bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in the Upper Airway Dimension Following the Use of Functional Appliances in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review
Authors: Scribante Andrea , Pascadopoli Maurizio , Zampetti Paolo , Rocchi Chiara , Falsarone Francesca , Sfondrini Maria Francesca
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder common in children, often linked to craniofacial anomalies like retrognathic mandibles in Class II malocclusions. Functional appliances (FAs) have been proposed as non-invasive treatments to improve OSAS symptoms by modifying upper airway dimensions. Objective: this systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of functional appliances in improving upper airway structures in children with OSAS. Materials and Methods: the study was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, analyzing studies published between 2004 and 2024 on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Inclusion criteria focused on growing patients (≤14 years) with OSAS and Class II skeletal malocclusions treated with FAs. Results: Of 1298 articles screened, four studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies reported a significant increase in upper airway dimensions of approximately 21% after treatment with FAs. Specifically, the cephalometric and tomographic evaluations revealed a clear enlargement of the superior posterior airway space of about 0.5 mm and a consequent improvement of the respiratory function. Discrepancies arose regarding changes in soft palate length and hyoid bone position, perhaps due to the measurement methods’ variation. Conclusions: Functional appliances appear effective in improving upper airway dimensions and alleviating OSAS symptoms in children. However, the limited number of studies, small sample sizes, and short follow-up periods emphasize the need for further research to confirm long-term efficacy and standardize evaluation protocols.
Exploring the Role of Hypoxia and HIF-1α in the Intersection of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Geetha Alagappan V. S. , Harithpriya Kannan , Ganesan Kumar , Ramkumar Kunka Mohanram
Published: February 2025

Diabetes and Cancer are the most complex chronic diseases, accounting for significant global mortality and morbidity. The association between Type 2 DM (T2DM) and endometrial cancer (EC) is multifaced, sharing numerous risk factors, including insulin resistance, obesity, hypoxia, and oxidative stress. Hypoxia plays a vital role in T2DM pathogenesis by altering the insulin level and pancreatic β-cell failure through an imbalance between antioxidant enzymes and cellular oxidative levels, while chronic inflammation contributes to EC malignancy. HIF-1α is a potent transcription factor involved in modulating cellular responses to hypoxia within the disease environment. Targeting the HIF-1α signaling cascade, a major metabolic regulator may contribute to advanced therapeutic advances. This review focuses on the association between T2DM and EC, especially focusing on hypoxia and HIF signaling pathways. These intersect with key pathways involved in T2DM and EC pathology, such as insulin signaling, PI3K/AKT, mTOR pathway, MUC1/HIF-1α pathway, and hormonal imbalance. Understanding this complex relationship paves the way for future researchers to develop HIF-1α-targeted therapies that could lead to novel combination therapies to treat these comorbid conditions.
REO: Revisiting Erase Operation for Improving Lifetime and Performance of Modern NAND Flash-Based SSDs
Authors: Kim Beomjun , Kim Myungsuk
Published: February 2025

This work investigates a new erase scheme in NAND flash memory to improve the lifetime and performance of modern solid-state drives (SSDs). In NAND flash memory, an erase operation applies a high voltage (e.g., >20 V) to flash cells for a long time (e.g., >3.5 ms), which degrades cell endurance and potentially delays user I/O requests. While a large body of prior work has proposed various techniques to mitigate the negative impact of erase operations, no work has yet investigated how erase latency and voltage should be set to fully exploit the potential of NAND flash memory; most existing techniques use a fixed latency and voltage for every erase operation, which is set to cover the worst-case operating conditions. To address this, we propose Revisiting Erase Operation, (REO) a new erase scheme that dynamically adjusts erase latency and voltage depending on the cells’ current erase characteristics. We design REO by two key apporaches. First, REO accurately predicts such near-optimal erase latency based on the number of fail bits during an erase operation. To maximize its benefits, REO aggressively yet safely reduces erase latency by leveraging a large reliability margin present in modern SSDs. Second, REO applies near-optimal erase voltage to each WL based on its unique erase characteristics. We demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of REO using 160 real 3D NAND flash chips, showing that it enhances SSD lifetime over the conventional erase scheme by 43% without change to existing NAND flash chips. Our system-level evaluation using eleven real-world workloads shows that an REO-enabled SSD reduces average I/O performance and read tail latency by 12% and 38%, respectivley, on average over a state-of-the-art technique.
A Discrete Grey Seasonal Model with Fractional Order Accumulation and Its Application in Forecasting the Groundwater Depth
Authors: Zhang Kai , Wu Lifeng , Yin Kedong , Yang Wendong , Huang Chong
Published: February 2025

