bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heavy Metal Accumulation (Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Cr) in Hair and Bones of Small Mammal Prey of the Sentinel Species Common Genet (Genetta genetta) in an Anthropogenic Environment of Edough Mountain Forest, Northeastern Algeria
Authors: Belbel Fatma , Boukheroufa Mehdi , Micle Valer , Sur Ioana Monica , Sakraoui Feriel , Smical Irina
Published: January 2025

Heavy metal pollution has complex impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, affecting biodiversity, trophic relationships, species health, and the quality of natural resources. This study aims to validate a non-invasive method for detecting heavy metals (Cd, As, Zn, Cu, Cr) in micromammalian prey, which constitute the primary diet of the common genet (Genetta genetta), a mesocarnivore sensitive to habitat degradation. By focusing on prey remains (hair and bones) rather than entire fecal samples, this approach leverages the genet’s selective feeding habits to assess the bioaccumulation of contaminants in its preferred prey. Conducted in the Edough forest massif during the winter of 2021, the study analyzed 39 fecal samples, collected from the following two contrasting environments: a natural habitat and an area impacted by an open landfill. Results revealed significant levels of heavy metals, with higher concentrations in bones compared to hair, and increased accumulation in prey from the anthropized environment. Monitoring these contaminants in selective predators, such as the genet, offers a promising approach to better understanding environmental contamination and implementing measures to protect ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
Azole Antifungal Consumption in Community Pharmacy Sales in Mainland Portugal: Trend Analysis from 2014 to 2023
Authors: Moura Sofia , Duarte Paulo , Oliveira Ana Sofia , Martinez-de-Oliveira José , Palmeira-de-Oliveira Ana , Rolo Joana
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Excessive or inadequate use of antimicrobial drugs may lead to the emergence of resistant strains. For this reason, it is important to monitor consumption indicators to assess drugs’ utilization over time. This study aimed to analyze the consumption of medically prescribed azole antifungal drugs in mainland Portugal from 2014 to 2023, focusing on those directed to genital infections: fluconazole, isoconazole, itraconazole, and sertaconazole. Methods: For each drug, the evaluated parameters were the total number of packages, number of packages per 1000 inhabitants, defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day, and total costs. For this purpose, we used data from community pharmacies’ sales, which are available through INFARMED (the Portuguese national authority on medicines and health products). Results: Several trends emerged from data analysis. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the consumption of all azole antifungal drugs included in this study. However, after 2020, fluconazole and sertaconazole consumption has been increasing. In the specific case of fluconazole, there was an increase in expenditure, although the total number of packages suffered a decrease over the 10-year study period. Additionally, the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day for fluconazole and itraconazole was lower compared to estimates from the last available survey (2009). Conclusions: Although our findings represent a lesser pressure on fungi, further monitoring is needed to better understand the evolution of fluconazole and itraconazole consumption over time, particularly due to the trends observed in this study.
Terrain Irregularity Sensing by Evaluating Feet Coordinate Standard Deviation
Authors: Luneckas Tomas , Luneckas Mindaugas , Udris Dainius
Published: January 2025

Locomotion over rough terrain is still a problem yet to be solved for legged robots. One of the problems arises from the inability to identify terrain roughness during locomotion, which could be crucial for decision-making and successful task completion. Our proposed terrain roughness method is inspired by the observation that humans can sense their limb position in space without looking at them, which allows us to estimate obstacle heights. This method is based on robot feet coordinate standard deviation (further referred to as SD) parameter evaluation. SD values could be categorized to represent different terrain roughness, and such categories could be useful for selecting different gaits for different terrains. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using already known feet coordinates to evaluate terrain roughness by calculating their standard deviation (SD). We present simulation results that show that the SD value only depends on terrain roughness and is not influenced by large terrain slopes. Experiments were conducted with real robots while walking over obstacles with different gaits to validate the method. This research mainly aims to test how robot gaits influence SD parameters for terrain roughness evaluation. The experimental results showed that the SD parameter calculated from the robot’s foot coordinates can be used to evaluate terrain roughness. The robot’s gaits have little to no influence on the SD parameter.
Analysis of Glucocorticoids as Potential Adulterants in Cosmetic Products: A Dual Approach for Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation Based on ELISA and HPLC-MS Methods
Authors: Shariati Pour Seyedeh Rojin , Emamiamin Afsaneh , Zangheri Martina , Calabria Donato , Guardigli Massimo , Porru Emanuele , Fiori Jessica , Mirasoli Mara
Published: January 2025

