bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Long-Term Effectiveness of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment in Perimenopausal Women with Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause—Single Center Preliminary Study
Authors: Woźniak Sławomir , Woźniak Andrzej
Published: January 2025

Background: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) is a prevalent condition in postmenopausal women characterized by symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, and urinary tract issues due to declining estrogen levels. Despite its widespread impact on quality of life, GSM often remains underdiagnosed and without effective treatment. Methods: This study assessed the long-term efficacy of fractional CO2 laser treatment in alleviating GSM symptoms in perimenopausal women. The study involved 125 participants, with clinical evaluations conducted using vaginal pH, the Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS), the Vaginal Maturation Index (VMI), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results: Results indicated significant improvements in these parameters, with pH levels decreasing, VHIS scores rising, and notable gains in VMI and FSFI observed up to 12 months post-treatment. This improvement has been validated through both subjective and objective assessments of GSM. Conclusions: The findings indicate that this method is effective and safe, with no significant side effects reported. However, conducting a long-term observational study on eventual longer protocol for maintaining the positive effect of this therapy should be conducted.
Habitat Quality Dynamics in Urumqi over the Last Two Decades: Evidence of Land Use and Land Cover Changes
Authors: Chen Siying , Halik Ümüt , Shi Lei , Fu Wentao , Gan Lu , Welp Martin
Published: January 2025

The integrity of habitat quality is a pivotal cornerstone for the sustainable advancement of local ecological systems. Rapid urbanization has led to habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity, posing severe threats to regional sustainability, particularly in extremely vulnerable arid zones. However, systematic research on the assessment indicators, limiting factors, and driving mechanisms of habitat quality in arid regions is notably lacking. This study takes Urumqi, an oasis city in China’s arid region, as a case study and employs the InVEST and PLUS models to conduct a dynamic evaluation of habitat quality in Urumqi from 2000 to 2022 against the backdrop of land use changes. It also simulates habitat quality under different scenarios for the year 2035, exploring the temporal and spatial dynamics of habitat quality and its driving mechanisms. The results indicate a decline in habitat quality. The habitat quality in the southern mountainous areas is significantly superior to that surrounding the northern Gurbantunggut Desert, and it exhibits greater stability. The simulation and prediction results suggest that from 2020 to 2035, habitat degradation will be mitigated under Ecological Protection scenarios, while the decline in habitat quality will be most pronounced under Business-As-Usual scenarios. The spatial distribution of habitat quality changes in Urumqi exhibits significant autocorrelation and clustering, with these patterns intensifying over time. The observed decline in habitat quality in Urumqi is primarily driven by anthropogenic activities, urban expansion, and climate change. These factors have collectively contributed to significant alterations in the landscape, leading to the degradation of ecological conditions. To mitigate further habitat quality loss and support sustainable development, it is essential to implement rigorous ecological protection policies, adopt effective ecological risk management strategies, and promote the expansion of ecological land use. These actions are crucial for stabilizing and improving regional habitat quality in the long term.
Non-Conditioned, Unconscious Intra-Individual Variation
Authors: Aurrekoetxea Gotzon
Published: January 2025

Far from the uniformity of language and the ideal speaker, it is assumed that language varies even within the same speaker, and that such variation is intrinsic to this speaker. This intra-individual variation has been understood mostly as stylistic variation (Hernández-Campoy & Cutillas-Espinosa, 2012) and is becoming increasingly important (Werth et al., 2021) in the scholarly literature. Admitting that stylistic variation exists, I argue that not all intra-individual variation is conditioned and conscious, according to my data. The analysis will be carried out with data from the Basque linguistic atlas (EHHA) (Aurrekoetxea & Videgain, 2010–2020), which examines systematically the intra-individual variation of speakers in the elicitation phase. Based on these data, the aim of this paper is to show that there are also non-conditioned and unconscious types of variation, and to give a preliminary outline of a theory that accommodates these types of variation.
Investigation on the Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Molybdenum Trioxide Precursor
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Feng Pengfa , Liu Xuyang , Bu Chunyang , Wang Kuaishe , Qu Hang
Published: January 2025

The ultrafine MoO3 powders were prepared by the combination of centrifugal spray drying and calcination in this work. The thermal decomposition behavior of the spherical precursor was studied. The phase constituents, morphologies, particle size, and specific surface areas of MoO3 powders were characterized at different temperatures. It is found that the decomposition of the precursor is subjected to five stages, and forms different intermediate products, including (NH4)8Mo10O34, (NH4)2Mo3O10, (NH4)2Mo4O13, h-MoO3, and the final product α-MoO3. Moreover, the decomposition rate equation is established based on the thermal decomposition kinetic parameters of the precursor. With an increase in decomposition temperature, the morphology changes from unclear boundary particles to dispersed flake particles, and the flaky particles exhibit larger sizes, higher crystallinity, and better dispersion, which can be attributed to the mass transfer of gaseous MoO3 products. Additionally, the MoO3 particle size decreases progressively, and the specific surface area increases and then decreases. At 500 °C, it can achieve ultrafine flaky MoO3 powder with the size of thick sheets, with a thickness of about 300 nm and a length of about 1–3 μm. This research can offer an innovative strategy for preparing ultrafine MoO3 powder.
Preparation and Applications of Multifunctional MXene/Tussah Silk Fabric
Authors: Xu Bingbing , Zhang Yue , Li Jia , Wang Boxiang , Lu Yanhua , Cheng Dehong
Published: January 2025