Influenced by the hydrogeological structure and other factors, the change in groundwater depth shows seasonal fluctuation characteristics. Human activities have disrupted the long-term stable pattern of groundwater change, which makes the short-term prediction of groundwater depth important. To cope with the emergence of short-term groundwater prediction scenarios, for the first time, a discrete grey seasonal model with fractional order accumulation is proposed in this paper (FDGSM(1,1)). First, the DGM(1,1) model, which has a relative advantage over fluctuating data, was chosen as the basis for the transformation of the proposed model. Then, the fractional order accumulation operator is used to reduce the seasonal fluctuations in the data series. Finally, grey seasonal variables are introduced to construct the time response function. The proposed model has the basic properties of the traditional grey forecasting model, which is proven to be stable and seasonal. Additionally, the prediction performance of the proposed model is verified in a real scenario of Handan groundwater. This paper expands the seasonal prediction field of the grey prediction model, enriches the research system of the grey system theory and fractional order, and has a positive influence on the short-term prediction of groundwater depth.
Genetics of Long COVID: Exploring the Molecular Drivers of Persistent Pulmonary Vascular Disease Symptoms
Authors: Ayyoub Sana , Dhillon Navneet Kaur , Tura-Ceide Olga
Published: February 2025

Background/ Objectives: Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are symptoms that manifest despite passing the acute infection phase. These manifestations encompass a wide range of symptoms, the most common being fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive dysfunction. Genetic predisposition is clearly involved in the susceptibility of individuals to developing these persistent symptoms and the variation in the severity and forms. This review summarizes the role of genetic factors and gene polymorphisms in the development of major pulmonary vascular disorders associated with long COVID. Methods: A comprehensive review of current literature was conducted to examine the genetic contributions to pulmonary complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Studies investigating genetic polymorphisms linked to pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary thromboembolism, and pulmonary vascular endothelialitis were reviewed and summarized. Results: Findings show that specific genetic variants contribute to increased susceptibility to pulmonary vascular complications in long COVID patients. Variants associated with endothelial dysfunction, coagulation pathways, and inflammatory responses have been implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension and thromboembolic events. Genetic predispositions influencing vascular integrity and immune responses appear to influence disease severity and progression. Conclusions: Understanding these mechanisms and genetic predispositions could pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden on patients experiencing long COVID.
Characterization of Five CRISPR Systems in Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-524 with Focus on the In Vitro Antiviral Activity of One CRISPR System
Authors: Zeng Mengjing , Zhang Qi-Ya , Ke Fei
Published: February 2025

Microcystis aeruginosa is an important species causing cyanobacterial blooms, which can be effectively infected and lysed by cyanophages. Several strategies have been developed by M. aeruginosa to resist cyanophage infections, including the CRISPR-Cas systems. However, detailed information on the CRISPR-Cas systems in M. aeruginosa is rare. In the present study, the CRISPR-Cas systems of M. aeruginosa FACHB-524 were analyzed by genome re-sequencing, which showed that there are two type I (Cluster 1, I-B1; Cluster 2, I-D) and three type III-B (Cluster 3/4/5) CRISPR-Cas systems in the cyanobacteria. Further comparison revealed that spacer sequences of two type III-B systems targeted several genes of the cyanophage MaMV (M. aeruginosa myovirus) strains. One of the type III systems (Cluster 4) was then cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Protein purification and mass spectrometry identification revealed that a Cmr-crRNA effector complex formed in the E. coli. Subsequently, T4 phage (T4) was used to infect the E. coli, expressing the Cmr-crRNA complex with or without accessory proteins. The results showed that the Cmr-crRNA effector complex exhibited anti-phage activity and the accessory protein Csx1 enhanced the immune activity of the complex. Collectively, our results comprehensively demonstrate the CRISPR systems encoded by a strain of M. aeruginosa, and for the first time, one of the CRISPR systems was constructed into E. coli, providing a foundation for further in-depth analysis of cyanobacterial CRISPR systems.
The Etiology of IgE-Mediated Food Allergy: Potential Therapeutics and Challenges
Authors: Carnazza Michelle , Werner Robert , Tiwari Raj K. , Geliebter Jan , Li Xiu-Min , Yang Nan
Published: February 2025

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy has been dramatically increasing in incidence over the last few decades. The combinations of both genetic and environmental factors that affect the microbiome and immune system have demonstrated significant roles in its pathogenesis. The morbidity, and at times mortality, that occurs as the result of this specific, reproducible, but impaired immune response is due to the nature of the shift from a regulatory T (Treg) cellular response to a T helper 2 (Th2) cellular response. This imbalance caused by food allergens results in an interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 dominant environment that drives B cell activation and differentiation into IgE-producing plasma cells. The resulting symptoms can range from mild to more severe anaphylaxis, and even death. Current therapeutic strategies involve avoidance and broad symptom management upon accidental exposure; however, no definitive cure exists. This narrative review highlights how the elucidation of the pathogenesis of IgE-mediated food allergy resulted in the development of therapeutics that are more specific to these individual receptors and molecules which have been relatively successful in mitigating this potentially life-threatening allergic response. However, potential adverse effects and re-sensitization following the conclusion of treatment has urged the need for improved therapeutic methods. Therefore, given the understanding of their mechanism of action and the overlap with the mechanism of IgE-mediated food allergies, probiotics and small molecule natural compounds may provide novel therapeutic and preventative strategies. This is compelling, as they have demonstrated success in clinical trials and may provide hope to improve quality of life in allergy patients.
The Involvement of RIPK1 in Alopecia Areata
Authors: Kim Hyunju , Zheng Mei , An Seungchan , Park In Guk , Song Leegu , Noh Minsoo , Sung Jong-Hyuk
Published: February 2025

