bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing sustainable healthcare through multidisciplinary stroke team rehabilitation
Authors: Persson Hanna C. , Reinholdsson Malin , Lange Elvira , Barna Stefi , Palstam Annie
Published: January 2025

Empirical studies evaluating stroke team rehabilitation interventions from a sustainability perspective are scarce. This paper highlights the significant role of multidisciplinary stroke team rehabilitation in promoting sustainable healthcare by applying principles of sustainable healthcare. Climate change and air pollution are significant risk factors for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Healthcare contributes to 5% of global CO2 emissions, exacerbating the disease burden associated with climate change. The vulnerability of individuals with disabilities to climate change has been highlighted, calling for global collaboration to address climate justice and health equity. This paper argues that multidisciplinary stroke team rehabilitation is essential for achieving sustainable stroke care, optimizing patient functioning, and contributing to all principles of sustainable healthcare: prevention, patient empowerment, lean pathways, low carbon alternatives, and efficient resource use. Timely assessments and dose-specific interventions are crucial for successful outcomes, providing significant co-benefits for healthcare resource use. Enhancing self-management and patient empowerment reduces healthcare utilization without compromising health outcomes. Telerehabilitation increases accessibility to healthcare services, particularly where transportation is challenging, and complements hospital-based procedures. Preventive healthcare activities, with their low carbon footprint, offer strong incentives for optimizing secondary prevention in stroke. Overall, multidisciplinary stroke team rehabilitation aligns with all sustainable healthcare principles, reducing overall healthcare consumption through optimized functioning and health. Increased investment in rehabilitation resources leads to better quality of care and reduced long-term resource use. By integrating sustainable practices, stroke team rehabilitation can significantly contribute to sustainable healthcare, addressing both human and planetary health.
A Study on Canopy Volume Measurement Model for Fruit Tree Application Based on LiDAR Point Cloud
Authors: Guo Na , Xu Ning , Kang Jianming , Zhang Guohai , Meng Qingshan , Niu Mengmeng , Wu Wenxuan , Zhang Xingguo
Published: January 2025

The accurate measurement of orchard canopy volume serves as a crucial foundation for wind regulation and dosage adjustments in precision orchard management. However, existing methods for measuring canopy volume fail to satisfy the high precision and real-time requirements necessary for accurate variable-rate applications in fruit orchards. To address these challenges, this study develops a canopy volume measurement model for orchard spraying using LiDAR point cloud data. In the domain of point cloud feature extraction, an improved Alpha Shape algorithm is proposed for extracting point cloud contours. This method improves the validity judgment for contour line segments, effectively reducing contour length errors on each 3D point cloud projection plane. Additionally, improvements to the mesh integral volume method incorporate the effects of canopy gaps in height difference calculations, significantly enhancing the accuracy of canopy volume estimation. For feature selection, a random forest-based recursive feature elimination method with cross-validation was employed to filter 10 features. Ultimately, five key features were retained for model training: the number of point clouds, the 2D point cloud contour along the X- and Z-projection directions, the 2D width in the Y-projection direction, and the 2D length in the Z-projection direction. During model construction, the study optimized the hyperparameters of partial least squares regression (PLSR), backpropagation (BP) neural networks, and gradient boosting decision trees (GBDT) to build canopy volume measurement models tailored to the dataset. Experimental results indicate that the PLSR model outperformed other approaches, achieving optimal performance with three principal components. The resulting canopy volume measurement model achieved an R2 of 0.9742, an RMSE of 0.1879, and an MAE of 0.1161. These results demonstrate that the PLSR model exhibits strong generalization ability, minimal prediction bias, and low average prediction error, offering a valuable reference for precision control of canopy spraying in orchards.
Physio-Biochemical Indexes as Indicators of Cadmium Tolerance in Brassica napus L. Cultivars
Authors: Qiu Yu , Wei Shuhe , Zhan Jie , Robinson Brett H. , Skuza Lidia , Xue Jianming , Dai Huiping , Zhan Li , Tang Ziyang
Published: January 2025

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal and a pervasive pollutant in agricultural soils. Despite numerous studies investigating Cd accumulation and tolerance in plants, there is a lack of systematic analysis of how various physio-biochemical indexes respond to Cd toxicity, particularly their indicative role in plant tolerance mechanisms. A pot experiment was conducted in greenhouse to assess the differences in Cd accumulation and tolerance among three Brassica napus L. cultivars (‘Hanyou 2’, ‘Hanyou 3’, and ‘Hanyou 16’) under the treatments of CK (0.18 mg kg−1 in soil), T1 (2.18 mg kg−1 in soil), T2 (4.18 mg kg−1 in soil), and T3 (8.18 mg kg−1 in soil). All three cultivars exhibited high tolerance indexes (TIs) and strong Cd tolerance when exposed to a Cd concentration of 2.18 mg kg−1 in soil (T1). There were significant positive correlations between TI and chlorophyll a (Chla), chlorophyll b (Chlb), carotenoids (Car), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and activities of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione (GSH), and ascorbic acid (ASA), while negatively correlating with intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. These findings underscore the significant indicative role of these physio-biochemical indexes in elucidating Cd tolerance mechanisms in B. napus and may be used in breeding programs to develop cultivars with a high Cd-tolerance but low Cd uptake profile. However, this was a pot experiment only. Field experiments might be more useful in the future.
Fusion of Remotely Sensed Data with Monitoring Well Measurements for Groundwater Level Management
Authors: Silva César de Oliveira Ferreira , Manzione Rodrigo Lilla , Silva Neto Epitácio Pedro da , Bezerra Ulisses Alencar , Cunha John Elton
Published: January 2025

