bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AI-Driven Optimization of Sanitary Facilities in Office Buildings: A Machine Learning Approach Using LSTM Neural Networks
Authors: Tan Samson , Teoh Teik Toe
Published: February 2025

This study introduces an artificial intelligence-based approach to planning sanitary facilities in buildings, with a focus on long short-term memory neural networks. By examining factors like occupancy patterns, daily fluctuations, and building-specific characteristics, the model delivers data-driven guidance for fixture allocation. Validation was carried out using empirical data from a Singaporean office building, resulting in strong predictive performance and improved operational efficiency. The long short-term memory model surpassed traditional methods, with a 39.26% boost in mean absolute percentage error over queueing theory. In a real-world scenario, its predictions were within 2.63–4.76% of actual needs, whereas prescriptive codes deviated by 12.07–19.05%. Sensitivity analysis showed that total occupancy, time of day, and gender ratio exerted the greatest influence, enabling gender-specific recommendations. The findings also indicate a potential 15% cut in overall fixtures with no compromise in service quality, providing considerable cost and space savings. By uniting advanced computational modeling with real data, this research demonstrates how artificial intelligence can elevate sanitary facility planning toward evidence-based decision-making, efficient resource use, and higher user satisfaction. The results may influence policy, regulatory standards, and performance-oriented design in contemporary buildings.
Assessing the Compaction Quality of Dolomitic Asphalt Pavements Using Ground Penetrating Radar
Authors: Abdelsamei Enas , Sheishah Diaa , Tobak Zalán , Ali Ahmed M. , Barta Károly , Fannakh Abdelouahed , Magyar Gergő , Blanka-Végi Viktória , Sipos György
Published: February 2025

The quality of newly constructed pavement depends mostly on compaction, which is essential for ensuring the pavement’s longevity and performance. Traditional methods of evaluating pavement compaction and density, such as core sampling and nuclear gauge measurements, are often time-consuming and invasive and provide only a limited amount of data at a low spatial resolution on the potential air void content of the asphalt layers. The present study aimed to assess the specific gravity (Gmb) of a dolomitic asphalt mixture at different degrees of compaction using GPR techniques. Relative density (RD) maps were generated to visualize the spatial homogeneity of the asphalt density. Nuclear density gauging was applied for the calibration, and cores were used to validate the results. The survey was conducted on two recently paved roads in Szeged, Hungary. After testing various approaches, it was found that applying horn antennas and the surface reflection (SR) method is the most feasible way to obtain reliable and accurate dielectric permittivity (ε) data. Based on the measurements, clear relationships were found between dielectric constants, Gmb, and aggregate size. The findings highlight that it is possible to indirectly determine the Gmb of asphalts composed of dolomite and limestone aggregates using GPR, with aggregate sizes ranging from 11 mm to 25 mm and Gmb values between 2.43 and 2.57 g/cm3. Consequently, a robust function was developed, which can be applied to other asphalts with similar compositions.
Comparison of Lower Limb Range of Motion in Male University Soccer Athletes with Ankle Injuries Versus Those Without
Authors: Wang Qi , Zhou Xiao , Cui Mengxin , Mu Ziwen , Yan Hanyan , Imai Kazuhiro , Shen Shaoshuai , Kimura Tomohiro , Zeng Hongtao
Published: February 2025

In soccer players, ankle injuries are a common issue that may increase lower limb imbalance. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between the range of motion of the knee and ankle joints and lower limb imbalance in soccer players with and without ankle injuries. We recruited 50 male university soccer athletes, who were categorized into an injury group (21 players) and a non-injury group (29 players). Prior to the experimental tests, basic data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. During the experiment, participants sequentially completed a passive knee flexion test, a passive knee extension test, an active ankle plantarflexion test, and an active ankle dorsiflexion test. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the imbalance in knee and ankle range of motion between injured and non-injured athletes. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between right passive knee flexion range of motion, right active ankle plantarflexion range of motion, and ankle injuries.
Failure Law of Sandstone and Identification of Premonitory Deterioration Information Based on Digital Image Correlation–Acoustic Emission Multi-Source Information Fusion
Authors: Chong Zhaohui , Qiu Guanzhong , Li Xuehua , Yao Qiangling
Published: February 2025

