bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A measure of modifiable lifestyle factors shaping subjective cognitive reserve in the general population
Authors: Moret-Tatay Carmen , Tormos Muñoz José María , Pascual-Leone Alvaro
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study examined the psychometric properties of a newly developed scale for measuring subjective cognitive reserve (SCR) across multiple domains, including nutrition, physical condition, sleep, cognition, willingness to learn, socialization, general health, and life plan.

Method

The relationship between SCR scores and other established measures of cognitive reserve and subjective cognitive decline was also explored. A sample of 402 healthy participants aged 18 to 79 years took part in the study.

Results

The SCR scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including internal consistency and construct validity, supporting the theoretical model of perceived cognitive reserve. Convergent validity was confirmed through a positive correlation between SCR scores and resilience (BRCS) as well as with other cognitive reserve measures, indicating consistency in evaluating cognitive reserve across various instruments. Furthermore, discriminant validity was demonstrated by a significant negative correlation between SCR scores and subjective cognitive decline, suggesting that individuals with higher cognitive reserve experience lower levels of perceived cognitive decline. No significant relationship was found between SCR scores and chronological age, further supporting the construct validity of the scale by showing that cognitive reserve is influenced by dynamic factors beyond age.

Conslusion

The findings highlight the potential of the SCR scale as a reliable and valid tool for assessing cognitive reserve and its protective role in cognitive health and well-being over time.
Contrasting characteristics of psychosis in outpatients with borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia at a tertiary care institution
Authors: Hernández-Velázquez Mario , Díaz-Anzaldúa Adriana , Arango Iván , Rosel-Vales Mauricio , Celada-Borja César
Published: December 2024

Summary and objectives

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia can present with psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations. This study, conducted at a tertiary care center, compared the characteristics of psychotic symptoms in patients diagnosed with BPD and patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, as well as the prevalence of self-harm, suicide attempts, and hospitalizations within these groups.

Method

In this comparative study, 50 individuals diagnosed with BPD and 50 with Schizophrenia, aged between 18 and 45 years, were assessed for intensity of psychotic symptoms with the Psychotic Symptom Assessment Scale (PSYRATS) and the Cardiff Abnormal Perceptions Scale (CAPS). Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS v25.0.

Results

On the PSYRATS, the schizophrenia group scored higher in auditory hallucinations and in the number of voices, while in the BPD group the auditory hallucinations score was correlated with the number of suicide attempts (P=0.025). On the CAPS, the BPD group showed higher scores on positive abnormal perceptions in all dimensions compared to the schizophrenia group (P=0.002).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that patients with BPD experienced a more intense burden of psychotic-like experiences compared to those with Schizophrenia, with a greater frequency, interference, and distress reported. Although patients with Schizophrenia had higher scores on the PSYRATS, the BPD group’s scores were also notable, and a correlation was identified between auditory hallucinations and suicide attempts in the BPD group.
The effect of internet use on depressive symptoms in older adults: based on the chain mediating role of physical exercise and self-rated health
Authors: Lin Lu , He Pingping
Published: December 2024

Background

Depressive symptoms in older adults have been a major public health problem. Although many studies have suggested a potential relationship between Internet use and depressive symptoms, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship among older adults remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the multiple mediating effects of physical exercise and self-rated health on the relationship between Internet use and depressive symptoms in older adults.

Methods

Utilizing the 2020 data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we assessed the depressive status among the older population through the application of the Ambulatory Self-Rating Depression Scale. To validate the associations, we conducted a Pearson correlation analysis. Furthermore, we constructed a mediating effect model, which aimed to delve into the intricate pathways mediating the influence of Internet usage on depressive symptoms in the older adults. Additionally, we employed a latent class analysis to uncover the intricate heterogeneity of depression among older individuals who do not utilize the Internet, offering insights into the diverse manifestations of this condition.

Results

After controlling for age, sex, marital status, chronic disease, and education level, regression results showed that the use of the Internet had a significant direct effect on depressive symptoms in the older adults (β = −0.684, t = −4.318, p < 0.001). Physical exercise and self-rated health significantly affected depressive symptoms in the older adults (β = −0.176, t = −7.939, p < 0.001; β = −0.937, t = −18.681, p < 0.001). Mediating results showed that the mediating effect of physical exercise between Internet use and depressive symptoms in the older adults was −0.220 (95%CI: −0.2877–−0.1598), and the mediating effect of self-rated health between Internet use and depressive symptoms in the older adults was −0.084 (95%CI: −0.1716–−0.0008), and the chain mediation effect was −0.022 (95%CI: −0.0371–−0.0076). The potential profile analysis of depressive symptoms in the older adults without using the Internet showed that they could be divided into three groups, namely, high loneliness—high depression group (7.4%), medium loneliness—moderate depression group (14.7%), and low loneliness—low depression group (77.9%).

