Search Results (1,825)

Hash maps are a widely used and efficient data structure for storing and accessing data organized as key-value pairs. Multithreading with hash maps refers to the ability to concurrently execute multiple lookup, insert, and delete operations, such that each operation runs independently while sharing the underlying data structure. One of the main challenges in hash map implementation is the management of collisions. Arguably, separate chaining is among the most well-known strategies for collision resolution. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study comparing two common approaches to implementing separate chaining—linked lists and dynamic arrays—in a multithreaded environment using a lock-based concurrent hash map design. Our study includes a performance evaluation covering parameters such as cache behavior, energy consumption, contention under concurrent access, and resizing overhead. Experimental results show that dynamic arrays maintain more predictable memory access and lower energy consumption in multithreaded environments. Full article

This research examines in detail the behavior of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) during a severe geomagnetic storm that occurred on 10–11 October 2024. The global data of Total Electron Content (TEC) represented by relative deviation, giving information about the variations compared to quiet conditions, were used. The main attention is paid to the appearance of an additional “fountain effect” under the action of disturbed dynamo currents and the vertical drift of the ionospheric plasma caused by them. The results show that the area in which a positive response (increase) of TEC is observed occurs in an area corresponding to local time around 18–20 h (longitude around 60 °W) at magnetic latitudes ±30° and during the storm shifts westward to around 180 °W. The westward drift of the storm-induced “fountain effect” is moving at a speed much slower than the Earth’s rotation speed. As a result, the area of positive TEC response (vertical upward drift) and the area of negative response (vertical downward drift) are localized in both nighttime and daytime conditions. In this investigation, an example of a very similar geomagnetic storm registered on 25 September 1998 is given for comparison, in which a similar stationing of the storm-induced EIA was observed at longitudes around 180 °E. Full article

The growing amount of available experimental data on the Earth’s ionosphere total electron content measurements requires the development of modern data processing instruments. Traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) are one of the ionospheric phenomena that are of great interest. To automate the processing of TEC horizontal distribution maps for studying TIDs, a method for detecting TIDs and their parameters, such as amplitude, speed, and direction of propagation has been developed. It is based on determining the signal-to-noise ratio of TEC variations. The proposed method was used to analyze the TID distribution throughout the United States for more than 40 magnetically quiet days in 2023. The results of the obtained statistical characteristics of the detected TIDs are presented. Full article

Background: Irradiation (IR) targets cancer cells, but also the tumor microenvironment, including the tumor’s blood vessels. In addition to tumor endothelial cell (TEC) apoptosis, IR can lead to TEC activation, potentially increasing immune cell infiltration. However, the changes underlying the IR-induced activation of endothelial cells (ECs) are poorly understood. This study investigated dose- and time-dependent molecular and functional responses of murine and human EC lines to IR in vitro and TECs in vivo in murine tumor models of colorectal carcinoma. Methods: HUVEC, EA.hy926, and Hulec5a, as well as murine bEND.3, 2H11, and SVEC4-10 EC lines, were irradiated with single doses of 2–10 Gy. EC proliferation and survival after IR were assessed by staining all nuclei (Hoechst 33342) and dead cells (propidium iodide) every 24 h for 5 days using the Cytation 1 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader. RNA sequencing analysis of HUVECs irradiated with 2 Gy and 5 Gy at 24 h and 72 h after IR was conducted, focusing on processes related to EC activation. To validate the RNA sequencing results, immunofluorescence staining for proteins related to EC activation, including Stimulator of Interferon Response cGAMP Interactor 1 (STING), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κβ), and Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), was performed. To validate the in vitro results, the response of TEC in vivo was analyzed using publicly available RNA sequencing data of TECs isolated from MC38 colon carcinoma irradiated with a single dose of 15 Gy. Finally, murine CT26 colon carcinoma tumors were immunofluorescently stained for STING and NF-κβ 24 and 48 h after IR with a clinically relevant fractionated regimen of 5 × 5 Gy. Results: Doses of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Gy led to a dose-dependent decrease in proliferation and increased death of ECs. RNA sequencing analysis showed that the effects on the transcriptome of HUVECs were most pronounced 72 h after IR with 5 Gy, with 1014 genes (661 down-regulated and 353 up-regulated) being significantly differentially expressed. Irradiation with 5 Gy resulted in HUVEC activation, with up-regulation of the immune system and extracellular matrix genes, such as STING1 (log₂FC = 0.81) and SELE (log₂FC = 1.09), respectively; and down-regulation of cell cycle markers. Furthermore, IR led to the up-regulation of immune response- and extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated signaling pathways, including NF-κβ signaling and ECM–receptor interaction, which was also observed in the transcriptome of irradiated murine TECs in vivo. This was confirmed at the protein level with higher expressions of the EC activation-associated proteins STING, NF-κβ, and VCAM-1 in irradiated HUVECs and irradiated TECs in vivo. Conclusions: IR induces changes in ECs and TECs, supporting their activation in dose- and time-dependent manners, potentially contributing to the anti-tumor immune response, which may potentially increase the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor and thus, improve the overall efficacy of RT, especially in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Full article