Efficiently extracting effective information from the massive experimental data from physical mechanics and accurately identifying the premonitory failure information from coal rock are key and difficult points of intelligent research on rock mechanics. In order to reveal the deterioration characteristics and the forewarning law of fractured coal rock, the digital image correlation method and the acoustic emission technology were adopted in this study to non-destructively detect the strain field, displacement field, and acoustic emission response in time and frequency domains. Additionally, by introducing the derivative functions of the multi-source information function for quantitative analysis, a comprehensive evaluation method was proposed based on the multi-source information fusion monitoring to forewarn red sandstone failure by levels during loading. The results show that obvious premonitory failure information, such as strain concentration areas, appears on red sandstone’s surface before macro-cracks can be observed. With an increase in the inclination angle of the prefabricated crack, the macroscopic failure mode gradually transforms from tensile splitting failure to tensile-shear mixed failure. Moreover, the dominant frequency signals of high frequency–low amplitude (HF–LA), intermediate frequency–low amplitude (IF–LA) and low frequency–low amplitude (LF–LA) are denser near the stress peak. The initial crack expansion time and failure limit time measured by multi-source information fusion are 20.72% and 26.71% earlier, respectively, than those measured by direct observation, suggesting that the forewarning of red sandstone failure by levels is realized with multi-source information fusion.
Research on Coal Structure Prediction Method Based on Genetic Algorithm–BP Neural Network
Authors: Wang Cunwu , Peng Xiaobo , Han Gang , Zhao Yan , Zhu Yihao , Zhao Ming
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a coal structure prediction technology based on deep learning, which uses logging data to achieve single-well prediction of the coal structure. This paper introduces the genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize the BP neural network, which can speed up its convergence to the global optimal solution, improve its training speed, and avoid the problems of easily producing the local optimal value and requiring a long training time. Taking the main coal seam of the Shizhuang block in the south of the Qinshui Basin as the research object and using the coal core data and logging data of nine parameter wells, the mapping relationship between the logging curve and coal structure is constructed based on the GA-BP neural network structure, and the coal structure is predicted. The prediction results are highly consistent with the coal structure measured from coal core sampling, with only a small error, and the prediction accuracy is 90%. It is shown that the GA-BP neural network structure can be used to effectively identify the coal structure, as well as predict the coal structure of uncored wells. Moreover, the findings of this study will be helpful for efforts to study the distribution law of the coal structure.
A New Hybrid ConvViT Model for Dangerous Farm Insect Detection
Authors: Utku Anil , Kaya Mahmut , Canbay Yavuz
Published: February 2025

This study proposes a novel hybrid convolution and vision transformer model (ConvViT) designed to detect harmful insect species that adversely affect agricultural production and play a critical role in global food security. By utilizing a dataset comprising images of 15 distinct insect species, the suggested approach combines the strengths of traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with vision transformer (ViT) architectures. This integration aims to capture local-level morphological features effectively while analyzing global spatial relationships more comprehensively. While the CNN structure excels at discerning fine morphological details of insects, the ViT’s self-attention mechanism enables a holistic evaluation of their overall configurations. Several data preprocessing steps were implemented to enhance the model’s performance, including data augmentation techniques and strategies to ensure class balance. In addition, hyperparameter optimization contributed to more stable and robust model training. Experimental results indicate that the ConvViT model outperforms commonly used benchmark architectures such as EfficientNetB0, DenseNet201, ResNet-50, VGG-16, and standalone ViT, achieving a classification accuracy of 93.61%. This hybrid approach improves accuracy and strengthens generalization capabilities, delivering steady performance during training and testing phases, thereby increasing its reliability for field applications. The findings highlight that the ConvViT model achieves high efficiency in pest detection by integrating local and global feature learning. Consequently, this scalable artificial intelligence solution can support sustainable agricultural practices by enabling the early and accurate identification of pests and reducing the need for intensive pesticide use.
An Accelerating Method of YOLOv7 Based on Lightweight Network Architecture
Authors: Wang Jun , Xu Ke
Published: February 2025

Object detection is a key technology in optical imaging detection systems. To address the issue of slow object detection model performance on mobile platforms, a lightweight network can be used as the backbone of the object detector, reducing the model’s parameters and increasing the inference speed. However, while using a lightweight network directly as the backbone improves inference speed, it significantly reduces detection accuracy. This paper proposes enhancing the backbone network by adding depthwise separable convolutional layers, which improves the receptive field of the model, enabling better detection performance in complex environments. The experimental results show that, compared to YOLOv7, the improved model reduces detection accuracy by 3.84%, while achieving a detection speed that is 3.77 times faster than the original model. This method significantly enhances the model’s suitability for real-time applications on resource-constrained devices, offering an effective solution for faster object detection without sacrificing critical performance in practical scenarios.
Biochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Fresh Fruits from Apple Genotypes
Authors: Gavrilă Marian Florin , Vijan Loredana Elena , Cosmulescu Sina
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the biochemical profile and antioxidant activity of different apple genotypes developed through breeding as compared to three established cultivars, providing valuable insights for improving the nutritional quality of apples. The research analyzes the content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), tannins (TTC), and anthocyanins (TAC) as well as sugars content to determine nutritional variability between genotypes. Antioxidant activity was assessed by standardized methods, correlating the results with biochemical profiles. The content of bioactive compounds including polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, and anthocyanins varied significantly between the studied apple genotypes, with the H18/6 genotype showing the highest values for TPC, TFC, and TAC (839.08 mg GAE/100 g; 130.39 mg CE/100 g, and 19.04 mg C3GE/100 g, respectively), highlighting the importance of varietal characterization for nutraceutical potential. Lycopene and β-carotene, carotenoid compounds with antioxidant properties, were present in apples only in low concentrations, ranging between 0.25 and 0.95 mg/100 g for lycopene and 0.03 and 0.50 mg/100 g for β-carotene, with higher levels observed in genotypes with more intense colors. This study contributes to the identification of genotypes with added value that are useful in improving human health and developing functional food products.
Compound Precipitation and Wind Extremes in the Eastern Part of the Baltic Sea Region
Authors: Klimavičius Laurynas , Rimkus Egidijus , Stankūnavičius Gintautas
Published: February 2025

