bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Consuming Mineral Water from the Spring „Topla voda“ on the Body Composition, Functional and Biochemical Parameters of Professional Male Handball Athletes: A Pilot Study
Authors: Batinic Djordje , Djuranovic Andrija , Maletic Milos , Stankovic Sanja , Zivkovic Vladimir , Stanojevic Dejan , Bolevich Sergey , Savic Milan , Jakovljevic Vladimir
Published: February 2025

Adequate hydration is crucial for an athlete’s health and performance. There is some evidence that different compositions of various mineral waters may improve exercise performance and affect different biomarkers. The aim was to investigate the consumption of mineral water from the spring „Toplavoda” in terms of safety profile and its effect on body composition and functional and biochemical parameters in professional athletes.
During the preparation phase of their mesocycle, 14 male professional handball players underwent a complete sports medical screening exam with cardiopulmonary stress test (CPET), blood gas analysis, and oxidative stress markers dynamics at four points during the CPET. The athletes were then randomized into two equal groups where the first group consumed mineral water, and the second group consumed tap water. After four weeks, biochemical analysis and CPET were repeated.
Routine analyses showed that the “mineral water” group increased the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (ANCOVA=0,05) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (ANCOVA=0,001), a greater metabolic equivalent of task (MET) at the end of the test (ANCOVA=0,49), with no significant changes in other measured parameters.
Consuming “mineral water” appears safe, with some potential positive effects compared to tap water, mostly on hemoglobin parameters, fatigue perception, and exercise tolerance.
Industrial Electricity Pricing and Renewable Energy: A Temporal Analysis of the Effect of Taxes
Authors: Oyewole Gbeminiyi John John , Thopil George Alex
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the Industrial Electricity Pricing (IEP) profiles of 22 OECD countries to understand the effect of taxes to overall prices. Clustering analysis was performed on pricing data from the year 2000 to 2018 to observe how prices evolved. Ordinal logit regression analysis was performed to determine possible associations between the clustered groups and the percentage share of renewables generated (REG). Other independent variables indicating economic and market structures were also considered. Clustering results for both prices before and after tax indicated three pricing clusters, termed low, median, and high pricing clusters. IEP in Italy and Germany were found to have the highest effect owing to taxes while IEP in countries such as the US, Norway, Canada, and Denmark were least affected by taxes. Regression results show positive associations between the clustered profiles and REG. The positive association between the non-taxed component of IEP and a unit increase of REG is 1.41 times, whereas the positive association of overall IEP price (including taxes) and a unit increase of REG is 56.26 times, which is 39.9 times higher. Our results show that REG penetration as such has had a minimal effect on IEP over the time under consideration, but rather taxation on IEP coincidental with REG penetration, has contributed to IEP increases.
Effects of Auxin and Its Inhibitors on Root Growth and Mineral Nutrient Absorption in Citrus (Trifoliate Orange) Seedlings
Authors: Yang Yuwei , Shi Yidong , Tong Cuiling , Zhang Dejian
Published: February 2025

As an endogenous hormone, auxin plays a crucial role in regulating plants’ growth and development. Auxin synthesis and transport are mediated by gene expression regulation, but the regulatory mechanism is poorly understood. Therefore, we studied this problem using citrus (trifoliate orange, citrus rootstocks) as the experimental material. The experiment involved the treatment of two groups of trifoliate orange with exogenous auxin (indolebutyric acid, IBA) and auxin inhibitor (2-naphthoxyacetic acid, 2-NOA), respectively, in a sand culture system. The aim of this study is to investigate the regulatory mechanisms by which auxin affects seedling growth and mineral nutrition levels in trifoliate orange. The results showed that exogenous auxin significantly enhanced taproot elongation and lateral root density, while also markedly elevating the levels of phosphorus (P), cuprum (Cu), zinc (Zn), and other mineral nutrients in trifoliate orange leaves. In contrast, the auxin inhibitor produced the opposite effects. Exogenous auxin treatment significantly upregulated the expression of genes related to auxin synthesis and transport and led to a significant increase in auxin content. Exogenous auxin inhibitor treatment significantly reduced the expression levels of most auxin synthesis and transport genes and led to a significant decrease in auxin content. According to the results of this study, the synthesis and transport of auxin regulate trifoliate orange root growth, thereby further affecting its absorption of mineral nutrients.
Concerning Debugging in TEA and the TEA Software Operating Environment
Authors: Lutalo Joseph
Published: February 2025

As with many software systems whether manually engineered or automatically generated, the need to identify and eliminate or resolve errors in the system's implementation --- so-called "bugs" is an important aspect of good and effective software construction and maintenance. In standard Software Engineering parlance, this practice is what is known as "debugging" the system --- or rather "software debugging", and for the case of software implemented using the TEA programming language, is such an important aspect of the language's ecosystem, the debugging mechanisms have been designed and implemented as part of the core language's runtime --- essentially, the TEA debugger is part of the language's Software Operating Environment (SOE), and in this paper, we highlight what features the TEA debugger offers, how it works and what remains to be done so as to help software engineers build robust and error-free software in the TEA language by leveraging the essential software debugging features of the TEA language runtime; tttt.
Artificial Intelligence and Food Security: A Bibliometric Analysis (2009-2025)
Authors: Azizi Jafar , Jabbari Afsaneh
Published: February 2025

