bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Requirements-Driven Automated Software Testing: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wang Fanyu , Arora Chetan , Tantithamthavorn Chakkrit , Huang Kaicheng , Aleti Aldeida
Published: February 2025

Automated software testing has the potential to enhance efficiency and reliability in software development, yet its adoption remains hindered by challenges in aligning test generation with software requirements. REquirements-Driven Automated Software Testing (REDAST) aims to bridge this gap by leveraging requirements as the foundation for automated test artifact generation. This systematic literature review (SLR) explores the landscape of REDAST by analyzing requirements input, transformation techniques, test outcomes, evaluation methods, and existing limitations. We conducted a comprehensive review of 156 papers selected from six major research databases. Our findings reveal the predominant types, formats, and notations used for requirements in REDAST, the automation techniques employed for generating test artifacts from requirements, and the abstraction levels of resulting test cases. Furthermore, we evaluate the effectiveness of various testing frameworks and identify key challenges such as scalability, automation gaps, and dependency on input quality. This study synthesizes the current state of REDAST research, highlights trends, and proposes future directions, serving as a reference for researchers and practitioners aiming to advance automated software testing.
Performance and Mechanism of Hydrolyzed Keratin for Hair Photoaging Prevention
Authors: Fan Jiayi , Wu Lei , Wang Jing , Bian Xiaoying , Chen Chongchong , Chang Kuan
Published: February 2025

Photoaging is common and represents one of the primary pathways for hair damage in daily life. Hydrolyzed keratin, which is usually derived from wool and consists of a series of polypeptide molecules, has been investigated as UV damage prevention ingredient for hair care. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and fluorescent penetration experiments verified that hydrolyzed keratin can deposit on the hair cuticles to form a film and partly penetrate into hair cortex. This film played as a UV blocker and helped hair resist surface damage and maintain a sleek and healthy morphology after UV radiation. Surprisingly, it was found that hydrolyzed keratin treatment combined with subsequently UV radiation could significantly improve the tensile properties of hair. For hydrolyzed keratin treated hair, tensile strength maintained after UV radiation, while as a comparison, it decreased by 11.74% for untreated hair. This phenomenon is explained by a UV-induced degradation-penetration mechanism. During UV radiation, an increase in free amino acid content and conductivity was observed for hydrolyzed keratin solution, demonstrating the photodegradation into smaller peptide and amino acid. The degradation of hydrolyzed keratin allowed it more easily to enter the interior of hair cortex, thereby enhanced the tensile properties via enhancing chemical bonds.
Untargeted Metabolomic Profiling of Colonic Mucosa in Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Krynicka Patrycja , Kaczmarczyk Mariusz , Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Styburski Daniel , Podsiadło Konrad , Cembrowska-Lech Danuta , Dąbkowski Krzysztof , Deskur Anna , Rogoza-Mateja Wiesława , Ławniczak Małgorzata , Białek Andrzej , Koulaouzidis Anastasios , Marlicz Wojciech
Published: February 2025

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder characterised by altered gut-brain interactions, with gastrointestinal microbiota and metabolic dysregulation playing key roles in its pathophysiology. Identifying specific metabolic alterations within the colonic mucosa may enhance our understanding of IBS and contribute to improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed the metabolomic profiles of colonic mucosal biopsies from 44 IBS patients assessed with ROME IV criteria and 69 healthy controls undergoing colonoscopy. Untargeted metabolomic profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and differential metabolite analysis was performed via fold-change calculations and machine learning-based classification.
Results: IBS patients exhibited distinct mucosal metabolic profiles, with significantly elevated levels of N-acetylneuraminic acid and 1-palmitoylglycerol, suggesting compromised epithelial integrity and increased gut permeability. In contrast, cis-4-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid, a metabolite associated with protective mucosal functions, was reduced. Random Forest analysis identified these metabolites as key discriminatory features between IBS and control groups, reinforcing their potential role as biomarkers for IBS-related mucosal alterations.
Conclusions: Our study highlights the unique metabolomic signatures of IBS at the mucosal level, emphasising the role of microbial metabolites in disease pathology. These findings may facilitate the development of novel diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutic strategies, advancing personalised management for IBS patients.
Fouling of Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) Membranes by Low Molecular Weight Organic Compounds (LMWOCs), Part 2: Countermeasures and Applications
Authors: Maeda Yasushi
Published: February 2025

