bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Three‐Dimensional Fine Structures of the Rabbit Vocal Fold Using Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy
Authors: Sato Kiminobu , Mark Mengya , Xu Xiaochuan , Rousseau Bernard
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The comparative fine structures of the rabbit vocal fold (VF) were investigated using the technique combined with correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to elucidate the functional mechanisms.

Methods

Seven normal New Zealand White Rabbit vocal folds were examined using CLEM technique and TEM to investigate their fine structures.

Results

In contrast to the human VF, the rabbit VF lacked the macula flava and vocal ligament. However, the distribution of fibrous components of the lamina propria (LP) of the rabbit VF was similar to the human VF. Spindle‐shaped and oval‐shaped cells were identified in the LP of the membranous portion of the rabbit VF using CLEM. Furthermore, amorphous materials were produced from vesicles positioned at the periphery of fibroblast cytoplasm. Unlike the human macula flava, stellate cells containing lipid droplets in the cytoplasm were absent in the rabbit VF.

Conclusion

The potential utilization of the CLEM technique facilitates the observation of these fine structures in other species commonly employed in animal experiments. Rabbits are considered a suitable species for animal experiments due to the characteristics of the fibrous components of the VF, but it is crucial for researchers to understand the structural and functional distinctions of VF in other species utilized for animal experiments. As the CLEM is a useful technique to evaluate the fine structures of the VF across small species, it is expected to be applied in animal experiments in future studies.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 2025
Spatial resolution improvements for photon counting detectors using coincidence counting and frequency weighted reconstruction
Authors: Hsieh Scott S. , Taguchi Katsuyuki , Leng Shuai , McCollough Cynthia H.
Published: February 2025

Background

Photon counting X‐ray detectors (PCDs) provide better spatial resolution than energy integrating X‐ray detectors, but even higher resolution is desired in some applications. Certain charge sharing compensation techniques such as coincidence counting preferentially detect photons that arrive at the boundary between pixels, and this could be used for subpixel localization of incident photons and enhanced spatial resolution.

Purpose

To estimate improvements to spatial resolution and detective quantum efficiency that are possible when using coincidence counting for high‐resolution, non‐spectral imaging.

Methods

The modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) were estimated using numerical simulations of a two‐dimensional parallel‐beam CT system. Coincidence counters were modeled either geometrically or with Monte Carlo simulations. The geometric model consisted of narrow coincidence counters that interlaced with wider ordinary pixels, and showed that using standard filtered backprojection decreases low‐frequency DQE, but that a frequency weighting technique could be used to restore DQE. The Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate the possible improvements that could be expected from real systems. The pixel pitch was 0.25 mm and the source apertures considered were 0, 0.125, and 0.5 mm. A numerical stent phantom was also used to illustrate possible improvements.

Results

Assuming a 0.125 mm source aperture and the Monte Carlo model, the limiting MTF (at 10%) increased from 20 to 40 lp/cm using coincidence counters. This can be explained by the increased sampling (and higher Nyquist limit) possible from coincidence counters. In the geometric model, coincidence counters are compared to conventional double sampling techniques such as in‐plane flying focal spot, and the MTF at 38 lp/cm increased from 5% to 53%. Without the frequency weighting technique, low‐frequency DQE was reduced by about 20%, but these losses are recovered with frequency weighting. Improvements are much more modest with the 0.25 mm source aperture because the system becomes source‐limited.

Conclusions

Coincidence counting could be used to increase spatial resolution in PCDs. The increases in system resolution could be large if a high‐resolution X‐ray source were available.
Class III Congenital Middle Ear Anomalies: Refining the Teunissen–Cremers Classification Based on Stapes Suprastructure Viability
Authors: Yeon Eun‐Kyeong , Kim Sang Heun , Yi Sumin , Choi Jin Woong
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the surgical outcomes of partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) and total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) in class III congenital middle ear anomalies (CMEAs) based on stapes suprastructure integrity and to propose a refined Teunissen–Cremers classification.

Study Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

A tertiary academic medical center.

Methods

Forty‐nine ears from 46 patients with class III CMEAs who underwent ossiculoplasty from 2012 to 2024 were included. Patients were categorized into the viable suprastructure group (26 ears), with intact or mildly dysplastic suprastructures requiring PORP, and the non‐viable suprastructure group (23 ears), with severely dysplastic or absent suprastructures requiring TORP. Exclusion criteria included revision surgeries, other types of CMEAs, and a follow‐up period of <6 months.

Results

Preoperative demographics and hearing thresholds were comparable between groups. Postoperative air–bone gap (ABG) closure within 10 dB was significantly more frequent in the viable group (80.8%) compared to that in the non‐viable group (52.2%, P = .033). ABG closure within 20 dB was achieved in 100% of the viable group and 91.3% of the non‐viable group (P = .215). Postoperative complications, including sensorineural hearing loss and prosthesis extrusion, were similar between groups (P > .05).

