bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behavior of Transition Dairy Cows Managed Outdoors During the Autumn and Spring Calving Seasons
Authors: Cartes Daniel , Held-Montaldo Rodrigo , Sepúlveda-Varas Pilar
Published: February 2025

In pasture-based systems, prepartum dairy cows can be exposed directly to weather conditions during the transition period. We aimed to determine how temperate climatic conditions during spring and autumn calving seasons affect transition dairy cows’ lying and ruminating behavior in outdoor conditions. Behavior and meteorological data were extracted from two external experiments carried out during the spring calving season and the autumn calving season. Mixed models were used to determine the effects of weather conditions on daily lying and rumination behaviors. In the spring calving season, high precipitation reduced the daily lying time, and the wind speed decelerated this effect both in the pre-and postpartum period. High precipitation combined with low air temperature or wind speed favored the rumination time in pre- and postpartum periods. In the autumn calving season, lying time was reduced as air temperature and wind speed increased during the prepartum period, and solar radiation increased in the postpartum period. The rumination time was reduced under warm conditions (high temperature/solar radiation) in pre- and postpartum periods. These findings suggest that under a temperate climate, the weather of both calving seasons has important implications on behaviors associated with comfort, such as lying and rumination.
Effectiveness of Local Antibiotics for Infection Prevention in Primary Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lin Chia-Yu , Liu Chiung-Li , Lo Hon-Lok , Hao Shao-Yuan , Huang Wei-Hsuan , Chang Hsiu-Mei , Chen Tun-Chieh
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of local antibiotic prophylaxis (e.g., powder, bone cement, intraosseous injection) in reducing periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) and deep wound infections in adults undergoing primary joint replacement surgery. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was conducted from inception to 7 September 2024, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies without language restrictions. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 for RCTs and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort studies. Infection rates were extracted and analyzed using risk ratios (RR) or odds ratios (OR) in a random-effects model with Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4. Sensitivity analysis and meta-regression were also performed to validate the study results and possible risk factors. Results: Twelve RCTs and 21 cohort studies were included in the review. Vancomycin powder in the cohort studies demonstrated statistical significance (OR = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36–0.61, I2 = 0%), in contrast to the results in the RCTs (RR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.06–2.47, I2 = 49%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness and statistical significance of these findings. Both the control and treatment groups primarily cultured Gram-positive pathogens, including in the overall data and specifically for vancomycin powder. The evidence for the use of intraosseous injection (RR of RCTs not estimable, I2 not applicable; OR of cohorts = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02–0.63, I2 = 0%) and bone cement (RR of RCTs = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.14–1.17, I2 = 56%; OR of cohorts = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.25–2.82, I2 not applicable) was inconclusive. Smoking was identified as an important risk factor for post-operative infection. Further research, including more robust trials and cohort studies, is needed to confirm these findings. Conclusions: Local administration of vancomycin powder appears effective in preventing deep wound infection after arthroplasty.
Potential of Pterostilbene as an Antioxidant Therapy for Delaying Retinal Damage in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Burggraaf-Sánchez de las Matas Raquel , Torres-Cuevas Isabel , Millán Iván , Desco María del Carmen , Oblaré-Delgado Candela , Asensi Miguel , Mena-Mollá Salvador , Oger Camille , Galano Jean-Marie , Durand Thierry , Ortega Ángel Luis
Published: February 2025

Chronic hyperglycemia is a major driver of neurovascular damage in diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of preventable blindness in adults. DR progression is often undetected until its advanced stages, with oxidative stress recognized as a primary contributor. In diabetes, oxidative stress disrupts retinal cellular balance, damaging proteins, DNA, and lipids, and triggering photoreceptor degeneration. Pterostilbene (Pter), a polyphenol with antioxidant properties, has demonstrated protective effects in DR animal models and was assessed in a pilot clinical study. DR patients treated with 250 mg/day of oral Pter showed a reduction in the development of retinal vascular alterations characteristic of the disease. Urinary analyses confirmed Pter’s role in reducing the lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including arachidonic and adrenic acids, indicators of oxidative damage in DR. Pter also improved the GSH/GSSG ratio, reflecting a restored redox balance. However, after six months without treatment, retinal damage indicators reappeared, highlighting the importance of sustained intervention. These findings suggest that Pter may help slow the progression of DR by protecting against oxidative stress and highlight the importance of implementing antioxidant therapies from the diagnosis of diabetes, although its long-term impact and the development of consistent biomarkers deserve more research to optimize DR management.
Untargeted Chemical Profile, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibition Activity of Physalis angulata L. from the Peruvian Amazon: A Contribution to the Validation of Its Pharmacological Potential
Authors: Vargas-Arana Gabriel , Torres-Benítez Alfredo , Ortega-Valencia José Erick , Merino-Zegarra Claudia , Carranza-Rosales Pilar , Simirgiotis Mario J.
Published: February 2025

