bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological Profile and Seed Yield Ability of Polignano and Tiggiano Carrot Landraces: Signposts on the Path to the Registration as Conservation Varieties
Authors: Accogli Rita Annunziata , Cazzato Eugenio , Bellomo Dalila , Santamaria Pietro , Renna Massimiliano
Published: January 2025

ʻTiggianoʼ and ʻPolignanoʼ carrots are two Apulian (Southern Italy) landraces, noteworthy for their historical, cultural, and agricultural significance. In this research, both morphological traits and seed yield ability of these landraces were evaluated aiming of potential registration for the seed commercialization as a tool of valorization. Data of morphological traits according to the “International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants” guideline evidenced a clear distinction between the two landraces. However, the great variability observed in certain characters represents an obstacle for their registration in the national variety register, except for the Conservation Varieties one. ʻPolignanoʼ and ʻTiggianoʼ carrots showed an average seed yield of about 63 and 106 g/plant, equating to about 1,258 and 2,116 kg/ha. Average seed germination rates were 80 and 87%, respectively for ‘Polignano’ and ‘Tiggiano’ carrots. In conclusion, registering these local varieties as Conservation Varieties could enhance their appreciation, encourage sustainable cultivation, and help mitigate genetic erosion, while boosting their economic and cultural value.
Challenges in Managing Depression in Clinical Practice: Result of a Global Survey
Authors: Kar Nilamadhab
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Despite improved knowledgebase, effective intervention, and guidelines, many patients with depression do not get adequate treatment; and treatment discontinuation and nonresponse are common. It was intended to explore the challenges clinicians face while managing depression in their clinical practice and their suggestions for solutions. Methods: It was an online survey of 137 psychiatrists in 18 countries including both high and low economies, using a pre-designed questionnaire; with both quantitative and qualitative measures. Results: Antidepressant prescribing appeared close to the evidence-based guidelines. There was frequent use of other medications alongside antidepressants since treatment initiation. There were many challenges in managing depression such as treatment non-response, resistance and discontinuation, side effects mostly sexual problems, inadequate psychological intervention, availability and affordability of treatment modalities, comorbidities especially substance use and personality disorders, stigma, and lack of education and training. Suggested approaches for solutions included personalized treatment, quicker follow-up, psychoeducation, blending psychological intervention into routine clinical practice, improving continuity of care, and preventing treatment discontinuation. Support from governments, improving access, making interventions affordable, and providing socio-occupational support are essential. Training and development of professionals; and public education providing information, and dealing with stigma are still relevant. Conclusions: The results indicated a need for reviewing current practices in managing depression, optimizing it with available resources, and preventing treatment discontinuation, and non-response. Making treatment available and affordable, public education fighting stigma to improve treatment acceptability, and research addressing gaps in interventions, especially for treatment resistance and psychotherapy are other approaches that may improve depression management.
MASLD-Induced Liver Micro-Organoids Mimics Clinical Observations of Impaired Vitamin D Synthesis
Authors: Hammour Mohammad Majd , Chen Guanqiao , Xin Yuxuan , Damm Georg , Vosough Massoud , Kaufmann Benedikt , Nussler Andreas Klaus , Aspera-Werz Romina Haydeé
Published: January 2025

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a global health concern associated with various metabolic disorders and a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Current animal models face limitations in accurately mimicking human metabolic pathways and are constrained by ethical considerations. This study aimed to develop an in vitro MASLD-induced liver micro-organoid model to investigate the impact of MASLD on vitamin D metabolism. The model incorporates HepaRG cells as hepatocytes, LX-2 cells as stellate cells, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Fatty liver characteristics were induced by treating the micro-organoids with palmitic/oleic acids. fatty acid accumulation was quantified and visualized using Bodipy staining. The expression of genes involved in drug and vitamin D metabolism was evaluated by RT-PCR. Dot blot analysis assessed secreted proteins indicative of liver damage. ELISA was used to examine vitamin D metabolism. The results confirmed the successful induction of MASLD, evidenced by altered cytochrome P450 gene expression, elevated markers of liver damage, and reduced vitamin D metabolism. These findings align with clinical studies and RNA-sequencing data from liver biopsies of MASLD patients. This innovative micro-organoid platform offers a robust tool for studying the molecular mechanisms of MASLD and represents a promising alternative to animal experiments.
The Effect of Preoperative Enteral Immunonutrition on Surgical Results and Cost in Patients with Rectal Tumors Who Underwent Low Anterior Resection Without Diverting Ostomy
Authors: Akyüz Cebrail , Selman Aytaç , Sunamak Oğuzhan , Yılmaz Akyüz Elvan YILMAZ
Published: January 2025

