bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The PLA Gene Family in Tomato: Identification, Phylogeny, and Functional Characterization
Authors: Li Zixing , Yao Zhuping , Ruan Meiying , Wang Rongqing , Ye Qingjing , Wan Hongjian , Zhou Guozhi , Cheng Yuan , Guo Shangjing , Liu Chaochao , Liu Chenxu
Published: January 2025

Background: Phospholipase A (PLA) enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of glycerophospholipids, releasing free fatty acids and lysophospholipids that play vital roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Methods: This study identified and analyzed SlPLA genes through bioinformatics and further explored the function of PLA genes under cold stress through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiments. Results: This study systematically characterized the SlPLA gene family in tomato, identifying 80 genes distributed across 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genes into three groups: pPLA, PLA1, and PLA2. Conserved motifs and gene structure analysis revealed distinct patterns, with some genes lacking untranslated regions (UTRs), which suggests functional diversification. Promoter analysis indicated that SlPLA genes are regulated by light, hormones, and stress-related elements, particularly cold stress. RNA-seq data and qRT-PCR results indicated the differential expression of SlPLA genes across various tissues in tomato cultivars (Heinz and Micro-Tom). Under cold stress, certain SlPLA genes, especially SlPLA1-2, were up-regulated, suggesting their involvement in cold tolerance. Silencing SlPLA1-2 resulted in increased membrane damage, elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, higher electrolyte leakage, and a lower expression of cold-responsive genes within the ICE1-CBF-COR pathway and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis. Conclusions: This study discovered 80 SlPLA genes in tomato across 12 chromosomes, categorizing them into pPLA, PLA1, and PLA2 via phylogenetic analysis. The qRT-PCR analysis identified that SlPLA1-2 was strongly induced by cold stress, and further experiments regarding genetics and physiology revealed that SlPLA1-2 boosts the cold tolerance of tomato by affecting the CBF signaling pathway and JA biosynthesis, offering insights for future stress-resilience breeding.
Improving the Quality of Mountain Facilities: A Novel Project in the Dolomites Area
Authors: Marcotrigiano Vincenzo , Prete Alice , Canal Chiara , Padoin Angela , Bino Erica , Campigotto Igor , Lovat Alberto , Campigotto Flavia , Manzi Mattia , Fagherazzi Jacopo , Da Rech Andrea , Voltolini Anna , Fiorito Nahuel , D’Incà Pamela , Parpinel Maria , Cinquetti Sandro
Published: January 2025

In its broadest sense, the mountain environment represents a setting useful for promoting health. This Italian project, conceived and applied in the Dolomites, aims to encourage multi-sector preventive public health policies; improve refuge hygiene; strengthen safety requirements; and implement projects aimed at promoting health. With the support of healthcare workers (HCWs) of the Prevention Department and other professionals in this field, 27 establishments in the Alpine territory have joined the project, benefiting from being recognized as a “Healthy and Safe Refuge” at the end of the quality improvement process. This process consisted of a documentary assessment, an on-site evaluation, and an assessment of analytical evidence relating to parameters investigated by both HCWs and refuge managers according to specific protocols. Data were collected from a specific database via an application to join the project and from sampling reports of parameters investigated for evaluating the quality of water intended for human consumption. The outdoor Alpine environment has recently witnessed extraordinary development and must continue to meet all health and safety requirements, especially in view of a global event—the Olympic Games—that will be hosted in the Dolomites area in 2026.
The Impact and Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Applied to the Safety Training of Workers in Open-Cast Mining
Authors: Pireddu Antonella , Innocenti Alessandro , Lusuardi Luca Maurizio , Santalucia Vincenzo , Simeoni Carla
Published: January 2025

This paper presents the results of an interactive virtual reality (VR) training program aimed at enhancing Health and Safety (H&S) management practices in quarrying operations. The course was designed based on industry best practices, as well as both voluntary and mandatory standards relevant to marble mining activities. It combines experiential learning with a performance monitoring system that tracks completion rates, time taken, and scores based on user decisions. The primary objective was to assess the impact of VR training across different user groups, categorized by age, prior safety experience, familiarity with equipment and processes, and VR proficiency. This study involved 40 participants and analyzed 15 variables, including occupation, age, H&S skills, process knowledge, equipment familiarity, VR skills, physical impact of VR, number of attempts before completion, percentage and time of completion, achieved scores, retention of knowledge, and user feedback before and after training. Performance measurement was carried out using two methods: a Microsoft Forms questionnaire with 16 questions, completed by participants one week after training, and Simula Solution, which automatically tracked and recorded performance metrics (time, percentage, errors, and scores) during each session. The survey successfully identified which demographic groups were most affected by VR training. The findings of this study could have important implications for improving H&S practices in the mining sector by empowering workers to engage in training and interact with process resources. This allows them to experience virtual accidents in a controlled, risk-free environment.
Mast Cells at the Crossroads of Hypersensitivity Reactions and Neurogenic Inflammation
Authors: Aitella Ernesto , Romano Ciro , Ginaldi Lia , Cozzolino Domenico
Published: January 2025