The development of functional textiles has become a key focus in recent years, aiming to meet the diverse requirements of modern society. MXene has excellent conductivity, hydrophilicity, and UV resistance, and is widely used in electromagnetic shielding, sensors, energy storage, and photothermal conversion. Tussah silk (TS) is a unique natural textile raw material and has a unique jewelry luster, natural luxury, and a smooth and comfortable feel. However, there are relatively few studies on the functional finishing of TS fabric with Ti3C2Tx MXene. Here, we developed a multifunctional MXene/tussah silk (MXene/TS) fabric by the deposition of Ti3C2Tx MXene sheets on the surface of TS fabric through a simple padding–drying–curing process. The obtained MXene/TS fabric (five cycles) exhibited excellent conductivity (4.8 S/m), air permeability (313.6 mm/s), ultraviolet resistance (ultraviolet protection factor, UPF = 186.3), photothermal conversion (temperature increase of 11 °C), and strain sensing. Thanks to these superior properties, the MXene/TS fabric has broad application prospects in motion monitoring, smart clothing, flexible wearables, and artificial intelligence.
A Method for Determining the Fracture Toughness of Shotcrete Materials Subjected to Freeze–Thaw Cycles
Authors: Han Xiangyu , Zhao Qilong , Jia Bin , Liu Jinqiao , Li Qionglin , Zhang Quan
Published: January 2025

Defects can be introduced into shotcrete materials after a few freeze–thaw cycles, which has a significant influence on the fracture performance of shotcrete. In this study, a series of shotcrete specimens with varying sizes, geometries, and initial crack lengths were prepared to investigate the fracture properties of notched shotcrete under freeze–thaw conditions. Considering the effects of specimen boundaries and material microstructure, a linear closed-form solution was proposed to determine the fracture toughness of frost-damaged shotcrete. The fracture toughness was found to be a reliable material constant, independent of specimen geometry variations. Results from three-point bending (3PB) tests show that freeze–thaw cycles severely weaken the fracture toughness of shotcrete, which is consistent with CT scan images of the damaged microstructure of the shotcrete specimens. Moreover, specimens with longer initial notches exhibited more severe freeze–thaw damage, which should be carefully considered in practical engineering assessments. These findings highlight the critical importance of considering freeze–thaw effects and notch length when evaluating the durability of shotcrete in cold region applications.
Multifunctional Organic Molecule for Defect Passivation of Perovskite for High-Performance Indoor Solar Cells
Authors: Tian Chenqing , Liu Dongxue , Dong Yixin , Wang Yajie , Yang Tinghuan , Yang Yang , Zhang Meng , Zhao Erxin , Wu Nan , Zhang Zheng , Yang Ye , Gong Yongshuai , Yan Buyi , Zhang Shengxiong , Zhang Lu , Niu Tianqi
Published: January 2025

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can utilize the residual photons from indoor light and continuously supplement the energy supply for low-power electron devices, thereby showing the great potential for sustainable energy ecosystems. However, the solution-processed perovskites suffer from serious defect stacking within crystal lattices, compromising the low-light efficiency and operational stability. In this study, we designed a multifunctional organometallic salt named sodium sulfanilate (4-ABS), containing both electron-donating amine and sulfonic acid groups to effectively passivate the positively-charged defects, like under-coordinated Pb ions and iodine vacancies. The strong chemical coordination of 4-ABS with the octahedra framework can further regulate the crystallization kinetics of perovskite, facilitating the enlarged crystal sizes with mitigated grain boundaries within films. The synergistic optimization effects on trap suppression and crystallization modulation upon 4-ABS addition can reduce energy loss and mitigate ionic migration under low-light conditions. As a result, the optimized device demonstrated an improved power conversion efficiency from 22.48% to 24.34% and achieved an impressive efficiency of 41.11% under 1000 lux weak light conditions. This research provides an effective defect modulation strategy for synergistically boosting the device efficiency under standard and weak light irradiations.
Effect of Stress Aging on Strength, Toughness and Corrosion Resistance of Al-10Zn-3Mg-3Cu Alloy
Authors: Yang Dongchu , Zhao Xi , Ren Xianwei , Yan Shiliang , Gao Yihan , Liu Hongbin
Published: January 2025

