bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Relative Permittivity Modulation of Cu/PDMS Capacitive Flexible Sensor for Pressure Sensing
Authors: Wang Xu , Zhang Yuelong , Zhang Tian , Fu Guanyu , Zhu Yinlong , Liu Ying
Published: January 2025

This study aims to establish an equivalent parallel capacitance model for a copper/polydimethylsiloxane (Cu/PDMS) capacitive flexible pressure sensor and modulate its relative permittivity to optimize pressure sensing performance. The Cu/PDMS composite material is an ideal dielectric layer for sensors due to its high dielectric constant and tunable elasticity. By adjusting the different mixing ratios of PDMS and copper particles in micro size, the components and structure properties of the composite material can be modified, thereby affecting the electrical and mechanical performance of the sensor. We used finite element analysis (FEA) to model the sensor structure and studied the capacitance changes under various normal loading conditions to assess its sensitivity and distribution characteristics. Experimental results show that the sensor has good sensitivity and repeatability in the pressure range of 0 to 50 kPa. Additionally, we explored the effect of the addition of carbon black particles. It could be inferred that the added carbon black can enhance electrical properties due to its conductivity, which would be consequenced by the distribution optimization of Cu particles for carbon black’s low density, and it can mechanically restore some flexibility up to nearly 20%. Through these studies, our work can provide theoretical support for the design and application of flexible pressure sensors.
Real-Time Optimization of Discrete Element Models for Studying Asphalt Mixture Compaction Characteristics at the Meso-Scale
Authors: Wang Xue , Wang Zifang , Luo Xuanye
Published: January 2025

To enhance the quality of asphalt mixture compaction, the compaction mechanism, particularly at the meso-scale, must be thoroughly understood. Researchers have employed various technologies to study the compaction process. Among these, discrete element modeling (DEM) has been widely adopted due to its effectiveness in addressing particle-scale problems. However, improving simulation accuracy while maintaining computational efficiency remains a challenge. Therefore, this study aims to establish and optimize a DEM model for asphalt mixture gyratory compaction by integrating real-time laboratory SmartKli® sensing data. The Kalman filter was implemented as the fusion algorithm to enable real-time calibration. Two SmartKli sensors were positioned at different locations within specimens during both the laboratory Superpave gyratory compaction (SGC) test and DEM simulation to investigate the particle rotation characteristics. The results showed that the upper layer exhibited a higher degree of compaction than the lower layer. After calibration, particle rotation in the optimized DEM model more closely matched the laboratory SmartKli sensing data. Additionally, the changing trends of relative rotation for both SmartKli particles and coarse aggregate particles improved. The SmartKli simulation ball effectively represented the rotational behavior of its surrounding coarse aggregates, making its kinematic responses a reliable predictor of asphalt mixture compaction characteristics at the meso-scale.
Cuffless Blood Pressure Monitor for Home and Hospital Use
Authors: Tamura Toshiyo , Huang Ming
Published: January 2025

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly hypertension, pose a significant threat to global health, often referred to as a “silent killer”. Traditional cuff-based blood pressure monitors have limitations in terms of convenience and continuous monitoring capabilities. As an alternative, cuffless blood pressure monitors offer a promising approach for the detection and prevention of hypertension. Despite their potential, achieving clinical performance standards remains a challenge. This review focuses on the principles of the device, current research and development, and devices that are currently approved as medical devices. Then, we describe measures to meet home and clinical performance requirements. In addition, we provide thoughts on validating the accuracy of devices in the home and hospital setting.
Development of a Validated HPLC-UV Method for the Determination of Panthenol, Hesperidin, Rutin, and Allantoin in Pharmaceutical Gel-Permeability Study
Authors: Almpani Sofia , Agiannitou Pavlina-Ioanna , Monou Paraskevi Kyriaki , Kamaris Georgios , Markopoulou Catherine K.
Published: January 2025

A pressure ulcer is the necrosis of the skin and tissues due to prolonged pressure. Its prevention and treatment are of great importance not only for the health but also for the patient’s quality of life and are considered the highest priority. In the present study, a reliable analytical method is developed for the quantitative determination of panthenol, hesperidin, rutin, and allantoin by HPLC and UV detectors. The substances were formulated into a pharmaceutical gel, with healing and regenerative properties recommended for first- and second-degree bedsores. Their separation was achieved with a ZIC-Hilic column (150 × 4.6 mm), 5 μm, and a gradient elution system (Solvent A: CH3CN-H2O, 90:10 v/v/v and Solvent B: CH3CN-H2O, 10:90 v/v). The method was evaluated based on the required specifications (%RSD < 2, % Recovery > 96.7%) and was applied for the quantitative extraction of the active substances in the gel. The purification of the samples was carried out using experimental design and Cross-D-Optimal methodology (%RSD < 2.2, % Recovery > 96.9%). Subsequently, the gel was studied in terms of the transdermal permeation of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) through vertical Franz cells and their behavior (Papp values) was compared with a similar aqueous suspension product (reference formulation). The samples were reconstituted by lyophilization and extraction with methanol. According to the results, the drugs exhibit satisfactory penetration, ensuring the healing of problems that may occur in the skin and dermis.
Test–Retest Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Photoplethysmography Finger Sensor to Collect Measures of Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Rogers Donald W. , Himariotis Andreas T. , Sherriff Thomas J. , Proulx Quentin J. , Duong Megan T. , Noel Sabrina E. , Cornell David J.
Published: January 2025