Physalis angulata is a plant of great value in traditional medicine known for its content of bioactive compounds, such as physalins and withanolides, which possess diverse biological activities. In this study, the chemical profile, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibition capacity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained from the root, stem, leaves, calyx, and fruits of P. angulata collected in Peru were evaluated. A total of forty-two compounds were detected in the extracts using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis. In vitro analyses revealed that leaf extracts contained the highest concentration of phenolic compounds, while leaf and fruit extracts showed the best results in FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS antioxidant tests; on the other hand, inhibition of AChE, BChE, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase enzymes was variable, but calyx and fruit extracts showed higher effectiveness. In silico analyses indicated that the compounds physagulin A, physagulin F, physagulide P, physalin B, and withaminimin showed stable interactions and favorable binding affinities with the catalytic sites of the enzymes studied. These results confirm the pharmacological potential of extracts and compounds derived from different organs of P. angulata, suggesting their promising use in treating diseases related to the central nervous system and metabolic syndrome.
Predicting Non-Point Source Pollution in Henan Province Using the Diffuse Pollution Estimation with Remote Sensing Model with Enhanced Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Chen Weiqiang , Wan Yue , Guo Yulong , Ji Guangxing , Shi Lingfei
Published: February 2025

Non-point source pollution (NPSP) originates from domestic agricultural pollutants and deforestation. Agricultural NPSP discharges into rivers and oceans through precipitation and soil runoff. Awareness and research regarding NPSP and its harmful effects on human health and the environment are increasing. The Diffuse Pollution Estimation with Remote Sensing (DPeRS) model, a distributed NPSP model proposed by Chinese researchers, seeks to predict agricultural NPSP and includes modules estimating nitrogen and phosphorus balance, vegetation coverage, dissolved pollution, and absorbed pollution. By applying the DPeRS model, the present work aims to predict the distribution of all nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants in Henan Province, China in 2021. We used statistical yearbook, remotely sensed, and hydrological data as input. To facilitate uncertainty characterization in pollution predictions, we performed sensitivity analysis, which identified the model input variables that contributed most to uncertainty in model output. Specifically, we used ArcGIS for processing data for nitrogen and phosphorus balance equations, an ENVI 5.3 software system for deriving vegetation cover, and the RUSLE soil erosion model for predicting absorption pollution. Dissolved pollution was estimated using a unified approach to estimating agricultural runoff, urban runoff, rural resident, and livestock pollutants. Absorbed pollution was estimated by considering the soil erosion model and precipitation. Moreover, Sobol’s method was applied for sensitivity analysis. We found that regardless of the accumulation of nitrogen or phosphorus, indicators of the dissolved pollution of Zhoukou were relatively high. Sensitivity analysis of the models for estimating dissolved pollution and absorbed pollution revealed that the top four influential variables for dissolved pollution were standard runoff coefficient ε0, natural factor correction coefficient Ni, the newly produced TN pollutants per area QiN, and runoff coefficient ε. For absorbed pollution, influential variables were rainfall erosion factor R, water and soil conservation factor P, slope degree factor S, and slope length factor L. The total discharges of Henan Province were 9546.4649 t, 1061.8940 t, 6031.4577 t, and 3587.6113 t for TN, TP, NH4+-N, and COD, respectively, in 2021. This paper provides a valuable reference for understanding the status of NPSP in Henan province. The DPeRS approach presented in this paper provides strong support for policymakers in the field of environmental management in China. This study confirmed that the DPeRS model can be feasibly applied to larger areas for NPSP prediction enhanced with sensitivity analysis due to its fast computation and reliance on accessible and simple data sources.
A Sub-50nW Implantable Body Temperature Sensor and Its Application to a Rat
Authors: Lim Jounghoon , Lee Sieun , Jang Seonae , Cho Young Sang , Kim Jong Pal
Published: February 2025

An ultra-low-power implantable body temperature sensor with a power consumption of 40.9 nW is presented. Deep body temperature measurement can be utilized for diseases such as inflammatory response due to implantable devices, treatment of traumatic brain injury, early monitoring of rejection after kidney transplantation, and monitoring of frictional heat in artificial joints, as well as health management such as ovulation cycles. Since it is implanted in the body and operated by a battery, it is very important to minimize power consumption. For low power consumption, we propose a dynamic virtual Wheatstone bridge technology for low-power transducer driving, and the simplified architecture is designed to operate at 0.6 V. The chip fabricated in a 180 nm CMOS process meets the ASTM E1112-00 specification for medical thermometers. That is, it can measure from 34 °C to 43 °C and meets the accuracy of ±0.1 °C between 37 °C and 39 °C. The measured power consumption at 37 °C is 40.9 nW. To verify practical application, a temperature sensor was implanted in a rat and body temperature changes before and after anesthesia were observed.
Evaluation of Eccentric Compressive Behavior Between Active and Passive Preloading in CFST
Authors: Diao Ruyun , Hu Xiao , Xie Li , Chen Zhenlin
Published: February 2025

Concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) are widely used in high-rise buildings and bridges, owing to their confinement effect on concrete. The confinement effect can enhance the compressive strength and ductility of the components. During the construction of high-rise buildings or bridges, CFST columns may be subject to an unforeseen preload known as a passive preload, which might impact a structure’s mechanical behavior. Additionally, a deliberate preload called an active preload is applied to a CFST column before application as a design strategy to improve the performance of the CFST. However, only a few studies have evaluated the effects of the two types of preloads on CFST performance. In this study, the eccentric compressive performances of passive and active preloading systems in a circular short CFST column were investigated using finite element numerical simulations. Four representative preloaded CFST columns were compared by analyzing their mechanical behaviors with two-stage loading (preloading and service loading). The influences of the eccentric ratio, concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength, and steel thickness on the load-bearing capacity ratio and M-P curves of the four preloaded CFST columns were evaluated. It was found that in comparison to passive preloaded CFSTs, the overall performance of the active column was satisfactory.
Reliability Evaluation of Integrated Electricity–Water System Based on Multi-State Models of Equipment in Water System
Authors: Liu Yang , Li Chunyan , Tang Jiyuan , Yao Yiming , Xie Kaigui , Hu Bo , Shao Changzheng , Wu Tao
Published: February 2025

The power system and the water system are two important infrastructures of human society that are closely related and interdependent. However, the reliability problems of the power system and water system are becoming more and more prominent. To better reveal the impact of the complex coupling relationship between the power system and the water system on the reliability of the Integrated Electricity–Water System (IEWS), this paper investigates a reliability evaluation method of the IEWS based on multi-state models of equipment in the water system. Firstly, a multi-state reliability model is established based on the failure mechanism of equipment in the water system, such as pipes and Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination plants. Secondly, combined with the multi-state model of equipment in the water system and the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, the IEWS reliability evaluation method is established. Finally, two IEWSs with different scales are simulated to verify the validity and adaptability of the proposed model.
Stability Analysis and Support Optimization for a Coal Mine Roadway Subjected to High Horizontal Stress
Authors: Liu Shulin , Liu Huanhuan , Xie Kai , Shan Lei , Xiao Fukun , Wang Baochen , Wang Yiwei
Published: February 2025

Based on the engineering problem of large deformation and support failure in the roadway of Ronghua No. 1 Mine, on-site in situ stress testing was carried out to understand the distribution characteristics of the in situ stress around the roadway. Then, a stability analysis of the roadway was conducted on the key factors causing support failure. Combining the on-site situation and the results of the stability analysis, the principle of surrounding rock stability control in a high horizontal stress roadway was proposed. Based on this principle, an optimized scheme was designed. The optimized scheme and the original scheme were comparatively analyzed through numerical simulation to verify the applicability of the optimized scheme. Finally, the optimized scheme was applied on-site, and the roadway was monitored. The results were as follows: (1) from the results of the in situ stress test conducted in Ronghua No. 1 mine, the horizontal tectonic stress field is dominant. (2) Based on the characteristics of in situ stress distribution, the angle between the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress and the roadway orientation, along with varying lateral pressure coefficients, is directly proportional to the stress and deformation of the surrounding rock. (3) Through numerical simulation analysis, an optimized support scheme was proposed based on the original design. The roof subsidence was reduced by 37.3%, the floor heave was reduced by 49.5%, and the side convergence was reduced by 34.7%. The surrounding rock stability of the roadway was significantly improved. (4) The optimized support scheme was applied in the 6A# Left Second roadway at Ronghua No. 1 Mine. Through on-site monitoring of the perimeter rock deformation, significant reductions in deformation and increased stability were observed. The research content provides a theoretical basis and practical experience for the stabilization of high horizontal stress roadways.
TA-RRT*: Adaptive Sampling-Based Path Planning Using Terrain Analysis
Authors: Oh Taegeun , Won Yun-Jae , Lee Sungjin
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a novel algorithm, Terrain Analysis–Rapidly exploring Random Tree* (TA-RRT*), which improves the performance of path planning using adaptive sampling and step size based on terrain analysis. While existing RRT*-based algorithms perform node sampling and tree expansion in various ways to optimize path planning, they may still generate inefficient paths in complex terrain environments. In this paper, TA-RRT* analyzes the complexity of the terrain to generate a probability density function, which is then used to guide adaptive sampling and tree expansion during the path planning process. In addition, we reduce the length of generated paths using an adaptive step size based on terrain complexity. To verify the performance of the proposed algorithm, we conduct experiments with various path planning algorithms in three different environments: simple, intermediate, and complex. The experimental results demonstrate that TA-RRT* outperforms other algorithms in terms of path length, computational time, and memory usage. Furthermore, its robustness was validated in dynamic environments, where it effectively performed real-time path replanning to adapt to environmental changes, such as the appearance of new obstacles.
Application of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) in Detecting Abandoned Mining Tunnels Along Expressway
Authors: Sun Mengyu , Ou Jian , Li Tongsheng , Cao Chuanghua , Liu Rong
Published: February 2025