Fouling, particularly from biofouling, organic and colloidal fouling, and scale formation, presents a significant challenge in RO/NF treatment of marginal waters. The previous review (Part 1) shed light on fouling behavior by LMWOCs and its underlying mechanisms. Part 2 outlines countermeasures to solve this problem and applications utilizing the LMWOCs. Key preventive strategies include pretreatment, early detection, cleaning, optimized operation procedures, and in-situ membrane modification. Correctly predicting the extent of fouling is essential as a first step. Flat-sheet membranes or small-diameter modules can be used for a preliminary test. Long-term testing is not necessary to elucidate the extent of LMWOC fouling; typically, 3 to 4 days is sufficient. So far, no fouling index applicable to LMWCO fouling exists. For this purpose, hydrophobic membranes such as polyamide are proposed instead of the standard silt density index (SDI) filter. Once the extent of LMWOC fouling is evaluated, a suitable pretreatment method can be selected, including adsorbents, specialty water filters, oxidative decomposition, and antifoulants. When no appropriate pretreatment is viable, alternative approaches such as high pH operation may be considered. Cleaning is necessary when membranes are fouled. However, regular cleaning often does not restore the original flow. Thus, special CIP chemicals, such as organic solvent-based and oxidative cleaning agents, are required. On the other hand, although fouling due to LMWCO initially reduces the flow rate, it usually reaches a steady value. Therefore, if the accompanying operating pressure increase can be tolerated, there is no need to restore the initial performance with strong cleaning chemicals. When a significant drop in flow rate occurs and LMWOC fouling is suspected, the cause can be identified by analyzing the fouled membranes. However, LMWCOs cannot often be identified by regular FT-IR analysis. In this case, the membrane is subjected to solvent extraction and then analyzed by GC-MS. Pyrolysis GC-MS, which does not require extraction, seems to be a promising technique. The review concludes by examining how LMWOCs can be strategically utilized to enhance membrane rejection and restore deteriorated membranes.
Sparse Boosting for Additive Spatial Autoregressive Model with High Dimensionality
Authors: Yue Mu , Xi Jingxin
Published: February 2025

Variable selection methods have been a focus in the context of econometrics and statistics literature. In this paper, we consider additive spatial autoregressive model with high-dimensional covariates. Instead of adopting the traditional regularization approaches, we offer a novel multi-step sparse boosting algorithm to conduct model-based prediction and variable selection. One main advantage of this new method is that we do not need to perform the time-consuming selection of tuning parameters. Extensive numerical examples illustrate the advantage of the proposed methodology. An application of Boston housing price data is further provided to demonstrate the proposed methodology.
String Scattering Amplitudes and Mutual Information in Confining Backgrounds: The Partonic Behavior
Authors: Ghodrati Mahdis
Published: February 2025

Using AdS/CFT methods in various holographic confining backgrounds, we present the connections between the behaviors of string scattering amplitudes and mutual information. We specifically lay down the analogies between the logarithmic branch cut behavior of the string scattering amplitude in 4d, A4, at low and medium Mandelstam variable s, which is due to the dependence of the string tension on the holographic radial coordinate, and the branch cut behavior observed in mutual information and critical distance Dc at low-cut-off variable uKK. In both cases, as s or uKK increases, the peaks of the branch cuts fade away in the form of Re[A4] ∝ s-1. Next, the modular flow and modular Hamiltonian as the intermediary quantities will be used to further shed lights on this connection. We then explain how mutual information itself can act as a probe of chaos in various scenarios. For two examples of Compton scattering (of a photon entangled with another photon off a target) and also the decay of a highly excited string into two tachyons, the pattern of entanglement entropy and the change in the mutual information would be examined. Finally, the kink-kink and kink-antikink scatterings as simple models of scattering in confining geometries are emploted to probe the fractal structures in the scatterings of topological defects.
Vaccine Associated Kawasaki’s Disease in Children (KD-V)
Authors: Ricke Darrell
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Kawasaki’s Disease (KD) is a leading cause of heart disease in children. The etiology of KD is currently unknown. KD onset occurs with delays following pathogen outbreaks and also post immunization. A recent etiology model of KD proposed that KD is caused by activation of mast cells and likely platelets. Recently, epilepsy safety signals were associated with specific vaccines for infants aged 0 and 1. Do these safety signals also appear in children post immunization? Method: Herein, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is retrospectively examined for KD adverse events (AEs) for children. Results: The same pattern of safety signals was observed with KD AEs as epilepsy AEs post immunization. KD associated with vaccination (KD-V) is associated with either a pattern consistent with direct innate immune activation or by immune complex activation of mast cells and likely platelets. Candidate causative factors identified include live virus vaccines and too high dosage levels for specific infant vaccines and specific concomitant combinations. Discussion: Adjusting vaccine dosage based on infant body size for several vaccines is strongly recommended, including adjusting the infectious units in attenuated live viral vaccines. Concomitant administration of specific vaccines results in either additive or synergy risk levels for KD. Concomitant administration of specific vaccines including attenuated live viruses with synergy KD risk levels is strongly recommended against (counter indicated).
Evaluating Health Technologies in the Brazilian Public and Supplementary Health Systems: Policy, Economic, and Public Health Implications
Authors: Montgomery Richard Murdoch
Published: February 2025

