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High-Performance Optical Fiber Displacement Sensor with Extended Linear Range and Sensitivity
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.Optical Fiber Displacement Sensors (OFDSs) provide several advantages over conventional sensors, including their compact size, flexibility, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. These features make OFDSs ideal for use in confined spaces, such as turbines, where direct laser access is impossible. A critical aspect of OFDS performance is the geometry of the fiber bundle, which influences key parameters such as sensitivity, range, and dead zones. In this work, we present a streamlined design methodology for azimuthally symmetric OFDSs to improve the linear range of these sensors. The most effective configuration we propose is the pentafurcated bundle, which consists of a central transmitting fiber surrounded by four concentric rings of fibers with different radii. Our experimental results show that the pentafurcated designs increase both the range—up to 10.5 mm—and the sensitivity of the sensor— (Formula presented.) —while minimizing the dead zone of the sensor (2.5Peer reviewe
Glomeruli Segmentation in Whole-Slide Images: Is Better Local Performance Always Better?
No full textPublisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.We consider the task of glomeruli segmentation from Whole-Slide Images (WSIs) of pathological kidneys. In particular, we compare the performance of two different encoder-decoder architectures for two tasks: local segmentation of patches extracted from a large WSI, and global segmentation of the entire image. Since segmenting high-resolution WSIs is extremely memory-demanding, a typical approach for this task is to break down these images offline, train a patch-wise segmentation model, and then use a sliding-window inference scheme to stitch back the resulting patch segmentations. Contrary to intuition, we observe in our experiments that a model with higher segmentation accuracy at the patch level can incur in large underperformance gaps at the WSI level, even more so when measuring performance as an instance segmentation problem. This work was carried out in the context of the Kidney Pathology Image Segmentation (KPIs) challenge, which took place jointly with MICCAI 2024, and the best patch-level model we present here ranked second in the final hidden test set of the competition. Code to reproduce our experiments is shared at github.com/agaldran/kpis.Peer reviewe
Depolymerization of Polycaprolactone to 6-hydroxyhexanoic Acid by Candida antarctica Lipase B in Aqueous Media and in Toluene/Water Emulsions
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.In today’s world, the widespread utilization of plastics results in millions of tons of waste plastics being generated every year, which ultimately has become a great problem because of its environmental impact. Recycling of plastics can relieve this problem, as it prevents the loss of the material and energy used in their production and contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Depolymerization of plastic waste back to the original monomers seems to be the soundest alternative for plastics recycling, as it allows the production of the same original polymer or, eventually, the upcycling to other valuable chemicals. Polycaprolactone (PCL), one of the most widely used biodegradable polyesters, was subjected to enzymatic depolymerization to its monomer, 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid (6-HHA), catalyzed by a commercial Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) following two alternative processes. The first one was carried out in aqueous medium and allowed the complete depolymerization of 100 g/L PCL in less than 24 h in an optimized phosphate-buffered medium. The second one is a novel two-phase system process in toluene/water emulsion, where PCL was initially dissolved in the organic phase and the hydrolysis product, 6-HHA, was accumulated in the buffered aqueous phase through the action of CalB. The highest depolymerizing activity among all the conditions tested, either in aqueous medium or in emulsion, was found in emulsion when the pH buffer was Tris-HCl, producing up to 71.2 g/L 6-HHA in only 5 h of enzyme treatment and achieving complete depolymerization of PCL in less than 24 h.Peer reviewe
D-CRISP: Explaining Object Detectors by Combining Randomized and Segment-Based Perturbations
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors.Explaining the decisions issued by Machine Learning models for object detection tasks is essential in high-stakes decision making scenarios, such as medical image processing and vehicular perception for autonomous driving. Despite the proliferation of post-hoc perturbation-based methods for generating visual explanations, most eXplainable AI (XAI) approaches rely exclusively on either random image masking or selective segmentation-based occlusion, missing the opportunity to synergistically leverage both strategies in a complementary fashion. In this paper we address this gap by proposing D-CRISP (Detector-Combining Randomized Input and Segment Perturbations), a novel post-hoc explanation method for object detection models. D-CRISP unifies both random and region-based occlusions derived from image segmentation, producing multiscale saliency maps that capture both granular (pixel-level) and semantic (region-level) cues about the objects detected by the model. Experiments on the MS-COCO dataset show that D-CRISP significantly outperforms random-masking approaches in terms of explanation faithfulness and localization, while requiring slightly more computation effort than these methods. At the same time, it achieves comparable or better performance than segmentation-based methods, yet with substantially lower mask generation latencies. These results position D-CRISP as a highly effective and efficient XAI alternative for object detection models, particularly suited for time-constrained applications requiring timely, accurate, and interpretable decisions.Peer reviewe
A Cooperative Driving Framework for Platooning Using V2X Messages in Urban Environments
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 1967-2012 IEEE.Urban road networks are becoming increasingly complex due to rising traffic volumes and diverse vehicle types, creating a demand for innovative solutions to enhance mobility. In this sense, this paper presents the development and implementation of a Cooperative Driving Framework for vehicle platooning in urban environments, with a special focus on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication technologies. As part of the AUTOEV@l project, the study examines communication requirements and operational strategies for platooning, highlighting the role of Intelligent Transportation Systems G5 (ITS-G5) and Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) technologies while addressing key challenges such as interference, security, and interoperability. Furthermore, the paper details the design and implementation of V2X message protocols developed for urban platooning scenarios, along with decision-making and control algorithms that enable efficient coordination among Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs). Results from urban test environments across three distinct experimental setups—simulation, real-world testing, and a hybrid approach—demonstrate the framework's robust performance in three critical areas: communication reliability, control accuracy, and decision-making execution.Peer reviewe