The settlement and deformation of abandoned mining tunnels can lead to cracking, deformation, or even the collapse of surface structures. Recently, a dual-direction, four-lane expressway, designed a speed of 100 km/h, is planned to be constructed between Yuanling County and Chenxi County. This expressway will pass through a long-abandoned refractory clay mining area in Chenxi County. This study focuses on this abandoned mining area and employs the Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) method to investigate the underground conditions, aiming to determine the location and scale of the subterranean goaf. A total of five survey lines were deployed for the investigation. The inversion results indicate the presence of five low-resistivity anomalies in the underground structure (with six low-resistivity anomalies identified along line L1). These low-resistivity anomalies are preliminarily interpreted as subsurface cavities. Subsequent borehole verification revealed that the five low-resistivity anomalies correspond to a total of eight water-filled cavities, including six abandoned mining tunnels and two karst caves. At the location K33+260~K33+350, a large low-resistivity anomaly was identified which actually consisted of three closely spaced water-filled abandoned mining tunnels. Additionally, the surrounding strata primarily consisted of fractured mudstone, which has a high water content and thus exhibits low resistivity. These two factors combined resulted in the three water-filled abandoned mining tunnels appearing as a single large low-resistivity anomaly in the inversion profile. Meanwhile, at K33+50~K33+110, two water-filled abandoned mining tunnels were found. These tunnels are far apart along line L1 but are relatively close to each other on the other four survey lines. Consequently, in the inversion results, line L1 displays these as two separate low-resistivity anomalies, while the other four survey lines show them as a single large low-resistivity anomaly. Based on the 2D inversion results, a 3D model of the study area was constructed. This model provides a more intuitive visualization of the underground cavity structures in the study area. The findings not only serve as a reference for the subsequent remediation of the goaf area but also offer new insights into the detection of abandoned mining tunnels.
Between Truth and Hallucinations: Evaluation of the Performance of Large Language Model-Based AI Plugins in Website Quality Analysis
Authors: Król Karol
Published: February 2025

Although large language models (LLMs) like the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) are growing increasingly popular, much remains to learn about their potential for website quality auditing. The article evaluates the performance of LLM AI plugins (GPT models) in website and web application auditing. The author built and tested two original ChatGPT-4o Plus (OpenAI) plugins: Website Quality Auditor (WQA) and WebGIS Quality Auditor (WgisQA). Their performance was cautiously and carefully analysed and compared to traditional auditing tools. The results demonstrated the limitations of the AI plugins, including their propensity for false outcomes. The general conclusion is that using AI tools without considering their characteristics may lead to the propagation of AI hallucinations in audit reports. The study fills in the research gap with the results on the capabilities and limitations of AI plugins in the context of auditing. It also suggests further directions for improvement.
Disassembly Plan Representation by Hypergraph
Authors: Verkuilen Abboy , Zijderveld Mirjam , de Buck Niels , Coenen Jenny
Published: February 2025

To be successful in a circular economy, it is important to keep the cost of operationalizing remanufacturing processes low in order to retain as much value of the product as possible. Optimizing operations for disassembly, as a key process step, is therefore an important prerequisite for economically viable circular manufacturing. The generation of fit-to-resource disassembly instructions is labor-intensive and challenging because (digital) product information is often lacking at End-of-Life. With upcoming EU regulations for Eco-design for Sustainable Products in mind, including the future use of Digital Product Passports, it is time to think about standardized methods to capture disassembly information for products. First requirements from small and medium-sized remanufacturing companies have been collected and compared with available frameworks for modeling product topology, parameters, and (dis)assembly process rationale. Based on this, the disassembly hypergraph is presented as a concept for recording ‘resource-agnostic disassembly guides’ in (machine-readable) product models to determine required disassembly actions and tools ‘smartly’. The concept builds upon existing models. Additionally, suitable methods for the collection of disassembly information are explored, resulting in preliminary insights from disassembly data collection workshops. Although the approach is promising, future work is needed to expand the concept of the disassembly hypergraph with both guidelines for setting up disassembly ontologies and further systematic disassembly knowledge extraction in order to apply this as a useful means for companies to rationalize their disassembly operations.
On the Complete Indeterminacy and the Chaoticity of the Generalized Heun Operator in Bargmann Space
Authors: Intissar Abdelkader
Published: February 2025

