bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Oral Epithelial Dysplasia: Comparative Insights from In Vivo Optical Coherence Tomography and Histopathology
Authors: Jerjes Waseem , Hamdoon Zaid , Rashed Dara , Hopper Colin
Published: February 2025

Background: Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is considered one of the premalignant lesions for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), for which the five-year disease-free survival rate may vary widely. There has emerged in recent years, therefore, a significant niche for optical coherence tomography (OCT) to non-invasively examine tissue morphology. The present study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of OCT in distinguishing between mild, moderate, and severe dysplasias and carcinoma in situ (CIS) with histopathological correlations. Methods: This prospective, single-centre study included 120 patients with clinically suspicious oral lesions. All lesions underwent in vivo OCT imaging followed by surgical excision and a histopathological examination. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC (area under the curve) were calculated as measures of diagnostic accuracy. Results: OCT demonstrated high diagnostic performance with sensitivity and specificity above 80% for all grades of dysplasia. The AUC values were highest for moderate dysplasia at 0.91 and mild dysplasia at 0.89. The Bland–Altman analysis revealed a high degree of agreement between OCT and histopathology regarding the tumour depth measurements. Interobserver agreement was substantial to almost perfect, with kappa values ranging from 0.74 to 0.85. OCT provided the key imaging features of epithelial thickening, basement membrane disruption, and architectural disorganization. These had good correlations with the grade of dysplasia: r = 0.75–0.82, p < 0.001. Conclusions: OCT is an established diagnostic technique that is non-invasive in nature for the diagnosis of OED; it can provide fine differentiation among grades of dysplasia and define the margins of a lesion.
Prospective Survey of Postoperative Pain in Japan: A Multicenter, Observational Study
Authors: Kaibori Masaki , Yoshii Kengo , Lai Tung Thanh , Matsushima Hideyuki , Tatsuishi Wataru , Inada Ryo , Matsugu Yasuhiro , Komeda Koji , Asakuma Mitsuhiro , Tanaka Keitaro , Sato Hiroshi , Yamada Takeshi , Miyasaka Toshimitsu , Hasegawa Yutaka , Matsui Ryota , Takehara Kazuhiro , Ko Saiho , Yamato Ichiro , Washizawa Naohiro , Taniguchi Hideki , Kimura Yutaka , Ishibashi Nobuya , Akagi Yoshito , Hiki Naoko , Higuchi Tadashi , Shingai Tatsushi , Kamei Takashi , Okamoto Hiroshi , Nagakawa Yuichi , Takishita Chie , Kohri Takayuki , Matsui Kosuke , Nabeya Yoshihiro , Fukatsu Kazuhiko , Miyata Go
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Postoperative analgesia is important for reducing biologically invasive reactions to surgery. In Japan, postoperative analgesia, including indices of analgesia, has not been adequately addressed. This study aimed to determine the relationship between postoperative pain and postoperative course and the importance of analgesia for early recovery. Methods: Patients who underwent any of seven surgical procedures in gastrointestinal, thoracic, and cardiac surgery were enrolled. The primary endpoint was a median Prince Henry Pain Scale score from postoperative days 1 to 3. Secondary endpoints were the quality of recovery on postoperative day 7 (Quality of Recovery-15 [QoR-15]) and the length of postoperative hospital stay. Results: Median postoperative pain levels among surgeries were 3 on day 1, 2 on days 2 and 3, 1 on day 7, and 1 at discharge. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the use of postoperative epidural analgesia and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) were significant predictors of early postoperative pain. Only early postoperative pain was a significant predictor of QoR-15 score. Regular use of acetaminophen, early postoperative pain, no appetite, and postoperative complications were significant in affecting the length of postoperative hospital stay. In the comparison of early postoperative pain according to whether epidural analgesia and IV-PCA were used, the group that used both methods had the least pain. Conclusions: In Japan, early postoperative pain persists after major surgical procedures and affects postoperative quality of recovery and length of hospital stay. The use of epidural analgesia, IV-PCA, or both appeared to be effective in overcoming early postoperative pain, thereby enhancing early postoperative recovery.
Discovery of Novel Small-Molecule Immunomodulators for Cancer Immunotherapy Using OB2C Technology
Authors: Wang Hsiao-Chi , Shih Tsung-Chieh
Published: February 2025

