bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Microalgae to Biofuels: Investigating Valorization Pathways Towards Biorefinery Integration
Authors: Chatzimaliakas Panagiotis Fotios , Koutsaftis-Fragkos Ermis , Mai Sofia , Malamis Dimitris , Barampouti Elli Maria
Published: November 2024

The rapid growth of the world population led to an exponential growth in industrial activity all around the world. Consequently, CO2 emissions have risen almost 400% since 1950 due to human activities. Considering that microalgae biomass is recognized as a renewable feedstock to produce third generation biofuels and bioenergy, the scope of the present research was to investigate al-ternative routes to produce bioethanol and biomethane in laboratory scale from dried algae biomass. The first step was to evaluate and optimize the production of sugars from the received biomass. Thus, three different techniques with three different solvents were tested to identify the most ef-fective and efficient in terms of saccharification yield. With the assistance of an autoclave or a high temperature water bath and 0.2M NaOH as a solvent, yields of 79.16 ± 3.03% and 85.73 ± 3.23% were achieved which correspond to 9.24 and 9.80 g/L of glucose respectively. Furthermore, the most efficient method from the pretreatment step was chosen to carry out a factorial design to produce bioethanol. The experiments showed that the loading of cellulase was of crucial importance to the optimization of the process. Regarding the ethanol yields obtained, the highest was 76.12 ± 4.90% with a concentration of 4.40 ± 0.28 g/L (0.3 Μ NaOH, 750 μL/gcellulose and 65 μL/gstarch). In addition, the stillages derived from the fermentation broth were assessed through a BMP test to evaluate their biomethane potential. They exhibited increased biomethane yields in comparison with the untreated feedstock. The highest methane yield recorded was 217.88 ± 10.40 mL/gVS. Finally, the energy that could be produced if both products (bioethanol and biomethane) were valorized, was evaluated. The analysis showed that up to 1044.48 kWh/tn of algae feedstock could be produced, with the biomethane production contributing 75.26% to the total energy output.
Advanced Deep Learning Framework for Early Alzheimer’s Disease Classification and Disease Monitoring
Authors: Nathani Pavan , Bharadwaj Anikait
Published: November 2024

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder characterized by distinct stages. Although effective treatment varies based on the degree of severity, there lacks an efficient and noninvasive means of classifying stages of AD. Objectives: This work aimed to develop a clinically effective and generalizable deep-learning model that noninvasively classifies various stages of AD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. We propose a custom convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to assess structural variations between AD stages, forming a new direction for Alzheimer's diagnostics. Methods: The dataset used to train the model consisted of MRI scans across four stages: NonDemented, VeryMildDemented, MildDemented, and ModerateDemented. We used extensive data augmentation techniques to address MRI variations and applied dropout and batch normalization layers to improve the model's generalizability. The CNN model consists of four convolutional blocks with pooling and regularization layers and dense layers for multi-class classification. We used early stopping and adaptive learning rate adjustments on a training set of 30,336 images and a validation set of 10,112 images, training the model over ten epochs. Results: The model achieved an overall test accuracy of 96.87% and a near-perfect specificity, precision, recall, and F1 score for each class. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 1.00 for all classes. Conclusion: The model's ideal and interpretable metrics suggest its clinical feasibility for early-stage AD monitoring, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Towards Sustainable and Fair Trade: Auctioning-Based Demand-Supply Matchmaking
Authors: Fernández Shai , Bodin Ulf , Synnes Kåre
Published: November 2024

As systems continue to evolve with the integration of digital technologies, the focus on environmental sustainability and fairness in auction systems has become increasingly important. This paper introduces a novel demand-supply matchmaking (DSM) model within an integrated platform designed to improve fairness and sustainability in auction environments, aligning with the principles of the circular economy. The platform encompasses the DSM model, which addresses key challenges in supply chain management, such as equitable resource distribution and the reduction of environmental footprints. The DSM model operates within a broad framework that integrates environmental impact assessments, fairness assessments, and behavioral analytics. These mechanisms are implemented through specific tools and components within the platform, allowing for the simulation of bidder behavior and the assessment of auction scenarios. Our results demonstrate that the platform effectively promotes sustainable, fair, and informed auction practices. By comparing our approach with existing tools, we highlight the advantages of using this integrated framework to improve sustainability and fairness in digital marketplaces. This paper emphasizes the importance of developing platforms that integrate economic efficiency with environmental responsibility and social equity.
Advancements in Hand Recognition Systems: Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: Park Sunghee Jinwoo , Lee Ok Hyejin , Kang Sungmin
Published: November 2024