The 7000 series aluminum alloy represented by Al-Zn-Mg-Cu has good strength and toughness and is widely used in the aerospace field. However, its high Zn content results in poor corrosion resistance, limiting its application in other fields. In order to achieve the synergistic improvement of both strength and corrosion resistance, this study examines the response of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance of a high-strength aluminum alloy tail frame under aging conditions with external stresses of 135 MPa, 270 MPa and 450 MPa. The results show that with the increase in the external stress level, the strength of the alloy improves, while its corrosion resistance decreases. An optimal balance of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance is achieved at the conditions of 270 MPa-120–24 h. This phenomenon can be attributed to two main factors: first, lattice defects such as vacancy and dislocation are introduced into the stress aging process. The introduction of a vacancy makes it easier for neighboring solute atoms to migrate there. This makes the crystal precipitates more dispersed. Also, the number of precipitates in the matrix increases from 2650 to 3117, and the size is refined from 2.96 nm to 2.64 nm. At the same time, the dislocation entanglement within the crystal structure promotes the dislocation strengthening mechanism and promotes the solute atoms to have enough channels for migration. Since too many dislocations can cause the crystal to become brittle and thus reduce its strength, entangled dislocations hinder the movement of the dislocations, thereby increasing the strength of the alloy. Secondly, under the action of external force, the precipitated phase is discontinuous, which hinders the corrosion expansion at the grain boundary, thus improving the corrosion resistance of the alloy. At low-stress states, the binding force of vacancy is stronger, the precipitation free zone (PFZ) is significantly inhibited, and the intermittent distribution effect of intergranular precipitates is the most obvious. As a result, the self-corrosion current decreases from 1.508 × 10−4 A∙cm−2 in the non-stress state to 1.999 × 10−5 A∙cm−2, representing an order of magnitude improvement. Additionally, the maximum depth of intergranular corrosion is reduced from 274.9 μm in the non-stress state to 237.7 μm.
Identification of Filovirus Entry Inhibitors from Marine Fungus-Derived Indole Alkaloids
Authors: Wang Leah Liu , Seravalli Javier , Eaton Brett , Liu Yi , Holbrook Michael R. , Lan Wen-Jian , Xiang Shi-Hua
Published: January 2025

Filoviruses, mainly consisting of the two genera of Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus, are enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses that can infect humans to cause severe hemorrhagic fevers and outbreaks with high mortality rates. However, we still do not have effective medicines for treating these diseases. To search for effective drugs, we have identified three marine indole alkaloids that exhibit potent activities against filovirus infection. Thus, it is suggested that marine indole alkaloids can be a valuable compound source for filovirus drug screening and development. Since marine indole alkaloids comprise a large diverse group of secondary metabolites, their biological properties would be helpful for pharmaceutical drug development to treat various filovirus infections.
New Trends and Future Perspectives in the Diagnosis of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Authors: Panagiotis Mourmouris , Ioannis Georgopoulos , Vasilleios Klapsis , Nikolaos Pisiotis , Ioannis Salmas , Sotirios Charamoglis
Published: January 2025

Despite the high incidence of bladder cancer (it represents the 7th most common cancer in males), EAU guidelines do not recommend any technique for screening and prevention, whereas the main diagnostic tools remain computed tomography urography (CTU), cytology, and cystoscopy. Unfortunately, these gold-standard modalities are mainly characterized by low sensitivity and accuracy. To minimize the limitations and increase the detection rates of urothelial cancer, several technologies have been developed. In our review, we summarize all the available data concerning the contemporary technological novelties that include imaging, cytology, and endoscopic techniques in pursuit of finding the optimal combination of diagnostic tools that can provide better detection accuracy.
In-Depth Analysis of Complex Multiphase Oxidative Transformations in Iron Sulfides (Pyrrhotite and Pyrite) Within Migmatitic Gneiss
Authors: Dulski Mateusz , Janeczek Janusz , Włodyka Roman
Published: January 2025

Raman imaging and K-means cluster analysis of individual mineral grains supplemented by scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and X-ray powder diffraction were applied to study fine-grained, multi-component products of the pyrrhotite three-stage oxidative alteration in migmatitic gneiss. During the first stage, related to the kaolinization of feldspars in gneisses, pyrrhotite was replaced by marcasite via intermediate amorphous iron sulfide. Increased oxygen fugacity caused the localized crystallization of either maghemite or ferric (oxyhydr)oxides. Even higher oxygen fugacity and an increase in solution pH during the second stage of alteration resulted in the partial replacement of marcasite by pyrite, followed by the replacement of both sulfides by Fe oxides (hematite, maghemite, magnetite) and ferric (oxyhydr)oxides (goethite, feroxyhyte). The final stage of sulfide oxidative alteration resulted in the predominance of sulfates of the alunite–jarosite series over ferric oxyhydroxides and relicts of Fe sulfides. Quartz–calcite–pyrite hydrothermal veins were affected by the most recent weathering, which resulted in the crystallization of the dominant alunite–jarosite-series minerals (alunite, jarosite, Al-jarosite) and ferric (oxyhydr)oxides (goethite, lepidocrocite).
Effect of Foliar Application of Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms and Algae Extracts on Nutritional Status and Yield of Hazelnut and Walnut Trees
Authors: Arrobas Margarida , Roque João , Martins Sandra , Brito Cátia , Correia Carlos Manuel , Rodrigues Manuel Ângelo
Published: January 2025