Compound wind and precipitation extremes (CPWEs) pose significant threats to infrastructure, economies, the environment, and human lives. In this study, the recurrence, spatial distribution, intensity, and synoptic conditions leading to the formation of CPWEs were assessed in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea region. Using ERA5 reanalysis data, CPWEs were identified when both daily precipitation and maximum wind speed exceeded the 98th percentile thresholds on the same day at the same grid cell. Due to the proximity of the Baltic Sea and the influence of terrain, CPWEs were most frequent on the windward slopes of highlands in the western part of the investigation area. The most severe CPWEs occurred in the second half of summer and early September. Based on data from the Hess–Brezowsky synoptic classification catalogue and various synoptic datasets, the formation of CPWEs during the cold season (October–March) is associated with intense zonal (westerly) flow, while during the warm season (April–September), it is linked to the activity of southern-type cyclones. The number of CPWEs increased across all seasons, with the largest changes observed during the summer. However, the majority of changes are insignificant according to the Mann–Kendall test.
On Equivalents of the Riemann Hypothesis Connected to the Approximation Properties of the Zeta Function
Authors: Laurinčikas Antanas
Published: February 2025

The famous Riemann hypothesis (RH) asserts that all non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function ζ(s) (zeros different from s=−2m, m∈N) lie on the critical line σ=1/2. In this paper, combining the universality property of ζ(s) with probabilistic limit theorems, we prove that the RH is equivalent to the positivity of the density of the set of shifts ζ(s+itτ) approximating the function ζ(s). Here, tτ denotes the Gram function, which is a continuous extension of the Gram points.
A Method for Polyp Segmentation Through U-Net Network
Authors: Santone Antonella , Cesarelli Mario , Mercaldo Francesco
Published: February 2025

Early detection of colorectal polyps through endoscopic colonoscopy is crucial in reducing colorectal cancer mortality. While automated polyp segmentation has been explored to enhance detection accuracy and efficiency, challenges remain in achieving precise boundary delineation, particularly for small or flat polyps. In this work, we propose a novel U-Net-based segmentation framework specifically optimized for real-world endoscopic colonoscopy data. Unlike conventional approaches, our method leverages high-resolution frames with pixel-level ground-truth annotations to achieve superior segmentation performance. The U-Net architecture, with its symmetric encoder-decoder design and skip connections, is further adapted to enhance both high-level contextual understanding and fine-grained detail preservation. Our model has been rigorously evaluated on a real-world dataset, demonstrating state-of-the-art accuracy in polyp boundary segmentation, even in challenging cases. By improving detection consistency and reducing observer variability, our approach provides a robust tool to support gastroenterologists in clinical decision-making. Beyond real-time clinical applications, this work contributes to advancing automated and standardized polyp detection, paving the way for more reliable AI-assisted endoscopic analysis.
Changes in Maxillary Sinus Structure Due to Tooth Loss and the Effects of Sex and Aging on CBCT Before Maxillary Sinus Augmentation: A Cross-Sectional Study of 120 Patients
Authors: Itokawa Takumi , Yamaguchi Kikue , Yagi Kotaro , Araki Kazuyuki , Sato Daisuke , Munakata Motohiro
Published: February 2025

Prosthesis for missing maxillary molars with dental implants often requires maxillary sinus augmentation owing to insufficient alveolar bone height. However, the anatomical structure of the maxillary sinus is a significant risk factor. This study used preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to investigate changes in the anatomical structure of the maxillary sinus due to tooth loss and conducted an epidemiological survey of Japanese people to determine the effects of gender and age on these changes. Preoperative CBCT scans were analyzed in patients aged ≥ 50 years with free-end maxillary molar edentulism involving ≥ 2 missing teeth seeking implant treatment. Statistical analyses were performed. One hundred and twenty participants (46 males, 74 females; mean age, 62.1 ± 7.4 years) with 3.0 ± 0.9 missing teeth and an existing bone volume of 6.2 ± 3.1 mm were included. Lateral wall thickness, sinus angle, sinus membrane thickness, maxillary sinus length and width, and the presence of the sinus septa significantly differed between missing and non-missing sides. Maxillary sinus height and sinus membrane thickness on missing side and maxillary sinus height and width on non-missing side varied significantly. Aging was associated with maxillary sinus length and width changes on the non-missing side in males, whereas no age-associated effects were identified in females. To ensure the safe execution of maxillary sinus augmentation, a thorough understanding of maxillary sinus anatomy is crucial prior to surgery.
Hypoxic Neuroinflammation in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Hollingworth Bethany Y. A. , Pallier Patrick N. , Jenkins Stuart I. , Chen Ruoli
Published: February 2025

