bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Earth Crustal Velocity Field Estimation from ROA cGNSS Station Networks in the South of Spain and North Africa
Authors: Rodríguez Collantes David , Blanco Hernández Abel , de Lacy Pérez de los Cobos María Clara , Galindo-Zaldivar Jesús , Gil Antonio J. , Sánchez Piedra Manuel Ángel , Mastere Mohamed , Ouchen Ibrahim
Published: February 2025

The convergence zone of the Eurasian (EURA) and North Africa plate (NUBIA) is primarily marked by the activity between the Betics in south of Spain and the Rif and Atlas in Morocco. This area, where the diffuse tectonics between these plates are currently converging in a NW-SE direction, presents several continuous fault zones, such as the Betic–Alboran–Rif shear zone. The Royal Institute and Observatory of the Spanish Navy (ROA) currently operates geodetic stations in various parts of North Africa, some in particularly interesting locations, such as the Alhucemas (ALHU) rock, and also in more stable areas within the Nubian plate, such as Tiouine (TIOU). For the first time, the displacement velocities of the ROA CGNSS stations have been estimated to provide additional geodynamic information in an area with few stations. The obtained velocities have been compared with other recent studies in this field that included data older than 10 years or episodic campaigns without continuous stations. PRIDE (3.1.2) and SARI (February, 2025) software were used for processing, and the velocities were obtained by the ROA for international stations (RABT, SFER, MALA, HUEL, LAGO, TARI, and ALME). These initial results confirm the convergence trend between Eurasia and Nubia of approximately 4 mm/year in the NW-SE direction. It is also evident that there is independent behavior among the Atlas stations and those in the Moroccan Meseta compared to those located in the Rif mountain range, which could indicate the separation of smaller tectonic domains within the continental plate convergence zone. Along the Rif coast in Al Hoceima Bay, the faults are being approached; additionally, there is a slight clockwise displacement towards Melilla, which has also been demonstrated by stations in the Middle Atlas, such as TAZA. As for the stations in the Strait of Gibraltar, they exhibit a similar behavior until reaching the diffuse zone of the Guadalquivir basin where the diffuse convergence zone may exist. This may explain why stations to the north of the basin, such as LIJA or HUEL, change their behavior compared to nearby ones like SFER in the south. Furthermore, Alboran seems to follow the same displacement in direction and velocity as the other stations in North Africa and southern Spain.
CNN–Transformer Hybrid Architecture for Underwater Sonar Image Segmentation
Authors: Lei Juan , Wang Huigang , Lei Zelin , Li Jiayuan , Rong Shaowei
Published: February 2025

The salient object detection (SOD) of forward-looking sonar images plays a crucial role in underwater detection and rescue tasks. However, the existing SOD algorithms find it difficult to effectively extract salient features and spatial structure information from images with scarce semantic information, uneven intensity distribution, and high noise. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have strong local feature extraction capabilities, but they are easily constrained by the receptive field and lack the ability to model long-range dependencies. Transformers, with their powerful self-attention mechanism, are capable of modeling the global features of a target, but they tend to lose a significant amount of local detail. Mamba effectively models long-range dependencies in long sequence inputs through a selection mechanism, offering a novel approach to capturing long-range correlations between pixels. However, since the saliency of image pixels does not exhibit sequential dependencies, this somewhat limits Mamba’s ability to fully capture global contextual information during the forward pass. Inspired by multimodal feature fusion learning, we propose a hybrid CNN–Transformer–Mamba architecture, termed FLSSNet. FLSSNet is built upon a CNN and Transformer backbone network, integrating four core submodules to address various technical challenges: (1) The asymmetric dual encoder–decoder (ADED) is capable of simultaneously extracting features from different modalities and systematically modeling both local contextual information and global spatial structure. (2) The Transformer feature converter (TFC) module optimizes the multimodal feature fusion process through feature transformation and channel compression. (3) The long-range correlation attention (LRCA) module enhances CNN’s ability to model long-range dependencies through the collaborative use of convolutional kernels, selective sequential scanning, and attention mechanisms, while effectively suppressing noise interference. (4) The recursive contour refinement (RCR) model refines edge contour information through a layer-by-layer recursive mechanism, achieving greater precision in boundary details. The experimental results show that FLSSNet exhibits outstanding competitiveness among 25 state-of-the-art SOD methods, achieving MAE and Eξ values of 0.04 and 0.973, respectively.
Estimating and Downscaling ESA-CCI Soil Moisture Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Images and Stacking-Based Ensemble Learning Algorithms in the Shandian River Basin, China
Authors: Wang Liguo , Gao Ya
Published: February 2025