In the realm of hydrological engineering, integrating extensive geospatial raster data from remote sensing (Big Data) with sparse field measurements offers a promising approach to improve prediction accuracy in groundwater studies. In this study, we integrated multisource data by applying the LMC to model the spatial relationships of variables and then utilized block support regularization with collocated block cokriging (CBCK) to enhance our predictions. A critical engineering challenge addressed in this study is support homogenization, where we adjusted punctual variances to block variances and ensure consistency in spatial predictions. Our case study focused on mapping groundwater table depth to improve water management and planning in a mixed land use area in Southeast Brazil that is occupied by sugarcane crops, silviculture (Eucalyptus), regenerating fields, and natural vegetation. We utilized the 90 m resolution TanDEM-X digital surface model and STEEP (Seasonal Tropical Ecosystem Energy Partitioning) data with a 500 m resolution to support the spatial interpolation of groundwater table depth measurements collected from 56 locations during the hydrological year 2015–16. Ordinary block kriging (OBK) and CBCK methods were employed. The CBCK method provided more reliable and accurate spatial predictions of groundwater depth levels (RMSE = 0.49 m), outperforming the OBK method (RMSE = 2.89 m). An OBK-based map concentrated deeper measurements near their wells and gave shallow depths for most of the points during estimation. The CBCK-based map shows more deeper predicted points due to its relationship with the covariates. Using covariates improved the groundwater table depth mapping by detecting the interconnection of varied land uses, supporting the water management for agronomic planning connected with ecosystem sustainability.
Oat Nutrition, Traits, and Yield as Affected by the Interaction of Nitrogen Rates and Plant Density in Sandy Soil
Authors: Lin Zhiling , Deng Jianqiang , Gao Kai , Zhang Zhixin
Published: January 2025

Optimizing plant density and nutrient availability is essential for sustaining high forage yields and promoting environmental health, especially in semi-arid regions with sandy soil. Nonetheless, the mechanisms by which stoichiometric features govern nutrient utilization and forage output are still unidentified. We executed a two-year field experiment, integrating six nitrogen rates (0 (N0), 104 (N1), 138 (N2), 173 (N3), 207 (N4), and 242 (N5) kg N ha−1) and four planting densities (3 (D1), 3.5 (D2), 4 (D3), and 4.5 (D4) million plants ha−1). The C, N, and P contents, along with the C:N:P stoichiometry of different oat organs (leaf, stem, and root) and soil, were determined. It was found that the growth of oats in this area was limited by soil N. The pasture biomass increased nonlinearly with increasing planting density and N rate, and the maximum thresholds for C, N, and P uptake were 389.43 g kg−1, 11.19 g kg−1, and 3.10 g kg−1 at N3, respectively. The maximum thresholds for C, N, and P uptake were 356.45, 9.47, and 2.78 g kg−1 at D3, respectively, with an optimal biomass of 9221.74 kg ha−1; at a planting density of D3, the maximum thresholds for C, N, and P uptake were 329.39, 8.54, and 2.47 g kg−1, with an optimal biomass of 6276.10 kg ha−1. SEM showed that N rate and density increases significantly changed the ecological balance of the soil. The C:N and C:P ratios in oat leaves tend towards lower values, while the N:P ratio tends towards higher values; in contrast, the C:N and C:P ratios in oat stems tend towards higher values, and the N:P ratio tends towards lower values. The nutrient use strategy maintains the stoichiometric balance at the organ level, which in turn improves the accumulation of oat biomass. The best NUE was obtained at an N rate and density of N3D3 with a 144% biomass increase as compared to N0D2. This study provides new insights into nutrient allocation, usage strategies, and the stability of oats in actual sandy land production.
Effects of Red Clover Isoflavones on Growth Performance, Immune Function, and Cecal Microflora of Mice
Authors: Guo Rongrong , Song Xuqin , Li Xiaodie , Zeng Cheng , Chen Ying , Li Chunjie , Yang Jian , Ou Deyuan
Published: January 2025