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) plays a critical role in guiding decision-making within the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) and the supplementary (private) health sector. This article explores how the assessment of health technologies—ranging from innovative pharmaceuticals to digital health solutions—impacts political strategies, economic considerations, and public health outcomes in Brazil. We present a theoretical model that estimates whether investments in three areas—artificial intelligence (AI), improved communications, and another selected health area—lead to enhanced population health outweighing financial costs, without focusing on profit generation. By integrating data from the Brazilian DataSUS databases, we offer a real-world contextual grounding. We then propose a set of equations to illustrate a cost-effectiveness framework and subsequently generate Python-based data visualisations to demonstrate the interplay among costs, outcomes, and resource allocation. The findings contribute to ongoing debates about how best to utilise finite resources in both the public and private spheres, ensuring that technology adoption maximises societal benefit. We conclude with a discussion on implications for policy, regulation, and long-term sustainability, emphasising the need for robust evidence-based processes.
Application of Branched-Chain Amino Acids Mitigates Mitochondrial Damage to Spotted Seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) Hepatocytes Cultured in High-Glucose and High-Fat Media
Authors: Ren Huijuan , Ke Yixiong , Li Xueshan , Wang Lin , Song Kai , A Guardiola Francisco , Zhang Chunxiao , Lu Kangle , Rahimnejad Samad
Published: February 2025

This study explored the metabolic effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on the hepatocytes of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) under high-glucose (HG) or high-fat (HF) conditions. Hepatocytes were cultured under five different conditions: control, high glucose (HG), HG + BCAAs (Leu 0.8 mM, Ile 0.4 mM, Val 0.8 mM), high fat (HF), and HF + BCAAs (Leu 0.8 mM, Ile 0.8 mM, Val 0.8 mM). After 72 hours of culture, cells and cell supernatants were collected to measure relevant indicators. The results revealed that BCAAs supplementation significantly reduced glycogen and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes exposed to high-glucose or high-fat conditions (P<0.05). Additionally, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in the supernatant were significantly decreased, indicating that BCAAs alleviated hepatocyte damage induced by these conditions. Furthermore, BCAAs addition markedly enhanced antioxidant activity by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, improving total antioxidant capacity, and reducing malondialdehyde levels. These findings suggest that BCAAs improve antioxidant defenses in hepatocytes under high-glucose or high-fat loads. Metabolic enzyme activity analysis revealed that BCAAs significantly increased the activities of citrate synthase (CS), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (α-KGDHC), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and liver pyruvate kinase (LPS), while significantly decreasing fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity. Gene expression analysis further demonstrated that BCAAs supplementation downregulated the expression of lipogenic genes (fas and srebp-1c), and upregulating the expression of lipolytic genes (ppaα and atgl) as well as glucose metabolism-related genes (g6pd, hk, pfk, pk, fbp, and g6pase). Under high-glucose or high-fat conditions, hepatocytes exhibited decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. These adverse effects were mitigated by BCAAs supplementation. In conclusion, BCAAs supplementation alleviated hepatocyte damage caused by high-glucose or high-fat conditions, enhanced antioxidant defenses, and protected mitochondrial activity and function by promoting glucose and lipid metabolism.
Medication Safety in Saudi Arabia: Evaluating the Current Situation and Identifying the Areas for Improvement
Authors: Alghamdi Anwar A.
Published: February 2025

Drug safety is crucial in healthcare, ensuring the secure and effective administration of medications to protect patient welfare. Drug and medication safety is a major concern among Saudi health care providers, with numerous studies outlining the incidence of pharmaceutical mistakes and the need for enhanced safety standards. This review will examine the existing level of drug related safety in Saudi Arabia, categorising the areas for improvement, and highlight concepts to improve safety practices. The overview discusses the history and evolution of pharmaceutical safety procedures, the present regulatory framework, major stakeholders, and the types and origins of prescription errors. It also examines the role of healthcare personnel, the use of technology, and patient education in promoting pharmaceutical safety. The data reveals that the rate of pharmaceutical errors in Saudi hospitals is shockingly high, ranging from 13 to 56 per 100 medication orders, highlighting the urgent need for effective medication safety standards. Despite the formation of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Centre, issues such as poor understanding among healthcare providers and the need for more effective reporting methods remain a challenge. The evaluation emphasizes the significance of ongoing education, skill tests, and creating a culture that nurtures reporting medication errors and adverse drug reactions. We recognise the use of technology, such as electronic health records and computerised physician order input systems, as an important technique for improving medication safety. Future directions include creating national guidelines, establishing a centralized pharmaceutical error reporting system, and fostering a safety culture inside healthcare organizations. By addressing these obstacles and capitalizing on the opportunities indicated, we may improve pharmaceutical safety and, ultimately, patient care and outcomes in Saudi Arabia.
Improved Ground Moving Target Detection Method Combining GSCFT and RPCA for Multi-channel SAR-GMTI System
Authors: Tong Gu , Yifan Guo , Chen Zhao , Jian Zhang , Xixi Chen , Guisheng Liao
Published: February 2025