This article examines the progress of research in the field of "Artificial Intelligence and Food Security" from the beginning to February 11, 2025. The main research method used in this article is bibliometric analysis using VosViewer software, which examines the characteristics of published articles, such as authors, countries, etc. In the study, 497 articles were indexed in the Scopus database from 2009 to February 11, 2025. The findings show that by 2025, the publication of articles is ascending, and the highest number of articles is related to 2024. India has been the largest producer of scientific articles. The findings show that research in the field of artificial intelligence and food security is expanding in various fields. Using artificial intelligence technology, stakeholders will be able to create more efficient and durable food systems that will not only support food security for all but also help protect natural resources for future generations.
Manufacturing Process Optimization Using Open Data and Different Analyses Methods
Authors: Tahiduzzaman Md , Ghosh Angkush Kumar , Ura Sharifu
Published: February 2025

Machining process optimization involves selecting appropriate control variable (CV) settings to achieve desired evaluation variable (EV) outcomes. With the emergence of Open Data (OD) in smart manufacturing, machining optimization can now incorporate diverse CV-EV-centric data beyond local ones. This study investigates whether CV-EV-centric OD provides sufficient information, whether its analysis can yield actionable insights, and how suitable optimization methods are for OD-driven analysis. To explore this, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) were applied as conventional methods, while Possibility Distribution (PD) was used as a non-conventional method. The results indicate that PD offers an integrated solution, combining the strengths of ANOVA and SNR, for extracting actionable insights from the OD. It (PD) also enhances interpretability for some CV-EV-relationships and enables the formation of linguistic rules—an aspect not directly achievable through ANOVA or SNR alone. The findings suggest that combining conventional and non-conventional methods improve the analysis of OD-driven machining data, contributing to more structured optimization frameworks in smart manufacturing.
Finding Your Voice: Using Generative AI to Help International Students Improve Writing
Authors: Sterling Leon , Ye Chunchun , Ying Haoxuan , Chen Zhe
Published: February 2025

Students are faced with a wide range of writing tasks during their studies, including literature reviews, summarising papers and reflective reports. The writing tasks present a challenge for students who are not writing in their native language due to studying overseas. Indeed, students writing in their native language have a distinct advantage in assignments involving writing. The rapid emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) over the past three years has the potential to significantly impact the quality and efficiency of writing of non-native English speakers by providing international students with an opportunity to minimise the language barrier when writing in academia. This paper reports on a series of structured exercises undertaken by the authors to determine how using Gen-AI tools built on large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude might improve their writing in the context of computing degrees. We analyse some issues to be aware of when using Gen-AI tools and make suggestions as to their effective use. The key underlying message is that students need to develop their own distinct voice.
Reconciling Divergent Ages for the Oldest Recorded Air-Breathing Land Animal, the Millipede, Pneumodesmus Newmani Wilson & Anderson, 2004: A Review of the Geology and Ages of the Basal Old Red Sandstone Stonehaven Group (Silurian-Early Devonian), Abe
Authors: Brookfield Michael E. , Catlos Elikzabeth J , Garza Hector K
Published: February 2025

Divergent mid-Silurian (late Wenlock) and latest Silurian-earliest Devonian (Pridoli-Lochkovian) ages have been proposed for the strata bearing the millipede Pneumodesmus newmani, the first recorded undoubtedly air-breathing land animal, marking a significant event in the evolution of the first land biota. The late Wenlock age is based on physically correlating a non-marine section dated with spores and detrital zircon dates, across a fault, with a distinctly different section bearing the millipede. The Pridoli-Lochkovian ages is based on vertebrate fossils and detrital zircon dates from this latter section. A review of available lithostratigraphic, petrological, and biostratigraphic data, plus detrital zircon dating of the basal Old Red Sandstone around Stonehaven, show that the two dated sections have strata that are of different depositional environments, sources and ages and that the totality of the evidence firmly dates the millipede-bearing strata as Pridoli-Lochkovian.
Physical Parameters in Young Competitive Padel Players: Strength, Power, Agility, and Smash Velocity Assessments
Authors: Sánchez-Alcaraz Bernardino Javier , Martín Miguel Iván , Conde-Ripoll Rafael , Muñoz Diego , Escudero-Tena Adrián , Sánchez-Pay Alejandro
Published: February 2025