In 1998, we gave a complete scattering analysis of the cubic Heun operator H=a∗(a+a∗)a acting on Bargmann space, where a and a∗ are the standard Bose annihilation and creation operators satisfying the commutation relation [a,a∗]=I. We used the boundary conditions at infinity to give a description of all maximal dissipative extensions in Bargmann space of the minimal Heun’s operator H. The characteristic functions of the dissipative extensions were computed, and some completeness theorems were obtained for the system of generalized eigenvectors of this operator. In this paper, we study the deficiency numbers of the generalized Heun’s operator Hp,m=a∗p(am+a∗m)ap;(p,m=1,2,…) acting on Bargmann space. In particular, here we find some conditions on the parameters p and m such that Hp,m is completely indeterminate. It follows from these conditions that Hp,m is entirely of minimal type. Then, we show that Hp,m and Hp,m+H∗p,m (where H∗p,m is the adjoint of Hp,m) are connected to the chaotic operators.
Construction of CoNi2S4@Ni(OH)2 Nanosheet Structures for Asymmetric Supercapacitors with Excellent Performance
Authors: Tong Yongli , Chi Baoqian , Jiang Yu , Wu Xiang
Published: February 2025

It is crucial for energy storage devices to construct electrode materials with excellent performance. However, enhancing energy density and cycling stability for supercapacitors is a significant challenge. We successfully synthesized CoNi2S4@Ni(OH)2 nanosheets on the surface of Ni foam substrate by a two-step hydrothermal approach. The obtained products exhibit a remarkable areal capacitance of 1534 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. Moreover, even after 10,000 cycles, the specific capacitance remains 90% of its initial value, highlighting the exceptional long-term stability and durability. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device incorporating the CoNi2S4@Ni(OH)2 material shows remarkable electrochemical performance. It delivers an energy density of 58.5 mW h g−1 at a power density of 2700 W kg−1. The outstanding performance mainly arises from the selection of materials, the design of the structure, and the synergistic interaction between the materials. The result suggests that this material holds great potential as an energy storage material.
Transformative Approaches in Breast Cancer Detection: Integrating Transformers into Computer-Aided Diagnosis for Histopathological Classification
Authors: Alwateer Majed , Bamaqa Amna , Farsi Mohamed , Aljohani Mansourah , Shehata Mohamed , Elhosseini Mostafa A.
Published: February 2025

Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, necessitating advancements in diagnostic methodologies to improve early detection and treatment outcomes. This study proposes a novel twin-stream approach for histopathological image classification, utilizing both histopathologically inherited and vision-based features to enhance diagnostic precision. The first stream utilizes Virchow2, a deep learning model designed to extract high-level histopathological features, while the second stream employs Nomic, a vision-based transformer model, to capture spatial and contextual information. The fusion of these streams ensures a comprehensive feature representation, enabling the model to achieve state-of-the-art performance on the BACH dataset. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the twin-stream approach, with a mean accuracy of 98.60% and specificity of 99.07%, significantly outperforming single-stream methods and related studies. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation studies, confirm the robustness and reliability of the model. The proposed approach not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also offers a scalable and efficient solution for clinical applications, addressing the challenges of resource constraints and increasing diagnostic demands.
Antarctic Soil and Viable Microbiota After Long-Term Storage at Constant −20 °C
Authors: Pop Cristian-Emilian , Fendrihan Sergiu , Crăciun Nicolai , Vasilighean Garbis , Chifor Daniela Ecaterina , Topârceanu Florica , Florea Andreea , Mihăilescu Dan Florin , Mernea Maria
Published: February 2025

During an Antarctic expedition that took place in December 2010–January 2011 in the East Antarctic coastal region, soil samples were collected in aseptic conditions and stored for over a decade in freezers at −20 °C. Due to the shortly afterward passing of the Antarctic researcher in charge, Teodor Negoiță, the samples remained unintentionally frozen for a long period and were made available for research 13 years later. A chemical analysis of soil as well as screening for viable microbial presence was performed; soil analysis was conducted via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR). The presence of aerobic and facultative aerobic microbiotas was evaluated through a Biolog Ecoplates assay, and isolated strains were 16S sequenced for final taxonomic identification. The results obtained new insights into Antarctic soil characteristics from both chemical and microbiological aspects, even after over a decade of conservation.
Copper and Zinc Levels, Prevalence of Common Variants of Genes Involved in Their Metabolism and Psoriasis Disease
Authors: Dębniak Tadeusz , Baszuk Piotr , Duchnik Ewa , Rowińska Karolina , Boer Magdalena , Kiedrowicz Magdalena , Marchlewicz Mariola , Cybulski Cezary , Feherpataky Martyna , Derkacz Róża , Dębniak Anna , Rogoża-Janiszewska Emilia , Marciniak Wojciech , Lener Marcin , Lubiński Jan , Scott Rodney J. , Gronwald Jacek
Published: February 2025

