bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Evaluation and Utilization Analysis of Mental Health Prescription Digital Therapeutics Within the Current Regulatory Landscape
Authors: Xia Sherry Huinan , Narayanan Megha Mohan , Swamy Venkatesh , Franson Kari
Published: February 2025

Prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) are emerging as a pivotal component of digital healthcare, providing software-based therapies for various diseases. This review aims to analyze the regulatory landscape in the U.S., safety, efficacy, and current challenges of PDTs, focusing on mental health conditions. Relevant articles were searched on PubMed, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and FDA Guidance Documents databases, supplemented by manual searches of reference lists from included studies. Inclusion criteria covered English-language studies on the development and application, therapeutic efficacy, and regulatory guidelines of PDTs in mental health. Data extraction and synthesis were conducted to summarize key findings and trends in the literature. FDA regulatory frameworks for PDTs are evolving through pathways of de novo and 510(k) applications, with patient-centric guidance. Clinical trials and real-world data support PDTs’ safety and efficacy, while highlighting regulatory needs. Challenges include payer coverage, patient accessibility, and data privacy concerns. Mixed patient feedback reveals areas for improvement. Limited healthcare provider engagement and payer coverage contributed to financial challenges for PDT manufacturers. Future trends suggest that PDTs will expand beyond mental health. The evolving landscape underscores the need for continued research, regulatory refinement, and collaborative efforts across stakeholders to ensure the successful integration of PDTs into healthcare.
Communicative Philosophies: Editor’s Introduction
Authors: Martinez Jacqueline M.
Published: February 2025

This Special Issue of Philosophies, entitled “Communicative Philosophies”, intends to push our philosophical reflections into the direction of the embodied realities lived and enacted as we engage in the communicative processes of thinking, feeling, and acting [...]
Azimuthally Spliced Power-Exponential Phase Modulation for Focal Spot Shaping of Circular Airy Beams
Authors: Liu Houquan , Guo Yaran , Zhao Mantong , Ye Jingfu , Xu Ronghui , Yuan Libo
Published: February 2025

Circular airy beam (CAB) is a kind of new structured light with non-diffracting, self-focusing, and self-healing properties. Due to its wide applications, recently, numerous researchers have used various methods to modulate this kind of beam. We theoretically verify and experimentally demonstrate the azimuthal modulation method to shapes the focal spot of the CAB by modulating the CAB with the azimuthally spliced power-exponential phase. The results show that after modulating by an azimuthally spliced power-exponential phase, multi-focal spots can be generated on the self-focusing focal plane of the modulated CAB, and the number of the focal spots can be precisely controlled by controlling the number of segments of the spliced power-exponential phase. The situations of generating three, four, and five focal spots can be achieved via appropriate azimuthally spliced power-exponential phase modulation. We also calculate the intensity distribution, energy flow density, angular momentum density, and optical force of the modulated beam after tight focusing. The results illustrate the theoretical possibility of stable multiparticle trapping by the modulated beam. Our results pave the way for on-demand shaping of the self-focusing focus of the CAB, which will facilitate related applications, such as CAB based multi-particle trapping.
Insights into Molecular Mechanism of Secondary Xylem Rapid Growth in Salix psammophila
Authors: Qiao Hongxia , Wang Yunhan , Shi Lin , Wang Ruiping , Yang Yeru , Wei Dongshan , Li Yingjie , Chao Kairui , Jia Li , Liu Guiming , Yu Fengqiang , Zhang Jiewei , Yang Haifeng
Published: February 2025

Salix psammophila C. Wang & C. Y. Yang is an important windbreak and sand-fixing shrub species in Northwest China, with excellent characteristics such as resistance to drought, wind, and sand. S. psammophila needs to be stubbed flat after several years of growth to continue to grow, otherwise, its growth rate will slow down and even begin to die. To understand the genetic regulatory mechanism of secondary growth in S. psammophila, cell structure and transcriptome analysis were performed on the secondary xylem and secondary phloem of stems. The results showed that the secondary xylem and the secondary phloem of S. psammophila were well developed at 1, 2, and 3-year-old stages, and the secondary growth changes mainly occurred in the secondary xylem at the 2 to 3-year-old stage, with a faster growth rate. The CSE2 and CSE1 genes that regulate CSE (caffeoyl shikimate esterase) have high sequence similarity (92% and 93%) with the CSE2 and CSE1 genes of the genus Populus, respectively, and regulate lignin biosynthesis. Notably, the expression levels of these two genes decreased in the secondary xylem of 3-year-old S. psammophila, indicating that the rapid growth of S. psammophila may be related to lignin biosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to screen candidate TFs and genes involved in the secondary growth processes of S. psammophila, which were categorized into six co-expression modules. A total of 79 genes were selected from these co-expression modules, and co-expression network maps of the genes were constructed. The results indicate that the secondary growth of S. psammophila was regulated by a TF regulatory network. Interestingly, PLATZ TFs were involved in the rapid secondary growth and stress tolerance in S. psammophila. This hints that S. psammophila may promote secondary growth by increasing stress tolerance.
Exogenous Melatonin Improves Drought Tolerance by Regulating the Antioxidant Defense System and Photosynthetic Efficiency in Fodder Soybean Seedings
Authors: Zhao Qianhan , Zheng Xueling , Wang Chen , Wang Qinyi , Wei Qiyun , Liu Xiashun , Liu Yujiao , Chen Along , Jiang Jia , Zhao Xueying , He Tiantian , Qi Jiayi , Han Yuchen , Qin Haonan , Xie Fuchun , Chen Yajun
Published: February 2025