The main objective of this study was to analyze the physical fitness parameters in young paddle tennis players. The sample consisted of 18 players (10 boys and 8 girls) aged between 12- and 16-years old belonging to the Technification program for minors of the Valencian Padel Federation. The players completed a test battery that consisted of different tests: CMJ jump, internal and external shoulder rotator strength, manual dynamometry, functional upper body strength (forehand throw, backhand throw, bilateral overhead throw. and serve throw), smash speed, 5x10m agility test and tapas test. Data analysis was carried out with SPSS software for Windows. The results showed that the boys obtained significantly higher values in the tests of dynamometry, speed, agility (tapas test) and throws (forehand, backhand, serve and over the head) and the girls obtained significantly higher values in the test of shoulder external rotation (non-dominant). At the same time, the force variables were significantly and positively related to each other. The CMJ values are also significantly and positively correlated with the variables of shoulder rotation, sprint speed, and medicine ball throws. Regarding agility, significant and positive correlations were found in the tapas test. However, the 5x10m test showed negative and significant correlations with some variables. It has been observed that the results obtained coincide with the results found in other studies carried out with players of the same age in other sports, such as tennis and soccer.
A Direct Relationship Between ‘Blood Stasis’ and Fibrinaloid Microclots in Chronic, Inflammatory and Vascular Diseases, and Some Traditional Natural Products Approaches to Treatment
Authors: Kell Douglas , Pretorius Etheresia , Zhao Huihui
Published: February 2025

‘Blood stasis’ (syndrome) (BSS) is a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Xue Yu (血瘀). Similar concepts exist in Traditional Korean Medicine ('Eohyul') and in Japanese Kampo medicine (Oketsu). Blood stasis is considered to underpin a large variety of inflammatory diseases, though an exact equivalent in western systems medicine is yet to be described. Some time ago we discovered that blood can clot into an anomalous amyloid form, creating what we have referred to as fibrinaloid microclots. These microclots occur in a great many chronic, inflammatory diseases, are comparatively resistant to fibrinolysis, and thus have the ability to block microcapillaries and hence lower oxygen transfer to tissues, with multiple pathological consequences. We here develop the idea that it is precisely the fibrinaloid microclots that relate to, and are largely mechanistically responsible for, the traditional concept of blood stasis (a term also used by Virchow). First, the diseases known to be associated with microclots are all associated with blood stasis. Secondly, fibrinaloid microclots provide a simple mechanistic explanation for the physical slowing down (‘stasis’) of blood flow. Thirdly, Chinese herbal medicine formulae proposed to treat these diseases, especially Xue Fu Zhu Yu and its derivatives, are known mechanistically to be anticoagulatory and anti-inflammatory, consistent with the idea that they are actually helping to lower the levels of fibrinaloid microclots, plausibly in part by blocking the catalysis of the polymerisation of fibrinogen into an amyloid form. We rehearse some of the known actions of its constituent herbs and specific bioactive molecules that they contain. Consequently, such herbal formulations (and some of their components), that are comparatively little known to Western science and medicine, would seem to offer the opportunity to provide novel, safe and useful treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases that display fibrinaloid microclots, including Myalgic Encephalopathy/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID.
The Balance of MFN2 and OPA1 in Mitochondrial Dynamics, Cellular Homeostasis, and Disease
Authors: Zanfardino Paola , Amati Alessandro , Perrone Mirko , Petruzzella Vittoria
Published: February 2025

Mitochondrial dynamics, governed by fusion and fission, are crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis, energy production, and stress adaptation. MFN2 and OPA1, key regulators of mitochondrial fusion, play essential roles beyond their structural functions, influencing bioenergetics, intracellular signalling, and quality control mechanisms such as mitophagy. Disruptions in these processes, often caused by MFN2 or OPA1 mutations, are linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A) and Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA). This review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial fusion, the impact of MFN2 and OPA1 dysfunction on oxidative phosphorylation and autophagy, and their role in disease progression. Additionally, we discuss the divergent cellular responses to MFN2 and OPA1 mutations, particularly in terms of proliferation, senescence, and metabolic signalling. Finally, we highlight emerging therapeutic strategies to restore mitochondrial integrity, including mTOR modulation and autophagy-targeted approaches, with potential implications for neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.
Sirtuins in Cardiorenal Diseases: A Narrative Review
Authors: Carollo Caterina , Sorce Alessandra , Cirafici Emanuele , Mulè Giuseppe , Caimi Gregorio
Published: February 2025

Aging is a very complex process and it has been linked with Sirtuins. Sirtuin enzymes are a family of deacetylases that are related with caloric restriction and aging by modulating energy metabolism, genomic stability and stress resistance. Up to now, seven sirtuins have been recognized. Our purpose is to clarify the role of sirtuins in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Moreover, as heart and kidney diseases are strictly interrelated, we’re going to explore their role in heart diseases and cardio-renal cross-talk. A reciprocal relationship between CKD and aging seems to exist, since CKD may contribute to premature biological aging of different organ systems. SIRTs are involved in pathophysiology of renal diseases; their activation can delay the progression of several renal diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global mortality and a major contributor to disability. Notably, an increasing number of studies linked SIRTs with different CVDs. SIRTs affect the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) by modulating mitochondrial function. The imbalance of SIRTs levels may increase the vulnerability to CVDs. SIRTs are involved in pathophysiological mechanisms of HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) through different signalling pathways. Fibrosis is the linkage mechanism between heart and kidney in the development of cardio-renal diseases. Different natural SIRT1 agonists showed renoprotective effects and among these Resveratrol (RSV) and other phenolic compounds have been widely investigated with interesting and positive results. Future research is obviously needed to clarify the role of these molecules and their potential therapeutical role in heart and kidney diseases.
Value of Bayesian Pre-Posterior Information for Enhancing Life Cycle Analysis of Highway Investments
Authors: Alfasi Baraa A. , Khan Ata M.
Published: February 2025