Livestock-intensive regions in Europe face dual challenges: nutrient surpluses and a high dependency on import of high-protein feedstocks. This study proposes duckweed (Lemnaceae) as a potential solution by recovering nutrients from manure-derived waste streams while producing protein-rich biomass. This study evaluated the performance of duckweed treatment systems at a pig manure processing facility in Belgium. Three outdoor systems were monitored over a full growing season under temperate climate conditions. Duckweed cultivated on constructed wetland effluent showed die-off and low protein content, while systems supplied with diluted liquid fraction and nitrification–denitrification effluent achieved consistent growth, yielding 8 tonnes of dry biomass/ha/year and 2.8 tonnes of protein/ha/year. Average removal rates were 1.2 g N/m²/day and 0.13 g P/m²/day. Growth ceased after approximately 100–120 days, likely due to rising pH and electrical conductivity, suggesting ammonia toxicity and salt stress. Harvested duckweed had a high protein content and a total amino acid profile suitable for broilers, though potentially limiting in histidine and methionine for pigs or cattle. Additionally, promising energy and protein values for ruminants were measured. Although high ash and fibre contents may limit use in monogastric animals, duckweed remains suitable as part of a balanced feed. Its broad mineral profile further supports its use as a circular, locally sourced feed supplement. Full article

We present new insights into post-sunrise ionospheric irregularities in Southeast Asia during the intense geomagnetic storm of 19–20 April 2024. By utilizing Total Electron Content (TEC) and Rate of TEC Change Index (ROTI) maps, along with ionosondes, we identified the emergence of post-sunset Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs)—plasma depletion structures and irregularities—in western Southeast Asia on 19 April. These EPBs moved eastward, and the irregularities dissipated before midnight after the EPBs covered approximately 10° of longitude. Interestingly, plasma density depletion structures persisted and turned westward after midnight until post-sunrise the following day. Concurrently, an increase in F-region height from midnight to sunrise, possibly induced by the storm’s electric field, facilitated the regeneration of irregularities in the residual plasma depletions during the post-sunrise period. The significant increase in F-region height was particularly pronounced in western Southeast Asia. As a result, post-sunrise irregularities expanded their latitudinal structure while propagating westward. These findings suggest that areas with decayed plasma depletion structures from post-sunset EPBs that last past midnight could be sites for creating post-sunrise irregularities during geomagnetic storms. The storm-induced electric fields produce EPBs and ionospheric irregularities at longitudes where the surviving plasma depletion structures of post-sunset EPBs are present. Full article