Although mast cells have long been known, they are not yet fully understood. They are traditionally recognized for their role in allergic reactions through the IgE/FcεRI axis, but different groups of surface receptors have since been characterized, which appear to be involved in the manifestation of peculiar clinical features. In particular, MRGPRX2 has emerged as a crucial receptor involved in degranulating human skin mast cells. Because of mast cells’ close proximity to peripheral nerve endings, it may play a key role in neuroimmune interactions. This paper provides an overview of mast cell contributions to hypersensitivity and so-called “pseudoallergic” reactions, as well as an update on neuroinflammatory implications in the main models of airway and skin allergic diseases. In particular, the main cellular characteristics and the most relevant surface receptors involved in MC pathophysiology have been reappraised in light of recent advancements in MC research. Molecular and clinical aspects related to MC degranulation induced by IgE or MRGPRX2 have been analyzed and compared, along with their possible repercussions and limitations on future therapeutic perspectives.
Biological Activities and Phytochemical Screening of Thuja occidentalis Extracts with In Silico Approaches
Authors: Younes Kareem , Abouzied Amr , Alqarni Saad , Elkashlan Akram , Hussein Weiam , Alhathal Rawabi , Albsher Rahaf , Alshammari Sarah , Huwaimel Bader
Published: January 2025

The evergreen coniferous tree Thuja occidentalis is a member of the Cupressaceae family. This study included biological, cytotoxic, and in silico docking analyses in addition to a phytochemical composition analysis of the plant leaves and stem ethanolic extracts. The extracts’ in vitro cytotoxicity efficacy against various cancer cell lines was examined. Additionally, certain phytochemical compounds were identified by gas chromatographic analysis and subsequently assessed in silico against anticancer molecular targets. Also, their antiviral effect was assessed. Good cytotoxic activity was demonstrated by plant extracts against the lung and colorectal cancer cell lines. With half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 18.45 μg/mL for the leaf extract and 33.61 μg/mL for the stem extract, apoptosis and S-phase arrest was observed in the lung cancer cell line. In addition, the leaf extract demonstrated effective antiviral activity, with suppression rates of 17.7 and 16.2% for the herpes simplex and influenza viruses, respectively. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of relevant bioactive components such as Podocarp-7-en-3β-ol, 13β-methyl-13-vinyl, Megastigmatrienone, and Cedrol, which were tested in silico against anticancer molecular targets. Our findings suggest that plant ethanolic extracts may have potential therapeutic uses as anticancer drugs against lung cancer in addition to their antiviral properties, which opens up further avenues for more investigation and applications.
Antiviral Activity of Water–Alcoholic Extract of Cistus incanus L.
Authors: Angelova Petya , Hinkov Anton , Gerasimova Vanya , Staleva Plamena , Kamenova-Nacheva Mariana , Alipieva Kalina , Shivachev Dimitar , Shishkov Stoyan , Shishkova Kalina
Published: January 2025

Recently, previously known viruses have changed their pathogenicity and encompassed new types of host populations. An example of such an infection is that caused by SARS-CoV, belonging to the “well-known” coronavirus family. Another group of viruses that are of great importance to the human population are the herpes viruses. Due to increasing viral resistance to existing antiviral drugs, plant extracts are attracting increasing interest due to their complex composition and their simultaneous attack of different viral targets. Based on the above, we tested the antiviral potential of water–alcoholic extract obtained from a commercial sample of the plant Cistus incanus L. against the enveloped viruses SvHA1, SvHA2 (ACV resistant) and HCoV 229E. The results showed both complete inhibition of the intracellular stages of the viral replication and a strong effect on extracellular virions in the three viral models. In a study of the effect on the replication of SvHA 2, the calculated selectivity index was over 10. From the experiments on the virucidal effects on the two herpes viruses, it was found that the viral titer of the samples decreased by about 4 lg compared to the control sample. The extract is of interest for introduction into practice.
Activation of Metabisulfite by Dissolved Fe(III) at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations for Organic Contaminants Degradation
Authors: Chen Jianan , Chen Longjiong , Wu Leliang , Yan Chengyu , Sun Ningxin , Peng Guilong , Yang Shaogui , He Huan , Qi Chengdu
Published: January 2025

Currently, iron-catalyzed low-valent sulfur species processes are regarded as potentially valuable advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in wastewater treatment. As a commonly used low-valent sulfur species in the food industry, metabisulfite (MBS) can undergo decomposition to bisulfite when dissolved in water. Therefore, the combination of MBS with dissolved Fe(III) at environmentally relevant concentrations is proposed in this study to accelerate organic contaminants degradation while simultaneously minimizing the production of iron sludge. The results show that the Fe(III)/MBS process could degrade various organic contaminants, including acid orange 7 (AO7), and the removal efficiency of AO7 obeyed the pseudo-first-order kinetic. The rate constant values exhibited variations depending on the initial concentrations of Fe(III) and MBS, pH values, as well as the reaction temperature. Moreover, the contribution of HO• and SO4•− to AO7 degradation was estimated as 51.59% and 46.45%, respectively. Furthermore, Cl− showed a minimal effect while HCO3− and humic acid resulted in a significant inhibitory effect on AO7 degradation. The satisfactory degradation of AO7 was achieved in three real water bodies. Ultimately, the results of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and the theoretical calculations greatly facilitate the proposal of AO7 degradation pathways, including N=N cleavage, hydroxylation, and hydrogen abstraction. The findings of this study indicate that the Fe(III)/MBS process may be a promising AOP for further application in organic contaminants degradation during wastewater treatment.
Evolutionary Patterns and Genotype-Specific Amino Acid Mutations of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus
Authors: Wang Ruichen , Gu Anqi , Li Fan , Ma Qian , Yin Qikai , Nie Kai , Fu Shihong , Cui Qianqian , Xu Songtao , Li Hao , Wang Huanyu
Published: January 2025