Soil Moisture (SM) plays a crucial role in agricultural production, ecology, and sustainable development. The prevailing resolution of microwave-based SM products is notably coarse, typically spanning from 10 to 50 km, which might prove inadequate for specific applications. In this research, various single-model machine learning algorithms have been employed to study SM downscaling, each with its own limitations. In contrast to existing methodologies, our research introduces a pioneering algorithm that amalgamates diverse individual models into an integrated Stacking framework for the purpose of downscaling SM data within the Shandian River Basin. This basin spans the southern region of Inner Mongolia and the northern area of Hebei province. In this paper, factors exerting a profound influence on SM were comprehensively integrated. Ultimately, the surface variables involved in the downscaling process were determined to be Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Surface Reflectance (SR), Evapotranspiration (ET), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope, aspect, and European Space Agency-Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI) product. The goal is to generate a 1 km SM downscaling dataset for a 16-day period. Two distinct models are constructed for the SM downscaling process. In one case, the downscaling is followed by the inversion of SM, while in the other case, the inversion is performed after the downscaling analysis. We also employ the Categorical Features Gradient Boosting (CatBoost) algorithm, a single model, for analytical evaluation in identical circumstances. According to the results, the accuracy of the 1 km SM obtained using the inversion-followed-by-downscaling model is higher. Furthermore, it is observed that the stacking algorithm, which integrates multiple models, outperforms the single-model CatBoost algorithm in terms of accuracy. This suggests that the stacking algorithm can overcome the limitations of a single model and improve prediction accuracy. We compared the predicted SM and ESA-CCI SM; it is evident that the predicted results exhibit a strong correlation with ESA-CCI SM, with a maximum Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) value of 0.979 and a minimum value of 0.629. The Mean Absolute Error (MAE) values range from 0.002 to 0.005 m3/m3, and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) ranges from 0.003 to 0.006 m3/m3. Overall, the results demonstrate that the stacking algorithm based on multi-model integration provides more accurate and consistent retrieval and downscaling of SM.
DDFAV: Remote Sensing Large Vision Language Models Dataset and Evaluation Benchmark
Authors: Li Haodong , Zhang Xiaofeng , Qu Haicheng
Published: February 2025

With the rapid development of large visual language models (LVLMs) and multimodal large language models (MLLMs), these models have demonstrated strong performance in various multimodal tasks. However, alleviating the generation of hallucinations remains a key challenge in LVLMs research. For remote sensing LVLMs, there are problems such as low quality, small number and unreliable datasets and evaluation methods. Therefore, when applied to remote sensing tasks, they are prone to hallucinations, resulting in unsatisfactory performance. This paper proposes a more reliable and effective instruction set production process for remote sensing LVLMs to address these issues. The process generates detailed and accurate instruction sets through strategies such as shallow-to-deep reasoning, internal and external considerations, and manual quality inspection. Based on this production process, we collect 1.6 GB of remote sensing images to create the DDFAV dataset, which covers a variety of remote sensing LVLMs tasks. Finally, we develop a closed binary classification polling evaluation method, RSPOPE, specifically designed to evaluate hallucinations in remote sensing LVLMs or MLLMs visual question-answering tasks. Using this method, we evaluate the zero-shot remote sensing visual question-answering capabilities of multiple mainstream LVLMs. Our proposed dataset images, corresponding instruction sets, and evaluation method files are all open source.
An Optimization Method for Multi-Functional Radar Network Deployment in Complex Regions
Authors: Han Yi , Li Xueting , Xu Xiangliang , Zhang Zhenxing , Zhang Tianxian , Yang Xiaobo
Published: February 2025

This paper addresses the deployment of a multi-functional radar network (MFRN) in complex regions that may exhibit non-connectivity, holes, or concave shapes, utilizing multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO). Unlike traditional approaches that rely on constraint-handling techniques, the proposed methodology leverages the unique characteristics of polygonal deployment regions to enhance deployment efficiency. Specifically, for the aforementioned complex deployment regions, a region decomposition approach based on convex partitioning is proposed. This approach allows for the decomposition of complex regions into multiple non-overlapping convex subregions. Moreover, for convex deployment regions or subregions, we propose a coordinate transformation approach to eliminate the constraints introduced by the shape of the convex region. By combining the above approaches, we introduce a novel MOPSO based on decomposition and transformation, named MOPSO-DT. This algorithm aims to optimize MFRN deployment in these challenging environments. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the MOPSO-DT algorithm over two existing algorithms across a variety of deployment cases, highlighting its enhanced efficiency, effectiveness, and stability. These findings indicate that the proposed algorithm is well suited for optimizing MFRN deployment in complex, irregular regions, offering significant improvements in performance compared to conventional methods.
Flexible Optimal Control of the CFBB Combustion System Based on ESKF and MPC
Authors: Han Lei , Wang Lingmei , Meng Enlong , Liu Yushan , Yin Shaoping
Published: February 2025

