Browse Articles

Integrating feature selection and explainable CNN for identification and classification of pests and beneficial insects

Research on the application of feedback method combined with diversified health education in elderly patients with COPD complicated with dysphagia

Blue enriched light modulates pupil dilation induced by transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation

Evaluation and optimization of resource matching for perception services in power communication networks

Coupling between neural oscillations and white matter integrity reveals cognitive computational profiles following COVID-19

Radiological and radioecological risk assessment around the West Delta fossil-fuel power station in Egypt

Abstract There are serious ecological and radiological risks associated with the release and buildup of man-made and natural radionuclides. These risks are particularly relevant for fossil fuel power plants located in residential and agricultural areas. High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors were employed to analyze environmental samples, including soil, water, and plants collected around the West Delta fossil fuel power station in Egypt. The activity levels of both man-made and naturally occurring radionuclides, such as 226 Ra, 228 Ra, and 40 K, were measured, and the corresponding ecological and radiological hazards were assessed using several radiological hazard indices. The findings showed elevated concentrations of 226 Ra, 228 Ra, and 40 K specifically in agricultural areas near the power station, with some values exceeding internationally recommended guideline values. The calculated radioecological indicators highlight potential long-term exposure risks for nearby populations and ecosystems. These results indicate the need for targeted monitoring and site-specific mitigation measures in the most impacted areas. while providing essential baseline data for future environmental monitoring. This study provides the first comprehensive radiological and radioecological assessment around the West Delta power station, offering new baseline data for environmental monitoring and risk management.

Modeling and simulation of ZnO-based TFTs by dielectric engineering and temperature analysis for enhanced performance

Low HBV replication does not aggravate disease progression in patients with superinfection with HEV

Abstract In China, co-infection with HEV and HBV is relatively common, and the impact of low HBV DNA load on coinfected patients remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the effect of low-replication hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on disease progression in patients with hepatitis E virus (HEV) superinfection. This study included 260 consecutive patients diagnosed with sporadic acute hepatitis E (AHE) who were admitted to two hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China, between January 2018 and December 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups: those who were HBsAg-positive with low HBV replication (defined as HBV DNA levels < 2000 IU/mL) and those who were HBsAg-negative. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected and analyzed to evaluate biochemical parameters, disease progression, and clinical outcomes across the two groups. Of the 260 patients, 24 (9.23%) were HBsAg-positive, while 236 (90.77%) were HBsAg-negative. The average age of participants was 53.48 ± 13.3 years, with no significant differences in age or gender between the two groups. Liver damage manifestations and biochemical indicators were comparable at admission and throughout follow-up. Importantly, there were no significant differences in disease progression or clinical outcomes between the groups. The cumulative rates of liver enzyme and bilirubin normalization were also similar. Although the follow-up period was longer in the HBsAg-positive group (442.79 ± 474.58 days vs. 215.65 ± 346.11 days, P  = 0.031), no differences in clinical outcomes were identified. In this retrospective cohort, low replication HBV infection did not appear to significantly influence short-term disease progression in patients with HEV superinfection, though larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Evaluation of dimethylformamide (DMF) and Trehalose as cryoprotectants in African penguin Spheniscus demersus semen cryopreservation

Comprehensive framework of machine learning and deep learning architectures with metaheuristic optimization for high-fidelity prediction of nanofluid specific heat capacity

Chemical composition profiling of Oldeania alpina culm layers across developmental ages

Vapour-phase effects of thyme and eucalyptus oils, alone and combined, against toxin-producing fungi from stored durum wheat