The purpose of the current study was to determine the test–retest reliability and concurrent validity of a photoplethysmography (PPG) finger sensor when collecting heart rate variability (HRV) metrics in reference to electrocardiography (ECG) and heart rate monitor (HRM) devices. Five minutes of R-R interval data were collected from 45 participants (23 females; age: 23.13 ± 4.45 yrs; body mass index: 25.39 ± 4.13 kg/m2) in the supine and seated positions in testing sessions 48 h apart. Moderate-to-excellent test–retest reliability of the HRV data collected from the PPG sensor was identified (ICC2,1 = 0.60–0.93). Additionally, similar standard errors of the mean, coefficient of variation, and minimal detectable change metrics were observed across all devices. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were identified in the HRV data between the PPG sensor and ECG and HRM devices; however, these differences were interpreted as trivial-to-small (g = 0.00–0.59). Further, the PPG sensor tended to only overestimate HRV metrics by <0.5 ms and near perfect relationships (r = 0.91–1.00) and very large-to-near perfect agreement (CCC = 0.81–1.00) were identified between collection methods. The PPG sensor demonstrated adequate test–retest reliability and concurrent validity in both the supine and seated resting positions.
Identification of Athleticism and Sports Profiles Throughout Machine Learning Applied to Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Estrella Tony , Capdevila Lluis
Published: January 2025

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive health and fitness indicator, and machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful tool for analysing large HRV datasets. This study aims to identify athletic characteristics using the HRV test and ML algorithms. Two models were developed: Model 1 (M1) classified athletes and non-athletes using 856 observations from high-performance athletes and 494 from non-athletes. Model 2 (M2) identified an individual soccer player within a team based on 105 observations from the player and 514 from other team members. Three ML algorithms were applied —Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)— and SHAP values were used to interpret the results. In M1, the SVM algorithm achieved the highest performance (accuracy = 0.84, ROC AUC = 0.91), while in M2 Random Forest performed best (accuracy = 0.92, ROC AUC = 0.94). Based on these results, we propose an athleticism index and a soccer identification index derived from HRV data. The findings suggest that ML algorithms, such as SVM and RF, can effectively generate indices based on HRV for identifying individuals with athletic characteristics or distinguishing athletes with specific sports profiles. These insights underscore the importance of integrating HRV assessments systematically into training regimens for enhanced athletic evaluation.
Material Sustainability of Low-Energy Housing Electric Components: A Systematic Literature Review and Outlook
Authors: Carrasco Francisco A. , May Johanna F.
Published: January 2025

As part of the energy transition, near-Zero-Energy-Buildings use electric systems that reduce emissions and consumption. Nevertheless, the increased use of such systems comes with the E-waste challenge. Circular Economy concepts try to make more efficient use of these materials, but sustainable evaluations mainly focus on energy and emissions. The developed automated text analysis tool quantifies the appearance of circularity concepts in open-access literature about different stages of production, use, and end-of-life for heat pumps, Lithium-Ion batteries, photovoltaic modules, and inverters. The energy focus is corroborated in different amounts depending on the component and stage, and when circularity concepts appear, they are centred on waste and recycling. Numerical variables to model environmental impact available in open-access literature are limited, generalised, or present in a wide range. Access to product environmental specifications should be encouraged to ensure that energy transition is sustainable in all its dimensions.
Perception of Ecosystem Services Provided by the Primary Sector in Floodplains: A Study of Sardinia
Authors: Arru Brunella , Furesi Roberto , Pulina Pietro , Bardi Antonietta , Madau Fabio A.
Published: January 2025