Background/Objective: Immunomodulators play a critical role in regulating immune responses, with immunostimulatory agents enhancing cancer therapy by activating immune cells such as T cells. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4 have shown clinical success, the availability of small-molecule immunomodulators remains limited. This study aimed to identify novel small-molecule immunomodulators using the One-Bead-Two-Compound (OB2C) library approach for potential cancer immunotherapy. Methods: A OB2C library consisting of 1,764 compounds was screened to identify small-molecule immunomodulators capable of enhancing immune responses. The bead library was incubated with Jurkat cells, which express high levels of α4β1 integrin, each and every compound-bead was uniformly covered with cells. IFN-γ production was measured as a marker of immune activation. The most potent compound was further evaluated for its effects on PBMC activation and cytolytic activity against prostate cancer cells. Tumor cell viability assays were performed to evaluate its effect on immune-mediated tumor suppression. Results: Two immunomodulators, Kib-IM-1 and Kib-IM-4, were identified from a 1764-compound OB2C library. However, only Kib-IM-4 was confirmed to induce PBMC clustering and significantly enhance IFN-γ production. In addition, Kib-IM-4 promoted immune cell activation and enhanced the cytolytic activity of PBMCs against prostate cancer cells, leading to a reduction in tumor cell viability. Conclusions: These findings highlighted Kib-IM-4’s potential as a novel small-molecule immunomodulator for cancer immunotherapy. By enhancing immune cell activation and promoting tumor cell cytolysis, Kib-IM-4 represents a promising candidate for further development in cancer treatment.
The Effects of Anthropic Structures on Coastline Morphology: A Case Study from the Málaga Coast (Spain)
Authors: Molina Rosa , Manno Giorgio , Villar Antonio Contreras de , Jigena-Antelo Bismarck , Muñoz-Pérez Juan José , Cooper J. Andrew G. , Pranzini Enzo , Anfuso Giorgio
Published: February 2025

The Málaga coast, in the south of Spain, is a densely populated tourist destination where ports, marinas and coastal protection structures of various typologies (e.g., groins, breakwaters, revetments) and shapes (e.g., “Y”, “L”, etc., shaped groins) have been emplaced. Such structures have modified the long- and cross-shore sediment transport and produced changes in beach morphology and the evolution of nearby areas. To characterize the changes related to shore-normal structures, beach erosion/accretion areas close to coastal anthropic structures were measured using a sequence of aerial orthophotos between 1956 and 2019, and the potential littoral sediment transport for the two main littoral transport directions was determined by means of the CMS (Coastal Modeling System). Available data on wave propagation and coastal sediment transport reflect the complex dynamics of the study area, often characterized by the coexistence of opposing longshore transport directions. Accretion was observed on both sides of ports in all studied periods and groins and groups of groins presented mixed results that reflect the heterogeneity of the study area; in certain sectors where the wave regime is bidirectional, changes in the shoreline trend were observed during the study period. The study cases described in this paper emphasize the difficulties in finding clear spatial and temporal trends in the artificially induced erosion/accretion patterns recorded along a heavily modified shoreline.
Expanding and Interpreting Financial Statement Fraud Detection Using Supply Chain Knowledge Graphs
Authors: Zhu Shanshan , Ma Tengyun , Wu Haotian , Ren Jifan , He Daojing , Li Yubin , Ge Rui
Published: February 2025

The relationships within a supply chain are crucial for analyzing business transactions and can reveal significant patterns in disclosed financial data. These relationships also aid in the assessment and detection of financial fraud. Recent studies employing graph neural networks (GNNs) have demonstrated enhanced detection capabilities by integrating corporate financial features with supply chain relationships, surpassing traditional methods that rely solely on financial features. However, these studies face notable limitations: (1) they do not model enterprise associations across consecutive years, hindering the detection of long-term financial fraud, and (2) they lack efficacy in interpretive analyses of supply chain relationships to uncover patterns of fraud or risk transfer. To address these gaps, this paper introduces an interpretable and efficient Heterogeneous Graph Convolutional Network (ieHGCN) designed to analyze supply chain knowledge graphs. It also extends the model’s learning scope to multi-year financial data for detecting fraud. The experimental results indicate that our method, offering both extensibility and interpretability, significantly outperforms existing machine learning and GNN approaches in continuous multi-year fraud detection, achieving the highest AUC of 0.7498, a 3.8% improvement over the leading method. Furthermore, meta-path analysis reveals that companies sharing the same supplier exhibit correlated financial fraud risks and that fraud can propagate through the supply chain, providing novel insights into anti-fraud and risk management strategies through enhanced interpretability.
Supply Chain Sustainability Drivers: Identification and Multi-Criteria Assessment
Authors: Osintsev Nikita , Rakhmangulov Aleksandr
Published: February 2025

Background: Supply chains operate under the changing influences of multiple external and internal factors. Sustainable supply chain development requires an assessment of these factors, as well as drivers and barriers. Various sustainability assessment criteria, methods, and models based on the consideration of the influence of different factors are used depending on the type and structure of the supply chain. Methods: The combination of DEMATEL and CRADIS multi-criteria methods is applied to rank the efficiency of drivers for achieving sustainable development goals, both for the supply chain as a whole and for each of its structural elements. Results: This study proposes a system of drivers for sustainable supply chain development. The peculiarity of the used supply chain model is the universality of its structure, which ensures the realization by the structural elements of the chain of all known functional areas of logistics. A framework for sustainable supply chain drivers’ multi-criteria assessment based on the use of the original two-level system of drivers’ assessment criteria is developed. Conclusions: The results of the supply chain sustainability drivers’ ranking and the framework developed by the authors are intended to justify decisions on the green logistics methods and instrument selection.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Output Characteristics of Flow Field in Turbodrill Motor
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Fulu , Cao Mengyu , Ma Tianchi , Ning Wangluo , Zhang Mingxiu , He Tiansu , Wang Xu
Published: February 2025

