bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Approaches for Genetic Manipulation of Streptomyces spp.—Key Bacteria for Biotechnology and Environment
Authors: Krysenko Sergii
Published: January 2025

Organisms from the genus Streptomyces feature actinobacteria with complex developmental cycles and a great ability to produce a variety of natural products. These soil bacteria produce more than 2/3 of antibiotics used in medicine, and a large variety of bioactive compounds for industrial, medical and agricultural use. Although Streptomyces spp. have been studied for decades, the engineering of these bacteria remains challenging, and the available genetic tools are rather limited. Furthermore, most biosynthetic gene clusters in these bacteria are silent and require strategies to activate them and exploit their production potential. In order to explore, understand and manipulate the capabilities of Streptomyces spp. as a key bacterial for biotechnology, synthetic biology strategies emerged as a valuable component of Streptomyces research. Recent advancements in strategies for genetic manipulation of Streptomyces involving proposals of a large variety of synthetic components for the genetic toolbox, as well as new approaches for genome mining, assembly of genetic constructs and their delivery into the cell, allowed facilitation of the turnaround time of strain engineering and efficient production of new natural products at an industrial scale, but still have strain- and design-dependent limitations. A new perspective offered recently by technical advances in DNA sequencing, analysis and editing proposed strategies to overcome strain- and construct-specific difficulties in the engineering of Streptomyces. In this review, challenges and recent developments of approaches for Streptomyces engineering are discussed, an overview of novel synthetic biology strategies is provided and examples of successful application of new technologies in molecular genetic engineering of Streptomyces are highlighted.
Shrinkage and Cracking Characteristics of Dredged Sludge Containing Straw Fiber Under Different Initial Water Contents
Authors: Qiao Huiping , Song Miaomiao , Xu Guizhong , Qiu Chengchun
Published: January 2025

Dredged sludge usually has high water content and poor engineering properties, which would be unfavorable for its rapid resource utilization. Meanwhile, straw fiber is an environmentally friendly material for improving the mechanical behavior of soil. In this research, a series of shrinkage tests were conducted to investigate the straw fiber effects on the shrinkage behavior of dredged sludge with high water content. Four initial water contents and straw fiber amounts were designed. The water content and crack development were recorded throughout the test. According to the test results, a reduction in water content regarding drying time can be divided into three stages: the constant-rate stage, the falling-rate stage, and the residual stage. At the falling-rate stage, water evaporation is affected significantly by straw fiber. Compared with the sample without straw fiber, the influence of straw fiber on the water evaporation of dredged sludge depends upon the initial water content and the straw fiber content. The straw fiber shows an overall inhibitory effect on the initiation and development of cracks for the tested samples. Moreover, the influence of straw fiber on the shrinkage behavior of dredged sludge depends upon the initial water content and fiber content.
Tropical Glaciation and Glacio-Epochs: Their Tectonic Origin in Paleogeography
Authors: Ou Hsien-Wang
Published: January 2025

Precambrian tropical glaciation is an enigma of Earth’s climate. Overlooking fundamental difference of land/sea icelines, it was equated with a global frozen ocean, which is at odds with the sedimentary evidence of an active hydrological cycle, and its genesis via the runaway ice–albedo feedback conflicts with the mostly ice-free Proterozoic when its trigger threshold was well exceeded by the dimmer sun. In view of these shortfalls, I put forth two key hypotheses of the tropical glaciation: first, if seeded by mountain glaciers, the land ice would advance on sea level to be halted by above-freezing summer temperature, which thus abuts an open cozonal ocean; second, a tropical supercontinent would block the brighter tropical sun to cause the required cooling. To test these hypotheses, I formulate a minimal tropical/polar box model to examine the temperature response to a varying tropical land area and show that tropical glaciation is indeed plausible when the landmass is concentrated in the tropics despite uncertain model parameters. In addition, given the chronology of paleogeography, the model may explain the observed deep time climate to provide a unified account of the faint young Sun paradox, Precambrian tropical glaciations, and Phanerozoic glacio-epochs, reinforcing, therefore, the uniformitarian principle.
Distribution of Major HLA-A, -B, -DR, and -DQ Loci Potentially Associated with Multiple Sclerosis in a Healthy Population from Southern Morocco
Authors: Fguirouche Abir , Ouahmani Fatimazahra , Brahim Ikram , Hazime Raja , Louhab Nissrine , Kissani Najib , Chraa Mohamed , Admou Brahim
Published: January 2025