Assessing risk in life cycle cost and benefit estimates of highway investments is recommended by major organizations such as the World Bank and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. This challenging task needs methodological support. Mutually exclusive investment alternatives can differ in terms of costs of construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and end of life value. Due to many causal factors and the long life of highway infrastructure, these items cannot be estimated with certainty. To go beyond sources of uncertainty study, a method is needed to check economic feasibility of acquiring additional information for deeper insight. This paper reports research on the value of Bayesian pre-posterior information for refining life cycle analysis of uncertain costs and benefits for evaluating highway investment alternatives. Example applications demonstrate how the Bayesian pre-posterior analysis can be applied to check the feasibility of obtaining new information for enhancing life cycle analysis of highway investments. The value of Bayesian pre-posterior information is illustrated for reducing risk. Also, depending upon specifics of uncertain states, a change in the choice of the investment alternative for implementation can be investigated. The product of this research can potentially upgrade highway infrastructure planning and management practice.
Impact of Delayed Centrifugation on Interleukin 6 Determination in Human Blood
Authors: Sauerwein Hannah L , Hermsen Derik F , KIndgen-Milles Detlef , Michael Erik , Fischer Johannes C , Boege Fritz
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Clinical experience indicates that determination of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in human blood can vary depending on time span between sample collection and centrifugation. Here, we have evaluated that confounding effect in various blood specimen. Methods: Measurement of IL-6 before and after pre-centrifugation incubation (20 °C, 24 - 72 h) in heparin-plasma, serum and EDTA-plasma from healthy individuals and critical ill patients. Results: Pre-incubation induced IL-6 increases in heparin-plasma (in 17/20 samples up to 50-fold) and serum (in 17/20 samples up to 12-fold). Normal values were thereby lifted above the confidence limit in 12/20 heparin plasma samples and 4/20 sera. The observed increases are probably due to in vitro synthesis/incretion as opposed to release of cell-bound IL-6, because microbial stimulators evoked > 1000-fold increases while cell lyses had negligible effects on IL-6. In EDTA-plasma, pre-incubation induced IL-6 decreases by up to 30 % in 17/20 samples, which entailed one false-negative result. Conclusions: IL-6 determination in heparin-plasma and serum is significantly compromised by delayed centrifugation, which increases the rate of false-high results by > 50 %. IL-6 determination in EDTA-plasma is less affected by delayed centrifugation, which decreases the results moderately but induces false-negative results in < 10% of cases.
Stability Analysis of Free Vibration of Gun Drill Rod
Authors: Ma Jingmin , Yao Wenli
Published: February 2025

Gun drills are widely utilized for deep hole machining due to their high aspect ratio, low stability, and susceptibility to vibrations, which can adversely affect machining accuracy and efficiency. During the machining process, cutting fluid must be injected through the drill rod to facilitate chip removal, resulting in a cross-sectional design with circumferential asymmetry. This asymmetry introduces more complex dynamic characteristics compared to conventional circular cross-section rotors. This study develops a Rayleigh rotor model of the gun drill rod and employs the Galerkin method to evaluate its free vibration characteristics and stability. The findings reveal that the gun drill rod exhibits distinct unstable speed ranges compared to circular cross-section rotors. Furthermore, the impact of various dimensional factors on the free vibration characteristics and stability of gun drill pipes was explored through detailed examination. The theoretical results were validated through comparative analysis with ANSYS simulations, confirming the reliability of the findings in this study.
Cross-Modal Semantic-Enhanced Image Captioning
Authors: Greenaway Alfie , Hsu Lobry , Fenwick Dexter
Published: February 2025

The process of semi-supervised image captioning necessitates generating descriptive captions from images through a hybrid cross-modal inference system, named as the Semantic Consistency and Predictive Regulation Framework (SCPRF). Unlike traditional methods that depend heavily on extensively annotated datasets, our approach leverages a combination of a sparse set of labeled image-caption pairs and a larger corpus of unlabeled images. This paper introduces a novel methodology that bridges the descriptive gap by enforcing semantic consistency and utilizing predictive cues from raw images to guide the caption generation. Specifically, we address the challenge of cross-modal disparities by embedding both images and their generated captions into a unified semantic space, where the alignment is enforced through dual mechanisms: predictive alignment and relational consistency. This approach not only preserves the integrity of information across modalities but also enhances the learning process under limited supervision. Our experiments on the MS-COCO dataset demonstrate that SCPRF significantly surpasses existing methods by improving the CIDEr-D scores by over 12\%, evidencing robust performance in complex semi-supervised settings.
The Role of Serotoninomics in Neuropsychiatric Diseases: Anthranilic Acid in Schizophrenia
Authors: Jimenez-Garcia Katia Lorena , Cervantes-Escárcega José L. , Canul-Medina Gustavo , Lisboa-Nascimento Telma , Jimenez-Trejo Francisco
Published: February 2025