Isoflavone components extracted from red clover have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune boosting effects. We hypothesize that red clover isoflavones (RCIs) achieve health-promoting effects via altering the gut microbiota. A total of 48 mice (20 ± 2 g) were randomly divided into a control group, low-dose group (0.05% RCIs in feed), middle-dose group (0.1% RCIs in feed), and high-dose group (0.2% RCIs in feed) with 12 mice per group. The feeding period was 20 d. The results showed that RCIs can increase the daily gain and decrease the ratio of feed to gain in mice. The organ indexes and blood biochemical indexes of the mice in each RCI group were in the normal range, indicating that RCIs do not damage liver or kidney function. RCI supplementation increased serum immunity and altered the microbial community structure in the cecum of the mice. RCIs can increase the diversity of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroidaceae, Muribaculaceae, and Akkermansiaceae, and reduced the pathogenic Staphylococcaceae. Therefore, supplementing the diet with RCIs results in improved growth performance and notable alterations in the cecal microbiota in mice, and has potential applications as a feed additive to improve livestock production.
Exploring the Effects of Gracilaria lemaneiformis Polysaccharides on the Fecal Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites of Fattening Pigs Based on 16S rDNA and Metabolome Sequencing
Authors: Jia Mingyang , Ma Qiang , Wang Hongjun , Yan Xiangzhou , Wang Lei , Xing Baosong , Lu Qingxia , Wang Jing
Published: January 2025

Sixty Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) castrated male finishing pigs were randomly divided into negative control (NC) and gracilaria lemaneiformis polysaccharides (GLP) groups to study the effects of GLP on the fecal microbiota and fecal metabolites of fattening pigs. The NC group was fed a basic diet, and the GLP group was fed a basic diet supplemented with 0.1% GLP. The diversity of the species and the fecal metabolites were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolome sequencing, respectively. The serum immune and antioxidant indices were analyzed using the ELISA assay. The abundances of hazardous bacteria such as Proteobacteria at the phylum level and Shigella at the genus level were extremely significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and those of beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes at the phylum level (p < 0.01), Clostridium at the genus level (p < 0.01), and Lactobacillus at the genus level (p < 0.05) were significantly increased in the GLP group compared with the NC group. A total of 41 differentially expressed metabolites were identified. The expression of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active substances, such as methyl cinnamate, protopanaxatriol, and isovanillic acid, was elevated in the GLP group. The ELISA assay showed increased GSH-Px activity (p < 0.01), T-AOC (p < 0.01), IgG (p < 0.01), IgA (p < 0.05), and IgM (p < 0.05) in the GLP group. These results indicate that dietary GLP supplementation can improve the antioxidant ability, anti-inflammatory ability, and immune level of fattening pigs by regulating fecal flora and metabolites and could be used as a functional feed additive.
Genome Characterization of Mammalian Orthoreovirus and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Isolated from the Same Fattening Pig
Authors: Li Xiaoxuan , Zhao Jiakai , Li Jingjie , Xiri Yangzong , Liu Zhixiang , Zhao Qin , Sun Yani
Published: January 2025

In 2020, severe diarrhea occurred in four-month-old fattening pigs from nine farms in Shandong Province, China. Fecal samples were collected from diseased pigs and tested by PCR for the presence of mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), porcine rotavirus A (PoRVA), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine kobuvirus (PKV), and pseudorabies virus (PRV). The viral RNA of MRV and PEDV was detected in the fecal samples. The genome sequences of MRV and PEDV were successfully amplified from the same fecal sample. Genomic and phylogenetic analysis showed that the MRV isolate named MRV2-SD/2020 belongs to serotype 2 MRV (MRV2) and may originate from the reassortment of human and porcine MRVs. Compared with other MRV2 strains, there were four other unique amino acid mutations (L274I, F302L, V347I, and T440M) in the receptor binding region. For the PEDV isolate named PEDV-SD/2020, the nearly complete genome was amplified from the positive fecal samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it was classified into the G2a genotype. Compared with CV777 and other PEDV variant strains, its spike (S) protein exhibited two unique mutations (S663T and L966M). This study first reports the co-infection of PEDV and MRV2 in the pigs and provides a new direction for the prevention and control of the diarrhea diseases.
Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) Habitat Suitability Under Climate Change Scenarios in Hupingshan National Nature Reserve, China
Authors: Liu Qi , Ye Jianyang , Kang Zujie , Yu Guiqing , Yang Cuncun , Li Jianjun , Tang Tao
Published: January 2025

