bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Utility of Bedside “Point of Care Lung Ultrasound” in Predicting the Need For NICU Admission in Late Preterm and Term Newborns Having Respiratory Distress Soon After Birth in the Transition Period: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Gautam Nirmal Kumar , H. A. Venkatesh , Pejaver Rajath , Nagesh Karthik
Published: February 2025

Background

Point of care lung ultrasound (POC‐LUS) is a rapid and simple method to evaluate infants with respiratory distress after birth.

Objectives

The primary objective was to determine whether the POC‐LUS score is a good predictor of NICU admission in late preterm and term infants born with respiratory distress when performed within the first 2 h of life. The secondary objective was to find a correlation between the LUS score and the clinical respiratory distress severity score.

Methods

A prospective observational study was carried out in a tertiary care neonatal unit (Level III) over 1 year on 97 late preterm and term infants having respiratory distress at birth. POC‐LUS was performed in a transition nursery area within 2 h of birth, and LUS score was recorded as per a pre‐validated LUS scoring system. The decision for NICU admission was independently taken by the medical team based on clinical criteria and blinded to the LUS findings. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to predict NICU admission based on the LUS score. LUS score was also analyzed for correlation with clinical respiratory distress severity scoring, that is, Silverman−Anderson score (SA score).

Results

The mean gestational age of the infants in the study was 37.45 ± 1.88 weeks. Fourty‐three percent of infants needed NICU admission. LUS score > 5/18 performed within 2 h after birth was an excellent predictor of NICU admission in late preterm and term infants with respiratory distress after birth (area under ROC curve 0.903, sensitivity 64%, specificity 98%, positive likelihood ratio 35, and p < 0.001). LUS score also had a weak positive correlation with the SA score (Pearson's correlation, r = 0.325; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

A LUS score of > 5/18 is an excellent predictor of NICU admission in term and late‐preterm infants with respiratory distress after birth.
Efficiency Enhancement of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide‐Based Thin‐Film Solar Cell with Copper Iodide as Hole‐Transport Layer: A Simulation Approach
Authors: Islam Benjer , Khan Tanvir Mahtab , Rahman Md. Ferdous , Ahmed Sheikh Rashel Al
Published: February 2025

Herein, a new thin‐film solar cell (TFSC) structure utilizing copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) absorber is designed, and the performances of proposed device are evaluated by using the SCAPS‐1D simulator. This numerical result aligns closely with the reported experimental findings, providing the validity of this theoretical approach. This research investigates the introduction of CuI as hole‐transport layer (HTL) on performances of the suggested heterojunction TFSC comprising Al/FTO/CdS/CIGS/CuI/Ni. It is revealed that the proper band alignment at the CIGS/CuI interface enhances the device efficiency by minimizing the back surface carrier recombination loss. The photovoltaic performances of the proposed heterojunction TFSC are also examined by varying the thickness, carrier density, and defects of different layers, as well as operating temperatures and recombination velocity at the back contact. In this work, the cell structure is optimized at 0.8 μm for absorber and 0.2 μm for CuI HTL, respectively; on the other hand, the optimum doping concentrations of 1017 and 1018 cm−3 for CIGS and CuI are found. An efficiency of 29.02% is obtained at the optimized thickness and carrier concentrations. Therefore, these findings imply that the nontoxic CuI can be passivated effectively at rear surface of the low‐cost CIGS TFSC.
Identifying Recombination Mechanisms in Sn‐Based Perovskite/Electron‐Transport Layer Interface in Perovskite Device using SCAPS‐1D
Authors: Deepika Kumari , Singh Arjun , Ameen Sadia
Published: February 2025

Over the last few years, the nontoxic‐material‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained wide attention. Still, they are not as highly efficient as Pb based, a necessary segment for excellent photovoltaic properties. The toxicity of certain elements, mainly lead, hinders commercial applications. In this work, the tin‐based PSC's photovoltaic outcomes are quantitatively analyzed theoretically. The detailed comparison and the calculation of the device performance with various electron transport and active layers are studied in this article with a theoretical study of tungsten disulfide (WS2) as an electron‐transport layer (ETL). Moreover, in this article, the in‐depth analysis of the carrier dynamics and the recombination at the ETL interface is explained, stating that traps are crucial in determining the perovskite device's performance. Also, the interfacial carrier flow's effect on various ETL's lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is explained with the conductivity of the overall device studied. In this simulation study, it is aimed to design a highly efficient and environmentally favorable device by analysis of the effect of traps or recombination mechanisms. Finally, the optimized power conversion efficiency of 27.46% with a fill factor of 82.36% with open‐circuit voltage (VOC) = 0.98 V and short‐circuit current density (JSC) = 33.92 mA cm−2 is reported for the n–i–p planar device structure fluorine‐doped tin oxide/WS2/CH3NH3SnI3/Spiro‐OMeTAD/Au showing the potential to debut the commercialization industry.
Comparative Study of the Optical Properties of α‐, β‐, and κ‐Ga2O3
Authors: Penman Lewis T. , Johnston Zak M. , Edwards Paul R. , Oshima Yuichi , McAleese Clifford , Mazzolini Piero , Bosi Matteo , Seravalli Luca , Fornari Roberto , Martin Robert W. , Massabuau Fabien C.‐P.
Published: February 2025