Turbodrills are extensively utilized within the oilfield development industry. In order to enhance the performance output of turbodrills, a novel stator and rotor structure has been conceptualized. Fluent 19.0 numerical simulation software was employed to ascertain the output characteristics of the rotor within the flow field. The drilling engine output performance was the subject of a qualitative study, which was conducted using the drilling mud pump test equipment during drilling. Furthermore, a speed torque meter measurement system was designed to quantitatively analyze the output torque and speed performance of the prototype. The results show that: ① Through the numerical simulation method, it is verified that the new structural rotor has the output performance of a conventional rotor. ② Comparing the numerical solution and the test value, it can be seen that the relative error value is within 4.3%, indicating that the numerical simulation has a certain accuracy. ③ When the inlet displacement is 30 L/s and the speed is 1400 r/min, the maximum value of the numerical solution of the output torque of a single rotor group is 12.45 N/m. When the inlet displacement increases from 18 L/s to 30 L/s, the maximum torque numerical solution increases from 10.78 N/m to 27.44 N/m.
Triple Down on Robustness: Understanding the Impact of Adversarial Triplet Compositions on Adversarial Robustness
Authors: Joos Sander , hamme Tim Van , Verheyen Willem , Preuveneers Davy , Joosen Wouter
Published: February 2025

Adversarial training, a widely used technique for fortifying the robustness of machine learning models, has seen its effectiveness further bolstered by modifying loss functions or incorporating additional terms into the training objective. While these adaptations are validated through empirical studies, they lack a solid theoretical basis to explain the models’ secure and robust behavior. In this paper, we investigate the integration of adversarial triplets within the adversarial training framework, a method previously shown to enhance robustness. However, the reasons behind this increased robustness are poorly understood, and the impact of different adversarial triplet configurations remains unclear. To address this gap, we utilize the robust and non-robust features framework to analyze how various adversarial triplet compositions influence robustness, providing deeper insights into the robustness guarantees of this approach. Specifically, we introduce a novel framework that explains how different compositions of adversarial triplets lead to distinct training dynamics, thereby affecting the model’s adversarial robustness. We validate our theoretical findings through empirical analysis, demonstrating that our framework accurately characterizes the effects of adversarial triplets on the training process. Our results offer a comprehensive explanation of how adversarial triplets influence the security and robustness of models, providing a theoretical foundation for methods that employ adversarial triplets to improve robustness. This research not only enhances our theoretical understanding but also has practical implications for developing more robust machine learning models.
Estrogen Treatment Lowers the Risk of Complications in Menopausal Women with Mild Burn Injury
Authors: Song Juquan , Golovko George , Botnar Kostiantyn , El Ayadi Amina , Vincent Kathleen L. , Wolf Steven E.
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: Postmenopausal women are often treated with exogenous female hormones to alleviate physical symptoms and support mental health. We posit that women treated with estrogen fare better following burn injury. Materials and Methods: De-identified patient data were obtained from TriNetX, a global healthcare research network. Adult postmenopausal women were enrolled if they were diagnosed with burn injury within 10 years after menopause onset. Patients with pre-existing abnormal uterine bleeding, gynecologic cancer, and chronic liver or heart disease were excluded. The population was grouped into those who received and those who did not receive estrogen treatment (ET) for evaluation of subsequent complications. Cohort balancing was performed using the exact match approach of Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (IPTW). The average treatment effects (ATEs) and confidence intervals were computed for these balanced cohorts. Results: Postmenopausal women with ET had a lower risk of endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy 3 months (ATE = −0.005, −0.006) and 3 years (−0.007, −0.008) after mild burn injury (less than 20% of total body surface area) (p < 0.05), regardless of age. At the 3-month timepoint, postmenopausal women aged 45–65 with ET exhibited preventive effects against acute kidney injury (−0.0332), cerebral infarction (−0.0279), breast cancer (−0.0278) and severe sepsis (−0.011) after mild burn injury (p < 0.05) compared to women who did not receive ET. After 3 years, 45–65-year-old women with ET exhibited decreased rates of breast cancer (−0.0479) and endometrial hyperplasia (−0.0116) (p < 0.05) compared to those without ET. Conclusions: Estrogen treatment decreases the risk probabilities of breast cancer and other complications in postmenopausal women from 3 months to 3 years after mild burn injury.
In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes in Donor Oocyte Cycles Compared to the Autologous Cycles in the Poseidon 4 Group of Poor Ovarian Responders
Authors: Havrljenko Jelena , Kopitovic Vesna , Pjevic Aleksandra Trninic , Milatovic Stevan , Kalember Sandro , Katanic Filip , Pavlica Tatjana , Andric Nebojsa , Pogrmic-Majkic Kristina
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: POSEIDON 4 (P4) patients face the most adverse outcomes among poor responders. Oocyte donation has overcome unsatisfactory live birth rates (LBRs) in P4 patients and has become an indispensable approach. However, many patients refuse oocyte donation despite poor live birth likelihood using autologous oocytes. This study aimed to determine clinical outcomes and live birth chances in P4 patients using autologous and donated oocytes. We also identified influencing factors of fertility outcome in P4 patients who underwent donor cycles. Materials and Methods: Retrospective data of 345 P4 patients who explored the first ovarian stimulation cycle (control group) were compared to 105 patients who failed to conceive and underwent repeated autologous ovarian stimulations with an increased starting gonadotropin dose and 100 unpregnant patients who received donated oocytes. Univariate analysis was used to identify prognostic factors of oocyte donation outcomes in P4 patients. Results: LBRs were significantly higher in the donor oocyte group. A higher number of retrieved and good-quality oocytes without differences in the blastocyst number and LBRs were found in the autologous patient group with adjusted gonadotropin dose compared to the control group. Univariate analysis showed that oocyte and embryo quality as well as blastocyst development had a positive impact on live birth in the donor patient group. Conclusions: Autologous in vitro fertilization (IVF) retreating and oocyte donation should be strongly advised for poor-prognosis P4 patients. Still, efforts in tailoring ovarian stimulation to obtain higher oocyte and embryo numbers in autologous cycles should be continued.
Long COVID and Lung Involvement: A One-Year Longitudinal, Real-Life Study
Authors: Stefania Motoc Nicoleta , Toma Claudia , Bondor Cosmina Ioana , Maria Ruta Victoriua , Florin Petrariu , Adina Man Milena
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: Long COVID as a condition typically manifests itself three months after the initial onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with symptoms persisting for a minimum of two months. The aim of the present research was to identify potential predictors of post-COVID-19 syndrome (long COVID-19) and to evaluate factors associated with the presence of post-COVID-19 interstitial lung disease and functional decline. Materials and Methods: 210 patients hospitalized for confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections mild, moderate, severe, and critical form have been evaluated at 3, 6 and twelve months. Results: Among them only one has been with a suspicion of interstitial lung disease after one year, the rest had no change in the lung. No risk factor from the baseline/3-month or 6-month evaluations significantly influenced patients’ status at 12 months. The longer the duration of hospitalization, the lower the FVC and DLCO were at 3 months, but the longer the duration of hospitalization, the higher the number of symptoms at 3 months and 6 months. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, the number of hospitalization days remained statistically significant only for the number of symptoms at 3 months and 6 months. Conclusions: Long COVID seems to be related to the severity of the initial disease, and among the most persistent. Post-COVID-19 interstitial lung disease does not seem to be a frequent entity, as in our study only 0.5% out of 210 patients had it.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation as a Treatment for Granulomatous Colitis in a French Bulldog: A Case Report
Authors: Romano Felipe S. , Lallo Maria A. , Romano Raquel S. , Isidoro Letícia P. S. , Cardoso Mariane R. , Sodré Lylian C. , Melchert Alessandra , Guimarães-Okamoto Priscylla T. C. , Pappalardo Maria C. F. , Amaral Andressa R. , Vendramini Thiago H. A.
Published: February 2025