Background: Many factors contribute to the development and the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules. Some of them are considered as predisposing, like DRB1*15, DRB1*13, DRB1*03, DRB1*04, DQB1*06, DQB1*02, while HLA A2, HLA B44, DRB1*11, and DRB1*12 are rather considered as protective. Data about such associations in the Moroccan population remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of HLA class I (A and B) and II (DR and DQ) linked to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a healthy population from the South of Morocco. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out over the 2016–2023 period on 685 Moroccan healthy individuals, including 355 males and 330 females. Of the total sample tested, 685 underwent HLA class I typing, of which 305 also benefited from HLA class II typing. HLA class I typing was executed using the CDC (complement dependent cytotoxicity) technique (OneLambda™, Los Angeles CA, USA), and HLA class II typing was performed by either PCR-SSP (sequence-specific primer, OneLambda) or PCR-SSO (sequence-specific oligonucleotides) using the Luminex Xmap (Lifecodes, Immucor, Peachtree, Corners, GA, USA) system. Results: From different HLA molecules potentially predisposing to MS, our investigations showed that DRB1*03, DRB1*13, DRB1*15, DRB1*04, and DQB1*02 were observed in 19.2%, 15.8%, 13.31%, 12.7% and 31% respectively, while the frequency of those considered as protective, namely HLA-A2, HLA-B44, and HLA-DRB1*11 was 23.31%, 9.21% and 10.1% respectively. Conclusions: The findings of our study give evidence that among predisposing HLA class II molecules, DR allele groups were more prevalent, mostly DRB1*03, with also a high frequency of DQB1*06, while HLA-A2 marked the supposed protective specificities. These results need to be supported by complementary studies particularly in MS patients.
Multimodal Data Fusion for Depression Detection Approach
Authors: Nykoniuk Mariia , Basystiuk Oleh , Shakhovska Nataliya , Melnykova Nataliia
Published: January 2025

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the world, affecting millions of people. Early detection of depression is crucial for effective medical intervention. Multimodal networks can greatly assist in the detection of depression, especially in situations where in patients are not always aware of or able to express their symptoms. By analyzing text and audio data, such networks are able to automatically identify patterns in speech and behavior that indicate a depressive state. In this study, we propose two multimodal information fusion networks: early and late fusion. These networks were developed using convolutional neural network (CNN) layers to learn local patterns, a bidirectional LSTM (Bi-LSTM) to process sequences, and a self-attention mechanism to improve focus on key parts of the data. The DAIC-WOZ and EDAIC-WOZ datasets were used for the experiments. The experiments compared the precision, recall, f1-score, and accuracy metrics for the cases of using early and late multimodal data fusion and found that the early information fusion multimodal network achieved higher classification accuracy results. On the test dataset, this network achieved an f1-score of 0.79 and an overall classification accuracy of 0.86, indicating its effectiveness in detecting depression.
Productivity of Modern Raspberry Varieties and Prospects for Their Selection
Authors: Ladyzhenskaya Olga , Aniskina Tatiana , Simakhin Maxim , Donskih Vitaliy , Pashutin Vladimir , Tazin Ivan , Kryuchkova Viktoriya
Published: January 2025

Industrial raspberry plantations do not provide the domestic Russian market with products in full. Open-ground raspberries are only available in July, August, and September. These time intervals can be extended by using tunnel shelters and remontant varieties. The aim of this study was to evaluate foreign remontant raspberry varieties for industrial cultivation in the Central Russia region and their potential use in breeding programs to improve domestic varieties. The data was collected from four-year-old plants over three years. The studied varieties—including ‘Amira’, ‘Enrosadira’, ‘Maravilla’, ‘Mapema’, ‘Kwanza’, and ‘Eros’—were grown in film greenhouses. The vegetative and generative parts of the plant were assessed, as well as the characteristics of the fruits. The plants were grown in film tunnels (10 m × 100 m × 4.7 m). Thirty fruits were randomly selected for the study, in which quantitative and qualitative parameters were evaluated. The parameters of the vegetative and generative organs were also measured. According to the study results, based on raspberry fruit quality indicators, four raspberry variety groups were distinguished. The content of soluble solids was highest in the Maravilla variety, amounting to 14.14 ± 0.71 Brix. Based on a set of characteristics, it was established that if agronomic activities including irrigation and basic fertilizer application are observed, the varieties ‘Maravilla’, ‘Enrosadira’, and ‘Mapema’ are promising for use in the central zone of Russia.
Tripling Optical Efficiency of Pancake Optics for Virtual Reality Displays
Authors: Xiao Yuze , Zhang Jiazhan , Ye Yun , Xu Sheng , Yan Qun , Guo Tailiang , Chen Enguo
Published: January 2025

The pancake structure is the mainstream optical solution for virtual reality (VR) displays due to its compact, folded optical path. However, only a small portion of the light can pass through the pancake optical engine because the incident light has to be polarized and directed to the half mirror (HM) twice. In order to improve the optical efficiency, a new pancake optical engine is proposed for VR display, which employs a diffractive deflection film (DDF) with different focal lengths in three regions and two cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) lenses that respond to circularly polarized light. The CLC lenses are modeled, and their polarization response characteristics are verified. The pancake system is simulated and optimized in terms of image quality and evaluated for optical efficiency, achieving 2.86 times the optical efficiency of the conventional pancake system, and the root mean square (RMS) radius of the system is controlled within 19 μm, and the modulation transfer function (MTF) at the cut-off frequency is greater than 0.2. The results indicate that this structure has great potential in the VR display field.
Assessment of Fish Species Biodiversity in the Yong River Basin Based on Environmental DNA Metabarcoding
Authors: Deng Shengming , Lin Bai-an , Luo Yan , Dang Xiaolong , Ma Chengdan , Zhou Yongcan , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Yang , Xu Ning , Jiang Shousong , Li Jiana , Li Jianlong
Published: January 2025