A systematic investigation of the optical properties of β‐, α‐, and κ‐phase gallium oxide (Ga2O3) polymorphs is conducted by UV–vis spectrophotometry through the Swanepoel method and temperature‐dependent photoluminescence. Using the same approach and apparatus allows similarities and differences between these three phases to be directly established. Differences between polymorphs are observed, including refractive indices of 1.89 (β), 2.00 (α), and 1.85 (κ) and optical bandgaps of 4.99 eV (β), 5.32 eV (α), and 4.87 eV (κ). In the luminescence studies, four emission peaks in each polymorph are revealed, located at different energies in the UV (3.1–3.9 eV), blue (2.7–3.0 eV), and green (2.2–2.6 eV) regions, with causes attributed to self‐trapped holes, donor–acceptor pair transitions involving Ga and O vacancies (VGa, VO), GaO divacancies (VGa + VO), O interstitials (Oi), and H impurities (VGa–nH, Hi, Ho). In this systematic study, unique optical properties of the different Ga2O3 polymorphs are highlighted and it is warned that the commonly practiced analogy to β‐Ga2O3 can lead to misinterpretations.
Clinical Manifestation of Arboviruses in Paediatrics
Authors: Pang Mu , Sun Xi‐zhe , He Ting , Yang Hao , Chen Jun
Published: February 2025

Arboviral infections in paediatric populations present unique challenges due to distinct pathophysiological mechanisms influenced by developmental and immunological differences. Commonly implicated arboviruses include dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), and yellow fever virus (YFV). These viruses exhibit specific tropisms, targeting organs such as the central nervous system (CNS), liver, and vasculature. Immune responses in children, characterised by an underdeveloped adaptive system and enhanced innate immunity, can exacerbate inflammation and increase susceptibility to severe outcomes such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), and neuroinvasive complications. Maternal antibodies, antibody‐dependent enhancement (ADE), and immature barriers, such as the blood‐brain barrier, further contribute to disease severity. This review highlights the virological and immunological nuances of arboviral pathophysiology in paediatric patients, emphasising the need for age‐specific diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies to mitigate the burden of these infections.
Reading Orientations: Reading Power Otherwise in Critical Literacy Research
Authors: Coleman James Joshua
Published: February 2025

In the 21st century, the term “critical” has attached itself to numerous aspects of literacy research. However, what critical means remains commonly anchored to Freire and a primary critical reading practice—suspicious critique. Expanding critical literacy research (CLR), this article advances reading orientations as a conceptual tool for drawing attention to the phenomenological aspects of our critical reading practices and for exploring alternative “methods” and “moods” for reading power in literacy studies. Through three “re‐turns” to previous publications within the field of critical literacy, I position myself as an exploratory case. The first re‐turn surveys four leading models of critical literacy, which I encountered in my graduate training, and highlights how critique and suspicion function in these models. The second re‐turn zooms into my own work, re‐reading three previous publications to illustrate how suspicious critique has influenced my research. Experimental, my third re‐turn presents previously unpublished data to engage an alternative reading method—reparative description—and illustrates how we might read power otherwise in CLR. Together, these re‐turns emphasize the possibilities of accounting for reading orientations in CLR and for exploring additional methods and moods of reading within the field.
Unraveling the Differential Impact Pathways of Landscape Structures and Ecosystem Services on “Essential Needs,” “Governance,” and “Objectives” for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Authors: Li Jiangyue , Chen Xi , Wang Weisheng , Liu Wenjiang , De Maeyer Philippe , Van de Voorde Tim , Ma Xuexi , Li Yaoming
Published: February 2025

Central Asian countries ranked low in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) scores among 166 countries globally in 2024, facing challenges in achieving the 2030 Agenda. Landscape structures (LSs) are considered crucial in advancing the SDGs by supporting the provision of ecosystem services (ESs). Although previous studies have primarily considered the first‐level interactions between LSs and ESs, as well as between ESs and SDGs, uncertainty remains regarding the hierarchical responses among LSs, ESs, and SDGs. To address this gap, this study integrates the traditional relationship between LSs and ESs into the latest SDG classification framework (“essential needs,” “governance,” and “objectives”), aiming to provide a new theoretical framework and methodology for advancing priority actions and achieving the SDGs in Central Asia. This study uses the Dangala and Bukhara regions in Central Asia as case studies. By constructing landscape index tools, ES assessment models, and regression analyses, we quantified the spatiotemporal distribution changes on the basis of 6 LS indices, 5 ESs, and 3 categories of SDGs. Using factor analysis and structural equation modeling, we revealed the differential impact pathways of LSs and ESs on SDGs. Our results indicate that the Dangala region, which is dominated by grasslands, should prioritize SDG 7, SDG14, and SDG15, whereas desert areas should focus on SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 13. Importantly, the interactions among LSs, ESs, and SDGs highlight the potential of systematic grassland and desert landscape planning and management to maximize the provision of ESs for sustainable economic, social, and environmental development in arid zones.
New Oil Price Crisis, and Health Costs: Impact on the OECD Economy: Insights From a Novel IV‐Quantile–Quantile Analysis
Authors: Musibau Hammed Oluwaseyi
Published: February 2025