Granulomatous colitis, or ulcerative colitis, is an infectious and inflammatory disease that primarily affects the colon and occasionally extends to the ileum, particularly in young Boxer and French Bulldogs. Unlike typical chronic colitis in small animals, the early onset of the disease suggests a genetic predisposition. The condition is characterized by the overgrowth of Escherichia coli, specifically the enteroinvasive variant, which displaces beneficial gut bacteria, contributing to its infectious nature. Secondary dysbiosis and chronic-active inflammation involving histiocytes and other leukocytic infiltrates are prominent features. Clinical manifestations include chronic diarrhea with blood and mucus, frequent tenesmus, and pain, with variable degrees of weight loss depending on disease severity. The final diagnosis is based on clinical history (chronic diarrhea with hematochezia), macroscopic findings from colonoscopy (edema, ulcers, and wall hyperplasia), histopathology (presence of histiocytes), and Escherichia coli growth in culture from a colon fragment. Treatment is guided by colon antibiograms, which often require prolonged antibiotic therapy. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a potential treatment, either as a primary intervention or adjunctive therapy, for conditions such as acute enteritis (e.g., canine parvovirus), dysbiosis, and chronic enteropathies. However, its application to modulate the microbiota and reduce inflammation in granulomatous colitis, potentially leading to longer intervals between relapses, remains an area of ongoing investigation. This is a case report of a French Bulldog diagnosed with ulcerative colitis accompanied by dysbiosis and refractory to standard treatments but sensitive and partially responsive to amikacin. The patient achieved control and sustained improvement in fecal scoring following fecal transplantation. This approach prevented the need for additional antibiotic therapy, ensuring clinical amelioration alongside microbiome restoration.
In Vitro Differential Virucidal Efficacy of Alcohol-Based Disinfectants Against Human Norovirus and Its Surrogates
Authors: Hiraishi Eri , Ozaki Keita , Yamakami Moe , Akasaka Tempei , Kimura Hirokazu
Published: February 2025