Hand recognition is a rapidly evolving field in biometric identification, offering unique advantages for secure, contactless authentication across diverse applications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of current hand recognition technologies, including palmprint, hand geometry, and vein pattern recognition, and explores emerging trends in multimodal systems, artificial intelligence, and sensor innovations. We examine critical challenges such as environmental variability, computational demands, and privacy concerns, which impact the performance and acceptance of hand recognition systems. Additionally, we discuss future directions, including the integration of advanced deep learning techniques, privacy-preserving methods like federated learning and homomorphic encryption, and the potential use of blockchain for secure data management. The paper highlights how developments in edge computing and hardware improvements will enhance real-time processing and accessibility of hand recognition on resource-constrained devices. By addressing these challenges and embracing innovations, hand recognition technology is expected to play a transformative role in sectors ranging from security and healthcare to smart cities and autonomous systems. The findings aim to guide researchers and developers in advancing robust, secure, and ethical hand recognition systems for a wide range of applications.
Data Fusion Applied to the LBBA Algorithm to Improve the Localization of Mobile Robots
Authors: Araujo-Neto Wolmar , Olivi Leonardo Rocha , Villa Daniel Khede Dourado , Sarcinelli-Filho Mário
Published: November 2024

Bioinspired optimization algorithms derive their effectiveness from the number of particles used to find the global minimum or maximum of a problem. However, as the number of potential solutions increases, the computational effort also increases due to the exponential expansion of the calculations required to evaluate the objective functions of each particle throughout the algorithms. Another fundamental aspect to be considered is the algorithm's ability to avoid local optima efficiently and not compromise the results, leading to failure to achieve an ideal or acceptable outcome. This article discusses a solution to this challenge in the context of localizing mobile robots in known environments, proposing sensory data fusion applied to the Leader-Based Bat Algorithm (LBBA). This new approach exploits the algorithm's ability to work with leader bats, whose function is to influence specific groups (colonies), employing information from a sensor (compass) to assist in the distribution of particles (bats) on the map during the search process. The idea is to allow precise localization of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) on known maps when a motion capture system is unavailable, allowing controlling such robots based on good position feedback.
Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of SnS2 Quantum Dots Using Acetone as Solvent
Authors: Matyszczak Grzegorz , Krawczyk Krzysztof , Yedzikhanau Albert , Jastrzębski Cezariusz , Dluzewski Piotr , Fidler Aleksandra , Płociński Tomasz , Ławniczak-Jabłońska Krystyna , Wolska Anna , Drzewiecka-Antonik Aleksandra
Published: November 2024

A sonochemical synthesis of SnS2 quantum dots using acetone as a solvent is investigated. Two different tin sources (SnCl2∙2H2O or SnCl4∙5H2O) as well as two different sulphur sources (thioacetamide or Na2S2O3) were applied. The sonication time was also varied between 60 and 120 minutes. Resulting products of syntheses were characterized with the following techniques: powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (SEM and HR-TEM), Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies, the Tauc method, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Obtained SnS2 nanostructures were in the form of quantum dots in the case of synthesis lasting 60 minutes (size of crystallites in the range of 3.5 – 7 nm) and in the form of elongated nanorods of length c.a. 25-30 nm and width of 5-6 nm in the case of synthesis lasting 120 minutes. XPS analyses revealed that the surface of the obtained products contained significant amount of tin at the second oxidation state (i. e. SnS). The quantum dots produced in the synthesis lasting 60 minutes showed value of energy bandgap of 2.7 eV indicating potential applications in photocatalysis.
Laser Surface Texturing for the Intensification of Boiling Heat Transfer in a Minichannel
Authors: Strąk Kinga , Piasecka Magdalena
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the effects of vibration-assisted laser surface textures (VALS) and laser surface textures (LS) on boiling heat transfer in a minichannel. Various laser-textured surfaces were created and applied to study the flow of boiling FC-72 in a single minichannel. Infrared thermography was used to measure temperature changes on the untextured side of the foil, while two-phase flow patterns were observed through a glass pane. The heated textured surfaces in contact with the fluid in the minichannels varied in roughness. Experimental results were pre-sented as relationships between heated wall temperature, heat transfer coefficient and distance along the minichannel, boiling curves, and flow patterns. It was noticed that the #LS5 surfaces achieved the highest local heat transfer coefficient in the subcooled boiling region, while the #LS4 surfaces performed best in the saturated boiling region compared to all other surfaces, considering the results obtained at the same value of heat flux supplied to the heated wall.
Optimizing Lightweight Material Selection in Automotive Engineering: A Hybrid Methodology Incorporating Ashby's Method and VIKOR Analysis
Authors: Risaliti Edoardo , Del Pero Francesco , Arcidiacono Gabriele , Citti Paolo
Published: November 2024