Background: Immune modulating enteral nutrition in the preoperative period may reduce postoperative complications in cancer patients. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of immune modulating enteral nutrition on postoperative complications in patients who received neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for rectal tumor and subsequently underwent low anterior resection without diverting ostomy. Methods: Preoperative immunonutrition (arginine, omega 3 fatty acids and dietary nucleotides) versus standard nutrition was evaluated. Mortality, infective complications in the first 30 days after the operation, length of hospital stay, cost analysis and laboratory results were analyzed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the IN-given and standard-fed groups in terms of postoperative complications, including urinary system (p=1.000) and wound infection (p=0.194), intraabdominal abscess (p=0.493), pulmonary complications (p=0.734), venous thromboembolism (p=1.000), ileus (p=1.000), and anastomotic leak (p=614)). However, the hospital stay was shorter (p=0.022) and the total cost (p=0.013) was lower in the immunonutrition group. Conclusion: Immunonutrition has the potential to reduce the length of hospital stay and hospital costs for patients undergoing surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.
Radiotherapy Plus the Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist Aprepitant: A Potent Therapeutic Strategy for the Treatment of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
Authors: Muñoz Miguel , Rosso Marisa
Published: January 2025

Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a devastating childhood brainstem tumor. The median survival of DIPG is 16–24 months independently of the treatment received. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies against DIPG are urgently needed. Substance P (SP) peptide, through the neurokinin Neurokin-1 receptor (NK-1R) is involved in glioma progression, induces glioma cells proliferation by activating, MAPKs (p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and JNK), c-Myc, AP-1, NF-κB, and induces antiapoptotic by PI3K/Akt/mTOR in glioma cells. SP favors glycogen breakdown that is essential for glycolysis. The SP/NK-1R system regulates also the migration and invasion of glioma cells, stimulates angiogenesis and triggering inflammation which contributes to glioma progression. Moreover, all glioma cells express NK-1R and NK-1R is essential for the viability of glioma cells and non for normal cells. In contrast, in glioma, NK-1R antagonists, such as aprepitant drug penetrate brain and reach therapeutic concentrations: inhibit mitogenesis, induces apoptosis and inhibit breakdown of glycogen in glioma cells. In addition, they inhibit angiogenesis and exert antimetastatic and anti-inflammatory effects. The combination of radiotherapy with NK-1R antagonists produces radiosensitization, radioneuroprotection, reduces both peritumoral and radiation-induced inflammation, and is also antinausea and antivomiting. Objective: This review updates the involvement of the SP/NK-1R system in glioma promotion and progression and the potential clinical application of NK-1R antagonist drugs in DIPG therapy. Conclusion: NK-1R plays a crucial role in glioma progression and NK-1R antagonists such as aprepitant could be used in combination with radiotherapy as a potent therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with DIPG.
A Framework Based on Explainable Graph Neural Networks for Modelling Spreading Processes in Networks
Authors: Guzzi Pietro Hiram , Lomoio Ugo , Veltri Pierangelo
Published: January 2025

We present a novel framework that utilizes explainable Graph Neural Net- works (GNNs) to analyze diffusion processes in complex networks. Our ap- proach begins with the simulation of compartmental models, such as SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) or SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered), using graph algorithms to model the spread of phenomena throughout the network. These simulations capture the dynamic behaviour of diffusion pro- cesses and provide a foundation for deeper analysis. The next step involves employing GNNs to learn and predict the intricate patterns of diffusion, fo- cusing on identifying crucial nodes that significantly influence the process. We integrate explainability methods into the GNNs to enhance interpretabil- ity, allowing for a clear understanding of the factors that drive the model’s predictions. This combination of graph-based simulation and explainable GNNs offers a powerful toolkit for uncovering key insights into network dif- fusion processes; it has potential applications in epidemiology, information spread, and network resilience analysis.
Engineering Terahertz Light-Matter Interaction with Quantum Electronic Metamaterials
Authors: Smolyaninov Igor I. , Smolyaninova Vera N.
Published: January 2025