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a significant tick-borne flavivirus responsible for severe human diseases. Here, we analyzed the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of TBEV using 263 genome sequences from the NCBI database and identified key amino acid mutations. TBEV sequences were classified into five genotypes—Baikalian, European, Far-Eastern, Himalaya, and Siberian—showing ORF nucleotide similarity of 81.5% to 88.0% and amino acid similarity of 93.0% to 96.4%. Extensive recombination between genotypes was not observed. Entropy analyses revealed highly variable sites distributed across the Baikalian (n = 2), European (n = 3), Far-Eastern (n = 5), and Siberian (n = 13) genotypes. Each genotype exhibited specific amino acid mutations. Positive selection analysis identified sites under selection in the full dataset (n = 2), as well as in the European (n = 6), Far-Eastern (n = 7), and Siberian (n = 4) genotypes. By integrating highly variable sites, shared genotype-specific mutations, and positively selected sites, we identified 37 key amino acid positions, primarily located on the surfaces of viral proteins. These positions may have a potential impact on protein function and pathogenicity, though further studies are required to validate and evaluate these effects comprehensively. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of mutational landscapes across TBEV genotypes, uncovering potential critical mutations that may shape viral biology and pathogenicity, and offers valuable insights for further exploration of TBEV characteristics.
Fine-Tuning QurSim on Monolingual and Multilingual Models for Semantic Search
Authors: Afzal Tania , Abdul Rauf Sadaf , Malik Muhammad Ghulam Abbas , Imran Muhammad
Published: January 2025

Transformers have made a significant breakthrough in natural language processing. These models are trained on large datasets and can handle multiple tasks. We compare monolingual and multilingual transformer models for semantic relatedness and verse retrieval. We leveraged data from the original QurSim dataset (Arabic) and used authentic multi-author translations in 22 languages to create a multilingual QurSim dataset, which we released for the research community. We evaluated the performance of monolingual and multilingual LLMs for Arabic and our results show that monolingual LLMs give better results for verse classification and matching verse retrieval. We incrementally built monolingual models with Arabic, English, and Urdu and multilingual models with all 22 languages supported by the multilingual paraphrase-MiniLM-L12-v2 model. Our results show improvement in classification accuracy with the incorporation of multilingual QurSim.
Early Deep Venous Thrombosis After Hip Fracture Surgery in Patients in Pharmacological Prophylaxis
Authors: Rostagno Carlo , Gatti Massimo , Cartei Alessandro , Civinini Roberto
Published: January 2025

Background: Venous thromboembolism frequently complicates orthopedic surgery. The aim of the study was to evaluate the overall incidence, site, and risk factors for venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery in DVT prophylaxis according to guidelines recommendations. Methods: Standard ultrasonography (CUS) was performed in the 5–6th postoperative day in all patients who underwent hip fracture surgery between 1 January and 31 December 2019. Pharmacological prophylaxis was started within 12 h from admission. In the first half of the year, dalteparin (5000 IU/day) was available while nadroparin (38 IU/kg until 3rd postoperative day and thereafter 57 IU/kg) was available in the second part of the year. Results: A total of 505 patients, 144 males and 361 females, with a mean age of 84 years, entered in the study. Post-operative DVT was found at screening ultrasonography in 121 patients (24%). Most involved distal veins (91) while proximal DVT occurred in 30. Two patients had not fatal pulmonary embolism (0.3%). Time to surgery (p = 0.0009) and ≥2 comorbidities (p = 0.0198) were independent predictive factors of DVT. Moreover, dalteparin prophylaxis was associated with a 1.7-times higher risk of developing a DVT compared to nadroparin. Conclusions: DVT occurs in 24% of patients after hip fracture surgery despite thromboprophylaxis. Time to surgery and ≥2 comorbidities were independent risk factors. The protective effects of nadroparin should be confirmed by a randomized trial. All patients with DVT were discharged with indication to anticoagulation for at least three months.
One-Year Compliance After Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Migraine Patients in a Real-World Setting: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kang Mi-kyoung , Sohn Jong-Hee , Cha Myoung-Jin , Kim Yoo Hwan , Hong Yooha , Im Hee-Jin , Cho Soo-Jin
Published: January 2025