This article explores an innovative methodology for material selection in the automotive industry, integrating the Ashby approach for mechanical performance coefficients as an initial filtering criterion. The Ashby method serves for identifying materials aligned with mechanical properties required by the specific application. Following this initial selection, the study incorporates Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques, specifically the VIKOR method, to comprehensively rank the chosen materials. The evaluation criterion is not limited to mechanical properties, but it encompasses crucial factors for the automotive industry, such as cost considerations and environmental impact measures, this latter evaluated in terms of CO2_eq by means of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The use of MCDA methods facilitates a holistic decision-making process, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of material choice in the automotive domain. By integrating performance metrics, cost factors, and environmental considerations, such a methodology strives to provide a balanced and sustainable approach to material selection, contributing to advancements in car design. Finally, the conceived method is validated by the application to a practical re-design case study, a motor bracket of a C-segment passenger electric car.
Conservation Soil Tillage—Between the Science and Farmers Expectations—an Overview from Southern to Northern Europe
Authors: Jug Danijel , Jug Irena , Wilczewski Edward , Brozović Bojana , Šeremešić Srdjan , Dolijanović Željko , Zsembeli József , Ujj Apolka , Marjanovic Jana , Smutny Vladimir , Dušková Soňa , Neudert Lubomír , Đurđević Boris
Published: November 2024

Soil degradation and climate change are the most degrading (human and/or naturally induced) processes, making agricultural production more challenging than ever before. Traditional tillage methods, characterized by intensive mechanical soil disturbance (dominantly using a plow), have come under question for their role in exacerbating soil erosion, depleting organic matter, and contributing to the decline in soil biodiversity and other degrading processes. These practices, while effective in the short term for crop production, undermine the sustainability of agricultural systems, posing a threat to food security and environmental stability. Conservation soil tillage (CST) emerges as a promising alternative platform. By reducing the intensity and frequency of tillage, CST practices aim to maintain adequate soil cover, minimize erosion, and encourage biological activity and organic matter accumulation, thus ensuring soil productivity and resilience against additional degradation and climate variation. Efforts made by scientists and the government to go over it sometimes are not sufficient. Farmers' expectations of benefits are the final keystone for the integration of CST as a dominant sustainable practice. Analyses from six European countries pointed to a high level of diversity in readiness and willingness to accept and different levels of knowledge about the adoption of CST.
Organophosphate Poisoning-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: A Peculiar Case Report
Authors: Bereda Gudisa
Published: November 2024

Background: Rarely, organophosphate poisoning can lead to acute pancreatitis. Subclinical signs of acute pancreatitis may be present in organophosphorous poisoning patients. Case Presentation: A 41-year-old African male farmer was brought to the emergency room nine hours after it was thought that he had consumed an unknown amount of an organophosphate pesticide poison. He was brought to the clinic at 11:30 p.m. by his neighbors due to a history of semi-consciousness. He was groggy (unable to move or think normally) and had been vomiting progressively. He had a habit of ingesting unknown substances from his wife's house. He was immediately given normal saline for stomach lavage when he arrived. His oxygen saturation rose to 96% after four liters of oxygen were administered to him every minute via a nasal cannula. The dose of atropine was increased to 4 mg/hr and titrated to keep the patient's heart rate between 100 and 140 beats per minute. Conclusion: Increased exocrine pancreatic fluid output results in increased pressure within the pancreatic ducts, which in turn causes pancreatitis due to organophosphate poisoning. The most uncommon side effect of organophosphate poisoning is acute pancreatitis.
The interaction of Taurine and HIIT on PI3K/AKT and Txnip in mice C57BL/6 fed HFD
Authors: Ahadi Fatemeh , Gaeini Abbas Ali , choobineh siroos , dabirian nasrin
Published: November 2024

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most prevalent diseases in recent decades, expanding alongside obesity in society. It typically begins with insulin resistance and progresses through the activation of inflammatory pathways.Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of taurine supplementation and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the TXNIP/NLRP3/CASPASE1 and PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathways in male miceC57BL/6 fed a high fat diet. Methods: Fifty-four male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups: a control diet group (n=8) and a high-fat diet (HFD) group to induce NAFLD (n=48). After 12 weeks, HFD group further divided into six subgroups: HFD control (n=8), HFD+ HIIT (n=8), HFD+ 2.5%taurine supplementation (n=8), HFD+HIIT+ 2.5% taurine supplementation (n=8), HFD+ 5%taurine supplementation (n=8), and HFD+ HIIT+ 5%taurine supplementation (n=8). The exercise protocol consisted of 10 weeks of HIIT, five days per week, and taurine supplementation was administered in water solubility throughout the entire period.Results: There were significant differences between the control and HFD groups in terms of weight and liver enzymes levels. Additionally, a significant difference was observed in the HOMA2 index between HFD control and the other intervention groups. The HFD affected the PI3K/AKT/PTEN and TXNIP/NLRP3/CASPASE1 pathways. Taurine supplementation and HIIT had a positive impact on the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT and expression of PTEN and also TXNIP and caspase1 reversing the effects of the HFD. results indicated that a lower dose of taurine had a stronger effect, particularly on the TXNIP pathway.Conclusion: In summary, combining HIIT with a lower dose of Taurine supplementation may be more effective than either intervention alone in mitigating the progression of NAFLD in male C57BL/6 mice.
Sexual and Agency Norms: Effect on Young Women’s Self-Perception and Attitud Toward Sexual Consent
Authors: Sánchez-Fuentes María del Mar , Hidalgo Antonio Rafael , Moyano Nieves , Gómez-Berrocal Carmen
Published: November 2024