As a class of Synthetic Aperture Radar Ground Moving Target Indication (SAR-GMTI) methods, Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA)-based techniques consistently face the challenge of high correlation coefficients among channels, which will degrade the detection performance. Furthermore, the traditional RPCA-based methods always overlook the impact of azimuth velocity of moving targets, which has certain limitations for practical applications. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel method, combining the generalized scale fourier transform with RPCA. First, it derives the signal model with introducing the azimuth velocity and proposes a generalized scale kernel function to achieve the decouple the envelope delay from the phase difference. It not only reduces the correlation coefficient effectively, but also achieves the precise estimation of the azimuth velocity through two-dimensional focusing associated with Doppler parameter in transform domain, while improving the method’s detection performance under low signal-to-noise ratio. Second, it derives the compensation processing of inter-channel signals to ensure compatibility with RPCA method and develops the correspond optimized criterion to achieve the detection of moving targets from the separate clutter. Finally, the simulated and measured data are provided to validate the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed method.
A Study of MANET Routing Protocols in Heterogeneous Networks: A Review and Performance Comparison
Authors: Sarkar Nurul I. , Ali Md Jahan
Published: February 2025

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) are becoming a popular networking technology as they can easily be set up and provide communication support on the go. These networks can be used in application areas such as battlefields and disaster relief operations where infrastructure networks are not available. Like media access control protocols, MANET routing protocols can also play an important role in determining the network capacity and system performance. Research on the impact of heterogeneous nodes in a MANET performance is required for proper deployment of such systems. While MANET routing protocols have been studied and reported in the networking literature extensively, the performance of heterogeneous nodes/devices on system performance has not been fully explored yet. The main objective of this paper is to review and compare the performance of four selected MANET routing protocols (AODV, OLSR, BATMAN and DYMO) in a heterogeneous MANET setting. We consider three different types of nodes in the MANET routing performance study, namely PDAs (fixed nodes with no mobility), Laptops (low mobility nodes) and mobile phones (high mobility nodes). We measure the QoS metrics such as end-to-end delays, throughput, and packet delivery ratios using OMNET++-network simulator. The findings reported in this paper provide some insights into MANET routing performance issues and challenges that can help network researchers and engineers to contribute further towards developing next generation wireless network capable of operating heterogeneous networking constraints.
Apathy in Dementia: Insights From Neuropsychiatric And Radiological Perspectives
Authors: Totuk Ozlem , Sahin Sevki
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Apathy is a common neuropsychiatric symptom in all stages of dementia, significantly complicating patient management. This study examines the prevalence of apathy across Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Vascular Dementia (VD), and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and explores its associations with cognitive functions, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 200 patients diagnosed with AD, LBD, FTD, VD, and MCI, along with 100 healthy controls (HC). Apathy was assessed using the Apathy Evaluation Scale. Depression and anxiety in patients were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Scale, respectively. Cognitive function was measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R). MRI findings were analyzed using atrophy scales.
Results: Apathy was significantly more prevalent in dementia and MCI patients compared to HC. However, there were no significant differences in apathy prevalence among dementia subtypes or MCI. Apathy showed no significant correlation with depression, anxiety, or cognitive performance. Notably, MRI analysis revealed a strong association between apathy and orbitofrontal sulcus atrophy.
Conclusion: Apathy is a critical symptom in dementia, linked to orbitofrontal sulcus atrophy and presenting challenges in management. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating apathy assessments into clinical practice. Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the pathophysiology and management of apathy in dementia.
New Predictive Diagnostic Method for Cardiac Dynamics Based on Equally Probable Probability Distributions for Normal, Chronic, Acute, and Pacemaker Dynamics
Authors: Ramirez Lopez Leonardo Juan , Velasquez Javier Rodriguez , Torres Sofia Garcia
Published: February 2025