This study presents the results of two on-farm trials evaluating the efficacy of a nitrogen (N)-fixing inoculant (Methylobacterium symbioticum) applied as a foliar spray to provide N to hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.) trees. In the hazelnut trial, a factorial design was employed with soil N application at three levels [0 (N0), 40 (N40), and 80 (N80) kg ha−1] and foliar application of the inoculant (Yes and No). The walnut trial was arranged as a completely randomized design with three treatments: the N-fixing microorganism, a seaweed extract, and a control. Soil N application significantly increased hazelnut yield in 2021 (1.99, 2.49, and 2.65 t ha−1 for N0, N40, and N80, respectively) but not in 2022 (average values ranging from 0.28 to 0.33 t ha−1). The inoculant application did not significantly affect hazelnut yield. In the walnut trial, no significant differences were observed among the treatments in either year. The average yields ranged from 1.72 to 2.38 t ha−1 in 2021 and 0.66 to 0.84 t ha−1 in 2022. Soil N application in hazelnuts tended to increase leaf N concentration and significantly increased kernel N concentration. The inoculant increased leaf N concentration in one of the three sampling dates but did not affect kernel N concentration. In walnuts, the inoculant did not increase leaf N concentration but significantly increased kernel N concentration in one of the two years. The seaweed extract did not influence walnut yield or leaf N concentration. None of the treatments in either trial consistently affected the concentration of other macronutrients and micronutrients in the leaves. Therefore, while the inoculant showed some potential to improve the N nutritional status of the trees, it did not affect the yield. Overall, the results of the inoculant application were not sufficiently compelling, indicating the need for further studies on these species before the commercial product can be confidently recommended to farmers.
The Effect of Particle–Matrix Interface on the Local Mechanical Properties of Filled Polymer Composites: Simulations and Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Nadzharyan Timur A. , Kramarenko Elena Yu.
Published: January 2025

A finite element model of the local mechanical response of a filled polymer composite to uniaxial compression is presented. The interfacial layer between filler particles and polymer matrix is explicitly modeled as a third phase of the composite. Unit cells containing one or several anisometric filler particles surrounded by interface shells are considered. The dependence of the mechanical response of the cells to external deformation on the interface thickness and stiffness is studied. The use of the particle–matrix interface as a damping tool in mesoscopic polymer-composite problems with large deformations is discussed. The influence of the interface on the anisotropy of the composite response is considered.
A Deep Reinforcement Advantage Actor-Critic-Based Co-Evolution Algorithm for Energy-Aware Distributed Heterogeneous Flexible Job Shop Scheduling
Authors: Xu Hua , Tao Juntai , Huang Lingxiang , Zhang Chenjie , Zheng Jianlu
Published: January 2025

With the rapid advancement of the manufacturing industry and the widespread implementation of intelligent manufacturing systems, the energy-aware distributed heterogeneous flexible job shop scheduling problem (DHFJSP) has emerged as a critical challenge in optimizing modern production systems. This study introduces an innovative method to reduce both the makespan and the total energy consumption (TEC) in the context of the DHFJSP. A deep reinforcement advantage Actor-Critic-based co-evolution algorithm (DRAACCE) is proposed to address the issue, which leverages the powerful decision-making and perception abilities of the advantage Actor-Critic (AAC) method. The DRAACCE algorithm consists of three main components: First, to ensure a balance between global and local search capabilities, we propose a new co-evolutionary strategy. This enables the algorithm to explore the solution space efficiently while maintaining robust exploration and exploitation. Next, a novel evolution strategy is introduced to improve the algorithm’s convergence rate and solution diversity, ensuring that the search process is both fast and effective. Finally, we integrate deep reinforcement learning with the advantage Actor-Critic framework to select elite solutions, enhancing the optimization process and leading to superior performance in minimizing both TEC and makespan. Extensive experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed DRAACCE algorithm. The experimental results show that DRAACCE significantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods on all 20 instances and a real-world case, achieving better solutions in terms of both makespan and TEC.
An Equivalent Fracture Element-Based Semi-Analytical Approach to Evaluate Water-Flooding Recovery Efficiency in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Zhao Wenqi , Zhao Lun , Wu Qianhui , Hou Qingying , Jia Pin , Hou Jue
Published: January 2025