Conclusion

Internet use can directly affect the depressive symptoms of the older adults, and can also indirectly affect the depressive symptoms of the older adults through physical exercise and self-rated health. The depressive symptoms of the older adults who do not use the Internet are heterogeneous and can be divided into three categories. With the popularization of the Internet, the use of the Internet should be promoted for the older adults, and the frequency of physical exercise should be enhanced to achieve physical and mental health.
Empowering youth and ensuring health: utilization of youth friendly service among preparatory school students in Gambella, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Hailu Nardos , Negero Benti , Melkamu Keno , Tsega Yawkal
Published: December 2024

Background

Youth is a period with exposure to high risk of reproductive health (RH) problems. Despite, several strategies designed to solve these problems, youths are experiencing unsafe abortion, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) so far. The utilization of Youth Friendly Services (YFS) and its determinants has not been well studied in Gambella so far. This study aimed to assess YFS utilization and associated factors among preparatory school students in Gambella town, Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods

Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 394 randomly selected preparatory school students in Gambella town from June 1-30/2023. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire, entered to EpiData version 4.6, and exported to Stata version 17.0 statistical software for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed. The p-value of <0.05 with 95% CI was used to declare statistical significance of association between YFS utilization and explanatory variables.

Result

Less than one third (31.2%) of preparatory school students utilized YFS in Gambella town. Being married (AOR: 4.94, CI: 2.14, 11.38), having pocket money (AOR: 2.02, CI: 1.15, 3.56), no payment for YFS (AOR: 2.13, CI: 1.01, 4.50), having knowledge about YFS (AOR: 2.27, CI: 1.29, 4.00), convenient working time (AOR: 2.50, CI: 1.08, 5.83), and sexual experience (AOR: 3.38, CI: 1.90, 6.01) were the factors significantly associated with utilization of YFS in Gambella town.

Conclusion

The study found that utilization of YFS in Gambella town was low. Being married, having pocket money, not asked payment for YFS, knowledge about YFS, convenient working time, and sexual experience were the factors positively affecting utilization of YFS in Gambella town. Therefore, the health decision makers better to design policies aimed to increase youths knowledge about YFS.
Smart city frameworks SWOT analysis: a systematic literature review
Authors: Mupfumira Portia , Mutingi Michael , Sony Michael
Published: December 2024

In the past decade, the concept of “smart cities” has gained popularity as a way to address and manage challenges and complexities in urban areas. Different smart city frameworks have been proposed and the term “framework” has been defined, examined and proposed in various ways, with each interpretation taking a distinct approach. From a different angle, some frameworks highlight how the smart city concept is implemented, while others concentrate on assessing the initiatives’ level of success. An additional collection of frameworks concentrated on the essential elements needed to make up a smart city. This research explicitly analyses frameworks concentrating on fundamental components to identify and suggest essential elements for developing an adaptable, sustainable smart city structure. Using a methodological approach that focused on the core elements of smart city structure, the research comprised of conducting a systematic literature review (SLR), and carrying out an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of existing frameworks. Based on the area of focus, the analysed frameworks were grouped into four categories: human-centric, techno-centric, integrated human-techno-centric and environmental-focus frameworks for easy SWOT analysis. The findings revealed that cyber-security issues pose threats to all frameworks and there are technological dependency vulnerabilities. This shows that technology is the driver/enabler of achieving smart city status. In addition, with the help of proper governance and effective management, involving citizens is key to releasing the potential for sustainable smart forms. Hence, the authors believe that technology, good governance, environmental concerns and citizens are essential components of an adaptable, sustainable smart city framework. A framework built on these crucial components is unique because it can be customised to fit any city. Management, infrastructural development and degree of public participation depend on different city configurations.
Cord blood T regulatory cells synergize with ruxolitinib to improve GVHD outcomes
Authors: Zeng Ke , Ma Hongbing , Huang Meixian , Lyu Mi-Ae , Sadeghi Tara , Flowers Christopher R. , Parmar Simrit
Published: December 2024

Background

Adoptive therapy with umbilical cord blood (UCB) T-regulatory (Treg) cells can prevent graft vs. host disease (GVHD). We hypothesize that UCB Tregs can treat GVHD and synergize with ruxolitinib, Jak2 inhibitor, to improve outcomes.

Methods

UCB Treg potency and efficacy was examined using cell suppression assay and xenogeneic GVHD model, respectively. Ruxolitinib was fed continuously in presence or absence of CellTraceViolet tagged UCB Tregs on days +4, +7, +11, +18. Mice were followed for survival, GVHD score, hematology parameters and inflammation.

Results

Addition of ruxolitinib to UCB Tregs exerted synergistic suppressor function in vitro and improved persistence of UCB Tregs in vivo. Lower GVHD score, improved survival, increased hemoglobin level and platelet count, decreased inflammatory cytokines and decrease in CD3+ T cell lung infiltrate was observed in UCB Tregs+ruxolitinib recipients.