Agriculture, livestock, and forestry are crucial in mitigating hydrogeological risks, such as floods, particularly severe in the Mediterranean region. Still, the ecosystem services (ESs) provided by these activities are often undervalued. However, to assign them an economic value and ensure their effective incorporation into decision-making processes and territorial planning, they must first be recognized, appreciated, and deemed necessary by society. Despite several studies on ESs in the primary sector, research on agroecosystem flood regulation is limited, leaving key aspects unaddressed for decision-makers. No previous studies explicitly address the evaluation of ESs provided by agriculture, livestock, and forestry businesses in hydrogeological risky environments, especially in flood-prone areas. This study investigates the perception of the ESs provided by the above activities, focusing on those furnished in areas subject to hydrogeological instability. It also focuses on Sardinia (Italy), which is highly susceptible to hydrogeological instability. Through a quantitative survey of 270 residents and non-residents, the research provides evidence of society’s perception of the above ESs. Supporting ESs obtain greater appreciation in crop activities, particularly concerning the preservation of pollinating insects, soil fertility, biodiversity, and water quality. Among the regulatory Ess, appreciation is most prominent in fire risk management and flood risk regulation. Similar arguments can be made for livestock activities. Forestry activities are perceived as key players in managing flood risk, landslide risk, soil erosion, and climate change. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis indicates that appreciating one ES often leads to the recognition of others. Additionally, a set of Logit Regressions showed that while age and gender do not influence ESs perception, education level and awareness of climate change-related emergencies play a significant role. Those findings support more informed decision-making and fostering sustainable practices in areas at risk of hydrogeological disasters and lead to several important implications for practitioners, academics, and policymakers.
Characterization of Kariya (Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm) Seed Oil Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Prepared from Basic Catalytic Transesterification
Authors: Aremo Adenike-Adeniyi Evelyn , Oluwadare Abiodun Oluwafemi , Aremo John Oluwole , Celik Hasan , Heyne Joshua , Han Yinglei , Simmons Blake A.
Published: January 2025

The rising global energy demand, alongside concerns regarding environmental deterioration due to the use of fossil fuels, has spurred extensive investigation into renewable energy alternatives. Biomass-derived biodiesel, especially from lesser-known oil sources, emerges as a promising option. This research focuses on analyzing the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derived from Kariya (Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm) seed oil through basic catalytic transesterification using gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) analysis, assessing its potential as a biodiesel feedstock. Oil extraction from Kariya seeds was carried out using three solvents (n-hexane, ethanol, and a 1:1 blend of hexane and ethanol), followed by transesterification with methanol. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC–FID analyses were utilized to identify and quantify FAMEs in the resulting biodiesel. The results revealed various FAMEs, including methyl myristate, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate. Significant differences in FAME composition were observed among the samples, with hexane–ethanol Kariya oil biodiesel (HE-KOB) showing the highest FAME content (76.1%). This combination of solvents exhibited synergistic effects on the composition of HE-KOB, suggesting potential optimization strategies for biodiesel production. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) provided additional insights into the molecular composition of the biodiesel samples, confirming their biodiesel nature through the identified functional groups such as methyl, methylene, hydrocarbon, ester, aldehyde, and alkene. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal decomposition also gave an insight into FAME composition and its contribution to the degree of conversion of biodiesel to energy. These findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing Kariya seed oil as a biodiesel feedstock, emphasizing the importance of solvent selection and transesterification conditions in optimizing FAME yield and composition. This research contributes to the exploration of underutilized oil sources for sustainable biodiesel production, aligning with the global shift towards cleaner and renewable energy sources.
Evaluation of the Performance of Information Competencies in the Fertilization and Trade Strategies of Small Banana Producers in Ecuador
Authors: Luzuriaga-Amador Marcela , Novillo-Luzuriaga Nibia , Guevara-Viejó Fabricio , Valenzuela-Cobos Juan Diego
Published: January 2025

The information perceived by producers plays a crucial role in the efficient management of the agricultural production chain, encompassing both the fertilization and marketing processes of the final product. The ability of farmers to make effective use of this information depends on their information behavior, the use of information technologies, and the adoption of up-to-date technical knowledge. However, small Ecuadorian producers face information gaps that limit their access to technical and commercial knowledge, which affects productivity and profitability. This study analyzed the informational competencies of small banana producers in the provinces of Guayas and Los Ríos, with the objective of identifying the causes of these gaps and their impact on fertilization and marketing. A structured survey was applied to small producers, evaluating five dimensions of information. In addition, soil analyses were conducted in 20 plantations to determine the correspondence between fertilization practices and banana nutritional requirements. The results showed that producers in Guayas presented more robust informational competencies, with greater recognition of information needs and active use of reliable sources. This was reflected in the fertilization practices more aligned with nutritional standards, where plantations in Guayas presented average values of 1.21 cmol(+)/L aluminum, 8.67 cmol(+)/L magnesium, and 0.87 cmol(+)/L potassium, largely complying with nutritional standards for banana cultivation. In contrast, growers in Los Ríos spent less time searching for information and evidenced deficiencies in soil nutrition. This study highlights the importance of strengthening knowledge transfer and improving agricultural communication systems as tools to close information gaps. It is recommended to implement inclusive public policies and training programs in the use of information technologies and sustainable practices. In addition, promoting the creation of collaborative platforms can optimize access to markets, facilitating the direct and efficient marketing of produce.
Sustainable Urbanization: Unpacking the Link Between Urban Clusters and Environmental Protection
Authors: Xu Zhaopeng , Luo Jin
Published: January 2025