While electromagnetic metamaterials completely revolutionized optics and radio frequency engineering, recent progress in the development of conceptually related electronic metamaterials was more slow. Similar to electromagnetic metamaterials, which engineer material response to the electromagnetic field of a photon, the purpose of electronic metamaterials is to affect electron propagation and its wave function by changing material response to its electric field. This makes electronic metamaterials an ideal tool for engineering light-matter interaction in semiconductors and superconductors. Here we propose to use Fermi’s quantum refraction, which was previously observed in the terahertz spectroscopy of Rydberg atoms and two-dimensional surface electronic states, as a novel tool in quantum electronic metamaterial design. In particular, we demonstrate several potential applications of this concept in two-dimensional metamaterial superconductors and “universal quantum dots” designed for operation in the terahertz frequency range.
RANFIS-based Sensor System with Low-Cost Multi Sensors for Reliable Measurement of VOCs
Authors: Kim Keunyoung , Yang Woosung
Published: January 2025

This study describes a sensor system for continuous monitoring of VOCs emitted from small industrial facilities in urban centers, such as automobile paint facilities and printing facilities. Previously, intermittent measurements were made using expensive FID-type instruments that were impossible to install, resulting in a lack of continuous management. This paper develops a low-cost sensor system for full-time management and consists of multi sensor systems to increase the spatial resolution in the pipe. To improve the accuracy and reliability of this system, a new RANFIS algorithm with enhanced preprocessing based on ANFIS algorithm is proposed. For this purpose, a smart sensor module consisting of low-cost MOS and PID sensors is fabricated, and an operating controller is configured for real-time data acquisition, analysis, and evaluation. In the front part of RANFIS, IQR is used to remove outliers and gradient analysis is used to detect and correct data with abnormal change rate to solve nonlinearities and outliers in sensor data. At the latter stage, the complex nonlinear relationship of the data was modeled with ANFIS to reliably handle data uncertainty and noise. For practical verification, a toluene evaporation chamber with a sensor system for monitoring was built, and the results of real-time data sensing after training based on real data were compared and evaluated. As a result of applying the RANFIS algorithm, the RMSE of MQ135, MQ138, and PID-A15 sensors was 3.578, 11.594, and 4.837, respectively, which improved the performance by 87.1%, 25.9%, and 35.8% compared to the existing ANFIS. Therefore, the precision within 5% of the measurement results of the two experimentally verified sensors shows that the proposed RANFIS-based sensor system can be sufficiently applied in the field.
Preparation and Performance of Nickel-Doped La0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ Perovskite Materials for Alkaline Oxygen Evolution in Water Splitting
Authors: Zong Bangfeng , Pan Xiaojun , Zhang Lifang , Wei Bo , Feng Xiangxiong , Guo Miao , Cao Duanhao , Ye Feng
Published: January 2025

