Xinyue Zhang¹, Yuxuan Zhao², Jeremy S. Smith³, Yuechun Wang⁴, Gabriela Mogos⁵, Ka Lok Man¹, Yutao Yue^6,7,8,9, Young-Ae Jung^10,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2026.075415 - 12 March 2026

Abstract Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) represent a cornerstone in modern traffic management, leveraging surveillance cameras as primary visual sensors to monitor road conditions. However, the fixed characteristics of public surveillance cameras, coupled with inherent image resolution limitations, pose significant challenges for Small Object Detection (SOD) in traffic surveillance. To address these challenges, this paper proposes Ghost-Attention YOLO (GA-YOLO), a lightweight model derived from YOLOv8 and specifically designed for traffic SOD. To enhance the attention of small targets and critical features, a novel channel-spatial attention mechanism, termed Small-object Extend Attention (SEA), is introduced. In addition, the original… More >

Hamad Ali Abosaq¹, Jarallah Alqahtani^1,*, Fahad Masood², Alanoud Al Mazroa³, Muhammad Asad Khan⁴, Akm Bahalul Haque⁵

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2026.075250 - 12 March 2026

Abstract The technological advancement of the vehicular Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) into next-generation ITS. The connectivity of IoT nodes enables improved data availability and facilitates automatic control in the ITS environment. The exponential increase in IoT nodes has significantly increased the demand for an energy-efficient, mobility-aware, and secure system for distributed intelligence. This article presents a mobility-aware Deep Reinforcement Learning based Federated Learning (DRL-FL) approach to design an energy-efficient and threat-resilient ITS. In this approach, a Policy Proximal Optimization (PPO)-based DRL agent is first employed for adaptive client selection. Second, More >

Jeng-Shyang Pan^1,2, Yan-Na Wei³, Ling-Da Chi⁴, Shu-Chuan Chu^1,*, Ru-Yu Wang⁵, Junzo Watada⁶

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.074447 - 12 March 2026

Abstract Multilevel image segmentation is a critical task in image analysis, which imposes high requirements on the global search capability and convergence efficiency of segmentation algorithms. In this paper, an improved Artificial Protozoa Optimization algorithm, termed the two-stage Taguchi-assisted Gaussian–Lévy Artificial Protozoa Optimization (TGAPO) algorithm, is proposed and applied to multilevel image segmentation. The proposed algorithm adopts a two-stage evolutionary mechanism. In the first stage, Gaussian perturbation is introduced to enhance local search capability; in the second stage, Lévy flight is incorporated to expand the global search range; and finally, the Taguchi strategy is employed to… More >

Richard Mathenge^*, Catherine Mukunga, Ephantus Mwangi

Journal of Cyber Security, Vol.8, pp. 129-151, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jcs.2026.077183 - 11 March 2026

Abstract The rapid digitization of microfinance institutions (MFIs) has strengthened financial inclusion but has simultaneously increased exposure to phishing attacks and other cybersecurity threats driven by organizational, technical, and human vulnerabilities. Grounded in socio-technical systems theory, this systematic analysis evaluates AI-based mitigation strategies, with particular emphasis on gated recurrent unit (GRU) architectures. It compares them with Transformer and LSTM models. GRUs are prioritized due to their computational efficiency and suitability for low-resource environments typical of digital MFIs. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 32 empirical studies published between January 2012 and April 2025 were analyzed from the Web… More >

Miguel Ángel De los Santos-Santos¹, Rosendo Balois-Morales^1,2, Juan Esteban Bello-Lara², José Orlando Jiménez-Zurita², Graciela Guadalupe López-Guzmán², Efigenia Montalvo-González³, Guillermo Berumen-Varela⁴, Carlos Azhael Rodríguez-Guzmán², Andrés Eloy León-Fernández^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.076197 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Acetogenins are lipidic polyketides with antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antitumor properties, mainly found in the roots, stems, bark, leaves, and fruits (particularly the seeds) of Annonaceae species. Previous studies have identified acetogenins in the peel and pulp of soursop (Annona muricata L.) fruits. In this research, acetogenins present in starch and pectin extracted from these fruits were analyzed and identified, given their potential importance in the pharmaceutical and possibly in the food industries. The objective was to identify and quantify acetogenins in starch and pectin of soursop fruits. Extraction of both polysaccharides was performed using conventional… More >

Zezhong Liu, Jinyu Guo, Xingxu Zhu^*, Junhui Li

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.072679 - 27 February 2026

Abstract With the increasing penetration of renewable energy, the coordination of energy storage with thermal power for frequency regulation has become an effective means to enhance grid frequency security. Addressing the challenge of improving the frequency regulation performance of a thermal-storage primary frequency regulation system while reducing its associated losses, this paper proposes a multi-dimensional cooperative optimization strategy for the control parameters of a combined thermal-storage system, considering regulation losses. First, the frequency regulation losses of various components within the thermal power unit are quantified, and a calculation method for energy storage regulation loss is proposed,… More >

Kesego D. Mathoothe^1,2,*, Sipho Dlamini¹

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 131-142, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.069010 - 26 February 2026

Abstract This scoping review aimed to explore the nature and structure of Student Counselling and Development Units (SCDUs) in Africa towards a better understanding of the role they play in African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). A comprehensive literature search of ten years (2015–2025) on five electronic databases was conducted. Titles and abstracts were screened, and full articles examined, resulting in 23 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Using thematic analysis, five main overarching themes were identified: (i) the scope and focus of services in SCDUs, (ii) multidisciplinary teams, (iii) approaches to service provision, (iv) challenges in providing More >

Oncology Research Editorial Office

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.080053 - 24 February 2026

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Jo-Yu Lin^1,#, Tien-Huang Lin^2,3,#, Ya-Jing Jiang⁴, Liang-Wei Lin⁴, Kuan-Ying Lai⁵, Yi-Chin Fong^6,7,8, Chih-Chuang Liaw^5,9,*, Chih-Hsin Tang^1,4,10,11,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.074202 - 24 February 2026

Abstract Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent malignancy in men and often correlates with distant metastasis in its advanced stages. The study aimed to investigate the effects of Ugonin J, a natural compound isolated from Helminthostachys zeylanica, on PCa metastasis. Methods: The effects of Ugonin J on cell motility were assessed using migration and invasion assays. Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to evaluate the impact of Ugonin J on mRNA and protein expression. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was performed to investigate candidate mechanisms. Differential gene expression analysis in PCa patients… More >

Liang Zhou, Jia Zhou, Zhengyi Wang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.069317 - 24 February 2026

Abstract A clear goal in cold tumor research is to identify strategies for converting them into immunologically ‘hot’ tumors with enhanced immune cell infiltration and activity, thereby improving their responsiveness to immunotherapy. The genesis of cold tumors is exceedingly intricate. In recent times, as the analysis of this phenomenon has been pursued with greater depth, a suite of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies has surfaced. These novel approaches and tactics are anticipated to modulate the tumor immune microenvironment across various dimensions, thereby facilitating the advancement of personalized and precise treatment modalities for cold tumors. The present… More >