The analysis of cosmetic products represents an important field of analytical chemistry, since the demand for new formulations is continuously increasing. Regulations about prohibited/regulated compounds are applied in each country. Among the substances that are banned in cosmetics, corticosteroids represent a potential harm for consumers since the prolonged exposure to these compounds can affect health status. However, corticosteroids can be found in cosmetics as an illegal addition since they are able to alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory skin problems. In this work, two different approaches for detecting corticosteroids as potential adulterants in cosmetic products were compared. First, a reversed-phase HPLC-MS method was optimized and fully validated in order to identify and quantify eight corticosteroids (methylprednisolone, beclomethasone, flunisolide, budesonide, betamethasone 17-valerate, beclomethasone dipropionate, flumethasone, and dexamethasone). This reference method was then compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Indeed, immunological techniques allow for rapid, low-cost, and sensitive detection of target analytes even in complex matrices, and they can be performed with simple instrumentation and by non-skilled personnel. The application of these methods on spiked cosmetic products was compared in terms of performance and advantages in order to evaluate the possibility of exploiting a complementary approach for optimizing the time for and costs of the analysis.
A Descriptive Analysis of Visual and Oculomotor Skills in Federated University Athletes
Authors: Sánchez-Tena Miguel Ángel , Rodríguez-Alonso Xabier , Martinez-Perez Clara , Tornero-Aguilera José Francisco , Clemente-Suárez Vicente J. , Sanchez-Ramos Celia , Alvarez-Peregrina Cristina
Published: January 2025

Background: Visual and oculomotor skills are essential components of athletic performance, particularly in sports that demand rapid visual processing and precise motor execution. This study aimed to provide a descriptive analysis of the visual and oculomotor abilities of federated university athletes and explore their relationship with self-perceived performance. Methods: A total of 52 federated university athletes (34 men and 18 women), aged 18 to 37 years, participated in this observational and descriptive study. Visual assessments were conducted using the digital COI-Sport Vision system, evaluating static and dynamic visual acuity, stereopsis, vergence, contrast sensitivity, visual memory, hand-eye coordination, anticipation time, peripheral awareness, and identification. Results: The findings revealed patterns in the visual and oculomotor skills of this cohort, particularly in parameters such as dynamic visual acuity, stereopsis, and hand-eye coordination, which are relevant to the demands of their sports. Athletes reporting a higher satisfaction with their performance exhibited faster response times in visual memory (p = 0.039) and anticipation tasks (p = 0.022). These results suggest a potential relationship between self-perceived performance and specific visual skills, although further research is needed to establish causal links. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the visual and oculomotor abilities of federated university athletes, emphasizing the potential influence of self-perceived performance on visual skill execution. While the results do not allow for direct comparisons with other populations, they lay the groundwork for future research into sport-specific visual demands. Incorporating validated psychological assessments and exploring longitudinal designs could further enhance an understanding of the interplay between visual skills, motivation, and athletic performance.
Rearview Camera-Based Blind-Spot Detection and Lane Change Assistance System for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Lee Yunhee , Park Manbok
Published: January 2025

This paper focuses on a method of rearview camera-based blind-spot detection and a lane change assistance system for autonomous vehicles, utilizing a convolutional neural network and lane detection. In this study, we propose a method for providing real-time warnings to autonomous vehicles and drivers regarding collision risks during lane-changing maneuvers. We propose a method for lane detection to delineate the area for blind-spot detection and for measuring time to collision—both utilized to ascertain the vehicle’s location and compensate for vertical vibrations caused by vehicle movement. The lane detection method uses edge detection on an input image to extract lane markings by employing edge pairs consisting of positive and negative edges. Lanes were extracted through third-polynomial fitting of the extracted lane markings, with each lane marking being tracked using the results from the previous frame detections. Using the vanishing point where the two lanes converge, the camera calibration information is updated to compensate for the vertical vibrations caused by vehicle movement. Additionally, the proposed method utilized YOLOv9 for object detection, leveraging lane information to define the region of interest (ROI) and detect small-sized objects. The object detection achieved a precision of 90.2% and a recall of 82.8%. The detected object information was subsequently used to calculate the collision risk. A collision risk assessment was performed for various objects using a three-level collision warning system that adapts to the relative speed of obstacles. The proposed method demonstrated a performance of 11.64 fps with an execution time of 85.87 ms. It provides real-time warnings to both drivers and autonomous vehicles regarding potential collisions with detected objects.
Comprehensive Analysis of Milling Performance and Multi-Objective Parameter Optimization for YG6C Milling Tool
Authors: Cai Fada , Xia Rongfei
Published: January 2025