Conclusions

Ossiculoplasty with PORP in viable cases demonstrated better ABG closure compared to TORP in non‐viable cases. Further investigation is warranted to determine the influence of baseline hearing differences on these outcomes. A refined Teunissen–Cremers classification, subdividing class IIIa into IIIa1 (viable) and IIIa2 (non‐viable) based on stapes suprastructure integrity, may improve prosthesis selection and prognostic assessment.
Magnetic Field Enhanced CO2 Decomposition in a Non‐Thermal Plasma
Authors: Mahanta Deepjyoti , Joychandra Singh W. , Marak Flossie B. F. Ch. , Moulick Rakesh , Chakraborty Monojit , Aomoa Ngangom
Published: February 2025

In this paper, experimental results on magnetic field assisted enhancement of CO2 decomposition into CO and O in a non‐thermal plasma is presented. The effect of perpendicular and axial magnetic fields on the CO2 breakdown and CO2 decomposition are studied. Paschen curves are plotted to study gas breakdown while optical emission spectroscopy and gas sensors are used to detect CO2 decomposition. Application of a perpendicular magnetic field increases the breakdown voltage and decreases the CO2 decomposition, while an axial magnetic field reduces the breakdown voltage and increases CO2 decomposition. This improvement in the CO2 decomposition by the application of axial magnetic field can have positive implications in various fields of research on CO2 decomposition.
Phytochemicals Targeting Mitophagy to Treat Heart Diseases: Retrospective Insights and Prospective Directions
Authors: Dong Qin , Zhu Yichan , Zhang Xinghai , Li Lu , Yang Yi , Liu Chuan , Wen Jianxia
Published: February 2025

Mitophagy is a process by which cells selectively eliminate damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria through the autophagy–lysosome pathway, thereby maintaining mitochondrial quality and cellular homeostasis. This process is closely linked to the onset and progression of various heart diseases. Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that phytochemicals can regulate mitochondrial homeostasis in cardiomyocytes through multiple mechanisms, influencing mitophagy and protecting cardiomyocytes, which in turn exerts anti‐cardiovascular effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of these effects are not yet fully understood. This study summarizes the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of mitophagy in heart diseases, aiming to provide reference for the research and treatment of phytochemicals targeting mitophagy against heart diseases. The results indicated that phytochemicals (such as Berberine, Ginsenoside Rg1, Quercetin, Resveratrol, Baicalein, and so on) can exert preventive and therapeutic effects on heart diseases (such as cardiac toxicity or damage, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, heart failure, heart aging, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and so on.) via regulating the PINK1/Parkin and FUNDC1‐dependent mitophagy pathway. These compounds mainly exert their effects by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial apoptosis, and mitochondrial energy metabolism. This study provides a reference that phytochemicals have effect on anti‐cardiovascular effects by regulating mitophagy. However, further in‐depth mechanistic and clinical research are needed in the future.
Network Delay Forecast and Master–Slave Consistency Enhancement for Remote Surgical Robots
Authors: Li Jinhua , Zhang Chi , Guan Bo , Niu Haitao , Zhao Jianchang
Published: February 2025

Background

The inevitable network delay can directly impact the process of remote surgeries and affect the master–slave motion consistency, and sudden changes in delay can compromise surgical safety.

Methods

Firstly, real‐time calibration of unidirectional network delays is performed. Subsequently, the network delay is forecasted with a real‐time training parallel recurrent neural network for safety warnings, and the real‐time forecast of slave manipulator position is performed to enhanced the master–slave motion consistency. Finally, the forecast accuracy across multiple scales is assessed to provide feedback.

Results

The programme can operate on standard computers at distances of at least 630 km. Our forecast method meets the real‐time requirement, demonstrates strong generalisation capabilities and reduces the impact of network delay on master–slave motion consistency to approximately 20%–80% of its original level.

Conclusions

The proposed forecast method enables real‐time delay forecast for remote surgeries, reducing the impact of delay on master–slave motion consistency.
A Convex Optimization Approach to Compute Trapping Regions for Lossless Quadratic Systems
Authors: Liao Shih‐Chi , Leonid Heide A. , Hemati Maziar S. , Seiler Peter J.
Published: February 2025

Quadratic systems with lossless quadratic terms arise in many applications, including models of atmosphere and incompressible fluid flows. Such systems have a trapping region if all trajectories eventually converge to and stay within a bounded set. Conditions for the existence and characterization of trapping regions have been established in prior work for boundedness analysis. However, prior solutions have used non‐convex optimization methods, resulting in conservative estimates. In this paper, we build on this prior work and provide a convex semidefinite programming condition for the existence of a trapping region. The condition allows for precise verification or falsification of the existence of a trapping region. If a trapping region exists, then we provide a second semidefinite program to compute the least conservative radius of the spherical trapping region. Two low‐dimensional systems are provided as examples to illustrate the results. A third high‐dimensional example is also included to demonstrate that the computation required for the analysis can be scaled to systems of up to states. The proposed method provides a precise and computationally efficient numerical approach for computing trapping regions. We anticipate this work will benefit future studies on modeling and control of lossless quadratic dynamical systems.
Robust Control Strategy for Networked Semi‐Markov Jump System With Random Delay
Authors: Qiu Li , Teng Jie , Chen Runjie , He Baixi
Published: February 2025