Urban clusters are the main trend of current and future urbanization worldwide, but their impact on environmental pollution has been controversial. This paper explores this issue in the context of urban development in China, and analyzes the underlying mechanisms, using panel data from 285 Chinese cities spanning 2006 to 2021. The findings show that a one unit increase in the degree of urban cluster is associated with a reduction in the comprehensive pollution index by approximately 7.5%, and the main mechanisms by which urban clusters facilitate environmental protection are congestion alleviation, industry structural optimization, and technological innovation. Firstly, urban clusters reduce environmental pollution by mitigating the crowding effects associated with urban expansion, although this alleviation is predominantly observed in larger cities. Secondly, urban clusters foster the upgrading of urban industrial structures, thereby decreasing environmental pollution. However, in less developed cities where industrialization is a major development goal, the impact of structural optimization is less pronounced. Finally, technological innovations, including advances in technologies of energy conservation and emission reduction, have assisted in the transformation of the economic growth model, which has reduced environmental pollution. Looking ahead, the urban cluster remains a pivotal strategic direction for social development, and planning and construction of urban clusters should actively incorporate environmental benefit considerations.
The Nexus of Entrepreneurial Leadership and Entrepreneurial Success with a Mediation of Technology Management Processes: From the Perspective of the Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Rehman Khalid , Lim Kah Boon , Yeo Sook Fern , Saif Naveed , Ameeq Muhammad
Published: January 2025

Individual leadership styles, including entrepreneurial leadership (EL), vary and encompass creative urges, risk-taking, decision-making, and a proactive mindset. This research explores how entrepreneurial leadership (EL) can positively impact entrepreneurial success (ES). It also highlights the positive influence that EL has on ES and investigates how technology management processes (TMPs) can play a mediating role. For this purpose, data were collected from employees in the SMEs sector in KP, Pakistan. The results indicate that EL has a significant relationship with ES and TMPs. Findings also reveal that TMPs partially mediate the relationship between EL and ES. Based on the findings, policy-makers and regulators can use the results of this study to design policies that encourage entrepreneurial activity and foster an environment favorable to SMEs in KP. This study’s findings can help KP officials understand the elements that influence the success of SMEs and devise policies that encourage the growth of technology management systems and diverse teams in SMEs.
On the h-Additive Functions and Their Symmetry Properties
Authors: Shihab Mahmood Kamil , Kluza Paweł Artur
Published: January 2025

Our goal in this paper is to generalize the class of additive functions to a more general class of functions, h-additive functions, and give several characterizations of this class by using its symmetry. Also, we provide a definition of this class of hn-additive functions and give several characteristics for it. The density of this class of functions in the plane is given as well. The characterization of the continuity of this class also is presented.
LD-SMOTE: A Novel Local Density Estimation-Based Oversampling Method for Imbalanced Datasets
Authors: Lyu Jiacheng , Yang Jie , Su Zhixun , Zhu Zilu
Published: January 2025

Imbalanced data have become an essential stumbling block in the field of machine learning. In this paper, a novel oversampling method based on local density estimation, namely LD-SMOTE, is presented to address constraints of the popular rebalance technique SMOTE. LD-SMOTE initiates with k-means clustering to quantificationally measure the classification contribution of each feature. Subsequently, a novel distance metric grounded in Jaccard similarity is defined, which accentuates the features that are more intricately linked to the minority class. Utilizing this metric, we estimate the local density with a Gaussian-like function to control the quantity of synthetic samples around every minority sample, thus simulating the distribution of the minority class. Additionally, the generation of synthetic samples occurs within a triangular region constructed by this minority sample and its two chosen neighbors in LD-SMOTE, instead of on the line connecting the minority sample and one of its neighbors. Experimental comparisons between LD-SMOTE and 16 existing resampling methods on 19 datasets reveal a significant average increase in LD-SMOTE with 6.4% in accuracy, 4.4% in the F-measure, 5.4% in the G-mean, and 4.0% in AUC. This result indicates that LD-SMOTE can be an alternative oversampling method for imbalanced datasets.
Deep Multi-View Clustering Optimized by Long Short-Term Memory Network
Authors: Zou Hangtao , Zhou Shibing
Published: January 2025

Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have shown great promise in sequential data analysis, especially in time-series and natural language processing. However, their potential for multi-view clustering has been largely underexplored. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach called deep multi-view clustering optimized by long short-term memory network (DMVC-LSTM), which leverages the sequential modeling capability of LSTM to effectively integrate multi-view data. By capturing complex interdependencies and nonlinear relationships between views, DMVC-LSTM improves clustering accuracy and robustness. The method includes three feature fusion techniques—concatenation, averaging, and attention-based fusion—with concatenation as the primary method. Notably, DMVC-LSTM is well suited for datasets that exhibit symmetry, as it can effectively handle symmetrical relationships between views while preserving the underlying structures. Extensive experiments demonstrate that DMVC-LSTM outperforms existing multi-view clustering algorithms, particularly in high-dimensional and complex datasets, achieving superior performance in datasets like 20 Newsgroups and Wikipedia Articles. This paper presents the first application of LSTM in multi-view clustering, marking a significant step forward in both clustering performance and the application of LSTM in multi-view data analysis.
RETRACTED: Paola et al. Environmental Impact of Pharmaceutical Pollutants: Synergistic Toxicity of Ivermectin and Cypermethrin. Toxics 2022, 10, 388
Authors: Paola Davide Di , Iaria Carmelo , Marino Fabio , Gugliandolo Enrico , Piras Cristian , Crupi Rosalia , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Spanò Nunziacarla , Britti Domenico , Peritore Alessio Filippo
Published: January 2025

