Search Results (12,169)

This study examines the predictability of monthly excess returns for the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. technology firms using machine learning and economically motivated thematic feature grouping. Framed as a focused study of the most systemically consequential equity panel in modern markets—seven firms representing over 30% of the S&P 500—the analysis confronts a small-N, large-P environment where economically structured dimensionality reduction is essential. Using 154 firm-level characteristics categorized into 13 economic themes, we evaluate linear, penalized, tree-based, and neural network models in a small-N, large-P setting. Unrestricted models suffer substantial overfitting and fail to outperform the historical average benchmark out-of-sample. In contrast, theme-based models generate economically meaningful and regime-dependent predictive gains. Short-Term Reversal and seasonality exhibit stronger expansion-period predictability, while size and profitability perform better during recessions. Regularized linear models provide the most stable performance in limited-data environments, whereas nonlinear ensemble methods improve only when training windows are extended. The findings underscore the importance of economically structured dimensionality reduction and adaptive factor allocation in managing concentration risk among systemically important mega-cap firms. Full article

The 795 nm wavelength corresponds to the D1 transition of rubidium atoms and is widely used in atomic optical pumping, atomic clocks, magnetometers, and precision spectroscopy. For compact free-space collimation, beam shaping, and efficient fiber coupling, edge-emitting semiconductor lasers with reduced fast-axis (vertical) divergence are highly desirable, yet low-divergence designs at 795 nm remain limited. Here, we propose and demonstrate low-divergence photonic-crystal epitaxy (LD–PC) for 795 nm edge-emitting lasers. By engineering a periodic n-side photonic-crystal stack to place the fundamental vertical mode near the photonic band edge, the vertical mode is expanded while maintaining effective modal discrimination. Narrow-ridge Fabry–Pérot lasers based on GaAsP/AlGaAs single-quantum-well epitaxy were fabricated and characterized. The optimized LD–PC device (3 μm ridge width, 1 mm cavity length) delivers 227 mW at 200 mA with a threshold current of 23 mA, a slope efficiency of 1.28 W/A, and a peak wall-plug efficiency of 55% under continuous-wave operation at 25 °C. The measured far-field divergences (FWHMs) are 7.16° and 18.83° in the lateral and vertical directions, respectively, corresponding to a reduction in the vertical divergence from >40° in the reference structure to <20° with LD–PC. These results validate photonic-crystal epitaxy as an effective route toward compact, high-performance, low-divergence 795 nm semiconductor laser sources for rubidium-based atomic systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic diseases are increasingly associated with diets low in bioactive compounds. Native maize varieties possess functional potential; however, they remain underutilized. Moringa oleifera leaf flour (MF), rich in protein and polyphenols, represents a promising functional ingredient. This study evaluated the incorporation of MF into red native corn tortillas and its effects on nutritional composition and antioxidant capacity, as well as assessed its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in Wistar rats. Methods: Tortillas were formulated with 5% MF. Nutritional composition was determined using standard AOAC methods, while bioactive compounds (total phenolics and flavonoids) and antioxidant activity were evaluated using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) colorimetric, DPPH^•, and ABTS^•+ assays, respectively. Male Wistar rats (12 weeks old, with an approximate weight ofs 360 g; n = 5/group) were fed the experimental diets for 21 days with either a standard diet, a high-fat diet, or high-fat diets supplemented with MF or MF-enriched tortillas. Serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL were measured using enzymatic colorimetric methods. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). Results: MF incorporation increased protein (+19.85%), dietary fiber (+18.51%), and mineral content (+41.03%) compared to control tortillas. Total phenolics and flavonoids increased by 114.0% and 184.7%, respectively. Antioxidant activity improved significantly, as evidenced by reductions in IC₅₀ values of 41.1% (DPPH^•) and 43.1% (ABTS^•). In vivo, MF-enriched tortillas reduced triglycerides by 68.4%, total cholesterol by 16.2%, and hepatic lipid accumulation by 31.8% compared to the high-fat diet group. Glucose levels showed a reduction of 8.5%, although not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The incorporation of MF into red corn tortillas significantly enhances their nutritional and functional properties. In vivo results also showed improvements in lipid profile and a non-significant reduction in glucose levels. These findings support the development of functional foods based on traditional staples with potential health benefits. Full article