We have previously demonstrated that receptor-interacting serine threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1) is expressed in hair follicles and regulates the hair cycle. In a mouse model, RIPK1 inhibitors also accelerated the telogen-to-anagen transition and elongated the anagen period. Here, we first investigated the involvement of RIPK1 in alopecia areata (AA). The mRNA and protein expression of RIPK1 was increased in the skin of an AA mouse model. Single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry showed that RIPK1 was highly increased in dendritic cells (DCs) and CD8+ T cells. RIPK1 inhibitors (i.e., Necrostatin-1s and GSK2982772) delayed the onset of AA in the mouse model and reduced the numbers of DCs and CD8+ T cells in AA skin. The RIPK1 inhibitors also increased the hair length in a mouse hair organ culture mimicking AA. Collectively, these results suggest that RIPK1 is involved in AA onset via modulating immune cells, and RIPK1 inhibitors could prevent AA onset.
Parametric Study on Investigations of GMAW-Based WAAM Process Parameters and Effect on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of NiTi SMA
Authors: Vaghasia Vatsal , Chaudhari Rakesh , Patel Vivek K. , Vora Jay
Published: February 2025

In the present study, an attempt was made to build a thin-walled structure consisting of 10 layers using nitinol wire on a titanium substrate via a gas–metal arc welding (GMAW)-based wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process. A thin-walled structure was fabricated by using nitinol wire on a titanium substrate at the optimized parameters of a wire feed speed of 6 m/min, a travel speed of 12 mm/s, and a voltage of 20 V. In a microstructural study, the heat-affected zone was observed to have coarse grains and be columnar in shape, and the first layer exhibited a mix of dendritic structures. The mid-layers demonstrated a mix of coarse and fine columnar grains with dendritic colonies, while the last few layers demonstrated fairly equiaxed grains as well as a finer microstructure, as the cooling rates were very slow. The ultimate tensile strengths (UTSs) obtained at the bottom and top portions were found to be 536.22 MPa and 586.31 MPa. Elongation (EL) degrees of 10.72% and 11.57% were observed in the bottom and top portions, respectively. The fractography of the tensile specimen showed good toughness and ductility of the fabricated nitinol specimen. A microhardness examination showed a minimum value of 236.56 HV in the bottom layer and a maximum value of 316.78 HV in the topmost layer.
A Nanoindentation Approach to Investigating Dislocation Density in Additive-Manufactured SS316L-Graded Lattice Structures
Authors: Sleem Kamal , Grima Gabriele , Cabibbo Marcello
Published: February 2025

The dislocation density in additive-manufactured components significantly influences the local mechanical behavior of crystalline metals. Nanoindentation, renowned for its sensitivity to local mechanical responses and hardness, facilitates the assessment of local dislocation density. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of local dislocation densities in bulk, graded lattice structures (GLSs), and reduced-size GLSs of LPBF SS316L via nanoindentation. Components were fabricated using laser powder bed fusion with 316L stainless steel. The microstructural analysis revealed that the distribution of mechanical deformation across the bodies of the parts was higher in the reduced-size GLS compared to that obtained for the GLS. The simulation of plastic deformation allowed for recognizing that this difference is attributed to the different thermal stresses resulting from the higher rate of thermal excursions to which the scaffold structure was subjected whenever there was a reduction in the reciprocal distance of the struts. Mechanical deformation, identified as the primary factor contributing to dislocation density in additive manufacturing, was significant in both the GLS and reduced-size GLS, for which the dislocation density was incremented by one order of magnitude compared to the bulk material.
Nitrate δ15N and δ18O Values Reveal Mariculture Impacts on Nitrogen Cycling in Sansha Bay, SE China
Authors: Li Jianpeng , Lu Xuan , Zhu Qingmei , Zhuang Yanpei , Yang Wei , Qi Di
Published: February 2025