Conclusion

UCB Treg+Ruxolitinib combination improves outcomes in xenogeneic GVHD and should be explored in a clinical setting.
Uncovering deep-rooted conflicts: the role of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in treating athletes' social media-related psychological distress
Authors: Piepiora Paweł Adam , Petre Ligiana Mihaela , Vveinhardt Jolita
Published: December 2024

The use of social media by athletes can support them in difficult moments, but it can also become a source of negative emotions and psychological distress. This perspective critically examines psychoanalytic psychotherapy as a method for restoring athletes' psychological well-being after experiencing negative effects from social media use. The paper characterizes the key elements of psychoanalytic psychotherapy relevant to athletes, discusses the role of the psychoanalytic psychotherapist in working with athletes and describes the specifics of the psychoanalytic therapeutic process in this context. The potential advantages of psychoanalytic approaches over cognitive-behavioral methods are examined in treating the psychological impacts of problematic social media use among athletes. The analysis suggests that hate speech and negative online interactions can activate athletes' unprocessed life experiences rooted in early developmental stages. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy may offer a particularly effective method for restoring athletes' psychological wellbeing in such cases by addressing deep-rooted intrapsychic conflicts. However, a comprehensive approach integrating multiple therapeutic modalities is recommended to address the complex challenges athletes face in the digital age. This perspective acknowledges limitations in current research and suggest directions for future studies to develop and validate tailored interventions for athletes grappling with social media-related psychological distress.
Study on Trajectory Optimization for a Flexible Parallel Robot in Tomato Packaging
Authors: Guo Tianci , Li Jiangbo , Zhang Yizhi , Cai Letian , Li Qicheng
Published: December 2024

Currently, flexible robots, exemplified by parallel robots, play a crucial role in the automated packaging of agricultural products due to their rapid, accurate, and stable characteristics. This research systematically explores trajectory planning strategies for parallel robots in the high-speed tomato-grabbing process. Kinematic analysis of the parallel robot was conducted using geometric methods, deriving the coordinates of each joint at various postures, resulting in a kinematic forward solution model and corresponding equations, which were verified with data. To address the drawbacks of the point-to-point “portal” trajectory in tomato grabbing, a 3-5-5-3 polynomial interpolation method in joint space was proposed to optimize the path, enhancing trajectory smoothness. To improve the efficiency of the tomato packaging process, a hybrid algorithm combining particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithms (GA) was developed to optimize the operation time of the parallel robot. Compared to traditional PSO, the proposed algorithm exhibits better global convergence and is less likely to fall into local optima, thereby ensuring a smoother and more efficient path in the robot-grabbing tomato process and providing technical support for automated tomato packaging.
Effects of Adjusted Light Levels on Plant Growth and Flowering Characteristics of Oncidesa Cultivars
Authors: Chang Chia-Man , Lin Kuan-Hung , Huang Meng-Yuan , Chen Chung-I , Huang Wen-Hung , Wang Ching-Wen
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and flowering characteristics of three Oncidesa cultivars under four distinct canopy treatments in a greenhouse environment. The control canopy treatment (canopy D) involved covering the greenhouse with black shade nets to reduce natural light penetration. Canopy B included black shade nets in combination with a transparent plastic screen on the sides to further modify the light conditions. Additionally, two other treatments were applied: black shade nets with (canopy A) or without (canopy C) plastic sheeting, supplemented with daily lighting from high-pressure sodium lamps. Ten horticultural traits were measured to assess the impact of these canopy treatments on different cultivars at various growth stages. The results show that canopy treatments significantly affected all the measured traits of the Oncidesa cultivars, except for leaf width. Apollo plants treated under canopy A exhibited longer and thicker pseudobulbs, wider leaves, higher chlorophyll content, and a greater number of branches and florets compared to Honey Angel and Golden Star. Plants under canopy C showed superior growth traits across all cultivars, while those under canopies A and D exhibited better flowering quality. These findings suggest that different canopy treatments had varying effects on the growth and flowering traits of Oncidesa cultivars, with each cultivar showing distinct adaptability to specific canopy conditions.
Effect of Biochar Amendment on the Growth and Photosynthetic Traits of Plants Under Drought Stress: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Wenqian , Niu Wenquan , Luo Huoqian
Published: December 2024

Biochar, as a soil improvement additive, is widely applied in field practices due to its excellent performance in improving soil conditions and promoting plant growth under drought stress. A meta-analysis was conducted, analyzing 283 pairs of non-biochar-amendment (non-BA) controls and biochar amendment (BA) treatments under drought stress. This study aims to (1) evaluate the effects of biochar on gas exchange and carbon accumulation in plants under drought stress; and (2) quantify the factors influencing biochar’s effects. The results showed that BA had a statistically significant positive impact on water use efficiency (WUE), yield, biomass, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance (gws), photosynthetic rate (Pr), and transpiration rate (Tr). The extent of these effects was influenced by plant type, degree of water stress, soil type, and the duration of BA application. The response to BA varied across plant types, with significant effects on the WUE of legumes (32.4–37.7%) compared to modest effects on eggplants and other vegetables (8.1–9.4%). BA was more effective in improving plant growth and WUE in soils with extremely coarse or fine textures than in those with medium particle sizes. The duration of BA application was also a critical factor; as the application duration increased, the improvement rates of yield, chlorophyll content, gws, and photosynthetic rate showed a decreasing trend, while WUE and biomass did not exhibit significant declines. However, Tr increased sharply over time. These findings highlight the potential of BA to enhance plant growth, WUE, and photosynthetic traits, while identifying the conditions under which these benefits can be maximized.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis for Panicle and Flag Leaf Traits in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Based on a High-Density Genetic Linkage Map
Authors: Ye Yichen , Wen Shuting , Zhang Guo , Yang Xingzhe , Xue Dawei , Fang Yunxia , Zhang Xiaoqin
Published: December 2024

The yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is determined by many factors, which have always been research hotspots for agronomists and molecular scientists. In this study, five important agronomic traits related to panicle and flag leaf, including awn length (AL), panicle length (PL), panicle neck length (NL), flag leaf length (LL) and flag leaf width (LW), were investigated and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses were carried out. Using a high-density genetic map of 134 recombinant inbred lines based on specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology, a total of 32 QTLs were identified, which explained 12.4% to 50% of the phenotypic variation. Among them, qAL5, qNL2, qNL3, qNL6, qPL2, and qLW2 were detected in 3 consecutive years and all of the contribution rates were more than 13.8%, revealing that these QTLs were stable major QTLs and were less affected by environmental factors. Furthermore, LL and LW exhibited significant positive correlations and the localization intervals of qLL2 and qLL3 were highly overlapped with those of qLW2 and qLW3, respectively, indicating that qLL2 and qLW2, qLL3 and qLW3 may be regulated by the same genes.
Explainable Machine Learning in Critical Decision Systems: Ensuring Safe Application and Correctness
Authors: Wiggerthale Julius , Reich Christoph
Published: December 2024

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used to support or automate decision processes in critical decision systems such as self driving cars or systems for medical diagnosis. These systems require decisions in which human lives are at stake and the decisions should therefore be well founded and very reliable. This need for reliability contrasts with the black-box nature of many ML models, making it difficult to ensure that they always behave as intended. In face of the high stakes involved, the resulting uncertainty is a significant challenge. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) addresses the issue by making black-box models more interpretable, often to increase user trust. However, many current XAI applications focus more on transparency and usability than on enhancing safety of ML applications. In this work, we therefore conduct a systematic literature review to examine how XAI can be leveraged to increase safety of ML applications in critical decision systems. We strive to find out for what purposes XAI is currently used in critical decision systems, what are the most common XAI techniques in critical decision systems and how XAI can be harnessed to increase safety of ML applications in critical decision systems. Using the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, we are able to answer these questions and provide a foundational resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to mitigate risks of ML applications. Essentially, we identify promising approaches of XAI which go beyond increasing trust to actively ensure correctness of decisions. Our findings propose a three-layered framework to enhance safety of ML in critical decision systems by means of XAI. The approach consists of Reliability, Validation and Verification. Furthermore, we point out gaps in research and propose future directions of XAI research for enhancing safety of ML applications in critical decision systems.
Effects of Isoflavone Intake on Energy Requirement, Satiety, and Body Composition of Neutered Adult Cats
Authors: Yamada Ana Lúcia Yoshida da Silva , Merenda Mônica Estela Zambon , Pereira Layne Carolina , Bonneti Nayara Maira Dalgallo , Martins Isabela de Oliveira , Komarcheuski Alina Stadnik , Henríquez Lucas Ben Fiuza , Watanabe Eduardo Kato , Coelho Guilherme Bernardo Cornélio , Janeiro Vanderly , Mascarenhas Nilva Maria Freres , Vasconcellos Ricardo Souza
Published: December 2024