Numerous conflicting objectives exist in the engineering field, and resolving these conflicts to reduce costs constitutes a problem that demands top-priority consideration. A model for tool wear and a multi-quadratic regression model for milling forces were developed to accurately predict the trends of wear on the rake face of the milling tool and the variations in milling forces. The influence of milling parameters (spindle speed, n; feed rate, vf; axial milling depth, ap) on both the wear of the rake face and milling force was analyzed by means of orthogonal experiments. The findings indicated that the impact of these parameters on the wear ranked in the following order: n > vf > ap. In contrast, for milling force, F, the ranking was ap > vf > n. Utilizing MATLAB’s genetic algorithm, an optimization procedure was conducted with multiple objectives including the wear of the rake face, milling force, and material removal rate; subsequently, a Pareto optimal solution set was generated for milling parameters based on practical processing requirements.
Fourier Ptychographic Microscopy with Optical Aberration Correction and Phase Unwrapping Based on Semi-Supervised Learning
Authors: Zhou Xuhui , Tong Haiping , Ouyang Er , Zhao Lin , Fang Hui
Published: January 2025

Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) has recently emerged as an important non-invasive imaging technique which is capable of simultaneously achieving high resolution, wide field of view, and quantitative phase imaging. However, FPM still faces challenges in the image reconstruction due to factors such as noise, optical aberration, and phase wrapping. In this work, we propose a semi-supervised Fourier ptychographic transformer network (SFPT) for improved image reconstruction, which employs a two-stage training approach to enhance the image quality. First, self-supervised learning guided by low-resolution amplitudes and Zernike modes is utilized to recover pupil function. Second, a supervised learning framework with augmented training datasets is applied to further refine reconstruction quality. Moreover, the unwrapped phase is recovered by adjusting the phase distribution range in the augmented training datasets. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by using both the simulation and experimental data. This deep-learning-based method has potential applications for imaging thicker biology samples.
Machine Selection for Inventory Tracking with a Continuous Intuitionistic Fuzzy Approach
Authors: Cebeci Ufuk , Simsir Ugur , Dogan Onur
Published: January 2025

Today, businesses are adopting digital transformation strategies to make their production processes more agile, efficient, and sustainable. At the same time, lean manufacturing principles aim to create value by reducing waste in production processes. In this context, it is important that the machine to be selected for inventory tracking can meet both the technological features suitable for digital transformation goals and the operational efficiency criteria required by lean manufacturing. In this study, multi-criteria decision-making methods were used to select the most suitable machine for inventory tracking based on digital transformation and lean manufacturing perspectives. This study applies a framework that integrates the Continuous Intuitionistic Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (CINFU AHP) and the Continuous Intuitionistic Fuzzy Combinative Distance-Based Assessment (CINFU CODAS) methods to select the most suitable machine for inventory tracking. The framework contributes to lean manufacturing by providing actionable insights and robust sensitivity analyses, ensuring decision-making reliability under fluctuating conditions. The CINFU AHP method determines the relative importance of each criterion by incorporating expert opinions. Six criteria, Speed (C1), Setup Time (C2), Ease to Operate and Move (C3), Ability to Handle Multiple Operations (C4), Maintenance and Energy Cost (C5), and Lifetime (C6), were considered in the study. The most important criteria were C1 and C4, with scores of 0.25 and 0.23, respectively. Following the criteria weighting, the CINFU CODAS method ranks the alternative machines based on their performance across the weighted criteria. Four alternative machines (High-Speed Automated Scanner (A1), Multi-Functional Robotic Arm (A2), Mobile Inventory Tracker (A3), and Cost-Efficient Fixed Inventory Counter (A4)) are evaluated based on the criteria selected. The results indicate that Alternative A1 ranked first because of its superior speed and operational efficiency, while Alternative A3 ranked last due to its high initial cost despite being cost-effective. Finally, a sensitivity analysis further examines the impact of varying criteria weights on the alternative rankings. Quantitative findings demonstrate how the applied CINFU AHP&CODAS methodology influenced the rankings of alternatives and their sensitivity to criteria weights. The results revealed that C1 and C4 were the most essential criteria, and Machine A2 outperformed others under varying weights. Sensitivity results indicate that the changes in criterion weights may affect the alternative ranking.
Biomechanical Impact of Vertebral Augmentation Techniques: Clinical and Radiological Results in the Literature
Authors: Faiella Eliodoro , Vaccarino Federica , Santucci Domiziana , Vergantino Elva , Beomonte Zobel Bruno , Grasso Rosario Francesco
Published: January 2025