Global fisheries’ production has intensified rapidly over recent decades, making significant contributions to food security and economic development. However, this growth has exerted pressure on marine ecosystems and altered coastal nitrogen cycling. This study focused on Sansha Bay, an important aquaculture harbor in SE China, with measurements of environmental parameters and nitrate N–O isotopic compositions, to explore the impact of distinct mariculture types on nitrogen cycling in a coastal farming bay. The mean nitrate concentration was 120.7 ± 24.2 μmol dm−3, with a mean N/P ratio of 69.6 ± 19.6, indicating that the water column is in a state of eutrophication. Different aquaculture practices influence the nutrient status of water, with mixed farming (shellfish, seaweed, and fish) increasing nitrate concentrations and reducing N/P ratios, while seaweed farming reduces nitrate concentrations and increases N/P ratios. In spring, the average δ15N and δ18O values of nitrate in the water column were 8.4‰ and 8.7‰, respectively, compared with values of 9.8‰ and 4‰ recorded previously in winter. Such variation may be attributed to the greater influence of seaweed farming in spring when nitrate cycling is driven mainly by assimilation. In terms of aquaculture type, nitrate assimilation was stronger in seaweed farming zones, and nitrification was more pronounced in mixed farming zones. Overall, the results demonstrate that different mariculture types in Sansha Bay influence nitrogen cycling in the water body, with seaweed-based aquaculture systems contributing to the sustainable development of marine aquaculture by effectively mitigating eutrophication.
An Analysis of Consumer Purchase Behavior Following Cart Addition in E-Commerce Utilizing Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Esmeli Ramazan , Gokce Aytac
Published: February 2025

To optimize personalized offers and reduce cart abandonment, it is essential to understand customer behavior in e-commerce after products are added to the cart. Although purchase prediction models are well researched, session-level changes, including price variations, product category shifts, and geographical context, are less examined concerning their impact on machine learning models for predicting purchase behavior after cart additions. This study incorporates these factors into machine learning models to examine their impacts on predictions using explainable AI techniques. The comprehensive experimental results obtained from two datasets and eight models demonstrate that machine learning algorithms can achieve an F1 score of 89% in predicting purchase behavior following cart additions. This study highlights the significant impact of session-specific factors, like price fluctuations, category transitions, and geographical context, coupled with consumers’ previous browsing patterns, on model predictions.
Artificial Intelligence Applications in Financial Technology
Authors: Lam Albert Y. S.
Published: February 2025

Financial technology, commonly known as fintech, represents the intersection of finance and information technology aimed at simplifying, enhancing, transforming, and automating financial processes and services for businesses and individuals [...]
Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate Adapted Photopolymerization Material for Contact Lens with Improved Elastic Modulus Properties
Authors: Chen Yamin , Li Dianyang , Chen Yougen , Fang Hui
Published: February 2025

Four kinds of silicone hydrogel transparent contact lenses (CLs) with different formulations were prepared by the free radical photocuring polymerization. By mixing polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) of 1000 Da with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and adding other silicone monomers and hydrophilic monomers, the transparency and flexibility of the material were successfully achieved. By optimizing the weight percentage of each component, the best balance of optical performance can be achieved. The photocuring properties of the materials were characterized by electronic universal test, double-beam UV-visible spectrophotometer, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the addition of higher PEGDA content reduces the elastic modulus, improves curing efficiency, improves equilibrium water content (EWC), and enhances light transmission. Hydrogels containing only high PEGDA but no EGDMA showed similar curing rates, water content, and elastic modulus, but had the worst optical transparency, far inferior to the materials mixed with PEGDA and EGDMA. Additionally, imaging performance of the CLs was further evaluated through simulation analysis using Ansys Zemax OpticStudio2024 software. This research provides a new choice of material consideration to improve the performance and wearing comfort of CLs.
SNMatch: An Unsupervised Method for Column Semantic-Type Detection Based on Siamese Network
Authors: Nie Tiezheng , Mao Hanyu , Liu Aolin , Wang Xuliang , Shen Derong , Kou Yue
Published: February 2025

Column semantic-type detection is a crucial task for data integration and schema matching, particularly when dealing with large volumes of unlabeled tabular data. Existing methods often rely on supervised learning models, which require extensive labeled data. In this paper, we propose SNMatch, an unsupervised approach based on a Siamese network for detecting column semantic types without labeled training data. The novelty of SNMatch lies in its ability to generate the semantic embeddings of columns by considering both format and semantic features and clustering them into semantic types. Unlike traditional methods, which typically rely on keyword matching or supervised classification, SNMatch leverages unsupervised learning to tackle the challenges of column semantic detection in massive datasets with limited labeled examples. We demonstrate that SNMatch significantly outperforms current state-of-the-art techniques in terms of clustering accuracy, especially in handling complex and nested semantic types. Extensive experiments on the MACST and VizNet-Manyeyes datasets validate its effectiveness, achieving superior performance in column semantic-type detection compared to methods such as TF-IDF, FastText, and BERT. The proposed method shows great promise for practical applications in data integration, data cleaning, and automated schema mapping, particularly in scenarios where labeled data are scarce or unavailable. Furthermore, our work builds upon recent advances in neural network-based embeddings and unsupervised learning, contributing to the growing body of research in automatic schema matching and tabular data understanding.
Deep Learning Artificial Neural Network for Pricing Multi-Asset European Options
Authors: Zhou Zhiqiang , Wu Hongying , Li Yuezhang , Kang Caijuan , Wu You
Published: February 2025