Fish in the Yong River basin have been significantly impacted by pollution, habitat modification and overfishing. In order to facilitate the recovery of freshwater biodiversity, a fishing ban has been implemented in the Yong River basin since 2022. However, the high level of human activity along the waterways of the Yong River basin poses a significant challenge to the monitoring of fish biodiversity using established methods. It is essential, therefore, to have effective monitoring tools to assess the effectiveness of the fishing ban policy. In this study, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding was employed to assess fish species biodiversity across five river sections of the Yong River basin in October 2022. Additionally, we checked the results against fishing gear (drift gillnets and ground cages) surveys and historical records. A total of twenty-two fish species were found from eDNA metabarcoding, fourteen species were found via fishing, and only two species were found from both methods. The most dominant fish species identified by eDNA was Alburnus mossulensis, present in all river sections. However, a decline in species biodiversity was observed in the whole Yong River basin, with a significant difference in community composition across the Upper Yao River (UYAR) and Yong River (YOR). Moreover, eDNA detected fish and potentially invasive species consistent with their geographic distribution. Overall, the results of this study provide a snapshot of the current fish biodiversity in the Yong River basin, offering baseline data for future evaluations of fishing ban policies in this ecosystem.
Time-of-Arrival and Angle-of-Arrival Measurement-Assisted 3D Inter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Relative Localization Under Distance-Dependent Noise Model
Authors: Tang Jiawei , Chang Tian , Jiang Qinglong , Ding Xuhui , Liu Dekang
Published: January 2025

This paper addresses the 3D relative localization problem for two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using a combination of time-of-arrival (TOA) and angle-of-arrival (AOA) measurements across varied flight trajectories. We commenced by examining the problem of relative attitude estimation using only time-of-arrival (TOA) measurements, taking into account a distance-dependent noise model. To address this issue, we constructed a constrained weighted least squares (CWLS) problem and applied semidefinite relaxation (SDR) techniques for its resolution. Furthermore, we extended our analysis to incorporate AOA measurements and scrutinize the Cramer–Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) to illustrate enhanced localization accuracy through TOA-AOA integration compared to TOA alone under stable trajectory conditions. Ultimately, numerical simulations substantiate the efficacy of the proposed methodologies.
Leveraging SNS Data for E-Sports Recommendation: Analyzing Popularity and User Satisfaction Metrics
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan
Published: January 2025

The rapid rise of social media and widespread Internet access have contributed significantly to the global popularity of e-sports. However, while popular e-sports attract considerable attention, niche e-sports remain underexplored, limiting user discovery and engagement. This paper proposes a Twitter-based recommendation system that uses advanced data management and processing techniques to address the challenge of identifying and recommending both popular and niche e-sports. The system analyzes social media metadata, including user IDs, followers, followees, engagements, and impressions, to calculate two critical metrics: popularity and satisfaction. Based on the combination of these metrics, the system calculates overall scores for each e-sports and generates two distinct rankings: one for popular and another for niche e-sports. The proposed system reflects the application of data-driven methodologies and social network analysis in creating recommendations that meet diverse user preferences, highlighting the relevance of data processing technologies in personalized content delivery. Experimental evaluations, using a dataset derived from Twitter hashtags (#) representing 30 target e-sports in 2022, demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in capturing the emerging dynamics in e-sports and providing actionable insights for diverse user preferences. This study highlights the potential of SNS-based technologies to advance data processing, analysis, and application within the e-sports ecosystem.
A Novel Multi-Feedback Differential Filter Instrumentation Amplifier for Βiosignals Acquisition Applications
Authors: Delis Athanasios , Georgiou Despoina-Polyxeni , Stamelos Ioannis , Alexandratou Eleni , Politopoulos Konstantinos
Published: January 2025

