nitrile-butadiene rubber diaphragm with zinc oxide
Authors: Yang Fu , Li Mei
Published: February 2025

To study the effect of zinc oxide on the abrasion resistance of nitrile-butadiene rubber, three kinds of NBR specimens with different morphology of ZnO were manufactured. Energy distribution spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and many other characterization methods were used to analyze ZnO’s microstructure, morphology, and distribution. Besides, a variety of test methods were used to test the properties and study the abrasion resistance of NBR, including tensile strength, ShoreA hardness, and vulcanization characteristics. The conventional ZnO rubber is the worst, the nano-ZnO rubber is the worst, and the modified nano-ZnO rubber is the best for slight abrasive abrasion without adhesive abrasion.
Molecular cages for the selective detection of aromatic nitro compounds
Authors: Wang Bingyu , Yang Fanzhi
Published: February 2025

With the widespread application of aromatic nitro compounds (ANCs) in multiple fields, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, high-energy explosives, and industrial dyes, the rapid detection of trace amounts is crucial for environmental safety and human health. In this article, a molecular cage CC7 was synthesized to detect 2,4-DNT based on the fluorescence quenching method, which exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for 2,4-DNT with a detection limit of 0.53μM, providing a new method for the detection of energetic compounds.
Identifying the concentration of the ethanol by utilizing surface plasmon resonance technology
Authors: Yang Jiaping , Wang Guofu , Li Hongqi , Jia Xiaobo , Zhou Jin , Liu Yansheng
Published: February 2025

Ethanol is an important raw material in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Due to the volatile nature of ethanol products, it is essential to monitor the concentration of ethanol in these products to prevent degradation caused by evaporation. This paper presents a sensor chip for detecting ethanol concentration. An aqueous solution is used as the ethanol solvent, and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor serves as the receiver. When ethanol interacts with the surface of the SPR sensor, the refractive index is modulated and then detected by the SPR sensor. Based on this principle, the sensor was fabricated and tested. Real-time experiments of identifying ethanol solutions with concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 4% demonstrated that the system exhibits good repeatability and durability. Furthermore, the device offers high detection sensitivity and low cost, making it suitable for widespread application in industrial production.
Effect of carbonization temperature on supported CoMo catalysts with honeycomb structure for thiophene hydrodesulfurization
Authors: Song Mingyu , Yang Fuhui , Du Yeqiang , Wang Guangjian , Wang Fang , Bing Liancheng , Han Dezhi
Published: February 2025

The use of transportation fuels with high sulfur content can lead to the production of a large amount of sulfur oxides, which will have a serious impact on the earth’s ecological environment. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) technology can effectively remove sulfur-containing compounds from transport fuels to ultra-low sulfur levels. In this paper, the supported cobalt-molybdenum HDS catalysts with honeycomb structure were prepared using activated carbon support derived from cypress wood as raw material. We explored how varying carbonization temperatures influence catalysts’ structural and chemical properties using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption, The conversion efficiency of these HDS catalysts in transforming thiophene was examined using X-ray difraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), within a high-pressure micro-fixed-bed reactor setup. Our observations revealed that all catalysts maintained their honeycomb-like structure, featuring both micropores and mesopores. This specialized pore arrangement helps to alleviate the resistance encountered during the mass transfer between large reactant molecules and the resulting products. The larger specific surface area promotes the dispersion of active ingredients in the catalyst, exposing more active sites. The maximum thiophene conversion over the CoMo-800 catalyst reached 93.28%.
The Love of God and Its Story
Authors: Stump Eleonore
Published: February 2025

The most significant story about the love of God is the story of Christ’s passion. The most promising candidates for such stories are composite meta-narratives constructed from the four different Gospel accounts describing Christ’s crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. In this chapter, I give a brief explanation and defense of the methodology for constructing such a composite meta-narrative. Then I present and comment on a composite meta-narrative of Christ’s passion to unearth a story of the love of God. The story serves to delineate what it is for a human being to perfect the image of God in human nature.
Remote Neuropsychological Testing as an Alternative to Traditional Methods—a Convergent Validity Study
Authors: Wärn Emma , Andersson Linus , Berginström Nils
Published: February 2025

Objective

Neuropsychological testing has traditionally been performed on site using standardized paper-pencil tests. Online platforms now offer the potential of conducting such testing at home but requires validation before widespread use. In this pilot study with healthy adults, we examine the convergent validity of the newly developed test battery Mindmore Remote.