Isoflavones are composed of phytoestrogens (genistein and daidzein), which can be metabolized by cats. These compounds can promote the maintenance of lean body mass and control food intake. These effects are desirable in neutered animals, as they are predisposed to obesity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of 1.0% isoflavone on the metabolizable energy intake, serum concentrations of satiety-related hormones and peptides, and body composition of neutered cats. Sixteen neutered adult cats were blocked by gender and divided into two groups (n = 8): the control group (CG) received a commercial diet, while the isoflavone group (IG) received the same diet supplemented by 1% of isoflavone for 99 days. Computed tomography was performed on the first and last experimental days to assess the animals’ body composition. Satiety challenges were conducted on days 19 and 44. In the last day of the study, blood samples were collected to determine the concentration of insulin, ghrelin, leptin, peptide YY, and GLP-1. A statistical analysis was conducted using R software 3.5.2, considering both the interaction and individual effects of group and time (p < 0.05). The average intake of genistein in the IG was 0.75 ± 0.10 mg/kg body weight, and daidzein intake was 51.73 ± 7.05 mg/kg. No significant individual or interaction effects were observed for any of the analyzed variables. Therefore, the inclusion of 1.0% isoflavone in the diet did not affect the energy requirements, satiety responses, or body composition of neutered adult cats.
Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Quinteira Sandra , Dantas Rui , Pinho Luís , Campos Carla , Freitas Ana R. , Brito Nuno V. , Miranda Carla
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Animals destined for human consumption play a key role in potentially transmitting bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes. However, there is limited knowledge about the carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in native breeds. We aimed to characterize the phenotypic profiles and antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from bovines, including three native Portuguese bovine breeds. Methods: Forty-nine E. coli isolates were selected from 640 fecal samples pooled by age group (eight adult or eight calf samples) from each farm, representing both dairy cattle raised in intensive systems and meat cattle raised in extensive systems in Northern Portugal. The presumptive E. coli colonies plated onto MacConkey agar were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The antibiotic resistance profiles were screened by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (EUCAST/CLSI guidelines), and the antibiotic resistance genes by PCR. Results: Most isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (69%), tetracycline (57%), gentamicin (55%), and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole (53%), with no resistance to imipenem. Resistance to at least one antibiotic was found in 92% of isolates, while 59% exhibited multidrug resistance. Most calf isolates, including those from native breeds, showed a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Among the adults, this was only observed in Holstein-Friesian and Barrosã cattle. None of the Holstein-Friesian isolates were susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. ESBL-producing E. coli was identified in 39% of isolates, including those from Holstein-Friesian calves and adults, Cachena calves and Minhota adults. The sul2 gene was detected in 69% of isolates, followed by blaCTX-M (45%), aac(3′)-IV (41%), and aac(6′)-Ib-cr (31%), with a higher prevalence in adults. Conclusions: This pioneering study highlights the concerning presence of multidrug-resistant E. coli in native Portuguese cattle breeds.
A Multi-Criteria GIS-Based Approach for Risk Assessment of Slope Instability Driven by Glacier Melting in the Alpine Area
Authors: Castellazzi Giulia , Previtali Mattia
Published: December 2024

Climate change is resulting in significant transformations in mountain areas all over the world, causing the melting of glacier ice, reduction in snow accumulation, and permafrost loss. Changes in the mountain cryosphere are not only modifying flora and fauna distributions but also affecting the stability of slopes in those regions. For all these reasons, and because of the risks these phenomena pose to the population, the dentification of dangerous areas is a crucial step in the development of risk reduction strategies. While several methods and examples exist that cover the assessment and computation of single sub-components, there is still a lack of application of risk assessment due to glacier melting over large areas in which the final result can be directly employed in the design of risk mitigation policies at regional and municipal levels. This research is focused on landslides and gravitational movements on slopes resulting from rapid glacier melting phenomena in the Valle d’Aosta region in Italy, with the aim of providing a tool that can support spatial planning in response to climate change in Alpine environments. Through the conceptualization and development of a GIS-based and multi-criteria approach, risk is then estimated by defining hazard indices that consider different aspects, combining the experience acquired from studies carried out in various disciplinary fields, to obtain a framework at the regional level. This first assessment is then deepened for the Lys River Valley, where the mapping of hazardous areas was implemented, obtaining a classification of buildings according to their hazard score to estimate the potential damage and total risk relating to possible slope instability events due to ice melt at the local scale.
Evaluation of the Depth of Cure by Microhardness of Bulk-Fill Composites with Monowave and Polywave LED Light-Curing Units
Authors: Thomaidis Socratis , Kampouropoulos Dimitris , Antoniadou Maria , Kakaboura Afrodite
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the depth of cure (DoC) of bulk-fill composite resins, measured by the bottom-to-top Vickers microhardness ratio, using different light-curing units (LCUs): single-wave LED, polywave LED, and halogen. Six bulk-fill composites—Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, X-tra base, SonicFill, Venus Bulk Fill, SDR, and Filtek Bulk Fill—were tested. Four LCUs, including one halogen (Elipar Trilight) and three LEDs (Demi Ultra, Valo, and Bluephase style), were employed for polymerization. Vickers hardness measurements were taken at depths of 1 mm to 5 mm. One- and two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05) were used for data analysis. The results revealed significant differences in microhardness and microhardness ratios among the composites at depths of 4 mm and beyond, depending on the LCU used. It was observed that most bulk-fill composites showed an adequate DoC up to 4 mm, but the effectiveness varied with different LCUs. Importantly, polywave LED LCUs did not exhibit a superior advantage in achieving depth of cure compared to monowave LED LCUs for composites containing multiple photoinitiators. These findings suggest that while several factors affect the DoC, the type of LCU plays a crucial role, and polywave LEDs may not offer additional benefits over monowave LEDs.
Fatigue, Fracture, and Damage Tolerance of Ultrahigh-Strength Martensitic Tendon-Rods for Structural Engineering
Authors: Santos Patricia , Iordachescu Mihaela , Valiente Andrés , Scutelnicu Elena
Published: December 2024