In order to deeply absorb the power generation of new energy, coal-fired circulating fluidized bed units are widely required to participate in power grid dispatching. However, the combustion system of the units faces problems such as decreased control performance, strong coupling of controlled signals, and multiple interferences in measurement signals during flexible operation. To this end, this paper proposes a model predictive control (MPC) scheme based on the extended state Kalman filter (ESKF). This scheme optimizes the MPC control framework. The ESKF is used to filter the collected output signals and jointly estimate the state and disturbance quantities in real time, thus promptly establishing a prediction model that reflects the true state of the system. Subsequently, taking the minimum output signal deviation of the main steam pressure and bed temperature and the control signal increment as objectives, a coordinated receding horizon optimization is carried out to obtain the optimal control signal of the control system within each control cycle. Tracking, anti-interference, and robustness experiments were designed to compare the control effects of ESKF-MPC, ID-PI, ID-LADRC, and MPC. The research results show that, when the system parameters had a ±30% perturbation, the adjustment time range of the main steam pressure and bed temperature loops of this method were 770~1600 s and 460~1100 s, respectively, and the ITAE indicator ranges were 0.615 × 105~1.74 × 105 and 3.9 × 106~6.75 × 106, respectively. The overall indicator values were smaller and more concentrated, and the robustness was stronger. In addition, the test results of the actual continuous variable condition process of the unit show that, compared with the PI strategy, after adopting the ESKF-MPC strategy, the overshoot of the main steam pressure loop of the combustion system was small, and the output signal was stable; the fluctuation range of the bed temperature loop was small, and the signal tracking was smooth; the overall control performance of the system was significantly improved.
Effect of Difference of Sensory Modality in Cognitive Task on Postural Control During Quiet Stance
Authors: Sakaki Yusuke , Hasegawa Naoya , Kawata Ami , Akagi Hiromasa , Sawada Minori , Mani Hiroki
Published: February 2025

Cognitive loads impact postural control; however, the specific influence of sensory modalities employed in cognitive tasks during motor-cognitive dual tasks remains unclear. This study investigated the distinct effects of visual and auditory cognitive tasks on static postural control while controlling for differences in task content. Twenty-five healthy young adults were instructed to maintain a quiet stance on a force plate under three cognitive task conditions: a single motor task (control), a paced visual serial addition task (visual), and a paced auditory serial addition task (auditory). Center of pressure (COP) displacements were measured, and both linear (e.g., sway area) and non-linear assessments of postural control were analyzed. Results revealed a significant reduction in sway area during cognitive tasks compared to the control condition. However, under the auditory condition, the power spectrum density of COP displacements in the moderate frequency band was significantly higher than those in the control and visual conditions, accompanied by a notable increase in the mean power frequency. These findings suggest that auditory cognitive load exerts a more significant effect on postural control than visual cognitive load during motor-cognitive dual tasks. This highlights the relevance of sensory modalities in cognitive loads for effective fall-risk assessment.
The Impact of Social Media on Sexual Self-Concept: A Qualitative Analysis of Instagram in Mexico
Authors: Piña-García Carlos , Cruz Guadalupe , Espinoza Armando
Published: February 2025

This study explores the complexities of women’s self-representation on social media, examining its potential detrimental effects and consequences. This study examines image exposure through the lens of Machine Learning, within the framework of Instagram’s visual culture. By examining digital content and its impact on users, this study aims to shed light on the detrimental effects of objectification and harmful stereotypes on individuals and society. In this study, we explore women’s self-representation through the portrayal of their bodies. Leveraging Google Vision API, we investigate the feasibility of automating the identification of imagery among women users located in Mexico. Our findings reveal that Google Vision API is a useful tool for detecting racy and adult content. We identify a quantitative evidence between clothing and body parts in these images, suggesting that women often share photos in revealing attire. Contrasting conventional survey and manual labeling methods, our results highlight the potential use of machine learning techniques to analyze this sort of imagery. The analysis reveals that over 90% of the examined images contain some degree of nudity or provocative poses. These findings provide valuable insights into the self-representation of women on social media, highlighting prevailing visual trends and their potential sociocultural implications.
Does ESG Performance Drive Firm-Level Innovation? Evidence from South Korea
Authors: Lee Hyunah
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and firm-level innovation, with a particular focus on how this relationship evolves in response to external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using intellectual capital as a measure of innovation, the study employs Tobit regression analysis on a panel dataset of South Korean listed firms from 2013 to 2023. The findings reveal a positive association between ESG performance and firm-level innovation, which becomes statistically significant only in the post-pandemic period. A detailed examination of ESG sub-dimensions shows that environmental and social performance are positively associated with firm-level innovation exclusively in the post-pandemic period, while governance performance maintains a consistently positive relationship with innovation across both periods, becoming more pronounced after the pandemic. These findings suggest that ESG practices foster firm-level innovation and highlight the shifting dynamics of this relationship during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when stakeholder engagement and networks become crucial for organizational resilience. This study provides valuable insights for various stakeholders including managers, investors, and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of integrating ESG considerations into corporate strategies to enhance innovation capacity and long-term competitiveness.
Polluting Industry Agglomeration, Environmental Regulation, and Urban Air Quality
Authors: Li Hanna , Chen Yu
Published: February 2025

