Abstract:

This paper discusses the theory of productivity maximisation in relation to human productive potential. If productivity is considered as means to attain certain outcomes, it must have practical implications. Herein, human productive potential is considered as a neurocognitive concept having its significance felt in personal and professional frontier, for human beings are always in search to maximise their productivity by tapping untapped potential latent within. This paper addresses this issue, while at the same time, it examines of the role of cognitive constraints in constraining human potential, which has important implications for the individual and industrial frontiers. In this respect, we have also discussed, in brief, the concept of anti-productivity, its nature, and practical implications.

Abstract: Quiescence is a reversible, non-proliferative cellular state that enables survival under nutrient limitation while preserving the capacity to resume growth. Rather than representing a passive default, quiescence is an actively regulated program conserved from unicellular eukaryotes to metazoans. This review focuses on the nuclear mechanisms underlying quiescence entry, maintenance, and exit, drawing on mechanistic insights from yeast models while highlighting conserved principles in multicellular systems. Across species, quiescence is characterized by global transcriptional repression, chromatin compaction, and extensive reorganization of nuclear architecture, coordinated by nutrient-sensing pathways centered on TOR/mTOR signaling. We discuss how transcriptional reprogramming is achieved through redistribution of RNA polymerases, dynamic transcription factor activities, and large-scale remodeling of histone modifications, alongside repressive chromatin formation. In parallel, post-transcriptional mechanisms—including intron retention, alternative polyadenylation, and accumulation of non-coding RNAs—fine-tune gene expression while limiting biosynthetic output. We further examine how changes in nuclear organization, such as nucleolar condensation, condensin-mediated chromosome rearrangements, and telomere hyperclusters, support long-term viability and genome stability. Collectively, this review highlights nuclear dynamics as an integrative regulatory layer that links metabolic state to cellular identity, adaptability, and long-term survival, with broad implications for development, stem cell function, and disease.

Abstract: This study investigated how complexes formed by lauric acid (LA) and polyphenols (gallic acid, GA; 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, DOPAC; caffeic acid, CA) with bread-fruit starch affect starch’s digestibility and properties. The digestibility resistance of ternary complexes was not superior to that of binary complexes but remained higher than native starch. Among them, the CA complex (CB) showed the highest RS and the lowest hydrolysis, indicating CA's prominent role in enhancing digestibility resistance. A decreased breakdown value and increased gelatinization temperatures were revealed, indicating inhibited gelatinization. During cooling phase, samples with LA showed viscosity peaks, confirming V-type complex formation, which was absent in polyphe-nol-only samples. R1047/1022 and Rc values were increased in complexes. Ternary complexes exhibited a lower R1047/1022 ratio but a higher Rc than binary complexes, suggesting LA mainly influenced long-range order, while polyphenols affected both short- and long-range order. This may explain the antagonistic effect on digestibility in ternary complexes.

Abstract: Models of neutron and strange stars are considered in the approximation of a uniform density distribution. A universal algebraic equation, valid for any equation of state, is used to find the approximate mass of a star of a given density without resorting to the integration of differential equations. Equations of state for neutron stars had been taken for degenerate neutron gas and for more realistic ones, used by Bethe, Malone, Johnson (1975). Models of homogeneous strange stars for the equation of state in the "quark bag model" have a simple analytical solution. The solutions presented in the paper for various equations of state differ from the exact solutions obtained by the numerical integration of differential equations by at most ∼ 20%. The formation of strange stars is examined as a function of the deconfinement boundary (DB), at which quarks become deconfined. Existing experimental data indicate that matter reaches very high densities in the vicinity of the DB. This imposes strong constraints on the maximum mass of strange stars and prohibits their formation at the final stages of stellar evolution, because the limiting mass of neutron stars is substantially higher and corresponds to considerably lower matter densities.

Abstract:

Gastric cancer (GC0 is primarily caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and smoking, with a higher incidence in families with multiple GC cases owing to lifestyle and genetic factors. The use of medications to eradicate H. pylori can reduce the incidence of GC. Furthermore, GC is the fourth most common cancer, affecting one in 11 men (9.1%) and one in 23 women (4.38%). The incidence of GC increases after 50 years of age, particularly among men. However, the reason for difference in incidence rates between both sexes remains unclear. We investigated the incidence of GC in families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). The results showed that the incidence of GC in families with HBOC was 4.2 times higher than that in other families. Furthermore, the incidence of gastric cancer in families with HBOC and other families was 74.57% and 53.67% in men, respectively. Overall, the higher incidence of gastric cancer in men than that in women may be due to the underlying cause of hereditary GC.