Vertebral augmentation techniques have advanced significantly, offering improved outcomes in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. This review explores third-generation devices such as the SpineJack®, Vertebral Body Stenting System® (VBS), and OsseoFix®, which offer enhanced vertebral height restoration, stability, and reduced complications. These devices have been shown to outperform traditional methods like vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty, particularly in reducing the risk of cement leakage and ensuring long-term vertebral stability. Biomechanical studies confirm the efficacy of these systems in promoting spinal recovery. Many of these studies have utilized indirect parameters, such as the Beck Index and kyphotic angles (α and γ) measured by the Cobb method, to evaluate improvements in vertebral deformity. Furthermore, preclinical studies indicate that third-generation devices like SpineJack® enhance vertebral height restoration and stability, with performance influenced by bone quality and implant positioning, and have demonstrated superior initial and sustained height maintenance compared to kyphoplasty. While the higher costs of third-generation systems could be justified by reduced revision rates and better patient outcomes, further research is needed to optimize patient selection and assess long-term benefits. Overall, these devices could represent a significant advancement in vertebral fracture treatment, improving clinical outcomes and biomechanical stability.
Lattice Structure for Improving Cooling Uniformity in HPDC Mould Corners
Authors: Abo-Serie Essam , Koranteng-Agyarko Samuel K.
Published: January 2025

Conformal cooling channels have demonstrated significant advantages for cast parts and 3D-printed moulds in the high-pressure die casting (HPDC) process. However, the complex geometry of moulds, characterised by small intrusions, sharp corners, and fins, often results in nonuniform cooling in certain regions, leading to overcooling or overheating. This study proposes integrating lattice structures within specific regions of 3D-printed moulds or inserts as an additional control parameter to enhance cooling uniformity by increasing thermal resistance in targeted areas. A validated three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was employed to incorporate three types of lattice structures, aiming to limit local heat flux in overcooled areas. The model specifically addresses the cooling of an aluminium alloy profile with 90-degree-angled corners, using H13 steel mould properties. The results indicate that implementing a lattice structure as a sleeve around the cooling pipe at the corner two sides improved temperature uniformity by over 42%. However, this increased thermal resistance also led to a 16 °C rise in corner temperature. These findings suggest that implementing lattice structures in the mould can improve cooling uniformity. However, they should be positioned away from the thickest regions of the mould to avoid increasing the modelling time.
Comparative Analysis of Nickel–Titanium Instrumentation Systems for Root Canal Anatomy Preservation: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Nagy Eszter , Kotaki Niki , Dudás Máté , Gryschka Dániel Gerhard , Braunitzer Gábor , Antal Mark Adam
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various nickel–titanium (Ni-Ti) root canal instrumentation systems in preserving root canal anatomy, focusing on their capacity to limit changes in canal angulation. One hundred canals in fifty extracted human molars were prepared with different techniques: Step-Back, Reciproc, MTwo, ProTaper Universal (PTU), and ProTaper Next (PTN). The curvature of each canal was measured before and after treatment using Schneider’s methodology, a widely accepted method for assessing canal curvature. Descriptive and statistical analyses, including the Kruskal–Wallis test, were employed to compare angular changes across the systems. The results indicated that all techniques effectively reduced canal curvature, with each system exhibiting a reduction in mean canal angle after instrumentation. Although the Reciproc system showed the smallest mean change in angulation, no statistically significant differences were identified between any of the systems (p = 0.182). This finding suggests that while minor differences in performance may exist, they do not translate into clinically meaningful distinctions in preserving root canal anatomy. The Reciproc system’s slight advantage aligns with other studies, highlighting its conservative design and minimal dentinal stress; however, its superiority was not statistically validated in this study. The results suggest that all five systems are clinically comparable in preserving root canal anatomy, highlighting that dentists can choose from these widely available techniques without compromising anatomical preservation. While this study had limitations, including a relatively small sample size and an in vitro design, it aligns with previous findings on the mechanical behavior of Ni-Ti systems in endodontic practice.
The Impact of Karate and Yoga on Children’s Physical Fitness: A 10-Week Intervention Study
Authors: Rutkowski Tomasz , Chwałczyńska Agnieszka
Published: January 2025

This study investigated the effects of a 10-week intervention incorporating karate and yoga on the physical fitness of children aged 10–13. Conducted on a sample of 67 boys, the participants were divided into three groups: karate, yoga, and a control group. Each group underwent physical assessments before and after the intervention, focusing on various fitness components measured by the International Physical Fitness Test (MTSF). The intervention sessions were held twice a week and included warm-up exercises, karate or yoga elements, and cool-down. The results demonstrated significant improvements (p > 0.05) in most physical fitness parameters among the karate and yoga groups in trials: run 50 m, jump, run, endurance, hanging, run, agility, sit-ups, and forward bend. However, there was no significant improvement in hand strength, indicating that the intervention might not have adequately targeted this aspect of fitness. The overall MTSF values changed as follows. For the karate group, the results improved significantly, with the mean increasing by 6.95 ± 0.71. In the yoga group, the results also improved significantly, with the mean increasing by 8.74, while the standard deviation changed by −0.19. In contrast, the control group, which did not participate in additional activities, showed a decline in performance in some areas, notably hand strength and jumping ability. Total MTSF value decreased by −1.05, and the standard deviation changed by 0.71. The findings suggest that both karate and yoga can effectively enhance children’s physical fitness, bringing their performance closer to age-adjusted norms. The study highlights the value of structured physical activity programs in promoting the physical development of children. Although no significant differences were observed between the karate and yoga groups, both interventions contributed similarly to overall fitness improvements. Future research should explore additional factors, such as diet and other physical activities, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the intervention’s effects.
Adaptive Multimodal Fusion with Cross-Attention for Robust Scene Segmentation and Urban Economic Analysis
Authors: Zhong Chun , Zeng Shihong , Zhu Hongqiu
Published: January 2025