The productivity prediction of weakly volatile fractured reservoirs is influenced by reservoir parameters and fluid characteristics. To address the computational challenges posed by complex fractures, an equivalent fracture element method is proposed to calculate equivalent permeability in fractured zones. A three-phase seepage model based on material balance is developed, using the Baker linear model to determine the relative permeabilities of oil, gas, and water while accounting for bound water saturation. Dynamic drainage distance and conductivity coefficients are introduced to calculate production at each stage, with the semi-analytical model solved iteratively for pressure and saturation. Validation against commercial simulation software confirms the model’s accuracy, enabling the construction of productivity curves and analysis of reservoir characteristics and injection scenarios. Results showed that the equivalent fracture element method effectively handled multiphase nonlinear seepage and predicted productivity during water flooding. Productivity was more sensitive to through-fracture models, with production increasing as the fracture extent expanded. Optimal water injection occurred when the formation pressure dropped to 80% of the bubble point pressure, and the recovery efficiency improved with periodic-injection strategies compared to conventional methods. These findings have significant implications for improving oil recovery, optimizing injection strategies, and advancing the design of efficient reservoir management techniques across scientific, practical, and technological domains.
Optimal Scheduling Method of Combined Wind–Photovoltaic–Pumped Storage System Based on Improved Bat Algorithm
Authors: Fan Hui , Wu Hongbo , Li Shilin , Han Shengfeng , Ren Jingtao , Huang Shuo , Zou Hongbo
Published: January 2025

Pumped storage power stations not only serve as a special power load but also store excess electricity from the power system, significantly reducing the curtailment of wind and solar power. This dual function ensures the stable operation of the power grid and enhances its economic benefits. The scheduling optimization problem of a combined wind–solar–pumped storage system is addressed in this study, and an optimization scheduling model is proposed with the objective of maximizing total system revenue. The model is designed to comprehensively account for the generation revenues from wind power, photovoltaic power, thermal power, and pumped storage, as well as the penalty costs associated with pollutant emissions. To address the limitations of traditional algorithms, which are prone to being trapped in local optima and exhibit slow convergence, an improved bat algorithm was developed. The algorithm is enhanced through the use of chaotic mapping to expand the initial solution space, the incorporation of adaptive step-size updates to improve convergence efficiency, and the integration of the Cauchy function to strengthen global search capabilities, thereby effectively avoiding local optima. Simulation results have demonstrated that the improved algorithm achieves significant improvements over traditional bat algorithms and particle swarm optimization (PSO) in terms of optimization efficiency, with total revenue increases of 21.9% and 24.6%, respectively. The optimized scheduling plan is shown to fully utilize the flexible regulation capabilities of pumped storage, mitigating the adverse effects of wind and photovoltaic output fluctuations on grid operations and achieving a balanced trade-off between economic and environmental objectives.
Orthogonal Test Optimization of Swelling Performance in Kitchen Waste Carbon Source Hydrogels
Authors: Huang Yu , Zhang Xing , Shi Dan , Qian Hongyi , Zhao Jingyi , Xu Shasha , Dong Tingting , Qin Mingyan , Deng Liwei , Li Yalin
Published: January 2025

To address the challenges of food waste disposal and promote carbon emission reduction, this study synthesizes hydrogels using nano-calcium peroxide (nano-CaO2) as an oxidant to activate carbon components in food waste. With acrylamide (AM), cross-linking agent N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA), and initiator sodium persulfate (SPS), hydrogels were formed via oxidative excitation and free-radical polymerization. A one-factor experiment investigated the factors affecting hydrogel preparation, while a four-factor, three-level orthogonal test optimized the process. The hydrogel exhibited a swelling capacity of 703.1% under optimal conditions: 0.60 g SPS, 0.07 g MBA, reaction temperature of 70 °C, and 0.04 g nano-CaO2. Characterization by SEM, XRD, and TGA showed that the swelling capacity was mainly due to the interlaced reticulated folded structure and microcrystalline formation, with polymer chain interactions contributing to excellent swelling properties and thermal stability.
Spatiotemporal Changes in Water-Use Efficiency of China’s Terrestrial Ecosystems During 2001–2020 and the Driving Factors
Authors: He Jia , Zhou Yuxuan , Liu Xueying , Duan Wenjing , Pan Naiqing
Published: January 2025

Water-use efficiency (WUE) is an important indicator for understanding the coupling of carbon and water cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. It provides a comprehensive reflection of ecosystems’ responses to various environmental factors, making it essential for understanding how ecosystems adapt to complex environmental changes. Using satellite-based estimates of gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET), our study investigated the spatiotemporal variations in WUE across China’s terrestrial ecosystems from 2001 to 2020. We employed the geographic detector method, partial correlation analysis, and ridge regression to assess the contributions of different factors (temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit, leaf area index, and soil moisture) to GPP, ET, and WUE. The results show significant increases in GPP, ET, and WUE during the study period, with increase rates of 6.70 g C m−2 yr−1, 2.68 kg H2O m−2 yr−1, and 0.007 g C H2O m−2 yr−1, respectively. More than three-quarters of the regions with significant trends in WUE (p < 0.05) displayed notable increases in WUE (p < 0.05). Among all driving factors, leaf area index (LAI) made the largest contribution to WUE, particularly in warm temperate semi-humid regions. Precipitation and solar radiation were the primary climatic influences in arid regions of northern China and humid regions of southwestern China, respectively.
The Challenges and Opportunities for Performance Enhancement in Resonant Fiber Optic Gyroscopes
Authors: Mahudapathi Sumathi , R Sumukh Nandan , R Gowrishankar , Srinivasan Balaji
Published: January 2025