A robust controller design method for networked control systems experiencing random delays, external disturbances, and random switching of subsystems is proposed. The random delays and subsystem switching process are simulated by using Markov and semi‐Markov chains, respectively. Considering various complex factors that affect system performance, a model of a networked semi‐Markov jump system (NSMJS) is established. In order to obtain system stability conditions and improve system disturbance resistance, a Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional is constructed by combining semi‐Markov jump theory. The mean‐square stability criterion and robust stabilization criterion for the NSMJS are proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed control method is validated through numerical simulations.
Prescribed‐Time Fault‐Tolerant Control of Linear Time‐Varying Systems by Linear Time‐Varying Feedback
Authors: Dong Jiacheng , Zhou Bin
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the prescribed‐time fault‐tolerant control for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) linear time‐varying (LTV) systems is investigated. Both lexicographically fixed and non‐lexicographically fixed LTV systems have been considered. By leveraging the special structure of the controllable canonical form and employing the properties of the parametric Lyapunov equation, a global prescribed‐time fault‐tolerant controller is designed. With the aid of a suitable Lyapunov‐like function, it is demonstrated that the state can converge to zero within the prescribed time. The convergence time is independent of the initial condition. In addition, the designed controller is continuous, bounded, and even maintains a linear and concise form. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the controller is verified through the simulation of the elliptical orbital rendezvous system.
Optimal Control of Directional False Discovery Rates in Large‐Scale Testing
Authors: Tang Guozhu , Kang Yicheng , Xiang Dongdong
Published: February 2025

The high‐throughput biomedical technology enables measurement of thousands of gene expression levels contemporaneously. A major task in analyzing these gene expression data is to identify both over‐expressed and under‐expressed genes. The popular two‐group models select the non‐null genes without further classifying them as overexpression or underexpression. Consequently, two‐group decision rules are unable to constrain the numbers of falsely discovered over‐expressed or under‐expressed genes respectively. We propose a general three‐group model that allows dependence between the test statistics and develop a decision rule that separately controls the two types of false discoveries. We show that the optimal decision rule in our three‐group model has a special monotonic structure. By making use of this monotonic structure, we can linearize the two‐directional false discovery rate constraints. We prove that our decision rule optimizes the expected number of true discoveries while controlling the proportions of falsely discovered over‐expressed and under‐expressed genes at desired levels simultaneously. The data‐driven versions of the proposed procedures are suggested, and their consistency is established. Comparisons with state‐of‐the‐art approaches and applications to genomic studies show that our procedures work well.
Enhanced Non‐Invasive Radio Frequency Heating Using 2D Pyrite (Pyritene)
Authors: Rajeev Karthik , Ipaves Bruno , Campos de Oliveira Caique , Punathil Raman Sreeram , Kar Swastik , S Galvao Douglas , Alves da Silva Autreto Pedro , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar
Published: February 2025

Radiofrequency (RF) heating is a new, less invasive alternative to invasive heating methods that use nanoparticles for tumour therapy. But pinpoint local heating is still hard. Molecular interactions form a hybrid structure with unique electrical characteristics that enable RF heating in this work, which explores RF heating in a biological cell (yeast)‐2D FeS2 system. Substantial processes have been uncovered via experimental investigations and density functional theory (DFT) computations. At 3 W and 50 MHz, RF heating reaches 54°C in 40 s, which is enough to kill yeast cells, while current‐voltage measurements reveal ionic diode‐like properties. Interactions between yeast lipid molecules and 2D FeSk, as shown by density‐functional theory calculations, cause an imbalance in the distribution of charges and the creation of polar, conductive channels. Insights into biological heating applications based on radio frequency (RF) technology are offered by this work, which lays forth a framework for investigating 2D material‐biomolecule interactions.
The Effect of Early Initiation of Physiotherapy on the Functional Recovery of Dogs That Underwent Femoral Head Ostectomy
Authors: Khazayee Vahid , Emamjomeh Ehsan , Paryani Mohamadreza
Published: February 2025

Background

Some hip or femur disorders lead to femoral head osteotomy surgery. After surgery, it is necessary to start physical therapy for faster recovery of the animal. Physiotherapy includes different devices such as stimulators or lasers and methods like manual therapy and massage.

Objectives

This study was conducted to show the different methods of physiotherapy used in 19 dogs after femoral head osteotomy, and also to collect information about the time between the start of physiotherapy after surgery and the duration of their recovery.