Accurate estimation of the regional ionospheric model (RIM) is essential for Total electron content and high-precision applications of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing dual-frequency observations from over 250 Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) monitoring stations, which are equipped with both GPS and GLONASS receivers, this study investigates the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) estimation models over the China region and evaluates the estimation accuracy under both GPS-only and GPS+GLONASS configurations. Results indicate that, over the Chinese region, the spherical harmonic reginal ionospheric model (G_SH RIM) and polynomial function reginal ionospheric model (G_Poly RIM) based on single GPS observations demonstrate comparable accuracy with highly consistent spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, showing grid mean deviations of 1.60 TECu and 1.62 TECu, respectively. The combined GPS+GLONASS observation-based RIMs (GR_SH RIM and GR_Poly RIM) significantly improve the TEC modeling accuracy in the Chinese peripheral regions, though the overall average accuracy decreases compared to single-GPS models. Specifically, GR_SH RIM and GR_Poly RIM exhibit mean deviations of 2.15 TECu and 2.32 TECu, respectively. A preliminary analysis reveals that the reduced accuracy is primarily due to the systematic errors introduced by imprecise differential code biases (DCBs) of GLONASS satellites. These findings can provide valuable references for multi-GNSS regional ionospheric estimation. Full article

This paper proposes a novel and comprehensive framework for the integration of manufacturing management processes, spanning strategic and operational levels, within and across organizational boundaries. The framework combines a robust set of technologies—such as cyber-physical systems, digital twins, AI, and blockchain—designed to support real-time decision-making, interoperability, and collaboration in Industry 4.0 and 5.0 contexts. Implemented and validated in a Portuguese manufacturing group comprising three interoperating factories, the framework demonstrated its ability to improve agility, coordination, and stakeholder integration through a multi-layered architecture and modular software platform. Quantitative and qualitative feedback from 32 participants confirmed enhanced decision support, operational responsiveness, and external collaboration. While tailored to a specific industrial setting, the results highlight the framework’s scalability and adaptability, positioning it as a meaningful contribution toward sustainable, human-centric digital transformation in manufacturing environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, typically is asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but causes severe complications in immunocompromised subjects and during pregnancy. Current treatments such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine are effective for acute infections but cannot eliminate encysted bradyzoites and have significant side effects. The antimicrobial killer peptide (KP) has interesting therapeutic potential, but its intracellular delivery is challenging; hyaluronate-based nanoparticles loaded with KP (KP-NPs) were evaluated to target T. gondii-infected cells that overexpress CD44. Methods: KP-NPs made of chitosan and hyaluronate were produced by microfluidics and were characterized for size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency, and stability under stress conditions. After excluding their toxicity, their activity was tested in vitro against Candida albicans and T. gondii as free tachyzoite or in infected human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs). Results: KP was efficiently encapsulated in nanoparticles and protected from harsh acidic conditions at high temperature. Preliminary in vitro testing against C. albicans showed that, at the lowest candidacidal concentration of KP (2.5 μg/mL), KP-NPs killed 90.97% of yeast cells. KP itself proved to be non-toxic for HFFs as host cells and effective against T. gondii. Comparable results were obtained for KP-NPs and blank nanoparticles (BLK-NPs), with no observed toxicity to host cells, confirming that encapsulation did not alter peptide efficacy. The parasiticidal effect of KP alone, as well as KP-NPs at 250 µg/mL and BLK-NPs, was confirmed through tests on free T. gondii tachyzoites. Reduction rates for the number of infected cells ranged from 66% to 90% with respect to control, while the reduction in the number of intracellular tachyzoites ranged from 66% to 80%. Interestingly, KP alone was not effective against intracellular tachyzoite, while KP-NPs maintained an efficacy comparable to the extracellular model, suggesting that particles helped the internalization of the peptide. Conclusions: Encapsulation of KP into hyaluronate/chitosan nanoparticles does not alter its activity and improves its efficacy against the intracellular parasite. Notably, BLK-NPs appeared to exhibit efficacy against the parasite on its own, without the presence of KP. Full article