This study employs an innovative instrumental variable (IV) quantile regression approach to analyze the impact of oil price fluctuations and healthcare costs on economic growth across various income levels in OECD countries from 1970 to 2022. The analysis demonstrates that oil prices and healthcare expenditures significantly affect growth in lower‐income regions, with these effects diminishing at higher‐income levels. These findings underline the necessity for tailored policy interventions that promote sustainable growth by optimizing the benefits of oil prices and healthcare investments while mitigating associated risks, such as inflation. Additionally, enhancing healthcare access in less‐developed regions is crucial for fostering inclusive economic progress. The study emphasizes the vital roles of energy markets and healthcare systems in informing effective economic development strategies.
Flexible Temperature Sensor with 2D In2Se3 Ferroelectric‐Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor Exhibiting Record High Sensitivity
Authors: Lim Taebin , Lee Junmi , Jang Jin
Published: February 2025

In this study, a In2Se3 ferroelectric‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor is reported for highly sensitive temperature sensing. The high thermal sensitivity of 696%/°C can be achieved by integrating semiconducting behavior and ferroelectricity in In2Se3 thin film. By inducing a polarization up state in the ferroelectric‐semiconductor by applying gate bias, the carriers within the In2Se3 semiconductor are depleted, suppressing channel formation. Under polarization up state, off‐currents are very sensitive to temperature variation, following variable range hopping conduction. The drain currents are found to be in proportional to with T0 of 1.27 × 1012 K. To achieve variable range hopping transport, defective In2Se3 is deposited at low temperatures (240 °C) using spray pyrolysis. Fabricated In2Se3 temperature sensor on flexible polyimide substrate can detect a broad range of temperatures (RT to 200 °C) with high stability, exhibiting excellent temperature sensing performance. In addition, the very thin flexible temperature sensor array is demonstrated for large area spatial temperature sensing.
Photochemical Transformation of Metal–Organic Frameworks Constructed by 5‐Boronobenzene‐1, 3‐Dicarboxylic Acid, and Zinc Sulfate for Dynamic Information Encryption
Authors: Zhou Shufang , Xu Jintong , Wang Jiayi , Muntiza Nurimangul , Deng Qiliang
Published: February 2025

The reversible photo‐transformation metal–organic framework (MOF) capable of changing properties by surface chemical modification has huge potential in various industrial fields. However, such material is still rare. Herein, a crystalline 3D MOF constructed by 5‐boronobenzene‐1, 3‐dicarboxylic acid, and zinc sulfate (Zn‐BBDA) is reported, where the boronic groups are spontaneously change into the hydroxyl groups during the preparation process. The resulted MOF possesses the orderly distributed hydroxyl groups in interlayers. The photo‐responsive properties of the resulted MOF are explored. The results indicate that the appearance color and fluorescence emission of the resulted Zn‐BBDA can be simultaneously adjusted based on the oxidation‐reduction reaction of the hydroxyl group. The transformation degree of the MOF can be quantitatively monitored by fluorescence emission or Red, Green, Blue (RGB) readout. The response mechanism of the resulted Zn‐BBDA is revealed. The surface properties of the resulted Zn‐BBDA before and after irradiation are also investigated. The present material exhibits a bright future in the field of anti‐counterfeiting and antibacterial treatment. The research provides new views in exploring novel photo‐response materials.
Integrating Spatially‐Resolved Transcriptomics Data Across Tissues and Individuals: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Guo Boyi , Ling Wodan , Kwon Sang Ho , Panwar Pratibha , Ghazanfar Shila , Martinowich Keri , Hicks Stephanie C.
Published: February 2025

Advances in spatially‐resolved transcriptomics (SRT) technologies have propelled the development of new computational analysis methods to unlock biological insights. The lowering cost of SRT data generation presents an unprecedented opportunity to create large‐scale spatial atlases and enable population‐level investigation, integrating SRT data across multiple tissues, individuals, species, or phenotypes. Here, unique challenges are described in the SRT data integration, where the analytic impact of varying spatial and biological resolutions is characterized and explored. A succinct review of spatially‐aware integration methods and computational strategies is provided. Exciting opportunities to advance computational algorithms amenable to atlas‐scale datasets along with standardized preprocessing methods, leading to improved sensitivity and reproducibility in the future are further highlighted.
Nanolaminate Nano‐Optoelectrodes Enable Dual‐Channel Plasmon‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Electrochemistry
Authors: Zhao Yuming , Mejia Elieser , Xiao Chuan , Song Junyeob , Zhu Wenqi , Lezec Henri , Agrawal Amit , Zhou Wei
Published: February 2025