This paper studies a p-layers deep learning artificial neural network (DLANN) for European multi-asset options. Firstly, a p-layers DLANN is constructed with undetermined weights and bias. Secondly, according to the terminal values of the partial differential equation (PDE) and the points that satisfy the PDE of multi-asset options, some discrete data are fed into the p-layers DLANN. Thirdly, using the least square error as the objective function, the weights and bias of the DLANN are trained well. In order to optimize the objective function, the partial derivatives for the weights and bias of DLANN are carefully derived. Moreover, to improve the computational efficiency, a time-segment DLANN is proposed. Numerical examples are presented to confirm the accuracy, efficiency, and stability of the proposed p-layers DLANN. Computational examples show that the DLANN’s relative error is less than 0.5% for different numbers of assets d=1,2,3,4. In the future, the p-layers DLANN can be extended into American options, Asian options, Lookback options, and so on.
Is the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio a Predictive Factor of Pathological Complete Response in Egyptian Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy?
Authors: Ebaid Naglaa F. , Abdelkawy Khaled S. , Said Amira S. A. , Al-Ahmad Mohamad M. , Shehata Mohamed A. , Salem Heba F. , Hussein Raghda R. S.
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: The role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictor of response in breast cancers after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is controversial. This study aims to explore the relationship of NLR with pathological complete response (pCR) in a cohort of Egyptian breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Forty-six breast cancer females received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then underwent surgery. All resected tumors were evaluated to determine the pathologic effect of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A complete blood count was carried out at baseline before beginning the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The absolute count of neutrophils was divided by the absolute count of lymphocytes to calculate the NLR. Results: Of the study patients, 18 (39.1%) were considered to have a low NLR (NLR < 1.76), and 28 (60.9%) were considered to have a high NLR (NLR ≥ 1.76). Patients with a low NLR had 18-fold higher rates of pCR when compared to patients with a high NLR (OR 18.1; 95% CI (1.058–310.757); p = 0.046). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the pretreatment NLR is a pivotal predictor factor of the pathological complete response in Egyptian breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
An Updated Review on the Use of Noninvasive Respiratory Supports in the Management of Severe Asthma Exacerbations
Authors: Cuttone Giuseppe , La Via Luigi , Pappalardo Federico , Sorbello Massimiliano , Paternò Daniele Salvatore , Piattoli Matteo , Gregoretti Cesare , Misseri Giovanni
Published: February 2025

Asthma is a reversible clinical condition characterized by airway obstruction due to bronchial smooth muscle contraction, inflammation and a hypersecretive state. Severe asthma exacerbations (SAE) may be a part of the natural history of this condition. Patients presenting with SAE are at higher risk of recurrent attacks, often nonresponsive to medical therapy and eventually requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). The use of noninvasive respiratory supports (NRSs) may be beneficial in patients with SAE who are at risk of developing acute respiratory failure (ARF). However, their application is insufficiently supported by the evidence, as reports on their application in asthmatic patients are scarce and only a few retrospective studies with a limited number of participants have been published to date. This review discusses the potentialities of NRS in the treatment of SAE, with reference to the pathophysiological background and future perspectives on their use in asthma management.
Improved Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Date Palm Microfiber-Reinforced PCL Biocomposites for Rigid Packaging
Authors: Khan Sakib Hossain , Dhakal Hom N. , Saifullah Abu , Zhang Zhongyi
Published: February 2025

To increase the use of agricultural residues, such as date palm fibers, for the sustainable reinforcement of biocomposites, this study investigated the incorporation of varying weight percentages of date palm microfibers (DPMF) ranging from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% into polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix. Biocomposites were fabricated using a combination of compression molding and dry blending techniques with and without sodium hydroxide (NaOH) alkali treatment. The surface modification was found to increase the surface roughness of the fibers, removing impurities such as lignin, hemicellulose, and wax, while improving crystallinity, as evidenced by FTIR, XRD, TGA, and particle size analyses. Among the different biocomposites investigated, the results for 5 wt.% DPMF content biocomposites exhibited the highest tensile properties: approximately 20% increase in tensile strength and 164% increase in Young’s Modulus in comparison to neat PCL. The crystallinity of the matrix exhibited an increasing trend from approximately 39% for neat PCL to 43% for the 5 wt.% DPMF biocomposites. Furthermore, treated biocomposites demonstrated higher water-repellency behavior and improved thermal properties. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results indicated enhanced storage moduli for alkali-treated composites; at 35 °C, the storage modulus showed approximately 22% increase compared to the untreated DPMF biocomposites, reflecting improved stiffness and thermomechanical performances. This study highlights the potential of DPMF as an efficient, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-based conventional reinforcement for biocomposite materials’ potential for sustainable rigid packaging applications.
Study on the Superhydrophobic Properties of Micro/Nano Hole Structure on the Surface of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics Based on Femtosecond Laser Etching
Authors: Wang Ji , Wang Guolong , Zhu Zhenkai , Zhang Wenwu
Published: February 2025