Climate change and human disturbance are critical factors affecting the habitat distribution of wild animals, with implications for management strategies such as protecting migration corridors, habitat restoration, and species conservation. In the Hupingshan National Nature Reserve (NNR), Reeve’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) is a key prey species for the South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), which is extinct in the wild and targeted for reintroduction by the Chinese government. Thus, understanding the habitat distribution and abundance of Reeve’s muntjac is essential to ensure the survival and sustainability of reintroduced tiger populations. Despite significant conservation efforts, the impacts of climate change and human disturbance on Reeve’s muntjac habitat distribution in Hupingshan NNR remain unclear, though these factors could necessitate adaptive tiger management strategies due to shifts in prey abundance. In this study, we employed an optimized MaxEnt model to assess current habitat distribution and identify key environmental variables influencing the habitat distribution of Reeve’s muntjac. Assuming non-climatic environmental factors will remain constant over the next century, we projected future habitat distribution under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP126 and SSP585) for the mid-century (2050s) and the late-century (2090s). Comparative analyses of current and projected habitat areas revealed potential impacts of climate change on this species. MaxEnt outputs classified habitat suitability into high, medium, and low levels. Results showed that climatic and human disturbance factors contributed 35.2% and 49.4% to habitat suitability, respectively. Under the SSP126 scenario, habitats with decreased suitability covered 0 km2 in the 2050s, expanding slightly to 4.2 km2 in the 2090s, while those with increased suitability spanned 491.1 km2 (2050s) and 463.2 km2 (2090s). Under the SSP585 scenario, habitats with decreased suitability covered 10.2 km2 in the 2050s and 431.8 km2 in the 2090s. Habitats with increased suitability were comparatively smaller under SSP585, covering 162.0 km2 (2050s) and 1.1 km2 (2090s). These findings suggest that while mid-century climate projections (SSP126 and SSP585) may support Reeve’s muntjac’s survival, habitat loss is projected by 2090s (SSP126). Thus, future climate change may lead to decreased habitat suitability and increased fragmentation, raising extinction risks for Reeves’s muntjac. Mitigating these effects could involve establishing migration corridors, minimizing human disturbances, and potentially supplementing prey populations with captive-bred prey. Such measures are essential to support the South China tiger reintroduction plan and help ensure that prey availability remains sufficient for sustaining reintroduced tiger populations.
Changes in the Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes in the Fat Body and Hemolymph of Apis mellifera L. Due to Pollen Monodiets
Authors: Bryś Maciej Sylwester , Olszewski Krzysztof , Bartoń Maciej , Strachecka Aneta
Published: January 2025

The increasing prevalence of monocultures has reduced floral diversity, diminishing pollen diet variety for bees. This study examines the impact of monofloral pollen diets (hazel, rapeseed, pine, buckwheat, Phacelia, goldenrod) on the antioxidant enzyme activities in the fat body from tergite 3, tergite 5, sternite, and hemolymph of honey bees. We show that pollen from plants such as rapeseed, Phacelia, buckwheat, and goldenrod (rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids) increases the activities of SOD, CAT, GST, and GPx in the fat body and hemolymph compared to the control group. Although it is commonly known that a monodiet is one of the stress factors for bees, the increase in the activities of these enzymes in the hemolymph and fat body of workers fed with pollen candy compared to those fed only sugar candy has a positive (although inconclusive) effect. These activities in the hemolymph and fat body of bees fed with pollen from anemophilous plants are usually lower compared to those in bees fed with candy containing 10% pollen from rapeseed, Phacelia, buckwheat, or goldenrod. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interactions among monofloral pollen diets, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the overall physiology of honey bees.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Waste Heat Recovery in Automotive Manufacturing Plants
Authors: Paramita Putu Diah Prajna , Daniarta Sindu , Imre Attila R. , Kolasiński Piotr
Published: January 2025

This study proposes an innovative system for recovering waste heat from exhaust air after a regenerative thermal oxidiser process, integrating a Carnot battery and photovoltaic (PV) modules. The Carnot battery incorporates an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with a recuperator, thermal energy storage (TES), and heat pump. Waste heat is initially captured in TES, with additional energy extracted by a heat pump to increase the temperature of a secondary fluid, effectively charging TES from both direct and indirect sources. The stored heat enables electricity generation via ORC. The result of this study shows a heat pump COP between 2.55 and 2.87, the efficiency of ORC ranging from 0.125 to 0.155, and the power-to-power of the Carnot battery between 0.36 and 0.40. Moreover, PV generates 1.35 GWh annually, primarily powering the heat pump and ORC system pump. The proposed system shows a total annual net generation of 4.30 GWh. Economic evaluation across four configurations demonstrates favourable outcomes, with a return on investment between 25% and 160%. The economic evaluation examined configurations with and without the PV system and recuperation process in the ORC. Results indicate that incorporating the PV system and recuperator significantly increases power output, offering a highly viable and sustainable energy solution.
The Influence of Artificial Breast Volume Induction on Postural Stability, Postural Orientation, and Neuromuscular Control in Healthy Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Guedes Diana C. , Carneiro Daniela F. , Alves Leonel A. T. , Melo Ana S. C. , Moreira Juliana , Cunha Bruno , Santos Rubim , Noites Andreia , Sousa Andreia S. P.
Published: January 2025