Abstract The food system is dependent on durum wheat ( Triticum durum ), which is considered one of the most important agricultural elements. Food security is ensured by a sustainable protection strategy against harmful microorganisms, such as fungi. The broad-spectrum antifungal activity of EOs against most problematic storage fungi has been demonstrated. The antifungal properties of EOs derived from Thymus satureioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis were evaluated in vitro. The diverse biological functions of these plants are world-renowned. The microatmosphere technique was used to test antifungal activity against four postharvest pathogens associated with durum wheat in storage: Aspergillus aflatoxiformans , Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus nidulans , Aspergillus versicolor . The potential synergy of combining T. satureioides and E. camaldulensis was explored in this study. The results showed that T. satureioides leaf EO was the most effective, with MIC values ranging from 0.025 to 0.1 µL/ml. The high content of isoborneol (17.87%) in this oil was identified as a significant contributor to its potent antifungal properties. The least effective vapor against all tested pathogens was produced by the individual application of Eucalyptus oil (MIC 0.05–0.31 µL/ml). The combination of Thyme and Eucalyptus leaf EOs showed partial synergy against all tested pathogens (FICI values between 0.50 and 0.75) and fully synergistic against A. nidulans . The production of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxine A (OTA) was inhibited after treatment with MICs and 2xMICs of oils alone, a concentration below the MIC, indicating weak anti-ochra/aflatoxigenic effect. The potential for the development of specific formulations aimed at enhancing grain protection during storage is evident in this synergistic combination.

Graph attention-based heterogeneous multi-agent deep reinforcement learning for adaptive portfolio optimization

Abstract Traditional portfolio optimization methods face significant limitations in capturing complex asset relationships and adapting to dynamic market conditions. This paper proposes a novel graph attention-based heterogeneous multi-agent deep reinforcement learning framework that addresses these challenges through innovative integration of graph neural networks and specialized agent architectures. The framework employs graph attention networks to model time-varying asset correlations and dependencies, while utilizing three heterogeneous agents specialized in risk assessment, return prediction, and market environment perception. An adaptive optimization strategy dynamically adjusts parameters based on real-time market conditions and regime changes. Comprehensive experiments on S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, and Russell 2000 datasets demonstrate superior performance, achieving 16.8% annualized returns, 1.34 Sharpe ratio, and 8.2% maximum drawdown, significantly outperforming traditional mean–variance optimization, equal-weight portfolios, and existing deep learning approaches. Ablation studies confirm the critical contributions of each framework component, while sensitivity analysis validates robustness across varying market conditions. The proposed framework represents a significant advancement in computational finance, offering enhanced adaptability and risk management capabilities for modern portfolio optimization challenges.

Trends and disparities in obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease mortality in a 25-year retrospective analysis

Prognostic relevance of geriatric nutritional risk index and the prognostic nutritional index in geriatric extensive stage small cell lung cancer

Leveraging similarity and community-based features for link prediction in temporal social networks using attention-enabled LSTM

Field assessment of economy fan coil unit performance in cooling capacity and acoustic compliance analysis

Monitoring strain evolution in water-sand systems using distributed acoustic sensing for geohazard early warning

Study on dynamic response of open web sandwich plate under near field explosive load

Potentially toxic metals in small ruminant tissues: multivariate analysis and health risk assessment via Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract Potentially toxic metal contamination in edible animal tissues is a major concern for food safety and public health. This study investigated the concentrations of essential and potentially toxic metals in the meat and liver of eighty small ruminants in Lorestan, Iran and assessed the risks associated with their consumption. Essential (Co, Se, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Zn) and potentially toxic (Ni, Cd, and Pb) metal concentrations were measured using ICP-OES. The sources and distribution patterns of essential and toxic trace metals were examined using multivariate statistical analyses including the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Human health risk was evaluated using the lifetime cancer risk, the hazard ratio and the hazard index, and uncertainty in these parameters was quantified through Monte Carlo simulation. Most metals were present at concentrations consistent with international standards, whereas Zn with values from 75.33 to 132.5 mg/kg, Ni with values from 0.76 to 1.2 mg /kg and Pb with values from 0.12 to 0.65 mg/kg exceeded the limits recommended by FAO/WHO. The hazard index was less than one, indicating a low probability of non-carcinogenic effects. However, the lifetime cancer risk suggested a moderate carcinogenic risk associated with nickel in meat. Multivariate analysis showed that manganese, iron, copper and cadmium were primarily associated with natural terrestrial sources, while Ni, Pb and Zn were linked to anthropogenic inputs. These findings highlight the need to assess grazing environments and water sources, improve hygienic practices during slaughter and establish maximum permissible levels for trace elements to reinforce food safety monitoring.