In China, with the increasing emphasis on the concept of green sustainable development, polluting industries characterized by pollution and high energy consumption are facing unprecedented challenges. The development of the intermediate demand-type characteristics of polluting industries should be more reasonably laid out and regulated. In this paper, environmental regulation and environmental quality are introduced into the new economic geography model. On the basis of theoretical analysis, the IV regression method was used to study the interaction between polluting industry agglomeration, environmental regulation, and their effects on urban air quality with key cities as research objects. The results show that an increase in the agglomeration of polluting industries leads to significant deterioration in urban air quality and that this effect is linear, whereas an increase in the intensity of environmental regulation significantly dampens this effect. Each 1% increase in the intensity of environmental regulation results in a 1.17% reduction in air pollution. Therefore, to effectively protect the environment, the development of polluting industries should be relatively decentralized. Additionally, city governments should fully consider their urban eco-geographical characteristics, directly reduce and indirectly inhibit the degree of agglomeration of polluting industries and simultaneously strengthen the intensity of environmental regulation.
Analyzing Traffic Operation Characteristics of Cold-Climate Cities Based on Multi-Source Data Fusion: A Case Study of Harbin
Authors: Wan Ting , Gao Jibo
Published: February 2025

This study introduces an innovative approach based on multi-source data fusion to address the challenges of traffic operation management in cold-climate cities. Taking Harbin City as the research object, GPS trajectory data and checkpoint data were integrated to systematically analyze the seasonal fluctuation patterns and spatial distribution characteristics of traffic operations from the dimensions of time and space. The study shows that low temperatures and snow in winter significantly reduce traffic efficiency, with prominent traffic pressure during morning and evening peak hours. On weekdays, there is a clear “double peak” characteristic, while on non-working days, traffic flow is relatively stable. Moreover, compared to southern cities with a more pronounced “long-tail effect”, the long period of traffic congestion recovery significantly increases the resilience requirements of the traffic system in cold-climate cities. In terms of space, the concentrated commuting demand in the core circle leads to much higher traffic pressure than in the peripheral areas, creating a marked traffic gradient. Frequently congested road sections are mostly concentrated on commuting arteries and functional nodes, while peripheral areas have higher operational efficiency due to a balanced work–residence distribution. The study reveals the spatiotemporal characteristics of traffic operations in cold-climate cities, offering data support for precise management. By verifying the application value of multi-source data fusion under extreme climate conditions, this study provides important references for intelligent transportation management and sustainable development in cold-climate cities.
Multifunctional Analysis of Agriculture from the Perspective of Tradeoff/Synergy: A Case Study of Sichuan Province in Western China
Authors: Liao Qiang , Chen Chunyan , Lin Zhengyu , Liu Yuanli , Cao Jie , Shao Zhouling , Kou Yaowen
Published: February 2025

Exploring the spatiotemporal evolution pattern of agricultural functions, analyzing their tradeoff and synergies, carrying out multifunctional zoning, and determining the combination and expansion direction of agricultural functions in combination with regional development strategies are conducive to guiding the adjustment of agricultural structure and promoting the sustainable development of regional agriculture. In this context, based on the county scale and statistical data, this paper uses the agricultural function evaluation index system to measure and analyze the agricultural function index of Sichuan Province and its mutual relations. Spatial overlay analysis is used to analyze the agricultural function index for agricultural leading function zoning. Cluster analysis is used to evaluate the agricultural function results to explore the agricultural multifunctional zoning scheme of Sichuan Province. The results show that the spatial and temporal distribution of agricultural product supply, agricultural leisure, ecological services, employment and social security services are heterogeneous, and the agricultural multifunction index of Sichuan Province shows a spatial distribution pattern of high in the east and low in the west. The synergistic effect between the supply function of agricultural products and the function of employment and life security is the strongest. From 2010 to 2020, the relationships between the ecological service function and the supply function of agricultural products, the agricultural leisure function, employment, and the social security function change from irrelevant or there being a tradeoff effect to there being a significant synergistic effect. The leading areas of the ecological service function are mainly distributed in western and northern Sichuan. The leading areas of the agricultural product supply function are mainly distributed in eastern and southern Sichuan. Agricultural multifunctional zoning in Sichuan Province is divided into the agricultural leisure function, the agricultural product supply cooperative functional area, the weak cooperative functional area, the strong cooperative functional area, and the agricultural leisure priority functional area. The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of agricultural functions and the changes in tradeoffs and synergies in Sichuan Province have a significant impact on the development of agricultural functions. The research results can provide s theoretical reference for agricultural multifunctional zoning in the study area and provide guidance and suggestions for the sustainable development of agricultural economy and society in Sichuan Province.
From QCD Phenomenology to Nuclear Physics Phenomenology: The Chiral Confining Model
Authors: Chanfray Guy , Ericson Magda , Hansen Hubert , Margueron Jérôme , Martini Marco
Published: February 2025