In situ monitoring of short‐lived transition states (TSs) is crucial for understanding electrochemical reaction mechanisms but remains challenging. Conventional electrochemical surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC‐SERS) primarily provides vibrational information, with limitations in hotspot reproducibility and often overlooking electronic information associated with TSs. This study introduces a dual‐channel EC‐SERS strategy using nanolaminate nano‐optoelectrode (NLNOE) devices, integrating plasmon‐enhanced vibrational Raman scattering (PE‐VRS) and plasmon‐enhanced electronic Raman scattering (PE‐ERS) to concurrently probe TS dynamics within electrically connected plasmonic nanocavities. Using the AgCl(s) + e−⇌Ag(s) + Cl−(aq) redox system, this approach distinct PE‐VRS and PE‐ERS signatures of the (AgCl)* TS. Notably, a significant increase in PE‐ERS signals concurrent with (AgCl)* TS emergence, characterized by filled bonding and unoccupied antibonding orbitals with negligible energy gaps. This enhanced PE‐ERS signal correlates with increased (AgCl)* TS polarizability, leading to amplified PE‐VRS signals due to enhanced electron cloud distortion. By modulating Cl⁻ ion concentrations via electrolyte composition (1× PBS and 1× PBS‐equivalent KH₂PO₄) while maintaining constant total ion concentration, the competition between Ag/AgCl and Ag/AgH₂PO₄ redox reactions within Ag nanolayers is influenced. These results demonstrate the capability of dual‐channel EC‐SERS to distinguish interfacial redox reactions based on distinct electronic and vibrational signatures associated with covalent and ionic bond characteristics.
A Numerical Study on Hydrogen Reduction of Iron Oxide Pellets in a Shaft Furnace with Internal Retrieval of Thermal Energy
Authors: Shao Lei , Zhao Chenxi , Zou Zongshu , Saxén Henrik
Published: February 2025

In the current study, the hydrogen shaft furnace (HSF) process with a special focus on internal retrieval of thermal energy via injecting room‐temperature hydrogen (H2) from the furnace bottom is investigated. A validated 2D computational fluid dynamics model is employed to clarify how and to which extent the flow rate of bottom‐injected H2 affects the thermochemical state and overall performance indicators of the HSF. In the results, it is indicated that the thermal energy retrieved by adopting the bottom injection operation can well compensate for the reduction in the total sensible heat of feed H2 under the conditions considered. Therefore, the furnace shows a better overall performance because the system requires less total supply of sensible heat while achieving a higher solid outlet reduction degree compared to a reference scenario with no bottom injection. Since the central gas flow is enhanced and local species transport of H2 is facilitated, the radial uniformity of solid reduction degree is also improved effectively. Moreover, the fluidization factor is well below unity, indicating no substantial particle fluidization will take place within the furnace incorporating the operation of bottom injection. In these findings, the potential of internal thermal energy retrieval in achieving a more suitable and efficient HSF process is highlighted.
Design Calculation of Deflection Curves of I‐Section Steel Beam With Longitudinally Profiled Flanges Under Concentrated Load
Authors: Yang Dahai , Wang Siyuan , Xiuli Du , Wang Zhitian
Published: February 2025

Welded I‐beams with longitudinally profiled (LP) flanges (where LP steel plates are utilized as flanges) can be used to achieve structural optimization. However, its variable stiffness property poses a challenge for deformation design, which requires the formulation of computational equations. In this paper, the theoretical solution of the deflection curve under concentrated load at any position is derived using the unit load method and the mathematical integration method. The accuracy is verified by comparing with the finite element (FE) model. Further, a coefficient is introduced on the basis of the traditional flexural curve expression, and a simple design formula for the flexural curve is proposed by combining the location and coordinates of the load action, and the fitting coefficient is determined by fitting a nonlinear surface to a large number of theoretical results. The results show that the bending deformation MRE corrected by the bending deformation correction coefficient β is only −2.0%, which shows that the bending deformation correction coefficient has good accuracy and simplicity. The welded I‐beam with LP flanges elastic deformation design formulas established in this paper can be applied to the actual construction design of building and bridge structures, which will also promote the application of such advanced steel products.
Wind Power Plant Site Selection Using Fuzzy AHP and Weighted Fuzzy Overlay
Authors: Döker Mehmet Fatih , Özdoruk Esra , Kırlangıçoğlu Cem , Minaei Masoud
Published: February 2025