The paper addresses the fatigue resistance, fracture behavior, and damage tolerance of a new type of ultrahigh-strength bar for prestressing concrete made of a low-alloy lath martensitic steel. The fracture tests show that the bar steel has a medium-high fracture toughness of 75 MPa m1/2 and a fatigue cracking resistance that fits the Paris-Erdogan Law as most of Eurocode 3 structural steels. The damage tolerance analysis combines two failure assessment diagrams (FADs), the first focused on the damage level and the second on toughness and yielding capacity as material properties of the bar steel, whose influence and interaction are determinant for failure. The location of the experimental failure data in the FADs indicates that the steel is endowed with a combination of strength, ductility, and toughness able to prevent unexpected failures. The damage micro-mechanisms revealed from the examination of broken specimens differ from fatigue to fracture cracking, but in a manner consistent with the observed mechanical behavior and microstructure of the bar steel.
A Comparative Analysis of Anomaly Detection Methods in IoT Networks: An Experimental Study
Authors: Krzysztoń Emanuel , Rojek Izabela , Mikołajewski Dariusz
Published: December 2024

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its integration with Industry 4.0 and 5.0 are generating new security challenges. One of the key elements of IoT systems is effective anomaly detection, which identifies abnormal behavior in devices or entire systems. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of existing methods for anomaly detection in IoT networks using machine learning (ML). A detailed analysis of various ML algorithms, both supervised (e.g., Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, SVM) and unsupervised (e.g., Isolation Forest, Autoencoder), was conducted. The results of tests conducted on popular datasets (IoT-23 and CICIoT-2023) were collected and analyzed in detail. The performance of the selected algorithms was evaluated using commonly used metrics (Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F1-score). The experimental results showed that the Random Forest and Autoencoder methods are highly effective in detecting anomalies. The article highlights the importance of appropriate data preprocessing to improve detection accuracy. Furthermore, the limitations of a centralized machine learning approach in the context of distributed IoT networks are discussed. The article also presents potential directions for future research in the field of anomaly detection in the IoT.
A Multi-Phase Brushless Direct Current Motor Design and Its Implementation in Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Kurt Emre , Arabul Ahmet Yigit , Keskin Arabul Fatma , Senol Ibrahim
Published: December 2024

Nowadays, electric propulsion system implementation in vehicles is popular, and many studies and prototypes have been accomplished in this field. Aircraft are important members of the vehicle family, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are part of this family as well. Some UAVs still have conventional propulsion systems, which are less efficient and are harmful to the environment. In addition, conventional systems are vulnerable to faults in their propulsion system components. To overcome these problems, we designed a multi-phase Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor, to achieve fault-tolerant operation. Our designed BLDC motor was implemented in a UAV model that was created on MATLAB Simulink, based on a currently used UAV. Our design and performance analysis are shown for the BLDC motor, both standalone and as implemented in the created UAV model. The electric propulsion system performance is shown, according to the determined flight profile. We observed that the designed electric machine is capable of producing the required torque to create thrust for lifting the UAV. There are some advantages and disadvantages to using the designed electric machine in this class of UAV. This is shown in the related sections.
Robotics Classification of Domain Knowledge Based on a Knowledge Graph for Home Service Robot Applications
Authors: Wang Yiqun , Yao Rihui , Zhao Keqing , Wu Peiliang , Chen Wenbai
Published: December 2024

The representation and utilization of environmental information by service robots has become increasingly challenging. In order to solve the problems that the service robot platform has, such as high timeliness requirements for indoor environment recognition tasks and the small scale of indoor scene data, a method and model for rapid classification of household environment domain knowledge is proposed, which can achieve high recognition accuracy by using a small-scale indoor scene and tool dataset. This paper uses a knowledge graph to associate data for home service robots. The application requirements of knowledge graphs for home service robots are analyzed to establish a rule base for the system. A domain ontology of the home environment is constructed for use in the knowledge graph system, and the interior functional areas and functional tools are classified. This designed knowledge graph contributes to the state of the art by improving the accuracy and efficiency of service decision making. The lightweight network MobileNetV3 is used to pre-train the model, and a lightweight convolution method with good feature extraction performance is selected. This proposal adopts a combination of MobileNetV3 and transfer learning, integrating large-scale pre-training with fine-tuning for the home environment to address the challenge of limited data for home robots. The results show that the proposed model achieves higher recognition accuracy and recognition speed than other common methods, meeting the work requirements of service robots. With the Scene15 dataset, the proposed scheme has the highest recognition accuracy of 0.8815 and the fastest recognition speed of 63.11 microseconds per sheet.
The Impact of UV Radiation on the Hemispherical Reflectance Values and Homogeneity of Tablets Containing Clindamycin and Phenoxymethylpenicillin
Authors: Meisner Michał , Sarecka-Hujar Beata
Published: December 2024