Efficient filtering in biosignals acquisition is challenging. The resistance of the sources exhibits inter- and intra-subject variability or is unknown; thus, using passive filters before the first amplification stage is problematic. Conversely, filtering after amplification does not effectively eliminate the amplified electrical noise, main’s interference, and the artifacts. In this context, the design and utilization of filters in the analog front end of biosensors, in conjunction with the first amplification stage, is not common but offers substantial advantages. In this study, the design of a novel Multi-feedback Differential Filter Instrumentation Amplifier (MFDFIA) is proposed. The design and the equations governing the gain and bandwidth characteristics of the MFDFIA are presented, and relevant topologies are explored. Even though MFDFIA has two op-amps in its first stage, due to its symmetric topology, the analysis can be conducted separately for the differential- and common-mode input signal with a simplified one op-amp equivalent circuit. Notably, MFDFIA’s CMRR is equal and depends only on the CMRR of the second stage. An exemplary simulation for EEG signal acquisition is provided, with a flat band of 1db between 0.7 Hz and 25.4 Hz, a gain of 34.1 db, and an input noise of 70.66 nVrms in the range of 0.1–10 Hz.
Identifying Similar Users Between Dark Web and Surface Web Using BERTopic and Authorship Attribution
Authors: Shin Gun-Yoon , Kim Dong-Wook , Park SungJin , Park A-ran , Kim Younghwan , Han Myung-Mook
Published: January 2025

The dark web is a part of the deep web that ensures anonymity to users, thus facilitating various malicious activities, such as the sales of drugs, firearms, and personal information or the dissemination of malware and cyberattack tools. These activities extend beyond the dark web and have negative effects on the surface web, which is commonly accessed by internet users. Recent studies on the dark web are limited to the detection and classification of specific malicious activities; that is, they cannot trace or identify the authors of dark web content or the source of a given information Therefore, we herein propose a method for identifying similar authors between the surface and dark webs using BERTopic and authorship attribution. We applied BERTopic to the surface and dark webs to extract previously unidentified topics and measured the similarity between the topics to detect similar topics between the two webs. In addition, we applied authorship attribution to the contents written by the authors of similar topics to extract the unique author characteristics. The similarity between the authors was measured to identify authors with similar characteristics. Thus, we identified authors who had written contents on similar topics on both the surface and dark webs as well as authors who are simultaneously active on both webs.
Automatic Lower-Limb Length Measurement Network (A3LMNet): A Hybrid Framework for Automated Lower-Limb Length Measurement in Orthopedic Diagnostics
Authors: Rhyou Se-Yeol , Cho Yongjin , Yoo Jaechern , Hong Sanghoon , Bae Sunghoon , Bae Hyunjae , Yu Minyung
Published: January 2025

Limb Length Discrepancy (LLD) is a common condition that can result in gait abnormalities, pain, and an increased risk of early degenerative osteoarthritis in the lower extremities. Epidemiological studies indicate that mild LLD, defined as a discrepancy of 10 mm or less, affects approximately 60–90% of the population. While more severe cases are less frequent, they are associated with secondary conditions such as low back pain, scoliosis, and osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. LLD not only impacts daily activities, but may also lead to long-term complications, making early detection and precise measurement essential. Current LLD measurement methods include physical examination and imaging techniques, with physical exams being simple and non-invasive but prone to operator-dependent errors. To address these limitations and reduce measurement errors, we have developed an AI-based automated lower-limb length measurement system. This method employs semantic segmentation to accurately identify the positions of the femur and tibia and extracts key anatomical landmarks, achieving a margin of error within 4 mm. By automating the measurement process, this system reduces the time and effort required for manual measurements, enabling clinicians to focus more on treatment and improving the overall quality of care.
Country-Specific Modeling of Methane Production and Emission Reduction Utilizing Pig Manure
Authors: Bae Ilho , Park Seokbo , Shin Juhee , Triolo Jin Mi , Shin Seung Gu
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this study is to effectively support the operation of biogas plants that utilize anaerobic digestion of pig manure. An analysis was conducted on the characteristics of manure collected from 17 pig farms. Following this, the methane potential of the manure was evaluated, and a comparison of microbial communities was made at the end of the biochemical methane potential test. Based on these analyses, methane production during anaerobic digestion was modeled under various scenarios, allowing for the calculation of expected electricity generation and carbon dioxide reduction. The experimental results were categorized according to manure management type and the types of pigs raised. In this study, at a temperature of 37 °C and a hydraulic retention time of 30 days, the scraper method demonstrated the highest methane production rates, achieving 0.85 and 1.03 m3/m3/day for both mono-anaerobic digestion of manure and co-digestion with food wastewater. However, establishing definitive characteristics of manure management types requires the collection of more comprehensive data from a broader range of farms, which will be critical for conducting further in-depth research.
Investigation of the CO2 Pre-Fracturing Mechanism for Enhancing Fracture Propagation and Stimulated Reservoir Volume in Ultra-Deep Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Liu Liming , Ding Ran , Chen Enqing , Zhang Cheng
Published: January 2025

