bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Surgery and Screw-Only Osteosyntheses in Minimally Invasive Treatment of Calcaneal Fractures—Risk or Benefit for Our Patients?
Authors: Rodemund Christian , Katzensteiner Moritz , Vogel Maximilian , Mattiassich Georg
Published: January 2025

Background: This study aims to analyze the outcomes following the minimally invasive surgery of calcaneal fractures using screw-only osteosynthesis, as well as the impact of surgical timing. Methods: Between 2015 and 2020, 155 patients with 168 fractures were included. According to the Sanders classification, 48.21% of fractures were classified as Sanders 2, 33.33% as Sanders 3, and 10.11% as Sanders 4 fractures, with the remaining fractures unclassified. A total of 117 cases were treated on the day of admission or the following day. The surgeries followed a standardized protocol for fracture analysis, positioning, and X-ray techniques, primarily using a percutaneous approach with stab incisions. Osteosynthesis was mainly performed using screws, with five cases treated with K-wires for open fractures. Results: The mean Boehler’s angle improved from 8.52° preoperatively to 25.00° postoperatively. Three superficial infections were observed. Deep infections occurred in three cases, all following open fractures. Secondary dislocation was noted in five patients—one due to a deep infection, and four attributed to clear technical failures. One case involved a questionable indication for a screw change (7.3 mm screw) after two weeks due to perforation of the medial wall. A total of 79 fractures were followed up for an average of 4 years and 3 months. The mean AOFAS score was 91.3, and the mean FAOS score was 88.7. Surgery within 7 days after admission showed no significant impact on the outcomes. Conclusions: Minimally invasive screw-only osteosynthesis with early surgical intervention offers favorable outcomes with minimal risk.
Periodontal Endoscopy for Mechanical Debridement in the Non-Surgical Management of Peri-Implantitis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Jakubowska Sylwia , Górski Bartłomiej
Published: January 2025

Background: The aim of the present narrative review is to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the effects of submarginal instrumentation with periodontal endoscopy and evaluate its’ potential efficacy in terms of the non-surgical therapy of peri-implantitis. Methods: The literature search was performed via electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus, and was supplemented by manual searching. A literature review was conducted addressing the following PICOS questions: (1) What is the efficacy of non-surgical submarginal instrumentation of the implant surface with the aid of a periodontal endoscope in patients with peri-implantitis? (2) What is the efficacy of non-surgical subgingival instrumentation performed with the aid of a periodontal endoscope compared with conventional subgingival instrumentation in patients with periodontitis, in terms of clinical parameters and patient-reported outcomes? Mechanical decontamination of the implant surface is crucial for resolving inflammation and arresting further bone loss. However, there is no consensus on the most effective treatment. Non-surgical therapy remains the initial intervention, focused on biofilm removal to control the disease, although with limited capability to achieve complete disease resolution as the presence of threads and the complex-structured implant surface hinder effective biofilm removal. This evokes the need for providing supporting technologies such as periodontal endoscopy, which enables direct visualization and precision, potentially enhancing the outcomes and reducing the necessity for surgical procedures and their associated risks. Within the limitations of this narrative review, periodontal endoscopy may offer a less tissue-invasive approach. Larger prospective studies and RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and guide clinicians in determining periodontal endoscopy’s suitability based on specific case characteristics.
A Robust Blood Vessel Segmentation Technique for Angiographic Images Employing Multi-Scale Filtering Approach
Authors: Paulauskaite-Taraseviciene Agne , Siaulys Julius , Jankauskas Antanas , Jakuskaite Gabriele
Published: January 2025

Background: This study focuses on the critical task of blood vessel segmentation in medical image analysis, essential for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases and enabling effective treatment planning. Although deep learning architectures often produce very high segmentation results in medical images, coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) images are more challenging than invasive coronary angiography (ICA) images due to noise and the complexity of vessel structures. Methods: Classical architectures for medical images, such as U-Net, achieve only moderate accuracy, with an average Dice score of 0.722. Results: This study introduces Morpho-U-Net, an enhanced U-Net architecture that integrates advanced morphological operations, including Gaussian blurring, thresholding, and morphological opening/closing, to improve vascular integrity, reduce noise, and achieve a higher Dice score of 0.9108, a precision of 0.9341, and a recall of 0.8872. These enhancements demonstrate superior robustness to noise and intricate vessel geometries. Conclusions: This pre-processing filter effectively reduces noise by grouping neighboring pixels with similar intensity values, allowing the model to focus on relevant anatomical structures, thus outperforming traditional methods in handling the challenges posed by CTA images.
Face Boundary Formulation for Harmonic Models: Face Image Resembling
Authors: Huang Hung-Tsai , Li Zi-Cai , Wei Yimin , Suen Ching Yee
Published: January 2025