In the last decade, substantial progress has been made to improve the performance of optical gyroscopes for inertial navigation applications in terms of critical parameters such as bias stability, scale factor stability, and angular random walk (ARW). Specifically, resonant fiber optic gyroscopes (RFOGs) have emerged as a viable alternative to widely popular interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (IFOGs). In a conventional RFOG, a single-wavelength laser source is used to generate counter-propagating waves in a ring resonator, for which the phase difference is measured in terms of the resonant frequency shift to obtain the rotation rate. However, the primary limitation of RFOG performance is the bias drift, which can be attributed to nonreciprocal effects such as Rayleigh backscattering, back-reflections, polarization instabilities, Kerr nonlinearity, and environmental fluctuations. In this paper, we review the challenges and opportunities of achieving performance enhancement in RFOGs.
An Attention-Based Multidimensional Fault Information Sharing Framework for Bearing Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Hu Yunjin , Xie Qingsheng , Yang Xudong , Yang Hai , Zhang Yizong
Published: January 2025

Deep learning has performed well in feature extraction and pattern recognition and has been widely studied in the field of fault diagnosis. However, in practical engineering applications, the lack of sample size limits the potential of deep learning in fault diagnosis. Moreover, in engineering practice, it is usually necessary to obtain multidimensional fault information (such as fault localization and quantification), while current methods mostly only provide single-dimensional information. Aiming at the above problems, this paper proposes an Attention-based Multidimensional Fault Information Sharing (AMFIS) framework, which aims to overcome the difficulties of multidimensional bearing fault diagnosis in a small sample environment. Specifically, firstly, a shared network is designed to capture the common knowledge of the Fault Localization Task (FLT) and the Fault Quantification Task (FQT) and save it to the global feature pool. Secondly, two branching networks for performing FLT and FQT were constructed, and an attentional mechanism (AM) was used to filter out features from the shared network that were more relevant to the task to enhance the branching network’s capability under small samples. Meanwhile, we propose an innovative Dynamic Adjustment Strategy (DAS) designed to adaptively regulate the training weights of FLT and FQT tasks to achieve optimal training results. Finally, extensive experiments are conducted in two cases to verify the effectiveness and superiority of AMFIS.
Prototype of Self-Service Electronic Stethoscope to Be Used by Patients During Online Medical Consultations
Authors: Chuchnowska Iwona , Białas Katarzyna
Published: January 2025

This article presents the authors’ design of an electronic stethoscope intended for use during online medical consultations for patient auscultation. The goal of the project was to design an instrument that is durable, user-friendly, and affordable. Existing electronic components were used to create the device and a traditional single-sided chest piece. Three-dimensional printing technology was employed to manufacture the prototype. Following the selection of the material, a static tensile strength test was conducted on the printed samples as part of the pre-implementation investigations. Results: Tests on samples made of PLA with a 50% hexagonal infill demonstrated a tensile strength of 36 MPa and an elongation of 4–5%, which was deemed satisfactory for the intended application in the stethoscope’s manufacture. The designed and manufactured electronic stethoscope presented in the article can be connected to headphones or speakers, enabling remote medical consultation. According to the opinion of doctors who tested it, it provides the appropriate sound quality for auscultation. This stethoscope facilitates the rapid detection and recognition of cardiac and respiratory activity in humans.
Scale-Consistent and Temporally Ensembled Unsupervised Domain Adaptation for Object Detection
Authors: Guo Lunfeng , Zhang Yizhe , Liu Jiayin , Liu Huajie , Li Yunwang
Published: January 2025

Unsupervised Domain Adaptation for Object Detection (UDA-OD) aims to adapt a model trained on a labeled source domain to an unlabeled target domain, addressing challenges posed by domain shifts. However, existing methods often face significant challenges, particularly in detecting small objects and over-relying on classification confidence for pseudo-label selection, which often leads to inaccurate bounding box localization. To address these issues, we propose a novel UDA-OD framework that leverages scale consistency (SC) and Temporal Ensemble Pseudo-Label Selection (TEPLS) to enhance cross-domain robustness and detection performance. Specifically, we introduce Cross-Scale Prediction Consistency (CSPC) to enforce consistent detection across multiple resolutions, improving detection robustness for objects of varying scales. Additionally, we integrate Intra-Class Feature Consistency (ICFC), which employs contrastive learning to align feature representations within each class, further enhancing adaptation. To ensure high-quality pseudo-labels, TEPLS combines temporal localization stability with classification confidence, mitigating the impact of noisy predictions and improving both classification and localization accuracy. Extensive experiments on challenging benchmarks, including Cityscapes to Foggy Cityscapes, Sim10k to Cityscapes, and Virtual Mine to Actual Mine, demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art performance, with notable improvements in small object detection and overall cross-domain robustness. These results highlight the effectiveness of our framework in addressing key limitations of existing UDA-OD approaches.
A Refractive Index-Based Dual-Band Metamaterial Sensor Design and Analysis for Biomedical Sensing Applications
Authors: Darsi Lakshmi , Rana Goutam
Published: January 2025