Method

Nineteen dogs that underwent femoral head osteotomy surgery were given physiotherapy after 2 days. The treatment methods used are cold therapy and heat therapy, ultrasound, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, massage, passive joint movement and passive stretching. Lameness score and muscle size were measured at the beginning of physiotherapy and at the tenth session.

Result

There was no significant difference between the size of the muscles at the beginning of the physiotherapy session and the 10 sessions after that, but the evaluation of the lameness score showed a significant difference.

Conclusion

Early start of physiotherapy after surgery is very important and leads to faster recovery of the patient.
Assessing the Impact of Non‐Pharmaceutical Interventions on COVID‐19 in India: A Combined CCE and Quantile Regression Approach
Authors: Mishra Kaibalyapati
Published: February 2025

This paper presents supposedly the first empirical evidence on the impact of non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on deaths and infections due to COVID‐19 in India. I use the Oxford COVID‐19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) database of daily government responses of stringency, containment, economic support, and overall government response from Jan 28, 2020, till December 31, 2022. I use CS‐ARDL to quantify the short‐ and long‐term associations and quantile regression to uncover the impact of NPIs across heterogeneous quantiles. The overall government support, which aggregates all three NPIs, demonstrates a significant adverse effect on fatalities. In the long‐term, a 10% increase in it reduces deaths by 1.94% and infections by 10.67%. Stringency and containment interventions are equally found to be effective. Economic support is significantly associated with a reduction in death rates—by 1.89% in the short term and 1.07% in the long term—and a 10.28% reduction in infection rates over the long term. In the short term, NPIs are not notably effective in reducing infections; however, their effectiveness improves over the long term. Quantile regression reveals a heterogeneous impact of NPIs on COVID‐19 outcomes across the distribution. NPIs show limited effectiveness at lower quantiles, but their impact becomes increasingly significant at higher quantiles, particularly for infections, where the effect size is notably larger. Results suggest bi‐directional causality, as higher cases lead to stricter interventions, subsequently lowering incidence rates. I establish that effective pandemic management requires a phased approach to NPIs, with region‐specific flexibility and timely economic support to enhance short‐ and long‐term outcomes. Evidence from India shows that NPIs are indispensable, especially when pharmaceutical options are limited, as they effectively control mortality and support public health resilience.
Student and Staff Experiences of African Languages in Higher Education
Authors: Gibson Hannah , Lück Jacqueline , Riedel Kristina , Namboodiripad Savithry
Published: February 2025

This chapter examines the responses to questions which were designed to better understand the prevalence of African language teaching in higher education. The chapter explores the experiences of students and instructors in relating to the teaching of African languages in higher education, as well as the other ways in which African languages are represented (or not) across university curricula. It examines the experiences, views and opinions of the respondents as these relate to their experiences of African languages in higher education. Broadly these experiences fall into three categories, positive experiences and reflections, negative or critical experiences, and comments that are linked to more wide-ranging ideas and considerations. Respondents were overwhelmingly positive about the idea of African languages being present in higher education, but have different experiences of the realities of this and the ways in which languages are taught, presented and supported across institutions.
Single compound data supplementation to enhance transferability of fermentation specific Raman spectroscopy models
Authors: Klaverdijk Maarten , Ottens Marcel , Klijn Marieke E.
Published: February 2025

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable analytical tool for real-time analyte quantification in fermentation processes. Quantification is performed with chemometric models that translate Raman spectra into concentration values, which are typically calibrated with process data from multiple comparable fermentations. However, process-specific models underperform for minor process variation(s) or different operation modes due to the integration of cross-correlations, resulting in low target analyte specificity. Thus, model transferability is poor and labor-intensive (re-)calibration of models is required for related processes. In this work, partial least-squares models for glucose, ethanol, and biomass were calibrated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae batch fermentation data and subsequently transferred to a fed-batch operation. To enhance model transferability without additional process runs, single compound data supplementation was performed. The supplemented models increased overall target analyte specificity and demonstrated sufficient prediction accuracy for the fed-batch process (root-mean-square errors of prediction (RMSEP) of 3.06 mM, 8.65 mM, and 0.99 g/L for glucose, ethanol, and biomass), while maintaining high prediction accuracy for the batch process (RMSEP of 1.71 mM, 4.20 mM, and 0.17 g/L for glucose, ethanol, and biomass). This work showcases that process data in combination with single compound spectra is a fast and efficient strategy to apply Raman spectroscopy for real-time process monitoring across related processes.
The Effect of Ultrasound Image Pre-Processing on Radiomics Feature Quality: A Study on Shoulder Ultrasound
Authors: Triantafyllou Matthaios , Vassalou Evangelia E. , Goulianou Alexia Maria , Tosounidis Theodoros H. , Marias Kostas , Karantanas Apostolos H. , Klontzas Michail E.
Published: February 2025