Probability theory and dynamic systems have enabled the development of diagnostic support tools that simplify Holter evaluation. Method: A study was conducted on 80 Holter tests over 21 hours with patients over 21 years old. Four prototypes were selected based on normal, chronic, acute, and pacemaker diagnoses. An induction was created using the heart rate ranges of the prototypes, from 55 to 105, as the general probability space. Probability theory was applied to the frequency repetition ranges of 1001 to 2000 and 2001 to 3000. A blinded study was conducted with the remaining Holter tests, applying the same methodology used for the prototypes. A physical-mathematical induction was performed for the prototypes, and the other Holter tests were analyzed in a blinded study. Results: the results were compared to the predictions of the prototypes, and sensitivity, specificity, and the kappa coefficient were calculated. In the 1001–2000 range, the repetition counts for normal dynamics were 14 to 11, for chronic cases 31 to 21, for acute cases 11 to 9, and for pacemaker dynamics 5 to 4. In the 2001–3000 range, the repetitions for normal dynamics were 3 to 0, for chronic cases 14 to 10, for acute cases 6 to 3, and for pacemaker dynamics 2. The cumulative probabilities loaded for the 1001–2000 range were as follows: normal dynamics, 0.46 to 0.35; chronic dynamics, 0.48 to 0.35; acute cases, 0.6 to 0.5; and pacemaker dynamics, 0.6 to 0.5. In the 2001–3000 range, the cumulative probabilities loaded for normal dynamics were 1 to 0; for chronic cases, 0.7 to 0.54; for acute cases, 0.75 to 0.46; and for pacemaker dynamics, 1. The frequencies observed in the repetition ranges for 1001–2000 were: normal, 95 to 55; chronic, 105 to 65; acute, 100 to 75; and pacemaker, 75 to 60. For the 2001–3000 range, the frequencies were: normal, 95 to 65; chronic, 85 to 65; acute, 100 to 80; and pacemaker, 65 to 60. The probabilities were less than 0.3 for normal dynamics and greater than 0.3 for chronic, acute, and pacemaker dynamics across different frequency ranges, differentiating the dynamics. Conclusions: The epidemiological study results for sensitivity, specificity, and kappa coefficient were all 1. To conclude, a diagnostic support tool was developed for cardiac dynamics with clinical applications based on the appearance of frequency ranges and probability theory, enabling differentiation of normal, chronic, acute, and pacemaker dynamics.
Ocular Ultrasound as a Key to Diagnosing Uveitis Masked Syndromes, Tips and Tricks
Authors: Albano Valeria , Dammacco Rosanna , Lolli Ilaria , Ventricelli Claudia , Settimo Enrico , Miggiano Angelo , Pignataro Maria Grazia , Ferreri Paolo , Boscia Francesco , Guerriero Silvana , Alessio Giovanni
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: Uveitis-masked syndromes or masquerade syndromes (UMSs) are a group of ocular conditions with several systemic underlying causes, malignant or nonmalignant, that mimic the inflammatory status of the uvea. They are often difficult to detect and diagnose with traditional techniques, such as ophthalmic exams. Ocular B (bidimensional)-ultrasound (OBU) is a non-invasive, repeatable, rapid ultrasound method effective in indirect signs that lead back to systemic diseases. It is comparable in effectiveness with other imaging tools. The cause of UMSs can often be serious, and therefore early diagnosis and prompt treatment are very critical. This study aims to identify the sonographic signs of these forms that can help physicians discover the cause underlying UMS. Materials and Methods: This is a consecutive, retrospective, nonrandomized study. This study is conducted at University Hospital Polyclinic of Bari, Italy, from January 2022 to December 2024. A total of 186 patients were included, from 10 to 85 years old. They all were undergone to B-scan ultrasonography (Quantel Medical ABSolu Ocular Ultrasound). Results: All patients reported blurred vision, that it can be accompanied by visual reduction (<20/40, Snellen charts), photophobia, floaters, flashes, proptosis, redness. In all cases we have noticed peculiar ultrasonographic signs which discriminate underlying systemic diagnosis, such as vitreous corpuscles, choroid thickening, solid tumors primitive or metastatic. Finally, they were identified different diseases, such as primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL), and other lymphoproliferative conditions, orbital plasmacytoma, uveal melanoma, metastasis, endogenous endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, central serous retinopathy, metallic foreign bodies, ocular amyloidosis, toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, birdshot chorioretinitis, and drug-induced UMSs. lymphoma, other lymphoproliferative conditions, toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, UMSs caused by drugs, and others. Conclusion: Making a firm diagnosis of UMS is not easy, and the various forms are often underdiagnosed. Early detection of these forms is imperative. The use of OBU can help diagnose indirect signs of these forms early and treat them promptly. It compares well with other diagnostic imaging techniques, such as MRI, but this does not mean that it replaces them; it can be an added value in multimodal imaging.
Statistical Physics Model of Seismic Activation Preceding a Major Earthquake
Authors: Brox Daniel
Published: February 2025

Starting from earthquake fault dynamic equations, a correspondence between earthquake occurrence statistics in a seismic region before a major earthquake and the statistics of solutions to a nonlinear eigenvalue problem whose eigenfunctions characterize the seismic velocity model of the region is presented. Modelling the eigenvalue solution statistics with a 2D Coulomb gas statistical physics model, previously reported deviation of seismic activation earthquake occurence statistics from Gutenberg-Richter statistics in time intervals preceding a major earthquake is derived. It is also explained how statistical physics modelling predicts a finite dimensional nonlinear dynamic system describes rupture nucleation in the seismic activation region, and how this prediction can be tested experimentally.
IoT-Cloud and Digital Twin Approach for HIL Structure Based on Inverse Kinematics Model and PLC for Controlling a Robotic Cell in the Framework of Industry 4.0
Authors: Ionescu Dan , Filipescu Adrian , Simion Georgian , Filipescu Adriana
Published: February 2025