Serotoninomics is an expanding field that focuses on the comprehensive study of the serotoninergic system, including serotonin’s biosynthesis, metabolism, and regulation, as well as related scientific methodologies (5-HT). This field explores serotonin’s intricate roles in various physiological and pathological contexts. The essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp) is a precursor for several metabolic and catabolic pathways, with the kynurenine (KYN) pathway being particularly significant, representing about 95% of Trp metabolism. In contrast, only a small portion (1%-2%) of dietary Trp enters the serotonin pathway. Anthranilic acid (AA), a metabolite in the KYN pathway, has emerged as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for schizophrenia. Elevated serum AA levels in patients with schizophrenia have been associated with neurotoxic effects and disruptions in neurotransmission, suggesting a critical role of AA in the disease’s pathophysiology. Furthermore, the involvement of the 5-HT2A receptor is particularly noteworthy, especially in the paranoid subtype of schizophrenia. Recent findings indicate that hyperactivity of the 5-HT2A receptor is linked to positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions. This study investigates serotoninomics’ implications for neuropsychiatric diseases, focusing on AA in schizophrenia and analysing recent research on serotonin signalling pathways and AA’s neurochemical effects. Understanding the roles of the 5-HT2A receptor and AA in neuropsychiatric disorders could lead to the development of more precise and less invasive diagnostic tools, specific therapeutic strategies, and improved clinical outcomes. Ongoing research is essential to uncover the exact mechanisms and therapeutic potential of these pathways, thereby advancing personalised medicine and innovative treatments in neuropsychiatry.
Availability and Functionality of Diagnostic Imaging Equipment for Road Traffic Crash Injury Management in Ghana: Case of Ashanti Region
Authors: Bart- Plange Akofa , Bour Bright , Geletu Abebe , Kaufmann Elsie Effah , Tiburu Elvis , Mock Charles , Donkor Peter
Published: February 2025

Diagnostic imaging technologies have enhanced the understanding and management of road traffic crash (RTC) injuries and are essential to guiding injury diagnosis. Despite their importance few studies regarding their accessibility to crash- prone areas are available. This study sought to investigate the accessibility, availability and functionality of 4 essential imaging modalities (ultrasound, plain x-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) for RTC injury management in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted covering 38 public, private, and mission-based hospitals, and 7 diagnostic centers. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire on equipment availability, functionality, and maintenance status. Spatial distance and time analyses were done, and statistical comparisons were performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. The study found only 1 of the 3 functional MRIs available in the public sector. While 60% of CTs (n=12) were found in the private sector, 59% of x-rays (n=61) and 62% (n=108) of ultrasounds were in the public sector. Due to non-functionality, travel distance to CT machines increased by 2.8 kilometers (p<0.000). In-house hospital- based biomedical engineers had technical expertise in maintaining x-ray and ultrasound machines but not CT or MRI. While X-ray and ultrasound modalities were well-distributed, CT and MRI access was limited.
The Impact of Age on the Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Moskalenko Yuliia , Yazykov Oleksandr , Vasylieva Olena , Smiian Kateryna , Ivakhniuk Tetiana , Budko Hanna , Moskalenko Roman
Published: February 2025

The incidence of cancer increases with age. Immunosenescence, characterized by a decline in adaptive immunity and chronic low-grade inflammation, may influence the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in elderly patients. Background/Objectives: While some studies suggest comparable efficacy of ICIs across age groups, others report reduced response due to immune system dysregulation. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of age in ICI therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Methods: A retrospective, single-center cohort study included 105 mNSCLC patients treated with pembrolizumab or atezolizumab at the Sumy Regional Clinical Oncology Center (Ukraine). Data on demographics, tumor histology, immunotherapy regimen, treatment response, survival outcomes, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were collected in medical records. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression. Results: The cohort comprised 89 males (84.8%) and 16 females (15.2%), with a mean age of 60.8 years. No significant differences were observed in treatment duration (p=0.9718), objective response rate (χ2=0.7112; p=0,701), or disease control rate (χ2=0.1103; p=0,946) among age groups. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.3, 7.0, and 12.3 months for patients <60, 60–69, and ≥70 years, respectively (p=0.5254). Overall survival (OS) also showed no significant age-related differences (p=0.5441). However, older patients exhibited a higher incidence of irAEs (p=0.035). Multivariate analysis identified ICI treatment duration (p=0.0001) and objective response rate (p=0.009) as independent predictors of PFS. Conclusions: Age does not significantly impact ICI therapy efficacy in mNSCLC patients. However, elderly patients require careful monitoring due to an increased risk of irAEs.
Evaluation of In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Anatolian Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis Mill.) Oil Against Clinically Important Bacteria in Human and Animal Health
Authors: Şıklaroğlu Reyda , İlhan Ziya , Bayezit Murat , Gürsoy Taha , Musabeşeoğlu Yavuz , Erkan Özgür , Musabeşeoğlu Şefika , Karaca Mehmet , Akkan Hasan Altan
Published: February 2025