Background: The sexual double standard (SDS) governs behaviors related to sexual activity and abstinence, promoting negative evaluations of sexually assertive women. Conversely, the sexual agency norm encourages young women to express their sexuality freely. This study explores how this complex normative context, combining SDS and sexual agency norms, impacts young women’s self-concept and attitudes toward sexual consent. Methods: A total of 154 Spanish university women (Mage = 19.69 years; SD = 2.23) participated in a 2x2 quasi-experimental design [Personal Reputation Threat: Sexual Activity vs. Sexual Abstinence × Agency Belief Affirmation: High vs. Low]. Participants completed a self-perception measure and the Spanish Adaptation of the Sexual Consent Scale-Revised. Results: Personal Reputation Threat influenced positive self-evaluation, with higher scores in the Sexual Activity (vs. Abstinence) condition. Agency Belief Affirmation also affected self-evaluation, with higher scores in the Low-agency (vs. High-agency) condition. An interaction effect emerged on attitudes favoring sexual consent: participants showed greater support for sexual consent when devalued for sexual assertiveness rather than abstinence, but only under low-agency belief affirmation. These findings highlight identity conflicts and in-consistent sexual attitudes that young women may experience within the complex normative frameworks of contemporary Western societies.
Physiological factors Influencing Climate-Smart Agriculture: Daylength-Mediated Interaction Between Tillering and Flowering in Rice
Authors: Lee Hyeon-Seok , Kim Ju-Hee , Jo So-Hye , Yang Seo-Yeong , Baek Jae-Kyeong , Song Yeong-Seo , Shon Jiyoung , Cho Jung-Il
Published: November 2024

Control of rice tillering and flowering is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields, a key goal of climate-smart agriculture. However, the interaction between tillering and flowering remains debated and poorly understood. We subjected plants of the rice cultivars ‘Saenuri’ and ‘Odae,’ to short- and long-day conditions after removing their tillers, and observed growth and flowering responses. Different daylength conditions yielded contrasting results. Plants in tiller-removal groups grown under short days flowered early compared to controls, whereas the opposite was observed under long days. Further, the expression of the florigen gene, Hd3a, which promotes flowering, increased in the tiller-removal group under short days compared to the control. Conversely, the expression of the OsMFT1 gene, which delays flowering and increases the number of spikelets per panicle, was upregulated under long days, and the phenotypic results were consistent. The number of spikelets per panicle in ‘Saenuri’ and ‘Odae’ plants in the tiller-removal groups under long day conditions increased approximately 3.4 and 2.2 times, respectively, compared to the corresponding control groups. Our findings on tillering and flowering responses to daylength provide a new perspective for the interpretation of studies related to the interaction between tillering and flowering in rice.
Interfacing TRNSYS to MATLAB for Building Energy System Optimization
Authors: Meiers Josef , Frey Georg
Published: November 2024

This contribution investigates whether the use of the MATLAB optimization toolbox on a parameter identification problem for a TRNSYS model provides an advantage.There it presents the development of a framework interconnecting MATLAB Optimization Toolbox with TRNSYS on the one hand side and coordination of the optimization process of a TRNSYS model by GenOpt through MATLAB on the other hand. A benchmark script in MATLAB was created to link TRNSYS and MATLAB and to configure the optimization process of GenOpt and MATLAB Optimization Toolbox. Using this framework, a comparison of the optimization solvers in GenOpt and MATLAB Optimization Toolbox for the identification of the overall heat transfer coefficient of a TRNSYS heat exchanger model regarding the optimization time and numbers of iterations will be presented as a use case. The results for the given problem show that GenOpt gives slightly better results in optimization time whereas MATLAB has more potential and flexibility of parameter tuning.
Cost-Effectiveness of Introducing Nuvaxovid to COVID-19 Vaccination in the United Kingdom: Dynamic Transmission Model
Authors: Pritchard Clive , Kutikova Lucie , Pitman Richard , Lai Kira Zhi Hua , Beyhaghi Hadi , Gibbons Ilana , Erbe Amanda , Živković-Gojović Marija , Cosgrove Catherine , Sculpher Mark , Salisbury David
Published: November 2024