This paper is devoted to numerical algorithms based on harmonic transformations with two goals: (1) face boundary formulation by blending techniques based on the known characteristic nodes and (2) some challenging examples of face resembling. The formulation of the face boundary is imperative for face recognition, transformation, and combination. Mapping between the source and target face boundaries with constituent pixels is explored by two approaches: cubic spline interpolation and ordinary differential equation (ODE) using Hermite interpolation. The ODE approach is more flexible and suitable for handling different boundary conditions, such as the clamped and simple support conditions. The intrinsic relations between the cubic spline and ODE methods are explored for different face boundaries, and their combinations are developed. Face combination and resembling are performed by employing blending curves for generating the face boundary, and face images are converted by numerical methods for harmonic models, such as the finite difference method (FDM), the finite element method (FEM) and the finite volume method (FVM) for harmonic models, and the splitting–integrating method (SIM) for the resampling of constituent pixels. For the second goal, the age effects of facial appearance are explored to discover that different ages of face images can be produced by integrating the photos and images of the old and the young. Then, the following challenging task is targeted. Based on the photos and images of parents and their children, can we obtain an integrated image to resemble his/her current image as closely as possible? Amazing examples of face combination and resembling are reported in this paper to give a positive answer. Furthermore, an optimal combination of face images of parents and their children in the least-squares sense is introduced to greatly facilitate face resembling. Face combination and resembling may also be used for plastic surgery, finding missing children, and identifying criminals. The boundary and numerical techniques of face images in this paper can be used not only for pattern recognition but also for face morphing, morphing attack detection (MAD), and computer animation as Sora to greatly enhance further developments in AI.
Follow-Up Study on Acoustic De-Licing of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus Dynamics over Four Consecutive Production Cycles
Authors: Imsland Albert Kjartan Dagbjartarson , Balseiro Pablo , Handeland Sigurd , Godø Olav Rune
Published: January 2025

Acoustic lice treatment (AcuLice) is a newly developed system which uses a composite acoustic sound image with low-frequency sound to remove salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The effect of AcuLice treatment on salmon lice dynamics was measured by weekly salmon lice counting at a full-scale production facility from mid-summer 2019 to late-spring 2024. We monitored four production cycles, with AcuLice applied for two of the production cycles and with no AcuLice treatment applied during the other two production cycles as control. This is a follow-up study to our previous work. The numbers of salmon lice treatments and of weeks until the first salmon lice treatment were also compared in the two experimental groups. For the small (sessile and mobile stages) salmon lice, a significantly lower number (mean ± SEM) was shown for the AcuLice group (0.73 ± 0.03) compared with the control group (1.18 ± 0.05). For the mature female salmon lice, a significantly lower number (mean ± SEM) was found for the AcuLice group (0.12 ± 0.01) compared with the control group (0.22 ± 0.03). In addition, the mean (±SEM) number of C. elongatus varied between the two experimental groups and was higher in the control group (0.12 ± 0.01) compared with the AcuLice group (0.03 ± 0.01). In addition, a lower number (mean ± SEM) of salmon lice treatments (1.4 ± 0.17 vs. 4.22 ± 0.20) and a longer production period before the first salmon lice treatment occurred was observed for the AcuLice group (11.2 ± 0.1 weeks) compared with the control group (24.1 ± 2.3 weeks). These data suggest that the use of the AcuLice system significantly reduces the number of salmon lice (by 40–60%) and C. elongatus (by 70%) on farmed Atlantic salmon and reduces the need for traditional salmon lice treatments (by 65%).
Optimization of Bulk Cargo Terminal Unloading and Outbound Operations Based on a Deep Reinforcement Learning Framework
Authors: Li Haijiang , Zhao Jiapeng , Jia Peng , Ou Hongdong , Zhao Weili
Published: January 2025

This study addresses the integrated scheduling problem of dry bulk cargo terminal yards, which includes three components: transportation planning, yard selection optimization, and equipment scheduling. Additionally, the research integrates safety considerations and addresses the complexities of dynamic transportation planning. This work presents two innovations. Firstly, this study develops a sophisticated modeling framework that integrates graph structures for precise yard mapping with mixed-integer programming to enforce operational constraints. This integrated approach facilitates a more accurate and comprehensive representation of yard operations, capturing diverse operational aspects while maintaining model clarity and computational efficiency. Secondly, this study proposes an advanced solution methodology that employs a reinforcement learning technique integrating a Dueling Deep Q-Network and Double Deep Q-Network. This hybrid algorithm significantly enhances optimization performance and accelerates the learning process, thereby improving the efficiency of the solutions. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model effectively manages the integrated scheduling of bulk material ingress, storage, and egress within the yard. The operational plans generated by the approach outperform traditional first-come, first-served strategies, showcasing substantial improvements in port operational efficiency and reliability. This comprehensive solution underscores the potential for significant advancements in the overall management and performance of dry bulk cargo ports.
Investigations on Free Span Rectification for a Submarine Pipeline on Sand Wave Seabeds
Authors: Zou Xing , Xie Botao , Bai Xuechun , Guo Yuanyuan , Yuan Qingqing , Zang Zhipeng
Published: January 2025