We present a theoretical framework that allows one to make an explicit connection between the phenomenology of QCD, namely the properties of the gluon correlator and Wilson loops, and a particular relativistic model for the description of nuclear matter and neutron stars: the chiral confining model. Starting with the field correlator method, which explicitly and simultaneously incorporates confinement and chiral symmetry breaking, we describe how to obtain the response of the composite nucleon to the nuclear scalar field, as well as the relative role of confinement and chiral symmetry breaking in in-medium nucleon mass evolution, thereby generating the three-body forces needed for the saturation mechanism.
Compliant Parallel Asymmetrical Gripper System
Authors: Deaconescu Andrea , Deaconescu Tudor
Published: February 2025

The paper presents an innovative soft gripper system designed for automated assembling operations. The novel robotic soft gripper utilizes a linear pneumatic muscle as its motor, due to its inherently compliant behavior. This renders redundant the deployment of sensors or complex controllers, due to its mechanical system that ensures the desired adaptive behavior. Adaptivity is attained by adjusting the air pressure in the pneumatic muscle, monitored and controlled in a closed loop by means of a proportional pressure regulator. The kinematic diagram and the functional and constructive models of the gripper system are presented. The developed forces were measured followed by the calculation of stiffness and compliance. The paper concludes with recommendations for the operation of the gripper.
Women Entrepreneurs’ Role in Tourism Co-Creation and Policy: Examining the Case of Cyprus
Authors: Stylianou Christiana , Liasidou Sotiroula , Garanti Zanete
Published: February 2025

Womens’ entrepreneurial endeavours, particularly in rural areas, have led to establishing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) focused on tourism initiatives, significantly enhancing rural tourism experiences while promoting local culture. Co-creation, a concept extensively studied in the tourism industry, involves the collaborative generation of ideas in production and consumption driven by stakeholders with vested interests in specific products and services. Policy co-creation, in particular, has become a key driver in enhancing a country’s tourism competitiveness through a collaborative and inclusive development approach. Despite the extensive exploration of co-creation in tourism, the role of women entrepreneurs in this process remains underexamined. This study aims to address this gap by identifying and exploring co-creation initiatives that demonstrate how women entrepreneurs contribute to tourism policy and development. Using a qualitative research approach, it is based on thirty (30) semi-structured interviews with key tourism stakeholders, including policymakers, entrepreneurs, tourism professionals, and representatives from relevant organisations. Findings from the interviews underscore the central role of women entrepreneurs in the co-creation of tourism policies, particularly in rural areas. Their entrepreneurial contributions extend beyond economic growth, as they engage in shaping policies that support sustainable tourism and local development. Through their innovative approaches, women entrepreneurs regenerate traditional products by incorporating modern techniques, ensuring their offerings remain relevant and appealing to diverse visitor demographics and evolving market trends. This study further highlights that effective policy frameworks are crucial to enabling and amplifying women’s contributions to tourism development. Policies that support co-creation processes—such as inclusive decision making, funding accessibility, and capacity-building programs—play a transformative role in unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs or encouraging more women to embark on an entrepreneurial venture within the tourism sector.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Varicella–Zoster Virus in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Individuals with Acute Central Nervous System Infection: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Paião Heuder G. O. , da Costa Antônio C. , Ferreira Noely E. , Honorato Layla , Santos Bianca M. dos , de Matos Maria L. M. , Domingues Renan B. , Senne Carlos A. , Lopes Amanda de O. , de Paula Vanessa S. , Witkin Steven S. , Tozetto-Mendoza Tânia R. , Mendes-Correa Maria Cássia
Published: February 2025