This umbrella review aimed to identify, analyze, and synthesize the results of existing literature reviews related to patient-oriented smart applications to support healthcare provision for patients with Parkinson’s. An electronic search was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, and, after screening using predefined eligibility criteria, 85 reviews were included in the umbrella review. The included studies reported on smart applications integrating wearable devices, smartphones, serious computerized games, and other technologies (e.g., ambient intelligence, computer-based objective assessments, or online platforms) to support the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with Parkinson’s, improve physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and support disease management. Numerous smart applications are potentially useful for patients with Parkinson’s, although their full clinical potential has not yet been demonstrated. This is because the quality of their clinical assessments, as well as aspects related to their acceptability and compliance with requirements from regulatory bodies, have not yet been adequately studied. Future research requires more aligned methods and procedures for experimental assessments, as well as collaborative efforts to avoid replication and promote advances on the topic. Full article

This study examines the factors that motivate viewers to financially support streamers on the Twitch digital platform. It proposes a conceptual framework that combines the uses and gratifications theory (UGT) with Michel Foucault’s concept of the practice of freedom (PF). Using a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 560 Portuguese Twitch users, the model investigates how three core constructs from UGT—entertainment, socialization, and informativeness—affect the intention to donate, with PF acting as a mediating variable. Structural equation modeling confirms that all three UGT-based motivations significantly influence donation intentions, with socialization exhibiting the strongest mediated effect through PF. The findings reveal that Twitch donations go beyond mere instrumental or playful actions; they serve as performative expressions of identity, autonomy, and ethical subjectivity. By framing PF as a link between interpersonal engagement and financial support, this study provides a contribution to media motivation research. The theoretical integration enhances our understanding of pro-social behavior in live streaming environments, challenging simplistic, transactional interpretations of viewer contributions vis-à-vis more political ones and the desire to freely dispose of what is ours to give. Additionally, this study may lay the groundwork for future inquiries into how ethical self-formation is intertwined with monetized online participation, offering useful insights for academics, platform designers, and content creators seeking to promote meaningful digital interactions. Full article

The explosive growth in marine economy has the capacity to not only revolutionize the marine economic development model but also produce a transition from a marine powerhouse to a marine superpower. China’s 11 coastal provinces and municipalities, capitalizing on their geographic advantages and distinct resource endowments, have emerged as principal locations propelling maritime economic growth. In this report, we employ a green finance (GF) framework and analyze panel data from 11 coastal provinces and municipalities in China as obtained over the period from 2010 to 2021. Such an analysis has the capacity to elucidate the driving mechanisms and extent of GF’s influence on the high-quality growth of the marine sector (EQUS). Our results reveal that GF substantially promotes the EQUS, a finding that is consist with that from several robust tests involved with evaluating this relationship. When analyzing the mediating impact of GF, it appears that GF may indirectly enhance the quality and efficiency of the maritime economy by stimulating technical innovations. Results from threshold effects research indicate that the promotional impact of GF is limited by the extent of maritime technical innovation, with levels above a certain threshold markedly increasing the influence of GF. When evaluating the role of heterogeneity, the impact of green money on promotion demonstrates regional and temporal diversity, exhibiting nonlinear traits across various locations and phases of development. In areas with robust economic foundations and developed maritime sectors, the marginal impacts of green financing are significantly enhanced. Based upon these findings, it is recommended that any courses which advance the EQUS should be promoted. Specifically, the augmentation of marine-related innovation skills, cultivation of green technology innovation (TEC), and the optimization of innovative resource distribution represents critical measures to achieve this goal. Full article