The main task of the research involves creating a Digital Twin (DT) application serving as a framework for Virtual Commissioning (VC) with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Cloud storage solutions as well as smart Internet of Things (IoT) integrated automation system with Virtual Private Network (VPN) remote control for assembly and disassembly robotic cell (A/DRC) equipped with six-Degree of Freedom (6-DOF) ABB 120 industrial robotic manipulator (IRM). A three dimensional (3D) virtual model is developed using Siemens NX Mechatronics Concept Designer (MCD), while the Programable Logic Controller (PLC) is programmed in Siemens Totally Integrated Automation (TI) Portal. A Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation strategy is primarily used. This concept is implemented and executed as part of a VC approach, where the designed PLC programs are integrated and tested against the physical controller. Closed loop control and RM inverse kinematics model are validated and tested in PLC, following HIL strategy by integrating Industry 4.0 concepts. A SCADA application is also deployed, serving as a DT operator panel for process monitoring and simulation. Cloud data collection and analysis, as well as supervising and synchronization DT tasks are also integrated and explored. Additionally, it provides communication interfaces via PROFINET IO to SCADA and Human Machine Interface (HMI), and through Open Platform Communication - Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) for Siemens NX-MCD with DT virtual model. Virtual A/DRC simulations are performed using Synchronized Timed Petri Nets (STPN) model for control strategy validation based on task planning integration and synchronization with other IoT devices. The objective is to obtain a clear and understandable representation layout of the A/DRC, and to validate the DT model by comparing process dynamics and robot motion kinematics between physical and virtual replica. Thus, following the results of the current research work, integration of digital technologies in manufacturing, like VC, IoT and Cloud, is useful to validate and optimize manufacturing processes, error detection and reducing the risks before the actual physical system is built or deployed.
A Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network Integrating Multi-Source Heterogeneous Data for Traffic Flow Prediction
Authors: Yuan Gang , Fan Xiumei , Li Suzhen , Xiao Yan , Lu Yuanbo
Published: February 2025

In traffic flow prediction, many external factors, such as weather and holiday factors, have a significant impact on traffic flow. However, previous research on traffic flow prediction mainly focused on the internal correlations within traffic flow data, failing to integrate or comprehensively integrate the external factors affecting traffic flow to build prediction models. Based on this, this study collected as comprehensively as possible the data of external factors affecting traffic flow and integrated these data to construct a traffic flow prediction model. This study proposes a Temporal Graph Convolutional Network algorithm (IM - GCN), which comprehensively integrates multi - source heterogeneous external factors that affect traffic flow and for which collectable data are available, for traffic flow prediction modeling. This algorithm expands the receptive field of traffic flow features and enhances the reference weight of data with stronger correlations. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was verified through a large number of experiments on widely used traffic flow datasets. Experiments show that, compared with the state - of - the - art algorithms, on the premise that the increase in complexity reflected by the computational time consumption is less than 1%, the accuracy of the prediction model has been improved by 1% - 4%. Ablation experiments experimentally prove that the external factors affecting traffic flow added in this study can effectively improve the performance of the traffic flow prediction model.
Bridging Social Media Addiction and Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescents: A Neurobiological Perspective
Authors: Fang Ying , Zha Rujing , Li Jin , Lv Xinyou
Published: February 2025

The rise of social media among adolescents raises concerns about addiction and emotional disturbances linked to a shared neurobiological basis. Changes in brain regions involved in emotion regulation and reward processing are observed, and while social media can temporarily boost mood, chronic use may worsen anxiety. The underlying neural pathways remain unclear, limiting treatment effectiveness. Future research should take a multidisciplinary approach to clarify these connections and enhance prevention and intervention strategies for adolescent mental well-being.
Gait Assessment in the Transtibial Mercer Universal Prosthesis with “Neutral alignment”
Authors: Le Trung , McMahan Craig , Vo Ha , Brandon Scott
Published: February 2025

Standardizing socket design and maintaining a default socket alignment in transtibial prostheses are innovations aiming to simplify fitting procedures and reduce prosthetic service costs—particularly in low-income countries. This study evaluated the Mercer Universal Prosthesis (MUP), which utilizes a standardized "neutral alignment" concept, in comparison to custom-made conventional prostheses (CVP). Twenty transtibial amputees (n=20) completed gait assessments using their existing CVP and immediately (< 1 hr) post-fitting with a new MUP. As a result, the MUP group reported a significant difference between prosthetic and intact limb both hip and knee kinematics (p<0.05) , but there was no change in the CVP group. When compared with MUP’s sound limb, post hoc analysis showed both hip flexion and hip range of motion (ROM) in the MUP’ prosthetic limb significantly increased by 5.70 and 7.30 (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). Spatial and temporal gait parameters were comparable between the MUP and CVP groups, and gait symmetry showed no significant differences, indicating that prosthetic users maintained consistent gait mechanics across both devices. Notably, immediate acceptance of the MUP device by all participants highlights its feasibility and effectiveness in clinical practice.
The Effects of Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Assistance on the Economic Growth of Vietnam
Authors: Truong Loc Dong , Friday H. Swint , Ly Anh Thoai
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the effects of bilateral and multilateral official development assistance (ODA) on Vietnam’s economic growth from 1986 to 2022. Employing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach, we find that in the short-run, bilateral ODA has a significantly positive effect on the economic growth whereas multilateral ODA has a significantly negative effect on the economic growth. However, the empirical findings reveal that both bilateral and multilateral ODA has no impact on the economic growth in the long-run. Moreover, the results obtained from error correction model (ECM) indicate that 86.53% of the deviation from the long-run equilibrium due to a shock in the current year will be adjusted back toward equilibrium in the next year.
Data Clustering-Driven Fuzzy Inference System-Based Optimal Power Flow Analysis in the Electric Networks Integrating the Wind Energy
Authors: Grigoras Gheorghe , Livadariu Bogdan , Neagu Bogdan-Constantin
Published: February 2025