Background: There is scarce information on Varicella–Zoster virus genetic variability in individuals with acute central nervous system infection in Brazil. The objective of this study was the molecular characterization of Varicella–Zoster virus isolates in cerebrospinal fluid from individuals with acute central nervous system infection. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from individuals evaluated in emergency and community healthcare services in São Paulo, Brazil. Varicella–Zoster virus identification was performed using commercial platforms Biofire-FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (BioMérieux, Craponne, France) and XGEN-UMLTI-N9® (Mobius Life, Pinhais, Brazil). Positive samples were further characterized as wild-type or vaccine-strain by a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay that targeted a single nucleotide polymorphism in open reading frame 62. We also estimated the mean genetic distance and phylogenetic reconstruction based on open reading frames 22, 38, 54, and 62 in relation to sequences of intercontinentally circulating Varicella–Zoster virus isolates. Results: Among the 600 cerebrospinal fluid samples, we identified Varicella–Zoster virus in 30 (5%) samples. None were positive for the vaccine-strain. Twelve samples were sequenced and phylogenetically classified into Clades 1 (41.7%), 2 (25%), 3 (8.3%), 5 (16.7%), or 6 (8%). Conclusion: Enhanced characterization of circulating Varicella–Zoster virus Clades in Brazil identified previously unreported Clades 2 and 6 as well as three other Clades disseminated intercontinentally. These findings reinforce the importance of Varicella–Zoster virus molecular surveillance in cerebrospinal fluid.
Canine, Feline, and Murine Mammary Tumors as a Model for Translational Research in Breast Cancer
Authors: Cassali Geovanni Dantas , Nakagaki Karen Yumi Ribeiro , Salvi Marisa , dos Reys Marina Possa , Rocha Marcos André Nino , de Campos Cecilia Bonolo , Ferreira Enio , Rodrigues Angelica Cavalheiro Bertagnolli , dos Reis Diego Carlos , Damasceno Karine Araujo , Estrela-Lima Alessandra
Published: February 2025

In veterinary medicine, mammary tumors are the most common neoplasms in female dogs and the third most frequent in cats, representing a significant challenge. Efforts have been directed toward adopting standardized diagnostic criteria to better understand tumor behavior and progression in these species. Meanwhile, the use of animal models has substantially advanced the understanding of comparative mammary carcinogenesis. These models provide critical insights into factors responsible for the disease in humans, with the expectation that such factors can be identified and controlled. In this context, this review presents a work based mainly on articles published by a research group specializing in mammary pathology (Laboratory of Comparative Pathology–Department of General Pathology–ICB/UFMG) and its collaborators, complementing their results with literature findings. The publications were categorized into animal research, experimental research, and human research. These studies addressed topics such as diagnosis, prognostic and predictive factors, tumor microenvironment, inflammation associated with tumors, treatment approaches, and factors influencing tumor growth. The conceptual network analysis underscores the importance of in vivo breast cancer models, both experimental and spontaneous, for understanding tumor progression mechanisms and therapeutic responses, offering valuable contributions to veterinary and human oncology.
Snow Melting Experimental Analysis on a Downscaled Shallow Landslide: A Focus on the Seepage Activity of the Snow–Soil System
Authors: Panzeri Lorenzo , Mondani Michele , Papini Monica , Longoni Laura
Published: February 2025

The stability of slopes is influenced by seasonal variations in thermal, hydrological, and mechanical processes. This study investigates the role of snowmelt in triggering shallow landslides through controlled laboratory experiments simulating winter, spring, and summer conditions. Snowpack dynamics and water movement were analyzed to understand filtration, infiltration, and runoff mechanisms. The results show that during winter, snow acts as a protective layer, slowing infiltration through its insulating and loading effects. In spring, rising temperatures melt snow, increasing water infiltration and filtration, accelerating soil saturation, and triggering slope failures. Summer rainfall-induced landslides exhibit distinct mechanisms, driven by progressive saturation. The transition from winter to spring highlights a critical phase where snowmelt interacts with warmer soils, intensifying slope instability risks. Numerical simulations using HYDRUS 1D validated the experimental findings, demonstrating its utility in modeling infiltration under varying thermal gradients. This study underscores the importance of incorporating snowmelt dynamics into landslide risk assessments and early warning systems, particularly as climate change accelerates snowmelt cycles in mountainous regions. These findings provide essential insights into seasonal variations in collapse mechanisms, emphasizing the need for further research to address the increasing impact of snowmelt in shallow landslides.
Two-Dimensional Transient Flow in a Confined Aquifer with a Cut-Off Curtain Due to Dewatering
Authors: Li Guangcheng , Lin Huiming , Deng Min , Wang Lu , Wang Jianxiao , Kong Fanshui , Zhang Yushan , Feng Qinggao
Published: February 2025

Long, narrow, deep excavations commonly encountered in practice, such as those for subway stations, require effective groundwater management to prevent disasters in water-rich areas. To achieve this, a cut-off curtain and pumping well are typically employed during long, deep foundation pit dewatering. The unsteady groundwater flow behavior in the confined aquifer must consider the influence of the cut-off curtain during dewatering. This paper establishes a two-dimensional analytical model to describe transient groundwater flow in a confined aquifer with a cut-off curtain. Both the dewatering well pumped at a steady discharge inside the pit and the cut-off curtain are partially penetrating in the anisotropic confined aquifer. With the help of the Laplace and Fourier cosine transformations, the semi-analytical drawdown solution for the model is derived and validated against numerical solution and unsteady pumping test data. It is shown that the inserted cut-off curtain depth and the structural parameters of the pumping well significantly affect the drawdown inside the pit. Sensitivity analysis reveals that, regardless of whether the observation is made inside or outside the curtain, the drawdown is very sensitive to the change in pumping rate, aquifer thickness, storage coefficient, and horizontal hydraulic conductivity. Additionally, drawdown near the cut-off curtain outside the pit is sensitive to the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, the width of the pit, and the interception depth of the cut-off curtain, while drawdown far from the curtain outside the pit is not sensitive to the location and length of the well screen.
Las herramientas digitales en educación: una revisión narrativa
Authors: Juárez Ordoñez Miguel Angel , Honores Marrufo Julia María
Published: February 2025