CO2 pre-fracturing is an innovative technique for enhancing oil and gas production in unconventional reservoirs. Despite its potential, the mechanisms of CO2 pre-fracturing influencing fracture propagation, particularly in ultra-deep reservoirs, remain inadequately understood. This study investigates the CO2 pre-fracturing process in ultra-deep sandstone reservoirs of the central Junggar Basin. A 3D geomechanical model was established using RFPA3D-HF based on rock mechanical parameters from laboratory experiments. The study examines the effect of in situ horizontal stress differences, CO2 pre-injection volume, and slickwater injection rate on fracture complexity index (FCI) and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). The results reveal that in situ horizontal stress differences are the primary factor influencing fracture propagation. In ultra-deep reservoirs, high horizontal stress difference hinders fracture deflection and bifurcation during slickwater fracturing. CO2 pre-fracturing, through the pre-injection of CO2, reduces formation breakdown pressure and increases reservoir pore pressure due to its low viscosity and high permeability, effectively mitigating the effect of high horizontal stress differences and significantly enhancing fracturing effectiveness. Furthermore, appropriately increasing the CO2 pre-injection volume and slickwater injection rate can increase fracture complexity, resulting in a larger SRV. Notably, adjusting the CO2 pre-injection volume is more effective than adjusting slickwater injection rate in enhancing oil production. This study provides scientific evidence for selecting construction parameters and optimizing oil recovery through CO2 pre-fracturing technology in deep unconventional oil reservoirs and offers new insights into CO2 utilization and storage.
An Optimized Deep-Learning-Based Network with an Attention Module for Efficient Fire Detection
Authors: Altaf Muhammad , Yasir Muhammad , Dilshad Naqqash , Kim Wooseong
Published: January 2025

Globally, fire incidents cause significant social, economic, and environmental destruction, making early detection and rapid response essential for minimizing such devastation. While various traditional machine learning and deep learning techniques have been proposed, their detection performances remain poor, particularly due to low-resolution data and ineffective feature selection methods. Therefore, this study develops a novel framework for accurate fire detection, especially in challenging environments, focusing on two distinct phases: preprocessing and model initializing. In the preprocessing phase, super-resolution is applied to input data using LapSRN to effectively enhance the data quality, aiming to achieve optimal performance. In the subsequent phase, the proposed network utilizes an attention-based deep neural network (DNN) named Xception for detailed feature selection while reducing the computational cost, followed by adaptive spatial attention (ASA) to further enhance the model’s focus on a relevant spatial feature in the training data. Additionally, we contribute a medium-scale custom fire dataset, comprising high-resolution, imbalanced, and visually similar fire/non-fire images. Moreover, this study conducts an extensive experiment by exploring various pretrained DNN networks with attention modules and compares the proposed network with several state-of-the-art techniques using both a custom dataset and a standard benchmark. The experimental results demonstrate that our network achieved optimal performance in terms of precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy among different competitive techniques, proving its suitability for real-time deployment compared to edge devices.
Long Noncoding RNA–Messenger RNA (lncRNA–mRNA) Network in Resistance to Gummy Stem Blight (Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum) of Melon Plant Introduction (PI) 420145
Authors: Zhang Rui , Chen Jing , Zhang Yongbing , Lu Xiumei , Cheng Chunyan , Li Ji , Lou Qunfeng , Wang Yuhui , Qian Chuntao
Published: January 2025

Gummy stem blight (GSB), caused by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (Didymella bryoniae), poses a growing threat to greenhouse melon production. Despite this, the defense mechanism of melon against S. cucurbitacearum remains poorly understood. In this study, by employing electron microscopy and transcriptome sequencing, we investigated the cellular ultrastructure differences and gene expression dynamics of two melon accessions, PI 420145 (resistant to GSB) and ‘Baipicui’ (susceptible), pre- and post- inoculation. Our results revealed that PI 420145 exhibits a thicker waxy layer on the leaf surface and limited conidial germination without obvious signs of cell damage compared to ‘Baipicui’. The transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 23,078 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 974 differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (DELs). Specifically, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, cyanoamino acid metabolism, and MAPK signaling–plant and plant–pathogen interactions were enriched in PI 420145, while ‘Baipicui’ displayed enrichment in metabolism and autophagy. Additionally, through lncRNA–mRNA network construction, we identified a total of 38 lncRNA–mRNA targeted regulatory relationships in the four most significant KEGG pathways for disease resistance.
A Multi- Mediation Analysis on the Impact of Social Media and Internet Addiction on University and High School Students’ Mental Health Through Social Capital and Mindfulness
Authors: Zewude Girum Tareke , Natnael Tarikuwa , Woreta Getachew Tassew , Bezie Anmut Endalkachew
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Social media addiction (SMA) and internet addiction (IA) are increasingly prevalent, impacting mental health (MH) globally. This study investigates the mediating roles of mindfulness and social capital (SC) in the relationship between SMA, IA, and MH among Ethiopian high school and university students, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 of good health and well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1160 university and 1473 high school students in Dessie, Ethiopia. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing SMA, IA, mindfulness, SC, and MH. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with a multi- mediation Model (SMM) was used to examine the hypothesized relationships. Results: SEM revealed that both SMA and IA had a direct negative effect on mindfulness, SC, and MH in in both high school and university students. Notably, mindfulness and SC significantly and positively predicted MH, indicating their protective role against the negative effects of SMA and IA. Furthermore, both mindfulness or SC fully or partially mediated the relationship between SMA, IA, and MH, highlighting their crucial role in explaining the association. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the crucial roles of mindfulness and SC in buffering the negative effects of SMA and IA on MH among Ethiopian students. The findings highlight the need for educational and health interventions that foster mindfulness and SC to enhance student mental health and promote a healthy digital environment. These results offer valuable insights for educators, health professionals, and policymakers in Ethiopia and other developing countries facing similar challenges.
Chloroplast Genome Diversity and Molecular Evolution in Hypericaceae: New Insights from Three Hypericum Species
Authors: Yan Kan , Lu Xin , Li Wandi , Sun Chao , Zhou Xueqiong , Wang Youyou
Published: January 2025