Background: Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) are a breakthrough migraine treatment, but long-term compliance under limited public insurance coverage has not been well known. This study explores one-year treatment patterns and outcomes of CGRP mAbs using real-world data. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included migraine patients treated with CGRP monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) from July 2022 to June 2023. Treatment discontinuation was defined as a gap of over 60 days between injections. Among patients with 12 months of follow-up, adherence was measured using the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC), calculated as the ratio of days covered to the follow-up duration, with PDC ≥ 80% indicating good adherence. Efficacy was also assessed, defined as a ≥50% reduction in monthly headache days and acute medication use. Results: The study included 140 patients (mean age 44.6 ± 12.1 years; 82.9% female). Migraine without aura was predominant (93.6%), and 65.0% had chronic migraine. CGRP mAbs discontinuation occurred in 71.4% of patients, primarily due to headache improvement (22.9%) or lack of efficacy (15.0%). Among 81 patients with 12 months of follow-up, good adherence was observed in 40.7% of patients. Among these patients, 60.6% achieved a ≥50% reduction in monthly headache days, and 51.9% showed a ≥50% reduction in monthly acute medication use. Conclusions: More than two-thirds of patients discontinued the CGRP mAb within 1 year, so these findings emphasize the need for strategies to improve adherence and optimize follow-up plans to enhance patient support.
The Mind Under Pressure: What Roles Does Education Play in the Relationship Between Chronic Stress and Cognitive Ability?
Authors: Seitz Maximilian , Steger Diana
Published: January 2025

Chronic stress is an important predictor of mental and physical health, but little is known about its association with cognitive abilities and education during the lifespan. We hypothesized that chronic stress would be negatively correlated with cognitive abilities, particularly crystallized intelligence, and that this association would be stronger among individuals with lower educational attainment due to limited stress-coping resources. We used cross-sectional data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS SC6), comprising 10,416 adults aged 29 to 71 years (50.80% female; 49.20% male). Fluid and crystallized intelligence were assessed with a reasoning test and a vocabulary test, respectively; chronic stress was assessed with a questionnaire on social stress and anxiety. The tests and the questionnaire were conceptualized for a heterogeneous and large-scale sample. Our results show small negative associations between chronic stress and both fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities, which persist after controlling for demographic variables. However, there were no significant differences between educational groups. Although the study does not address longitudinal patterns, it highlights the complex interaction between stress and cognition, and it underscores the need for further research to explore how educational resources may mitigate the impact of chronic stress on cognitive health.
Assessment of the Representativeness and Uncertainties of CTD Temperature Profiles
Authors: Le Menn Marc , Dumas Franck , Calvez Baptiste
Published: January 2025

CTD profilers are used as reference instruments to qualify temperature and salinity data. Their metrological specifications can be controlled in a calibration bath, and calibration coefficients can be applied to correct the linearity of sensors and the trueness of measured data with a given uncertainty. However, in ocean areas with thermal gradients, the uncertainty of the measured data is questionable due to the thermal inertia of sensors and the movements of the CTD in relation to the roll or pitch of the boat. In order to evaluate these measurement uncertainties and in order to be able to use the upcast profiles, a double C–T sensor SBE 9 profiler was fixed under a carousel water sampler, the second C–T couple being at the top of the carousel frame. This configuration allows the evaluation of the temperature measurement deviations of recorded profiles. In order to quantify the different sources of instrumental uncertainties, the temperature signal has been modelled accounting for the movements induced by the boat. The result allows one to quantify what can be called the representativeness of CTD’s temperature measurements. This notion is very useful in the data assimilation process. A table quantifying the various sources of uncertainty has been created from profiles obtained during four offshore campaigns. In the future, it could be used to find the representativeness of similar profiles obtained with a single pair of sensors. Ship-based CTD profiles are generally considered as perfect or without uncertainty in data assimilation and in the qualification per comparison of other instruments (XBT, Argo profiles, etc.). Our findings imply that this hypothesis will have to be reconsidered.
Horizontal Refraction Effects of Sound Propagation Within Continental Shelf Slope Environment: Modeling and Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Wang Jinci , Lei Bo , Yang Yixin , Zhou Jianbo
Published: January 2025

Horizontal refraction notably influences propagation characteristics with the variation of the waveguide environment. In this study, the horizontal refraction phenomenon at low frequencies was investigated in a sloping sea region with an incomplete vertical sound speed profile. Using the mode coupling theory, this research explores the relationship between horizontal refraction and energy exchange among modes, examining the impact of environmental conditions on the horizontal refraction angle. Theoretical derivations and numerical simulations reveal the mechanisms by which the source depth and modal order influence the horizontal refraction. The analysis indicates that the horizontal refraction angle increases with the modal order when the real part of the horizontal wavenumber km at the source position is less than the wavenumber ks. In this situation, the horizontal refraction angle corresponding to the same modal order does not vary with the source depth. However, if the real part of km is larger than ks, then the horizontal refraction angle decreases as the source depth increases. This condition is due to the extremely small eigenfunction value at source depth of the low-order mode, thereby enhancing the mode coupling effect. The mode coupling is intimately associated with the mode excited by the source. Therefore, the source depth exerts a substantial influence on the horizontal refraction. Under these conditions, the modal order has a negligible effect on the horizontal refraction angle.
Culture-Dependent and -Independent Wastewater Surveillance for Multiple Pathogenic Yeasts
Authors: Baker Tyla , Bester Phillip Armand , Sebolai Olihile Moses , Albertyn Jacobus , Pohl Carolina Henritta
Published: January 2025