Radiomics, the extraction of quantitative features from medical images, has shown great promise in enhancing diagnostic and prognostic models, particularly in CT and MRI. However, its application in ultrasound (US) imaging, especially in musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging, remains underexplored. The inherent variability of ultrasound, influenced by operator dependency and various imaging settings, presents significant challenges to the reproducibility of radiomic features. This study aims to identify whether commonly used image pre-processing methods can increase the reproducibility of radiomics features, increasing the quality of analysis. This is performed with shoulder calcific tendinopathy as a case study. Ultrasound images from 84 patients with rotator cuff calcifications were retrospectively analysed. Three pre-processing techniques—Histogram Equalization, Standard CLAHE, and Advanced CLAHE—were applied to adjust image quality. Manual segmentation of calcifications was performed, followed by the extraction of 849 radiomic features. The reproducibility of these features was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), comparing results across pre-processing methods within the dataset. The Advanced CLAHE pre-processing method consistently yielded the highest ICC values, indicating superior reproducibility of radiomic features compared to other methods. Wavelet-transformed features, particularly in the GLCM and GLRLM subgroups, demonstrated robust reproducibility across all pre-processing techniques. Shape features, however, continued to show lower reproducibility. Advanced CLAHE pre-processing significantly enhances the reproducibility of radiomic features in ultrasound imaging of calcifications. This study underscores the importance of pre-processing in achieving reliable radiomic analyses, particularly in operator-dependent imaging modalities like ultrasound.
Capturing Empire Through the Lens: Colonial Narratives and Power Structures in Henry Wellcome’s Expedition to Jebel Moya, Sudan
Authors: Vella Gregory Isabelle , Saward Angela , Adam Ahmed Hussein Abdelrahman
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the relationship between archaeology, photography, and colonialism at the site of Jebel Moya (Site 100), Sudan. We consider technical aspects of the photographic archive, the role of photographers, the manipulation of images to convey specific narratives, and the dispersal and reclassification of the Jebel Moya materials across various institutions. When Site 100 was first excavated by Henry Wellcome (1911–1914), Sudan had a Condominium government, rendering the country a British colony in all but name. Our work acknowledges the racial legacies of colonial rule and as such it engages with the community whose past is under discussion, emphasizing how photography served as an agent of Western colonial authority. It re-situates Jebel Moya and related archives in the Sudanese context, providing an enriched understanding of the site’s history, the workers who excavated it, and the various colonial power dynamics involved. Additionally, our current fieldwork recognizes that as a discipline, archaeology is deeply rooted in European colonialism and as such we extend inquiry beyond sites and artifacts and focus on colonial practices and representational encounters, pronounced power imbalances, and imperial values rooted in white dominance and superiority. Consequently, this study contributes to the reframing of Sudanese history and a more inclusive understanding of the past.
Use of mortality tables by level of deprivation in the study of social inequalities in cancer survival
Authors: Wilson Sarah , Merville Ophelie , Dejardin Olivier , Gardy Josephine , Rollet Quentin , Jooste Valerie , Network Francim , Molinie Florence , Tron Laure , Launoy Guy
Published: February 2025

Background

Previous studies have reported lower net survival probabilities for socioeconomically deprived patients, using non-deprivation specific lifetables. Not accounting for the social gradient in background mortality could potentially overestimate the effect of deprivation on net survival. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of taking into account the social gradient of expected mortality in the general population on the study of the social gradient of survival of people with cancer.

Methods

French cancer registry data was analyzed, with 190,902 incident cases of nineteen cancer sites between 2013 and 2015. Deprivation was measured using the European deprivation index (EDI). Net survival was estimated thanks to additive models with French lifetables stratified on deprivation level with the EDI, using the non-parametric Pohar-perme method and flexible excess hazard modelling with multidimensional penalized splines, firstly with non-specific lifetables then with the deprivation specific-lifetables.

Results

A significant effect of EDI on excess mortality hazard (EMH) remained when using the deprivation-specific lifetables for colorectal, lung cancer and melanoma in both sexes, and esophagus, bladder, head and neck and liver cancer for men, and breast, cervix and uterine cancer for women. The only site where the effect of EDI on EMH was no longer significant when using deprivation-specific lifetables was prostate cancer.