Fodder soybean (Glycine max L.) with high protein and yield is a popular forage grass in northeast China. Seasonal drought inhibits its growth and development during seedling stage. The objective of this study was to observe morpho-physiological changes in fodder soybean seedlings under melatonin (MT) treatments and identify appropriate concentration to alleviate the drought damage. Two varieties commonly used in northeast China were treated with 0, 50, 100, and 150 μM melatonin at soil water content of 30%. The results indicated that applying melatonin enhanced height, biomass and altered root morphology of fodder soybean seedlings under water-deficient conditions. The treatments with melatonin at different concentrations significantly reduced the contents of H2O2, O2− and MDA, while boosting the capacity of the antioxidant defense system and the content of osmotic adjustment substances. Meanwhile, increases in light energy capture and transmission efficiency were observed. Furthermore, treatment with melatonin regulated the expression levels of genes associated with photosynthesis and the antioxidant defense system. Notably, 100 μM melatonin treatment produced the most favorable effect in all treatments under drought conditions. These research results provide new information for enhancing the drought tolerance of fodder soybean using chemical measures.
After-Ripening Is Associated with Changes in the Sensitivity of Avena fatua L. Caryopses to Abscisic Acid, as Well as Changes in the Abscisic Acid and Bioactive Gibberellins Contents in Embryos
Authors: Kępczyński Jan , Wójcik Agata , Dziurka Michał
Published: February 2025

The information on the involvement of hormones in the release of dormancy in grass caryopses is still insufficient. The main aim of the present study was to deepen our understanding of the mechanism dormancy release in Avena fatua L. caryopses by after-ripening in relation to abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs). The after-ripening of florets during dry storage resulted in dormancy removal in caryopses, allowing their germination at 20 to 30 °C. Sensitivity to ABA and paclobutrazol (PAC), a GAs biosynthesis inhibitor, decreased as the after-ripening period was extended. After-ripening increased the ABA content in the embryos of dry caryopses and decreased the total content of bioactive GAs, except for GA1, the content of which increased. Accordingly, the ABA/GAs ratio was increased, and the ABA/GA1 ratio was lowered due to after-ripening. After-ripening led to a decrease in the ABA content and increased the bioactive GAs contents, including GA1 and GA6, regarded as the most important for germination, in the embryos within 18 h of caryopses germination. The results obtained indicate that the embryos of dormant caryopses contained sufficient levels of bioactive GA1 and GA6 at early stages of germination, but their germination was prevented due to having too high an ABA concentration. It seems that the agents most important in dormancy removal through after-ripening include a reduction in the ABA content and sensitivity, as well as an increase in the bioactive GAs, particularly GA1 and GA6, in the embryos of germinating caryopses, which brings about a reduction in the ABA/GAs, ABA/GA1, and ABA/GA6 ratios, thus enabling germination.
Comparative Metabolic Profiling and Biological Evaluation of Essential Oils from Conocarpus Species: Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Potential
Authors: Salim Aya , Arasteh Alya Ali , Sahrish Ruqaiya , Labash Danya , El-Keblawy Ali A. , Gad Haidy A. , Ashmawy Naglaa S.
Published: February 2025

Essential oils (EOs) are a diverse source of bioactive compounds with remarkable therapeutic potential. Despite their significance, Conocarpus EOs have been largely underexplored. This study provides a novel comparison of the metabolic profiles and biological activities of EOs from C. lancifolius, C. erectus green, and C. erectus silver leaves cultivated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering unique insights into their distinct bioactive properties and potential therapeutic applications. EOs were extracted via hydro-distillation, analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and subjected to chemometric analysis. Their antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assays), antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antimicrobial activities were assessed. A total of 92 metabolites were identified, with heptacosane and nonacosane as key species discriminants. C. lancifolius EO showed the strongest α-amylase (IC50 8.75 ± 0.54 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 22.31 ± 0.92 µg/mL) inhibitory activities, while C. erectus silver demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity (IC50 349.78 ± 8.26 µg/mL, DPPH assay). C. lancifolius EO exhibited the best antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 625 µg/mL). C. erectus silver EO inhibited E. coli and C. albicans (MIC 625 µg/mL). In contrast, C. erectus EOs showed no activity against Aspergillus niger. These findings highlight the potential of Conocarpus EOs as antioxidants and for managing diabetes that may be utilized either in nutraceuticals, dietary supplements or even in pharmaceutical formulations. Moreover, owing to significant antimicrobial activities, the EOs may be added to medical disinfectants and several pharmaceutical products. However, further, in vivo validation and pharmaceutical exploration is still needed.
Nano-Polymers as Cas9 Inhibitors
Authors: Chepurna Oksana , Chatterjee Avradip , Li Yuanqing , Ding Hong , Murali Ramachandran , Black Keith L. , Sun Tao
Published: February 2025