Wastewater surveillance is a promising tool to monitor potential outbreaks and determine the disease burden within a community. This system has been extensively used to monitor polio and COVID-19 infection levels, yet few attempts have been made to apply it to monitoring pathogenic yeast. This study aimed to investigate the application of wastewater surveillance for potentially pathogenic yeast in wastewater treatment plant influent. This was done by comparing culture-dependent data with culture-independent data and investigating the fluconazole concentration in wastewater. Additional studies on the growth of isolated strains were conducted. We found that a multiplex PCR system to detect multiple yeasts holds promise as a molecular detection tool for wastewater surveillance. Culture-dependent results indicated that Candida spp. specifically C. krusei and C. glabrata, were most prominent. Growth studies supported that these species grow well in this environment while the less frequently isolated yeasts grew poorly. The data from culture-dependent and independent techniques showed some correlation, with similar species being identified with both, further promoting the use of molecular tools for surveillance. This study highlights the presence of potentially pathogenic yeasts in wastewater, which may indicate the prevalence of these yeasts in the environment or community. This wastewater may also be a potential source of infection for persons encountering it due to poor wastewater management.
Artificial Intelligence Influencers’ Credibility Effect on Consumer Engagement and Purchase Intention
Authors: Jayasingh Sudarsan , Sivakumar Arunkumar , Vanathaiyan Arputha Arockiaraj
Published: January 2025

In the evolving world of influencer marketing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) influencers are creating significant impact and transforming the approach to brand promotions on social media platforms. In recent times, many popular brands have partnered with AI influencers to engage with their social media audiences. AI influencers have become popular as a novel method for brands to increase customer engagement and create purchase intention, but there is a scarcity of research on this emerging trend of marketing. The AI-based virtual influencers effect on consumer engagement and purchase intention remain largely unexplored. This study used a questionnaire-based survey method and 414 responses were collected. The result from the research shows that credibility, informative value and human-likeness are the major factors influencing consumer engagement purchase intention towards brands promoted through AI-based virtual influencers. The attractiveness and entertainment value of AI influencer’s social media posts affect consumer engagement but exhibit no effect on purchase intention. Theoretical and managerial recommendations related to AI influencers’ marketing are presented.
Applying Mixed-Effects Models in Research on Second Language Acquisition: A Tutorial for Beginners
Authors: Brysbaert Marc
Published: January 2025

Mixed-effects models have become indispensable tools for analyzing data in second language acquisition (SLA) research. This tutorial offers a step-by-step guide to conducting mixed-effects analyses for simple designs using the gamlj package in jamovi, a user-friendly, free statistical software. We begin by discussing the advantages of mixed-effects modeling over traditional methods, particularly for SLA data, and the rationale for focusing on simple designs. Subsequently, we introduce the gamlj package, highlighting its intuitive interface and error-prevention features. To illustrate the application of the package, we employ toy datasets that can be easily replicated and used with other statistical software. By providing a clear and accessible approach, this tutorial empowers SLA researchers to effectively analyze their data and draw meaningful conclusions.
Genipin—Simple but Significant Bioactive Iridoid for Therapeutical Application and Beyond: A Review
Authors: Sobolewska Danuta , Galanty Agnieszka , Grabowska Karolina , Makowska-Wąs Justyna , Podolak Irma , Wróbel-Biedrawa Dagmara
Published: January 2025

Genipin is a non-glycosidic iridoid isolated mainly from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides and Genipa americana. It is the active ingredient in extracts from these plants, responsible for their anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. In several in vitro tests, its anti-proliferative activity against tumour cell lines has been demonstrated, and due to its ability to specifically inhibit the UCP2 protein and inhibit STAT3 activation, a significant increase in the cytotoxicity of several anticancer drugs was observed in co-treatment with genipin. In recent years, the importance of genipin has increased due to the possibility of using this iridoid as a biocompatible and low cytotoxicity potent crosslinking agent in the manufacture of dressings, in tissue engineering, as a component of a drug carrier system and in the production of food packaging. Genipin is also a substrate in the production of a blue pigment used as a food additive and fabric pigment, and other applications. Due to documented cases of hepatotoxicity, genipin and the blue pigment derived from it are being investigated for effective and safe therapeutic and non-drug use. The current paper discusses selected aspects of chemistry, activity and use of this interesting compound.
Bioinformatic Selection of Mannose-Specific Lectins from Allium genus as SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors Analysing Protein–Protein Interaction
Authors: Isaković Stefan , Senćanski Milan , Perović Vladimir , Stevanović Kristina , Prodić Ivana
Published: January 2025