Method

Fifty-two healthy participants were tested using both Mindmore Remote at home and traditional neuropsychological testing on site. The order of presentation was randomized. Associations between test performance on the two batteries were compared using Pearson and Spearman correlations.

Results

Results revealed significant correlations between all Mindmore Remote tests and traditional tests. Verbal tests showed stronger correlations (r = .71–.83) than non-verbal tests (r = .48–.71). Further, correlations were stronger for users who made responses using a computer mouse than for touchpad users.

Conclusions

Mindmore Remote tests that rely on verbal in- and output were comparable to traditional face-to-face neuropsychological tests. However, although promising, further validation is needed for tests that require visuo-motor interaction. In comparison with similar studies, the results indicate that test modification, rather than remote administration, is accountable for weaker correlations.
Sul-BertGRU: An Ensemble Deep Learning Method integrating Information Entropy-enhanced BERT and Directional Multi-GRU for S-sulfhydration Sites prediction
Authors: Wei Xirun , Ning Qiao , Che Kuiyang , Liu Zhaowei , Li Hui , Guo Shikai
Published: February 2025

Motivation

S-sulfhydration, a crucial post-translational protein modification, is pivotal in cellular recognition, signaling processes, and the development and progression of cardiovascular and neurological disorders, so identifying S-sulfhydration sites is crucial for studies in cell biology. Deep learning shows high efficiency and accuracy in identifying protein sites compared to traditional methods that often lack sensitivity and specificity in accurately locating nonsulfhydration sites. Therefore, we employ deep learning methods to tackle the challenge of pinpointing S-sulfhydration sites.

Results

In this work, we introduce a deep learning approach called Sul-BertGRU, designed specifically for predicting S-sulfhydration sites in proteins, that integrates multi-directional gated recurrent unit (GRU) and BERT. First, Sul-BertGRU proposes an information entropy-enhanced BERT (IE-BERT) to preprocess protein sequences and extract initial features. Subsequently, confidence learning is employed to eliminate potential S-sulfhydration samples from the nonsulfhydration samples and select reliable negative samples. Then, considering the directional nature of the modification process, protein sequences are categorized into left, right, and full sequences centred on cysteines. We build a multi-directional GRU to enhance the extraction of directional sequence features and model the details of the enzymatic reaction involved in S-sulfhydration. Ultimately, we apply a parallel multi-head self-attention mechanism alongside a convolutional neural network (CNN) to deeply analyze sequence features that might be missed at a local level. Sul-BertGRU achieves sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy, Matthews correlation coefficient, and area under the curve scores of 85.82%, 68.24%, 74.80%, 77.44%, 55.13%, and 77.03%, respectively. Sul-BertGRU demonstrates exceptional performance and proves to be a reliable method for predicting protein S-sulfhydration sites.

Availability and Implementation

The source code and data are available at https://github.com/Severus0902/Sul-BertGRU/.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Randomization Inference When N Equals One
Authors: Liang Tengyuan , Recht Benjamin
Published: February 2025

N-of-1 experiments, where a unit serves as its own control and treatment in different time windows, have been used in certain medical contexts for decades. However, due to effects that accumulate over long time windows and interventions that have complex evolution, a lack of robust inference tools has limited the widespread applicability of such N-of-1 designs. This work combines techniques from experimental design in causal inference and system identification from control theory to provide such an inference framework. We derive a model of the dynamic interference effect that arises in linear time-invariant dynamical systems. We show that a family of causal estimands analogous to those studied in potential outcomes are estimable via a standard estimator derived from the method of moments. We derive formulae for higher moments of this estimator and describe conditions under which N-of-1 designs may provide faster ways to estimate the effects of interventions in dynamical systems. We also provide conditions under which our estimator is asymptotically normal and derive valid confidence intervals for this setting.
Polysaccharide quantification using microbial enzyme cocktails
Authors: Pontrelli Sammy , Sauer Uwe
Published: February 2025