Conclusions

The use of deprivation-specific lifetables confirms the existence of a social gradient in cancer survival, indicating that these inequalities do not result from inequalities in background mortality. Development of such deprivation-specific lifetables for future years is crucial to understand mechanisms of social inequalities and work towards reducing the social burden.
Memory, identity, and technology: explicating functionalist positions in the hippocampal cognitive prosthesis
Authors: van der Weij Freek , Erden Yasemin J.
Published: February 2025

Researchers in America are developing a hippocampal cognitive prosthesis. The technology aims to improve or even restore memory for people with Alzheimer’s disease through implanting electrodes into the brain. In this paper we discuss the ways that this technology could affect memory, with concomitant potential for impact on personal identity and related attributes like autonomy, agency, and authenticity. To do this we describe how developers of technologies like this adopt functionalist positions on minds and brains, whereby functionally equivalent technology can undertake functions previously executed by the brain without negative impact on mental states. Our position is that such accounts are too uncertain to adopt uncritically, and after examining some critiques of functionalism, we argue that material differences in function could affect the phenomenological experience of mental state generation, including memory. We conclude with proposals for researchers to consider so as to take into account some of these limitations.
Socio-demographic disparities in health-related quality of life in hypertensive patients in Bangladesh: a comprehensive survey analysis
Authors: Rahman Md. Mizanur , Sorkar Md. Nesar Uddin , Nakamura Ryota , Islam Md. Monirul , Alam Md. Ashraful , Azmat Syed Khurram , Sato Motohiro
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Hypertension is a major health concern in Bangladesh. Assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among hypertensive patients in Bangladesh can highlight the broad impacts of the condition on morbidity and mortality. Such insights are essential for developing targeted healthcare and prevention strategies to reduce complications, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 5,086 hypertensive patients aged between 18 and 80 were recruited from 75 pharmacies in Bangladesh. We assessed the participants’ health using the EQ-5D-5 L descriptive system and the EQ-VAS. Utility scores were calculated using the Indian EQ-5D-5 L value set. Regression models were employed to identify factors associated with overall HRQoL and individual health dimensions.

Results

Study participants were mean aged 52 years old, with average systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 140.79 mmHg and 85.98 mmHg, respectively. The average EQ-index and EQ-VAS score were 0.83 and 67.47, respectively. 39% reported difficulties with self-care, 43.5% had mobility problems, 80.6% had pain, and 61.2% had anxiety. HRQoL scores decreased significantly with age, according to the multilevel model. Higher education levels, however, were associated with better HRQoL scores. Male respondents reported fewer problems with mobility, self-care, activity, pain, and anxiety. A decrease in HRQoL scores was observed among older individuals, those without formal education, those in lower quintiles, those unemployed, and those with poor blood pressure control, obesity, or fasting glucose.

Conclusion

Study findings indicate disparities in HRQoL based on age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status, highlighting the need for targeted policy interventions.
A consensus-constrained parsimonious Gaussian mixture model for clustering hyperspectral images
Authors: Babu Ganesh , Gowen Aoife , Fop Michael , Gormley Isobel Claire
Published: February 2025

The use of hyperspectral imaging to investigate food samples has grown due to the improved performance and lower cost of instrumentation. Food engineers use hyperspectral images to classify the type and quality of a food sample, typically using classification methods. In order to train these methods, every pixel in each training image needs to be labelled. Typically, computationally cheap threshold-based approaches are used to label the pixels, and classification methods are trained based on those labels. However, threshold-based approaches are subjective and cannot be generalized across hyperspectral images taken in different conditions and of different foods. Here a consensus-constrained parsimonious Gaussian mixture model (ccPGMM) is proposed to label pixels in hyperspectral images using a model-based clustering approach. The ccPGMM utilizes information that is available on some pixels and specifies constraints on those pixels belonging to the same or different clusters while clustering the rest of the pixels in the image. A latent variable model is used to represent the high-dimensional data in terms of a small number of underlying latent factors. To ensure computational feasibility, a consensus clustering approach is employed, where the data are divided into multiple randomly selected subsets of variables and constrained clustering is applied to each data subset; the clustering results are then consolidated across all data subsets to provide a consensus clustering solution. The ccPGMM approach is applied to simulated datasets and real hyperspectral images of three types of puffed cereal, corn, rice, and wheat. Improved clustering performance and computational efficiency are demonstrated when compared to other current state-of-the-art approaches.
Atmospheric Plasma Sprayed YSZ Coatings for Soilless Cultivation
Authors: Biswal Pratidhwani , Hauer Michél , Möhrke Lukas , Gericke Andreas , Rasche Stefan , Schinkel Helga , Henkel Knuth-Michael
Published: February 2025

In this work, thermally sprayed coatings with sustainable spray additives are developed to allow the growth of drought-tolerant plants like moss, microclover and Chamomile. The specified spray additives are intended to imitate the powders obtained from recycled solid oxide fuel cells and dry alkaline batteries. These plants anchor to the coating with their rhizoids and shallow roots and hence can be grown without the presence of soil. The coatings are aimed to be sprayed using sustainable powders rich in growth-supporting nutrients as well as protect the substrate against biodeterioration due to vegetation. Preliminary tests of a thermally sprayed yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic coating on sheet metal confirm the growth of Chamomile plant in the absence of soil. The success of this experiment is considered as a proof of concept for the future investigations using the recycled sustainable powders. The goal of this research work is to produce sustainable thermally sprayed coatings using recyclable powders as spray additives. This research work is focused on betterment of the environment with efficient urban greening as well as efficient usage of toxic wastes.
Rapid Determination of Insect Lipids and Their Fatty Acid Profile in Dough Using Handheld and Portable Infrared Spectrometers
Authors: Mendez-Sanchez Carmen , Ranasinghe Madushika K. , Güell Carme , Ferrando Montserrat , Rodriguez-Saona Luis , de Lamo Castellvi Silvia
Published: February 2025