A method of femtosecond laser multi-pulse grid-like point etching (MP-GPE) was used to prepare glass fiber reinforced plastics with superhydrophobic properties. This article investigates the influence trend of single-pulse energy (5–35 μJ) and etching pulse number (20–100) on the morphology of surface concave holes, including depth and width. Different combinations of process parameters have a modulating effect on the size of the concave hole structure and the ablation of the reinforced plastics. At a single-pulse energy of 25 μJ and 60 pulse numbers, the depth of the concave holes increases to the maximum of approximately 63 μm, and the width of the upper surface of the concave holes is approximately 33 μm. Under these conditions, the maximum water contact angle of 160.6° is obtained, which is consistent with the theoretical calculation results of 161.6°. This is very promising for the power industry to use this material in low-temperature, drag-reducing environments.
The Physiological Responses of Tea to pH and Cd Conditions and the Effect of the CsHMA2 on Cd Transport
Authors: Yang Bin , Xiao Yao , Li Lei , Shen Min , Lei Xiaogang , Zhu Xujun , Fang Wanping
Published: February 2025

Soil acidification in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) gardens leads to nutrient depletion, inhibits the growth of tea plants, reduces tea quality, and activates heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) in the soil. To clarify the impact of soil pH under acidified conditions on tea plant growth physiology and the key genes involved in Cd2+ transport in tea plants, this study planted ‘Longjing 43’ under different pH levels (4.0, 4.5, and 5.5) and Cd concentrations (T1 = 0 mg L−1, T2 = 0.01 mg L−1, T3 = 0.05 mg L−1, and T4 = 0.2 mg L−1). The results showed that the concentration of Cd in tea plants from highest to lowest was root > stem > mature leaves > young leaves. Under T4, with decreasing pH, the total chlorophyll significantly decreased, the Fv/Fm significantly decreased, stomatal aperture reduced, and net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate significantly decreased. In the T4 treatment at pH = 4.0, the contents of free proline and malondialdehyde were both the highest, while superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase from micrococcus lysodeiktic (CAT) showed a significant negative correlation with pH. By screening the tea genome data, a total of nine CsHMAs involved in metal ion transport were identified. The qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression level of CsHMA2 was the highest in young leaves of tea, and CsHMA2 was localized on the cell membrane. Under T4 and pH = 4.0, transient overexpression of CsHMA2 enhanced the ability of tea to transport Cd2+, whereas transient silencing of CsHMA2 weakened this ability. These findings not only help understand how tea adapts and regulates its physiological processes in acidic environments but also provide an important theoretical basis and technical guidance for soil improvement in tea gardens, the control of heavy metal pollution, and the optimization of tea quality.
Stress Increases Ecological Risk of Glufosinate-Resistant Transgene Located on Alien Chromosomes in Hybrids Between Transgenic Brassica napus and Wild Brassica juncea
Authors: Shao Zicheng , Dai Lingling , Liu Longnan , Qiang Sheng , Song Xiaoling
Published: February 2025

When glufosinate-resistant transgenic Brassica napus (transgene PAT located on C chromosome) were backcrossed with wild Brassica juncea, 50% of the progeny expressed PAT under favourable conditions. However, exposure to stress (drought, salt, flooding, and intraspecific competition) increased the proportion of plants expressing the PAT gene (r-e plants) by approximately 20% compared to those under unstressed conditions. In the self-pollinated progeny of the stressed plants, the proportion of r-e plants increased by a nearly 30% compared to that of the unstressed plants. Composite fitness was comparable between plants developed under drought stress at the seedling stage and those grown under favourable conditions. Abscisic acid (ABA) content and expression of the Repressor of Silencing 1 (ROS1) in leaves increased significantly after stress treatment in the progeny, with r-e plants exhibiting higher levels. Exogenous ABA treatment significantly up-regulated ROS1 expression in progeny leaves, and the ABA treatment of seeds increased the survival of progeny exposed to glufosinate by 15%. Results suggest that increasing ABA under stress may enhance the demethylation of PAT’s promoter by promoting ROS1 expression, thereby inhibiting transgene silencing of PAT, indicating that transgene located on the C chromosome of transgenic B. napus may pose a higher risk of gene flow to wild B. juncea under stress, especially drought stress.
Land Suitability for Pitahaya (Hylocereus megalanthus) Cultivation in Amazonas, Perú: Integrated Use of GIS, RS, F-AHP, and PROMETHEE
Authors: Tuesta-Trauco Katerin M. , Salas López Rolando , Barboza Elgar , Zabaleta-Santisteban Jhon A. , Medina-Medina Angel J. , Rivera-Fernandez Abner S. , Sánchez-Vega José A. , Noriega-Salazar Nerci M. , Oliva-Cruz Manuel , Tariq Aqil , Silva-López Jhonsy O.
Published: February 2025