(1) Background: The percentage of breast augmentations has increased in recent years alongside the frequency of implant removals. Musculoskeletal and postural disorders are often overlooked during this removal process. Research indicates that excess anterior load from breast implants can disrupt postural control and potentially lead to short- or long-term musculoskeletal dysfunction. This study aims to evaluate the immediate changes in postural control after artificial breast augmentation in healthy female volunteers. (2) Methods: Spinal angles, the center of pressure (CoP), and electromyographic activity of the spinal muscles were recorded in the static position and during the functional reach test (FRT) without and with implants of different volumes (220 mL, 315 mL, and 365 mL). Subjective perceptions of effort, comfort, weight, and performance in the FRT were also assessed. (3) Results: Statistical differences were significant in the scapular elevator during the one-minute standing position (lower activation with the 220 mL implant compared to the control and 315 mL) and in the trapezius muscles during the FRT (lower activation in the upper trapezius in the 315 mL vs. control in the reach phase and 220 mL vs. control in the return phase and higher activation in the lower trapezius in the 315 and 365 mL vs. control in the reach phase). Additionally, significant differences were identified in the performance of the FRT and the associated subjective perceptions. (4) Conclusions: Breast implants with sizes of 220, 315, and 365 mL can alter scapular neuromuscular control, but these differences do not seem substantial enough to result in negative biomechanical effects in the short-term analysis.
Data-Driven Social Security Event Prediction: Principles, Methods, and Trends
Authors: Xu Nuo , Sun Zhuo
Published: January 2025

Social security event prediction can provide critical early warnings and support for public policies and crisis responses. The rapid development of communication networks has provided a massive data analysis base, including social media, economic data, and historical event records, for social security event prediction based on data-driven approaches. The advent of data-driven approaches has revolutionized the prediction of these events, offering new theoretical insights and practical applications. Aiming at offering a systematic review of current data-driven prediction methods used in social security, this paper delves into the progress of this research from three novel perspectives, prediction factors, technical methods, and interpretability, and then analyzes future development trends. This paper contributes key insights into how social security event prediction can be improved and hopefully offers a comprehensive analysis that goes beyond the existing literature.
Construction Control Technology and Monitoring Analysis of Walking Incremental Launching Construction of Small-Curvature Steel Box Girder Bridges Across Expressways
Authors: Huang Hai , Xue Xiaomin , Ma Haitao , Zhou Zhijun , Dou Jianbo , Yang Heng , Guo Erwei , Ma Jianjun
Published: January 2025

As urban areas keep growing, there are higher requirements for the carrying capacity of traffic operations, and there are more and more curve incremental launching projects with complex construction conditions. This paper builds upon the walking incremental launching project of a small-curvature steel box girder in Xuchang City and has developed a detailed construction method and monitoring technology. Due to the bridge’s longitudinal gradient being designed as a two-way slope and falling under the category of a small-radius steel box girder, the front end of the main beam exhibits significant lateral deviation, and linear control is difficult. It is necessary to carry out stress and displacement monitoring of the whole process of construction of the curved steel box girder and the guide girder to guide the construction process. The stress conditions of the incremental launching pier and the settlement of the concrete substructure are also studied, and we analyze the stress and displacement characteristics. Firstly, the finite element tool MIDAS Civil is adopted to build a model for the construction. The five most unfavorable working conditions are selected from the entire incremental launch process to analyze the internal force and displacement state of the steel box girder bridge, which is and then compared with the site monitoring value. It is demonstrated by the outcomes that the internal force and deflection of the steel box girder and the guide girder are within the safe construction range, which ensures the security of the incremental launching construction. In the maximum cantilever condition, the guide girder experiences significant stress, but the maximum value is not observed during the maximum cantilever condition of the guide girder. Therefore, whole-process monitoring should be carried during construction to maintain safety measures and quality management.
Advanced Technologies from and Through a Prototype Radio Lesson with Budding Journalists: The Views and Attitudes of Xers, Millennials, and Zoomers
Authors: Nicolaou Constantinos
Published: January 2025

In this research article, budding journalists’ views and attitudes toward a prototype radio lesson that was designed and implemented utilizing advanced technologies are explored. These budding journalists hail from Greece, were studying in higher education or adult education at the time of the survey, and belong to one of the three youngest generational cohorts within adults (i.e., 18 years old and older); Generation X where their members are now known as Xers, Generation Y where their members are already known as Millennials, and Generation Z where their members are also known as Zoomers—XYZ Generations. The survey’s research data were collected after six interactive teachings from and through advanced technologies, via a specially designed written questionnaire, as case study experiments that applied qualitative action research with quasi-experiments. Analysis, descriptive, and inductive statistics were then applied to them from and through Internet applications and services. This is essentially empirical qualitative research that incorporates the approach of the quantitative analysis process. The resulting survey findings and results mainly contribute to the quality of higher education and adult education, especially in the field of media studies. Likewise, they align with or confirm previous contemporary empirical studies and research papers on the genealogical characteristics, habits, and ethos of the XYZ Generations, and particularly regarding the similarities among Xers and Zoomers, as well as that Generation Z can also be characterized as a “Sound Generation”. An important conclusion of this research article is that the success of a lesson or even a lecture seems to depend (a) on the good design and/or development of the lesson plan itself, as well as (b) on the communication classroom where the educational praxis takes place. Finally, these survey findings and results are also considered encouraging and could be utilized (a) for any audiovisual-supported teaching–learning procedure for adult learners; (b) across various educational levels and disciplines; or even (c) for members other generational cohorts.
Design of Direct Current Microgrid Converter with Cost-Effective Low-Voltage Battery Storage System
Authors: Tvarožek Juraj , Prazenica Michal , Paulec Tomáš , Kaščák Slavomir , Resutík Patrik
Published: January 2025