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath around the central nervous system axons, leading to neurological dysfunction. Although the initial damage is driven by inflammation, hypoxia has been reported in several brain regions of MS patients, but the significance of this for prognosis and treatment remains unclear. Neuroinflammation can induce hypoxia, and hypoxia can induce and exacerbate neuroinflammation, forming a vicious cycle. Within MS lesions, demyelination is often followed by remyelination, which may restore neurological function. However, demyelinated axons are vulnerable to damage, which leads to the accumulation of the permanent neurological dysfunction typical in MS, with this vulnerability heightened during hypoxia. Clinically approved therapies for MS are immunomodulatory, which can reduce relapse frequency/severity, but there is a lack of pro-regenerative therapies for MS, for example promoting remyelination. All tissues have protective responses to hypoxia, which may be relevant to MS lesions, especially during remyelinating episodes. When oxygen levels are reduced in the brain, constitutively expressed hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) are stabilised, upregulating hundreds of genes, including neuroprotective factors. Furthermore, astrocytes upregulate heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) in the early stage of MS. HB-EGF promotes protective mechanisms and induces oligodendrocyte and neuron differentiation and survival. This review article outlines the neuroinflammation and hypoxia cycle in MS pathology and identifies potential therapeutic targets to limit neurodegeneration and/or promote regeneration. Both HIF and HB-EGF signalling pathways induce endogenous protection mechanisms in the CNS, promoting neuroprotection and remyelination directly, but also indirectly by modulating the immune response in MS. Promoting such endogenous protective signalling pathways could be an effective therapy for MS patients.
The Influence of Social Support on the Job Involvement of Newly Hired Physical Education Teachers: A Study Based on SOR and COR Theories
Authors: Liu Lumin , Li Tianpei , Zhang Duo , Jin Hwang
Published: February 2025

This study, grounded in Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) theory and Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, explores how social support impacts job involvement among newly hired physical education (PE) teachers, with a focus on the mediating role of professional mission. A survey was conducted with 238 new PE teachers, using scales for social support, professional mission, and job involvement. The results indicate the following: (1) Social support and its dimensions significantly and positively influence job involvement among new PE teachers; (2) Professional mission positively impacts job involvement and serves as a partial mediator in the relationship between social support and job involvement; (3) Different types of social support have varying effects on job involvement, with support utilization having the largest impact, followed by objective support, and finally subjective support.
Effectiveness of Video Self-Modeling in Teaching Unplugged Coding Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Kurnaz Erkan
Published: February 2025

This study examined the effectiveness of video self-modeling in teaching unplugged coding skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The participants included one female and three male children with ASD, ages 10 to 12, in a multiple-probe design across subjects. The findings demonstrated that video self-modeling successfully facilitated the acquisition of unplugged coding skills for all four students. Additionally, all participants could generalize these skills to a new setting, and for those assessed, the skills were maintained for up to 12 weeks after the intervention. Social validity data collected from participants and their parents indicated positive perceptions of the approach. This study’s results highlight implications for instructional practices and future research.
A Study on the Impact of Brand Ritual on Online Word-of-Mouth Communication
Authors: Wen Tao , Wang Ziwei , Wang Shuang
Published: February 2025

The study aims to explore the impact mechanism of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication, introducing the mediating variable—flow experience—and the moderating variable—consumer–brand relationship norms. The study uses the approach of the experimental research. In Experiment 1, with the watch as the experimental product and the advertisement as the online scene, 62 subjects in the pre-experiment and 132 subjects in the formal experiment are recruited to verify the main effect of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication. In Experiment 2, with the tea bag as the experimental product and the online press conference as the online scene, 73 subjects in the pre-experiment and 185 subjects in the formal experiment are recruited to verify the mediating role of flow experience in the impact of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication. In Experiment 3, with the scented candle as the experimental product and the promotional video of the e-commerce store as the online scene, 81 subjects in the pre-experiment and 269 subjects in the formal experiment are recruited to verify the moderating role of consumer–brand relationship norms in the impact of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication/flow experience. The results show that brand ritual is more effective in promoting online word-of-mouth communication than random action, flow experience plays a completely mediating role in the impact of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication, and consumer–brand relationship norms play a moderating role in the impact of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication/flow experience. The study not only reveals the impact mechanism of brand ritual on online word-of-mouth communication, but also provides strong guidance for companies to utilize brand ritual, flow experience, and consumer–brand relationship norms to promote online word-of-mouth communication.
A Deep Learning-Based Structural Damage Identification Method Integrating CNN-BiLSTM-Attention for Multi-Order Frequency Data Analysis
Authors: Pei Xue-Yang , Hou Yuan , Huang Hai-Bin , Zheng Jun-Xing
Published: February 2025