Sand waves are large-scale bed forms commonly occurring on the continental shelf seabed and can result in free spans of submarine pipelines, which may have an influence on the stability of the pipelines. Existing span rectification procedures have primarily focused on local rectification methods for free spans caused by local scour or individual spans resulting from seabed unevenness. This paper aims to present a span rectification design applicable to the pipeline crossing sand wave region, and to offer practical guidance on sand wave intervention strategies. A large-scale approach is necessary for the rectification of multiple spans across the field, which may involve the use of either a mass flow excavator (MFE) or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) jetting tool. A comparative analysis of the estimated durations for post-lay trenching using the MFE and ROV jetting tools is also provided. In instances where the large-scale method fails to achieve span lengths suitable for long-term operation, a localized approach is necessary to address individual spans. The desired trench depth can be attained through a combination of pre-lay and/or post-lay trenching techniques. The analysis of on-bottom roughness and free span has demonstrated that, given the natural seabed profile without trenching, there are no spans surpassing the ultimate limit state (ULS) or fatigue limit state (FLS) criteria for the temporary installation scenario. Consequently, pre-lay rectification is not necessary. However, the analysis indicates that post-lay rectification is essential to meet ULS and FLS criteria under operating conditions. All spans that exceed the ULS and FLS criteria can be effectively rectified by trenching to a depth of 1 m.
Ancient Wisdom in Modern Tourism: Sustainable Solutions from Greek and Roman Literature
Authors: Olivadese Marianna , Dindo Maria Luisa
Published: January 2025

This review examines how ancient Greek and Roman literature can inform sustainable cultural tourism, offering valuable insights for managing cultural heritage and landscapes responsibly. By analyzing works such as Homer’s Odyssey, Virgil’s Georgics, and Pausanias’ Description of Greece, this study bridges classical wisdom with modern challenges such as climate change, over-tourism, and shifts in accessibility. Key findings and practical solutions include respect for sacred landscapes: for example, ancient reverence for sites such as Delphi demonstrates how cultural heritage can be protected by fostering ethical relationships with significant places. Tourism policies can draw on this perspective to integrate conservation efforts with the promotion of historical sites. Moreover, sustainable resource stewardship is highlighted: for example, Roman agricultural ethics, as seen in Virgil’s Georgics, emphasize harmony between human activity and nature. These principles can inform strategies for managing tourism’s environmental footprint, such as prioritizing local resource sustainability and preserving natural ecosystems. Models for slow tourism are also provided: for example, epic journeys such as Homer’s Odyssey highlight the value of slow, immersive travel. By promoting meaningful engagement with destinations, tourism can reduce environmental stress while enriching visitor experiences. In addition to these findings, the study underscores the communal responsibility inherent in ancient principles, advocating for tourism models that balance individual benefits with collective well-being. Practical applications include promoting community-based tourism models, fostering partnerships with local stakeholders, and incorporating ethical guidelines into tourism management to mitigate negative impacts on cultural sites and ecosystems. In conclusion, this review argues that revisiting classical texts through the lens of the environmental humanities offers actionable strategies for sustainable tourism. By adopting ancient values of stewardship, reverence for nature, and civic responsibility, stakeholders can create tourism models that preserve cultural and environmental heritage while ensuring long-term economic and social benefits.
Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO2–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints
Authors: Jiang Liwei , Li Bo , Jia Fanshuo , Wang Guangjie , Liu Yayun , Zhang Kedong , Jiang Ning , Wang Chuanyang
Published: January 2025

ZrO2 ceramics, known for their high strength and wear resistance, are ideal for artificial joints. This study enhanced the friction performance of these joints by fabricating textured structures (50 μm width and 20–25 μm depth) on the ceramic surface. Friction tests, conducted at 200 r/min for 30 min with a 5–20 N load and lubricant concentration of 15–60 mg/mL using PEEK balls, showed that textured joints outperformed untextured ones. The symmetrical triangular structure had the lowest coefficient of friction and the best hydrophilicity, with a 53.0% reduction in the coefficient of friction and a 57.4% reduction in the contact angle compared to the untextured structure. The textures effectively store the PEEK residue and facilitate the smooth movement of the worn ball. Concurrently, the textured structure stores some of the lubricant, which reduces the static pressure during fluid flow by 12.6%. Overall, the friction performance of ZrO2 ceramic artificial joints was significantly improved by the textured structures.
Supercapacitor Cell Performance with Bacterial Nanocellulose and Bacterial Nanocellulose/Polybenzimidazole Impregnated Membranes as Separator
Authors: Penchev Hristo , Ivanova Galia , Hubenov Venelin , Boyadzieva Ivanka , Budurova Desislava , Ublekov Filip , Gigova Adriana , Stoyanova Antonia
Published: January 2025