In this study, it was aimed to deterimine the in vitro antibacterial activity of Anatolian Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis Mill.) oil (ASO) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mannheimia haemolytica, Brucella melitensis, and Corynebacterium pseudotoberculosis strains. Methods: The volatile constituents of ASO were determined by gas chromatograph/mass selective detector (GC/MSD) system. The amount of α-pinene, camphene, benzaldehyde, sabinene, p-cymene, dl-limonene, benzyl alcohol, 3-phenyl-1-propanol, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, ethyl cinnamate, geraniol acetate, torreyol, benzyl cinnamate, 3-methyl-3-phenyl-azetidin, 4-methylcoumarine-7-cinnamate, acetyl tributyl citrate, (1-methylcyclobutyl) benzene, cinnamyl cinnamate, squalene, and other compounds were determined. Disc diffusion and agar well diffusion tests were used to determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of ASO. Results: The volatile constituents of ASO were found in amounts ranging from 0.01% (camphene) to 62.56% (cinnamyl cinnamate). ASO showed in vitro antibacterial activity against tested bacterial strains as 58.3% and 62.5% by the disk diffusion test and agar well diffusion test, respectively. The antibacterial activity of ASO was determined to be slightly higher in Gram-positive bacteria (80.0%) than in Gram-negative bacteria (78.57%). The highest antibacterial activity was detected against S. aureus by the disk diffusion test and against B. melitensis by the agar well diffusion test. Conclusions: The results highlight the potential of ASO as an antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial strains, with slightly higher efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria. To confirm these findings and explore practical applications, additional in vivo studies are required to evaluate its therapeutic applicability in combating bacterial infections in both human and veterinary medicine.
Restorative Justice and Indigenous Courts Within the Penal Continuum: Rethinking Indigenous Over-Incarceration in Canada
Authors: Wilke Helena
Published: February 2025

Restorative justice has emerged as a comprehensive response to the over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Landmark developments – such as the 1999 Gladue decision and the creation of Indigenous People’s Courts (IPC) – have reshaped sentencing by integrating factors like discrimination and adverse socio-economic conditions. Beyond legal reform, restorative justice addresses colonial legacies and social inequalities. This article examines its role in recent Canadian initiatives – specifically the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Sentencing Reform Act (both enacted in 1996) – and draws on three months of fieldwork at the Indigenous People’s Court in Ottawa. The analysis focuses on the pivotal role of counseling and innovative restorative or communitarian programs within the IPC framework. Notably, many cases leading to trial do not stem from initial infractions but from failures to comply with conditional sentences under the Gladue principles – which emphasize diversion, probation, and “restoration” through counseling. The flexible notion of restoration – achieved by promoting resilience – facilitates ongoing behavioral profiling and supports emerging networks of experts. These mechanisms broaden the penal net by considering individual backgrounds more deeply and by expanding the range of interventions available that are not perceived as punitive sentences. It is proposed a nuanced perspective that views restorative justice and punitive measures as convergent, thereby revealing policy biases and contributing to the expansion of the penal system and its selectivity.
Review and Comparison of Feedback-Based Dynamic Beam Focusing Techniques for Long-Ranged Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: Ambatali Charleston Dale
Published: February 2025

Due to the rise of gigascale antenna arrays considered to implement long-range wireless power transfer (WPT), there is a need for a scalable high-efficiency adaptive dynamic beam focusing method. Several methods have been proposed ranging from methods requiring position information of the receiver, use of pilot signals or channel sounding, and feedback-based approaches. The latter has the potential to achieve maximum WPT efficiency due to use of feedback between the rectenna target and the transmitter array. In this paper, we present an overview of the different feedback-based long-ranged WPT methods that have been proposed. We also evaluate them in terms of convergence time, complexity of implementation, and steady-state efficiency through a simulation. The results show that methods that measure channel state information (CSI) and the both-sides retrodirective system can achieve high efficiency with less convergence time, but with added implementation complexity.
Research on the Sustainable Improvement Mechanism of Chemical Engineering and Technology Major Based On the Concept of OBE-PDCA Engineering Education
Authors: Yan Qi , Li LiCheng , Chen MuHua , Gu XiaoLi
Published: February 2025