The development of smart grids has led to an increased focus of the transmission and distribution network operators on the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problem. The solutions identified for an OPF problem are vital to ensure the real-time optimal control and operation of electric networks and can help enhance their efficiency. In this context, the paper proposed an original solution to the OPF problem represented by the optimal voltage control from the electric networks integrating wind farms. Based on a fuzzy inference system (FIS), where the fuzzification process has been improved through the fuzzy K-means clustering, two approaches have been developed, representing novel tools for the OPF analysis. The FIS-based first approach considers the load requested at the PQ-type buses and the powers injected by the wind farms as the fuzzy input variables. Based on the fuzzy inference rules, the FIS determines the suitable tap positions for the power transformers to lead at the minimum active power losses. The second approach (I-FIS), representing an improved variant of FIS, calculates the steady-state regime to determine the power losses based on the suitable tap positions for the power transformers determined with FIS. A real 10-bus network integrating two wind farms has been used to test the two proposed approaches, considering comprehensive characteristic three-day tests to thoroughly highlight the performance under different injection active power profiles of the wind farms. The results obtained have been compared with those of the best methods in the constrained nonlinear mathematical programming used in the OPF analysis, sequential quadratic programming (SQP). The errors calculated throughout the analysis interval between the SQP-based approach, considered as the reference, and the FIS and I-FIS-based approaches were 5.72% and 2.41% for the first day, 1.07% and 1.19% for the second day, and 1.61% and 1.33% for the third day. The impact of the OPF by calculating the efficiency of the electric network revealed the average percentage errors between 0.04% and 0.06% for the FIS-based approach and 0.01% for the I-FIS-based approach.
Efficient Electro-Catalytic Oxidation Ultra-High Concentration Organic Dye with Ce Doped Titanium-Based Composite Electrode
Authors: Ni Chunyang , Zhao Yan , Li Qiao , Wang Zhihui , Dou Shumei , Wang Wei , Zhang Feng
Published: February 2025

Removing high-concentration organic dye from wastewater is of great concern because the hazards can cause serious damage to the environment and human health.
In this study, the hybrid dimensionally stable anode (DSA) with Ce-doped and SnO2-
Sb2O5 intermediate layer was fabricated and used for the electro-catalytic oxidation of
three kinds ultra-high concentration organic dyes.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the more dense surface structure and morphology of the composite Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/Ce-PbO2 electrode, Moreover, the electrode exhibited excellent oxygen evolution potential of 1.58 V. The effect on the removal efficiencies of high concentrations up to 1 g/L of methyl orange, methylene blue, and neutral red solutions with the above composite electrode were investigated.The research results illustrated that target molecules in the three different dye solutions were rapidly decolorized and decomposed by electro-catalytic oxidation less than 35 min. Additionally, the degradation process still followed pseudo-first-order kinetics for high concentrations dye solution. The removal efficiency of TOC and COD for the three dye solutions was more than 98%, and the results of the GC-MS analysis showed that it had the best degradation effects for neutral red, which decomposed more thoroughly. More than 80 h of accelerated life also revealed excellent performance of the composite electrode in face of high-concentration dye solution degradation. Considering these results, the Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/Ce-PbO2 anode could be utilized to treat wastewater containing high-concentration dyes with high efficiency.
Advanced Solubilization of Brazilian Cerrado Byproduct Extracts Using Green Nanostructured Lipid Carriers and NaDES for Enhanced Antioxidant Potentials
Authors: Mello Victor Carlos , Brito Giovanna Oliveira , Radicchi Marina Arantes , de Souza Isadora Florêncio , Piau Tathyana Benetis , Ferreira Eduardo Antonio , Chang Leonardo Fróes de Azevedo , Silveira Ariane Pandolfo , Alves Nicole Santana , Grisolia Cesar Koppe , Báo Sônia Nair , Gris Eliana Fortes
Published: February 2025