Structural health monitoring commonly uses natural frequency analysis to assess structural conditions, but direct frequency shifts are often insensitive to minor damage and susceptible to environmental influences like temperature variations. Traditional methods, whether based on absolute frequency changes or theoretical models like PCA and GMM, face challenges in robustness and reliance on model selection. These limitations highlight the need for a more adaptive and data-driven approach to capturing the intrinsic nonlinear correlations among multi-order modal frequencies. This study proposes a novel approach that leverages the nonlinear correlations among multi-order natural frequencies, which are more sensitive to structural state changes. A deep learning framework integrating CNN-BiLSTM-Attention is designed to capture the spatiotemporal dependencies of multi-order frequency data, enabling the precise modeling of intrinsic correlations. The model was trained exclusively on healthy-state frequency data and validated on both healthy and damaged conditions. A probabilistic modeling approach, incorporating Gaussian distribution and cumulative probability functions, was used to evaluate the estimation accuracy and detect correlation shifts indicative of structural damage. To enhance the robustness, a moving average smoothing technique was applied to reduce random noise interference, and damage identification rates over extended time segments were calculated to mitigate transient false alarms. Validation experiments on a mass-spring system and the Z24 bridge dataset demonstrated that the proposed method achieved over 95% damage detection accuracy while maintaining a false alarm rate below 5%. The results validate the ability of the CNN-BiLSTM-Attention framework to effectively capture both structural and environmental nonlinearities, reducing the dependency on explicit theoretical models. By leveraging multi-order frequency correlations, the proposed method provides a robust and highly sensitive approach to structural damage identification. These findings confirm the practical applicability of deep learning in damage identification during the operational phase of structures.
Performance-Based Damage Quantification and Hazard Intensity Measures for Vertical Forest Systems on RC Buildings
Authors: Vanian Vachan , Rousakis Theodoros , Fanaradelli Theodora , Voutetaki Maristella , Macha Makrini , Zapris Adamantis , Theodoridou Ifigeneia , Stefanidou Maria , Vatitsi Katerina , Mallinis Giorgos , Kytinou Violetta , Chalioris Constantin
Published: February 2025

The European building stock is aging and needs renovation. Holistic renovation approaches, including Vertical Forest (VF) systems, are emerging as sustainable alternatives to demolition and reconstruction. This paper reviews and defines missing reliable damage and hazard intensity measures for the holistic renovation of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with VF systems. Based on an extensive literature review and preliminary studies, including empirical multiparametric system evaluation assessments, Monte Carlo simulations, and System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), combined structural, non-structural, vegetation, and human comfort components are examined. Key damage indicators are identified, including interstory drift ratio, residual deformation, concrete and reinforcement strains/stresses, and energy dissipation, and their applicability to VF-integrated structures are evaluated. Green modifications are found to have higher risk profiles than traditional RC buildings (mean scores from Monte Carlo method: 9.72/15–11.41/15 vs. 9.47/15), with moisture management and structural integrity as critical concerns. The paper advances the understanding of hazard intensity measures for seismic, wind, and rainfall impacts. The importance of AI-driven vegetation monitoring systems with 80–99% detection accuracy is highlighted. It is concluded that successful VF renovation requires specialized design codes, integrated monitoring systems, standardized maintenance protocols, and enhanced control systems to ensure structural stability, environmental efficiency, and occupant safety.
Real-World Effectiveness of Frontline Treatments Among Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Results from ConcertAI
Authors: Roeker Lindsey E. , Burke John M. , Rhodes Joanna M. , Emechebe Nnadozie , Jawaid Dureshahwar , Manzoor Beenish S. , Jensen Christopher E. , Ryland Lindsay , Liu Yangyang , Marx Steve E. , Sinai Wendy , Roser Jordan , Shadman Mazyar
Published: February 2025