Pitahaya (Hylocereus megalanthus), commonly known as dragon fruit, is grown in tropical areas and has a promising future in the world market. At present, it is a crop developed by small-scale farmers. However, finding optimal areas for installing this crop is a major challenge. In this study, we evaluated the suitability of land for pitahaya cultivation in the department of Amazonas using integrated multi-criteria techniques such as geographic information systems (GISs) and remote sensing (RS). The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to select and rank the suitability criteria. The fuzzy-AHP (F-AHP) method was then applied to perform pairwise comparisons and determine the linguistic scaling of the requirements, and, using the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE), the requirements with the highest preference for land suitability were selected. The results reported that for pitahaya cultivation, the most important criterion was mean annual temperature (20.70%), followed by soil organic matter (11.8%), mean annual rainfall (9.50%), and proximity to roads (9.0%). The final suitability map indicated that 0.006% (2.39 km2) was very suitable, 4.60% (1661.97 km2) moderately suitable, 0.10% (34.65 km2) marginally suitable, and 95.30% (34,459.31 km2) of the study area was not suitable.
Machine Vision-Assisted Design of End Effector Pose in Robotic Mixed Depalletizing of Heterogeneous Cargo
Authors: Valero Sebastián , Martinez Juan Camilo , Montes Ana María , Marín Cesar , Bolaños Rubén , Álvarez David
Published: February 2025

Automated depalletizing systems aim to offer continuous and efficient operation in warehouse logistics, reducing cycle times and contributing to worker safety. However, most commercially available depalletizing solutions are designed primarily for highly homogeneous cargo arranged in orthogonal configurations. This paper presents a real-time approach for depalletizing heterogeneous pallets with boxes of varying sizes and arbitrary orientations, including configurations where the topmost surfaces of boxes are not necessarily parallel to each other. To accomplish this, we propose an algorithm that leverages deep learning-based machine vision to determine the size, position, and orientation of boxes relative to the horizontal plane of a robot arm from sparse depth data. Using this information, we implement a path planning method that generates collision-free trajectories to enable precise box grasping and placement onto a production line. Validation through both simulated and real-world experiments demonstrates the feasibility and accuracy of this approach in complex industrial settings, highlighting potential improvements in the efficiency and adaptability of automated depalletizing systems.
Exploring the Photocatalytic Efficiency of Heterostructured TiO2 Nanobelts for Emerging Liquid Contaminants in Different Water Matrices
Authors: Asghar Humaira , Hermosilla Daphne , Gascó Antonio , Maurino Valter , Iqbal Muhammad Ahsan
Published: February 2025

This study reports the development of shape-controlled TiO2 (B)/anatase heterostructures for the degradation of emerging environmental pollutants, including phenol, methomyl (insecticides), and diclofenac sodium (drug), under UV-visible-light irradiation in ultrapure water and alkaline stormwater. TiO2 nanobelts were synthesized via a surfactant-free hydrothermal method, yielding structures with widths ranging from 40 to 80 nm and lengths extending up to several micrometers. The synthesized nanobelts were calcined at 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C to form a TiO2 (B)/anatase heterostructure. For comparison, calcination at 900 °C was also performed, resulting in the formation of pure anatase. The samples calcined at 800 °C (~92% anatase, ~8% nanobelts) exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency, achieving significant total organic carbon (TOC) removal and complete mineralization in both water matrices. These findings contribute to a cost-effective method for developing efficient TiO2 (B)/anatase heterostructures to avoid rapid charge carrier recombination, with strong potential for advanced wastewater treatment.
Development of a Delivery Time-Period Selection Model for Urban Freight Using GPS Data
Authors: Kodera Ryota , Sakai Takanori , Hyodo Tetsuro
Published: February 2025

Developing policy instruments related to urban freight, such as congestion pricing, urban consolidation schemes, and off-hours delivery, requires an understanding of the distribution of shipment delivery times. Furthermore, agent-based urban freight simulators use relevant information (shipment delivery time distribution or vehicle tour start time distribution) as input to simulate tour generation. However, studies focusing on shipment delivery time-period selection modeling are very limited. In this study, we propose a method using GPS trajectory data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area to estimate a shipment delivery time-period selection model based on pseudo-shipment records inferred from GPS data. The results indicate that shipment distance, size, and destination attributes can explain the delivery times of goods. Moreover, we demonstrate the practicality of the model by comparing the simulation result with the observed data for three areas with distinct characteristics, concluding that the model could be applied to urban freight simulation models for accurately reproducing spatial heterogeneity in shipment delivery time periods. This study contributes to promoting smart city development and management by proposing a method to use big data to better understand deliveries and support the development of relevant advanced city logistics solutions.
Assessing the Global Environmental Benefits of Global-Value-Chain Integration Through the Lens of Embodied Carbon: An Empirical Study Based on the Trading of Intermediate Goods
Authors: Wu Peirui , Chen Haining
Published: February 2025