This study proposes EvoDeep-Quality, a closed-loop hybrid framework integrating deep learning-based perception with multi-objective evolutionary optimization for adaptive quality control in smart manufacturing. The architecture combines a CNN-LSTM network for real-time spatiotemporal quality prediction with an NSGA-III-based optimization unit to balance conflicting objectives of quality, cost, and energy efficiency. A continuous adaptive learning loop addresses concept drift and process variability. Evaluated on an industrial-inspired synthetic dataset of textile blends (N = 5000) and validated on the real-world SECOM semiconductor manufacturing dataset, the framework demonstrates strong predictive capability (R² = 0.947 ± 0.012, MAE = 0.035 ± 0.003) and significant manufacturing performance improvements, including a 23.5% quality enhancement and an 8.7–12.3% operational cost reduction compared to traditional and standalone AI models. Statistical significance testing (paired t-test, p < 0.01) confirms the superiority of the proposed approach. This deep-evolutionary framework advances proactive quality assurance and adaptive process control, offering a scalable solution aligned with Industry 4.0 and 5.0 paradigms. Full article

The thermal safety and longevity of lithium-ion batteries are critically constrained by excessive temperature rise and spatial thermal non-uniformity, particularly during high-rate discharges. Most existing numerical investigations rely on simplified heat generation models that fail to capture the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of electrochemical heat sources, leading to compromised predictive accuracy. To address this deficiency, this study develops a comprehensive three-dimensional electrochemical–thermal coupled framework, integrating the Newman pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) electrochemical model with conjugate heat transfer and laminar flow dynamics. The predictive robustness of this framework is rigorously validated against experimental data across multiple discharge rates (3 C and 5 C). The validated model is then deployed to evaluate a water-cooled microchannel cold plate designed for prismatic $\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{n}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_4$/graphite cells under a demanding 5 C discharge. A systematic parametric investigation is conducted to quantify the effects of ambient temperature (293–343 K), microchannel number (2–6), and coolant inlet velocity (0.1–0.6 m/s) on the maximum battery temperature (${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$) and temperature difference ($\mathsf{\Delta }\mathrm{T}$). Results demonstrate that the proposed system exhibits exceptional environmental robustness: over a 50 K ambient temperature span, ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$ increases by merely 2.0 K, remaining safely below the 323 K industry limit. Densifying the channel count from 2 to 6 further reduces ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$ by 1.55 K and narrows $\mathsf{\Delta }\mathrm{T}$ to 4.25 K, successfully satisfying the strict 5 K temperature uniformity standard. Furthermore, the thermal benefit of elevating inlet velocity exhibits a pronounced diminishing-return trend governed by the asymptotic reduction in bulk coolant temperature rise, dictating a critical trade-off against the quadratically escalating pumping power. Ultimately, these findings provide robust theoretical guidelines for the rational design of safe and energy-efficient battery thermal management systems. Full article

The neutron capture cross section of ⁶⁴Ni is an important parameter in nuclear astrophysics that is needed to accurately simulate stellar nucleosynthesis and validate stellar models. ⁶⁴Ni is among the seeds of the s-process and its capture cross section has been found to have an important effect on the predicted abundances of many nuclei synthesized in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) and massive stars. Despite its relevance, the measurements of the ⁶⁴Ni(n,$\gamma$) available in the literature are scarce and discrepant. For this reason, a new accurate time-of-flight measurement has been performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN, taking advantage of its high instantaneous neutron flux, and using a highly enriched ⁶⁴Ni sample. The first preliminary results show important discrepancies with respect to the cross sections recommended in the most recent releases of the evaluated nuclear data libraries. In particular, a large resonance reported at 9.52 keV is not observed. As a consequence, a significant reduction in the Maxwellian-Averaged Cross Section (MACS) obtained from evaluated data libraries in the 5–25 keV thermal energy region is expected. Full article