Abstract: This study numerically examined the anchorage mechanism of rebar hooks under varying straight development lengths, including high stress levels. A Three-Dimensional Rigid Body Spring Model (3D-RBSM) was used for the investigation, which the model has successfully reproduced the experimental pullout test stress–slip relationships and inner–outer strain distributions for the case of bonded hook part with and without a straight development length. The numerical model, which considered both hook and straight development length was able to output local concrete stresses and internal crack propagation enabling a clear interpretation of how straight development length influences the anchor-age mechanism. The results revealed that increasing straight development length increases stiffness, reduces rebar strains and concrete stresses in the hook region, promotes crack formation around the rebar surface and forms maximum tensile stresses closer to the top surface, ultimately resulting in earlier splitting failure at high rebar stress levels. A comparison of cases with and without hooks shows that combining the hook with straight development length improves stress distribution, delays crack propagation and increases anchorage by reducing tensile stress concentrations near the top surface and side faces. The findings offer insights to support rebar hook anchorage design and review of existing standards.

Abstract: Background: Automated visual field testing is fundamental in ophthalmology, but differences in stimulus scaling and luminance between devices hinder direct comparison of sensitivity values. Virtual reality (VR)–based perimetry has emerged as a portable alternative, yet its relationship with conventional perimetry requires clarification. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 60 healthy participants stratified into younger (< 50 years) and older (≥ 50 years) groups. Differential light sensitivity was assessed in the right eye using Humphrey Automated Perimetry (HFA 30-2) and a VR-based perimeter (Dicopt-Pro) in randomized order. Pointwise sensitivity values were analyzed using linear regression and Bland–Altman analysis, and sensitivity profiles were examined as a function of visual field eccentricity. Results: A strong linear relationship was observed between HFA and Dicopt-Pro sensitivity values in both age groups (R ≥ 0.96). A systematic and approximately constant inter-device offset was identified, with mean differences of 15.7 ± 0.4 dB in younger subjects and 13.7 ± 0.5 dB in older subjects. Bland–Altman analysis showed consistent bias without proportional error. Dicopt-Pro sensitivity profiles demonstrated an eccentricity-dependent decline comparable to HFA while preserving age-related differences. Conclusions: VR-based perimetry using Dicopt-Pro shows sensitivity patterns closely aligned with conventional Humphrey perimetry when a systematic, age-specific inter-device offset is considered.

Abstract: We integrate static taint analysis with dynamic fuzzing to target high-impact kernel code paths. A pruning mechanism removes irrelevant taint propagation, while symbolic constraints are applied only to tainted regions to control overhead. Evaluated on 18 kernel subsystems, the hybrid fuzzer achieves 44% more taint-relevant path hits, identifying 13 bugs, including buffer overflows and pointer dereferences. Symbolic overhead remains limited (≤18%) through selective propagation. This hybrid design efficiently directs fuzzing toward semantically meaningful kernel logic, demonstrating a productive balance of taint tracking and dynamic mutation.

Abstract:

Neurodegenerative research has long hypothesized that aggregated proteins such as amyloid‑β (Aβ), tau, and α‑synuclein (αSyn) are intrinsically toxic and are directly associated with the etiologies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, emerging scientific evidence challenges this view. Plasma p‑tau217 shows weak correlation with cognitive severity, αSyn seed amplification assays provide only binary diagnostic support, and anti‑amyloid monoclonal antibodies yield modest short-term benefit while increasing amyloid-related imaging abnormality (ARIA) risk. Postmortem pathology and fluid biomarkers explain only a limited amount of variance in clinical outcomes, undermining their role as surrogate endpoints. We propose a biophysical framework in which aggregation reflects a supersaturation-driven phase transition that signals depletion of soluble, functional monomers rather than the emergence of toxic species. Within this paradigm, amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and Lewy bodies represent tombstones of lost protein function, and neurodegeneration occurs when monomer supply falls below neuronal demand. This shift has practical implications for biomarker interpretation, staging, and therapeutic design. Future directions include quantifying monomer flux using stable-isotope labeling kinetics (SILK), integrating supply and demand ratios, and prioritizing mechanism-testing trials that restore protein homeostasis rather than indiscriminately clear aggregates. By reframing pathology as a marker of stress rather than a maker of disease, this approach may enable more effective precision therapeutics based on human biology.