While the core objective of the Paris Agreement is to limit the increase in global average temperature (GAT) to 2 °C in the 21st century and to work towards limiting it to 1.5 °C, globalization and the configuration of production processes around global value chains (GVCs) have emerged as key factors explaining the recent evolution of environmental and economic indicators. In this context, this paper takes trade-implied carbon emissions as the entry point of the problem, uses MRIO to calculate the production-side and consumption-side carbon emissions, measures the forward and backward production lengths of GVCs according to the WWYZ method, and then constructs an econometric regression model to empirically analyze the environmental effects of GVC embeddedness. The results of the study show that, firstly, the forward and backward production length of GVCs is positively correlated with the production-side and consumption-side carbon emissions. Forward production length has a greater impact on carbon emissions on the production side, and backward production length has a greater impact on carbon emissions on the consumption side. Secondly, compared with developed countries, the length of forward and backward production has a more pronounced positive impact on carbon emissions in developing countries. Thirdly, as the global production chain continues to extend, the scale effect, structural effect, technological effect, and environmental regulation effect will all contribute to carbon emissions. Accordingly, countries or regions should continuously optimize production layout and processes to reduce the length of the production chain, realize lean manufacturing through automation and intelligence, and then move up the global value chain to play a role in carbon emission reduction through structural upgrading, technological progress, and environmental regulation.
Research on the Construction of Cu2O Photonic Crystals on Different Textile Substrates and Their Mechanical Properties
Authors: Zhou Chunxing , Yin Zhen , Shao Yiqin , Zhu Guocheng , Khabibulla Parpiev , Gafurov Adkhamjon , Kayumov Juramirza Abdiramatovich
Published: February 2025

Structural color-generating materials are expected to replace pigments and dyes as a new type of color-developing materials with good light stability and bright colors. Due to the relatively high refractive index of Cu2O microspheres, they have strong Mie scattering in the visible region. Herein, various sizes of Cu2O microspheres were synthesized by a two-step reduction method, and the Cu2O spheres were firmly bonded to the fabrics by using the PVA binder. Four different fabrics (cotton, silk, polyester, and nylon fabrics) were evaluated to investigate the physical properties and color fastness. It turns out that the tensile and tearing properties of the Cu2O structured fabrics decreased to a certain extent, and the bursting properties of fabrics increased, except for the cotton structured fabrics. Meanwhile, all the structural colored fabrics showed excellent color fastness to shearing, rubbing, and washing. This study provides experimental data for developing the application of structural colors on different fabrics.
A Antiguidade Clássica na diplomacia cultural da Guatemala durante a presidência de Manuel Estrada Cabrera
Authors: García Ricardo Del Molino
Published: February 2025

A presença da Antiguidade Greco-Romana na política externa das repúblicas latino-americanas durante o século XIX e início do século XX não foi estudada nem pela História das Relações Internacionais nem pela sensibilidade historiográfica que trata do uso político da Antiguidade, apesar do fato de ter sido um meio que facilitou a comunicação e a ação política no estrangeiro para as jovens nações latino-americanas. Dada esta lacuna de antecedentes e pesquisas, esta proposta visa abordar este fenômeno com base na diplomacia cultural guatemalteca durante a presidência de Manuel Estrada Cabrera em seus dois primeiros governos (1898–1911). Foi então que foram publicados os luxuosos Álbuns de Minerva, com grande distribuição internacional, o que permitiu promover no exterior a imagem da Guatemala como uma nação ordeira e civilizada.
Escroto agudo em pediatria: diagnóstico, abordagem terapêutica e complicações
Authors: Gonçalves Fellipe Alves Rodrigues , Pires Cézar Henrique , Amboni Isabela Sachet , Mendes Cláudia Lara Santana , Freire Gabriela Lima Maia
Published: February 2025

O escroto agudo é uma emergência urológica que demanda intervenção rápida para prevenir complicações como atrofia testicular e infertilidade. Em pediatria, as causas mais frequentes incluem torção testicular, epididimite, torção de apêndice testicular, hérnia inguinoescrotal e trauma escrotal. O diagnóstico é baseado em uma combinação de anamnese detalhada, exame físico e ultrassonografia com Doppler, que é o padrão-ouro. A torção testicular representa a principal urgência cirúrgica, com uma janela terapêutica de 6 horas para preservar a viabilidade testicular. O manejo clínico da epididimite envolve antibioticoterapia direcionada, repouso e suporte escrotal. Já nos casos de trauma, a abordagem varia conforme a extensão da lesão, indo de suporte clínico a reparo cirúrgico. Complicações podem incluir atrofia gonadal, abscessos e infertilidade. Este artigo revisa as principais etiologias, métodos diagnósticos, manejo clínico e cirúrgico do escroto agudo em pediatria, destacando a importância de intervenções precoces e baseadas em evidências.
Cirurgia robótica em ortopedia: impactos na artroplastia de quadril e joelho
Authors: Goncalves Thalles Henrique Cunha , Mendes Cláudia Lara Santana , Rodrigues Synay Raquel Mancor , Oliveira Gabriela Neves de , Vargas Andressa Sena
Published: February 2025

A evolução das técnicas cirúrgicas em Ortopedia vem sendo impulsionada por avanços tecnológicos significativos. Dentre eles, a cirurgia robótica destaca-se como uma ferramenta promissora para aprimorar a precisão e os resultados funcionais em artroplastias de quadril e joelho. Este artigo objetiva revisar o panorama atual da cirurgia robótica ortopédica e discutir o impacto na artroplastia dessas articulações, com base nas evidências científicas mais recentes.