Introduction: Evidence on the use of dopamine agonists (DAs) for managing residual or recurrent non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) is limited. We aim to evaluate the use of cabergoline (CAB) for NFPAs. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single UK centre, between November 2011 and December 2025. Twenty-six patients were identified. Ten patients were excluded due to CAB intolerance or discontinuation (n = 5), insufficient data (n = 4), or invalid scan due to patient movement (n = 1). The remaining 16 patients (mean age 68.9 ± 4 years (range 42–89 years old), 7/16 females) were included. CAB was initiated in cases where surgery or radiotherapy were not appropriate (e.g., due to age and/or comorbidities, or patient choice). Radiological response was assessed using at least two scans separated by a minimum interval of six months. Tumour shrinkage was defined as a reduction in volume of 20% or more, growth as an increase of 20% or more, and stabilisation as interval change of less than 20%. Results: Overall, tumour shrinkage was observed in 7/16 (43.8%) patients, stabilisation in the remaining 9/16 (56.3%) patients, over 503 ± 51 days (range of 117–934 days) (from the date of CAB initiation to latest MRI scan). There was a statistically significant reduction in tumour volume (p = 0.0335). In five patients with documented tumour growth prior to CAB initiation, growth rates retarded or reversed post-CAB initiation. Conclusions: Our findings in this small cohort potentially suggests that cabergoline can retard, arrest, or even reverse tumour growth in selected patients with NFPAs. Our review also highlights ongoing uncertainty regarding optimal dosing, approaches to dose up-titration, follow-up imaging intervals, and objective criteria for defining radiological response. Our results may provide a proof of concept for future, larger-scale prospective studies and controlled trials to validate the conclusions drawn. Full article

(1) Background: Erlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) widely used in cancer therapy; however, its potential adverse effects on ovarian tissue have not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate erlotinib-induced ovarian injury and to evaluate the protective effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and flunarizine, administered alone or in combination, using biochemical and histopathological analyses in a rat model. (2) Methods: Thirty female rats were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 6 per group): healthy control, erlotinib, ATP + erlotinib, flunarizine + erlotinib, and ATP + flunarizine + erlotinib. ATP (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and flunarizine (5 mg/kg, oral gavage) were administered daily for two weeks, while erlotinib (5 mg/kg) was given orally every two days for two weeks. Ovarian tissues were collected for oxidative stress analysis and histopathological evaluation, and blood samples were obtained for the measurement of serum prolactin and AMH levels. (3) Results: Erlotinib administration resulted in significant oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in ovarian tissue, accompanied by a reduction in serum AMH levels, while prolactin levels remained unchanged. Treatment with ATP or flunarizine partially attenuated these alterations. (4) Conclusions: Combined ATP and flunarizine administration showed stronger protective effects, improving biochemical parameters and preserving ovarian histology, suggesting a protective role against erlotinib-induced ovarian injury. Full article

Transmission towers, as critical infrastructure in power systems, are frequently threatened by multiple hazards such as strong winds and flood scour. Traditional structural health monitoring methods face limitations in data feedback timeliness and mechanical interpretation, making real-time condition awareness and early warning under disaster scenarios challenging. To address these issues, this paper proposes a digital twin framework for transmission tower structures, integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and the Finite Element Method (FEM) for structural health monitoring and visual warning under wind loads and flood scour effects. The framework achieves cross-platform collaboration through the FEM Open Application Programming Interface (OAPI) and Python scripts. In the physical domain, fluctuating wind loads are simulated based on the Davenport spectrum, flood scour depth is modeled using the HEC-18 formulation, and foundation constraint degradation is represented through nonlinear spring stiffness reduction. In the FEM domain, dynamic time-history analyses are conducted to obtain structural responses. In the BIM domain, a three-level warning mechanism based on stress change rate (ΔR) is established to achieve intuitive rendering and dynamic feedback of structural damage. A 44.4 m high latticed angle steel tower is employed as the case study for validation. Results demonstrate that the simulated wind spectrum closely matches the theoretical target spectrum, confirming the validity of the load input. A critical scour evolution threshold of 40% is identified, beyond which the first two natural frequencies exhibit nonlinear decay with a maximum reduction of 80.9%. Non-uniform scour induces significant load transfer, with axial forces at leeside nodes increasing from 27 kN to 54 kN. During the 0–60 s wind loading process, BIM visualization accurately captures the full stress evolution from the tower base to the upper structure, showing excellent agreement with FEM results. The proposed framework establishes a closed-loop interaction mechanism of “physical sensing–digital simulation–visual warning”, effectively enhancing the timeliness and interpretability of structural health monitoring for transmission towers under multiple hazards, providing an innovative approach for intelligent disaster prevention in power infrastructure. Full article