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major causative agent of foodborne illness and causes acute viral gastroenteritis. This study aimed to compare the virucidal efficacies of alcohol-based disinfectants against HuNoV and its surrogates for murine norovirus and feline calicivirus using a cell culture infectivity assay. Additionally, the study evaluated the validity of estimating virucidal efficacy on HuNoV from the results of virucidal efficacy on the surrogate virus. All disinfectants decreased the titer of each virus by >3 log10 and >4 log10 for an exposure duration of 30 s against murine norovirus and feline calicivirus, respectively. However, acidic alcohol-based disinfectants completely inactivated the HuNoV GII.17 strain for 30 or 60 s, whereas an alkaline alcohol-based disinfectant did not inactivate HuNoV GII.17 for 60 s. This finding indicates that the pH of alcohol disinfectants affects their virucidal effects against HuNoV, and acidity has a higher virucidal efficacy against HuNoV than alkalinity. Disinfectants showing virucidal efficacy against surrogates were not effective against HuNoV. Few studies have used cell culture infectivity assays to test the inactivating effects of hand sanitizers on HuNoV and its surrogates. Our study provides useful information for the development of disinfectants that are effective against HuNoV.
Characterization of Euglena gracilis Mutants Generated by Long-Term Serial Treatment with a Low Concentration of Ethyl Methanesulfonate
Authors: Kang Ji-Yeon , Ban Younglan , Shin Eui-Cheol , Kwon Jong-Hee
Published: February 2025

Euglena gracilis is a microalga that has great promise for the production of biofuels, functional foods, and bioactive compounds, and mutagenesis and effective screening methods are required to develop Euglena strains that have industrial use. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) is a widely used mutagen, but is highly lethal to Euglena at typical concentrations. In the present study, low-concentration, long-time EMS exposure combined with serial treatment was introduced for generating Euglena mutants. We then used screening protocols to select cells with altered motility or pigmentation, and isolated two distinct strains of Euglena: Mutant 333 and Mutant 335. Mutant 333 showed increased motility but exhibited a decreased differentiation rate and reduced paramylon content (13.5%), making it unsuitable for industrial applications. However, Mutant 335, which had a deficiency of chlorophyll, had a high paramylon content (31.62%) and a mild and pleasant odor profile due to decreased concentrations of certain volatile compounds, with confirmation by GC-MS analysis. The Mutant 335 strain is suitable for the production of functional food products and renewable jet fuel.
Biochemical Features of the Cry3A Toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis and Its Toxicity to the Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta
Authors: Bulla Lee A.
Published: February 2025

Bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely used as safe alternatives to chemical insecticides. The insecticidal activity of Bt is occasioned by a protein toxin contained in parasporal crystals (Cry proteins) that are synthesized and laid down alongside the endospore during sporulation. The specificity of toxin action is associated with the subspecies of Bt and the individual Cry toxins they produce. Although a number of commercial Bt formulations are available to control moths, mosquitoes and beetles, there are none that control the red imported fire ant (RIFA) Solenopsis invicta. The present report is the first to describe the insecticidal activity of the Cry3A protein toxin, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (Btt), against the RIFA as well as some of its key biochemical properties. Currently available commercial formulations of Btt are designed to control beetles such as the Colorado potato beetle, not ants. The Cry3A toxin (MW ~66 kDa) is embedded in a larger polypeptide (protoxin, MW ~73 kDa) and is released from the toxin enzymatically. Once activated, it can be administered to the RIFA as a soluble protein that most likely binds to an attendant receptor in the epithelial cells that line the wall of the larval ventriculus, killing the insect. Properly customized, the Cry3A toxin is a potential candidate for fire ant control.
Immobilization and Monitoring of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri in Synthetic Biofilms
Authors: Herzog Josha , Jäkel Anna C. , Simmel Friedrich C. , Weuster-Botz Dirk
Published: February 2025

The growing need for sustainable biotechnological solutions to address environmental challenges, such as climate change and resource depletion, has intensified interest in microbial-based production systems. Synthetic biofilms, which mimic natural microbial consortia, offer a promising platform for optimizing complex metabolic processes that can convert renewable feedstocks into valuable chemicals. In this context, understanding and harnessing the interactions between co-immobilized microorganisms are critical for advancing bioprocesses that contribute to circular bioeconomy goals. In this study, we investigated the viability and metabolic activity of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri within a synthetic, dual-layered biofilm composed of agar hydrogel. This setup compartmentalized each bacterial species. Embedding the bacteria in a structured biofilm offers numerous opportunities for bioproduction, but the inability to monitor cell growth or movement within the immobilization matrix limits process insights. To address this, we adapted a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol, enabling precise, species-specific visualization of bacterial distribution and growth within the gel matrix. Batch processes with the dual-layered biofilm in anaerobic flasks, designed with a metabolic advantage for C. kluyveri, revealed distinct growth dynamics. C. kluyveri exhibited significant metabolic activity, forming clusters at low initial cell concentrations and converting ethanol and acetate into 1-butyrate and 1-hexanoate, indicating viability and cell growth. C. carboxidivorans remained evenly distributed without significant growth or product formation, suggesting that while the cells were viable, they were not metabolically active under the experimental conditions. Both bacterial species were confined to their respective compartments throughout the process, with C. kluyveri showing enhanced substrate conversion at higher initial cell densities in the hydrogel. The pH drop throughout the batch experiment likely contributed to incomplete substrate consumption, particularly for C. kluyveri, which thrives within a narrow pH range. These findings highlight synthetic biofilms as a promising platform for optimizing microbial interactions and improving bioprocess efficiency, especially in applications involving complex metabolic exchanges between co-immobilized microorganisms. Further research will focus on applying conditions to support the growth and metabolic activity of C. carboxidivorans to explore spatial dynamics of bacterial migration and cooperative relationships in the synthetic biofilm.
Si-HgTe Quantum Dot Visible-Infrared Photodetector
Authors: Qian Lei , Zhao Xue , Zhang Kenan , Huo Chen , Li Yongrui , Yan Naiquan , Shi Feng , Peng Xing , Chen Menglu
Published: February 2025