Mannose-specific lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins known for their antiviral potential. This study uses a bioinformatic approach to investigate the possibility of lectins from Allium sativum (garlic) and Allium ursinum (wild garlic) as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 entry. The information spectrum method (ISM) identified key interaction frequencies between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and these lectins, explicitly targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and glycosylated asparagine residues, including N234. Lectins from Allium species showed a high affinity for oligomannose-type glycans on the spike protein, potentially blocking virus entry by preventing the spike-ACE2 receptor interaction. We propose that Allium lectins are promising candidates for further experimental validation as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, offering potential therapeutic applications in managing viral infections.
Quality Evaluation of Small Features Fabricated by Fused Filament Fabrication Method
Authors: Zieliński Dawid , Deja Mariusz , Zhu Rui
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality of small features fabricated by the fused filament fabrication (FFF) method. The samples containing circular and square cross-sections through holes with different dimensions, lengths, and orientation angles were printed from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) filament. The adopted optical inspection method allowed us to conduct observations of individual features and their measurements. The image processing software was used to determine the accuracy of the dimensions and shape of different cross-sections. Feret’s diameters were used for the evaluation of shape accuracy by comparing them with theoretical dimensions assumed in a 3D CAD model. Considering the relationship between the real and theoretical dimensions of different features, general empirical equations for predicting the equivalent dimensions were developed. The proposed method of the quality evaluation of small features can be easily implemented and widely applied to other features, especially internal holes with different cross-sections made using various additive manufacturing methods.
Centrifugal Atomization and Characterization of Fe-Si-B Amorphous Alloys
Authors: Cegarra Sasha A. , Maicas Héctor , Pijuan Jordi
Published: January 2025

The centrifugal atomization process is a rapid solidification method that achieves high cooling rates. Although this technique is typically used to produce common metal powders, it has not been extensively explored for amorphous powder production, despite its clear advantage of generating nearly perfect spherical particles, which is beneficial for subsequent powder consolidation. In this paper, a characterization of three iron-based alloys from the Fe-Si-B system, specifically Fe91.72Si5.32B2.96 (wt%), Fe87.37Si6.94B2.49Cr2.46C0.75 (wt%), and Fe89.41Si2.02B1.13P5.89C1.55 (wt%), produced by centrifugal atomization, is presented. The amorphous fractions of the powders were quantified using DSC, with further characterization performed via optical microscopy, SEM, and XRD. The amorphous fractions increased with the addition of Cr, C, and P, reaching up to 90% in the Fe89.41Si2.02B1.13P5.89C1.55 alloy for particles of <100 μm. The onset cooling rates were estimated to be approximately 10⁶ K/s for Fe91.7Si5.32B3, 10⁵ K/s for Fe87.36Si6.9B2.48Cr2.45C0.75, and 10⁴ K/s for Fe89.41Si2.02B1.13P5.89C1.55, respectively.
Comparison Between Crystalline and Amorphous Silicon as Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries: Electrochemical Performance from Practical Cells and Lithiation Behavior from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Kim Geonhee , Yang Min-Ji , Lee Sanghun , Shim Jae-Hyun
Published: January 2025

As a prominent next-generation anode material for high-capacity applications, silicon stands out due to its potential. Crystalline silicon, which offers a higher initial capacity compared to its amorphous counterpart, presents challenges in practical applications due to its poor cycling performance. In this study, we prepared composites of crystalline and amorphous silicon with graphite, assembled pouch-type full cells, and evaluated their suitability for practical use. The material incorporating amorphous silicon demonstrated superior performance at both high and low rates, as well as various temperatures. Additionally, the changes in cell thickness during charge and discharge, i.e., the volume changes in the anode material, are significantly related to cycling performance. We examined the microscopic interactions between silicon and lithium atoms using molecular dynamics simulations. Our observations indicate that lithium migration within amorphous silicon, which has lower activation energy, is much easier than in crystalline silicon. In crystalline silicon, lithium penetration is greatly influenced by the orientation of the crystal planes, resulting in anisotropic volume expansion during lithiation.
Synthesis of Y2O3 Oxide Dispersion-Strengthened Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo Alloy Powder by In Situ Gas Atomization Method
Authors: Im Hyeon-Tae , Kwak Ryun-Ho , Park Sung-Min , Park Chang-Soo , Park Hyung-Ki
Published: January 2025

Oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys demonstrate enhanced mechanical properties at elevated temperatures and show potential as next-generation powder materials for additive manufacturing. These alloys can mitigate defects such as micropores and cracks by regulating solidification and grain growth behaviors during the additive manufacturing process. This study investigates the fabrication technology for ODS Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (Ti6242) alloy powder to achieve uniform oxide distribution within the alloy powders. Thermodynamic calculations were employed to determine the optimal Ti6242–Y2O3 composition for in situ gas atomization, ensuring complete dissolution of the oxide in the Ti6242 molten metal and subsequent reprecipitation upon cooling. A rod-shaped ingot was produced via vacuum arc melting, resulting in coarse Y2O3 precipitating along the grain boundaries. The powder was fabricated through an electrode induction gas atomization method, and the ODS Ti6242 powder exhibited a spherical shape and a smooth surface. Cross-sectional analysis revealed the uniform distribution of Y2O3 oxide particles, measuring several tens of nanometers in size, within the alloy powder. This research demonstrates the successful synthesis of oxide-integrated ODS Ti6242 alloy powder through the in situ gas atomization method, potentially advancing the field of additive manufacturing for high-temperature applications.
Influence of Printing Orientation on Surface Roughness and Gloss of 3D Printed Resins for Orthodontic Devices
Authors: Goracci Cecilia , Bosoni Carlo , Marti Patrizia , Scotti Nicola , Franchi Lorenzo , Vichi Alessandro
Published: January 2025