Supercapacitors are advanced energy storage devices renowned for their rapid energy delivery and long operational lifespan, making them indispensable across various industries. Their relevance has grown in recent years due to the adoption of environmentally friendly materials. One such material is bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), produced entirely from microbial sources, offering sustainability and a bioprocess-driven synthesis. In this study, BNC was synthesized using a symbiotic microbial community. After production and purification, pristine BNC membranes, with an average thickness of 80 microns, were impregnated with an alkali-alcohol meta-polybenzimidazole (PBI) solution. This process yielded hybrid BNC/PBI membranes with improved ion-transport properties. The BNC membranes were then doped with a 6 M KOH solution, to enhance OH− conductivity, and characterized using optical microscopy, ATR FT-IR, XRD, CVT, BET analysis, and impedance spectroscopy. Both BNC and BNC/PBI membranes were tested as separators in laboratory-scale symmetric supercapacitor cells, with performance compared to a commercial Viledon® separator. The supercapacitors employing BNC membranes exhibited high specific capacitance and excellent cycling stability, retaining performance over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. These findings underscore the potential of BNC/KOH membranes for next-generation supercapacitor applications.
Characterization and Sliding Wear Behavior of Low-Pressure Cold-Spray Al-Al2O3 and Al-Al2O3/TiN Composite Coatings
Authors: Chupong Pudsadee , Sukpat Mahathep , Tuchinda Karuna
Published: January 2025

Low-pressure cold-spray (LPCS) aluminum is widely used for coating depositions in various engineering applications but is limited by its low hardness and poor wear resistance. To improve these properties, ceramic particles are added to form metallic matrix composites (MMCs). High-pressure processes can achieve effective MMC coatings but are costly and energy intensive. LPCS has been studied to develop an Al-based MMC at a lower cost. To ensure the adaptation of developed LPCS coating in engineering applications, the behavior of the coating under certain loads needs to be established. This study investigates the sliding wear behavior, friction characteristics, hardness, and microstructure of Al-Al2O3 and Al-Al2O3/TiN composite coatings deposited using LPCS at 1 MPa and 450 °C. The effect of adding 25 wt% TiN to the Al-Al2O3 composite was explored. Although the addition of TiN did not significantly enhance the hardness of the coating, SEM analysis revealed notable differences in wear behavior between the two coatings. The Al-Al2O3/TiN composite exhibited better wear resistance, which was attributed to the reduced formation of powdery wear debris and improved crack suppression. These findings highlight the potential of TiN reinforcement to enhance the tribological performance of LPCS aluminum-based coatings, offering a promising solution for improving wear resistance in engineering applications.
Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Chelate Microextraction of Rare Earth Elements: Optimization and Greenness Evaluation
Authors: Delić Milica , Ristić Mirjana , Đolić Maja , Perić-Grujić Aleksandra , Onjia Antonije
Published: January 2025

An ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method was developed to concentrate and quantify rare earth elements (REEs) (Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in acidic aqueous solutions. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was used as the diluent, di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as the extracting agent, and acetone as the dispersant solvent. The method was optimized at pH = 2.3, T = 25 °C, and VS = 400 µL of a PCE ÷ D2EHPA mixture (10 ÷ 1) using the response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design. Under optimal conditions, the method proved efficient for the DLLME of most REEs (Y, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu), where the achieved recoveries were in the range of 61–109%, while relative standard deviations were in the range 11–28%. The proposed method was applied to recover REEs from real coal ash leachate samples. A greenness evaluation using the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI), Analytical GREEnness (AGREE), and Analytical Eco-Scale (AES) methodologies revealed acceptable metric scores of 74, 0.61, and 26.6–79.8, respectively.
Lipidomic Signature of Pregnant and Postpartum Females by Longitudinal and Transversal Evaluation: Putative Biomarkers Determined by UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+-MS
Authors: Traila Alexandra , Craina Marius , Socaciu Carmen , Socaciu Andreea Iulia , Nitusca Diana , Marian Catalin
Published: January 2025

Background: Pregnancy induces significant physiological and metabolic changes in the mother to support fetal growth and prepare for childbirth. These adaptations impact various systems, including immune tolerance, metabolism, and endocrine function. While metabolomics has been utilized to study pregnancy-related metabolic changes, comprehensive comparisons between pregnant and non-pregnant states, particularly using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), remain limited. Methods: This study aimed to explore the dynamic, longitudinal metabolic shifts during pregnancy by profiling plasma samples from 65 pregnant women across three time points (6–14 weeks, 14–22 weeks, and >24 weeks) and 42 postpartum women. Lipidomics was prioritized, and a solvent mixture was employed to enhance lipid extraction, using UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+-MS. Results: A total of 290 metabolites were identified and analyzed. Our results revealed significant metabolic differences between pregnant and postpartum women, with lipid molecules such as estrogen derivatives, fatty acids, and ceramides showing strong potential as biomarkers. Further biomarker analysis highlighted distinct metabolic signatures between early and late pregnancy stages, particularly in lipid metabolism (with AUC values > 0.8). Conclusions: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of pregnancy-related metabolic changes and may offer insights into maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
DisCo P-ad: Distance-Correlation-Based p-Value Adjustment Enhances Multiple Testing Corrections for Metabolomics
Authors: Nandy Debmalya , Ghosh Debashis , Kechris Katerina
Published: January 2025