With the increasing demand for accurate multimodal data analysis in complex scenarios, existing models often struggle to effectively capture and fuse information across diverse modalities, especially when data include varying scales and levels of detail. To address these challenges, this study presents an enhanced Swin Transformer V2-based model designed for robust multimodal data processing. The method analyzes urban economic activities and spatial layout using satellite and street view images, with applications in traffic flow and business activity intensity, highlighting its practical significance. The model incorporates a multi-scale feature extraction module into the window attention mechanism, combining local and global window attention with adaptive pooling to achieve comprehensive multi-scale feature fusion and representation. This approach enables the model to effectively capture information at different scales, enhancing its expressiveness in complex scenes. Additionally, a cross-attention-based multimodal feature fusion mechanism integrates spatial structure information from scene graphs with Swin Transformer’s image classification outputs. By calculating similarities and correlations between scene graph embeddings and image classifications, this mechanism dynamically adjusts each modality’s contribution to the fused representation, leveraging complementary information for a more coherent multimodal understanding. Compared with the baseline method, the proposed bimodal model performs superiorly and the accuracy is improved by 3%, reaching 91.5%, which proves its effectiveness in processing and fusing multimodal information. These results highlight the advantages of combining multi-scale feature extraction and cross-modal alignment to improve performance on complex multimodal tasks.
Prototype System for Supporting Medical Diagnosis Based on Voice Interviewing
Authors: Samojluk Artur , Artiemjew Piotr
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we present the results of a study on the development of a system to support medical diagnoses based on voice-based medical interviews. The main objective is to develop a tool that improves the process of collecting information from patients, using natural language analysis to identify key diagnostic information. The system processes the collected data to create information vectors for a selected group of diseases, allowing for an initial assessment of possible disease entities. An analysis of data mining and selected machine learning methods was carried out to develop an effective diagnosis algorithm. The system is designed to optimise patient care by automating the initial phase of the medical interview, which can lead to a reduction in errors due to subjective assessments and reduce the workload on doctors. The solution presented in this paper is part of a broader research project to develop a Medical Interview system, and this paper is the first article in a series that describes the experiences and challenges of implementing this system. Further work is planned to develop the model into advanced medical decision support techniques and validate it in a clinical setting.
Investigation of FDM-Based 3D Printing for Optimized Tooling in Automotive and Electronics Sheet Metal Cutting
Authors: Szalai Szabolcs , Szívós Brigitta Fruzsina , Nemes Vivien , Szabó György , Kurhan Dmytro , Sysyn Mykola , Fischer Szabolcs
Published: January 2025

Within the scope of the work, the possible use of fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology in executing rapid prototypes of cutting tools for aluminum sheets was systematically studied. Relevant investigations have thus far mainly concentrated on tools for the 3D printing of bent and deep-drawn pieces, yet the implementation of FDM tools in cutting has been insufficiently covered. This study aims to determine the characteristics of FDM cutting tools, such as wear and tear, dimensional stability, and cutting efficiency. Various tool designs were tested under different wall thicknesses and orientations with respect to the feed of Al99.5 sheets with thicknesses of 0.22 mm and 0.3 mm. According to the results, in the best case, three-dimensional printed PLA tools performed six cuts with no burrs and an acceptable wear level due to the IT tolerances (IT9 and IT10). Tools with thicker walls and more appropriate orientations were found to be more robust. However, some designs failed when subjected to greater loads, revealing a deficiency in some of the strength properties of the material. These observations suggest that it is possible to create 3D printed tools for modeling and small-scale production at considerably cheaper and faster rates than conventional methods. Future work will integrate advanced materials and designs to enhance tool performance, further solidifying FDM as a transformative approach in industrial tool manufacturing. With this research, the authors wanted to demonstrate that FDM technology can also be used to produce a classic sheet cut, which, of course, is still of great importance for prototyping or setting up production processes. This research demonstrated that FDM printing can play a role in this area.
Improved Shapley Value with Trapezoidal Fuzzy Numbers and Its Application to the E-Commerce Logistics of the Forest Products
Authors: Liu Jiacai , Liu Minghao , Hong Lifen , Lin Qingfan
Published: January 2025