The Hypericaceae family, comprising nine genera and over seven hundred species, includes Hypericum plants traditionally used for medicinal purposes. In this study, we performed high-throughput sequencing on three Hypericum species: Hypericum acmosepalum, Hypericum addingtonii, and Hypericum beanii, and conducted comparative genomic analyses with related species. The chloroplast genome sizes were 152,654 bp, 122,570 bp, and 137,652 bp, respectively, with an average GC content of 37.9%. All genomes showed a quadripartite structure, with significant variations in IR regions (3231–26,846 bp). The total number of genes ranged from 91 to 129. SSRs were predominantly located in the LSC region, with mononucleotide repeats being dominant. Comparative analysis identified several hotspot regions, including accD, rpoC2, rpoB, and rpl22 in the LSC region and matK, rpl32, rpl33, and rps4 in the SSC region. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis revealed eight highly variable regions and eleven gene loci, providing potential molecular markers for species identification. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Triadenum and Cratoxylum are closely related to Hypericum, with H. acmosepalum and H. beanii being closest relatives and Hypericum hookerianum as their sister species. These findings provide molecular tools for species identification and insights for conservation strategies of medicinal Hypericum species.
A B-Box (BBX) Transcription Factor from Cucumber, CsCOL9 Positively Regulates Resistance of Host Plant to Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Xie Shuixiang , Shi Baozheng , Miao Mengzhen , Zhao Chenchen , Bai Rune , Yan Fengming , Lei Caiyan
Published: January 2025

B-box (BBX) transcription factors play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we cloned a BBX transcription factor gene, CsCOL9I, from cucumber and analyzed its role in the plant’s defense against the feeding of Bemisia tabaci. CsCOL9 is expressed throughout all developmental stages in cucumber, with the highest expression in the leaves. CsCOL9 is induced by B. tabaci feeding, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cucumber plants with CsCOL9 silence (TRV2-CsCOL9) and overexpression (1301-CsCOL9) were obtained and analyzed. After CsCOL9 silencing, survival rates and host selectivity for B. tabaci increased; however, the expression levels of genes encoding enzymes (CsSOD, CsRBOH, CsPOD), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), and content of H2O2 in plants were all reduced. CsCOL9 overexpression led to decreased survival rates and host selectivity for B. tabaci. Conversely, the expression levels of genes (CsSOD, CsRBOH and CsPOD), activities of SOD and POD, and content of H2O2 increased after CsCOL9 overexpression in plants. Collectively, our results demonstrate CsCOL9 positively regulates cucumber resistance to B. tabaci by activating reactive oxygen species bursts. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the application of CsCOL9 in cucumber resistance breeding and green pest control of B. tabaci.
Identification of the EBF1/ETS2/KLF2-miR-126-Gene Feed-Forward Loop in Breast Carcinogenesis and Stemness
Authors: Gambacurta Alessandra , Tullio Valentina , Savini Isabella , Mauriello Alessandro , Catani Maria Valeria , Gasperi Valeria
Published: January 2025

MicroRNA (miR)-126 is frequently downregulated in malignancies, including breast cancer (BC). Despite its tumor-suppressive role, the mechanisms underlying miR-126 deregulation in BC remain elusive. Through silencing experiments, we identified Early B Cell Factor 1 (EBF1), ETS Proto-Oncogene 2 (ETS2), and Krüppel-Like Factor 2 (KLF2) as pivotal regulators of miR-126 expression. These transcription factors were found to be downregulated in BC due to epigenetic silencing or a “poised but not transcribed” promoter state, impairing miR-126 expression. Gene Ontology analysis of differentially expressed miR-126 target genes in the Cancer Genome Atlas: Breast Invasive Carcinoma (TCGA-BRCA) cohort revealed their involvement in cancer-related pathways, primarily signal transduction, chromatin remodeling/transcription, and differentiation/development. Furthermore, we defined interconnections among transcription factors, miR-126, and target genes, identifying a potential feed-forward loop (FFL) crucial in maintaining cellular identity and preventing the acquisition of stemness properties associated with cancer progression. Our findings propose that the dysregulation of the EBF1/ETS2/KLF2/miR-126 axis disrupts this FFL, promoting oncogenic transformation and progression in BC. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of miR-126 downregulation in BC and highlights potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Further research is warranted to clarify the role of this FFL in BC, and to identify novel therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating this network as a whole, rather than targeting individual signals, for cancer management.
Changes in Analytes Related to Immunity in the Saliva of Pigs After Vaccination Against Lawsonia intracellularis
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Andrea , Toledo Manuel , Ruiz Emilio , García Simón , Fernández Anabel , Cerón José Joaquín , Menjon Rut , Tejedor María Teresa , Goyena Elena , Muñoz-Prieto Alberto
Published: January 2025