Background: The pathogenesis of psoriasis is poorly understood. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation are crucial in the inflammatory processes, including psoriasis. Thus, microelements, such as zinc and copper, may play a significant role in this disease’s development. Methods: Due to the paucity and inconsistency of literature data, we studied the levels of copper and zinc in blood and serum from 301 unselected psoriatic patients and 301 matched healthy controls and examined any associations among the microelements and clinical course or SOD2 (rs4880), CAT (rs1001179), GPX1 (rs1050450), and DMGDH (rs921943) DNA variants. Results: The mean blood copper levels were 864.94 µg/L and 907.24 µg/L, respectively, for controls and psoriasis patients (p < 0.001). The mean serum copper levels were 1,104.14 µg/L and 1191.72 µg/L, respectively, for controls and psoriasis patients (p < 0.001). The psoriasis risk was highest the among participants with the highest blood levels (>950.02 µg/L, OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.31–4.26; p = 0.004) and the highest serum concentrations (>1276.98 µg/L, OR: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.77–5.36; p < 0.001). The mean serum zinc levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001) among patients (910.87 µg/L) when compared to controls (979.68 µg/L). The mean blood zinc levels were not significantly different in cases and controls. Subjects with the lowest serum zinc levels (<843.68 µg/L) were affected more frequently (OR: 3.85; 95% CI: 2.24–6.60; p < 0.001). We found positive correlations between copper levels and PASI and inverse correlations of serum zinc levels with PASI and NAPSI scores. There were no associations between the levels of microelements and studied DNA variants. Conclusions: Our results support the thesis of an association between psoriasis onset and altered course of the disease with upset levels of copper and zinc. Future prospective studies might focus on optimization of the concentration of these trace elements for prophylaxis and to support the treatment of psoriasis.
MXene-Based Electrochemical Biosensors: Advancing Detection Strategies for Biosensing (2020–2024)
Authors: Sengupta Joydip , Hussain Chaudhery Mustansar
Published: February 2025

MXenes, a class of two-dimensional materials, have emerged as promising candidates for developing advanced electrochemical biosensors due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, large surface area, and rich surface chemistry. These unique properties enable high sensitivity, rapid response, and versatile functionalization, making MXene-based biosensors highly suitable for detecting biomolecules and pathogens in biomedical applications. This review explores recent advancements in MXene-based electrochemical biosensors from 2020 to 2024, focusing on their design principles, fabrication strategies, and integration with microfluidic platforms for enhanced performance. The potential of MXene sensors to achieve real-time and multiplexed detection is highlighted, alongside the associated challenges. Emphasis is placed on the role of MXenes in addressing critical needs in disease diagnostics, personalized medicine, and point-of-care testing, providing insights into future trends and transformative possibilities in the field of biomedical sensing technologies.
Neuropsychophysiological Effects of a Single Functional Neurology Intervention on Semicircular Canals Stimuli Dysfunction
Authors: Escribano-Colmena Guillermo , Rey-Mota Jorge , Clemente-Suárez Vicente Javier
Published: February 2025

This exploratory observational study analyzed the neuropsychophysiological effects of Functional Neurology interventions on semicircular canal dysfunction, with a focus on enhancing neuromuscular responses and pain perception. A cohort of 45 healthy volunteers, comprising both males and females with an average age of 26.5 years, participated in this controlled, experimental study. The methodology involved baseline assessments of their psychophysiological state and physical abilities, followed by specific tests to analyze semicircular canal dysfunction. Participants then received customized Functional Neurology treatment aimed at correcting detected neuromuscular imbalances. The effects of Functional Neurology treatment were evaluated comparing variables such as hand strength, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and the Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold before and after the intervention. The study found a significant increase in the tolerance to semicircular canal stimuli, from an average of 1.0 ± 0.0 stimuli tolerated before intervention to 21.0 ± 14.0 post-treatment, suggesting that Functional Neurology can markedly improve neuromuscular responses in the context of vestibular dysfunction. However, no significant changes were observed in blood oxygen saturation or cortical arousal, indicating that these specific interventions may not affect all psychophysiological parameters. In conclusion, Functional Neurology interventions show promise in treating vestibular disorders by significantly enhancing neuromuscular response and pain tolerance, despite not impacting other psychophysiological measures. This research underscores the potential of Functional Neurology in improving the quality of life for individuals with vestibular dysfunctions and advocates for further exploration into its comprehensive neurophysiological effects.
Effect of the Catalyst Support on the NOX Formation During Combustion of NH3 SOFC Off-Gas
Authors: Weissenberger Tobias , Zapf Ralf , Pennemann Helmut , Kolb Gunther
Published: February 2025

Ammonia has attracted much interest as a potential green and renewable hydrogen carrier or energy vector. Compared to hydrogen, ammonia offers several advantages. For example, ammonia has a significantly higher energy density and can be liquefied at room temperature at a moderate pressure of 8 bars. While ammonia can be cracked to supply hydrogen, it is also possible to convert it directly into high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to generate electricity. The Ship-FC project aims to install an ammonia-fed 2MW SOFC system on board the vessel Viking energy to demonstrate the feasibility of zero CO2 emission shipping. For this NH3 SOFC system, a catalytic afterburner is required to remove the hydrogen and ammonia present in the SOFC off-gas and to recover heat. The current study analysed the effects of different catalyst supports, with a focus on NOX formation through the combustion of an SOFC off-gas surrogate. The study investigated the performance of catalysts based on the active metals, platinum and iridium, as well as the catalyst supports, Al2O3, SiO2, and TiO2. The results were correlated with catalyst characterisation data and ammonia TPD results. The investigations showed that the formation of NOX was clearly affected by the nature of the catalyst support. The highest selectivity towards NOX was observed for Al2O3, followed by SiO2, and the lowest selectivity was observed for TiO2. This trend was evident for the supported platinum and iridium catalysts and for the samples exclusively containing the support. The trend for N2O formation was opposite to that of NOX formation (TiO2 > SiO2 > Al2O3) in both the presence and absence of platinum or iridium.
Enhancing C-C Coupling in CO2 Electroreduction by Engineering Pore Size of Porous Carbon-Supported Cu Catalysts
Authors: Huang Aiming , Yu Jiayue , Zhang Junjun , Zhang Yifan , Wu Yang , Wang Yong , Luo Wen
Published: February 2025