The availability of energy is a fundamental prerequisite for technological and economic advancement. Although the majority of contemporary energy requirements are fulfilled by fossil fuels, the transition towards sustainable and efficient energy sources is gathering pace. Wind energy, a renewable energy source, has the potential to significantly contribute to energy independence. The objective of this study is to ascertain the most appropriate locations for the construction of wind power plants in Sakarya Province, thereby facilitating energy independence through an enhanced energy supply. The study identified economic, environmental, and physical criteria and excluded areas and conducted analyses using multicriteria decision‐making methods. The relative importance weights of the criteria were calculated using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, and the results obtained were realistic. This was achieved using the weighted fuzzy modeling method. The analysis, which focused on Sakarya Province, revealed that the Kaynarca, Hendek, Söğütlü, Adapazarı, Akyazı, Taraklı, Geyve, and Pamukova districts possess considerable potential for wind energy. The results demonstrate that renewable sources currently account for only 21% of Sakarya's electricity demand. However, the installation of 315 wind turbines has the potential to meet this demand entirely through renewable sources. The estimated cost of these turbines is approximately $1.26 billion, with a required area of 693 ha. The identification of a total of 7541 ha of suitable land indicates that there is sufficient land available for investment. It is recommended that future studies analyze investment and maintenance costs and electricity demand based on population projections.
How Community Members Engage With Wildlife—A Psychological Typology With Implications for Policy Making
Authors: Romero‐de‐Diego Cristina , Mills Morena , Witt Bradd , Dean Angela
Published: February 2025

Community perceptions influence wildlife‐related management and policy efforts. However, there remains limited research into population‐level social and psychological aspects driving engagement with wildlife and how this shapes support for broader wildlife management approaches. Here we draw on Australian national data to develop a typology of community engagement with wildlife based on cognitive, affective, and behavioral factors, and how they shape support for wildlife management policies. We identified seven groups reflecting different patterns of engagement with wildlife, ranging from Champions to Disengaged. Importantly, respondents who were members of more engaged groups were also more likely to exhibit polarized views toward wildlife management strategies that involve culling or translocating wildlife. Our results suggest that wildlife managers and decision‐makers should not assume that support for wildlife always translates into support for wildlife management or conservation policies. We discuss approaches to communications and conflict management for diverse social groups.
Digitalization, Social Change, and Crime Trends: A Literature Review to Build a Conjecture
Authors: Miró-Llinares Fernando , Aebi Marcelo F.
Published: February 2025

This chapter examines the complex relationship between digitalization and crime trends through a comprehensive literature review, developing a conjecture about how digital transformation has influenced criminal behavior since the 1990s. The authors challenge existing narratives by arguing that digitalization’s impact on crime operates primarily through changes in routine activities and lifestyle patterns, particularly among young people, rather than through direct technological effects. The chapter identifies and addresses three key misunderstandings in previous research: the conflation of cybercrime with digitalization effects, temporal inconsistencies in trend analysis, and oversimplified cause-and-effect relationships. Drawing on routine activity theory and recent research on youth crime trends across multiple countries, the authors propose that digitalization’s primary impact on crime operates through its reduction of unstructured socialization among young people, who increasingly spend time at home engaged in digital activities rather than in potentially criminogenic public spaces. This mechanism helps explain the pronounced decline in youth crime observed across many Western countries since the 1990s. The chapter synthesizes evidence from studies on various aspects of youth behavior, including alcohol consumption, social interaction patterns, and criminal activity, to support this conjecture. The authors argue that while digitalization may not be the sole cause of crime reduction, its role as a significant contributing factor has been systematically underappreciated in criminological research. The chapter concludes by calling for more nuanced research examining the specific mechanisms through which technological change affects criminal opportunities and behavior patterns, particularly among young people.
Crime Opportunities, Lockdowns, and Online Video Games: The Digital Leisure Hypothesis (and More on the Impact of Digitalization on Crime Trends)
Authors: Miró-Llinares Fernando
Published: February 2025

This chapter examines the complex relationship between digital leisure activities and crime patterns through the development and testing of a "digital leisure hypothesis." Drawing on routine activity theory and empirical data from multiple sources, the author argues that increased engagement with digital entertainment, particularly among youth, has contributed to significant shifts in criminal opportunities by altering how people spend their time. The study presents evidence of strong negative correlations between time spent on digital leisure activities and youth crime rates, particularly for offenses like vandalism and burglary. Using data from the American Time Use Survey and Bureau of Justice Statistics (1994-2016), the research demonstrates that higher rates of digitalization are associated with lower arrest rates, with effects being particularly pronounced among young people. The chapter also explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated these trends by forcing rapid adoption of digital activities across all age groups. The author proposes a dual-effect model where digitalization simultaneously reduces opportunities for traditional street crime by keeping people indoors while creating new opportunities for cybercrime through increased online activity. This is supported by empirical analysis showing exponential growth in cyber-victimization correlating with increased digital technology adoption. The findings suggest that the relationship between digital leisure and crime is not a simple displacement effect, but rather reflects fundamental changes in routine activities and criminal opportunities. The chapter concludes by considering how these trends might evolve in a post-pandemic world, arguing that understanding the relationship between digital leisure and crime patterns will become increasingly crucial for criminological theory and crime prevention strategies.
Summary and Outlook
Authors: Muff Fabian
Published: February 2025

The last chapter of this book summarizes the completed work and provides concluding remarks. Section 9.1 aligns the project results with the research questions. The limitations of the research, as well as future work are discussed in Sect. 9.2. Finally, Sect. 9.3 closes this work with a summary.
New physics search via angular distribution of B → D∗ℓνℓ decay in the light of the new lattice data
Authors: Kapoor Tejhas , Huang Zhuo-Ran , Kou Emi
Published: February 2025