Lawsonia intracellularis is a Gram-negative, intracellular bacterium that can infect several animal species. In pigs, the bacteria cause porcine proliferative enteropathy, or ileitis. The wide spread of the pathogen produces a large impact on pig production worldwide. Saliva is a source of biomarkers that can help to monitor changes in the immune system after vaccination. The purpose of this study was to study the changes in haptoglobin (Hp), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in saliva after vaccination against Lawsonia intracellularis. In addition, productivity parameters were analysed to evaluate if vaccination and changes in salivary analytes could be associated with changes in these parameters. The pigs vaccinated against Lawsonia showed an improvement in the productive parameters and a reduction in food conversion and frequency of diseases. In addition, they showed lower values of Hp (p = 0.011), IgG (p < 0.01), and ADA (p < 0.003) in saliva during the first two months of the fattening period compared to non-vaccinated pigs. It could be concluded that in our experimental conditions, the vaccination against Lawsonia intracellularis produced a significant decrease in biomarkers of the immune response in saliva compared with the non-vaccinated pigs. This would indicate a reduction in the activation of the immune system, which could be postulated to be due to the increased defence ability of the organism against pathogens. This reduced activation of the immune system can lead to better food conversion and an increase in the productive parameters of these pigs. Overall, this report opens a new window for the possible use of saliva for non-invasive evaluation of the immune system after vaccination in pigs.
Sex-Based Differences and Outcomes in Unselected Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography
Authors: Kuhn Lasse , Schupp Tobias , Steinke Philipp , Weidner Kathrin , Bertsch Thomas , Rusnak Jonas , Jannesari Mahboubeh , Siegel Fabian , Duerschmied Daniel , Behnes Michael , Akin Ibrahim
Published: January 2025

Background: The study investigates sex-related differences and outcomes in unselected patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (CA). Sex-based differences with regard to baseline characteristics and management of patients with cardiovascular disease have yet been demonstrated. However, their impact on long-term outcomes in unselected patients undergoing CA remains unknown. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing invasive CA from 2016 to 2022 were included at one institution. Prognosis of male and female patients undergoing CA was investigated with regard to the primary endpoint of rehospitalization for heart failure (HF) at 36 months. Secondary endpoints comprised the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and coronary revascularization at 36 months, as well as in-hospital all-cause mortality. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier analyses, as well as uni- and multivariable Cox proportional regression analyses. Results: From 2016 to 2022, 7691 patients undergoing CA were included (males: 65.1%; females: 34.9%). Males had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) (76.2% vs. 57.4%; p = 0.001), alongside a higher prevalence of 3-vessel CAD compared to females (33.9% vs. 20.3%; p = 0.001). The risk of rehospitalization for HF at 36 months was higher in males compared to females (22.4% vs. 20.3%; p = 0.036; HR = 1.127; 95% CI: 1.014–1.254; p = 0.027), which was no longer observed after multivariable adjustment. Male sex was associated with a higher risk of coronary revascularization (9.6% vs. 5.9%; p = 0.001; HR = 1.659; 95% CI: 1.379–1.997; p = 0.001), which was still evident after multivariable adjustment (HR = 1.650; 95% CI 1.341–2.029; p = 0.001). However, neither the risk of AMI at 36 months (8.1% vs. 6.9%; p = 0.077), nor the risk of in-hospital all-cause mortality (6.9% vs. 6.5%; p = 0.689) differed significantly between the two sexes. Conclusions: In consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography, male sex was independently associated with an increased risk of coronary revascularization, but not HF-related rehospitalization.
Functionalization of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Pultrusion Profiles by Welding
Authors: Ebert Calvin , Dürr Marcel Nick , Bonten Christian
Published: January 2025