With the rapid development of e-commerce, the traditional trade mode of forest products has undergone significant changes. Logistics as a key factor to support e-commerce trade is particularly important to build a reasonable e-commerce logistics model of forest products. In the logistics service industry, the issue of cooperative profit allocation of logistics alliance has been crucial and prevalent. However, logistics alliances often face the problem of incomplete information, such as the ambiguity of transportation cost and driving distance, which makes it difficult to effectively apply many classical cooperative game solutions. Therefore, this paper introduces an improved Shapley value for cooperative games in fuzzy situations regarding unclear profit allocation in e-commerce logistics alliance of forest products. This value maximizes the satisfaction of the players by minimizing the contribution excess, according to which the trapezoidal fuzzy number least square contribution is calculated. Based on this, we replace the marginal contribution of the classical Shapley value with this least square contribution, thus creating the improved Shapley value with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Through the verification of actual cases, this method not only has theoretical value, but also provides effective guidance for the actual profit allocation of e-commerce logistics alliance of forest products, which helps to promote the stability and sustainable development of alliance.
Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Transfer from Dried Medicinal Plants in Infusions for Therapeutic Purposes
Authors: Bratu Mihaela Mirela , Birghila Semaghiul , Birghila Corina , Danilov Diana Andreea , Coatu Valentina , Ristea Elena , Damir Nicoleta Alexandra
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from medicinal plants and infusions prepared using them, as well as assess the transfer of these contaminants from plants to infusions. The separation of compounds was achieved using microwave extraction for dried plants and liquid–liquid extraction in the case of infusions. The extracts were cleaned using solid-phase extraction, and the compounds were analysed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Exposure to PAHs through tea infusion consumption was evaluated by calculating the estimated daily intake (EDI, ng/kg.bw/day) and Margin of Exposure (MOE). The average total content of PAHs varied from 277.22 ± 12.78 to 2466.46 ± 203.45 µg/kg in dry plants, and the compounds benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were present in all samples. In the herbal tea infusions, the average total PAH content varied between 612.55 ± 46.12 ng/L and 2292.2 ± 140.24 ng/L. The observation was statistically checked using a two-sample paired test. The analysis revealed that PAHs could be split into those for which the content in the medicinal plants is significantly larger than in the infusions and those for which the difference is not significant. The average transfer rates of ∑16PAHs from plants to infusions varied from 7.25 to 32.86%. The MOE values confirmed that consumer exposure to PAHs via tea infusions is very low and safe for health.
Effects of Auditory Environments on Postural Balance and Cognitive Performance in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: A Dual-Task Investigation
Authors: Jouira Ghada , Alexe Cristina Ioana , Păun Laurian Ioan , Zwierzchowska Anna , Savu Cătălin Vasile
Published: January 2025

The objective was to investigate the effects of auditory environments on postural balance during cognitive tasks. Nineteen individuals with intellectual disabilities, aged between 15 and 19, participated in the study. The assessment involved center of pressure (CoP) measurements on both firm and foam surfaces under open-eye (OE) and closed-eye (CE) conditions. During these assessments, participants were exposed to nature sounds and noise sounds while performing counting and verbal fluency tasks. The results showed that nature sounds on a firm surface under OE conditions during counting demonstrated a significant decrease in CoP values (p = 0.037), indicating improved postural balance. However, noise sounds on foam surfaces during counting and verbal fluency showed increased CoP values, reflecting impaired postural balance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, nature sounds on a firm surface with OE during counting improved postural balance. Conversely, noise sounds on foam surfaces during counting and verbal fluency tasks impaired postural balance.
A Novel 3D Reinforced Particle Model for Reinforced Concrete Fracture Assessment: Formulation and Validation
Authors: Azevedo Nuno Monteiro , Farinha Maria Luísa Braga , Oliveira Sérgio
Published: January 2025

Rigid particle models (PMs) that explicitly consider the influence of the aggregate structure and its physical interaction mechanisms have been used to predict cracking phenomena in concrete. PMs have also been applied to reinforced concrete fracture, but the known studies have adopted simplified reinforcement and reinforcement/particle interaction models. In this work, a novel 3D explicit discrete element formulation of reinforcement bars discretized through several rigid cylindrical segments is proposed, allowing the 3D reinforced particle model (3D-RPM) to be applied to reinforced concrete fracture studies, namely for shear failure. The 3D-RPM is evaluated using known three-point and four-point bending tests on reinforced concrete beams without stirrups and on known shear transfer tests due to dowel action. The 3D-RPM model is shown to reproduce the crack propagation, and the load displacement response observed experimentally for different steel contents under three-point bending, for different beam sizes, under four-point bending, and for different bar diameters, under shear. The validation examples highlight the importance of including a nonlinear reinforcement/particle interaction model. As shown, an elastic model contact leads to higher vertical loads in three-point and four-point bending tests for the same set of contact properties and, in the shear tests, leads to an overestimation of the maximum shear strength and to an increase in the model initial stiffness.
Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
Authors: Mondal Rittick , Das Dipanjan , Mandal Amit Kumar
Published: January 2025