Background: Due to scientific advancements in high-throughput data production technologies, omics studies, such as genomics and metabolomics, often give rise to numerous measurements per sample/subject containing several noisy variables that potentially cloud the true signals relevant to the desired study outcome(s). Therefore, correcting for multiple testing is critical while performing any statistical test of significance to minimize the chances of false or missed discoveries. Such correction practice is commonplace in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) but is also becoming increasingly relevant to metabolome-wide association studies (MWAS). However, many existing procedures may be too conservative or too lenient, only assume a linear association between the features, or have not been evaluated on metabolomics data. Methods: One such multiple testing correction strategy is to estimate the number of statistically independent tests, called the effective number of tests, based on the eigen-analysis of the correlation matrix between the features. This effective number is then used for a subsequent single-step adjustment to obtain the pointwise significance level. We propose a modification to the p-value adjustment based on a more general measure of association between two predictors, the distance correlation, with a specific focus on MWAS. Results: We assessed common GWAS p-value adjustment procedures and one tailored for MWAS, which rely on eigen-analysis of the Pearson’s correlation matrix. Our study, including varying sample size-to-feature ratios, response types, and metabolite groupings, highlights the superior performance of the distance correlation. Conclusion: We propose the distance-correlation-based p-value adjustment (DisCo P-ad) as a novel modification that can enhance existing eigen-analysis-based multiple testing correction procedures by increasing power or reducing false positives. While our focus is on metabolomics, DisCo P-ad can also readily be applied to other high-dimensional omics studies.
Multiplexed Dilute-and-Shoot Liquid Chromatography–Multiple-Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry Clinical Assay for Metanephrines and Catecholamines in Human Urine
Authors: Qasrawi Deema O. , Pimenta Adriano M. C. , Petrotchenko Evgeniy V. , Eintracht Shaun , Borchers Christoph H.
Published: January 2025

Background: Quantifying urinary catecholamines and metanephrines is essential for the clinical screening and diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumours. HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) is commonly used for this type of analysis but requires extensive sample cleanup. Simple and rapid dilute-and-shoot LC–multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM)-MS assays have been developed for quantitating these analytes in urine but have not yet been validated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Methods: A simple dilute-and-shoot sample preparation without derivatization was used. C18 RP-UPLC-MRM-MS and positive-ion ESI were used, usually with two transitions per analyte being monitored. Certified deuterated internal standards were used for each analyte. Results: This assay was validated according to the CLSI C62-A guidelines, including accuracy/trueness, imprecision, sensitivity, specificity, carryover, stability, and linearity. The final MRM-MS method was compared to the established HPLC-ECD clinical chemistry reference method. The run time was reduced from 25 min to 5 min. Conclusions: A simple, robust, rapid, and cost-effective LC-MRM-MS assay for measuring urinary catecholamines and metanephrines was developed and validated according to the CLSI guidelines. This validated method requires minimal sample manipulation before analysis and provides sensitivity, specificity, and improved precision. The implementation of this assay in clinical laboratories will facilitate early and accurate diagnosis.
Relay Protection Device Reliability Assessment Through Radiation, Fault Injection and Fault Tree Analysis
Authors: Zhou Hualiang , Yu Hao , Zou Zhiyang , Su Zhantao , Xu Zheng , Yang Weitao , He Chaohui
Published: January 2025

Relay protection devices must operate continuously throughout the year without anomalies. With the integration of advanced technology and process chips in secondary equipment, new risks need to be addressed to ensure the reliability of these relay protection devices. One such risk is the impact of α-particles inducing single event effects (SEEs) on the secondary equipment. To date, there has been limited assessment of the effects of α-particles on relay protection devices from a system perspective. This study evaluates the impact of SEE on relay protection devices through a Monte Carlo simulation, which is verified by α-particle radiation, fault injection, and fault tree analysis. It discusses the influence of SEEs with and without hardening measures in place. Additionally, this study examines the soft error probability when the target processor runs both general workloads and specific application workloads. The current research proposes a low-cost and effective reliability assessment method for secondary equipment considering single event effects. The findings provide new insights for the enhancement of future electric power grid systems.
Machining Path Optimization of Inductively Coupled Plasma Based on Surface Heat Transfer Model
Authors: Jiao Peiqi , Fan Bin , Xin Qiang , Wu Xiang , Wang Hong
Published: January 2025