Battery storage systems are becoming very popular around the world. However, they are mainly used in industry for high-performance applications. Domestic use is still sporadic due to size and cost issues. This work overviews basic conceptual designs for a cost-effective battery storage system. The main specificity of the proposed systems is the use of commonly available recycled batteries from household appliances such as laptops and backup power supplies. The circuit topology considered is a 3S (three cells in series) configuration. This is because such wiring arrangements are those that are most often found in the home appliances described here. The technical solutions of the device itself focus on the ratio of the efficiency of the whole system to the production cost. Given the above, attention was paid to the simulation analysis of the operating modes, which directly influenced the components’ price. Changing the switching control scheme of the power transistors makes it possible to reduce the requirements for the driving components used with minimal impact on the power conversion efficiency (Δη 1–4%). According to the established findings, a prototype was made on which the simulation findings were verified; then, we further focused on the experimental measurement of the efficiency of the MPPT converter and conducted an analysis of a methodology in which we measure the deviation from the actual point of maximum power. The simple possibility of parallelizing the individual storage devices will again help improve the system’s overall efficiency. This makes the system suitable for use in small spaces such as houses, garages, cellars, etc.
Acoustic Emission Analysis of the Cracking Behavior in ECC-LWSCC Composites
Authors: Zaki Yara , Abouhussien Ahmed , Hassan Assem
Published: January 2025

Acoustic emission (AE) analysis was utilized to assess the cracking behavior of six lightweight self-consolidating concrete (LWSCC)–engineering cementitious composite (ECC) beams under flexural loading. Two control beams were fully cast with ECC containing either polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers or steel fibers (SF). The remaining four beams were ECC-LWSCC composite beams, with the ECC layer containing PVA fibers or SF placed on either the tension or compression side. The results showed that the control beams had the highest ultimate load capacity, followed by beams repaired in tension, and then beams repaired in compression. PVA fibers exhibited higher performance compared to steel fibers at the first crack load, while steel fibers enhanced the beam’s performance at the ultimate load stage. During the flexural testing, AE parameters such as the number of hits, signal amplitude, and cumulative signal strength (CSS) were collected until failure. The analysis of these AE parameters was effective in detecting the first crack and evaluating cracking propagation in all beams. Changing the type of fibers (PVA and SF) in the ECC layer showed a significant effect on AE parameters. Moreover, adding a new ECC layer to an existing LWSCC layer resulted in variations in the signal amplitude. Finally, the flexural failure mode was confirmed with the aid of the rise time/maximum amplitude vs. average frequency analysis.
Comparative Analysis of Mechanized Versus Conventional Polishing Protocols for Denture Base Acrylic Resins
Authors: Quezada Margarida Martins , Fernandes Carlos , Montero Javier , Correia André , Fonseca Patrícia
Published: January 2025

Surface roughness is primarily determined by the inherent characteristics of a material, the specific polishing protocol and the manual operator’s dexterity. This research intends to conduct a comparative analysis between a conventional and mechanized polishing protocol concerning surface roughness and its impact on surface topography. Thirty samples were included in this in vitro study: six samples for each type of acrylic resin. All specimens underwent a polishing protocol by a conventional method and a mechanized approach with a controlled polishing tool (CPT). Profilometric measures were extracted: arithmetic mean height (Pa), skewness (Psk) and kurtosis (Pku). The Pa values acquired through both the mechanized and conventional polishing techniques are significantly lower compared to the control group. The mechanized polishing notably yielded higher roughness compared to the control group. Relatively consistent skewness and lower-to-moderate values of kurtosis were found across resin types. Differences in the dispersion and pattern for Pa were not detected between the polishing protocols. The CPT protocol reliably maintains consistent skewness and kurtosis values. The conventional protocol remains significant due to the variations observed in the Pa values obtained.
MIESTC: A Multivariable Spatio-Temporal Model for Accurate Short-Term Wind Speed Forecasting
Authors: Li Shaohan , Chen Min , Yi Lu , Lu Qifeng , Yang Hao
Published: January 2025

Wind speed forecasting is an essential part of weather prediction, with significant value in economics, business, and management. Utilizing multiple meteorological variables can improve prediction accuracy, but existing methods face challenges such as mixing and noise due to variable differences, as well as difficulty in capturing complex spatio-temporal dependencies. To address these issues, this study introduces a novel short-term wind speed forecasting model named as MIESTC. The proposed model employs an independent encoder to extract features from each meteorological variable, mitigating the issues of noise that are caused by variable mixing. Then, a multivariate spatio-temporal correlation module is used to capture the global spatio-temporal dependencies between variables and model their interactions. Experimental results on the ERA5-LAND dataset show that, compared to the ConvLSTM, UNET, and SimVP models, the MIESTC model reduces RMSE by 14.60%, 8.64%, and 10.41%, respectively, for a 1 h prediction duration. For a 6 h prediction duration, the corresponding reductions are 13.91%, 8.20%, and 6.95%, validating its superior performance in short-term wind speed forecasting. Furthermore, an analysis of variable impacts reveals that U10, V10, and T2M play dominant roles in wind speed prediction, while TP exhibits a relatively lower impact, aligning with the results of the correlation analysis. These findings underscore the potential of MIESTC as an effective and reliable tool for short-term wind speed prediction.
Multivariate Analyses with Two-Step Dimension Reduction for an Association Study Between 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kawaguchi Atsushi , Yamashita Fumio
Published: January 2025