To safeguard against microbial diseases and maintain optimal silk yields, the sericulture industry relies on antibiotics to promote the health, well-being, and vitality of silkworms (Bombyx mori). Antibiotics are commonly incorporated into synthetic diets for rearing silkworms or included as key components in bed disinfectant formulations. The silkworm-rearing industry’s reliance on antibiotics has led to concerns about the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Previous research has uncovered a dual role for antibiotics: not only do they prevent disease, but they also promote silkworm growth by reshaping the gut microbiome and enhancing nutrient absorption, highlighting the need for judicious use. Therefore, there is a critical need for prudent management and further exploration of alternative growth-promoting strategies to minimize resistance risks. This study investigates the relationship between antibiotic administration and silkworm growth, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying antibiotic-induced effects and assessing the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence and dissemination.
Importance of Modulating Kynurenic Acid Metabolism—Approaches for the Treatment of Dementia
Authors: Baran Halina , Jan Pietryja Marcelin , Kepplinger Berthold
Published: January 2025

In this article, we focus on kynurenic acid metabolism in neuropsychiatric disorders and the biochemical processes involved in memory and cognitive impairment, followed by different approaches in the fight against dementia. Kynurenic acid—a biochemical part of L-tryptophan catabolism—is synthesized from L-kynurenine by kynurenine aminotransferases. Experimental pharmacological studies have shown that elevated levels of kynurenic acid in the brain are associated with impaired learning and that lowering kynurenic acid levels can improve these symptoms. The discovery of new compounds with the ability to block kynurenine aminotransferases opens new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of memory impairment and dementia. The newly developed Helix pomatia snail model of memory can be used for the assessment of novel pharmacological approaches. Dietary supplementation with natural molecular/herbal extracts, exercise, and physical activity have significant impacts on endogenous pharmacology by reducing kynurenic acid synthesis, and these factors are likely to significantly modulate steady-state biological conditions and delay the negative consequences of aging, including the onset of pathological processes.
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Branch Retinal Vein Occlusions: An Update
Authors: Darabuş Diana-Maria , Dărăbuş Rodica Georgiana , Munteanu Mihnea
Published: January 2025

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a common retinal vascular condition and a significant contributor to vision loss worldwide, particularly in middle-aged and elderly populations. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of BRVO, alongside recent advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. BRVO is approximately four times more prevalent than central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and often leads to significant vision impairment. By focusing on BRVO, this review aims to address the specific challenges and advancements in its diagnosis and management. The pathophysiology of BRVO is complex, involving factors such as venous compression, inflammation, and increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Diagnostic approaches such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography are highlighted for their roles in assessing disease severity and guiding treatment decisions. Therapeutic interventions, including laser photocoagulation, anti-VEGF therapy, and intravitreal corticosteroids, are critically evaluated, emphasizing emerging treatments such as gene therapy, peptide-based agents, and small-molecule inhibitors. Despite advancements in management strategies, the recurrence of macular edema and treatment resistance remain significant challenges. Continued research is essential to refine therapeutic protocols and improve long-term visual outcomes for patients with BRVO.
Germline Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism GFI1-36N Causes Alterations in Mitochondrial Metabolism and Leads to Increased ROS-Mediated DNA Damage in a Murine Model of Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Vorwerk Jan , Liu Longlong , Stadler Theresa Helene , Frank Daria , Ahmed Helal Mohammed Mohammed , Patnana Pradeep Kumar , Kebenko Maxim , Dazert Eva , Opalka Bertram , von Bubnoff Nikolas , Khandanpour Cyrus
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: GFI1-36N represents a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the zinc finger protein Growth Factor Independence 1 (GFI1), in which the amino acid serine (S) is replaced by asparagine (N). The presence of the GFI1-36N gene variant is associated with a reduced DNA repair capacity favoring myeloid leukemogenesis and leads to an inferior prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. However, the underlying reasons for the reduced DNA repair capacity in GFI1-36N leukemic cells are largely unknown. Since we have demonstrated that GFI1 plays an active role in metabolism, in this study, we investigated whether increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) could contribute to the accumulation of genetic damage in GFI1-36N leukemic cells. Methods: We pursued this question in a murine model of human AML by knocking in human GFI1-36S or GFI1-36N variant constructs into the murine Gfi1 gene locus and retrovirally expressing MLL-AF9 to induce AML. Results: Following the isolation of leukemic bone marrow cells, we were able to show that the GFI1-36N SNP in our model is associated with enhanced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), increased ROS levels, and results in elevated γ-H2AX levels as a marker of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The use of free radical scavengers such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and α-tocopherol (αT) reduced ROS-induced DNA damage, particularly in GFI1-36N leukemic cells. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the GFI1-36N variant is associated with extensive metabolic changes that contribute to the accumulation of genetic damage.
Oncolytic Viruses and Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Uveal Melanoma and Retinoblastoma: The Current Landscape and Novel Advances
Authors: Kulbay Merve , Tuli Nicolas , Mazza Massimo , Jaffer Armaan , Juntipwong Sarinee , Marcotte Emily , Tanya Stuti Misty , Nguyen Anne Xuan-Lan , Burnier Miguel N. , Demirci Hakan
Published: January 2025