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the potential of the angular distribution of the B → D
∗
ℓν

ℓ
process to search for new physics signals. The Belle collaboration has analysed it to constraint V

cb
and the B → D
∗ form factors, under the assumption of the Standard Model. With the newly released lattice QCD data, we can perform a simultaneous fit of the form factors, V

cb
as well as new physics parameters. We use the Belle data and the lattice data to constrain right-handed new physics. In addition, we also generate unbinned pseudo-dataset and perform a sensitivity study on more general new physics models, using the lattice data.
Boundary terms in string field theory
Authors: Fırat Atakan Hilmi , Mamade Raji Ashenafi
Published: February 2025

Abstract

We supplement the string field theory action with boundary terms to make its variational principle well-posed. Central to our considerations is the violation of the stress-energy tensor conservation in non-compact CFTs due to the boundary terms. This manifests as the failure of the cyclicity of the BRST operator, which encodes the target space integration by parts identities at the level of the worldsheet. Using this failure, we argue that the free closed string field theory action admits a well-posed variational principle upon including an additional boundary contribution. We explicitly work out the resulting action up to the massless level and show that it is related to the expansion of the low-energy effective string action endowed with the Gibbons-Hawking-York term on a flat background. We also discuss the structure of the boundary terms in the interacting theory.
Leading higher derivative corrections to multipole moments of Kerr-Newman black hole
Authors: Ma Liang , Pang Yi , Lü H.
Published: February 2025

Abstract

We study the (leading) 4-derivative corrections, including both parity even and odd terms, to electrically-charged Kerr-Newman black holes. The linear perturbative equations are then solved order by order in terms of two dimensionless rotating and charge parameters. The solution allows us to extract the multipole moments of mass and current from the metric as well as the electric and magnetic multipole moments from the Maxwell field. We find that all the multipole moments are invariant under the field redefinition, indicating they are well-defined physical observables in this effective theory approach to quantum gravity. We also find that parity-odd corrections can turn on the multipole moments that vanish in Einstein theory, which may have significant observational implications.
Evaluating predictors of kinase activity of STK11 variants identified in primary human non-small cell lung cancers
Authors: Chen Yile , Lee Kyoungyeul , Woo Junwoo , Kim Dong-wook , Keum Changwon , Babbi Giulia , Casadio Rita , Martelli Pier Luigi , Savojardo Castrense , Manfredi Matteo , Shen Yang , Sun Yuanfei , Katsonis Panagiotis , Lichtarge Olivier , Pejaver Vikas , Seward David J. , Kamandula Akash , Bakolitsa Constantina , Brenner Steven E. , Radivojac Predrag , O’Donnell-Luria Anne , Mooney Sean D. , Jain Shantanu
Published: February 2025

Critical evaluation of computational tools for predicting variant effects is important considering their increased use in disease diagnosis and driving molecular discoveries. In the sixth edition of the Critical Assessment of Genome Interpretation (CAGI) challenge, a dataset of 28 STK11 rare variants (27 missense, 1 single amino acid deletion), identified in primary non-small cell lung cancer biopsies, was experimentally assayed to characterize computational methods from four participating teams and five publicly available tools. Predictors demonstrated a high level of performance on key evaluation metrics, measuring correlation with the assay outputs and separating loss-of-function (LoF) variants from wildtype-like (WT-like) variants. The best participant model, 3Cnet, performed competitively with well-known tools. Unique to this challenge was that the functional data was generated with both biological and technical replicates, thus allowing the assessors to realistically establish maximum predictive performance based on experimental variability. Three out of the five publicly available tools and 3Cnet approached the performance of the assay replicates in separating LoF variants from WT-like variants. Surprisingly, REVEL, an often-used model, achieved a comparable correlation with the real-valued assay output as that seen for the experimental replicates. Performing variant interpretation by combining the new functional evidence with computational and population data evidence led to 16 new variants receiving a clinically actionable classification of likely pathogenic (LP) or likely benign (LB). Overall, the STK11 challenge highlights the utility of variant effect predictors in biomedical sciences and provides encouraging results for driving research in the field of computational genome interpretation.
Mathematics education for sustainable futures: a strengths-based survey of the field to invite further research action
Authors: Makramalla Mariam , Coles Alf , le Roux Kate , Wagner David
Published: February 2025

In this survey, we introduce and prompt an article collection—"Mathematics Education for Sustainable Futures"—which we are guest editing. The collection will comprise original research articles, written and published over a 2-year period. Recognising the collection title as making reference to what is an emerging area of research, in this introduction, we survey work that has been done. In the spirit of opening and inviting new questions and research directions, we focus on what it means to take mathematics education for sustainable futures seriously, for how we practise and imagine mathematics education, including established topics such as curriculum, knowledge, pedagogy, teacher education, language, modelling, and technology. We structure our review around eight invitations (here arranged into six sections) in the call for collection articles. Each section ends with further invitations for potential authors, or others, wanting to locate and chart their own work in the space. We end drawing out two themes that resonate across the invitations: attention to who and what is marginalised and the importance of a deep reflexivity in our choice/use of concepts. This text is part of the article collection entitled “Mathematics Education for Sustainable Futures” (available at https://link.springer.com/collections/acebaagbha).
Aspect-based sentiment classification of user reviews to understand customer satisfaction of e-commerce platforms
Authors: Davoodi Laleh , Mezei József , Heikkilä Markku
Published: February 2025