The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) relies on amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in brain tissues. To study the relationship between Aβ deposition and brain structure, as determined using 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively, we developed a regression model with PiB and MRI data as the predictor and response variables, respectively, and proposed a regression method for studying the association between them based on a supervised sparse multivariate analysis with dimension reduction based on a composite paired basis function. By applying this method to imaging data of 61 patients with AD (age: 55–85), the first component showed the strongest correlation with the composite score, owing to the supervised feature. The spatial pattern included the hippocampal and parahippocampal regions for MRI. The peak value was observed in the posterior cingulate and precuneus for PiB. The differences in PiB scores among the diagnosis groups 12 months after PiB imaging were significant between the normal and AD groups (p = 0.0284), but not between the normal and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) groups or the MCI and AD groups (p = 0.3508). Our method may facilitate the development of a dementia biomarker from brain imaging data. Scoring imaging data allows for visualization and the application of traditional analysis, facilitating clinical analysis for better interpretation of results.
Reliability and Accuracy of Standard Reference Procedures for Measurements of Trunk and Arm Postures in Ergonomics
Authors: Lind Carl M. , Rhen Ida-Märta , Forsman Mikael
Published: January 2025

Adequate reference procedures for obtaining the reference zero-angle position are important for precise and accurate posture measurements, but few studies have systematically investigated these. A limited number of previous studies suggest differences in accuracy between procedures, with some causing an underestimation of the true arm elevation angle when sensors are taped to the skin. The reliability of commonly used reference procedures for the measurement of the trunk posture is also not well explored, and alternative procedures may improve precision. Based on this identified gap, this study evaluated the test–retest reliability of the N-position (I-pose), i.e., the standard procedure for recording trunk postures, and compared it with two new alternative procedures. Additionally, the accuracy of the N-position for measuring arm elevation angles was compared with one alternative procedure. A total of 40 participants (22 women and 18 men) aged 26–70 years performed the reference procedures in a laboratory setting. Postures were recorded using a smart workwear system equipped with two inertial measurement units (IMUs) embedded in pockets within the workwear. For the trunk posture, the N-position showed a slight lack of test–retest reliability, while one of the alternative procedures demonstrated better test–retest reliability. For the arm posture, the N-position, which does not include lateral trunk inclination, resulted in a substantial underestimation of the arm elevation angle of approximately 15°, which is a novel finding. In contrast, the posture involving trunk inclination closely matched the targeted reference, with a difference of less than 2°. This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate reference procedures to ensure precise and accurate posture measurements.
From Cartilage to Matrix: Protocols for the Decellularization of Porcine Auricular Cartilage
Authors: dos Santos Ana Caroline , de Andrade Livia Maria Barbosa , Candelária Raí André Querino , de Carvalho Juliana Casanovas , Valbão Maria Carolina Miglino , Barreto Rodrigo da Silva Nunes , de Faria Marcelo Domingues , Buchaim Rogerio Leone , Buchaim Daniela Vieira , Miglino Maria Angelica
Published: January 2025

The shortage of tissues and damaged organs led to the development of tissue engineering. Biological scaffolds, created from the extracellular matrix (ECM) of organs and tissues, have emerged as a promising solution for transplants. The ECM of decellularized auricular cartilage is a potential tool for producing ideal scaffolds for the recellularization and implantation of new tissue in damaged areas. In order to be classified as an ideal scaffold, it must be acellular, preserving its proteins and physical characteristics necessary for cell adhesion. This study aimed to develop a decellularization protocol for pig ear cartilage and evaluate the integrity of the ECM. Four tests were performed using different methods and protocols, with four pig ears from which the skin and subcutaneous tissue were removed, leaving only the cartilage. The most efficient protocol was the combination of trypsin with a sodium hydroxide solution (0.2 N) and SDS (1%) without altering the ECM conformation or the collagen architecture. In conclusion, it was observed that auricular cartilage is difficult to decellularize, influenced by material size, exposure time, and the composition of the solution. Freezing and thawing did not affect the procedure. The sample thickness significantly impacted the decellularization time.
Elevated Kappa Index in the Absence of Cerebrospinal Fluid IgG Oligoclonal Bands: Contribution of Intrathecal IgM and IgA Synthesis
Authors: Smolik Krzysztof , Bedin Roberta , Natali Patrizia , Cardi Martina , Franciotta Diego , Simone Anna Maria , Immovilli Paolo , Santangelo Mario , Gastaldi Matteo , De Napoli Giulia , Vitetta Francesca , Ferraro Diana
Published: January 2025