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 remains a key measure to control COVID19. Nuvaxovid, a recombinant Matrix-M–adjuvanted protein-based vaccine, showed similar efficacy to mRNA vaccines in clinical trials and real-world studies, with lower rates of reactogenicity. To support decision-making on UK vaccine selection, a population-based compartmental dynamic transmission model with a cost-utility component was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Nuvaxovid compared with mRNA vaccines from a UK National Health Service perspective. The model was calibrated to official epidemiology statistics for mortality, incidence, and hospitalisation. Scenario and sensitivity analyses were conducted. In the probabilistic base case, a Nuvaxovid-only strategy provided total incremental cost savings of £1,338,323 and 1,558 additional quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared with an mRNA-only vaccination strategy. Cost savings were driven by reduced cold chain-related operational costs and vaccine wastage, while QALY gains were driven by potential differences in vaccine tolerability. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated an approximately 70% probability of cost-effectiveness with Nuvaxovid-only versus mRNA-only vaccination across most cost-effectiveness thresholds (up to £200,000/QALY gained). Nuvaxovid remained dominant over mRNA vaccines in scenario analyses assessing vaccine efficacy waning, Nuvaxovid market shares, and the vaccinated population. To our knowledge, this is the first cost-utility analysis using dynamic epidemiological modelling to support COVID-19 vaccination policy in the UK.
Thermal Plasticity and Evolutionary Constraints in Bacillus: Im-plications for Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: Hurtado-Bautista Enrique , Islas-Robles Africa , Moreno-Hagelsieb Gabriel , Olmedo-Alvarez Gabriela
Published: November 2024

The ongoing rise in global temperatures poses significant challenges to ecosystems, particularly impacting bacterial communities that are central to biogeochemical cycles. The resilience of wild mesophilic bacteria to temperature increases of 2–4°C remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted experimental evolution on six wild Bacillus strains from two lineages (Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis) to examine their thermal adaptation strategies. We exposed the bacteria to gradually increasing temperatures to assess their thermal plasticity, focusing on the genetic mechanisms underlying adaptation. While B. subtilis lineages improved growth at critically high temperatures, only one increased its thermal niche 4°C above their natural range. This finding is concerning given climate change projections. B. cereus strains exhibited higher mutation rates but were not able to grow at increasing temperatures, while B. subtilis required fewer genetic changes to increase heat tolerance, indicating distinct adaptive strategies. We observed convergent evolution in 5 evolved lines, with mutations in genes involved in c-di-AMP synthesis, which is crucial for potassium transport, implicating this chemical messenger for the first time in heat tolerance. These insights highlight the vulnerability of bacteria to climate change and underscore the importance of genetic background in shaping thermal adaptation.
Analytics of Sustainable Water Management Practices in Agriculture
Authors: Teweldebrihan Meseret Dawit Dawit , Dinka Megersa Olumana
Published: November 2024

This study dives into the essential issue of sustainable water management techniques in East Af-rica. Recognizing water as a key component of sustainable agricultural development, the study highlights the importance of a complete approach that takes into account technological, socio-economic, and environmental issues. As East Africa faces rising problems from climatic variability and change, which have a direct impact on water availability and agricultural output, the need for comprehensive policies becomes clear. The review reveals significant gaps in previous research, including a lack of focus on the socioeconomic consequences of water management methods, gender dynamics, long-term assessments, indigenous knowledge integration, and climate change adaptation. By highlighting these areas, the study emphasizes the necessity of future research in addressing these gaps and developing more effective and sustainable water management solutions for East Africa.
A Review on Transportation 5.0: Advancing Sustainable Mobility through Intelligent Technology and Renewable Energy
Authors: Shamsuddoha Mohammad , Kashem Mohammad Abul , Nasir Tasnuba
Published: November 2024

Transportation 5.0, a more sophisticated transportation system focused on human-centered design and inclusivity, is defined by cutting-edge technologies combined with societal demands. Its vari-ous components, intelligent infrastructure, connected and autonomous vehicles, shared mobility services, green energy solutions, and data-driven systems, come together to form an efficient and sustainable transportation network to tackle modern urban challenges. However, this evolution of transportation is intended to improve accessibility by creating environmentally benign substitutes for traditional fuel-based mobility solutions, even in addressing traffic management and control issues. Consequently, to promote a synergy for sustainability, the diversified nature of its compo-nents ought to be efficiently and effectively managed. Thus, this study aims to reveal the in-volvement of predicting core components of transportation 5.0 in the sustainable transportation system through a systematic literature review. This study also contemplates the causal model un-der system dynamics modeling to address sustainable solutions and movement towards sustaina-bility in the context of transportation 5.0. From the review, besides the developed causal model, it is identified that in the sustainable transportation 5.0 system, every core component management secures reduced environmental impact while increasing passenger convenience and the overall efficiency and accessibility of the transport network, even more advancing for developing nations. As the variety of transportation options, even focusing on electric vehicles, are successfully inte-grated, this evolution will eventually enable shared mobility, green infrastructure, and multimodal transit options.
Calibrating Human Immunity in the Context of Advanced Microbial Evolution and Self-Camouflaging
Authors: Carp Theodor-Nicolae
Published: November 2024