The electroreduction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a promising and environmentally sustainable approach to closing the carbon cycle. However, achieving high activity and selectivity for multicarbon (C2₊) products remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of reaction pathways. In this study, porous carbon-supported copper catalysts (CuHCS) with pore sizes of 120 nm (CuHCS120) and 500 nm (CuHCS500) were synthesized to tailor the microenvironment at the electrode–electrolyte interface and enhance product selectivity. CuHCS120 achieved a maximum faradaic efficiency (FE) for C2₊ products of 46%, double that of CuHCS500 (23%). In contrast, CuHCS500 showed a higher FE for CO (36%) compared to CuHCS120 (14%) at the same potential. In-depth ex situ and in situ investigations revealed that smaller pores promote the enrichment and adsorption of *CO intermediates, thereby enhancing C–C coupling and the formation of C2₊ products. These findings underscore the critical role of structural confinement in modulating the catalytic microenvironment and provide valuable insights for the rational design of advanced catalysts for CO2RR.
Strategies to Overcome Antigen Heterogeneity in CAR-T Cell Therapy
Authors: Zhang Bohan , Wu Jiawen , Jiang Hua , Zhou Min
Published: February 2025

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) gene-modified T-cell therapy has achieved significant success in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, this therapy has not yet made breakthroughs in the treatment of solid tumors and still faces issues of resistance and relapse in hematological cancers. A major reason for these problems is the antigenic heterogeneity of tumor tissues. This review outlines the antigenic heterogeneity encountered in CAR-T cell therapy and the corresponding strategies to address it. These strategies include using combination therapy to increase the abundance of target antigens, optimizing the structure of CARs to enhance sensitivity to low-density antigens, developing multi-targeted CAR-T cells, and reprogramming the TME to activate endogenous immunity. These approaches offer new directions for overcoming tumor antigenic heterogeneity in CAR-T cell therapy.
Trends in Preterm Births in Italy and Maternal Risk Factors in 2018–2022—A Registry-Based Study
Authors: Rusconi Franca , Pacifici Martina , Nannavecchia Anna Maria , Brescianini Sonia , Spadea Teresa , Buono Pietro , Gobbato Michele , Leoni Olivia , Papa Eva , Perrone Enrica , Pertile Riccardo , Polo Arianna , Puglia Monia , Rusciani Raffaella , Tavormina Elisa Eleonora , Visonà Dalla Pozza Laura , Gagliardi Luigi
Published: February 2025

Background: Nationwide studies described a reduction in preterm birth (PTB) during the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, but this was not confirmed in others. Very few data are available on the trend of PTBs over a longer period, including the post-pandemic period, and on potential risk factors, especially those associated with social disparities. Objective: To investigate the trend in PTB rates and the influence of maternal risk factors in Italy from January 2018 to December 2022, based on 12 Regional Birth Registries covering 86.1% of Italian births. Methods: PTB trend was investigated by an interrupted time series analysis. We assessed the associations of potential risk factors with PTB (Poisson regressions) and calculated their population impact fractions (PIFs). Results: We studied 1,762,422 births; 7.25% were PTB. Before the pandemic, we observed a monthly decrease in PTB rate [−0.2% (95% CI: −0.3; −0.1)]; from July 2020 onwards, the average monthly level of PTBs was 5% lower than before (95% CI: −7.3; −2.7), with a flat trend until December 2022 [−0.02% (95% CI: −0.5; 0.5)]. Socio-economic maternal risk factors (low education, unemployment) and foreign nationality, whose risk ratios were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.04; 1.24), 1.08 (1.05; 1.12), and 1.17 (1.14; 1.21), respectively, showed a decreasing trend after pandemic; their impact on the decrease in PTBs was modest (PIFs between −2.4‰ and −4.2‰). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the pattern of PTB rates in Italy, lowering their average frequency and interrupting a previous decreasing trend. Changes in the trend of socio-economic maternal risk factors marginally explained this pattern.
Biodiversity and Evaluation of Genetic Resources of Some Coffee Trees Grown in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Omari Alzahrani Fatima , Alshaharni Mohammed Obeid , El-Shaboury Gamal Awad , Badr Abdelfattah
Published: February 2025