El uso de herramientas digitales en la educación secundaria ha cobrado relevancia en los últimos años, especialmente en contextos de transformación tecnológica. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la importancia de estas herramientas, identificando su influencia en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes y en la práctica pedagógica de los docentes. Se adoptó una metodología narrativa, permitiendo una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura sobre la integración de tecnologías en el ámbito educativo. Los hallazgos destacan que las herramientas digitales favorecen el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas, mejoran la interacción en el aula y optimizan los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Asimismo, se identificaron desafíos relacionados con la capacitación docente y la accesibilidad tecnológica. Se concluye que la incorporación efectiva de estas herramientas requiere estrategias pedagógicas innovadoras y políticas educativas que promuevan su uso equitativo, asegurando su impacto positivo en el rendimiento estudiantil y la práctica docente.
Eficácia da cirurgia na epilepsia do lobo temporal com esclerose hipocampal
Authors: Brasil de Carvalho Maria Isabel , Souza de Lima Arthur Rodrigues , Cavalcanti de Araújo Caroline Isabele , Alencar de Souza Helen Luzia , Gama Vilar Lorena , Carneiro Rolim Mirella Victoria , Gonçalves Horta Wagner
Published: February 2025

Introdução. A epilepsia do lobo temporal com esclerose hipocampal é uma das formas mais comuns e desafiadoras de epilepsia, frequentemente acompanhada de convulsões recorrentes e impactos na qualidade de vida. O tratamento cirúrgico convencional apresenta bons resultados no controle das crises, enquanto novas abordagens minimamente invasivas estão sendo desenvolvidas com o objetivo de melhorar ainda mais o prognóstico. Objetivo. Evidenciar a eficácia do tratamento cirúrgico e abordar novas técnicas terapêuticas para pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal com esclerose hipocampal. Método. As buscas por artigos científicos aconteceram na base de dados eletrônica National Library of Medicine - PubMed, restringindo o período de publicação para últimos cinco anos. Para a busca, foi utilizada a combinação de descritor e operador booleano: (epilepsy) and (temporal lobe) and (hippocampal sclerosis) and (treatment). Resultados. Foram analisados 18 artigos de 2019 a 2024. Quanto aos resultados dos trabalhos analisados, 66,6% apresentavam bom prognóstico após tratamento cirúrgico da epilepsia do lobo temporal (ELT) com esclerose hipocampal e 33,3% trazem novas modalidades terapêuticas. Dos 66,6%, apenas 11,1% defendem medidas terapêuticas com ablação altamente seletiva ou uma ressecção menor. Outros 16,6% trazem resultados incertos dos desfechos do tratamento cirúrgico, tanto na lobectomia temporal anterior quanto na abordagem mais seletiva. Já 11,1% mostram existir relação de fatores para bom prognóstico cirúrgico como a lateralidade da doença. Conclusão. A lobectomia temporal anterior mostrou melhores resultados para o tratamento da ELT com esclerose hipocampal. Novas terapêuticas ainda são inconclusivas e necessitam de mais evidências científicas.
Prótese customizada de mento como opção de tratamento para hipomentonismo: relato de caso
Authors: Silva Leticia Sandes de Albuquerque , Rosa Palmyra Catarina Costa de Santa , López Aline Rocha , Lopes Elias do Nascimento Guedes , Santos Gabriel Wállace da Silva , Escorsin Bruna Vitória Leão , Filho Luciano Schwartz Lessa
Published: February 2025

Considerando o crescente número de pacientes que procuram consultórios para corrigir deficiências ou melhorar a estética facial, os implantes faciais têm-se mostrado uma opção viável tendo em vista o menor tempo de recuperação, maior possibilidade de reversão e baixa taxa de complicações. Este trabalho, tem como objetivo descrever o relato de caso clínico de um paciente com hipomentonismo que foi submetido a uma mentoplastia com instalação de implante facial customizado sob anestesia local. A cirurgia ocorreu sem complicações e o paciente seguiu um pós-operatório sem complicações, edema controlado com sessões de fisioterapia, crioterapia e uso de medicamentos.
The renewable energies in african countries and the challenge of sustainable development
Authors: Djamila Mendil , Said Kaci
Published: February 2025