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP), a non-contact optical processing method, has been widely used in the preparation of fused quartz. However, the thermal effect during processing inevitably affects the stability of the removal rate, reduces the processing accuracy, and restricts the further development of plasma processing. This paper analyzes the critical temperature that affects the changes in plasma removal depth, establishes a heat transfer model for plasma jet processing through simulations, derives the heat conduction equation during processing, and obtains the critical radius corresponding to the critical temperature related to the processing speed. Additionally, this work analyzes the path temperature of the grating track used in processing and obtains the path temperature variation curve. Based on the critical radius, a staggered grating track was proposed, which verified that this track can effectively control the path temperature, thereby suppressing the error caused by the thermal effect of processing. This study not only helps to gain a deeper understanding of the heat transfer process in plasma machining, but also provides a basis for achieving high-precision plasma machining path optimization schemes.
Toxoplasma gondii and Rabies—The Parasite, the Virus, or Both?
Authors: Wilson Ragan , Caseltine Shannon , Will Edith , Saliki Jeremiah , Scimeca Ruth C.
Published: January 2025

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of vertebrates, including humans. Although cats are the only definitive host, any warm-blooded animal can act as a paratenic host. Throughout the years, this apicomplexan parasite has been studied due to its wide prevalence, zoonotic potential, and host behavioral alterations. Known for its neurological alterations, the rabies virus is one of the most recognized types of zoonosis that, although preventable, still causes deaths in humans and animals worldwide. Due to the overlapping clinical signs of these two pathogens, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii DNA in cerebellum tissue collected for rabies testing; cerebellum tissue from diverse animals is often submitted for this purpose. Between May 2022 and April 2024, we tested 903 cerebellum tissue samples from 22 animal species submitted for rabies testing to the Oklahoma Animal Diagnostic Disease Laboratory. Overall, T. gondii prevalence was 3.96%, with 1.8% found in cats (Felis catus), 1.7% in dogs (Canis familiaris), 0.3% in skunks (Mephitis mephitis), and 0.2% in infected cattle (Bos taurus). Analysis among T. gondii-positive hosts revealed a statistically significant difference in dogs when comparing neutered vs. intact males, with 7.94% (5/63) T. gondii-positive neutered males and 1.61% (3/186) T. gondii-positive intact males (p = 0.02). All the T. gondii-positive samples were negative for rabies. Anamnesis in some of the T. gondii-positive samples included ataxia, aggression, muscle rigidity, lethargy, and seizures, with the latter also described in dogs and aggression in the positive bovine sample. The clinical signs described in the T. gondii-infected hosts can be mistaken for rabies infection; therefore, it is important to consider T. gondii as a differential diagnosis in suspected rabies cases and test for this parasite when negative rabies results are obtained.
Seasonal Variations in the Structure and Function of the Gut Flora in Adult Male Rhesus Macaques Reared in Outdoor Colonies
Authors: Lv Longbao , Zhang Feiyan , Zhou Haimei , Xiao Wenxian , Hu Yingzhou , Wang Wenchao , Zhu Zhu , Zhu Fangming , Qin Dongdong , Hu Xintian
Published: January 2025

The seasonal variations that occur in the gut microbiota of healthy adult rhesus monkeys kept in outdoor groups under conventional rearing patterns and how these variations are affected by environmental variables are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we collected 120 fecal samples from 30 adult male rhesus monkeys kept in outdoor groups across four seasons and recorded the temperature and humidity of the housing facilities, as well as the proportions of fruit and vegetables in their diet. A 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota of the rhesus monkeys was higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. A principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) further demonstrated notable seasonal variations in the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota in the rhesus monkeys. The phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and the genus Prevotella 9 were the significantly dominant groups in all 120 fecal samples from the rhesus monkeys. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis (LDA > 4) indicated that at the phylum level, Firmicutes was significantly enriched in winter, Bacteroidetes was significantly enriched in summer, and Proteobacteria and Campylobacter were significantly enriched in spring. At the genus level, Helicobacter and Ralstonia were significantly enriched in spring; Prevotella 9, Streptococcus, and Prevotella were significantly enriched in summer; and UCG_005 was significantly enriched in autumn. The beneficial genera Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Ligilactobacillus and the beneficial species Lactobacillus johnsonii, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Ligilactobacillus murinus, and Lactobacillus amylovorus all showed the same seasonal trend; namely, their average relative abundance was markedly greater during the winter months compared to other seasons. Compared with other seasons, carbohydrate metabolic function was significantly upregulated in winter (p < 0.01), amino acid metabolic function was relatively increased in spring, and energy metabolic function and the metabolic function of cofactors and vitamins were significantly downregulated in winter and relatively upregulated in summer. A variance partitioning analysis (VPA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the proportions of fruits and vegetables in the diet, but not climatic factors (temperature and humidity), significantly influenced the seasonal changes in the gut microbiota. These variations were related to changes in the proportions of fruits and vegetables. This research presents novel findings regarding the influence of external environmental factors on the gastrointestinal environment of rhesus monkeys.
Characterization and Otoprotective Effects of Polysaccharides from Arthrospira platensis
Authors: Banti Matteo , Garcia-Gil Mercedes , Guidotti Lorenzo , Di Giuseppe Graziano , Rapposelli Simona , Monti Daniela , Tampucci Silvia , De Leo Marinella , Gado Francesca , Nieri Paola , Manera Clementina
Published: January 2025

Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders in humans, and a large number of cases are due to ear cell damage caused by ototoxic drugs including anticancer agents, such as cisplatin. The recent literature reported that hearing loss is promoted by an excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cochlea cells, which causes oxidative stress. Recently, polysaccharides from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis showed many biological activities, including antioxidant activity, suggesting their potential use to combat hearing loss. On these bases, this study describes the extraction, purification, and characterization of water-soluble polysaccharides from A. platensis (SPPs) and the investigation of their protective role against cisplatin toxicity on House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti (HEI-OC1) cells. The results showed that SPPs (5–80 µg/mL) induced a dose-dependent increase in viability, statistically significant at 40 µg/mL and 80 µg/mL. Moreover, SPPs, evaluated at 80 µg/mL, inhibited the cisplatin-induced ROS level increase in HEI-OC1. This evidence highlights the potential of SPPs as natural candidates to protect cochlear ear cells against ototoxic oxidative agents. Moreover, in view of the potential use of microalgal polysaccharides to realize hydrogels, SPPs could also represent a healthy carrier for other topically administered otoprotective agents.
Refining Surface Copper Species on Cu/SiO2 Catalysts to Boost Furfural Hydrogenation to Furfuryl Alcohol
Authors: Wang Jieqiong , Yang Jingyi , Bing Zezheng , Gao Yuanyuan , Yang Tao , Liu Qiaoyun , Zhang Meng , Liu Zhongyi
Published: January 2025

Controllable hydrogenation of carbonyl groups (C=O) is crucial for converting furfural into high-value furfuryl alcohol. Instead of traditional impregnation method, a novel Cu-based catalyst (Cu/SiO2) is prepared using the ammonia evaporation method (AE) for the efficient hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol under mild conditions. At the reaction conditions of 90 °C and 1 MPa H2, the 5Cu/SiO2-AE sample showed optimal performance with higher turnover frequency (36.0 h−1) and furfuryl alcohol selectivity (>99.9%). After five cycles, the catalyst recycled still showed a high reaction activity and selectivity for furfuryl alcohol. Characterization results such as XRD, H2-TPR, FT-IR, and XPS showed that the excellent catalytic performance of 5Cu/SiO2-AE catalyst was attributed to the formation of layered copper silicate and the high dispersion of Cu species. Furthermore, the formation of layered copper silicate resulted in a higher ratio of Cu+/(Cu0+Cu+) at a reduction temperature of 250 °C, which was also responsible for the optimum activity. This work showed the importance of controllable synthesis of layered copper silicate in improving the catalytic performance of copper-containing catalyst.
Development and Evaluation of a Low-Jitter Hand Tracking System for Improving Typing Efficiency in a Virtual Reality Workspace
Authors: Xu Tianshu , Gu Wen , Ota Koichi , Hasegawa Shinobu
Published: January 2025

Virtual reality technology promises to transform immersive experiences across various applications, particularly within office environments. Despite its potential, the challenge of achieving efficient text entry in virtual reality persists. This study addresses this obstacle by introducing a novel machine learning-based solution, namely, the two-stream long short-term memory typing method, to enhance text entry performance in virtual reality. The two-stream long short-term memory method utilizes the back-of-the-hand image, employing a long short-term memory network and a Kalman filter to enhance hand position tracking accuracy and minimize jitter. Through statistical analysis of the data collected in the experiment and questionnaire results, we confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method. In addition, we conducted an extra experiment to explore the differences in users’ typing behavior between regular typing and virtual reality-based typing. This additional experiment provides valuable insights into how users adapt their typing behavior in different environments. These findings represent a significant step in advancing text entry within virtual reality, setting the stage for immersive work experiences in office environments and beyond.
Optimization of CuOx/Ga2O3 Heterojunction Diodes for High-Voltage Power Electronics
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Li Mujun , He Minghao , Lu Honghao , Chen Chun-Zhang , Jiang Yang , Wen Kangyao , Du Fangzhou , Zhang Yi , Deng Chenkai , Xiong Zilong , Yu Haozhe , Wang Qing , Yu Hongyu
Published: January 2025

This study optimizes the CuOx/Ga2O3 heterojunction diodes (HJDs) by tailoring the structural parameters of CuOx layers. The hole concentration in the sputtered CuOx was precisely controlled by adjusting the Ar/O2 gas ratio. Experimental investigations and TCAD simulations were employed to systematically evaluate the impact of the CuOx layer dimension and hole concentration on the electrical performance of HJDs. The results indicate that increasing the diameter dimension of the CuOx layer or tuning the hole concentration to optimal values significantly enhances the breakdown voltage (VB) of single-layer HJDs by mitigating the electric field crowing effects. Additionally, a double-layer CuOx structure (p+ CuOx/p− CuOx) was designed and optimized to achieve an ideal balance between the VB and specific on-resistance (Ron,sp). This double-layer HJD demonstrated a high VB of 2780 V and a low Ron,sp of 6.46 mΩ·cm2, further yielding a power figure of merit of 1.2 GW/cm2. These findings present a promising strategy for advancing the performance of Ga2O3 devices in power electronics applications.
Role of Epigallocatechin Gallate in Selected Malignant Neoplasms in Women
Authors: Markowska Anna , Antoszczak Michał , Markowska Janina , Huczyński Adam
Published: January 2025