Polysaccharide quantification plays a vital role in understanding ecological and nutritional processes in microbes, plants, and animals. Traditional methods typically hydrolyze these large molecules into monomers using chemical methods, but such approaches do not work for all polysaccharides. Enzymatic degradation is a promising alternative but typically requires the use of characterized recombinant enzymes or characterized microbial isolates that secrete enzymes. In this study, we introduce a versatile method that employs undefined enzyme cocktails secreted by individual microbes or complex environmental microbial communities for the hydrolysis of polysaccharides. We focus on colloidal chitin and laminarin as representative polysaccharides of ecological relevance. Our results demonstrate that colloidal chitin can be effectively digested with an enzyme cocktail derived from a chitin-degrading Psychromonas sp. isolate. Utilizing a 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reducing sugar assay or liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for mono- and oligomers detection, we successfully determined chitin concentrations as low as 62 mg/L and 15 mg/L, respectively. This allows for effective monitoring of microbial chitin degradation. To extend the applicability of our method, we also leveraged complex, undefined microbial communities as sources of enzyme cocktails capable of degrading laminarin. With this approach, we achieved a detection limit of 30 mg/L laminarin through the reducing sugar assay. Our findings highlight the potential of utilizing enzyme cocktails from both individual microbes and, notably, from undefined microbial communities for polysaccharide quantification. This advancement addresses limitations associated with traditional chemical hydrolysis methods.
Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis after mRNA vaccination against COVID-19: a possible association?
Authors: Vall Elisenda , Araya Vicente , Tortajada Lidia , Escobedo Vanessa , Nogueiras Rosa , del Riego Javier
Published: February 2025

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an uncommon benign disease thought to have an autoimmune origin. After massive vaccination against COVID-19, mRNA vaccines have been associated with various possible adverse effects. Among those involving the breast, the most common are ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathies and transient breast oedema. We present the case of a young woman who developed IGM after mRNA vaccination against COVID-19. We describe the clinical and imaging findings and management of this case, discussing the evidence for a possible link between vaccination and the development of this uncommon inflammatory process and underlining the importance of including this entity in the differential diagnosis in this scenario.
Impact of valvulo-vascular haemodynamics on left ventricular remodelling and the prevalence of discordant moderate aortic stenosis
Authors: Ali Mulham , Tastet Lionel , Mogensen Nils Sofus Borg , Diederichsen Axel , Shen Mylène , Arsenault Marie , Møller Jacob Eifer , Øvrehus Kristian Altern , Bédard Elisabeth , Lindholt Jes Sanddal , Lambrechtsen Jess , Steffensen Flemming Hald , Urbonaviciene Grazina , Haujir Amal , Pellikka Patricia A , Pibarot Philippe , Clavel Marie-Annick , Dahl Jordi Sanchez
Published: February 2025

Aims

This study aims to describe the prevalence of discordant mild/moderate aortic stenosis (AS) in a population-based study and to identify the mechanisms that lead to reduced stroke volume (SV) and discordant moderate AS.