The study aims to assess the effect of printing orientation on surface roughness and gloss of resins for 3D printing of aligners. Squared specimens (14 × 14 × 4 mm) were printed using Dental LT Clear (Formlabs, Somerville, MA, USA; LT) or Tera Harz TC-85 DAC (Graphy, Seoul, Republic of Korea; TC) with different orientations: 0° (horizontal), 90° (vertical), and as per the manufacturer’s recommendation (40° for LT, 60° for TC). A profilometer was used to measure roughness (Ra) in µm, while gloss was recorded in gloss units (GU) with a glossmeter. The collected data were statistically analyzed. Material type did not significantly influence roughness, while print orientation was an influential factor, with the orientation recommended by the manufacturer yielding the roughest specimens. Vertical printing resulted in significantly higher roughness than horizontal. Material type was a significant factor for gloss, with TC exhibiting significantly higher gloss than LT. Print direction significantly influenced gloss, with vertical printing resulting in the highest gloss. The finding of higher roughness for vertical prints can be explained by the presence of a greater number of layers. The superior gloss exhibited by TC regardless of print angulation could be related to the effective cleaning of uncured resin by centrifugation and to the high degree of monomer conversion in nitrogen atmosphere.
Impact of Multiple Operating Parameters Interactions on Load Swing of Tower Cranes
Authors: Liu Peijin , Zhao Chong , Sun Yu , Zhang Xinhui
Published: January 2025

The mechanisms and interactive effects of multiple operating parameters of tower cranes on load swing are not yet clear, which leads to the exacerbation of load swing during the lifting process due to improper control parameter settings. To address this issue, this paper establishes an electromechanical rigid-flexible coupling (EMRFC) model for tower cranes to accurately simulate the characteristics of load swing caused by flexible transmission and electromechanical nonlinear coupling. Furthermore, the Sobol sensitivity method is used to screen out the dominant and interactive operating parameters affecting load swing, and to reveal the patterns of their impact on load swing. The results show that the stiffness of the flexible transmission system has a significant impact on the load swing, which cannot be neglected in modeling and analysis. Among the dominant operating parameters, the lifting height has the greatest effect on load swing. Lifting height, luffing speed, and slewing speed show significant interactions on load swing, and the interactions make a significant difference to the load swing in different operating phases. Finally, this paper gives the reasonable interval of operation parameters of a hoisting operation under the composite working condition, which provides a scientific basis and theoretical guidance for intelligent control of tower crane operation.
Artificial Neural Network-Based Structural Analysis of 3D-Printed Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol Tensile Specimens
Authors: Manavis Athanasios , Tzotzis Anastasios , Firtikiadis Lazaros , Kyratsis Panagiotis
Published: January 2025

Materials are a mainstay of both industry and everyday life. The manufacturing and processing of materials is a very important sector as it affects both the mechanical properties and the usage of the final products. In recent years, the increased use of 3D printing and, by extension, its materials have caused the creation of gaps in terms of strength that require further scientific study. In this study, the influence of various printing parameters on 3D-printed specimens made of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) polymer was tested. More specifically, three printing parameters were selected—infill, speed, and type—with three different values each (50%, 70%, and 90%), (5 mm/s, 20 mm/s, and 35 mm/s) and (Grid, Rectilinear, and Wiggle). From the combinations of the three parameters and the three values, 27 different specimens were obtained and thus, 27 equivalent experiments were designed. The measurements were evaluated, and the process was modeled with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) method, revealing a strong and robust prediction model for the tensile test, with the relative error being below 10%. Both infill density and infill pattern were identified as the most influential parameters, with the Wiggle type being the strongest pattern of all. Additionally, it was found that the infill density acts increasingly on the strength, whereas the printing speed acts decreasingly.
Enhancing Self-Starting Capability and Efficiency of Hybrid Darrieus–Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbines with a Dual-Shaft Configuration
Authors: Ghafoorian Farzad , Hosseini Rad Sina , Moghimi Mahdi
Published: January 2025

Self-starting capability has consistently presented a significant challenge for Darrieus vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). One advantageous approach to addressing this problem is the design of a hybrid Darrieus–Savonius VAWT. The hybrid VAWT enhances self-starting capability by increasing the power coefficient (Cp) within the low tip speed ratio (TSR) range and the torque coefficient (Cm) at initial azimuth angles, when the blades transition from windward to upwind position. A significant challenge associated with conventional hybrid VAWTs, in which both rotors are mounted on a single shaft, is the decline in efficiency at the high-TSR range. This inefficiency is due to the performance limitations of the inner Savonius rotor, which is designed to function at low angular velocities. In the high-TSR range, the vorticity generation around Savonius rotor buckets adversely impacts the Darrieus rotor performance and the hybrid VAWT. A dual-shaft configuration is proposed to mitigate this issue, which utilizes a drivetrain transmission system to prevent the Savonius rotor from exceeding its optimal angular velocity, thus acting as a control mechanism. The findings indicate that implementing the dual-shaft rotor resulted in a 35% improvement in Cp within the low-TSR range and a 25% enhancement in the high-TSR range. This improvement is achieved when the inner rotor’s angular velocity is maintained at 19.79 rad/s, which has been determined to be the optimal value for the inner rotor.
Microcontroller Unit-Based Gesture Recognition System
Authors: Grabarczyk Jakub , Lazarowska Agnieszka
Published: January 2025