Tea is a significant source of flavonoids in the diet. Due to different production processes, the amount of bioactive compounds in unfermented (green) and (semi-)fermented tea differs. Importantly, green tea has a similar composition of phenolic compounds to fresh, unprocessed tea leaves. It consists primarily of monomeric flavan-3-ols, known as catechins, of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant. Thanks to its antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic properties, EGCG has attracted the scientific community’s attention to its potential use in preventing and/or combating cancer. In this review article, we summarize the literature reports found in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases on the anticancer effect of EGCG on selected malignant neoplasms in women, i.e., breast, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, which have been published over the last two decades. It needs to be emphasized that EGCG concentrations reported as effective against cancer cells are typically higher than those found in plasma after polyphenol administration. Moreover, the low bioavailability and absorption of EGCG appear to be the main reasons for the differences in the effects between in vitro and in vivo studies. In this context, we also decided to look at possible solutions to these problems, consisting of combining the polyphenol with other bioactive components or using nanotechnology. Despite the promising results of the studies conducted so far, mainly in vitro and on animal models, there is no doubt that further, broad-based activities are necessary to unequivocally assess the potential use of EGCG in oncological treatment to combat cancer in women.
Diet Quality, Metabolic Syndrome, and Nativity Status: Elucidating Metabolic Advantage and Disadvantage Among Non-US-Native and US-Native Populations Using NHANES Data (2013–2018)
Authors: Smith Danyel I. , Sakarcan Eren , Adams-Campbell Lucile , Dash Chiranjeev
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Nutrient-poor diet quality is a major driver of the global burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The US ranks among the lowest in diet quality and has the highest rate of immigration, which may present unique challenges for non-US-native populations who experience changes in access to health-promoting resources. This study examined associations among MetS, nativity status, diet quality, and interaction effects of race–ethnicity among Hispanic, Asian, Black, and White US-native and non-US-native adults. Methods: We examined data from 5482 adult participants (≥20 years of age) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2018). MetS (per the ATP III panel guidelines) was assessed continuously (MetS z-score) and dichotomously. Dietary recalls were used to compute HEI-2015 scores. Nativity status and sociodemographic variables were assessed. Age-adjusted and multivariate-adjusted logistic regressions were conducted to examine the associations between nativity status and MetS and interaction effects by race–ethnicity. Results: Non-US-native participants displayed more guideline-adherent diet quality (55.23% vs. 49.38%, p < 0.001) compared to their US-native counterparts—even when stratified by racial–ethnic groups. US-native participants had larger waist circumferences and elevated triglyceride levels. Non-US-native Black Americans had a 60% lower risk of having MetS even after adjusting for diet quality (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.88) compared to their US-native counterparts. For MetS components, non-US-native Asian participants reported a lower risk for dyslipidemia, while non-US-native multiracial participants had higher triglycerides. Conclusions: Non-US-native groups display better diet quality compared to their US-native counterparts. However, the findings suggest that diet quality alone does not account for nativity-related cardiometabolic disparities, particularly in US-native Black Americans, thus necessitating interventions targeting the social determinants of health.
Relationships Between Candida auris and the Rest of the Candida World—Analysis of Dual-Species Biofilms and Infections
Authors: Janeczko Monika , Skrzypek Tomasz
Published: January 2025

In this study, we investigated the interactions between Candida auris and C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. krusei in mixed infections. Initially, these interactions were studied qualitatively and quantitatively in dual-species biofilms formed in vitro. The MTT assays, determination of the total CFU/mL, and SEM analysis showed that C. auris interacted differentially with the other Candida spp. during the dual-species biofilm formation. Depending on the stage of the biofilm development, C. auris was found to be a particularly dominant species during its interaction with the C. krusei biofilms but significantly submissive in the C. auris-C. albicans biofilms. These studies were then extended to in vivo host models of experimental candidiasis. G. mellonella larvae were inoculated with monotypic and heterotypic suspensions of Candida. The survival rates and quantification of fungal cells in the hemolymph showed that the highest mortality was exhibited by larvae in the C. auris-C. albicans co-infection (100% mortality after 36 h). The CFU/mL values of C. auris from the larval hemolymph were lower in the interactive groups compared to the mono-species group. As a newly emerging species, C. auris persists in environments in the presence of other Candida species and is involved in both competitive and noncompetitive interactions with other Candida species during biofilm formation and development of experimental candidiasis.