Background: The pharmaceutical industry is faced with the problem of how to design and conduct tests to assess photostability during drug use and storage. In this study, the aim was to analyze the changes in total hemispherical reflectance (THR) and homogeneity in two preparations of tablets with clindamycin or tablets with phenoxymethylpenicillin stored under UV radiation. Methods: The analysis was performed for coated tablets with two types of antibiotics in and out of the direct package (i.e., non-blister and blister). The condition of UV radiation was maintained over 7 days in a Solarbox 1500 chamber. THR values were assessed after 3 and 7 days using a SOC-410 reflectometer. Hyperspectral evaluation was carried out with Specim IQ hyperspectral camera every 3 nm from 400 nm to 1030 nm. Results: THR values for both blister and non-blister tablets with clindamycin decreased significantly for the ranges 400–540 nm, 480–600 nm, 590–720 nm, and 700–1100 nm on day 3 of UV exposure. For non-blister clindamycin tablets, THR increased slightly on day 7 of the experiment compared to day 3, while THR continued to decrease for blister tablets. THR values for non-blister phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets decreased slightly on day 3 of UV exposure for the ranges 400–540 nm, 480–600 nm, 590–720 nm, 700–1100 nm, and 1000–1700 nm, and then on day 7 of UV exposure THR values increased to near baseline. In addition, non-blister clindamycin tablets showed a tendency to increase in a difference between max–min reflectance in the total spectral range as well as in visible and infrared light (p < 0.001 each). Similarly, day 7 blister tablets with clindamycin had a significantly higher max–min reflectance difference compared to day 3 blister tablets but only in the range of visible light (p = 0.034). Thus, the lowest homogeneity was demonstrated for 7 day tablets. On the contrary, the lowest homogeneity was observed for phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets on day 0 of experiment. Conclusions: UV radiation affects the total hemispherical reflectance values for clindamycin and phenoxymethylpenicillin tablets, but to a different extent and within a different spectral range for each type of tablet. The homogeneity of the tablets may also change over time with UV exposure.
Effects of Hip Adduction and Abduction Forward Lunge on Muscle Activity and Center of Pressure in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zhou Xing-Han , Yan Xin , Tian Qiu-Shuo , Kim Tae-Ho
Published: December 2024

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) ranks among the most prevalent factors causing anterior knee pain. Quadriceps exercises such as forward lunges are important to treat PFPS. Aim: We investigated whether there is a difference in muscle activity between the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles and the center of pressure (CoP) among three hip positions, namely, hip adduction forward lunge (HADF), hip neutral forward lunge (HNEF), and hip abduction forward lunge (HABF), in healthy subjects. Method: This was a randomized controlled pilot study that included twenty healthy (age: 23.7 ± 2.51) volunteers. The CoP was measured using a “Wii Balance Board” from Nintendo, and VMO and VL muscle activity were measured via wireless surface electromyography. Results: The CoP outcomes showed significant differences among the three positions in terms of position (p < 0.001), sum distance (p < 0.001), range (p < 0.001), and max distance (p < 0.001). VMO (p < 0.000), and VL (p < 0.005) muscle activity and the ratio of VMO/VL (p < 0.000) significantly differed among the three positions. Conclusions: Although VMO and VL muscle activity increased in the HADF and HABF, excessive changes in the CoP occurred in the two positions. The change in the CoP during the HADF and HABF may result in valgus, varus, and loading of the knee joint, which may worsen PFPS. The HNEF is recommended for quadriceps strengthening in healthy subjects and PFPS patients.
An Efficient Multi-Topology Construction Method for Scheduling Mobile Data Flows in Software-Defined Networking
Authors: Zhang Chi , Deng Haojiang , Han Rui
Published: December 2024

In mobile networks, a content server can provide multiple services simultaneously to a mobile device, generating multiple data flows. As the device moves, the transmission path in the wired network may need to be switched to maintain service continuity. However, a single switching path may not be able to accommodate all the flows, potentially leading to congestion and a degraded user experience. To address this challenge, we propose a multi-topology routing-based mobile data scheduling method that dynamically switches flows across multiple paths to enhance flexibility and load balancing. The performance of this method is significantly influenced by the construction of logical topologies. Well-designed topologies provide high-bandwidth, low-latency paths to all possible destination nodes, while poorly designed topologies waste switch capacity and fail to achieve these goals. In this paper, we introduce an efficient multi-topology construction method for scheduling mobile data flows in software-defined networking (SDN). Our approach optimizes and balances transmission capacity for each destination node while adhering to the flow entry constraints of switches. Simulations demonstrate that our method consistently outperforms the single-path switching method and the other two multi-topology construction methods in terms of packet delay, packet loss rate, and network throughput, regardless of the device’s new location.
Wavelength-Switchable Ytterbium-Doped Fiber Laser Based on All-Fiber Lyot Interferometer Filter
Authors: Wang Yizhang , Liu Qi , Ren Kai , Cao Yanlong
Published: December 2024

A wavelength-switchable ring-cavity ytterbium-doped fiber laser utilizing an all-fiber Lyot interferometer filter was proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Firstly, the Lyot filter was constructed using a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) to obtain a comb interferometer effect, and the free spectrum ranges corresponding to 2.5 and 1 m PMF were 2.2 and 6.4 nm, respectively. Then, wavelength-switchable ytterbium-doped fiber emission was realized in the experiment, and the tunable range for the single-wavelength laser was from 1073.76 to 1086.78 nm, with a power variation of less than 1.959 dB. During the experiment, four different sets of double-wavelength lasers were achieved by adjusting the polarization controller (PC) from 1071.64 to 1081.65 nm; in addition, three different sets of triple-wavelength lasers were realized, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was more than 33.031 dB. For stable single-, double-, and triple-wavelength lasers, the power shifts were less than 0.574, 0.631, and 1.195 dB, respectively. Through adjusting the PC, quadruple-wavelength-switchable lasers could be realized with an SNR exceeding 26.233 dB.
Two-Step Enzymatic Synthesis of Structured Triacylglycerols from ARASCO© and Coconut Oil
Authors: Rincón-Cervera Miguel Ángel , Guil-Guerrero José Luis
Published: December 2024