Background: The long-term follow-up of clinical trials of novel first-line (1L) therapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) demonstrates 6–10-year progression-free survival. We describe the effectiveness of 1L CLL treatments in real-world settings, with an emphasis on the important real-world outcome of time to next treatment or death (TTNT-D). Methods: This retrospective, observational study utilized de-identified electronic health records from the ConcertAI RWD360™ database with linked administrative open claims. Adults with CLL who initiated an approved 1L CLL therapy (June 2019–March 2023) were included. Duration of therapy (DoT), TTNT-D, and overall survival were assessed. Results: At 1L, 39.8% of 1843 patients received first-generation covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (cBTKis), 23.0% second-generation cBTKis, 12.4% venetoclax-obinutuzumab (VenO), 7.4% chemotherapy/chemoimmunotherapy (CT/CIT), and 17.4% anti-CD20 monotherapy. Median (range) follow-up in months was 24.9 (13.1–36.6) for first-generation cBTKis, 13.4 (7.3–21.7) for second-generation cBTKis, 16.0 (8.4–27.8) for VenO, 21.8 (11.2–32.7) for CT/CIT, and 19.7 (10.0–33.4) for anti-CD20 monotherapy. Median (range) DoT was 11.5 (4.2–25.0) and 8.6 (3.0–16.1), 9.1 (5.9–12.2), 5.6 (3.2–5.8), and 1.6 (1.6–4.5) months for first- and second-generation cBTKis, VenO, CT/CIT, and anti-CD20 monotherapy, respectively. Regarding TTNT-D, at 2 years’ follow-up, 69.1%, 82.5%, 86.3%, 79.1%, and 53.0% of patients treated with first- and second-generation cBTKis, VenO, CT/CIT, and anti-CD20 monotherapy, respectively, had not initiated subsequent treatment or experienced death. Conclusions: TTNT-D is an important real-world outcome in CLL. Our findings demonstrated the utility of time-limited VenO, with potentially more time off treatment, relative to continuous 1L cBTKi therapies.
Development of a Scoring Instrument for Identification of Pneumonitis in Older Lung Cancer Patients After Radiotherapy (POLCAR): A Protocol for a Prospective Trial
Authors: Rades Dirk , Zwaan Inga , Schepers-von Ohlen Daphne , Bohnet Sabine , Janssen Stefan , Koeck Julia , Domschikowski Justus , Kristiansen Charlotte , Duma Marciana N. , Keerl Silke , Bartscht Tobias , Yu Nathan Y. , Cacicedo Jon , Groh Elisa M.
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Pneumonitis caused by radiotherapy for lung cancer may be missed since it often occurs only several months later. In a previous trial including patients of any age, a scoring system was tested to facilitate the correct diagnosis of radiation pneumonitis. Since elderly lung cancer patients have a greater risk of developing this complication, a separate scoring system for this group appears useful. Our prospective multi-center trial (NCT06480734) investigates a specific tool for elderly patients irradiated for lung cancer. Methods: Patients aged ≥65 years with lung cancer will complete paper-based questionnaires and rate symptoms potentially caused by pneumonitis weekly during and up to 24 weeks following radiotherapy. The total score of this symptom-based scoring system ranging from 0 to 9 points is correlated to pneumonitis. The discriminative power of the scoring system is evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Optimality is defined as a cut-off score with sensitivity ≥90% and specificity ≥80%. Moreover, the Youden index will be applied. Fifty-nine patients are required for the full analysis set. Assuming 5% will not qualify for this set, 65 patients should be enrolled. Moreover, patient satisfaction with the scoring system is evaluated. If the dissatisfaction rate is >20%, the system needs modifications; if the dissatisfaction rate is >40%, it is considered not useful. An optimal cut-off score facilitating the diagnosis of pneumonitis and its discrimination from other lung diseases will contribute to a corresponding mobile application to be used by elderly lung cancer patients at home.
ICalled-DIY Device for Hands-On and Low-Cost Adapted Emergency Call Learning: A Simulation Study
Authors: Castro-Alonso Luis , Vázquez-Álvarez Sheila , Martínez-Isasi Santiago , Fernández-Méndez María , Rey-Fernández Luz , García-Martínez María , Seijas-Vijande Adriana , Barcala-Furelos Roberto , Otero-Agra Martín
Published: February 2025