Scaling up lignin-based polyols for PU coatings
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025 RSC.Lignin, a promising sustainable feedstock, has been utilized to produce polyols through a novel anionic ring opening polymerization of oxiranes. This approach overcomes the limitations of lignin's heterogeneity, enabling the synthesis of aliphatic polyols with tailored properties at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. By optimization of reaction conditions, polyols with specific characteristics suited for polyurethane dispersion coatings have been achieved. Notably, the process has been successfully scaled up by a factor of 330, from 15 mL to 5 L reactors, while the desired properties have been maintained. The resulting polyols have been used to partially substitute traditional polyols in polyurethane dispersions, demonstrating their potential in wood coating applications. This breakthrough has paved the way for the large-scale production of lignin-based polyols, offering a more sustainable alternative for the coatings industry.Peer reviewe
Biodegradable Poly(d,l-lactide-co-ϵ-caprolactone) Electrospun Scaffolds Outperform Antifibrotic-Loaded Meshes in an in Vivo Tissue Regeneration Model
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 American Chemical Society.Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process of replacing missing cellular structures and tissue layers. Clinical practice includes the application of a sterile bandage to promote healing and to restrain infection, like the commercial nonbiodegradable meshes. However, while inert, nontoxic, and nonimmunogenic, they can cause calcification, fibrosis, and inflammation, potentially hindering the healing process in the long term. To address this challenge and enhance wound healing, we developed a totally biodegradable electrospun poly(d,l-lactide-co-ϵ-caprolactone) (PDLLCL) drug delivery system that incorporates two already FDA-approved antifibrotics, pirfenidone (PIRF) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA). The PDLLCL meshes, fabricated via electrospinning, exhibited homogeneity and complete degradation after 120 days, consistent with the wound healing process. In vitro, functional analysis on RAW 264.7 macrophages revealed no cytotoxicity and an immunomodulatory effect of PIRF and TA compared with the positive control (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) and the PDLLCL meshes alone. Lastly, subcutaneous in vivo assessment on a rabbit model, following the ISO 10993-6 standard, showed that our tailored made PDLLCL meshes were able to lower both irritation and fibrosis indexes from 2 weeks to 4 weeks of implantation, highlighting the beneficial effect of biodegradable polymers. However, we saw no significant positive effect on the incorporation of antifibrotics in vivo for irritation and fibrosis indexes. This underscores the potential of PDLLCL meshes as a possible alternative for wound healing, reducing the use of intermittent antifibrotic agents during the healing process.Peer reviewe
Understanding the impact of additives on cobalt leaching efficiency using a citric acid-based deep eutectic solvent
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Recovery of critical metals such as cobalt from secondary sources is an effective way to reduce the supply risk of metals that are necessary in clean energy technologies, but such recovery processes need to be more benign. Hence, this study presents new insights into leaching cobalt using deep eutectic solvents under mild conditions. The role of ethylene glycol (EG) and water as additives in cobalt leaching was investigated using a mixture containing citric acid (CA):choline chloride (ChCl) in 1 : 1 molar ratio. While the water concentration and Co leaching efficiency were directly related, that was not the case for the EG content. A larger amount of EG in the mixture (CA : ChCl : EG from 1 : 1 : 0.3 to 1 : 1 : 4 molar ratio) decreased the cobalt leaching efficiency, which was attributed to the presence of EG in different coordination forms, as suggested by FTIR spectroscopy. The optimal solvent mixture CA : ChCl : EG (1 : 1 : 1.1) led to leaching efficiencies of 43% cobalt and 65% lithium from lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) at 60 °C for 48 h. Although lithium(i) was the key to increasing the leaching efficiency, we also observed that the presence of lithium(i) in the leachate could negatively impact the electrochemical reduction process. This may be due to the different speciation of cobalt(ii) in the presence and absence of lithium(i), as indicated by NMR spectroscopy.Peer reviewe
TOWARDS THE AUTOMATION OF DATA SPACE PRODUCTS THROUGH QUALITY DATA PIPELINES
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2025 Proceedings of the International Conferences IADIS Information Systems 2025 and e-Society 2025. All rights reserved.As data becomes a valuable asset for organizations, the challenge is no longer gathering vast amounts of information but refining and managing it to generate value. To this end, there is a growing importance of transforming raw data into high-quality data products within Data Spaces, which are critical components of modern digital ecosystems. The complexity lies not only in the diversity of data sources, formats, and systems but also in the need for data products to remain adaptable and interoperable across various environments. On top of this, Data Spaces often require strict adherence to specific syntaxes and structures. In addition, poor data quality undermines trust and decision-making, and the lack of clear frameworks for processing and consuming data products within these spaces adds technical overhead. The main contribution of this manuscript is a reference architecture designed to facilitate the creation of high-quality, interoperable data products within Data Spaces. Additional contributions include an analysis of the required data types to ensure compatibility with real-world use cases, as well as addressing issues related to data quality, interoperability, and technical integration. The paper concludes with a discussion of future works and potential improvements.Peer reviewe
Blockchain-Based Evidence Trustworthiness System in Certification
Get PDFPublisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.Digital evidence is a critical component in today’s organizations, as it is the foundation on which any certification is based. This paper presents a risk assessment of evidence in the certification domain to identify the main security risks. To mitigate these risks, it also proposes an adaptation of an existing Blockchain-based audit trail system to create an evidence trustworthiness system enhancing security and usability. This system covers specific additional requirements from auditors: evidence confidentiality and integrity verification automation. The system has been validated with cloud service providers to increase the security of evidence for a cybersecurity certification process. However, it can be also extended to other certification domains.Peer reviewe