Abstract:

Kidney disease, be it acute or chronic, has a complex pathology and is a significant human health problem. Increasing interest has been focused on exploring therapeutic targets that can be used to safeguard kidney function under a variety of detrimental conditions. In this article, we review the protective effects of 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP), a tryptophan metabolite, on kidney injury. Published studies indicate that serum 5-MTP is increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), suggesting that 5-MTP is a biomarker for CKD and has therapeutic values. Indeed, rodent models of kidney injury induced by folic acid, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), and ischemia/reperfusion all demonstrate that exogenous 5-MTP exhibits nephroprotective effects. The underlying mechanisms involve anti-oxidative damage via activating antioxidant systems such as Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and enhanced mitophagy. To further explore the underlying mechanisms and the potential of 5-MTP as a kidney therapeutic compound, future studies need to include more rodent models of kidney injury induced by a variety of insults. Moreover, how to boost endogenous 5-MTP content and its potential synergistic effects with other therapeutic approaches aiming to combat kidney diseases also remain to be explored.

Abstract: CAD/CAM hybrid ceramic materials have been increasingly used in restorative dentistry due to their ability to combine ceramic strength with the handling advantages of composite resins. The present study focused on how surface treatment protocols and commonly used immersion solutions affect the color stability and surface roughness of these materials. For this purpose, 256 specimens were fabricated from Vita Enamic, Lava Ultimate, Cerasmart, and Shofu Block HC. Following surface treatment using either mechanical polishing or Optiglaze, the specimens were immersed in coffee, red wine, cola, or distilled water for 14 days. Color difference (ΔE₀₀) and surface roughness (Ra) were measured at baseline and after 7 and 14 days. Data were analyzed using three-way repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). Polymer matrix composition and surface treatment significantly influenced color stability and surface roughness (p < 0.05). Coffee and red wine caused the greatest discoloration, particularly in Bis-GMA- and TEGDMA-containing materials, while Cerasmart demonstrated the highest color stability. Although Optiglaze reduced surface roughness, it was associated with increased color change over time. These results emphasize the role of polymer composition and surface treatment in the esthetic performance of hybrid ceramic CAD/CAM materials.

Abstract: Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is a cost-effective method for fabricating large aluminum components; however, it tends to suffer from heat accumulation and coarse anisotropic microstructures, which can limit the part's performance and its mechanical properties. In this study, a wall is fabricated using a hybrid unified additive deformation manufacturing process (UAMFSP) method, which integrates friction stir processing (FSP) into WAAM, and is compared with a WAAM-only wall fabricated by Metal Inert Gas (MIG) deposition. Based on the outcomes, Infrared (IR) thermography revealed progressive heat buildup in WAAM-only MIG walls, with peak layer temperatures of about 870 to 1000 °C and occasional clipped peaks near the IR-camera limit (~1300 °C). In contrast, in the UAMFSP process, heat was redistributed through mechanical stirring, maintaining more uniform sub-solidus profiles below approximately 400 °C. Also, optical microscopy and quantitative image analysis showed that MIG walls developed coarse, dendritic grains with a mean grain area of about 314 µm², whereas the UAMFSP produced refined, equiaxed grains with a mean grain area of about 10.9 µm², which is approximately 1.5 orders of magnitude smaller. Mechanical performance assessment through microhardness measurement confirmed that the UAMFSP process can improve the hardness by 45.8% compared to the MIG process (75.8 ± 7.7 HV vs. 52.0 ± 1.3 HV; p = 0.0027). In summary, the outcomes of this study introduce the UAMFSP process as a robust method for addressing the thermal and microstructural limitations of WAAM and improving the performance of the fabricated part. By combining deposition with plastic deformation, UAMFSP enables the fabrication of aluminum parts with fine isotropic microstructures and improved strength. These findings provide a framework for further extending hybrid additive-deformation strategies to thicker builds, alternative alloys, and service-relevant mechanical evaluations.