Triacylglycerols containing medium-chain fatty acids at the sn-1,3 positions and a long-chain fatty acid at the sn-2 position (MLM-TAG) are of nutritional interest. However, they are scarce in common food sources and are usually synthesized by chemical or enzymatic methods. In this work, the enzymatic synthesis of MLM-TAG was attempted using sn-2 monoacylglycerols (sn-2 MAG) from the ethanolysis of an arachidonic acid-rich fraction from ARASCO and fatty acid ethyl esters from the ethanolysis of coconut oil as substrates. The highest yield of sn-2 MAG (23.3 mol%) was obtained after 1 h of ethanolysis with Novozym 435 lipase at 25 °C, and the best profile of the ethanolysis products of coconut oil was obtained after 24 h of reaction catalyzed by the lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. Regarding the enzymatic synthesis of structured TAG, the lipase from Rhizopus oryzae gave better results than those from Thermomyces lanuginosus and Rhizomucor miehei, with the sn-2 position mainly esterified with arachidonic acid (34.8%) and the sn-1,3 positions mainly esterified with capric and lauric acids (35.1%). This work focuses on a simple process for the enzymatic production of structured TAG without prior purification of the sn-2 MAG.
A Tunable and Switchable Multi-Wavelength Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser Based on a Curvature Mach–Zehnder Interferometer Filter Using Thin-Core Fiber
Authors: Perezcampos-Mayoral Christian , Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Jaime , Cano-Pérez José Luis , Vargas-Treviño Marciano , Tepech-Carrillo Lorenzo , Guerra-Hernández Erick Israel , Gallegos-Velasco Itandehui Belem , Hernández-Cruz Pedro Antonio , Pérez-Campos-Mayoral Eeduardo , Ojeda-Meixueiro Victor Hugo , Estudillo-Ayala Julián Moisés , Sierra-Hernandez Juan Manuel , Rojas-Laguna Roberto
Published: December 2024

We propose and demonstrate a tunable and switchable multi-wavelength fiber ring laser configuration based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter. The MZI was fabricated using a core-offset splicing technique, with a 2 cm piece of thin-core erbium-doped fiber (TCEDF), with a core diameter of 2.90 µm, coupled in the central region of the MZI between two segments of single-mode fiber (SMF). By applying curvature to the MZI filter, we generated lasing single-, double-, triple-, and quadruple-emission lines with a curvature range from 2.3452 m−1 to 6.0495 m−1. A single-emission lasing line can be tuned from 1556.63 nm to 1564.25 nm with a tuning span of 7.62 nm and an SMSR of 49.80 dB. The laser emission can be switched to quadruple- and triple-emission lasing signals, with SMSR values of 39.96 dB and 36.83 dB, respectively. The dual-narrow emission lasing signal can be tuned from 1564.56 nm to 1561.34 nm, with an SMSR of 40.46 dB. Another lasing dual-emission signal can be tuned from 1585.69 nm to 1576.89 nm, producing an 8.8 nm tuning range, and from 1572.53 nm to 1563.66 nm, producing an 8.87 nm range, with the best SMSR of 42.35 dB.
Carbon Metabolic Profiling as a Response to Previous Plant Mycotrophy and Soil Disturbance in Wheat Growth
Authors: Conceição Taiana , Andrade Galdino , Brito Isabel
Published: December 2024

Soil microorganisms play a significant role in the dynamic regulation of organic matter in soils. To assess the influence of agricultural practices on soil functional profiling, we examined the effect of soil disturbance and plant sequence with different levels of mycotrophy on wheat microbiomes metabolism. Soil samples were analyzed with community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) using Biolog™ Ecoplates. The results of average well color development (AWCD) showed that the degree of mycotrophy of preceding crop and soil disturbance affected the soil microbiome, although no impact on Shannon Evenness Index was observed during the experiment. The Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index showed variations among the different preceding plants, but not in wheat analysis. The pattern of the C sources metabolism also changed differentially regarding plant type and soil disturbance during the experiment, being also different within the highly mycotrophic plants (legume and grass). In the legume, an increase in the metabolism of amine/amides and phenolic acids was observed, whilst in the grass, an increase in the metabolism of phosphate-carbons (P carbon) and carbohydrates was more evident. Principal component analysis showed that a grouping in the distinct phases of the experiment correlated with the widening of the metabolism of amino acids, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates. The results indicate that soil functional community structure reflects soil agricultural practice conditions. Previous plant types and soil disturbance impacted the soil microbiome metabolic response (AWCD) in wheat, generating different patterns of carbon metabolism related to previous plant mycotrophy.