Pig behavior statistics can reflect their health status. Conventional approaches depend on manual observation to derive behavioral information from video recordings, a process that demands substantial time and human effort. To overcome these limitations in indoor intensive farming environments, this study introduces an effective approach for recognizing pig behaviors, employing an enhanced YOLOv8n architecture. The approach utilizes advanced object detection algorithms to automatically identify pig behaviors, including stand, lie, eat, fight, and tail-bite, from overhead video footage of the enclosure. First, images of daily pig behaviors are collected using cameras to build a pig behavior dataset. To boost detection accuracy, the SE attention mechanism is embedded within the feature extraction backbone of the YOLOv8n network to enhance its representational capacity, strengthening the model’s capacity to grasp overarching contextual information and improve the expressiveness of extracted features. The GIoU loss function is employed during training to reduce computational cost and accelerate model convergence. Moreover, integrating Ghost convolution into the backbone significantly reduces both computational complexity and the total number of parameters. The experimental findings reveal that the optimized YOLOv8n model contains just 1.71 million parameters, marking a 42.93% reduction relative to the baseline model. Its floating-point operations total 5.0 billion, indicating a 38.27% decrease, while the mean average precision (mAP@50) reaches 96.8%, surpassing the original by 2.6 percentage points. Compared with other widely used YOLO-based object detection frameworks, the proposed approach achieves notably higher accuracy while requiring significantly lower computational resources and model complexity. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the retention and fit precision of removable partial denture circumferential clasps fabricated from cast cobalt–chromium, 3D-printed cobalt–chromium, and polyether ether ketone. Methods: A maxillary right first premolar abutment was prepared. Eighty circumferential clasps were allocated into three material groups: cast Co–Cr (n = 20), 3D-printed Co–Cr (n = 20), and PEEK (n = 40). The terminal third of metal retentive clasps was designed to engage 0.25 mm and 0.50 mm undercuts. PEEK clasps were fabricated with two designs: partial (two-thirds) and full-arm undercut engagement. Each group was examined for retentive forces after 1440 cycles (simulating 1 year). Initial and final retentive forces were recorded. Clasp deformation was assessed by measuring inter-arm distance before and after cycling using digital photography and ImageJ software. Results: All clasp groups demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in retention after 1440 cycles (p < 0.05). At both undercut depths, cast and 3D-printed Co–Cr clasps exhibited significantly higher retentive forces than PEEK (p < 0.001). Within the PEEK group, full-arm engagement showed significantly higher retention than partial engagement at the 0.25 mm undercut (p < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was observed between designs at the 0.50 mm undercut (p = 0.406). Fit precision revealed a significant increase in inter-arm distance after cycling (p < 0.05). PEEK clasps exhibited significantly smaller dimensional changes than Co–Cr clasps (p < 0.02). Conclusions: Clasp material, undercut depth, and design significantly influenced retention and fit precision. Co–Cr clasps maintained higher retentive forces, whereas PEEK clasps demonstrated reduced deformation after cycling. Full article

Ixora chinensis Lam. has traditionally been used to treat conditions such as acne, high blood pressure, bleeding, tuberculosis, and rheumatism. This study aimed to investigate the methanolic extract of I. chinensis leaves to determine their bioactive compounds and evaluate their effects on both central and peripheral pain using in vivo and in silico approaches. The GC-MS analysis revealed 41 phytochemicals, including 14 phenolics, 4 esters, 12 terpenoids, 8 alkaloids, and 3 sulfur-containing compounds. In the glucose tolerance test, both the chloroform-soluble fraction (CF) and n-hexane fraction (NHF) exhibited p < 0.05 reductions in blood glucose levels at a dosage of 400 mg/kg with decreases of 51.94% and 46.63%, respectively, compared to the positive control (64.02%). The central analgesic evaluation showed significant (p < 0.001) enhancements in tail-flick latency for the fraction (184.94%) and CF (170.51%) following 90 min. In the pain relief assay, NHF showed inhibition (64.33%, p < 0.001) followed by an aqueous fraction (57.35%). These pharmacological findings were supported by in silico analysis. Concerning activity, 5-(dimethylamino)-1- acid phenyl ester (−8.9 kcal/mol) and 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-3-ol (−8.4 kcal/mol) displayed the strongest binding affinity to AMPK. Additionally, 2,3-diphenyl-2-cyclopropen-1-one exhibited favorable interactions with α-amylase (−8.0 kcal/mol) and α-glucosidase (−8.3 kcal/mol). Similarly, the central analgesic effect correlated with the strong μ-opioid receptor affinity of s-Triazine, 2-amino-4-(piperidinomethyl)-4-piperidino (−8.8 kcal/mol). N-Methyl-N-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-benzamide (−8.6 kcal/mol) and s-Triazine derivative (−8.9 kcal/mol) demonstrated notable COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition potential. Overall, the findings indicate I. chinensis leaves as a promising source of bioactive compounds with significant antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties. Full article