Perovskites exhibit catalytic properties on the oxygen evolution reaction in water electrolysis. Elemental doping by specific preparation methods is a good strategy to obtain highly catalytical active perovskite catalysts. In this work, La0.5Sr0.5Co1-xNixO3-δ perovskite materials doped with different ratios of nickel were successfully synthesized by the sol-gel method. The electrochemical measurement results show that in 1 M KOH solution, La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ prepared by the sol-gel method requires only a low overpotential of 213 mV to reach 10 mA cm-2, which is significantly lower than that of La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ prepared by the hydrothermal method for the increasing about 45.24 % (389 @ 10 mA cm-2). In addition, La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ by the sol-gel method can be kept stable in alkaline medium tested for 30 h without degradation. This indicates that the prepared La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ has better OER performance. The SEM results shows that layer structured La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ by the sol-gel method has more surface pores with a pore diameter of about 0.362 μm than spherical granular structured La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ by the hydrothermal method. XPS results reveal that the crystal lattice of La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ by nickel doping is lengthened and the electronic configuration of Co also is changed by the sol-gel preparation process. The improved electrocatalytic performance of La0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Ni0.2O3-δ may be attributed to the pore structure formed with providing more active sites during the sol-gel process and the improved oxygen mobility with Ni doping by the sol-gel method. The doping strategy by the sol-gel method provides valuable insights for optimizing perovskite catalytic properties.
Effects of Restoration Through Nature-Based Solution on Benthic Biodiversity: A Case Study in a Northern Adriatic Lagoon
Authors: Mistri Michele , Albéri Matteo , Chiarelli Enrico , Cozzula Cinzia , Cunsolo Federico , Elek Nedime Irem , Mantovani Fabio , Padoan Michele , Paletta Maria Grazie , Pezzi Marco , Raptis Kassandra Giulia Cristina , Sfriso Andrea Augusto , Sfriso Adriano , Strati Virginia , Munari Cristina
Published: January 2025

In the Caleri lagoon, a coastal lagoon in the Po River Delta, Northern Adriatic, the transplant of the dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltei was used as a nature-based solution to attempt the ecological restoration of a previously depleted lagoon area. A total of 135 15 cm diameter sods were transplanted, with the donor site at the Venice lagoon. Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), eelgrass transplants have been mapped and monitored with great precision. After 2 years, the area covered by eelgrass increased from the initial 2.5 m2 to 60 m2. Changes in the community structure and on the frequency of biological traits of macrobenthos occurred at the transplant site, with a higher frequency of epifaunal predators and herbivores, of organisms with longer life spans and larger body sizes. Sensitive and indifferent taxa were always higher in the transplant site than in the bare bottom control site, where opportunistic taxa continued to dominate. Ecological quality status measured through M-AMBI and HBFI indices showed a clear improvement in the transplant site. The rapid changes in benthos demonstrate that even relatively small-scale transplantation of dwarf eelgrass can restore faunal communities very rapidly.
Thermal Efficiency of Paraffin Nano Container in Presence of Porous Walls Structures
Authors: Vatin Nikolai , Nuguzhinov Zhmagul , Nemova Darya , Sabri Mohanad , Kotov Evgenii , Khorobrov Svyatoslav , Vokhidov Oybek
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the thermal performance of paraffin-based nanocontainers within porous wall environments, with a focus on optimizing energy storage and transfer efficiency in building applications. Phase change materials (PCMs) such as paraffin offer significant potential in thermal management due to their ability to store and release latent heat during phase transitions. In this study, paraffin nanocontainers with two specific dimensions, 200 nm and 700 nm, were simulated under varying volume fractions (0%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) to assess their melting and solidification characteristics. Two types of encapsulating shells, silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and copper oxide (CuO), were applied to analyze the effect of shell material on thermal behavior. The RANS approach in a laminar formulation and the volume of fluid (VOF) method were utilized to simulate interfacial behavior between the paraffin and air within the nanocontainers. Boundary conditions were set at an external temperature of 50°C and an initial temperature of 20°C, while the enthalpy-porosity model was used to simulate phase transitions. The type of shell material significantly influences the heat transfer rate and phase transition times. SiO₂ and CuO shells displayed differences in melting and solidification times, with CuO shells exhibiting faster phase change dynamics. For both dimensions of nanocontainers, the presence of porous walls facilitated a higher heat flux compared to solid walls, improving thermal efficiency. These findings underscore the potential of paraffin-based PCMs in energy-efficient building design, especially in applications requiring precise thermal control. This research contributes to advancing PCM integration in building materials.
Full-Length CotX Is Required for Display of Heterologous Proteins on Bacillus subtilis Spores
Authors: Potocki Wojciech , Obuchowski Michał
Published: January 2025