The concept of microbial evolution has become progressively intriguing for the immunological side of scientific research, as the ongoing evolutionary battle between microbial agents and animal immunity, which comprises a set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for both the microbes and the host organisms by means of adaptation to environmental changes, has started including weak points within the innate host immunity as well. Namely, it was discovered only later in the contemporary era that microbial agents tend to use a method of silencing first and second immune lines as an escaping route toward an abundant distribution of the microbial load without a significant restriction from the host organism at the time. Furthermore, it was discovered that the innate immune system displays visible traits of specificity and memory, and also that the adaptive immune system does contain areas of non-specificity as well, which makes it possible for vaccine-based research efforts to bring a wider inclusion of innate, first-line and second-line immune elements into the overall equation of development and possibly rollout as well, perhaps by using such elements as potential immunising agents as well. Additionally, it is possible for central elements of the adaptive immune system to be treated with major elements of the innate immune system by means of improving their overall function and long-term efficacy against pathogenic agents of potential health concern. Such a context may also be adapted for a potential delay in the onset of specific proteinopathies, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and possibly Retinitis Pigmentosa as well. An overall approach as such may help the research area of vaccine development undergo potential updates that will potentially help save even more lives worldwide, through the development and application of a scientific concept known as “United Immune System”, as it may be important to transform the smaller and less direct “road” between natural and adaptive immunity into a broader and more direct “highway” between the two immune departments. Such a clinical application may be combined with potential fresh updates into pathogen-derived vaccine development, by using inactivated or completely lysed microbial genomes either lacking the genes encoding microbial proteins with suppressive effects against the host innate immune system, or containing such genes as the only activated microbial genes, to stimulate the host immune system to build novel evolutionary pathways and particularly adapt to changes in the microbial genome that affect the innate immune system, such as the expression of Type I and Type III Interferons.
A Metric for the Entropic Purpose of a System
Authors: Parker Michael C. , Jeynes Chris , Walker Stuart D.
Published: November 2024

Purpose in systems is considered to be beyond the purview of science, since it is thought to be intrinsically personal. However, just as Claude Shannon was able to define an impersonal measure of information, so we formally define the (impersonal) ‘entropic purpose’ of an information system (using the theoretical apparatus of Quantitative Geometrical Thermodynamics) as the line integral of an entropic “purposive” Lagrangian defined in hyperbolic space across the complex temporal plane. We verify that this Lagrangian is well-formed: it has the appropriate variational (Euler-Lagrange) behaviour. We also discuss the teleological characteristics of such variational behaviour (featuring both thermodynamically reversible and irreversible temporal measures), so that a “Principle of Least Purpose” can be adduced for any information-producing system. Exploiting the relationship between the entropy (information) production of a system and its energy Hamiltonian, we show how Landauer’s principle also applies to the creation of information; any purposive system that creates information will also dissipate energy. Finally, we discuss how ‘entropic purpose’ might be applied in artificial intelligence contexts (where degrees of system ‘aliveness’ need to be assessed), and in cybersecurity (where some metric for ‘purpose’ might be exploited to help distinguish between people and bots).
Senear-Usher Syndrome or Coexistence of Sle with Pemphigus vulgaris. A Case Report with Literature Review
Authors: Kutwin Magdalena , Kądziela Marcelina , Stein Tomasz , Kraska-Gacka Marzena , Żebrowska Agnieszka
Published: November 2024

Senear-Usher syndrome or pemphigus erythematosus (PE) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the coexistence of features from both lupus erythematosus (LE) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF). We describe a 41-year-old patient initially diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who after a few years developed new skin lesions: erythematous and erosive eruptions partially covered by crusts on the trunk and flaccid blisters on the extremities. Additional testing, revealing autoantibodies against the intercellular cement substance of the epidermis and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) examination allowed a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris coexisting with SLE. Despite temporary improvement, the patient experienced relapses. Further, DIF study revealed granular deposits of IgG in the intercellular spaces of the epidermis and granular deposits of the complement (C3) along the basement membrane. It led to suspicion of Senear-Usher syndrome in this patient. This case report delves into the diagnostic challenges posed by the patient's overlapping symptoms and immunological findings, suggesting a rare manifestation of Senar-Usher syndrome or a combination of SLE and pemphigus vulgaris. The case highlights the complexity of chronic inflammatory skin diseases and the need for tailored treatment approaches in such cases. We performed a descriptive literature review of the case reports of PE published in the last 24 years and prepared a summary of the characteristics emphasizing the importance of proper recognition, clinical features, and treatment of this rare disorder.
Black Holes and Baryon Number Violation: Unveiling the Origins of Early Galaxies and the Low-Mass Gap
Authors: Gogberashvili Merab , Sakharov Alexander
Published: November 2024