We propose herein a metamaterial (MM) dual-band THz sensor for various biomedical sensing applications. An MM is a material engineered to have a particular property that is rarely observed in naturally occurring materials with an aperiodic subwavelength arrangement. MM properties across a wide range of frequencies, like high sensitivity and quality factors, remain challenging to obtain. MM-based sensors are useful for the in vitro, non-destructive testing (NDT) of samples. The challenge lies in designing a narrow band resonator such that higher sensitivities can be achieved, which in turn allow for the sensing of ultra-low quantities. We propose a compact structure, consisting of a basic single-square split ring resonator (SRR) with an integrated inverted Z-shaped unit cell. The projected structure provides dual-band frequencies resonating at 0.75 THz and 1.01 THz with unity absorption at resonant peaks. The proposed structure exhibits a narrow bandwidth of 0.022 THz and 0.036 THz at resonances. The resonant frequency exhibits a shift in response to variations in the refractive index of the surrounding medium. This enables the detection of various biomolecules, including cancer cells, glucose, HIV-1, and M13 viruses. The refractive index varies between 1.35 and 1.40. Furthermore, the sensor is characterized by its performance, with an average sensitivity of 2.075 THz and a quality factor of 24.35, making it suitable for various biomedical sensing applications.
Parallelized Field-Programmable Gate Array Data Processing for High-Throughput Pulsed-Radar Systems
Authors: Pitcher Aaron D. , Georgiev Mihail , Nikolova Natalia K. , Nicolici Nicola
Published: January 2025

A parallelized field-programmable gate array (FPGA) architecture is proposed to realize an ultra-fast, compact, and low-cost dual-channel ultra-wideband (UWB) pulsed-radar system. This approach resolves the main shortcoming of current FPGA-based radars, namely their low processing throughput, which leads to a significant loss of data provided by the radar receiver. The architecture is integrated with an in-house UWB pulsed radar operating at a sampling rate of 20 gigasamples per second (GSa/s). It is demonstrated that the FPGA data-processing speed matches that of the radar output, thus eliminating data loss. The radar system achieves a remarkable speed of over 9000 waveforms per second on each channel. The proposed architecture is scalable to accommodate higher sampling rates and various waveform periods. It is also multi-functional since the FPGA controls and synchronizes two transmitters and a dual-channel receiver, performs signal reconstruction on both channels simultaneously, and carries out user-defined averaging, trace windowing, and interference suppression for improving the receiver’s signal-to-noise ratio. We also investigate the throughput rate while offloading radar data onto an external device through an Ethernet link. Since the radar data rate significantly exceeds the Ethernet link capacity, we show how the FPGA-based averaging and windowing functions are leveraged to reduce the amount of offloaded data while fully utilizing the radar output.
YOLOv8-LCNET: An Improved YOLOv8 Automatic Crater Detection Algorithm and Application in the Chang’e-6 Landing Area
Authors: Nan Jing , Wang Yexin , Di Kaichang , Xie Bin , Zhao Chenxu , Wang Biao , Sun Shujuan , Deng Xiangjin , Zhang Hong , Sheng Ruiqing
Published: January 2025

The Chang’e-6 (CE-6) landing area on the far side of the Moon is located in the southern part of the Apollo basin within the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin. The statistical analysis of impact craters in this region is crucial for ensuring a safe landing and supporting geological research. Aiming at existing impact crater identification problems such as complex background, low identification accuracy, and high computational costs, an efficient impact crater automatic detection model named YOLOv8-LCNET (YOLOv8-Lunar Crater Net) based on the YOLOv8 network is proposed. The model first incorporated a Partial Self-Attention (PSA) mechanism at the end of the Backbone, allowing the model to enhance global perception and reduce missed detections with a low computational cost. Then, a Gather-and-Distribute mechanism (GD) was integrated into the Neck, enabling the model to fully fuse multi-level feature information and capture global information, enhancing the model’s ability to detect impact craters of various sizes. The experimental results showed that the YOLOv8-LCNET model performs well in the impact crater detection task, achieving 87.7% Precision, 84.3% Recall, and 92% AP, which were 24.7%, 32.7%, and 37.3% higher than the original YOLOv8 model. The improved YOLOv8 model was then used for automatic crater detection in the CE-6 landing area (246 km × 135 km, with a DOM resolution of 3 m/pixel), resulting in a total of 770,671 craters, ranging from 13 m to 19,882 m in diameter. The analysis of this impact crater catalogue has provided critical support for landing site selection and characterization of the CE-6 mission and lays the foundation for future lunar geological studies.
Optimising Energy Efficiency and Daylighting Performance for Designing Vernacular Architecture—A Case Study of Rawshan
Authors: Alelwani Raed , Ahmad Muhammad Waseem , Rezgui Yacine , Alshammari Kaznah
Published: January 2025