This study explores the development and characterization of lipid nanostructures (NLCs) containing natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) derived from taperebá peel extract (Spondias mombin), a by-product rich in bioactive phenolic compounds, including ellagic acid and quercetin. The taperebá extract exhibited a high polyphenol content (2623 mg GAE/L) and notable antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by DPPH (258 mM TEAC/100 mL) and ABTS (495 mM TEAC/100 mL) assays. NLCs were developed using NaDES to enhance the stability and bioavailability of the antioxidant compounds. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the formation of stable, nanometric, and monodispersed formulations with efficient encapsulation. Biological evaluation of the NLC-TAP-NaDES formulation demonstrated its remarkable capacity to mitigate oxidative stress in cells subjected to H₂O₂-induced ROS generation. Fluorescence imaging revealed a significant reduction in intracellular ROS levels in treated cells compared to untreated controls, confirming the antioxidant efficacy of the formulation. This outcome underscores the synergy between NaDES and NLC systems in protecting and delivering phenolic compounds. The study highlights the potential of utilizing underexplored by-products, such as taperebá peels, to develop sustainable and effective antioxidant delivery systems. The NLC-TAP-NaDES platform combines nanotechnology with green chemistry principles, presenting significant implications for the treatment of oxidative stress-related conditions and broader applications in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sciences. These findings contribute to advancing sustainable innovations in antioxidant therapies, leveraging the dual benefits of bioeconomy and high-performance nanomaterials.
Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) Gene Mutations in Kuwait: How Much Do We Know? Not Much!
Authors: Dashti Ali A. , Jadaon Mehrez M.
Published: February 2025

Antibiotic resistance is a major problem worldwide, especially with the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This makes it more challenging to treat patients infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with more costs on the health systems. This review article describes extended-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics as the mostly used antibacterial agents, and how bacteria developed beta-lactamases (ESBLs) to resist these antibiotics. The review focuses more on the problem of ESBLs in Kuwait to uncover which ESBLs are present and what ESBLs gene mutations have been found in this country. Literature review, surprisingly, revealed a limited number of studies in Kuwait on ESBLs gene mutations, published over more than 25 years. The results showed that Kuwait has an alarming number of bacterial strains with ESBLs gene mutations, but the results showed different mutations in different bacterial strains from different types of specimens collected from different hospitals in Kuwait. The data from these studies were scattered and not linked or analysed together to highlight the big picture of the problem of ESBLs in Kuwait. This review article alerts that the amount of research on ESBLs in Kuwait is not up to the expectations of a country like Kuwait, which has high-standard research facilities. Baring in mind that the geographic area of Kuwait is relatively small, the authors of this paper think that there might be more β-lactam bacteria spreading in Kuwait, which need to be explored, and that more research and more collaboration is needed among researchers in Kuwait to address this risky situation.
Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Automotive Air Conditioning Systems: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Song Han-Seop , Rubina Sharnaliy Akter , Yu Jong Keun , Mugabi Jophous , Jeong Jae-Ho
Published: February 2025

The global automobile industry faces mounting pressure to develop air conditioning (AC) systems that align with stringent environmental regulations while enhancing vehicle efficiency. Traditional vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) systems are energy-intensive and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and increased fuel consumption. This paper reviews emerging technologies for automotive air conditioning, emphasizing sustainable alternatives categorized into active, passive, and hybrid systems. Novel developments in thermoelectric cooling, vapor absorption, solar-assisted systems, and hybrid designs are explored. Additionally, the review introduces a comparative analysis of these systems’ performance, focusing on energy consumption, coefficient of performance (COP), and environmental impact. By synthesizing recent research and proposing innovative frameworks, this study offers insights into optimizing sustainable AC technologies for both conventional and electric vehicles, ensuring enhanced passenger comfort and compliance with global environmental standards.
Is it Possible to Accurately Evaluate the Tumor Bed After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using a 14-G Tru-cut Biopsy?
Authors: Kilic Berkay , Bademler Suleyman , Ilhan Burak , Kizildag Yirgin Inci , Yilmaz Ravza , Bayram Aysel , Karanlik Hasan
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Accurately detecting residual disease and potentially omitting surgery is crucial in breast cancer treatment. However, no reliable method confirms pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). This study evaluates the reliability of ultrasound-guided 14G trucut biopsy in assessing post-NST disease status. Methods: Data from 204 breast cancer patients who underwent ultrasound-guided 14G trucut biopsy before surgery at Istanbul University Oncology Institute (March 2015–May 2024) were analyzed. Concordance between trucut biopsy and final pathology was assessed, along with diagnostic accuracy parameters, including false-negative rate (FNR), accuracy, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV). Results: The median patient age was 45 years (range: 26–86). The median initial tumor size was 32 mm, reducing to 10 mm post-treatment. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was 33.8% in surgical specimens and 40.7% in biopsy samples. Biopsy misdiagnosed 15 patients, with an overall FNR of 11.1% and accuracy of 92.2% (95% CI, 7.1–18.1%; 95% CI, 87.6–95.5%). Among patients with radiologic complete response (rCR) (n = 99), FNR was 25.8%, and accuracy was 92.1%. The best outcomes were in the rCR and trucut pCR subgroup, with an FNR of 5.9% and accuracy of 95.6%. In triple-negative breast cancer patients, FNR was 5%, and accuracy was 97.4%. Conclusions: Although obtaining eight or more samples with a 14G tru-cut biopsy after NST is insufficient to alter clinical practice for detecting residual disease, the promising results observed in the rCR and tru-cut pCR subgroups suggest its potential role in guiding treatment strategies.