Biosurfactant-producing microorganisms play an important ecological role in soils impacted by hydrophobic contaminants by enhancing substrate bioavailability and influencing microbial interactions. In this study, we critically evaluated the reliability of commonly used screening methods for biosurfactant detection. A total of 71 microbial isolates (16 bacteria and 55 fungi) were obtained from vegetable oil-contaminated soil and screened using a multi-step approach combining enzymatic assays (lipolytic and hemolytic activity) and physicochemical methods, including drop-collapse, oil spreading, emulsification index (E₂₄), and surface tension reduction. Although 21 isolates exhibited lipolytic activity and 9 showed hemolysis, inconsistent responses among assays revealed significant limitations of individual screening methods. Only two bacterial isolates consistently tested positive across all criteria. When cultivated in mineral salt medium supplemented with hydrophobic substrates, both isolates produced stable emulsions and significantly reduced surface tension (from 54.26 mN/m to 31.46 mN/m). Substrate-dependent variation was observed for isolate C3, which showed reduced surface tension (39.63 mN/m) when grown with biodiesel. These findings highlight the risk of relying on single assays and emphasize the need for integrated screening strategies to ensure reliable detection of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms. Full article

The efficient recovery of coalbed methane (CBM) is critically constrained by the inherent low permeability of coal reservoirs, a challenge predominantly attributed to mineral blockages within the pore-fracture structure. In this study, the deashing efficacy of several acid solutions (HCl, HNO₃, HF, and CH₃COOH) on bituminous coals from the Yushuwan (YSW) and Jiangna (JN) mines was initially assessed to determine the optimal acidizing system. Subsequently, the multi-scale evolution of pore-fracture structures and the fractal characteristics of coal samples treated with the optimized acids were systematically investigated. A multi-analytical approach, integrating scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) with microcrystalline peak-fitting, and low-temperature nitrogen gas adsorption (LT-N₂GA), was employed to quantitatively elucidate the underlying transformation mechanisms. The experimental results indicate that HCl and HNO₃ emerged as the most effective agents for the YSW and JN coals, respectively. Optimized acidification achieved significant reductions in ash content (specifically, an ash removal efficiency of 83.99% for HCl-treated YSW coal) through the selective dissolution of carbonate and clay minerals, thereby facilitating the exposure of the organic matrix and the induction of extensive dissolution pits and secondary fractures. Although the dissolution-induced collapse of mineral-supported fine pores led to a reduction in both total pore volume and BET specific surface area, the average pore diameter undergoes a substantial increase (e.g., nearly doubling from 9.0068 nm to 16.5126 nm for the JN coal). Furthermore, the reduction in Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) fractal dimensions (D₁ and D₂) indicates a decrease in pore-surface complexity and structural heterogeneity. These findings reveal that optimized acidification induces significant alterations in pore structure and mineral composition. The treatment facilitates the conversion of isolated pores into interconnected networks, accompanied by an increase in pore volume and a shift in pore size distribution toward larger dimensions. This research elucidates the mechanisms of mineral dissolution and pore expansion, providing a fundamental characterization of the microstructural evolution of coal in response to acid treatment. Full article

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have proven beneficial in chronic heart failure (HF) across a wide range of left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs). Emerging data suggests that these benefits may extend to acute HF decompensation through enhanced decongestion. Purpose: To investigate changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels according to SGLT2i use among patients hospitalized for acute HF decompensation. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, consecutive patients hospitalized for HF decompensation were enrolled. Demographics, comorbidities, and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Participants were classified into three groups: Group 1—No SGLT2i use or discontinuation; Group 2—Prior SGLT2i use and continuation; Group 3—SGLT2i-naïve with initiation during hospitalization. NT-proBNP was measured on admission and discharge. Results: A total of 159 patients (median age 79 years, 64.8% male) were included. Group 1 patients exhibited negligible changes in NT-proBNP, whereas those continuing or newly initiating SGLT2i demonstrated significant reductions (absolute change: 506 [8792] pg/mL vs. −5610 [9461] pg/mL vs. −3602 [4409] pg/mL, p = 0.001, percentage change: −2.1 [63.4]% vs. −30.3 [39.0]% vs. −38.3 [41.5]%, p = 0.001). Multivariable regression confirmed that SGLT2i continuation or initiation independently predicted greater NT-proBNP reduction. Conclusions: NT-proBNP levels were significantly reduced among patients with decompensated HF treated with SGLT2i, with the greatest reduction in treatment-naïve patients. These findings highlight the potential role of SGLT2i even during acute HF hospitalization. Full article