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a low-cost, Do-It-Yourself training material for emergency call simulation training, compared to a more traditional approach. Methods: A quasi-experimental design without pre-test was used. A final sample of 762 schoolchildren, aged three to twelve years, received two training programmes. The control group (C-G) received training using an adult dummy and an authentic smartphone (336 schoolchildren). The experimental group (ICall-G) was trained using a stuffed toy and the ICalled-DIY device, a low-cost simulation consisting of three sheets of paper held together by a ring that simulates a smartphone. The 20 min training was delivered by a nurse using a didactic–demonstration–simulation methodology. The evaluation consisted of a simulation scenario, in which participants had to identify the emergency and make a call and were then evaluated with a checklist. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in unlocking the phone (ICall-G: 84% vs. C-G: 83%; p = 0.78) or dialling 112 to make the call (ICall-G: 91% vs. C-G: 91%; p = 0.89). Hands-free activation in ICall-G was significantly higher (81%) compared to C-G (54%) (p < 0.001). At the pre-primary level, results were lower than those observed in primary education, with minimal differences between the first cycle of primary education and subsequent cycles. Conclusions: The use of a practical, low-cost and adapted tool for emergency call instruction was found to be comparable to a conventional approach. In addition, the use of the ICalled-DIY device was found to be more effective in facilitating the understanding of hands-free activation.
Diagnosis and Screening Strategies for Detection of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia in Children and Adolescents in Italy: A Survey from the LIPIGEN Paediatric Group
Authors: Pederiva Cristina , Galimberti Federica , Casula Manuela , Banderali Giuseppe , Beccuti Guglielmo , Bianconi Vanessa , Biasucci Giacomo , Biolo Marta , Bucci Marco , Buonuomo Paola Sabrina , Calabrò Paolo , Carugo Stefano , Cefalù Angelo Baldassare , Citroni Nadia , Cocomello Nicholas , D’Addato Sergio , Gatti Simona , Genovesi Simonetta , Guardamagna Ornella , Iannuzzo Gabriella , Iughetti Lorenzo , Mandraffino Giuseppe , Maroni Lorenzo , Minicocci Ilenia , Mombelli Giuliana , Montalcini Tiziana , Moriglia Sara , Muntoni Sandro , Nascimbeni Fabio , Passaro Angelina , Pellegatta Fabio , Pisciotta Livia , Sani Elena , Sbrana Francesco , Scicali Roberto , Suppressa Patrizia , Werba José Pablo , Zenti Maria Grazia , Arca Marcello , Averna Maurizio , Calandra Sebastiano , Catapano Alberico Luigi , Tarugi Patrizia , Capra Maria Elena
Published: February 2025

Background: Awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) starting from childhood are a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease prevention. The LIPIGEN Paediatric Group, a network of specialised centres for the diagnosis and management of familial genetic dyslipidemia, is an active part of this mission. Materials and Methods: This is the second exploratory survey organised within the LIPIGEN (LIpid transPort disorders Italian GEnetic Network) paediatric centres. A digital questionnaire consisting of 16 questions was proposed to the principal investigators of 35 LIPIGEN centres in September 2023. We analysed the main FH screening strategies implemented in Italy, which are the referral characteristics to the lipid clinics and clinical and biochemical criteria considered to diagnose FH in paediatric patients. Results: Centres frequently reported conducting cascade screening (88.6%) and reverse screening (57.1%), whereas 28.6% of respondents indicated using selective screening and only 5.7% reported employing child–parent screening. We documented a detailed biochemical characterisation of paediatric patients (62.9% of respondents usually perform full lipoprotein profile and 80% determine lipoprotein(a) for each patient) and a high percentage of genetic analysis (82.9%). We have also highlighted a quite low awareness of FH as a genetic condition involving paediatric patients among primary care paediatricians and general practitioners. Conclusions: The results of our survey show that specialised lipid centres usually have good diagnostic competence when dealing with paediatric patients with hypercholesterolemia. However, FH awareness and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment initiation in childhood still need to be further improved.
Changes in Toothbrushing Behaviors Following a Child Dental Care Reform in Israel
Authors: Aflalo Efrat , Barak Sharon , Levi Sharon , Ben Meir Lilach , Giladi Ariela , Zusman Shlomo Paul , Harel Fisch Yossi , Shachaf Miri , Zwilling Moti , Tesler Riki
Published: February 2025

(1) Background: Toothbrushing behavior in children and adolescents is shaped by national dental health policies and sociodemographic and psychological factors. In 2010, child dental care was incorporated into Israel’s National Health Insurance Law (NHIL). This study explored toothbrushing behavior and its predictors before and after this reform. (2) Methods: Data from 36,755 students in grades 6–10 were analyzed from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study conducted pre-reform (1998, 2002, 2006) and post-reform (2010, 2013, 2016). The dependent variable was toothbrushing behavior, while the independent variables included sociodemographic and psychological characteristics. Chi-squared tests compared proportions of compliant toothbrushing behaviors, and logistic regression identified significant predictors. (3) Results: According to recommendations, 59–64% of children brushed their teeth before the reform. This proportion increased significantly post-reform, reaching 73% in 2018. Predictors of compliance included being female, younger, Jewish, and non-observant, having a higher socioeconomic status, and having a better psychological status. These predictors were consistent in pre- and post-reform regression models. (4) Conclusions: The dental care reform positively influenced toothbrushing habits among children and adolescents. However, disparities remain among specific communities. Interventions tailored to address sociodemographic and psychological factors are recommended to enhance regular toothbrushing habits across all populations.
Efficient Electro-Catalytic Oxidation of Ultra-High-Concentration Organic Dye with Ce-Doped Titanium-Based Composite Electrode
Authors: Ni Chunyang , Zhao Yan , Li Qiao , Wang Zhihui , Dou Shumei , Wang Wei , Zhang Feng
Published: February 2025