The objective of the study was to evaluate infrared (IR) spectroscopy in combination with pattern recognition analysis as a rapid technique to quantify the percentage of insect lipid added into the chickpea-based dough as well as the dough’s fatty acid profile. Several chickpea-based doughs were prepared with a variable amount of Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus, and Acheta domesticus lipid fraction (0, 2.9%, 5.8%, 8.7%, and 11.6%) replacing the same amount of olive and sunflower oil. The raw dough was analyzed using portable Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) and handheld FT near (FT-NIR) spectrometers. The fatty acid profile was determined by using fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) methods. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) with cross-validation (leave-one-out) was used to build up a model to predict the percentage of insect lipid added showing a low standard error of cross-validation (SECV ≤ 0.71%), strong correlation (R
CV ≥ 0.85), and great predictive ability (RPD, 5.21–5.53) with the external validation set. The saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids as well as the content of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic were correctly predicted with values of SECV ≤ 5.64% and an R
CV ≥ 0.88. Nonetheless, the FT-MIR device tested showed higher performance to predict SFA, MUFA, PUFA, and fatty acids reaching values of 0.97 in coefficient of correlation (R
P) and 2.81% in standard error in prediction (SEP).
The c-Projective Symmetry Algebras of Kähler Surfaces
Authors: Manno G. , Schumm J. , Vollmer A.
Published: February 2025

Let M be a Kähler manifold with complex structure J and Kähler metric g. A c-projective vector field is a vector field on M whose flow sends J-planar curves to J-planar curves, where J-planar curves are analogs of what (unparametrised) geodesics are for pseudo-Riemannian manifolds (without complex structure). The c-projective symmetry algebras of Kähler surfaces with essential (i.e., non-affine) c-projective vector fields are computed.
The Steklov Spectrum of Convex Polygonal Domains I: Spectral Finiteness
Authors: Dryden Emily B. , Gordon Carolyn , Moreno Javier , Rowlett Julie , Villegas-Blas Carlos
Published: February 2025

We explore the Steklov eigenvalue problem on convex polygons, focusing mainly on the inverse Steklov problem. Our primary finding reveals that, for almost all convex polygonal domains, there exist at most finitely many non-congruent domains with the same Steklov spectrum. Moreover, we obtain explicit upper bounds for the maximum number of mutually Steklov isospectral non-congruent polygonal domains. Along the way, we obtain isoperimetric bounds for the Steklov eigenvalues of a convex polygon in terms of the minimal interior angle of the polygon.
Synthesis of MnS thin film: investigation of thickness-dependent physical properties
Authors: Çayir Taşdemirci Tuba
Published: February 2025

Herein, manganese sulfide (MnS) thin films are grown on glass substrates using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. SILAR is simple and inexpensive, does not require a high-quality substrate or vacuum environment, has no limitation on the size of the substrate material, has the ability to obtain materials at room temperature, shows easier doping process relative to other methods, and has the ability to control the growth rate and thickness of films. MnS with different thicknesses is coated on a glass surface, and various analyses are performed to examine the effect of the thickness on the film properties. Ultraviolet–visible analysis is used to examine the optical properties of the film, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrometry to examine its structural properties, and scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to examine its morphological properties. XRD results indicate that the obtained MnS thin films have a cubic structure and achieve the highest peak intensity at 2θ = 32.87°. With increasing film thickness, the grain size increases from 9.20 to 13.36 nm and the energy band gap decreases from 3.32 to 3.02 eV. AFM results demonstrate that with increasing film thickness, the surface roughness value decreases from 84 to 53 nm. Moreover, increasing thickness improves the optical, structural, and morphological properties of the film.
Application of Metabolomics in Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention by Dietary Phytochemicals
Authors: Peter Rebecca Mary , Su Xiaoyang , Kong Ah-Ng
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

In this review article, specific emphasis is on evolution of metabolomics in cancer research, metabolomics workflow, general understanding of liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based platform for quantitation of metabolites, their biological interpretation and the application in carcinogenesis and cancer prevention by dietary phytochemicals.