Methods and results

Discordant high-gradient (HG)-mild AS, defined as AVA > 1.5 cm2 and mean pressure gradient (MG) of 20–40 mmHg, and discordant low-gradient (LG) moderate AS, defined as AVA 1.0–1.5 cm2 and MG < 20 mmHg, were assessed in 883 individuals from the DANCAVAS screening study with aortic valve calcification and 257 individuals form the PROGRESSA study excluding those with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction < 50%. In the DANCAVAS cohort, 150 men had mild/moderate AS of which 34% had discordance between MG and AVA, representing 66% with moderate AS. Among 262 patients in the combined cohort, 39% had discordant LG-moderate AS and 6% discordant HG-mild AS. Compared with concordant mild and moderate AS, individuals with discordant LG-moderate AS were more likely to present with LV concentric remodelling geometry (26 vs. 33 vs. 45%, P < 0.001), increased valvulo-arterial impedance (3.3 ± 0.7 vs. 3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 4.1 ± 0.7 mmHg/mL/m2, P < 0.001), and reduced systemic arterial compliance (SAC) (0.74 ± 0.22 vs. 0.81 ± 0.22 vs. 0.64 ± 0.18 mL/m2/mmHg, P < 0.001). Factors associated with SV index were relative wall thickness, LV end-diastolic diameter index, SAC, and LV remodelling pattern.

Conclusion

Discordant moderate AS is common, accounting for two-thirds of patients with moderate AS in the general male population. Patients with discordant LG-moderate AS have predominantly a concentric remodelling pattern with reduced SV. Reduced SV index was associated with signs of reduced vascular compliance, suggesting that altered vascular properties drive differences in remodelling patterns and discordant moderate AS.
May Measurement Month 2022: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Ghana
Authors: Twumasi-Ankrah Betty , Kiddy-Kodua Joseph O , Aniagyei Marian , Adu – Adadey Martin , Gatorwu Sylvanus , Beaney Thomas , Kerr Gabriele , Poulter Neil R , Osei -Agyemang Comfort , Myers-Hansen Gustavus A
Published: February 2025

The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign was carried out in Ghana in 2022 with the aim of raising awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Here, we report on the findings of the campaign. Adults aged ≥ 18 years were recruited opportunistically at Greater Accra, Eastern, Central and Ashanti Regions of Ghana. Three seated BP readings were taken for each participant, along with completing a questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or being on antihypertensive medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on antihypertensive medication with a BP <140/90 mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate any missing BP readings. In total, 3654 were screened, with a mean age of 38.3 years and 14.8% of whom were female. Of all participants, 1171 (32.0%) had hypertension, of whom 125 (10.7%) were aware, and 118 (10.1%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 23 (19.5%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 2.0% had controlled BP. The MMM campaign in Ghana identified a high proportion of participants with either untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. It is important to note that the annual BP screening campaign is a means to create awareness of the need to get screened and also identifies large numbers of individuals with raised BP.
Socio-geographical factors associated with cardiac rehabilitation participation after percutaneous coronary intervention: A registry-based cohort study from France
Authors: Quattrone Filippo , Lesaine Emilie , Domecq Sandrine , Legrand Jean-Pierre , Miganeh Hadi Sahal , Coste Pierre , Couffinhal Thierry , Saillour-Glénisson Florence ,   ACIRA investigators, Pierre Fournier , Philippe Jarnier , Nicolas Delarche , Jean-Luc Banos , Nicolas Marque , Bernard Karsenty , JeanMarie Perron , Jean-Louis Leymarie , Akil Hassan , Bernard Larnaudie , Guillaume Laplace
Published: February 2025

Aims

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute (ACS) or chronic (CCS) coronary syndrome is underutilised worldwide. The determinants of underuse are not fully understood. Using real-world data, this study explored the effect of socio-geographical factors on CR participation.

Methods

Patients from the Aquitaine region (France) who underwent PCI between 2017 and 2019 were selected from a regional PCI register. Their 1-year CR participation was tracked using the French hospital database. Associations between CR participation and socio-geographical factors, (social deprivation, general practitioner accessibility, and distance to the nearest CR centre) were assessed through logistic regression mixed models at 1 and 3 months in ACS, and at 3 and 6 months in CCS.

Results

Among the 19,002 patients, 5,073 (26.7%) participated in CR (ACS: 4,071, 33.0%; CCS: 1,002, 15.0%). A CR centre distance >25 km reduced participation at 3 months in ACS patients (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.99, p = 0,023), but not at 1 month after PCI. CCS patients from most advantaged areas were more likely to participate in CR at 3 (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.44–0.88, p = 0.002) and 6 months (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42–0.82, p < 0.001). General practitioner accessibility did not affect participation.