Intraocular malignant tumors are rare; however, they can cause serious life-threatening complications. Uveal melanoma (UM) and retinoblastoma (RB) are the most common intraocular tumors in adults and children, respectively, and come with a great disease burden. For many years, several different treatment modalities for UM and RB have been proposed, with chemotherapy for RB cases and plaque radiation therapy for localized UM as first-line treatment options. Extraocular extension, recurrence, and metastasis constitute the major challenges of conventional treatments. To overcome these obstacles, immunotherapy, which encompasses different treatment options such as oncolytic viruses, antibody-mediated immune modulations, and targeted immunotherapy, has shown great potential as a novel therapeutic tool for cancer therapy. These anti-cancer treatment options provide numerous advantages such as selective cancer cell death and the promotion of an anti-tumor immune response, and they prove useful in preventing vision impairment due to macular and/or optic disc involvement. Numerous factors such as the vector choice, route of administration, dosing, and patient characteristics must be considered when engineering an oncolytic virus or other forms of immunotherapy vectors. This manuscript provides an in-depth review of the molecular design of oncolytic viruses (e.g., virus capsid proteins and encapsulation technologies, vectors for delivery, cell targeting) and immunotherapy. The most recent advances in preclinical- and clinical-phase studies are further summarized. The recent developments in virus-like drug conjugates (i.e., AU011), oncolytic viruses for metastatic UM, and targeted immunotherapies have shown great results in clinical trials for the future clinical application of these novel technologies in the treatment algorithm of certain intraocular tumors.
Rheological Characterization and Printability of Sodium Alginate–Gelatin Hydrogel for 3D Cultures and Bioprinting
Authors: Dey Mohan Kumar , Devireddy Ram V.
Published: January 2025

The development of biocompatible hydrogels for 3D bioprinting is essential for creating functional tissue models and advancing preclinical drug testing. This study investigates the formulation, printability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of a novel Alg-Gel hydrogel blend (alginate and gelatin) for use in extrusion-based 3D bioprinting. A range of hydrogel compositions were evaluated for their rheological behavior, including shear-thinning properties, storage modulus, and compressive modulus, which are crucial for maintaining structural integrity during printing and supporting cell viability. The printability assessment of the 7% alginate–8% gelatin hydrogel demonstrated that the 27T tapered needle achieved the highest normalized Printability Index (POInormalized = 1), offering the narrowest strand width (0.56 ± 0.02 mm) and the highest printing accuracy (97.2%) at the lowest printing pressure (30 psi). In contrast, the 30R needle, with the smallest inner diameter (0.152 mm) and highest printing pressure (80 psi), resulted in the widest strand width (0.70 ± 0.01 mm) and the lowest accuracy (88.8%), resulting in a POInormalized of 0.274. The 30T and 27R needles demonstrated moderate performance, with POInormalized values of 0.758 and 0.558, respectively. The optimized 7% alginate and 8% gelatin blend demonstrated favorable printability, mechanical strength, and cell compatibility with MDA-MB-213 breast cancer cells, exhibiting high cell proliferation rates and minimal cytotoxicity over a 2-week culture period. This formulation offers a balanced approach, providing sufficient viscosity for precision printing while minimizing shear stress to preserve cell health. This work lays the groundwork for future advancements in bioprinted cancer models, contributing to the development of more effective tools for drug screening and personalized medicine.
Keeping Cells Alive in Microscopy
Authors: Schneckenburger Herbert , Cremer Christoph
Published: January 2025

Light microscopy has emerged as one of the fundamental methods to analyze biological systems; novel techniques of 3D microscopy and super-resolution microscopy (SRM) with an optical resolution down to the sub-nanometer range have recently been realized. However, most of these achievements have been made with fixed specimens, i.e., direct information about the dynamics of the biosystem studied was not possible. This stimulated the development of live cell microscopy imaging approaches, including Low Illumination Fluorescence Microscopy, Light Sheet (Fluorescence) Microscopy (LSFM), or Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM). Here, we discuss perspectives, methods, and relevant light doses of advanced fluorescence microscopy imaging to keep the cells alive at low levels of phototoxicity.