Despite wide applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, effective approaches for CRISPR delivery with functional control are limited. In an attempt to develop a nanoscale CRSIPR/Cas9 delivery platform, we discovered that several biocompatible polymers, including polymalic acid (PMLA), polyglutamic acid (PGA), and polyaspartic acid (PLD), when conjugated with a trileucine (LLL) moiety, can effectively inhibit Cas9 nuclease function. The Cas9 inhibition by those polymers is dose-dependent, with varying efficiency to achieve 100% inhibition. Further biophysical studies revealed that PMLA-LLL directly binds the Cas9 protein, resulting in a substantial decrease in Cas9/sgRNA binding affinity. Transmission electron microscopy and molecular docking were performed to provide a possible binding mechanism for PMLA-LLL to interact with Cas9. This work identified a new class of Cas9 inhibitor in nano-polymer form. These biodegradable polymers may serve as novel Cas9 delivery vehicles with a potential to enhance the precision of Cas9-mediated gene editing.
A Numerical Study on the Drug Release Process of Biodegradable Polymer Drug-Loaded Vascular Stents
Authors: Li Shiyong , Wei Yunbo , Li Hongxia
Published: February 2025

Biodegradable polymer drug-loaded vascular stents are a typical and promising application in the field of invasive interventional therapy. The drug release process of drug-loaded vascular stents, as well as the drug concentration in the vascular wall and its change process, will affect the therapeutic effect of vascular stents on vascular stenosis. As a drug carrier, the degradation properties of the polymer will affect the drug release process. In this study, the drug release process from the biodegradable polymer stent and the drug delivery process in vascular lumens and intravascular walls were studied by using 3D finite element method, with the effect of the biodegradation behavior of polymer on the drug release process being considered. The effects of the initial drug concentration, stent geometry, and polymer degradation rate on the drug release and delivery process were investigated. The results showed that the initial drug concentration and the thickness of the polymer stent significantly affected the drug concentration in the middle layer of the vessel wall, but the initial drug concentration had no effect on the drug release duration. The degradation of the polymer causes its porosity to change with time, which affects the drug diffusion in polymer, and further affects the drug concentration in the vessel wall. The three-dimensional structure of the stent can affect the blood flow in the blood vessel, resulting in drug deposition near the struts, especially near the intersection of the support struts and the bridge struts.
Hydrophobic Chitosan Derivatives for Gene and Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapies
Authors: Poshina Daria N. , Rakshina Anna D. , Skorik Yury A.
Published: February 2025

Chitosan remains one of the most widely used biopolymers in biomedicine due to its non-toxicity and biodegradability. It is easily chemically modified, allowing its properties to be effectively altered to improve its performance as a gene and drug carrier. The introduction of hydrophobic moieties into chitosan can significantly enhance its interaction with cancer cells, improving its potential for targeted delivery. The hydrophobic moiety plays a crucial role in the interaction of the particle with the cell membrane during internalization by endocytosis. The type of hydrophobic moiety, its degree of substitution, and its placement along the chitosan backbone all influence the physicochemical properties and biological performance of the resulting polymer. Hydrophobic modification can also affect the self-assembly behavior of chitosan, influencing the size, shape, and stability of the resulting particles. These factors impact the loading efficiency of therapeutic agents and the release kinetics of the encapsulated cargo. While hydrophobic modification can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of chitosan, it is important to consider potential toxic effects. In summary, the hydrophobic modification of chitosan is a powerful strategy to improve its efficiency as a gene and drug carrier. By understanding the role of the hydrophobic moiety in cellular uptake, endosomal escape, self-assembly, and toxicity, researchers can design and develop optimized chitosan-based delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy.
Strategic Selection of a Pre-Reduction Reactor for Increased Hydrogen Utilization in Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction
Authors: Adami Bernhard , Hoffelner Felix , Zarl Michael Andreas , Schenk Johannes
Published: February 2025

The hydrogen plasma smelting reduction process has the potential to drastically reduce the CO2 emissions of the steel industry by using molecular, atomic and ionized hydrogen as a reducing agent for iron ores. To increase the hydrogen and thermal efficiency of the process, a pre-reduction and pre-heating stage should be incorporated in a future upscaling of an existing HPSR demonstration plant within the scope of the “SuSteel follow-up” project to a target capacity of 200 kg/h of iron ore. The determination of the optimal process parameters is followed by a review of possible reactor types. A fluidized bed cascade, a cyclone cascade and a rotary kiln are compared for this purpose. Their applicability for the hydrogen plasma smelting is discussed, based on their fundamental design and operational procedures. Additionally, critical features of the different reactor types are outlined. A cyclone cascade with at least 3 stages is proposed to be the optimal reactor for pre-heating and pre-reducing the input material for the upscaled hydrogen plasma smelting reduction demonstration plant, based on the assessment.
Identifying Endogenous Proteins of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with Ex Vivo Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Pedersen Kathrine Danner Aakjær , Andersen Line Thopholm , Heiselberg Mads , Brigsted Camilla Agerskov , Støvring Freja Lyngs , Mikkelsen Louise Mailund , Hansen Sofie Albrekt , Rusbjerg-Weberskov Christian Enrico , Lübeck Mette , Gregersen Echers Simon
Published: February 2025