The journal retracts the article entitled “Environmental Impact of Pharmaceutical Pollutants: Synergistic Toxicity of Ivermectin and Cypermethrin” [...]
The Role of Sustained Type I Interferon Secretion in Chronic HIV Pathogenicity: Implications for Viral Persistence, Immune Activation, and Immunometabolism
Authors: Teer Eman , Mukonowenzou Nyasha C. , Essop M. Faadiel
Published: January 2025

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection induces chronic immune activation by stimulating both the innate and adaptive immune systems, resulting in persistent inflammation and immune cell exhaustion. Of note, the modulation of cytokine production and its release can significantly influence the immune response. Type I interferons (IFN-Is) are cytokines that play a crucial role in innate immunity due to their potent antiviral effects, regulation of IFN-stimulated genes essential for viral clearance, and the initiation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, an understanding of the dual role of IFN-I (protective versus harmful) during HIV-1 infections and elucidating its contributions to HIV pathogenesis is crucial for advancing HIV therapeutic interventions. This review therefore delves into the intricate involvement of IFN-I in both the acute and chronic phases of HIV infection and emphasizes its impact on viral persistence, immune activation, and immunometabolism in treated HIV-infected individuals.
Insights into IAV Replication and Lipid Metabolism in Suspension-Adapted MDCK-STAT1-KO Cells
Authors: Ye Qian , Yao Hong , Xiao Zhiying , Zhao Liang , Tan Wen-Song
Published: January 2025

Objectives: The industrial production of influenza vaccines is facing significant challenges, particularly in improving virus production efficiency. Despite advances in cell culture technologies, our understanding of the production characteristics of high-yield suspension cell lines remains limited, thereby impeding the development of efficient vaccine production platforms. This study aims to investigate the key features of STAT1 knockout suspension-adapted MDCK cells (susMDCK-STAT1-KO) in enhancing influenza A virus (IAV) production. Methods: Suspension-adapted susMDCK-STAT1-KO cells were compared to suspension-adapted wild-type MDCK cells (susMDCK) for IAV production. Virus quantification, gene expression analysis, and cholesterol deprivation assays were performed. Metabolite profiles, viral RNA quantification, and lipid and dry weight measurements were also conducted to assess the viral replication and release efficiency. Results: The susMDCK-STAT1-KO cells exhibited significantly improved virus adsorption (64%) and entry efficiency (75%) for the H1N1 virus, as well as accelerated viral transcription and replication for both the H1N1 and H9N2 viruses. Virus release was identified as a limiting factor, with a 100-fold higher intracellular-to-extracellular viral RNA ratio. However, the STAT1-KO cells showed a 2.39-fold higher release rate (750 virions/cell/h) and 3.26-fold greater RNA release for the H1N1 virus compared to wild-type cells. A gene expression analysis revealed enhanced lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol synthesis, as a key factor in viral replication and release. Cholesterol deprivation resulted in reduced viral titers, confirming the critical role of intracellular cholesterol in IAV production. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the enhanced influenza virus production capacity of susMDCK-STAT1-KO cells, with significant improvements in viral yield, replication, and release efficiency. The findings highlight the importance of STAT1-mediated immune modulation and cholesterol metabolism in optimizing virus production. These insights provide a foundation for the development of more efficient vaccine production platforms, with implications for large-scale industrial applications.
Investigation on the Excitation Force and Cavitation Evolution of an Ice-Class Propeller in Ice Blockage
Authors: Huang Qiaogao , Zheng Sijie , Li Han , He Xing , Li Xinming
Published: January 2025