Silicon photodetectors are well developed, with the advantage of their low cost and easy fabrication. However, due to the semiconductor band gap limitation, their detection wavelength is limited in the visible and near-infrared ranges. To broaden the detection wavelength, we stacked a mercury telluride (HgTe) colloidal quantum dot (CQD) photodiode and a silicon PIN photodiode in series. This detector shows response spectra ranging from visible to short-wave infrared (430 nm to 2800 nm) at room temperature. At zero bias, the total photocurrents are 112.5 μA and 1.24 μA, with a tungsten lamp and a blackbody serving as light sources, respectively. The response speed can reach 1.65 μs, with the calculated detectivities of the visible wavelength D* = 1.01 × 1011 Jones, and that of the short-wave infrared being D* = 2.66 × 1010 Jones at room temperature. At the same time, with a homemade trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) circuit, we demonstrate the device application for figuring out the amplified voltage of the VIS, SWIR, and the VIS-SWIR stacked layers.
The Historical Baseline of Hard Tick Records in Spain (1985–2024)
Authors: Estrada-Peña Agustín , Martínez-Estéllez Miguel A. Habela , Pradera Carlos , Castellà Joaquim
Published: February 2025

Ticks are important vectors of pathogens, producing diseases in animals and humans. The planning of information campaigns or prevention programs is heavily based on the knowledge of highly detailed data on tick distribution. This study reports unpublished data on the distribution of more than 30,000 tick specimens, collected by active surveys in the years 1985–2024 in Spain, from 2285 surveys in 1636 unique sites, providing coordinates with variable accuracy. The report covers new records of Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis sulcata, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus hibericus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (either s.s. or s.l.). Other species were sporadically collected. Many specimens have been re-examined for accurate identification according to current taxonomic views, mainly in the genus Rhipicephalus. We summarized this newly available information using the Köppen–Geiger climate classification. This compilation of unpublished tick records pinpoints the importance of the systematic monitoring of ticks. It is intended as the baseline over which the ongoing national tick collection program is built in order to track the long-term changes of tick distribution in Spain, because of the land use changes, the spread of invasive vertebrates, or the climate trends.
Polyphenols from Bacopa procumbens Nanostructured with Gold Nanoparticles Stimulate Hair Growth Through Apoptosis Modulation in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Pérez-Mora Salvador , Ocampo-López Juan , Gómez-García María del Consuelo , Salgado-Hernández Sandra Viridiana , Flores-Martinez Yazmin Montserrat , Pérez-Ishiwara David Guillermo
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Alopecia is a hair disorder with a significant impact on quality of life, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Current therapeutic options are limited and may cause adverse side effects, highlighting the need to develop safer and more effective formulations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a formulation based on the bioactive fraction of Bacopa procumbens (BFNB), conjugated with gold nanoparticles, on hair growth through the modulation of apoptosis in C57BL/6 mice. Methods: The potential biological activities of the secondary metabolites of B. procumbens present in BFNB were analyzed in silico. In vivo experiments evaluated the expression of pro-apoptotic markers p53, caspase 3-p11, caspase 9-p10, and Bax, as well as anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2, through Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry further assessed the expression and localization of some of these markers. Additionally, molecular docking and interactomic analyses were performed, complemented by functional enrichment, to explore molecular pathways modulated by the evaluated proteins. Results: In silico analyses suggested that BFNB metabolites are involved in the modulation of hair growth, hair fragility, and apoptosis. This finding was supported by in vivo experiments in mice, where BFNB significantly decreased the expression of p53, caspase 3-p11, caspase 9-p10, and Bax while increasing Bcl-2 levels. Immunohistochemistry showcased a reduction in pro-apoptotic markers in dermal and follicular bulb cells. Furthermore, molecular docking studies identified BFNB metabolites as potential direct modulators of these key proteins, strengthening evidence of their role in apoptotic regulation. The interactomic analysis highlighted 50 proteins associated with apoptosis, and functional enrichment underscored key processes such as p53 signaling, regulation of the apoptosome, and mitochondrial membrane involvement in the intrinsic apoptosis mechanism, among other pathways. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that BFNB effectively modulates apoptosis through key molecular mechanisms, highlighting its potential as an innovative therapy for promoting hair growth.
Asymmetric Modulation Physical-Layer Network Coding Based on Power Allocation and Multiple Receive Antennas in an OFDM-UWOC Three-User Relay Network
Authors: Li Yanlong , Jiang Pengcheng , Li Shuaixing , Chen Xiao , He Qihao , Wang Tuyang
Published: February 2025