Building optimisation techniques provide a rigorous framework for exploring new optimal design solutions. In this study, a genetic algorithm (GA) was used to investigate the energy efficiency of a vernacular architectural element (Rawshan) in Saudi Arabia. Two objectives were optimised using a GA simulation enhanced: energy consumption optimisation and useful daylight illuminance (UDI) optimisation. A calibrated simulation model of a typical house in Saudi Arabia was used in the study. Several metrics, such as light interference from shadows or other windows, were considered to indicate the importance of the Rawshan. Computational studies were performed using different climatic conditions, and the results were compared with and without a Rawshan element using the weather data of Mecca, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al-Baha. In this study, the blind thicknesses on the front and sides of the Rawshan were used as optimisation variables. The results showed that using a GA with energy consumption as an objective can reduce energy consumption. One of the methods proposed in the paper can reduce energy consumption by 3.6%, 3.6%, and 16.6% for Mecca, Riyadh, and Al-Baha, respectively. The single-objective optimisation method demonstrated that Rawshan provided sufficient UDI in four cities: Mecca, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al-Baha. The research provided optimised values for Rawshan blind thicknesses on the front and lateral sides under different optimisation constraints. The results showed that using Rawshans in modern building architecture can reduce energy consumption and improve useful daylight illuminance.
Development of Methodology for Estimation of Energy-Efficient Building Renovation Using Application of MINLP-Optimized Timber–Glass Upgrade Modules
Authors: Lešnik Nedelko Maja , Kravanja Stojan , Premrov Miroslav , Žegarac Leskovar Vesna
Published: January 2025

Vertical addition to already-existing structures is an approach to energy-efficient building renovation. It presents an opportunity for the densification of built-up areas and the construction of new usable spaces. While many studies have dealt with the subject of renovating buildings with a focus on energy efficiency, far fewer studies have specifically examined the potential of vertically extending existing buildings, an approach which could be introduced in new sustainable building policies. The objective of this study is to redevelop optimal timber–glass upgrade modules, considering the ideal proportions of glazing for all cardinal directions, by using discrete Mixed-Integer Non-Linear Programming optimization. The novelty of the suggested method resides in the synchronous optimization of the upgrade modules’ daylighting and energy-efficiency performance, resulting in the creation of optimization methods that can determine the optimal glazing proportions for all cardinal directions and incorporate rational design and window measurement. The impact of the developed Mixed-Integer Non-Linear Programming-optimized upgrade modules is compared to previously designed optimized upgrade modules. Finally, a methodology for estimating the energy efficiency of building renovations incorporating vertical additions using the timber–glass upgrade modules was developed, supporting the quick assessment of the reduction in hybrid buildings’ energy consumption for heating and cooling according to boundary conditions, presuming that they undergo the suggested renovations. The findings are applicable (not exclusively) to Slovenia’s residential building stock, which makes up around 20% of the country’s current housing stock and was mainly constructed between 1946 and 1970. This offers a substantial opportunity to improve the overall sustainability and energy efficiency of the country’s housing stock. The proposed approach offers a holistic solution to drive sustainable development in the built environment by incorporating all three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, and economic).
LLM-AIDSim: LLM-Enhanced Agent-Based Influence Diffusion Simulation in Social Networks
Authors: Zhang Lan , Hu Yuxuan , Li Weihua , Bai Quan , Nand Parma
Published: January 2025

This paper introduces an LLM-Enhanced Agent-Based Influence Diffusion Simulation (LLM-AIDSim) framework that integrates large language models (LLMs) into agent-based modelling to simulate influence diffusion in social networks. The proposed framework enhances traditional influence diffusion models by allowing agents to generate language-level responses, providing deeper insights into user agent interactions. Our framework addresses the limitations of probabilistic models by simulating realistic, context-aware user behaviours in response to public statements. Using real-world news topics, we demonstrate the effectiveness of LLM-AIDSim in simulating topic evolution and tracking user discourse, validating its ability to replicate key aspects of real-world information propagation. Our experimental results highlight the role of influence diffusion in shaping collective discussions, revealing that, over time, diffusion narrows the focus of conversations around a few dominant topics. We further analyse regional differences in topic clustering and diffusion behaviours across three cities, Sydney, Auckland, and Hobart, revealing how demographics, income, and education levels influence topic dominance. This work underscores the potential of LLM-AIDSim as a decision-support tool for strategic communication, enabling organizations to anticipate and understand public sentiment trends.