Bacillus subtilis spore display is a versatile technology enabling presentation of heterologous proteins on the surface of recombinant spores. Undoubted benefits of such system include easiness of construction, facility of spore production and handling, enhanced stability of displayed proteins. In spite of these, the efficient spore display faces some challenges which need to be taken on in the process of design and construction. In this study, we attempted to determine a minimal anchoring motif of the crust protein CotX which can be used for display of heterologous protein on the spore surface. We succeeded in presenting mChery fluorescent protein as N-terminal fusion of CotX. Nevertheless, our results suggest that only the full-length CotX could serve as anchor in spore display, since fusions with truncated variants of this protein were not detected in the spore coat and were degraded in the cell.
Negative Viscosity Materials Exploiting the Effect of Negative Mass
Authors: Bormashenko Edward , Shoval Shraga
Published: January 2025

We introduce the media (gaseous and liquid) demonstrating the negative viscosity. Consider the vibrated plate (ω is the frequency of vibrations), which is vertically pulled through the gas, built of the core-shell ”meta-molecules”: the mass of the shell is M, the mass of the core is m, the core is connected to the shell with the ideal spring k. Y is the vertical axis. Vibrating of the vertical plate supplies to the core-shell meta-molecules an excess vertical momentum. If ω<ω0 (ω0=km), this excess momentum coincides with the positive direction of axis Y; if ω>ω0, the excess moment is oriented against axis Y; thus, the effect of negative viscosity becomes possible. No violation of energy conservation is observed; the energy is supplied to the system by the external source vibrating the plate. The effect of the negative viscosity is also possible in liquids. Frequency dependence of the viscosity is addressed. Asymptotic expressions are derived for the frequency-dependent viscosity.
Decentralized Robust Direct Mrac via E-Modification for the Pose of a Quadrotor UAV
Authors: Jurado Francisco , Ollervides-Vazquez Edmundo Javier
Published: January 2025

In this paper, a decentralized robust direct model reference adaptive controller (MRAC) is suggested for the pose control of a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in order to prevent parameter drift. The governing equations of motion referred to the rotational system of the quadrotor UAV are parameterized, in terms of a matched uncertainty by the control input, in a decentralized way from the angles of motion, where bounded perturbations are also considered. An error-dependent damping term in the update law is added to enforce robustness. Uniform ultimate boundedness of the tracking error signal is ensured. The translational dynamics are governed through a linear PID control. The performance of the decentralized robust MRAC scheme here proposed is assessed via simulation results.
Concentration-Dependent Pleiotropic Effects of Thymosin beta4 and Cofilin On the Migratory Activity of Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Al Haj Abdulatif , Cwiklowska Kamila , Mazur Antonina J. , Brand-Saberi Beate , Hannappel Ewald , Mannherz Hans Georg
Published: January 2025