Highly filled thermoplastic profiles, produced by in situ pultrusion, offer excellent mechanical properties, but further processing is necessary to expand the range of their applications. Due to the thermoplastic matrix, these materials are particularly well-suited for thermal welding processes. However, the high fiber content of up to 70 vol.-% presents a significant challenge in welding, an aspect that has not yet been thoroughly investigated in the existing literature. This study focuses on the further processing of the highly-filled profiles by adapting the classic hot tool welding process with the aim of investigating the underlying welding mechanism. An IR line-emitter is used to melt the PA6 matrix of the fiber-reinforced plastic component while the second adherend (unfilled PA6) is melted with a classic heating element. Afterward, the joints are tested for tensile and bending strength. The results of these mechanical tests demonstrate that a strong bond can be formed between the adherends. The joint strength reached values of up to 39 MPa, which corresponds to a welding factor of 0.81. Optical examination of the weld seam reveals a reason for the mechanical performance. At high joining pressures, a form-fit is created between the continuous fibers in the profile and the welded-on unfilled PA6.
Performance of Timber-Concrete Composite (TCC) Systems Connected with Inclined Screws: A Literature Review
Authors: Esmaeildoust Shadi , Tomlinson Douglas , Chui Ying Hei
Published: January 2025

Timber–concrete composite (TCC) systems present a viable alternative to conventional timber or reinforced concrete systems. TCC leverages the advantages of both materials, resulting in an enhanced composite structure. Historically, traditional mechanical connectors such as nails, bolts, and dowels have been used in TCC systems to join timber and concrete components. However, these connectors often fall short in providing sufficient load transfer efficiency. Therefore, the use of screws and, more recently, inclined screws in TCC systems has increased due to their enhanced load transfer efficiency and greater stiffness compared to traditional connections. This review paper consolidates findings from contemporary experimental studies and analytical models, examining the influence of factors such as screw type and inclination angle on the performance of TCC systems for both connection and beam specimens in ultimate and serviceability limit states. Key issues addressed include the shear strength, stiffness, and long-term behaviour of the connection type. By offering a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge, this paper aims to inform design practices and contribute to the development of more resilient and efficient TCC systems, supporting their increased adoption in sustainable construction.
Coastal Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment in Cameroon
Authors: Tchindjang Mesmin , Mbevo Fendoung Philippes , Kamgho Casimir
Published: January 2025

The coast is the most dynamic part of the Earth’s surface due to its strategic position at the interface of the land and the sea. It is, therefore, exposed to hazards and specific risks because of the geography as well as the geological and environmental characteristics of different countries. The coastal environment is essentially dynamic and evolving in time and space, marked by waves, tides, and seasons; moreover, it is subjected to many marine and continental processes (forcing). This succession of events significantly influences the frequency and severity of coastal hazards. The present paper aims at describing and characterizing the hazards and vulnerabilities on the Cameroonian coast. Cameroon possesses 400 km of coastline, which is exposed to various hazards. It is important to determine the probabilities of these hazards, the associated effects, and the related vulnerabilities. In this study, in this stable intraplate setting, the methodology used was diverse and combined techniques for the study of the shore and methods for the treatment of climatic data. Also, historical data were collected during field observations and from the CRED website for all the natural hazards recorded in Cameroon. In addition, documents on climate change were consulted. Remotely sensed data, combined with GIS tools, helped to determine and assess the associated risks. A critical grid combining a severity and frequency analysis was used to better understand these hazards and the coastal vulnerabilities of Cameroon. The results show that Cameroon’s coastal margins are subject to natural processes that cause shoreline changes, including inundation, erosion, and accretion. This study identified seven primary hazard types (earthquakes, volcanism, landslides, floods, erosion, sea level rise, and black tides) affecting the Cameroonian coastline, with the erosion rate exceeding 1.15 m/year at Cape Cameroon. Coastal populations are continuously threatened by these natural or man-induced hazards, and they are periodically subjected to catastrophic disasters such as floods and landslides, as experienced in Cameroon. In addition, despite the existence of the National Contingency Plan devised by the Directorate of Civil Protection, National Risk, and Climate Change Observatories, the implementation of disaster risk reduction and mitigation strategies is suboptimal.
Study on the Occurrence of Double Bottom Simulating Reflectors in the Makran Accretionary Zone
Authors: Chen Jiangxin , Zhao Wenyu , Tong Siyou , Azevedo Leonardo , Wu Nengyou , Liu Bin , Xu Huaning , Gong Jianming , Liao Jing , Liang Jie , Luo Dongxu , Fu Yu
Published: January 2025

A Bottom Simulating Reflector (BSR) is a seismic feature closely related to marine gas hydrate as it is usually regarded as the seismic response of the base of the gas hydrate stability zone in seismic profiles. BSRs are widely distributed in the Makran accretionary wedge, and double BSRs are observed at some locations. Double BSRs usually appear on seismic profiles as two layers of BSRs located at distinct depths but with large lateral seismic amplitude variations. Based on the multi-channel seismic reflection data acquired over the Makran accretionary wedge, this work studies the origin of the double BSR in the Makran accretionary wedge and its association with fluid escape events. Our modeling suggests that double BSRs correspond to both the paleo-seafloor and modern seafloor caused by late sedimentary activities. Also, the residual paleo-BSR migrates upward due to the increase in local geothermal gradient caused by diapirs and gas chimney thermal fluids.