Global attention towards sustainable development has accelerated the consumption of renewable energies in recent decades. Measuring the share of renewable energy consumption in total energy consumption is essential to evaluate the importance of using renewable energy sources to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between GDP, CO2 emissions, electricity consumption, renewable energy consumption, and sustainable development at the national level in Africa. Our analysis is predicated on an econometric panel data study that was conducted using data from 24 African nations between 1990 and 2020. Long-term coefficients were measured using the Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) approaches. Consuming renewable energy has a statistically significant positive impact on sustainable development in the African nations under study, based on the estimate of these coefficients.
Diagnóstico citopatológico e histopatológico de esporotricose em testiculo de felino
Authors: Santana Larissa Almeida , Maia Anna Julia Silva , Ferreira Carolina Santos , Machado Stephanie Cristina Brizzi , Silva Ana Paula Mendes Alves da , Marcatto Danielle Souza , Leite Letícia Menezes Chagas , Miguel Camilla de Camargo
Published: February 2025

O presente trabalho relata o caso de um felino filhote que chegou ao laboratório com lesão ulcerada em região de testículo. Foi realizada citologia de pele na região e na análise foi possível observar esporulação indicativa de esporotricose. O animal foi castrado e o testículo foi encaminhado para análise histopatológica para confirmação do diagnóstico.
Mycorrhizal synthesis of Algerian holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) with Perigord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vitt.)
Authors: Zemri Rahma , Fortas Zohra , Chevalier Gérard , Dib Soulef
Published: February 2025

The Perigord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vitt.) is an edible hypogeous mushroom most cultivated in the world for its gastronomic value, its taste aroma and its economic importance. Truffle cultivation does not exist in Algeria and no study has been undertaken on the introduction of its cultivation. Mycorrhizal synthesis was carried out in a greenhouse by inoculating, in vivo on a soilless culture substrate, Algerian Quercus ilex seedling with spores of Perigord black truffle. Mycorrhization significantly improves aerial growth and root system of inoculated holm oak seedlings. The formation of ectomycorrhizae in Algerian Quercus ilex L. seedling inoculated with Perigord black truffle in vivo culture conditions was obtained for the first time. The mycorrhizal colonization rate obtained in the present study indicates that the forest species Quercus ilex originating from Algeria is compatible with the ecological requirements of the Perigord black truffle.
Circular economy: development of calcium silicate hydrated compounds aimed at the sustainable use of waste from the coal industry
Authors: Alcântara-Domingos Raquel Reis , Fungaro Denise Alves
Published: February 2025

The valorization of industrial by-products is of great importance for the environment and human health. The Circular Economy is an alternative for this scenario, where the concepts of reuse, repurposing, and recycling are applied in the process aiming at a more sustainable production. In this study, sulfated coal ash generated in the desulfurization process of coal burning gases was used as starting material for the synthesis of calcium silicate hydrated compounds (C-S-H) by the two-step method (alkaline fusion followed by hydrothermal treatment). The following parameters that affect the synthesis were evaluated: fusion time, volume of water and agitation time for the alkaline hydrothermal treatment of the samples. The ash and the products obtained were characterized by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. The synthesis efficiency was evaluated by the relative intensity of the main tobermorite peak. According to the characterization results, the highest crystallinity was obtained under conditions of fusion time of 1 h; volume of water of 200 mL and agitation time of 6 h. The reuse of ash as raw material for the synthesis of hydrated calcium silicate compounds was effective, meeting the objectives of the sustainable footprint.
Economics of poultry manure use as fertilizer in Imo state, Nigeria
Authors: Amanze Geoffrey Nkwocha , Ugochukwu Linus Ihenacho , Ukwunna Kevin Anukam , A. Rachael Ihenacho , Iwalola Muhammed-Kabir
Published: February 2025

The study was carried out in three agricultural zones notably Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu to evaluate the economics of poultry manure use as fertilizer in Imo State, Nigeria. A total of 240 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed from twelve local government areas drawn from the three zones. Data collected were on socio-economic characteristics, stock size and manure generation, poultry manure and environmental pollution and economic consideration of recycling poultry droppings. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Analytical tools used were descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency distribution and percentages. The result of the survey revealed that the dominant players in the poultry industry are those between the ages of 41-50 years implying that in future, there will be decline in productivity since youths are not actively participating in the business. The survey observed that 78.33% of poultry farmers in the state stores poultry manure within the farm premises which directly contributes to environmental pollution. Result also shows that 70.83% of poultry farmers recycle poultry manure into vegetable production while those with larger output sell the excess to crop farmers. The economic benefit of recycling poultry manure by farmers for economic prosperity is high (90.83%) and this is traced from its role in conservation agriculture and soil enrichment. The study therefore recommends the use of poultry manure by all farmers as Nigeria can conserve its foreign exchange by reducing its fertilizer importation upto 50%.