We propose that modifications to the Higgs potential within a narrow atmospheric layer near the event horizon of an astrophysical black hole could significantly enhance the rate of sphaleron transitions, as well as transform the Chern-Simons number into a dynamic variable. As a result, sphaleron transitions in this region occur without suppression, in contrast to low-temperature conditions, and each transition may generate a substantially greater baryon number than would be produced by winding around the Higgs potential in Minkowski spacetime. This effect amplifies baryon number violation near the black hole horizon, potentially leading to a considerable generation of matter. Given the possibility of a departure from equilibrium during the absorption of matter and the formation of relativistic jets in supermassive black holes, we conjecture that this process could contribute to the creation of a significant amount of matter around such black holes. This phenomenon may offer an alternative explanation for the rapid growth of supermassive black holes and their surrounding galaxies in the early Universe, as suggested by recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. Furthermore, this mechanism may provide insights into the low-mass gap puzzle, addressing the observed scarcity of black holes with masses near the Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit.
Assessing Sustainable Autonomous Transportation: Veterans’ Perceptions Prior and After Autonomous Shuttle Exposure
Authors: Wandenkolk Isabelle , Classen Sherrilene , Mason Justin , Hwangbo Seung Woo
Published: November 2024

The Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts, including the Veterans Transportation Program and the CHOICE and MISSION Acts, aim to improve healthcare access for Veterans, yet transportation barriers persist. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Autonomous Ride-Sharing Services represent a potential sustainable, energy-efficient solution, promoting both environmental responsibility and social equity. However, limited research exists on Veterans' perceptions of these technologies. Leveraging data from the Autonomous Vehicle User Perception Survey (AVUPS), this study assessed Veterans' perceptions of autonomous shuttles (AS) before and after exposure among 77 participants in four Florida cities. Results indicated significant increases in Intention to Use and Total Acceptance and a decrease in Perceived Barriers, with no change in Well-being. Urban Veterans showed improvements across multiple subscales, while rural Veterans only showed reduced Perceived Barriers. Those with initially low Total Acceptance scores demonstrated greater improvements, particularly in Intention to Use and Perceived Barriers. Analysis of individual survey items showed increased trust, greater willingness to multitask, improved safety perceptions, and reduced concerns about declining driving abilities and hesitations toward AVs, with the latter three items remaining significant after correction. Overall, AS exposure positively influenced Veterans’ perceptions, and point to the potential for considering AS as a sustainable transportation option for Veterans.
DNA Damage Response Network and Intracellular Redox Status in the Clinical Outcome of Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Mavroeidi Dimitra , Georganta Anastasia , Stefanou Dimitra T. , Papanikolaou Christina , Syrigos Konstantinos N , Souliotis Vassilis L.
Published: November 2024

Simple Summary: DNA damage response (DDR) is a multi-factor network that is responsible for the removal of DNA lesions, thus enabling cells to function normally. An imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species and their removal by defense mechanisms is known as oxidative stress. Previous studies demonstrated that deregulation of the DDR network and redox imbalance are implicated in the onset and progression of several diseases, including cancer, as well as in the outcome of chemotherapy. In this study, we found that DDR-associated parameters and the intracellular redox status display significant differences among lung cancer patients at baseline and correlate with the clinical responses to subsequent platinum-based therapy. The exploitation of these results might lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets, the design of effective and sensitive biomarkers and the development of new therapeutic regimens for the treatment of this devastating malignancy.
Quality Responses of Sweet Pepper Varieties Under Irrigation and Fertilization Regimes
Authors: Elhawary Saad Masooud Abdelnaby , Ordóñez-Díaz José Luis , Nicolaie Florentina , Montenegro José Carlos , Teliban Gabriel-Ciprian , Cojocaru Alexandru , Moreno-Rojas Jose Manuel , Stoleru Vasile
Published: November 2024

Sweet peppers are economically important since they are widely farmed and consumed worldwide. As a high‐value crop, it has a significant impact on the horticulture economy. This study aimed to improve the quality of sweet pepper fruits (total polyphenols; A and B chlorophyll; lycopene; and B‐carotene, tannins ABTS, DPPH) under effects of various fertilization methods (chemical, organic, biologic), irrigation regimes (5200 and 7800 m3∙ha‐1, respectively) and three hybrids: Kornelya, Kaptur and Napoca. The results revealed substantial similarities between organic and conventional management practices. From a technological point of view, the local cultivar Kornelya reacted well with most compounds with antioxidant effects. This study revealed that peppers react positively when subjected to hydric and nutrient stress, with the fruits having the highest values for total polyphenols; chlorophyll A and B; lycopene; and ABTS, DPPH. Following the interactions between factors, Kornelya reacted positively to control fertilization when irrigated with 5200 m3∙ha‐1.
Clustering of Maritime Cultural Heritage through Strategic Participative Planning and Social Management: The case of West Pagasetic Gulf, Greece
Authors: Gospodini Anastasia-Aspasia , Vouza Anna-Roskagia , Kalergis Dimitris , Kyvelou Stella Sofia
Published: November 2024