Background: During the initial steps of green biorefining aimed at protein recovery, endogenous proteins and enzymes, along with, e.g., phytochemical constituents, are decompartmentalized into a green juice. This creates a highly dynamic environment prone to a plethora of reactions including oxidative protein modification and deterioration. Obtaining a fundamental understanding of the enzymes capable of exerting antioxidant activity ex vivo could help mitigate these reactions for improved product quality. Methods: In this study, we investigated perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne var. Abosan 1), one of the most widely used turf and forage grasses, as a model system. Using size exclusion chromatography, we fractionated the green juice to investigate in vitro antioxidant properties and coupled this with quantitative bottom-up proteomics, GO-term analysis, and fraction-based enrichment. Results: Our findings revealed that several enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and peroxiredoxin proteoforms, already known for their involvement in in vivo oxidative protection, are enriched in fractions displaying increased in vitro antioxidant activity, indicating retained activity ex vivo. Moreover, this study provides the most detailed characterization of the L. perenne proteome today and delivers new insights into protein-level partitioning during wet fractionation. Conclusions: Ultimately, this work contributes to a better understanding of the first steps of green biorefining and provides the basis for process optimization.
Amplification of Higher-Order Salivary Gland Volume Effects from External Beam Radiotherapy in Normal Tissue Complication Probability Modeling of Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
Authors: Gu Chunming , Hobbs Robert F. , Kiess Ana P. , Lee Junghoon , McNutt Todd , Quon Harry , Xin Zhuoyao , Yusufaly Tahir I.
Published: February 2025

Salivary glands are common organs at risk in both head and neck external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT), but incidences of xerostomia in RPT are inconsistent with the EBRT Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) limits. In EBRT, salivary glands are usually assumed to be parallel organs, with QUANTEC guidelines based on Dmean, but this is known to be a gross over-simplification of the full complexity of the underlying functional organization. The goal of this work is to combine machine learning of EBRT dose–outcome data with stylized small-scale RPT dosimetry to discover more reliable normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models of xerostomia across both modalities. A retrospective cohort of 211 EBRT patients was analyzed using a custom-designed in-house machine learning workflow. From this, a hierarchy of three models of increasing complexity was trained, evaluated for performance and generalization, and coupled with stylized small-scale salivary gland dosimetry to assess the influence of model complexity on the predicted NTCP for plausible patterns of RPT dose nonuniformity. The three models in the hierarchy (A, B, C), in increasing order of complexity, associate xerostomia with the following: the mean dose to the whole contralateral parotid (model A), the mean dose to a ductally localized region (model B) and a serial interaction dose term between two ductal sub-compartments (model C). While the difference between the three models for EBRT p-values and AUCs is rather marginal, for physiologically driven ductal dose distributions in RPT, the predicted reduction in TD50 can be as large as a factor of 10. These results provide hints towards a plausible reconciliation of the observed inconsistency of xerostomia in RPT with EBRT dose limits.
New-Onset Anti-LGI1 Encephalitis in a Pregnant Woman
Authors: Randall Britteny , Schmitt Eric , McGraw Blaine , Gloeb Donald , Blattner Matthew
Published: February 2025

Background and Clinical Significance: Anti-Leucine-rich glioma inactivated-1 (anti-LGI1) encephalitis is a rare, autoimmune disorder often presenting with limbic encephalitis. The reported incidence of anti-LGI1 is 0.83/million/year, with elderly males accounting for the overwhelming majority of cases. While anti-LGI1 encephalitis is a well-known cause of autoimmune encephalitis in men over 50, our literature review found no published cases in pregnant women. The purpose of this study is to describe a rare presentation of this pathology in an unexpected population. Case Presentation: A 21-year-old gravida 2, para 1001 woman at 20 weeks’ gestation presented with worsening seizure-like activity for the past four months, frequent falls, loss of consciousness, and concern for trauma to the abdomen. Her neurologic workup one month prior revealed a 72 h electroencephalography (EEG) with epileptic seizures of the left frontotemporal region, but a normal magnetic resonance image (MRI) of her head. A repeat MRI during this hospitalization showed bilateral limbic and basal ganglia T2 hyperintensities. She was treated with increasing doses of antiepileptic drugs without improvement and was transferred to a neurology intensive care unit, where she was diagnosed with anti-LGI1 encephalitis. She was initially treated with oral corticosteroids with inadequate response, then with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG). Her seizure activity persisted throughout her pregnancy, requiring multiple admissions for IVIG, but she eventually delivered a healthy baby and continues to receive long-term care for her new diagnosis. Conclusions: This case illustrates classic findings of anti-LGI1 encephalitis in a non-classic patient population. Knowledge that such a case exists may serve to broaden the differential diagnoses when physicians are presented with a similar pregnant patient and expand the reported patient population in this rare disease.
Design Analysis and Isotropic Optimization for Miniature Capacitive Force/Torque Sensor
Authors: Lee Seung Yeon , Sim Jae Yoon , Kim Yong Bum , Seok Dongyeop , Shim Jaeyoon , Choi Hyouk Ryeol
Published: February 2025