When an ice-class propeller is operating in an ice-covered environment, as some ice blocks slide along the ship hull in front of the propeller blades, the inflow ahead of the propeller will become non-uniform. Consequently, the excitation force applied to the blades will increase and massive cavitation bubbles will be generated. In this paper, a hybrid Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes/Large Eddy Simulation method and Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model are used to investigate the hydrodynamics, excitation force, cavitation evolution and flow field characteristics of the propeller in ice blockage conditions. The results show that the numerical method adopted has a relatively high accuracy and the hydrodynamic error is controlled within 3.0%. At low cavitation numbers, although the blockage distance decreases, the cavitation phenomenon is still severe and the hydrodynamic coefficients hardly increase accordingly. Ice blockage causes a sharp increase in cavitation. When the distance is 0.15 times the diameter, the cavitation area amounts to 20% of the propeller blades. As the advance coefficient grows, the total cavitation area diminishes, while the cavitation area of the blade behind ice does not decrease, resulting in an increment in excitation force. Ice blockage also causes backflow in the wake. At this time, the largest backflow appears at the tip of the blade behind the ice. The higher the advance coefficient, the more significant the high-pressure area of the pressure side and the greater the pressure difference, causing the excitation force to rise sharply. This work offers a positive theoretical basis for the anti-cavitation design and excitation force suppression of propellers operating in icy regions.
Experimental Study on the Behavior of Gas–Water Two-Phase Fluid Flow Through Rock Fractures Under Different Confining Pressures and Shear Displacements
Authors: Wang Yang , Xue Kangsheng , Li Cheng , Liu Xiaobo , Li Boyang
Published: January 2025

Understanding the flow behaviors of two-phase fluids in rock mass fractures holds significant importance for the exploitation of oil and gas resources. This paper takes rock fractures with different surface roughness characteristics as its research object and conducts experiments on the gas–water seepage laws of fractures under various confining pressures and shear displacements. The results indicate that the higher the fracture surface roughness, the larger the equivalent fracture width and the higher the single-phase permeability of gas/water in the fractures. During gas–water two-phase flow, when the water phase split flow rate is high, the influence of the confining pressure and fracture surface morphology on the water phase is significantly higher than that on the gas phase. The relative permeability at the isosmotic point of the fractures increases with the increase in confining pressure and decreases with the increase in roughness. After the dislocation of shale fractures, the interphase resistance within the fractures reduces. The relative permeability of the water phase increases more significantly compared to that of the gas phase. The water phase split flow rate at the isosmotic point does not change significantly, and the relative permeability at the isosmotic point increases. This research is helpful for guiding the protection based on the conductivity capacity of the rock mass fracture network.
Seasonal Variations in Water Use of Japanese Plum Orchards Under Micro-Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation Methods Using FruitLook Data
Authors: Mashabatu Munashe , Motsei Nonofo , Jovanovic Nebojsa , Nhamo Luxon
Published: January 2025

South Africa is considered one of the driest countries, and its water insecurity challenges are exacerbated by climate change and variability, depletion, and degradation, among other factors. The challenges of water insecurity are exacerbated by some of the introduced crops, like the Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.) grown in South Africa, as they consume a lot of water. The Japanese plums are grown under irrigation to supplement low and erratic rainfall in the country. There is little information on the water requirements of Japanese plums (particularly in water-scarce regions), a gap addressed by this study. Therefore, the study aims to quantify and compare the seasonal water use of high-performing, full-bearing Japanese plum orchards under drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation in the Western Cape Province, using readily available satellite data from the FruitLook platform. The seasonal water use volumes of selected plum orchards were compared at provincial and farm scales. At a provincial scale, micro-sprinkler-irrigated orchards consumed significantly more water (up to 19%) than drip-irrigated orchards, whilst drip-irrigated orchards experienced an average 38% greater water deficit. Results were more variable at the farm scale, which was attributed to the influence of site-specific soil, climate, and crop conditions on the performance of the irrigation methods. Therefore, a blanket approach cannot be used when selecting an irrigation method and design. Instead, a case-by-case approach is recommended, which takes into account the root distribution, soil texture, and planting density, among other factors. The generated knowledge facilitates allocating and licensing water resources, developing accurate irrigation scheduling, and promoting improved water use efficiency.
Pre-Treatment and Characterization of Water Hyacinth Biomass (WHB) for Enhanced Xylose Production Using Dilute Alkali Treatment Method
Authors: Jadhav Rohan Harsh , Dey Apurba
Published: January 2025

Lignocellulosic biomass from water hyacinth, a readily available waste material, holds potential for producing commercial products such as xylose, which can be further converted into value-added products like xylitol. However, the complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass necessitates energy-intensive processes to release fermentable sugars. Chemical pre-treatment methods, such as alkali pre-treatment, offer a viable approach to degrade lignocellulose biomass. In this study, water hyacinth biomass (WHB) was treated with 3% potassium hydroxide and subjected to autoclaving to hydrolyse the sample. The total xylose released during the process was quantified using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and was found to 0.253 g/g of water hyacinth biomass when the sample was treated for 20 min at 2% biomass concentration. The morphological changes in the treated biomass compared to the untreated sample were analysed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). Crystallinity alterations were evaluated through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), while Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to study the changes in chemical states of the biomass. The primary objective of this study was to identify a reliable pre-treatment method for processing water hyacinth biomass, facilitating the efficient release of fermentable sugars for downstream applications.
Modeling and Validation of Acoustic Comfort for Electric Vehicle Using Hybrid Approach Based on Soundscape and Psychoacoustic Methods
Authors: Zakri Keysha Wellviestu , Sarwono Raden Sugeng Joko , Santosa Sigit Puji , Soelami F. X. Nugroho
Published: January 2025