SA-ConvLSTM is a recently proposed spatiotemporal model for total electron content (TEC) prediction, which effectively catches long-term temporal evolution and global-scale spatial correlations in TEC. However, its reliance on standard convolution limits spatial feature extraction to fixed regular regions, reducing the flexibility for irregular TEC variations. To address this limitation, we enhance SA-ConvLSTM by incorporating deformable convolution, proposing SA-DConvLSTM. This achieves adaptive spatial feature extraction through learnable offsets in convolutional kernels. Building on this improvement, we design ED-SA-DConvLSTM, a TEC spatiotemporal prediction model based on an encoder–decoder architecture with SA-DConvLSTM as its fundamental block. Firstly, the effectiveness of the model improvement was verified through an ablation experiment. Subsequently, a comprehensive quantitative comparison was conducted between ED-SA-DConvLSTM and baseline models (C1PG, ConvLSTM, and ConvGRU) in the region of 12.5° S–87.5° N and 25° E–180° E. The experimental results showed that the ED-SA-DConvLSTM exhibited superior performance compared to C1PG, ConvGRU, and ConvLSTM, with prediction accuracy improvements of 10.27%, 7.65%, and 7.16% during high solar activity and 11.46%, 4.75%, and 4.06% during low solar activity, respectively. To further evaluate model performance under extreme conditions, we tested the ED-SA-DConvLSTM during four geomagnetic storms. The results showed that the proportion of its superiority over the baseline models exceeded 58%. Full article

Eucalyptus has become a major plantation crop in southern China, with a carbon sequestration capacity significantly higher than that of other species. However, its long-term carbon sequestration capacity and regional-scale potential remain highly uncertain due to commonly applied short-rotation management practices. The InTEC (Integrated Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon) model is a process-based biogeochemical model that simulates carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems by integrating physiological processes, environmental drivers, and management practices. In this study, the InTEC model was enhanced with an optimized eucalyptus module (InTEC_euc) and a data assimilation module (InTEC_DA), and driven by multiple remote sensing products (Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and carbon density) to simulate the carbon budgets of eucalyptus plantations from 2003 to 2023. The results indicated notable improvements in the performance of the InTEC_euc model when driven by different datasets: carbon density simulation showed improvements in R² (0.07–0.56), reductions in MAE (5.99–28.51 Mg C ha⁻¹), reductions in RMSE (8.1–31.85 Mg C ha⁻¹), and improvements in rRMSE (12.37–51.82%), excluding NPP_Lin. The carbon density-driven InTEC_euc model outperformed the NPP-driven model, with improvements in R² (0.28), MAE (−8.15 Mg C ha⁻¹), RMSE (−9.43 Mg C ha⁻¹), and rRMSE (−15.34%). When the InTEC_DA model was employed, R² values for carbon density improved by 0–0.03 (excluding ACD_Yan), with MAE reductions between 0.17 and 7.22 Mg C ha⁻¹, RMSE reductions between 0.33 and 12.94 Mg C ha⁻¹ and rRMSE improvements ranging from 0.51 to 20.22%. The carbon density-driven InTEC_DA model enabled the production of high-resolution and accurate carbon budget estimates for eucalyptus plantations from 2003 to 2023, with average NPP, Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP), and Net Biome Productivity (NBP) values of 17.80, 10.09, and 9.32 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively, offering scientific insights and technical support for the management of eucalyptus plantations in alignment with carbon neutrality targets. Full article

Accurately predicting the ionosphere’s Total Electron Content (TEC) is significant for ensuring the regular operation of satellite navigation and communication systems and space weather prediction. To further improve the accuracy of TEC prediction, this paper proposes a TEC prediction model based on the grid-optimized Gate Recurrent Unit (GRU). This model has the following main features: (1) it uses statistical learning methods to interpolate the missing data of TEC observations; (2) it constructs a sliding time window by using the multi-dimensional time series features of two types of solar activity indices to support modeling; (3) It adopts grid search combined with optimization of network depth, time step length, and other hyperparameters to significantly enhance the model’s ability to extract the characteristics of the ionospheric 11-year cycle and seasonal variations. Taking the EGLIN station as an example, the proposed model is verified. The experimental results show that the root mean square error of the GRU model during the period from 2019 to 2020 was 0.78 TECU, which was significantly lower than those of the CCIR, URSI, and statistical machine learning models. Compared with the other three models, the RMSE error of the GRU model was reduced by 72.73%, 72.64%, and 57.38%, respectively. The above research verifies the advantages of the proposed model in predicting TEC and provides a new idea for ionospheric modeling. Full article