A capacitive six-axis force/torque (F/T) sensor has favorable characteristics for miniature design. However, when designing small-sized force/torque sensors, anisotropy among the six axes can lead to uneven sensitivity across each axis. This is due to increased crosstalk errors, which degrade sensor performance. To design a miniature six-axis force/torque sensor, it is essential to analyze the isotropic relationships between the six-axis forces/torques and the capacitance change to reduce crosstalk errors. This paper presents a miniature capacitive six-axis F/T sensor optimized for isotropy. It also establishes a systematic method for designing sensing electrodes. The sensor’s deformable structure is analyzed using Castigliano’s beam theory, and design parameters are optimized with isotropy analysis of the deformable part. The criteria are also presented, including selecting the electrode area and initial gap using linear equations derived from capacitance change analysis. The optimized miniature F/T sensor is calibrated using a neural network-based calibration method, and its accuracy errors are compared to a reference sensor. The design framework provides a foundation for future developments in miniature sensors.
A Novel Adaptive Non-Singular Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control for Direct Yaw Moment Control in 4WID Electric Vehicles
Authors: Lee Jung Eun , Kim Byeong Woo
Published: February 2025

This study proposes an adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode control (NFTSMC)-based direct yaw moment control (DYC) strategy to enhance driving stability in four-wheel independent drive (4WID) electric vehicles. Unlike conventional SMC, the proposed method dynamically adapts to system uncertainties and reduces chattering, a critical issue in control applications. The approach begins with the development of an NFTSMC method, analyzing its performance to identify areas for improvement. To enhance robustness and responsiveness, a novel adaptive NFTSMC method is introduced. This method integrates a non-singular fast terminal sliding mode surface with a novel adaptive fast-reaching control law that combines an adaptive switching mechanism and a fast-reaching law. The designed adaptive switching law adjusts the sliding gain in real time based on system conditions, reducing chattering without needing an upper bound on uncertainties as required by traditional NFTSMC methods. Concurrently, the fast-reaching law ensures rapid convergence from any initial condition and accurate tracking performance. Simulation results across various steering maneuvers, including step, sinusoidal, and fish-hook inputs, demonstrate that the proposed method significantly improves tracking accuracy and driving stability over traditional SMC and NFTSMC methods. Marked reductions in RMS and peak yaw rate errors, and effective chattering mitigation, highlight advancements in vehicle safety and stability.
Automated Detection of Change of Direction in Basketball Players Using Xsens Motion Tracking
Authors: Pinelli Salvatore , Zinno Raffaele , Jòdar-Portas Anna , Prats-Puig Anna , Font-Lladó Raquel , Bragonzoni Laura
Published: February 2025

In sports science, accurate tracking of athletes’ movement patterns is essential for performance analysis and injury prevention. Changes of direction (COD), frequently executed during basketball games at cutting angles of around 135° (internal angle of 45°), are essential for agility and high-level performance. Moreover, mastering effective COD mechanics is associated with a lower risk of injuries and enhanced long-term athletic success. However, manual segmentation of data from wearable sensors is labor-intensive and time-consuming, often creating bottlenecks for sports practitioners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of an automated algorithm for detecting COD movements in basketball and to compare its performance with manual detection methods. Data were collected from 62 basketball players, each completing two tests (V-cut test and a modified V-cut test), totaling 248 trials. The system utilizes kinematic data from an Xsens full-body kit to analyze key variables that characterize direction changes. The proposed method detects COD events with a median error of one frame and an interquartile range of two frames. The system demonstrated nearly 80% accuracy in COD detection, as validated against manual video analysis. These findings indicate that automated COD detection can significantly reduce segmentation time for practitioners while providing actionable, data-driven insights to enhance kinematic assessment during sport-specific activities.
Controllable Blind AC FDIA via Physics-Informed Extrapolative AVAE
Authors: Zhao Siliang , Luo Wuman , Shu Qin , Xu Fangwei
Published: February 2025