This paper evaluated the acoustic characteristics of electric vehicles (EVs) using both psychoacoustic and soundscape methodologies by analyzing three key psychoacoustic parameters: loudness, roughness, and sharpness. Through correlation analysis between perceived values and objective parameters, we identified specific sound sources requiring improvement, including vehicle body acoustics, wheel noise, and acceleration-related sounds. The relationship between comfort perception and acoustic parameters showed varying correlations: loudness (0.0411), roughness (2.3452), and sharpness (0.9821). Notably, the overall correlation coefficient of 0.5 suggests that psychoacoustic parameters alone cannot fully explain human comfort perception in EVs. The analysis of sound propagation revealed elevated vibration levels specifically in the driver’s seat area compared to other vehicle regions, identifying key targets for improvement. The research identified significant acoustic events at three key frequencies (50 Hz, 250 Hz, and 450 Hz), requiring in-depth analysis to determine their sources and understand their effects on the vehicle’s NVH characteristics. The study successfully validated its results by demonstrating that a combined approach using both psychoacoustic and soundscape parameters provides a more comprehensive understanding of passenger acoustic perception. This integrated methodology effectively identified specific areas needing acoustic refinement, including: frame vibration noise during rough road operation; tire-generated noise; and acceleration-related sound emissions.
Estimulação elétrica transcraniana e equoterapia em crianças com TEA: estudo piloto
Authors: Oliveira Sarah Evellin de , Ribeiro Rosário Lívia Maria , Fernandes de Cássia Moreira Selma , Dos Reis Luciana Maria , Silva Santos Adriana Teresa
Published: January 2025

Introdução. O Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) é um distúrbio do neurodesenvolvimento marcado por dificuldades na comunicação social e padrões de comportamento repetitivos. A estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) é um recurso que pode trazer bons resultados no tratamento do TEA. De forma semelhante, a equoterapia tem se mostrado uma intervenção eficaz para o desenvolvimento físico, de comunicação e habilidades de socialização. Objetivo. Este estudo piloto teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da ETCC, associada à equoterapia, nos comportamentos não adaptativos de crianças com TEA. Método. Crianças de 4 a 11 anos foram distribuídas em dois grupos: G1 (ETCC isolada, n=6) e G2 (ETCC + equoterapia, n=4). As avaliações foram realizadas antes da intervenção e após duas semanas por meio do Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). Resultados. Não foram observadas diferenças significantes entre os grupos. O cálculo amostral mostrou a necessidade de quarenta participantes em cada grupo para poder da amostra de 0,95, e tamanho de efeito de 0,81. Conclusão. Faz-se necessário a realização de novos estudos com amostra maior e maior quantidade de sessões, permitindo melhor análise dos efeitos da ETCC associada à equoterapia, no intuito de fortalecer a prática clínica na reabilitação de crianças com TEA.
Reposicionamento sem o uso de sedação guiado por ultrassom para Dispositivos Intrauterinos (DIU) e Sistema Intrauterino (SIU) heterotópicos em um hospital público do Distrito Federal
Authors: Oliveira Betina Beatriz de , Barros Cynthia Roberta Torres , Santos Débora Paulo , Rezende Izabela Silva
Published: January 2025

A eficácia dos dispositivos intrauterinos contra gravidez é feita a partir do normoposicionamento do Dispositivo Intrauterino (DIU) e Sistema Intrauterino de Liberação de Levonorgestrel (SIU-LNG) em cavidade uterina. A fim de evitar novo procedimento de retirada e reinserção de novo dispositivo, o presente estudo, de cunho experimental, teve como objetivo o reposicionamento de DIU/SIUs heterotópicos, incluindo as pacientes que desejavam o reposicionamento e que não apresentavam sinais de complicações tais como infecções, sangramento, dor ou perfuração de cavidade intrauterina. Tais pacientes foram encaminhadas dos ambulatórios, enfermarias e pronto socorro do Hospital Regional de Taguatinga – DF (HRT). O reposicionamento foi feito com pinça de Hartmann ou histerômetro sob visualização ultrassonográfica, sem uso de anestesia paracervical ou intracervical e sem uso de antibióticos profiláticos. A análise de dados foi feita a partir do programa Microsoft Excell 2016 Office. Foram consideradas as seguintes variáveis: escala de dor, grau de satisfação, autoavaliação do sucesso (ou não) do procedimento. Os resultados mostraram que a metade das tentativas de reposicionamento foram infrutíferas, sendo que as pacientes relatam maior dor e incômodo durante procedimento de reposição do que da inserção inicial do dispositivo, mesmo satisfeitas com o processo de tentativa e cuidado da equipe assistente.
Criocirurgia como opção terapêutica no Nevo Sebáceo de Jadassohn: um relato de caso
Authors: Magalhães Daniela Covre , Amin Gabriela Athayde , Bittencourt Maraya de Jesus Semblano , Goés Heliana Freitas de Oliveira , Lima Caren dos Santos , Carvalho Lorena Silva de , Viana Clara Coutinho , Costa Victoria Oliveira da
Published: January 2025