Tumour cell migration depends on the actin cytoskeleton modified by particular actin binding proteins (ABPs). Overexpression of cofilin or thymosin beta4 (Tß4) has been correlated with an increase or decrease of their migratory activity, respectively. We modulated by transfection the intracellular concentrations of cofilin and Tß4 of two colon (3LNLN and EB3) and one breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cell line and subsequently analysed their migratory activity. Increasing wildtype cofilin did not alter their migratory activity, whereas the constitutively active S3A-cofilin mutant elevated migration. Transfection leading to an up- or downregulation of Tß4 showed that MDA-MB-231 and 3LNLN cells responded with a decrease or increase of migration, respectively. Exposure of MDA-MB-231 and 3LNLN cells to increasing concentrations of extracellular Tβ4 (or His-tagged Tß4) induced a biphasic response of migration being highest around 0.24 µM and decreased at higher extracellular Tß4. Immunostaining of 3LNLN cells exposed to 0.24 µM extracellular His-tagged Tß4 with anti-His antibody indicated its uptake co-localising with integrin-linked kinase at cell attachment points. Furthermore, the exposure to 0.24 µM His-tagged Tß4 led to increased phosphorylation of AKT1/2 and secretion of matrix metalloproteases. These effects and tumour cell migration were abrogated after exposure of 3LNLN cells to 2.8 µM His-Tß4 that in a number of cells induced apoptosis.
Imaging in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Comparison of Transthoracic Lung Ultrasound and HR Chest CT in Detecting Characteristic Patterns
Authors: Rotondo Cinzia , Busto Giuseppe , Rella Valeria , Barile Raffaele , Cacciapaglia Fabio , Fornaro Marco , Iannone Florenzo , Lacedonia Donato , Quarato Carla Maria Irene , Trotta Antonello , Cantatore Francesco Paolo , Corrado Addolorata
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Even today the interstitial lung disease (ILD) is diagnosed by chest high-resolution computed tomography (lung HR-CT). A large amount of data is available about the use-fulness of lung ultrasound (LUS) in ILD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the LUS capacity to discrim-inate different ILD patterns in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, such as UIP, NSIP with GGO, and NSIP with GGO and reticulations, and then the possibilityto identify the progressive fibrosing ILD. Methods: All SSc-patients with recent HRCT performed underwent LUS. Results: ILD was observed in 99 (63.5%) patients (25% with UIP pattern, and 75% with NSIP pattern (46 with GGO, 28 with GGO and reticula-tions). By ROC curve analysis, that higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were found for pleural line irregularity (0.68, 95.8%, and 41.5%, p=0.004), pleural line thickness (0.72, 70.8%, and 73.2%, p=0.001), and subpleural cyst (0.68, 58.3%, and 78.9%, p=0.004) to detect UIP pattern. The best performance among LUS signs for NSIP with GGO pattern was observed for B-lines (accuracy: 0.73, sensitivity: 92.9% and specific-ity: 54.3, p=0.0001). LUS signs with higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for NSIP with GGO and reticulations were pleural line irregularity (0.69, 96%, and 42.1%, p=0.002), pleural line thickness (0.69, 65.4%, 72.7%, p=0.002), and B-lines (0.72, 96.2%, 48.8%, p=0.0001). Furthermore, a total number of B-line > 10 maximises LUS performance with 92.3% sensitivity, and an accuracy of 0.83 (p=0.0001) to detect the NSIP pattern, particularly GGO. A sample-restricted analysis (66 SSc patients) evidenced the presence of progressive fibrosing ILD in 77%. By binary regression analysis, that the unique LUS sign associated with progressive fibrosing ILD was the presence of pleural line irregularity (OR: 3.6; 95% CI 1.08-11.9; p= 0.036). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the LUS presented a high capacity to discriminate the different patterns of SSc-ILD. Therefore, the hypothesis of using transthoracic LUS as a screening method for the evaluation of the presence of SSc-ILD and to establish the correct timing for the execution of chest HR-CT, in order to avoid patients from excessive exposure to ionising radiation is supported.
Challenges in Elucidating HIV Genetic Diversity in the Middle East and North Africa: A Review Based on a Systematic Search
Authors: Sallam Malik , Al-Khatib Arwa Omar , Sabra Tarneem , Al-Baidhani Saja , Al-Mahzoum Kholoud , Aleigailly Maryam A. , Sallam Mohammed
Published: January 2025

The extensive genetic diversity of HIV-1 represents a major challenge to public health interventions, treatment, and successful vaccine design. This challenge is particularly pronounced in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where limited data among other barriers preclude accurate characterization of HIV-1 genetic diversity. The objective of this review was to analyze studies conducted in the MENA region to delineate possible barriers that would hinder accurate depiction of HIV-1 genetic diversity in the MENA region. A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar was conducted for published records on HIV-1 genetic diversity in English up till 1 October 2024 across 18 MENA countries. The pre-defined themes of challenges/barriers included limited sampling, data gaps, resource and infrastructure constraints, HIV-specific factors, and socio-cultural barriers. A total of 38 records were included in the final review, comprising original articles (55.3%), reviews (21.1%), and sequence notes (10.5%). Libya (15.8%), Morocco (13.2%), Saudi Arabia and MENA as a whole (10.5% for each) were the primary sources of the included records. Of the 23 records with original MENA HIV-1 sequences, the median number of sequences was 46 (range: 6–193). The identified barriers included (1) low sampling density; (2) limited clinical data (21.7% with no data, 60.9% partial data, and 17.4% with full data); (3) reliance solely on population sequencing and insufficient use of advanced sequencing technologies; (4) lack of comprehensive recombination analysis; (5) socio-cultural barriers including stigma with subsequent underreporting among at-risk groups. The barriers identified in this review can hinder the ability to map the genetic diversity of HIV-1 in the MENA. Poor characterization of HIV-1 genetic diversity in the MENA would hinder the efforts to optimize prevention strategies, monitor drug resistance, and develop MENA-specific treatment protocols. To overcome these challenges, investment in public health/research infrastructure, policy reforms to reduce stigma, and strengthened regional collaboration are recommended.
Influence of Heat Treatment Temperature on the Electrochemical Properties of Cold-Rolled 0.2%C–3%Al–6/8.5%Mn–Fe Medium Manganese Steel
Authors: Luo Jihui , Zuo Huixin , Li Zhichao , Li Huiping
Published: January 2025