Abstract: Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a significant issue that impacts 10% to 33% of the elderly population and can lead to serious complications such as aspiration, malnutrition, and weight loss. To overcome these obstacles, there is a critical need for comprehensive rheological data and detailed information on food texture, specifically designed to align with local eating habits and cooking methods. This study aims to develop tables of rheological properties for foods commonly consumed by older adults in Portugal. Additionally, it will assess the impact of water quality on these properties during the cooking process. Based on this data, we will develop texture-modified diets that meet the nutritional needs of elderly dysphagic patients, ensuring they are safe, palatable, and practical for everyday care settings.

Abstract:

Lexicographic Preference Trees (LP-Trees) offer a compact and expressive framework for modeling complex decision-making scenarios. However, efficiently measuring similarity between complete or partial structures remains a challenge. This study introduces PLPSim, a novel metric for quantifying alignment between Partial Lexicographic Preference Trees (PLP-Trees), and develops three coalition formation algorithms—HRECS1, HRECS2, and HRECS3—that leverage PLPSim to group agents with similar preferences. We further propose ContractLex and PriceLex protocols (comprising five lexicographic protocols CLF, CFB, CFW, CFA, CFP), along with a new evaluation metric, F@LeX, designed to assess satisfaction under lexicographic preferences. To illustrate the framework, we generate a synthetic dataset (PLPGen) contextualized in a hybrid renewable energy market, where consumer PLP-Trees are matched with supplier tariffs to optimize coalition outcomes. Experimental results, evaluated using Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (nDCG), Davies–Bouldin dispersion, and F@LeX, show that PLPSim-based coalitions outperform baseline approaches. Notably, the combination HRECS3 + CFP yields the highest consumer satisfaction, while HRECS3 + CFB achieves balanced satisfaction for both consumers and suppliers. Although electricity tariffs and renewable energy contracts—both static and dynamic—serve as the motivating example, the proposed framework generalizes to broader multiagent systems, offering a foundation for preference-driven coalition formation, adaptive policy design, and sustainable market optimization.

Abstract: We present an improved algorithm based on the POlarization LIdar PHOtometer Networking (POLIPHON) method to retrieve cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration profiles from spaceborne lidar observations. Our previous paper, which was the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of using measurements from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) to retrieve CCN, is revisited. Our results focus on the Evaluation of CALIPSO’s Aerosol Classification scheme over Eastern Mediterranean (ACEMED) research campaign that took place over Thessaloniki, Greece, in September 2011. We compare our results with our earlier retrievals, discussing the critical changes that have been made and the importance of using the proper conversions factors. We also demonstrate the use of conversion factors acquired based on CALIPSO aerosol typing for CCN retrievals. The analysis highlights the strong influence of smoke on CCN concentrations and shows that the assumed aging state of the smoke can significantly alter the retrieval outcome.

Abstract:

Ground-nesting shorebirds face growing pressure from recreational activities in coastal urban areas. We monitored the breeding success of Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) over six consecutive years (2020–2025) at the Promenade of Sablettes, a heavily visited waterfront in Algiers, Algeria. We combined field surveys with multi-sensor remote sensing analysis using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Dynamic World data to quantify habitat change. A total of 105 nests were recorded across both species. Breeding success reached 70% during the COVID-19 lockdown period (2020–2021), when human visitation dropped sharply. In contrast, complete reproductive failure occurred in 2022 and 2023, coinciding with resumed tourism and unplanned construction activities. Remote sensing revealed that 80–85% of the study area experienced severe habitat degradation between 2020 and 2025, while suitable refuge zones shrank to less than 10% of the total surface. Fledged chicks consistently moved toward a less disturbed vegetated zone, highlighting its functional importance for brood survival. Our results show that human disturbance, rather than intrinsic habitat quality, is the main factor limiting breeding success at this site. When disturbance was reduced during the pandemic, the habitat proved fully functional for both species. These findings suggest that simple management measures such as seasonal access restrictions and symbolic fencing during the April–July breeding period could restore breeding conditions without major habitat engineering. This study provides one of the first integrations of long-term field breeding data with landscape-scale remote sensing to document the effects of the anthropause and subsequent recovery on urban shorebird populations.