Fundamentos:  O nevo sebáceo, também conhecido como nevo organoide ou nevo de Jadassohn, é caracterizado como um hamartoma congênito raro, não hereditário, resultante da hiperplasia dos elementos epiteliais, sebáceos, foliculares e apócrinos da pele. Relato de caso: Paciente, 14 anos, masculino, desde o nascimento apresenta mácula avermelhada no mento sem sintomas associados, que evoluiu com espessamento local e aspecto verrucoso. Realizou-se biópsia, cujo histopatológico evidenciou nevo sebáceo de Jadassohn. Optou-se pela criocirurgia como tratamento, evoluindo com melhora progressiva da lesão.  Discussão: Este nevo é um hamartoma congênito da epiderme, derme e anexos. O tratamento cirúrgico não é viável em alguns casos. E a criocirurgia é opção terapêutica eficaz e satisfatória, com resultados cosméticos aceitáveis, especialmente em adolescentes jovens que desejam evitar intervenções mais invasivas.
Exploring Key Drivers of Insurtech Adoption: Insights from India’s Digital Insurance Revolution
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Commerce and Financial Studies, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, Amnas Muhammed Basid , Raja Mariappan ,   Associate Professor of Commerce (CDOE), Department of Commerce and Financial Studies, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, Velmurugan J. M. ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, The TamilNadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Published: January 2025

The insurance industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation, referred to as “InsurTech,” which integrates advanced technologies to automate processes and improve customer service. This study analysed the factors, driving the adoption of InsurTech services in India, a fast-growing insurance market. The research adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), by incorporating additional constructs such as awareness, trust, service quality, and promotional offers. Data were collected from 310 InsurTech users and analysed the data, by using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, awareness, trust, service quality, and promotional offers positively influenced InsurTech adoption. The findings provide insights for insurers and policymakers, to develop strategies that promote the wider use of InsurTech services, especially in underinsured segments. The study highlights the need for intuitive platforms, increased consumer awareness and strong trust-building measures, to facilitate InsurTech adoption in India.
Impact of Intellectual Capital on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Saudi Arabia
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Department of Administration Sciences, Applied College, Northern Border University, Rafha, Saudi Arabia, Alowaimer Osama Hamad , Alobaid Rayed Obaid ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia, Hossain Md. Sumon ,   Associate Professor, Department of Accounting and Information Systems, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Habtoor Omer Saeed ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Administrative Sciences, Applied College, Northern Border University, Rafha, Saudi Arabia
Published: January 2025

This paper seeks to establish the interlinkage, that exists between FP and IC of commercial banks in Saudi Arabia. The study identified ten commercial banks, using the convenience sampling method, covering a six-year span, that included the COVID-19 era. Four regression analyses were conducted, to examine the impact of IC components on the banks’ FP. The descriptive analysis revealed that IC, as indicated by VAICTM, and FP, constituted by ROE along with ROA, demonstrated an increasing trend. Regression findings established that the overall IC, as indicated by VAICTM, exerted positive and significant influence, by a 1% significance level, on FP. A scrutiny of IC and financial performance indicators revealed that Capital Employed Efficiency correlated positively and significantly with all the FP indicators, at the 1% noteworthy level but both Structural Capital Efficiency and the Human Capital Efficiency did not report any obvious linkage with the FP indicators. Regarding the size of the firm, it reported no significant relationship with ROA while it established pragmatic linkage with ROE. Further, the Covid-19 impact on FP was significant at 1% level of significance.
Role of Environmental Disclosures in Banking Performance - Study of Listed Commercial Banks of Saudi Arabia
Authors:   Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, Muneer Saqib
Published: January 2025

This research proposes to explain applied approaches existing techniques and challenges as well as proposed future agenda for development in banking performance, with respect to environmental disclosures. This study examined the connection between the performance of Saudi Arabia’s publicly traded commercial banks and the disclosure of environmental assessments. The methodology of this research consisted of a semi quantitative analysis. The content analysis was used to collect information from annual reports of 10 listed commercial banks of Saudi Arabia, on Tadawul stock exchange, from 2013 to 2021. The developed index was regressed with banking performance, to check the impact of environmental disclosures on banking performance, by using Generalized Least Squares (GLS), with random-eûect (RE) and ûxed-eûect (FE) estimators. Further, disclosure of environmental information increased dramatically from 39.23% to 71.29% between 2013 and 2021. The government and policymakers monitored environmental contribution and disclosure by the banking sector, for sustainable environment and banking performance.