Conclusion

Post-PCI CR participation was low. Proximity to CR centres promoted participation for ACS patients, while CR usage correlated with higher socio-economic status for CCS patients. These findings highlight socio-geographical inequalities in CR access, providing a basis for targeted interventions, such as telerehabilitation or expanded coverage.
Unraveling the Impact of Marine Heatwaves on the Eukaryome of the Emblematic Mediterranean Red Coral Corallium rubrum
Authors: Prioux Camille , Ferrier-Pagès Christine , del Campo Javier , Guillou Laure , Estaque Tristan , Allemand Denis , Tignat-Perrier Romie
Published: February 2025

Global warming is intensifying heatwaves worldwide, leading to more frequent and severe temperature extremes. This study investigates the impact of the unprecedented 2022 Mediterranean heatwaves on the coral eukaryome, which has received little attention despite its known importance to coral holobiont functioning. Fifty-six colonies of the iconic red coral Corallium rubrum from the Mediterranean Sea were collected at different sites, depths and health states. The microeukaryotic communities were analyzed using an 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach. Primers were designed to reduce amplification of the 18S rRNA gene sequences of the red coral while being universal for amplification of microeukaryotes. Our results showed that the red coral eukaryome was dominated by Dino-Group I, Licnophoridae and Labyrinthulomycetes in the control sites that were not affected by the heat waves. In the heat-affected colonies, the composition of the coral eukaryome changed, with the relative abundances of Ephelotidae, Exobasidiomycetes, Corallicolidae, Labyrinthulomycetes and/or the epibionts Phaeophyceae increasing depending on the intensity of heat stress experienced by the colonies. It was thus possible to link colony health to changes in the eukaryome. Finally, we illustrated putative interactions (competition, predator–prey relationship and parasitism) occurring within C. rubrum eukaryome that could explain the compositional changes observed in the microeukaryotic communities under heat stress. Our findings improve our understanding of the ecological effects of heatwaves on marine ecosystems.
PAMS: The Perseus Arm Molecular Survey – I. Survey description and first results
Authors: Rigby Andrew J , Thompson Mark A , Eden David J , Moore Toby J T , Mutale Mubela , Peretto Nicolas , Plume Rene , Urquhart James S , Williams Gwenllian M , Currie Malcolm J
Published: February 2025

The external environments surrounding molecular clouds vary widely across galaxies such as the Milky Way, and statistical samples of clouds are required to understand them. We present the Perseus Arm Molecular Survey (PAMS), a James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) survey combining new and archival data of molecular-cloud complexes in the outer Perseus spiral arm in 12CO, 13CO, and C18O (J=3–2). With a survey area of ∼8 deg2, PAMS covers well-known complexes such as W3, W5, and NGC 7538 with two fields at ℓ ≈ 110○ and ℓ ≈ 135○. PAMS has an effective resolution of 17 arcsec, and rms sensitivity of Tmb = 0.7–1.0 K in 0.3 km s−1 channels. Here we present a first look at the data, and compare the PAMS regions in the Outer Galaxy with Inner Galaxy regions from the CO Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey (CHIMPS). By comparing the various CO data with maps of H2 column density from Herschel, we calculate representative values for the CO-to-H2 column-density X-factors, which are $X_\mathrm{^{12}CO\, (3-2)}$ = 4.0 × 1020 and $X_\mathrm{^{13}CO\, (3-2)}$ = 4.0 × 1021 cm−2 (K km s−1)−1 with a factor of 1.5 uncertainty. We find that the emission profiles, size–linewidth, and mass–radius relationships of 13CO-traced structures are similar between the Inner and Outer Galaxy. Although PAMS sources are slightly more massive than their Inner Galaxy counterparts for a given size scale, the discrepancy can be accounted for by the Galactic gradient in gas-to-dust mass ratio, uncertainties in the X-factors, and selection biases. We have made the PAMS data publicly available, complementing other CO surveys targeting different regions of the Galaxy in different isotopologues and transitions.