The kappa index is a well-established marker of intrathecal synthesis (IS) of immunoglobulin (Ig). Routinely used for diagnostic aims, IgG IS, which can be assessed quantitatively (ad hoc formulas) or qualitatively (oligoclonal bands, OCBs), may fail in detecting a humoral immune response within the central nervous system (CNS). The main aim of this study was to evaluate the kappa index for its ability to detect the presence of CNS humoral immunity and to associate it with a distinct group of disorders, in the absence of IgG IS/OCBs. Within the kappa index-positive, IgG OCB-negative (Kappa+OCB-) patient group, we also examined whether IgM/IgA IS, determined with the IgM/IgA index and CSF IgM OCBs, could contribute to disease group stratification. Diagnoses were classified as multiple sclerosis (MS), or other inflammatory (INFL), infectious (INFECT), or non-inflammatory (Other) central/peripheral nervous system disorders. Sixty-nine Kappa+OCB- patients and 50 controls (24 Kappa-OCB- and 26 Kappa+OCB+ patients) were included in this study. The most frequent diagnosis in the Kappa+OCB- group was MS (27/69), followed by INFECT (16/69). Additional evidence of IS was demonstrated through an elevated IgG/IgM/IgA index or by the presence of IgM OCBs in 59%, and through only IgM/IgA IS in 52% of cases. In INFECT patients, the median IgM/IgA indexes were higher (p < 0.001) than in other groups, with 18 patients (95%) presenting an elevated IgM index, 11 patients (58%) presenting CSF IgM OCBs, and 10 patients (53%) presenting an elevated IgA index. The vast majority of all INFECT (16/19) belonged to the Kappa+OCB- group. Our data confirm that the kappa index performs at the highest level in assessing intrathecal humoral immunity and supporting the diagnosis of both MS and CNS infectious disorders, which are also characterized by the intrathecal production of IgM and IgA.
Increased Phenotype Severity Associated with Splice-Site Variants in a Hungarian Pediatric Neurofibromatosis 1 Cohort: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Veres Klára , Nagy Benedek , Ember Zsófia , Bene Judit , Hadzsiev Kinga , Medvecz Márta , Szabó László , Szalai Zsuzsanna Zsófia
Published: January 2025

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a complex neurocutaneous disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the NF1 gene. Although genotype–phenotype correlation studies are increasing, robust clinically relevant correlations have remained limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data obtained from a cohort of 204 Hungarian individuals, with a mean age of 16 years (age range: 1–33 years). The data were collected over 15 years. Results: Among the cohort of 204 patients, 148 subjects fulfilled ≥2 criteria established by the National Health Institute. Genetic testing was performed in 70 patients, with an 82.8% detection rate, of which 13 patients were excluded. Among the remaining 45 pathogenic variants, 17 (37.7%) frameshift, 11 (24.4%) nonsense, 8 (17.8%) splice-site, 4 (8.9%) missense mutations, and 5 (11.11%) copy number variations (CNVs) were detected. Café-au-lait macules were present in all patients (100%). Intracranial malformations were the second most common feature (55.6%), followed by Lisch nodules (35.6%), neurofibromas (33.3%), and skeletal abnormalities (31.1%). Conclusions: In our cohort, patients with splice-site variants (8/45, 17.8%) demonstrated a notably more severe phenotype compared to findings reported in other studies, with a high prevalence of plexiform neurofibromas (37.5%), intracranial findings (62.5%), skeletal abnormalities (50%), Lisch nodules (50%), and even pseudarthrosis (25%). Correlating with the literature, missense variants represented a mild phenotype, while patients with microdeletion syndrome revealed a more severe phenotype.
An Approach to Automatic Building Information Modeling-Based Generation of Finite Element Models of Different Complexity and Finite Element Dimensionality
Authors: Rudenko Iryna , Petryna Yuri
Published: January 2025

(1) The presented paper proposes an approach to the BIM-based generation of FE models of different complexity and FE dimensionality. This is particularly important as different FE models are needed to assess various structural or material limit states for the same structure, affecting the accuracy and efficiency of simulations. (2) The basis of the BIM model is an IFC file that is enriched with FEM- and, if desired, SHM-relevant information. The geometry of the objects is described by SweptSolid representation with a parameterized profile definition. Moreover, material properties, supports, and structural connections are specified within the BIM model. Afterwards, the data are extracted from the IFC file. Additionally, the geometry of the structure is modified depending on the desired FE dimensionality. Subsequently, ANSYS MAPDL commands are generated and written to the macro file. (3) The approach is illustrated by an example of a laboratory test structure. Four FE models of different complexity and FE dimensionality are successfully generated based on the IFC file and used for numerical simulations. (4) This study demonstrates the efficiency, practicality, and functionality of the proposed approach, offering a robust solution for generating FE models that can be used across multiple structural analysis scenarios.