This study examines the Chemical Engineering and Technology major at Nanjing Forestry University as a case study to explore a sustainable improvement and development model for the major, grounded in the principles of outcome-based education (OBE) and the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) framework. In the context of new engineering education and integrating the core concepts of engineering professional education accreditation, this research merges the OBE concept with the PDCA model to promote the sustainable enhancement of Chemical Engineering and Technology major. The objective is to assess the effectiveness of this professional construction model, based on the OBE and PDCA framework, in fostering the sustainable development of students. The findings indicate that by establishing a cultivation system aligned with the new economy, restructuring the interdisciplinary curriculum, and implementing a diversified evaluation system, it is feasible to nurture high-quality technical engineering talents equipped with social responsibility, teamwork skills, innovative thinking, and an awareness of sustainable development. This study demonstrates that this professional construction mechanism and model significantly contribute to developing sustainable education, enhancing engineering practice and innovative awareness, and cultivating applied innovative talents among students. Furthermore this study not only offers new insights for specialty construction but also serves as a practical reference for improving teaching quality and meeting societal demands.
DTULC Dataset and CDGANet: Advancing Urban Land Cover Segmentation with High-Resolution Satellite Imagery
Authors: Jin Rui , Shi Weiwei , Li Linjuan , Li Jing
Published: February 2025

Semantic segmentation of high-resolution remote sensing imagery remains challenging due to the coexistence of multiscale objects, complex spatial contexts, and ambiguous boundaries. While existing convolutional and transformer-based methods have made strides in natural scene understanding, they often underperform on remote sensing data due to insufficient detail retention and inefficient multi-scale feature modeling. To address these limitations, we propose CDGANet, a novel architecture integrating a Cross-Layer Detail-Aware Module (CDM) and Group Collaborative Attention Mechanism (GCAM). Leveraging ConvNeXt as the backbone, CDGANet employs CDM to fuse high-level semantics with low-level textures via self-attention, preserving boundary precision, while GCAM processes multi-scale features in parallel groups to enhance small-object discrimination. We introduce the DTULC dataset, a high-resolution urban land cover benchmark derived from Gaofen-2 satellite imagery, capturing diverse landscapes in Datong City, Shanxi Province. Experiments demonstrate CDGANet’s superiority over UNet, PSPNet, and SwinTransformer, achieving state-of-the-art performance with 74.23% mPA, 58.91% mIoU, and 72.24% F1-score on DTULC. Ablation studies confirm that GCAM and CDM jointly improve mIoU by 7.07% over baseline models. This work advances fine-grained land cover analysis and offers practical value for ecological monitoring and sustainable urban planning.
Indoctrinated Developmentalism and Local Sustainability: A Social-Ecological Model for Community-Based Enterprises
Authors: Shahidullah AKM
Published: February 2025

Developmental approaches over time largely overlooked the local sustainability preconditions as they were inflicted with doctrines, theories, and strategies argued through macro-level, macro-scale policies. This research retrospectively viewed those approaches as they evolved since post-WWII and their effect on sustainability at a community level. The primary focus was eventually on microfinance strategy by NGOs, which led to the establishment of millions of microenterprises to develop the underdeveloped communities of developing countries. In recent decades, community-based enterprise (CBE) development has been a widely practiced mode of developmental intervention. The primary goal of the CBEs is to generate profit for livelihoods. The research indicates these CBEs have further potential to be ecologically sustainable and socially responsible. A shift in the present model is possible to make the CBEs pursuant to ecological principles. Drawing on Foucault’s notion of ‘dispositif,’ the research considers the incorporation of environmental, alongside economic and social goals, as a new strategic disposition. Therefore, the study presents a social-ecological model of CBE and asserts that it embeds the necessary components to bring about sustainability at a community level.
An AI-Powered Chatbot to Support University Life
Authors: Miranda Sergio , Innarelli Gaia
Published: February 2025

This article aims to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in the university context, analyzing how these technologies can be used to improve the quality of life of students. The adoption of artificial intelligence in this context presents a series of potential advantages. First, AI can facilitate the management and processing of massive amounts of data, allowing for a more precise and timely analysis of students' needs. Furthermore, AI can support personalization, offering content and resources suited to individual needs and helping to identify any difficulties early on. In support of this theory, the authors have created a chatbot, called UNISALERNOBOT, which is able to provide support to university students in Salerno on various issues of university life. In this article, the focus will be on the evaluation of UNISALERNOBOT. To this end, an experiment was conducted involving over one hundred students and, after this, a questionnaire was administered to collect quantitative and qualitative elements on various aspects of the interaction with the chatbot, including accessibility, usability, relevance and completeness of the answers, as well as overall satisfaction.
The Monochromatic Resonator and the Interaction Between Light and Matter Under the Assumption That Photons Follow Classical Trajectories
Authors: Tiefenbrunner Wolfgang
Published: February 2025