False data injection attacks (FDIAs) targeting AC state estimation pose significant challenges, especially when only power measurements are available, and voltage measurements are absent. Current machine learning-based approaches struggle to effectively control state estimation errors and are confined to the data distribution of training sets. To address these limitations, we propose the physics-informed extrapolative adversarial variational autoencoder (PI-ExAVAE) for generating controllable and stealthy false data injections. By incorporating physically consistent priors derived from the AC power flow equations, which enforce both the physical laws of power systems and the stealth requirements to evade bad data detection mechanisms, the model learns to generate attack vectors that are physically plausible and stealthy while inducing significant and controllable deviations in state estimation. Experimental results on IEEE-14 and IEEE-118 systems show that the model achieves a 90% success rate in bypassing detection tests for most attack configurations and outperforms methods like SAGAN by generating smoother, more realistic deviations. Furthermore, the use of physical priors enables the model to extrapolate beyond the training data distribution, effectively targeting unseen operational scenarios. This highlights the importance of integrating physics knowledge into data-driven approaches to enhance adaptability and robustness against evolving detection mechanisms.
Design and Calibration of a Slit Light Source for Infrared Deflectometry
Authors: Ye Lu , Zhang Xiangchao , Xu Min , Wang Wei
Published: February 2025

Infrared deflectometry is an efficient and accurate measuring method for curved surfaces fabricated via grinding or finish milling. The emitting properties and geometrical configurations of the infrared light source is a core component governing the measurement performance. In this paper, an infrared slit light source is designed based on the cavity structure of a polyimide heating film. This design ensures good stability and uniformity of the light source whilst effectively reducing background noise. Additionally, the light source can be applied as a calibration board for calibrating infrared cameras. The light source is aligned using a theodolite and cubic prism to control the positional deviations during scanning. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed slit light source and calibration method can achieve a measurement accuracy of 1 µm RMS, which can meet the needs of rapid measurement in grinding. This approach provides a reliable, cost-effective, and efficient tool for surface quality assessments in optical workshops and has a broad application potential.
A Highly Sensitive Light-Induced Thermoelastic Spectroscopy Sensor Using a Charge Amplifier to Improve the Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Authors: Ma Hanxu , Qiao Shunda , He Ying , Ma Yufei
Published: February 2025

A highly sensitive light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) sensor employing a charge amplifier (CA) is reported for the first time in this invited paper. CA has the merits of high input impedance and strong anti-interference ability. The usually used transimpedance amplifier (TA) and voltage amplifier (VA) were also studied under the same conditions for comparison. A standard commercial quartz tuning fork (QTF) with a resonant frequency of approximately 32.76 kHz was used as the photothermal signal transducer. Methane (CH4) was used as the target gas in these sensors for performance verification. Compared to the TA-LITES sensor and VA-LITES sensor, the reported CA-LITES sensor shows improvements of 1.83 times and 5.28 times in the minimum detection limit (MDL), respectively. When compared to the LITES sensor without an amplifier (WA-LITES), the MDL has a 19.96-fold improvement. After further optimizing the gain of the CA, the MDL of the CA-LITES sensor was calculated as 2.42 ppm, which further improved the performance of the MDL by 30.3 times compared to the WA-LITES. Additionally, long-term stability is analyzed using Allan deviation analysis. When the average time of the sensor system is increased to 50 s, the MDL of the CA-LITES sensor system can be improved to 0.58 ppm.
Deep Learning-Based Ground-Penetrating Radar Inversion for Tree Roots in Heterogeneous Soil
Authors: Li Xibei , Cheng Xi , Zhao Yunjie , Xiang Binbin , Zhang Taihong
Published: February 2025

Tree roots are vital for tree ecosystems; accurate root detection helps analyze the health of trees and supports the effective management of resources such as fertilizers, water and pesticides. In this paper, a deep learning-based ground-penetrating radar (GPR) inversion method is proposed to simultaneously image the spatial distribution of permittivity for subsurface tree roots and layered heterogeneous soils in real time. Additionally, a GPR simulation data set and a measured data set are built in this study, which were used to train inversion models and validate the effectiveness of GPR inversion methods.The introduced GPR inversion model is a pyramid convolutional network with vision transformer and edge inversion auxiliary task (PyViTENet), which combines pyramidal convolution and vision transformer to improve the diversity and accuracy of data feature extraction. Furthermore, by adding the task of edge inversion of the permittivity distribution of underground materials, the model focuses more on the details of heterogeneous structures. The experimental results show that, for the case of buried scatterers in layered heterogeneous soil, the PyViTENet performs better than other deep learning methods on the simulation data set. It can more accurately invert the permittivity of scatterers and the soil stratification. The most notable advantage of PyViTENet is that it can accurately capture the heterogeneous structural details of the soil within the layer since the soil around the tree roots in the real scene is layered soil and each layer of soil is also heterogeneous due to factors such as humidity, proportion of different soil particles, etc.In order to further verify the effectiveness of the proposed inversion method, this study applied the PyViTENet to GPR measured data through transfer learning for reconstructing the permittivity, shape, and position information of scatterers in the actual scene. The proposed model shows good generalization ability and accuracy, and provides a basis for non-destructive detection of underground scatterers and their surrounding medium.
Improving 3D Reconstruction Through RGB-D Sensor Noise Modeling
Authors: Afzal Maken Fahira , Muthu Sundaram , Nguyen Chuong , Sun Changming , Tong Jinguang , Wang Shan , Tsuchida Russell , Howard David , Dunstall Simon , Petersson Lars
Published: February 2025