Removing high-concentration organic dye from wastewater is of great concern because the hazards can cause serious damage to the environment and human health. In this study, the hybrid dimensionally stable anode (DSA) with a Ce-doped and SnO2-Sb2O5 intermediate layer was fabricated and used for the electro-catalytic oxidation of three kinds of ultra-high-concentration organic dyes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the denser surface structure and morphology of the composite Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/Ce-PbO2 electrode. Moreover, the electrode exhibited an excellent oxygen evolution potential of 1.58 V. The effect on the removal efficiencies of high concentrations of up to 1 g/L of methyl orange, methylene blue, and neutral red solutions with the above composite electrode was investigated. The research results illustrated that target molecules in the three different dye solutions were rapidly decolorized and decomposed by electro-catalytic oxidation in less than 35 min. Additionally, the degradation process still followed pseudo-first-order kinetics for high-concentration dye solutions. The removal efficiency of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) for the three dye solutions was more than 98%, and the results of the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that it had the best degradation effects for neutral red, which decomposed more thoroughly. More than 80 h of accelerated life also revealed excellent performance of the composite electrode in the face of high-concentration dye solution degradation. Considering these results, the Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5/Ce-PbO2 anode could be utilized to treat wastewater containing high-concentration dyes with high efficiency.
Exploring the Diversity of Micropterigidae and Eriocraniidae (Lepidoptera) in South Italian Forests by DNA Barcoding
Authors: La Cava Sara , Scalercio Stefano
Published: February 2025

Micropterigidae and Eriocraniidae are poorly investigated in Southern Europe. Despite the richness of the Italian territory, studies devoted to investigating their molecular diversity are lacking. Furthermore, knowledge concerning the diversity and species distribution of these families in southern Italian regions is very poor. The aim of this paper is to contribute to filling the gaps in knowledge on the diversity of Micropterigidae and Eriocraniidae in southern Italian regions by analysing, through DNA barcoding, the samples collected in this geographic area by the authors in recent years. In total, 37 specimens were submitted to DNA barcoding analysis. The sequences were subsequently identified by comparing them with those available in the Barcoding of Life Data Systems. The results provided the first record and the first sequences of the Eriocraniidae family for southern Italy, the first record in continental Italy of a formerly Sicilian endemic species, the first sequences of an endemic species, and the first sequence belonging either to a previously described but unsequenced species or to an undescribed species. In conclusion, DNA barcoding of these families in southern Italy provided very interesting insights, improving their molecular libraries and the knowledge on the fauna of this territory. Daytime studies can further improve these results, but addressing the gaps concerning immature stages should be the major goal of future research.
Exploring the Sustainability of Sports OTT Service
Authors: Choi Youlee , An Woojin , Park Jongchul
Published: February 2025

In South Korea, Generation Z’s influence on the growth of sports over-the-top (OTT) services is significant. For sustainable growth, OTT service providers need to focus on converting existing users into loyal customers. In this context, understanding Generation Z’s subjective perceptions of the constraints on the continued use of sports OTT services would be meaningful. Therefore, this study aims to identify and categorize the factors constraining Generation’s Z’s continued use of sports OTT services using the Q methodology. A total of 25 Q samples and 18 P samples were selected. The QUANL program was used to calculate the correlation coefficients for each respondent, and Q factor analysis was performed through principal component analysis and varimax rotation. As a result, three types were identified: ‘Demand for improvements in pricing plans and system quality’, ‘Dissatisfaction with subscription fees and demand for diverse content’, and ‘Demand for differentiated services’. The findings of this study suggest that, for Generation Z’s continued use of OTT services, it is essential to provide personalized experiences and benefits or satisfaction relative to subscription fees. On top of that, offering various pricing plans can provide flexibility in service choices and encourage continued use among Generation Z. As such, this study can provide insights into appreciating the consumption trends and factors influencing the continued use of OTT services by Generation Z and interpreting related research results in the future.
Perceptions of Stigma and Social Inclusion Amongst a Sample of University Students with ADHD in Ireland
Authors: Smith Sorcha , McVeigh Joanne
Published: February 2025

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder generally experienced as challenging, as it impacts multiple aspects of an individual’s life. There is a significant gap in the literature surrounding ADHD in adults, including experiences of stigma and social inclusion from the perspective of people with ADHD. This study aimed to explore perceptions and experiences of social inclusion and stigma amongst a sample of university students with ADHD living in Ireland. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants (four men and three women), including two follow-up interviews. The participants were all university students with an official diagnosis of ADHD. Data from the interviews were analysed using the descriptive and interpretive method of Constant Comparison Analysis. In total, sixteen categories (themes) were extracted and classified into five overarching domains: informational access, access to healthcare, attitudinal access, social inclusion, and academic accommodations. The findings indicated that ADHD adversely affects university students’ experience of social inclusion. Barriers to effective healthcare, negative attitudes towards ADHD, and misinformation/lack of information were all highlighted as risk factors for feelings of social exclusion. Universities should include students with disabilities when designing policies and provide accommodations to support them. Additionally, greater awareness and informational access is imperative to improving social inclusion for people with ADHD.