Abstract: In the theory of mixed-type equations, there are many works in bounded domains with smooth boundaries bounded by a normal curve for first and second-kind mixed-type equations. In this paper, for a second-kind mixed-type equation in an unbounded domain whose elliptic part is a horizontal half-strip, a Bitsadze-Samarskii type problem is investigated. The uniqueness of the solution is proved using the extremum principle, and the existence of the solution is proved by the Green’s function method and the integral equations method. When constructing the Green’s function, the properties of Bessel functions of the second kind with imaginary argument and the properties of the Gauss hypergeometric function are widely used. Visualization of the solution to the Bitsadze-Samarskii type problem is performed, confirming its correctness from both mathematical and physical points of view.

Abstract: This paper presents a practical industrial hybrid control architecture that augments the widely deployed 49-rule Mamdani fuzzy supervisory PID controller with a lightweight online meta-tuner based on Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) reinforcement learning. While the inner 1 kHz fuzzy-PID loop remains fully deterministic and identical to the industrial baseline, a separate 10 Hz SAC agent autonomously adapts the three output scaling factors (α_Kp, α_Ki, α_Kd ∈ [0.5, 2.5]) of the fuzzy layer using an ONNX Runtime inference engine. The complete controller is implemented and experimentally validated on a real Siemens S7-1214C PLC (6ES7214-1AG40-0XB0) in a hardware-in-the-loop setup with a high-fidelity 5-DoF manipulator model incorporating measured friction, backlash, sensor noise, and payload variation (0–2.5 kg). Across four demanding scenarios (sinusoidal tracking, sudden payload jumps, sustained disturbances up to 0.76 Nm, and high-speed motions), the proposed method consistently achieves 46–52 % lower RMSE and 28–30 % reduced control energy compared to the fixed-scaling industrial baseline, while preserving strict real-time constraints (inner loop cycle time 0.68–0.89 ms, SAC inference < 0.6 ms). The full PLC program (SCL/FBD), HIL environment, and trained policies will be released open-source upon acceptance (DOI to be provided during revision).The full PLC program, HIL environment, and trained SAC policies will be released open-source as a preprint supplement.

Abstract: This study addresses the challenge of long-term dependency modeling in agent behavior planning for long-horizon tasks and proposes a memory-driven agent planning framework. The method introduces hierarchical memory encoding and dynamic memory retrieval structures, enabling the agent to selectively retain and effectively utilize historical information across multiple time scales, thereby maintaining policy stability and goal consistency in complex dynamic environments. The core idea is to construct an interaction mechanism between short-term and long-term memory, where attention-guided retrieval integrates historical experience with current perception to support continuous planning and decision optimization in long-term tasks. The proposed framework consists of four key modules: perception input, memory encoding, state updating, and behavior generation, forming an end-to-end task-driven learning process. Experimental evaluations based on success rate, average planning steps, memory consistency score, and policy stability demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves superior performance in long-term task scenarios, effectively reducing planning redundancy and improving strategy coherence and task efficiency. The results confirm that the memory-driven mechanism provides a novel theoretical foundation and algorithmic framework for developing long-term task agents, establishing a solid basis for adaptive decision-making and continuous planning in complex environments.

Abstract: Large Language Model (LLM)-based multi-agent systems have emerged as a promising paradigm for tackling complex tasks that exceed individual agent capabilities. However, existing approaches often suffer from coordination inefficiencies, a lack of trust mechanisms, and suboptimal role assignment strategies. This paper presents a novel trust-aware coordination framework that enhances multi-agent collaboration through dynamic role assignment and context sharing. Our framework introduces a multi-dimensional trust evaluation mechanism that continuously assesses agent reliability based on performance history, interaction quality, and behavioral consistency. The coordinator leverages these trust scores to dynamically assign roles and orchestrate agent interactions while maintaining a shared context repository for transparent information exchange. We evaluate our framework across eight diverse task scenarios with varying complexity levels, demonstrating significant improvements over baseline approaches. Experimental results show that our trust-aware framework achieves a 87.4% task success rate, reducing execution time by 36.3% compared to non-trust-based methods, while maintaining 43.2% lower communication overhead. The framework's ability to adapt agent roles based on evolving trust scores enables more efficient resource utilization and robust fault tolerance in dynamic multi-agent environments.