High-resolution RGB-D sensors are widely used in computer vision, manufacturing, and robotics. The depth maps from these sensors have inherently high measurement uncertainty that includes both systematic and non-systematic noise. These noisy depth estimates degrade the quality of scans, resulting in less accurate 3D reconstruction, making them unsuitable for some high-precision applications. In this paper, we focus on quantifying the uncertainty in the depth maps of high-resolution RGB-D sensors for the purpose of improving 3D reconstruction accuracy. To this end, we estimate the noise model for a recent high-precision RGB-D structured light sensor called Zivid when mounted on a robot arm. Our proposed noise model takes into account the measurement distance and angle between the sensor and the measured surface. We additionally analyze the effect of background light, exposure time, and the number of captures on the quality of the depth maps obtained. Our noise model seamlessly integrates with well-known classical and modern neural rendering-based algorithms, from KinectFusion to Point-SLAM methods using bilinear interpolation as well as 3D analytical functions. We collect a high-resolution RGB-D dataset and apply our noise model to improve tracking and produce higher-resolution 3D models.
Meteorological Visibility Estimation Using Landmark Object Extraction and the ANN Method
Authors: Lo Wai-Lun , Wong Kwok-Wai , Hsung Richard Tai-Chiu , Chung Henry Shu-Hung , Fu Hong
Published: February 2025

Visibility can be interpreted as the largest distance of an object that can be recognized or detected under a bright environment that can be used as an environmental indicator for weather conditions and air pollution. The accuracy of the classical approach of visibility calculation, in which meteorological laws and image feature extraction from digital images are used, depends on the quality and noise disturbances of the image. Therefore, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital image approaches have been proposed for visibility estimation in the past. Image features for the whole digital image are generated by pre-trained convolutional neural networks, and the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is designed for correlation between image features and visibilities. Instead of using the information of the whole digital images, past research has been proposed to identify effective subregions from which image features are generated. A generalized regression neural network (GRNN) was designed to correlate the image features with the visibilities. Past research results showed that this method is more accurate than the classical approach of using handcrafted features. However, the selection of effective subregions of digital images is not fully automated and is based on manual selection by expert judgments. In this paper, we proposed an automatic effective subregion selection method using landmark object extraction techniques. Image features are generated from these LMO subregions, and the ANN is designed to approximate the mapping between LMO regions’ feature values and visibility values. The experimental results show that this approach can minimize the reductant information for ANN training and improve the accuracy of visibility estimation as compared to the single image approach.
Accurate Real-Time Live Face Detection Using Snapshot Spectral Imaging Method
Authors: Wang Zhihai , Wang Shuai , Yu Weixing , Gao Bo , Li Chenxi , Wang Tianxin
Published: February 2025

Traditional facial recognition is realized by facial recognition algorithms based on 2D or 3D digital images and has been well developed and has found wide applications in areas related to identification verification. In this work, we propose a novel live face detection (LFD) method by utilizing snapshot spectral imaging technology, which takes advantage of the distinctive reflected spectra from human faces. By employing a computational spectral reconstruction algorithm based on Tikhonov regularization, a rapid and precise spectral reconstruction with a fidelity of over 99% for the color checkers and various types of “face” samples has been achieved. The flat face areas were extracted exactly from the “face” images with Dlib face detection and Euclidean distance selection algorithms. A large quantity of spectra were rapidly reconstructed from the selected areas and compiled into an extensive database. The convolutional neural network model trained on this database demonstrates an excellent capability for predicting different types of “faces” with an accuracy exceeding 98%, and, according to a series of evaluations, the system’s detection time consistently remained under one second, much faster than other spectral imaging LFD methods. Moreover, a pixel-level liveness detection test system is developed and a LFD experiment shows good agreement with theoretical results, which demonstrates the potential of our method to be applied in other recognition fields. The superior performance and compatibility of our method provide an alternative solution for accurate, highly integrated video LFD applications.
Design and Analysis of Wideband Single-Layer Reflectarray Antenna for Remote Sensing and Environmental Monitoring
Authors: J Annal Joy , Palaniswamy Sandeep Kumar , Kumar Sachin , Kanagasabai Malathi , Matekovits Ladislau
Published: February 2025