Making use of user-generated content, in particular customer reviews, is an essential means for companies to gather information about customers. In order to utilize reviews in improving customer satisfaction, companies need to identify the important components of their business that are discussed by the customers. In this article, we propose to use aspect-based sentiment analysis for reviews focusing on e-commerce platforms. Fourteen aspects were extracted from the literature and empirical analysis of 3500 randomly selected reviews from the Trustpilot platform. A unique dataset was created by manually annotating the reviews and assigning a sentiment for each aspect-review pair. Aspect-based sentiment classification was performed using some of the most recent machine learning models, with RoBERTa identified as the best-performing model, achieving over 90% accuracy. We also demonstrate how insights generated from the sentiment scores can assist companies in improving their service and increasing customer satisfaction.
Evaluating Fire Severity in Electric Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles: A Statistical Approach to Heat Release Rates
Authors: Mohd Tohir Mohd Zahirasri , Martín-Gómez César
Published: February 2025

This study provides a comprehensive statistical analysis of heat release rate (HRR) profiles in electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, addressing fire safety challenges in performance-based design. Using experimental data, key parameters such as peak heat release rate (PHRR), time to peak heat release rate (TPHRR), total heat released (THR), and growth coefficients were analysed. Results reveal that EVs, exhibit distinct fire dynamics, often displaying higher PHRR values than ICE vehicles, which highlights the potential for greater fire intensity and growth rates in EV fires. A design fire model was constructed based on this analysis, offering fire engineers a probabilistic alternative to conventional deterministic approaches for simulating vehicle fire scenarios in various infrastructural contexts. This probabilistic approach provides a more flexible framework for decision-making in fire risk assessments. Additionally, the study observed a correlation between larger battery sizes and increased fire severity in EVs, though this should be interpreted cautiously given the limited dataset. This work highlights the importance of adapting fire safety standards to keep pace with advancements in vehicle technology, especially with the growing prevalence of EVs. Future research should aim to expand the dataset with more diverse experiments to enhance the robustness of design fire models, supporting the development of tailored fire safety strategies for different vehicle types across various environments.
A Systematic Literature Review of Research-based Interventions and Strategies for Students with Disabilities in STEM and STEAM Education
Authors: Ariza Jonathan Álvarez , Hernández Hernández Carola
Published: February 2025

Statistical studies performed mainly in the U.S. have depicted that students with disabilities (SWDs) are excluded from the educational process and are prone to several gaps and barriers in terms of special accommodations, learning opportunities, and socio-emotional support in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)-Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) education. To clarify this, we conducted a systematic literature review focused on interventions and strategies in STEM and STEAM education for SWDs based on 263 studies retrieved from the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science (WoS), and ERIC from 2013–2024. The studies cover proposals from early childhood to tertiary education. After the screening and appraisal stages, 39 interventions with 21 strategies were identified. The outcomes mostly reveal the following: (1) The studies are mainly focused on the U.S. and in students with autism, learning disabilities, or behavioral disorders between low and medium severity levels. (2) Interventions for autistic students use robotics and coding to foster cognitive, social, and communicative skills. (3) Interventions for deaf or hard-of-hearing students focus on creating a science identity and the issues with non-standardized STEM concepts in American sign language (ASL); in contrast, visually impaired students focus on assistive technologies and the accessibility of educational materials. (4) Little attention has been paid to other disabilities apart from autism, intellectual or learning ones, as well as the perspective of educators to support SWDs in classrooms. And (5) New machine learning, metaverse, and AI models are being used to assess the cognitive-emotional states of the SWDs. The conclusions and insights derived from this study can help educators and researchers to create new methodologies or strategies that sustain SWDs in STEM-STEAM education.
Computing Approximate Global Symmetry of Complex Networks with Application to Brain Lateral Symmetry
Authors: Pidnebesna Anna , Hartman David , Pokorná Aneta , Straka Matěj , Hlinka Jaroslav
Published: February 2025

The symmetry of complex networks is a global property that has recently gained attention since MacArthur et al. 2008 showed that many real-world networks contain a considerable number of symmetries. These authors work with a very strict symmetry definition based on the network’s automorphism detecting mostly local symmetries in complex networks. The potential problem with this approach is that even a slight change in the graph’s structure can remove or create some symmetry. Recently, Liu (2020) proposed to use an approximate automorphism instead of strict automorphism. This method can discover symmetries in the network while accepting some minor imperfections in their structure. The proposed numerical method, however, exhibits some performance problems and has some limitations while it assumes the absence of fixed points and thus concentrates only on global symmetries. In this work, we exploit alternative approaches recently developed for treating the Graph Matching Problem and propose a method, which we will refer to as Quadratic Symmetry Approximator (QSA), to address the aforementioned shortcomings. To test our method, we propose a set of random graph models suitable for assessing a wide family of approximate symmetry algorithms. Although our modified method can potentially be applied to all types of symmetries, in the current work we perform optimization and testing oriented towards more global symmetries motivated by testing on the human brain.
Ferric Ammonium Citrate Reduces Claudin-5 Abundance and Function in Primary Mouse Brain Endothelial Cells
Authors: Runwal Pranav , Pyun Jae , Newman Stephanie A. , Mawal Celeste , Bush Ashley I. , Koehn Liam M. , Nicolazzo Joseph A.
Published: February 2025