Recent Findings

Metabolomics is increasingly becoming a preferred approach for next generation metabolic screening and has profound impact on medical practice. Metabolomics describes the end products of biochemical processes which are greatly influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Metabolic alterations can be linked to potential biochemical reactions/enzymes and their corresponding genes. Thus, these results can be further validated via multi-omics approach including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. However, challenges exist within and between omic-domain data integration considering complex biochemical regulation including organism versus tissue versus cellular level processes, epigenetics, transcriptional and post translational modifications. Metabolomics can reflect the steady state or dynamic state of metabolism because metabolites are highly dynamic in space and time.

Metabolomic analysis of biological samples exhibit the possibility to determine mechanism of action of anti-cancer agents, biomarker discovery and impact of genetic alterations.
Physicochemical and structural characterization of novel praseodymium and neodymium-incorporated TiO2 for photocatalytic application
Authors: Mahmoud Hatem A. , Ali Tarek T. , Nasr Shereen A. E. , Mahmoud Esraa A. A. , Nassr Lobna A. E. , Mohamed Ibrahim M. A.
Published: February 2025

Novel photocatalytic metal–organic framework (MOF) materials are an exciting research topic. However, the lack of investigating rare-earth doped semiconductor as well as understanding their physicochemical and structural characterization will prevent commercial or industrial applications. To overcome this obstacle, this study investigates the physicochemical and structural characterization of novel applied Titania-based materials synthesized via MOF strategy for photodegradation of methyl orange (MO). The studied materials are TiO2, Pr-doped TiO2 (Pr@TiO2), and Nd-TiO2 (Nd@TiO2) and applied as promising photocatalysts. The synthesized photocatalysts were prepared via metal–organic framework strategy and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). SEM analysis revealed that only Nd resulted in smaller, more uniform particle sizes. XRD patterns confirmed the retention of the anatase phase in the case of Nd-modification, indicating successful lattice distortions. XPS results showed the chemical existence of Pr and Nd, increased oxygen vacancies, and surface hydroxyl groups, essential for enhanced photocatalytic activity. Photodegradation studies demonstrated that both Pr-TiO2 and Nd-TiO2 exhibited better performance compared to TiO2 without Pr or Nd, following pseudo-first-order kinetics. These findings highlight the potential of Pr and Nd modification in the TiO2 photocatalysts for efficient environmental remediation, particularly in the treatment of dye-containing wastewater.
A survey of deep learning methods for density estimation and crowd counting
Authors: Gao Guangshuai , Gao Junyu , Liu Qingjie , Wang Qi , Wang Yunhong
Published: February 2025

Accurately estimating the number of objects in a single image is a challenging yet meaningful task and has been applied in many applications such as urban planning and public safety. In various object counting tasks, crowd counting is particularly prominent due to its specific significance to social security and development. Fortunately, the development of the techniques for crowd counting can be generalized to other related fields such as vehicle counting and environment survey, if without taking their characteristics into account. Therefore, many researchers are devoting to crowd counting, and many excellent works have spurted out and significantly promote the development of crowd counting. However, one question we should consider is how far are we from solving the counting problem?. Limited by the costs of time and energy, we cannot analyze all algorithms. In this paper, we have surveyed 300+ works to comprehensively and systematically study the crowd counting models, mainly involving CNN-based density map estimation methods. Finally, according to evaluation metrics, we select the top three performers on their crowd counting datasets and analyze their merits and drawbacks. Through our analysis, we expect to make a reasonable inference and prediction for the future development of crowd counting, and meanwhile, it can also provide feasible solutions for the problem of object counting in other fields. We provide density maps and prediction results of some mainstream algorithms on the validation set of NWPU dataset for comparison and testing. Meanwhile, density map generation and evaluation tools are also provided. All the codes and evaluation results are made publicly available at https://github.com/gaoguangshuai/survey-for-crowd-counting.
Farmers with a Taste for Fish: New Insights into Iroquoian Foodways at the Dawson Site
Authors: Taché Karine , Tremblay Roland , Lucquin Alexandre , Admiraal Marjolein , Hart John P. , Craig Oliver E.
Published: February 2025

Iroquoian groups inhabiting the St. Lawrence Valley in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries AD practiced agriculture and supplemented their diet with fish and a variety of wild plants and terrestrial animals. Important gaps remain in our knowledge of Iroquoian foodways, including how pottery was integrated to culinary practices and the relative importance of maize in clay-pot cooking. Lipid analyses carried out on 32 potsherds from the Dawson site (Montreal, Canada) demonstrate that pottery from this village site was used to prepare a range of foodstuffs—primarily freshwater fish and maize, but possibly also other animals and plants. The importance of aquatic resources is demonstrated by the presence of a range of molecular compounds identified as biomarkers for aquatic products, whereas the presence of maize could only be detected through isotopic analysis. Bayesian modeling suggests that maize is present in all samples and is the dominant product in at least 40% of the potsherds analyzed. This combination of analytical techniques, applied for the first time to Iroquoian pottery, provides a glimpse into Iroquoian foodways and suggests that sagamité was part of the culinary traditions at the Dawson site.