Maritime cultural heritage (MCH) in Greece remains underutilized due to several key challenges, including the dispersed locations of heritage sites, limited community engagement in decision-making, and the absence of a well-structured decentralized governance framework. This paper addresses these issues by focusing on strategic planning and social management to better integrate coastal and maritime heritage sites into both tourism development and the everyday life of local communities. The research examines the creation of local social networks and participa-tory decision-making processes, as well as the adoption of innovative solutions such as maritime spatial planning and soft projects to connect scattered cultural sites into cohesive, integrated clusters. The aim is to foster tourism and economic development through collaboration with local stakeholders. The findings emphasize the establishment of a social network for cultural her-itage management in the West Pagasetic region of Magnesia, Greece, which culminated in a stra-tegic plan to link cultural sites through soft projects and consultations. This process included a participatory workshop and the creation of a Community of Practice (CoP) that brought together professionals from the heritage, tourism, and planning sectors.
Urban Livability in a Rapidly Urbanizing Mid-Size City: Lessons for Planning in the Global South
Authors: Jodder Pankaj Kanti , Hossain Md. Zakir , Thill Jean-Claude
Published: November 2024

Urban livability is becoming an increasingly significant concept in the field of urban planning and design, especially in rapidly urbanizing mid-sized cities of the Global South, where the unplanned growth raises concerns about living condition of city dwellers. This study aims to improve the understanding of how subjective perceptions and objective assessments of urban livability can coexist and foster effective planning and design of urban environments, in line with broader planning principles. With a focus on Khulna City, Bangladesh, the study examines the geographical dynamics of urban livability and assesses how well subjective judgments and empirical geographic evaluations coincide. By integrating local community input with expert evaluations and socio-technical analysis at the fine geographic granularity of urban districts, the study reveals a strong alignment between people’s lived experiences and empirical geographic data, but also significant discrepancies. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive urban planning that considers both human experiences and environmental factors, stressing the need for flexible planning tools that reflect the unique social and cultural contexts of mid-sized cities in addition to objective assessments. By expanding the understanding of livability beyond major cities, this research addresses a critical gap in urban studies, especially advocating for socially inclusive urban growth models like the 15-minute city concept, which can better serve the Global South’s unique challenges in rapidly urbanizing nations with controlled expansion. The findings underscore the importance to comprehend the factors that influence urban livability for promoting sustainable urban growth and adopting practical land-use plans. Moreover, this study offers valuable guidance for developing land-use strategies that enhance accessibility, equity, and sustainability in fast-growing urban areas.
Behavioral Implications of COVID-19 Prevention and Vaccination Status in Africa During 2023
Authors: Bamgbade Olumuyiwa A , Onongaya Vera O , Metekia Lidya M , Al Harthi Hasina A , Tase Nancy E , Oluwole Oluwafemi , Lawal Olajumoke O , Atcham Amougou Lysiane M , Khanyile Thandeka M , Soni Nikki K , Manuel Beatriz , Butelezi Gugulami P , Hoggar Sedofia K , Mulenga Juliet M
Published: November 2024

COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, causing thousands of illnesses. This study investigated peoples’ knowledge of COVID-19 in Africa. It highlighted factors impacting acceptance of preventive and vaccination measures. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Nigeria, and South Africa, from September 2023 to December 2023. It included 1000 participants via convenience sampling. Participants completed the validated survey online or in person. Data was analyzed using t-test, analysis of variance, regression analysis, Pearson Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Most participants (96%) identified COVID-19 as a virus and were aware of its transmission modes. About 60% reported using facemasks and hand hygiene as preventative measures. Education, employment status, and living arrangements significantly influenced knowledge of COVID-19. Despite 88% of participants being aware of vaccines, 21% had received the first vaccine dose, and 81.7% had negative attitudes towards vaccinations. False information was the leading hindrance, especially in younger and less-educated individuals, who believed that the vaccine caused death (26%) or caused COVID-19 itself (17%). Therefore, future interventions should address misconceptions about vaccines and widen access to preventative measures. Further research should examine behavioral interventions to improve compliance with infection control measures.
ETFRE: Entity Type Fusing for Relation Extraction
Authors: Shi Peilin , Zhang Bin , Liu Yingkun , Fang Cheng
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes a relational extraction framework based on entity type information fusion by Transformer model. Relational extraction, as an important part of knowledge graph construction, has been paid much attention in recent years. The existing relational extraction and joint triple extraction models rarely use the existing entity type information, so the semantic features of the entity type are lost, resulting in limited model performance and difficulty in solve the ambiguity problem. In order to improve this situation, this paper proposes a framework of entity type information fusing based on Transformer, which can generate word vector representation with entity type information for specific domain. There may be different entity categories for the same word, and the corresponding relationship categories are different at that time. Through deep self-attention, word vector representation is rich in entity type information, which benefits relationship extraction and ambiguity removal. The multi-layer transformer is used to realize the interaction between text features and generate a deep word vector representation with entity type information, thus effectively avoiding ambiguity. Experimental results show that our model outperforms existing methods and performs well in ambiguous contexts relative to other models. We highlight the importance of entity types in relation extraction.