Background

Iron overload is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases, where there is also blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. As there is a growing interest in the role of iron in modulating key BBB proteins, this study assessed the effect of iron on the expression and function of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and claudin-5 in primary mouse brain endothelial cells (MBECs) and their abundance in mouse brain microvessel-enriched membrane fractions (MVEFs).

Methods

Following a 48 h treatment with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC, 250 µM), MBEC protein abundance (P-gp, BCRP and claudin-5) and mRNA (abcb1a, abcg2, and cldn5) were assessed by western blotting and RT-qPCR, respectively. Protein function was evaluated by assessing transport of substrates 3H-digoxin (P-gp), 3H-prazosin (BCRP) and 14C-sucrose (paracellular permeability). C57BL/6 mice received iron dextran (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) over 4 weeks, and MVEF protein abundance and iron levels (in MVEFs and plasma) were quantified via western blotting and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively.

Results

FAC treatment reduced P-gp protein by 50% and abcb1a mRNA by 43%, without affecting 3H-digoxin transport. FAC did not alter BCRP protein or function, but decreased abcg2 mRNA by 59%. FAC reduced claudin-5 protein and cldn5 mRNA by 65% and 70%, respectively, resulting in a 200% increase in 14C-sucrose permeability. In vivo, iron dextran treatment significantly elevated plasma iron levels (2.2-fold) but did not affect brain MVEF iron content or alter P-gp, BCRP or claudin-5 protein abundance.

Conclusions

Iron overload modulates BBB transporters and junction proteins in vitro, highlighting potential implications for CNS drug delivery in neurodegenerative diseases.
Experimental florivory and its effects on pollinators of Opuntia cantabrigiensis Lynch (Cactaceae)
Authors: Cárdenas-Ramos Diana , Mandujano María C.
Published: February 2025

Florivores modify the attributes of flowers while feeding, that affects the behavior and frequency of pollinators that visit flowers and setting of fruits and seed as a result of low pollen deposition. We determined the effect of experimental florivory on pollinators visitations, fruit-set, and seed-set of Opuntia cantabrigiensis. Four treatments were applied on intact flowers during reproductive season: 1) removal of 50% of the perianth, 2) emasculated flower, 3) flower without stigma, perianth and stamens (stigma-perianth) and 4) intact flower-control; selected treatments mimic the types of florivory observed in the population. The frequency of visitation, activity and taxonomic identity of the pollinator were recorded. We found that frequency of pollinators decreased with damage to the flower, with the stigma-perianth treatment receiving the fewest visits. The most frequent pollinators were the solitary bees Macrotera sinaloana, Diadasia rinconis, and Lithurgopsis apicalis (Hymenoptera) that collect rewards and perch on the stigma of flowers. Pollinators responded differently to florivory; Ashmeadiella opuntiae avoided flowers with perianth damage, possibly associating it with a lack of rewards, while D. rinconis prefered such flowers, the removal of this structure facilitated access to floral rewards. Flowers in the stigma-perianth treatment produced seedless fruit. Intact flowers had higher seed production than those with perianth damage or emasculation due to low pollinator visitation and pollen deposition. Opuntia cantabrigiensis is a xenogamous species with dependence on biotic vectors, therefore the damage caused by florivores reduces the visit of their pollinators and its reproductive success, which could negatively affect the population persistence.
Calcium Supplementation- Efficacy and Safety
Authors: Reid Ian R.
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

To assess the efficacy of calcium supplements in preventing fractures, and to review their adverse effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system.

Recent Findings

There is now a large body of trial evidence demonstrating that calcium supplements do not prevent fractures in community-dwelling adults. They commonly produce gastrointestinal side-effects, sometimes serious, and increase the risk of renal calculi. Meta-analyses of adverse events from clinical trials suggest that the risk of MI is increased by 10–20% with calcium supplementation, though dietary calcium intake does not appear to be a cardiac risk factor. Ingestion of a calcium bolus increases circulating calcium concentrations for the following 8 h, accompanied by acute increases in blood coagulability and calcification propensity, with blood pressures > 5 mmHg higher than placebo-treated individuals. Mendelian randomization studies demonstrate that circulating calcium levels are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so the acute calcium-elevating effect of supplements might contribute to increased cardiovascular risk.

The current balance of evidence suggests that calcium supplements have little role in the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis, since estrogen and bisphosphonates prevent fractures without their co-administration. Specific studies are needed to address whether calcium is benficial with anabolic bone medicines.