The biodiversity of 12 coffee (Coffea arabica L.) cultivars collected from the Al-Baha region in the southwest of Saudi Arabia was evaluated using 25 morphological variations and genetic diversity as demonstrated by molecular polymorphism generated by eight Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs) and nine Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) primers. Substantial variations were scored in the morphological traits reflected in the clustering of the examined cultivars in PCA of the coffee cultivars. The examined cultivars were grouped in two groups, one included the cultivars coded Y5, Y6, R113, and Y7 and the other group comprised two clusters; one comprised cultivars coded R8 and R4 and the other comprised cultivars R112, R114, and Y2. In the meantime, the cultivars coded R9 and R111 were differentiated together from other cultivars, while the Y3 cultivar was confirmed by the analysis of ISSR data and SCoT data, which also support the grouping of R9 and R111 cultivars. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) of morphological, ISSR, and SCoT data as a combined set differentiated the examined species into four groups in a scatter plot in agreement with their separation in the cluster trees. The diversity profile among the examined C. arabica cultivars proved that R111 and R4 cultivars are highly diverse, while R8 and Y5 cultivars exhibit low diversity. Alpha diversity indices indicated that R9 and R111 cultivars are the most dominant and stable C. arabica cultivars among the examined samples in the study region.
Patent Keyword Analysis Using Bayesian Factor Analysis and Social Network Visualization in Digital Therapy Technology
Authors: Jun Sunghae
Published: February 2025

Patent keyword analysis involves extracting and examining keywords from patent documents. Since patents contain detailed information about technologies, analyzing them can provide valuable insights for efficient technology management. This paper proposes a novel method for patent keyword analysis that integrates Bayesian factor analysis and social network visualization. Using Bayesian factor analysis, we extract factors representing key technologies within a domain. These factors are used as nodes in a social network analysis to explore their interrelationships. The resulting visualization aids in constructing a technology diagram, enhancing understanding of the technological structure. To evaluate the method, we analyze patents related to digital therapeutic technologies. Experimental results demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness and its applicability to practical technology analysis tasks. Our results indicate that data analysis serves as a core technology in the field of digital therapy, while technologies such as remote patient monitoring, device systems, and signal processing function as supporting technologies for data analysis. The findings contribute to technology management practices, including strategy development, by analyzing target technologies and deriving actionable insights across various domains, including digital therapeutics.
Crystal Growth and Energy Transfer Study in Ce3+ and Pr3+ Co-Doped Lu2Si2O7
Authors: Abe Yuka , Horiai Takahiko , Yokota Yuui , Yoshino Masao , Murakami Rikito , Hanada Takashi , Yamaji Akihiro , Sato Hiroki , Ohashi Yuji , Kurosawa Shunsuke , Kamada Kei , Yoshikawa Akira
Published: February 2025

Ce-doped Lu2Si2O7 has a high density, high luminescence efficiency even at high temperatures, and a high effective atomic number, making it a promising candidate for use as a radiation detector in medical devices and resource exploration equipment. In this study, we grow and characterize Pr3+ and Ce3+-doped Lu2Si2O7 single crystals by systematically varying the Ce3+ to Pr3+ ratio to further improve scintillation properties. The optical characterization results show a bidirectional energy transfer: from the Pr3+ 5d levels to the Ce3+ 5d levels and from the Ce3+ 5d levels to the Pr3+ 4f levels. Consistently with this result, the PL decay time of emission from the Pr3+ 5d–4f transition tends to become faster as the Ce3+/Pr3+ ratio increases, due to the energy transfer from the Pr3+ 5d levels to the Ce3+ 5d levels. Additionally, (Ce0.0022 Pr0.0016 Lu0.9962)2Si2O7 exhibits a high light yield comparable to Ce-doped Lu2Si2O7 and a slightly faster decay time than Ce-doped Lu2Si2O7.
Development and Research Status of Wear-Resistant Coatings on Copper and Its Alloys: Review
Authors: Meng Fei , Zhou Yifan , Zhang Hongliang , Wang Zhilan , Liu Dehao , Cao Shuhe , Cui Xue , Nong Zhisheng , Man Tiannan , Liu Teng
Published: February 2025

Wear-resistant coatings applied to the surface of copper and copper alloys through diverse advanced technologies can substantially enhance their wear resistance and broaden their application spectrum. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the development and current research status of wear-resistant coatings fabricated on copper and its alloys. It presents the research findings on the preparation of wear-resistant coatings using both one-step methods (such as laser cladding, electroplating, thermal spraying, cold spraying, electro-spark deposition, etc.) and two-step methods (chemical plating and heat treatment, electrodeposition and laser cladding, laser cladding and in situ synthesis, etc.). This paper provides an in-depth examination of the characteristics, operating principles, and effects of various coating techniques on enhancing the wear resistance of copper and copper alloys. The advantages and disadvantages of different coating preparation methods are compared and analyzed; meanwhile, a prospective outlook on the future development trends is also offered.