In relay-assisted underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) systems, the traditional time-division-multiplexed relay forwarding strategy faces high latency and low throughput with the increase of relay users. To address these issues, this paper proposes a multiple receiving antenna power allocation-based bit splicing physical layer network coding (MRA-PABS-PNC) method in a three-user asymmetric modulated relay-assisted UWOC scenario. MRA-PABS-PNC reduces the number of multiple access time slots by using multi-antenna reception techniques. At the same time, it employs a bit-splicing method to concatenate the data that would normally be transmitted over two-time slots into a longer data stream transmitted in a single time slot, thus reducing the number of broadcast time slots and ultimately improving throughput. Moreover, this paper models and determines the optimal position and angle of the relay node photodetector. Once the relay node is positioned at the optimal location and angle, the system can allocate power to each user node based on the channel state information to overcome the effect of asymmetric channels on PNC coding, thereby further improving system performance. Simulation results show that the method improves the throughput by 100% compared with the existing four-time slot PNC (FT-PNC) method.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate/Polyethylene Glycol/Poly(Styrene)-b-Poly(4-Vinylpyridine) Membrane Embedded with Hydrotermaly Activated TiO2 Nanoparticles for Waste-Waters Treatment by Membrane Processes
Authors: Căprărescu Simona , Tihan Grațiela Teodora , Zgârian Roxana Gabriela , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai , Lazau Carmen , Bandas Cornelia , Atanase Leonard Ionuț , Nicolae Cristian-Andi
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the properties of a novel polymeric membrane based on cellulose acetate, polyethylene glycol/poly(styrene)-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine), and embedded with TiO2 nanoparticles (CA/PEG/PS154-b-P4VP381/TiO2 membrane) obtained by wet-phase inversion method. The TiO2 nanoparticles fabricated by a hydrothermal method were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, and UV-Vis analyses to determine the purity, morphology, and optical band gap energy. The prepared polymeric membranes with and without TiO2 nanoparticles (CA/PEG/PS154-b-P4VP381/TiO2 and CA/PEG/PS154-b-P4VP381 membranes) were characterized by FTIR, SEM, EDXS, and TGA to observe the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles added to the polymeric membrane matrix and to analyze the chemical structure, morphology, and thermal stability of the obtained polymeric membranes. The contact angle, SFE, water retention, and porosity were also determined. The results showed that adding the TiO2 nanoparticles into the polymeric membrane (CA/PEG/PS154-b-P4VP381/TiO2) significantly reduced the pore size and the water contact angle, increasing the water retention and the porosity. The lower value of the water contact angle of 15.57 ± 0.45° for the CA/PEG/PS154-b-P4VP381/TiO2 membrane indicates a pronounced hydrophilic character. The investigations performed showed that the CA/PEG/PS154-b-P4VP381/TiO2 membrane presents excellent properties and can be a promising material for water and waste-water treatment through membrane processes (e.g., electrodialysis, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis) in the future.
Study of Construction of Innovative Barite/Waterborne Polyurethane/Low-Density Polyethylene Composites for Enhanced X-Ray Shielding Performance
Authors: Xu Xi , Shi Shujin , Yang Xianrong , Shuai Huan , Du Gaoxiang , Wang Jiao
Published: February 2025

X-rays’ high-energy nature poses risks to human health. Traditional X-ray shielding materials often contain toxic lead and have drawbacks like bulkiness and rigidity. Consequently, there is an increasing need to develop lightweight, non-toxic, flexible, and efficient shielding materials. In this study, we modified barite with waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and systematically investigated the effects of WPU on barite’s properties. The modification with WPU not only reduced the tendency of barite (B) to agglomerate but also enhanced its compatibility with polymers, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties of LDPE/WPU-B composites. Compared to unmodified barite in LDPE/B composites, the tensile and flexural modulus of the LDPE/WPU-B composites increased by 22.31% and 29.64%, respectively. With 20% WPU-modified barite, the radiation shielding efficiency increased by 5%. When the WPU-B content reached 40%, the shielding efficiency of the LDPE/WPU-B composite exceeded 90% for tube voltages ranging from 60 kV to 120 kV, achieving a lead equivalent of 0.38 mmPb at 100 kV. This novel LDPE/WPU-B composite has great potential for low-dose radiation shielding applications.
Random Copolymerization: An Efficient Strategy for Significantly Enhancing Photothermal Performance Through Synergistic Open-Shell Radical and TICT Effects
Authors: Xu Wenjin , Tan Haoran , Li Yu , Ma Xiaorui , Xu Haitao , Zhou Dan , Wan Qing , Lv Ruizhi
Published: February 2025