According to R. Feynman 1963-1965 [10], the interference pattern that appears on the observation screen in the double-slit experiment with light cannot be explained by classical physics. The detection probability is supposed to result from the superposition of all paths that the photon can take from the source to the detector, the light quantum is self-interfering. However, Jin et al. 2010 [11] showed that this is not necessarily the case. In their computer simulation, they assumed that the trajectory of a photon corresponds to that of a classical particle. Thus, the interference only occurs at the detector with the participation of several photons. Not every photon causes a detection.Tiefenbrunner 2024 [17] investigated the detector further and recognized that particle interference under this and some other conditions presupposes a monochromatic resonator (all permissible energy levels are integer (ℕ0) multiples of a basal energy unit ε, where ε is also referred to as the ‘colour’ of the resonator). A monochromatic two-state system, e.g. a molecule that can only exist in two energetic states (ground and excited) and can only absorb one quantum (with respect to one ‘colour’), is, however, not sufficient for this. This prompted an evaluation of the significance of the monochromatic resonator for the Boltzmann-factor and Planck's radiation law. It turns out that the Boltzmann-factor and thus also the radiation law require resonators and hence are incompatible with two-state systems. The radiation law is derived using a kinetic model for the interaction of light with matter and without a priori use of the Boltzmann-factor, whereby it is also assumed that photons follow classical trajectories.
Distinguishing Black Holes from String-Inspired Euler-Heisenberg Theory Through Shadow Images
Authors: Huang Hyat , Xu Yukun , Lai Meng-Yun , Zou De-Cheng
Published: February 2025

Recently, an interesting doppelgänge black hole solution is obtained in the string-inspired Euler-Heisenberg theory, where the black holes have the same radii but share different charges. We found, however, they possess different ISCOs and photon spheres, and hence affect their shadow images. In this work, we investigate the optical appearances, illuminated by an optically and geometrically thin disk, are investigated, of such black hole. One finds that doppelgänge black holes have different optical appearances. Even the horizon radii are the same, the size of shadows are not equal. Furthermore, we found that the large magnetic charge Qm black holes give rise to novel shadow images that the usual bright rings inside shadow are not clear, The optical appearances illuminated by spherically accretions are also examined, and it can also identify two doppelgänge black holes.
The Integration of a Medium Resolution Underwater Radioactivity System in the COSYNA Observing System at the Helgoland Island, Germany
Authors: Christos Tsabaris , Alexakis Stylianos , Lienkämper Miriam , Max Schwanitz , Markus Brand , Ntoumas Manolis , Patiris Dionysis L , Androulakaki Effrosyni G , Fisher Philipp
Published: February 2025

The continuous monitoring of radioactivity in a cabled subsea network in the North Sea Observatory was performed to test the performance of a medium resolution underwater spectrometer as well as to identify and to assess potential anthropogenic and/or natural hazards. The effectiveness of continuous monitoring is tested together with the operability of underwater sensor and optimized quantification methods to iden-tify the type of the radioactivity as well as the activity concentration of radionuclides in the seawater. In the frame of RADCONNECT project, the medium resolution underwater radioactivity system named GeoMAREA was integrated in an existing cabled ocean observatory placed in Helgoland Island (COSYNA network). The system operated in an online mode controlled by the operational Centre (AWI) as well as remotely from the end-user (HCMR). The system provided gamma-ray spectra and activity concentrations of key radionuclides that were enriched in seawater during the monitoring period. As con-cerns the quantification method of natural radioactivity, the average activity concentration (in terms of the total monitoring period) of 214Bi, 208Tl, 228Ac and 40K, was found 108 ± 30, 57 ± 14, 40 ± 5 and 9800 ± 500 Bqm-3, respectively. As concerns the quantification of 137Cs, the average activity concentration in terms of the total monitoring period (although it is uncertain) was found 6 ± 4 Bqm-3. The data analysis proved that the system had a stable operation in terms of voltage stability so that all acquired spectra could be summed up efficiently in time to produce statistically high gamma-ray spectra for further analy-sis.
Safety Profile of Solanum tuberosum-Derived Exosomes: Evidence from In Vitro Experiments and Human Skin Tests
Authors: Lee YeJi , Mohamed Radwa Wahid , Yang Sanghwa
Published: February 2025

Repetitive exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is known to cause DNA damage and increase levels of reactive oxy-gen species (ROS), which are linked to the upregulation of matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) and inflammatory cyto-kines. These events lead to collagen breakdown by MMPs, resulting in wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and rough, dry skin—typical signs of photoaging—and may even contribute to skin cancers in the long term. We have previously shown that Solanum tuberosum-Derived Exosomes (SDE) can repress 80% of the expression of MMP1 and tissue necro-sis factor (TNF) at 50 μg/mL without inducing damage to keratinocyte HaCaT cells. In this report, we show that SDEs can be treated to the HaCaT cells up to 1,000 μg/mL without inducing cell death, establishing a safe maximum concen-tration. SDEs can signifcantly promote wound healing in a scratch model of wounds in HaCaT cells and elevate the ex-pression of skin barrier genes in HaCaT and fibroblast cell line Detroit 551, which are known to enhance skin cell integ-rity, prevent water loss, and support natural desquamation. In a skin clinical test including 21 volunteers for 2 weeks, prototypes containing SDEs at 100 μg/mL as the main ingredient significantly enhanced skin elasticity, reduced deep eye wrinkle depth, and decreased melanin content, most importantly, without skin-irritating side effects. These findings suggest that SDEs are a safe, natural complex with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and barrier-enhancing effects that can be produced in quantity with relative ease for a potential medical application in humans.