This article describes the design, construction, and programming of a microcontroller-based system, which uses hand gestures with machine learning algorithms to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A neural network is used as a model, and an IMU sensor detects the gestures. The developed gesture recognition system, besides the IMU sensor, is composed of a Raspberry Pi Pico and radio communication module. The benefits and drawbacks of deploying machine learning models on microcontrollers, as opposed to units superior in terms of clocking are also discussed.
Evaluation of Cost-Sensitive Learning Models in Forecasting Business Failure of Capital Market Firms
Authors: Peykani Pejman , Peymany Foroushany Moslem , Tanasescu Cristina , Sargolzaei Mostafa , Kamyabfar Hamidreza
Published: January 2025

Classifying imbalanced data is a well-known challenge in machine learning. One of the fields inherently affected by imbalanced data is credit datasets in finance. In this study, to address this challenge, we employed one of the most recent methods developed for classifying imbalanced data, CorrOV-CSEn. In addition to the original CorrOV-CSEn approach, which uses AdaBoost as its base learning method, we also applied Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), random forest, gradient boosted trees, XGBoost, and CatBoost. Our dataset, sourced from the Iran capital market from 2015 to 2022, utilizes the more general and accurate term business failure instead of default. Model performance was evaluated using sensitivity, precision, and F1 score, while their overall performance was compared using the Friedman–Nemenyi test. The results indicate the high effectiveness of all models in identifying failing businesses (sensitivity), with CatBoost achieving a sensitivity of 0.909 on the test data. However, all models exhibited relatively low precision.
Cyber–Physical System Attack Detection and Isolation: A Takagi–Sugeno Approach
Authors: Guadarrama-Estrada Angel R. , Osorio-Gordillo Gloria L. , Vargas-Méndez Rodolfo A. , Reyes-Reyes Juan , Astorga-Zaragoza Carlos M.
Published: January 2025

This paper presents an approach for designing a generalized dynamic observer (GDO) aimed at detecting and isolating attack patterns that compromise the functionality of cyber–physical systems. The considered attack patterns include denial-of-service (DoS), false data injection (FDI), and random data injection (RDI) attacks. To model an attacker’s behavior and enhance the effectiveness of the attack patterns, Markovian logic is employed. The design of the generalized dynamic observer is grounded in the mathematical model of a system, incorporating its dynamics and potential attack scenarios. An attack-to-residual transfer function is utilized to establish the relationship between attack signals and the residuals generated by the observer, enabling effective detection and isolation of various attack schemes. A three-tank interconnected system, modeled under the discrete Takagi–Sugeno representation, is used as a case study to validate the proposed approach.
Unmasking Pulmonary Parenchymal Changes in Psoriasis Patients: A Radiological Perspective
Authors: Özkarafakılı Müfide Arzu , Bardakçı Mustafa İlteriş , Sivaz Onur , Kıvanç Altunay İlknur
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives: The relationship between psoriasis and pulmonary comorbidities remains to be explained. Our main objective was to investigate pulmonary parenchymal alterations in psoriasis outpatients with chest CT scans who did not exhibit pulmonary symptoms, regardless of their course of treatment or disease severity. Materials and Methods: We examined pulmonary function tests, laboratory data, and SF-36 questionnaires from 270 consecutive psoriasis patients who underwent high-resolution computed tomography scans. Psoriasis duration, treatment details, and smoking status were analyzed to identify the associations affecting lung involvement. Results: The median age was 48 years, and the median duration of psoriasis was 15 years. A total of 72.6% were on biologics with a median PASI score of 1.5. In total, 43.2% were current smokers. Radiologists reported parenchymal lesions in 118 (43%) of the 270 patients’ HRCT images. Reticular changes (41%) were the most common radiological finding, followed by nodules (38%), and emphysematous changes (21%). Only age, mental health, and smoking status were found to influence the possibility of the occurrence of HRCT findings in multivariate analysis (p < 0.001). PASI scores and treatment options did not impact pulmonary parenchymal alterations (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The striking part was that when compared to never smokers, the imaging findings were 1.9 times more common in current smokers (p < 0.05). Using international consensus criteria, two (0.01%) patients were radiologically diagnosed as UIP, and two (0.01%) were identified as NSIP. Psoriasis patients may exert pulmonary disease without clinical manifestation. Pulmonary function tests and radiological evaluation with CT are highly recommended in detecting pulmonary parenchymal changes when indications such as age and current smoking history are present.