In this article, a wideband single-layer reflectarray antenna for Ku-band applications is presented. The proposed reflectarray antenna is suitable for applications such as fixed satellite service (FSS), broadcasting satellite service (BSS), earth exploration satellite service (EESS), remote sensing, and environmental monitoring. The developed single element of the proposed reflectarray antenna is made up of a horizontal strip, discrete vertical strips of varying sizes, and circular structures. The reflectarray antenna has 441 elements arranged on a square aperture made of Rogers 5880 substrate, measuring 21 cm × 21 cm. The maximum gain obtained is 26.31 dBi, with a bandwidth of 15.4% of 1 dB gain. The achieved aperture efficiency is 44.4%. The obtained cross-polarizations are less than −21.46 dB for the E-plane and −25.27 dB for the H-plane. The side lobe level is found below −15.06 dB in the E plane and −15.7 dB in the H plane. The side lobe level is minimal at 13.5 GHz, measuring less than −18.2 dB and −18.5 dB in the E and H planes, respectively. The reflectarray antenna designed has a fractional bandwidth of 40%. Hence, the developed antenna is suitable for wide Ku-band applications.
Ultraprecise Detection of Influenza Virus by Antibody-Modified Graphene Transistors
Authors: Wang Gang , Zhang Mingming , Zhu Minghua , Zhang Tengfei , Qian Xueqin , Liu Yili , Ma Xinye , Dai Changhao , Wei Dacheng , Zhu Zhaoqin , Sun Juntao , Guo Mingquan
Published: February 2025

Over the past decade, the large-scale spread of influenza viruses has posed an increasing burden on public health. The effective screening of influenza agents requires a fast, precise, on-site and easy-to-operate method. Unfortunately, current screening methods face challenges in speed and accuracy, especially in complex on-site settings. Here, this work develops a nucleoprotein antibody-modified graphene field-effect transistor (NPAb-GFET) for rapid and highly precise detection of influenza A viruses. The functionalized monoclonal antibodies capture influenza virus nucleoprotein within 100 × 10−9 s on the sensing surface. Therefore, the developed NPAb-GFET achieves an average response time of 72.1 s when detecting influenza A viruses in clinical samples. Furthermore, the testing of 106 throat swab samples exhibits an accuracy of 99.1%. This finding provides a valuable diagnostic tool for the control of influenza viruses, accelerating the population-wide control of other epidemics.
Ayla Oasis Lagoons: A Model for Ecological Sustainability and Marine Conservation in Aqaba, Jordan
Authors: Al-Sawalmih Ali , Alshammari Nader , Altaleb Haya , Al-Jawasreh Raid , Maitah Rawan
Published: February 2025

The Ayla Oasis in Aqaba, Jordan, is a major tourism and residential development project in Aqaba, Jordan, containing three artificial lagoons. This study explores the ecological sustainable development of Ayla Lagoons, focusing on the seawater and bottom sediment quality, and the bottom habitat, in addition to coral conservation and restoration initiatives. The flushing time, averaging 3.7 days for the Upper Lagoon and 2.4 days for the Middle Lagoon, plays a crucial role in maintaining water quality. These measures secure the well-being of all visitors and residents, while also preserving the marine biodiversity. The Upper, Middle, and Tidal Lagoons exhibit physiochemical properties in alignment with seawater characteristics of the Gulf of Aqaba. Sediment quality analysis shows organic carbon levels and grain size distribution vary among lagoons, indicating expected different energy conditions and a healthy environment. The lagoons support a diverse range of species, with a total of 2343 fish individuals belonging to 22 species across 17 families recorded. The comprehensive analysis of the Ayla Oasis lagoons’ seawater and sediment quality revealed a dynamic and resilient ecosystem. Ayla’s coral conservation and restoration initiative within its lagoons feature 166 reef balls, 5 coral nurseries, and 2 metal structures, all designed to foster marine biodiversity. The project demonstrates the effectiveness of Ayla Oasis’ environmental resilience and monitoring strategies, showcasing a commitment to sustainable management and environmental stewardship. These efforts reflect Ayla’s ongoing dedication to protecting and preserving the marine ecosystem, ensuring the long-term health of its coral reefs and surrounding marine life.
Spatial Distribution Patterns, Eco-Environmental Risk Assessment, and Human Health Impacts of Uranium and Thorium in Beach Sediments in the Central Gulf of Gabes (Southern Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: El Zrelli Radhouan Belgacem , Klar Jessica K. , Castet Sylvie , Grégoire Michel , Courjault-Radé Pierre , Fabre Sébastien
Published: February 2025

This study investigates uranium (U) and thorium (Th) levels in surface beach sediments from the Central Gulf of Gabes (SE Tunisia), aiming to identify concentration zones, geochemical behaviors, and enrichment factors. U concentrations ranged from 0.71 to 38.00 mg/kg, exceeding Th levels, which ranged from 1.00 to 10.60 mg/kg. A positive correlation between U and Th indicates a common source, which is most likely phosphogypsum wastes, and similar geochemical behaviors. The central sector near Gabes’ fertilizer factories showed the highest U and Th concentrations, with factors such as proximity to industrial discharge, port structures’ influence, organic matter enrichment, low seawater pH, and high phosphorus levels affecting the spatial distribution of these elements. Thermochemical analysis suggests that U and Th exhibit parallel chemical behaviors in low-pH, phosphate-rich conditions. This is the first study to document U and Th presence in phosphogypsum-contaminated beach sediments in Gabes, underlining potential risks to the environment and human health. The findings of this work contribute to the international database of U and Th contamination in coastal sediments, providing essential data to support sustainable strategies aimed at safeguarding human health and preserving local environments affected by phosphate fertilizer industry pollution.