Currently, photothermal (PT) polymers are gaining increasing attention in water evaporation, photocatalysis and photothermal therapy. However, high-performance PT polymers often require conjugated backbones and/or large fused units, which can impede non-radiative decay and lead to suboptimal PT performance. The development of general strategies for preparing high-performance PT polymers remains a significant challenge. In this paper, the high-performance donor–acceptor (D–A) random copolymers, named PBT4T-BBT-x (x = 0, 5, 10, 20 and 100), were fabricated by cross-mixing bithiophene donors with benzothiadiazole (BT) and benzodithiadiazole (BBT) acceptors. Notably, when the ratios of BT and BBT are finely tuned, the polymers exhibit significantly controllable open-shell radical effects and twisted intermolecular charge transfer (TICT) states. The synergistic effects of radicals and TICT states notably enhanced the PT performance of random copolymers. Specifically, when the proper ratios of BBT units are used, the photothermal conversion efficiency (PTCE) is remarkably increased from 21.7% to 58.5%, and the PT temperature obviously increases from 150 °C to 232 °C under 808 nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, the random copolymers exhibit good water evaporation rates. We propose that this strategy provides a valuable synthesis pathway for generating high-performance photothermal therapy and water evaporation materials.
Experimental Study of Injection–Production Coupling Technique for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Mature Water Flooding Reservoirs
Authors: Wang Li , He Hong , Wu Hua , Luo Zhi , Gao Zhongchen , Peng Jun , Yin Haixia , Lei Hao
Published: February 2025

Water flooding is one of the most widely used secondary oil recovery methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, as a reservoir matures, excessive water production often accompanies oil production. To address this issue, the injection–production coupling technique (IPCT) has been proposed to control water production and improve oil recovery. Despite its practical application, the underlying mechanisms governing the injection–production process remain unclear. To investigate this, a transparent heterogeneous sand pack model and a visualization micro-model were employed to examine the impact of the injection–production mode on oil recovery and to uncover the mechanisms of enhanced oil recovery. The results indicate that, compared to the conventional continuous injection–production mode, both the fluid flow swept area and incremental oil recovery are significantly higher in the IPCT. Sweep efficiency improves by adjusting the injection–production streamlines and displacement directions. Notably, the oil displacement effect in the “stop injection” mode is more effective than in the “reduce injection” mode. These findings suggest that the coupling injection–production mode can efficiently recover residual oil in low permeability zones, thereby enhancing overall oil recovery.
Numerical Simulation on the Transport and Displacement Patterns of Proppant in Hydraulic Fractures Considering the Effect of Rough Fracture Surfaces
Authors: Xiao Bo , Li Hongzhu , Wei Chaoran , Zhu Weiyao , Song Tianru , Yue Ming
Published: February 2025

The influence of various factors, such as the natural properties of rock and in-situ stress conditions, results in uneven and rough fracture surfaces post-hydraulic fracturing. This significantly impacts the transport and placement of proppant within the fracture, thereby affecting the effectiveness of fracture stimulation. This study employs the rectangular wave method to characterize the roughness of fracture wall morphology, detailing the variation of roughness by altering the number and height of micro-protuberances, and constructs a three-dimensional model of rough fractures. The Euler–Euler model is utilized to simulate the placement and transport patterns of proppant within the fracture. Sand banks within the fracture profile are segmented based on proppant concentration, and the dimensionless area of each concentration interval is calculated to analyze the structure of sand banks and the suspension and settling effects of proppant. This research investigates the variation patterns of sand dune structures within fractures characterized by different levels of roughness and morphologies; it also examines the impact of injection velocity and fracturing fluid viscosity on the transport and placement of proppant within rough fractures. The findings indicate that the complex spatial structure of rough fractures modifies the edge shape of sand dunes. Moreover, it impedes proppant transport, leading to the formation of sand plugs near the wellbore. The maximum distance of sand placement for rough fractures is only 55.2% of that for fractures without considering roughness. The increase in the number and height of micro-protrusions enhances fracture roughness, leading to a stronger retarding effect. However, variations in these two types of roughness have distinct impacts on the morphology of sand dunes. Higher injection velocities facilitate the transport of proppant within rough fractures. The furthest distance of proppant placement at an injection velocity of 0.5 m3/min is only 68.4% of that at an injection velocity of 1.5 m3/min. The study’s findings contribute to a more intuitive understanding of the impact of rough fracture wall surfaces on the transport and placement patterns of proppant, providing a foundation for the optimization of fracturing design and operational parameters.
Research on the Optimization of Continuous Gas Lift Production from Multiple Wells on the Platform
Authors: Wang Qingrong , Yang Zhi , Zeng Linjuan , Du Anqi , Chen Yi , Luo Wei
Published: February 2025

As the development of oil and gas resources becomes increasingly complex, the traditional oil and gas well management model faces many challenges. Continuous gas lift technology has become an important means to improve oil and gas well recovery due to its high efficiency and adaptability. Because of the multi-well continuous gas lift process on the platform, there is mutual interference between wells, and the constraints of the total gas production of each well need to be greater than the critical liquid-carrying flow rate. (Under production conditions, when gas–liquid two-phase flow occurs, the minimum gas flow rate required when the liquid phase can be completely carried out of the wellhead by the gas phase). To achieve the optimization goal of maximizing gas production, an optimized gas distribution based on a particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. This method achieves the overall optimal allocation of resources through dynamic optimization. Through actual engineering case analysis, the feasibility of this method is verified, which is of great significance for improving the gas lift efficiency and economic benefits of the platform.