The microstructure evolution, polarization curve and impedance of cold-rolled 0.2%C–3%Al–6/8.5%Mn–Fe steel under heat treatment temperatures of 600–800 ℃ holding 10 minutes were tested. The results show that the cold-rolled texture of the steel does not completely disappear at 600 ℃ and 650 ℃, exhibiting high charge transfer resistance Rc and corresponding corrosion potential Ecorr. When the heat treatment temperature rises to 700 ℃, the texture begins to eliminate, the Rc begins to decrease, indicating a decrease in corrosion resistance. When the heat treatment temperature rises to 750 ℃ and 800 ℃, it can be found that the proportion of austenite begins to increase and the number of grain boundaries decrease, resulting in an increase in Rc and an improvement in the corrosion resistance of the steel. Compared to 6.5Mn steel, the higher Mn content in 8.5Mn steel results in better corrosion resistance after high-temperature heat treatment.
Temporal Graph Attention Network for Spatio-Temporal Feature Extraction in Research Topic Trend Prediction
Authors: Guo Zhan , Lu Mingxin , Han Jin
Published: January 2025

Predicting trends across multiple research topics presents a significant challenge for multivariate time series forecasting. In the temporal dimension, the fluctuation in popularity of individual research topics reveals trend features, while in the spatial dimension, the interdependence among frequently co-occurring research topics reveals correlation features. However, existing methods often overlook this spatial correlation feature or regard it as static and unchanging, leading to suboptimal prediction results. To address these shortcomings, this paper proposes a novel spatio-temporal graph neural network model, the Temporal Graph Attention Network (T-GAT). This model employs temporal convolution to extract the temporal trend features of research topics and utilizes multi-head graph attention to extract the spatial correlation features among these topics. Notably, the graph attention mechanism is capable of dynamically adjusting the weights of neighboring nodes based on the attention scores learned from the data, thereby reducing the risk of over-smoothing. Experiments conducted on the dataset from the Wanfang Academic Journal Database demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms baseline methods.
From Theory to Practice: Real-World Implementation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Pharmacy Settings
Authors: Qasim Haider Saddam , Simpson Maree Donna
Published: January 2025

This literature review examines the applications and implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) across three key pharmaceutical settings: community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and the pharmaceutical industry over the past five years. Based on a comprehensive analysis of electronic databases, including detailed case studies and implementation analyses from major healthcare institutions, the review demonstrates significant improvements in healthcare delivery. Key findings include substantial reductions in medication errors, improvements in patient adherence, and considerable cost savings across implementations. In community pharmacies, AI systems improved medication adherence and patient engagement. Hospital implementations enhanced clinical decision support and automated dispensing systems. In pharmaceutical industry settings, AI accelerated drug discovery processes and optimizes supply chain management. While implementation challenges include high costs, technical infrastructure requirements, and regulatory compliance, emerging technologies such as quantum computing and federated learning show promise for future applications. The review emphasizes balancing technological innovation with patient-centered care.
Four Decades of Bacillus Biofertilizers: Advances and Future Prospects in Agriculture
Authors: Wu Xinmai , Liu Yan , Jia Baolei , Tao Lili , Li Han , Wang Jingbang , Yuan Ziqi , Yao Yanlai
Published: January 2025

Over the past four decades, Bacillus biofertilizers have significantly contributed to sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing crop growth, improving soil health, and reducing chemical dependencies. This research utilizes bibliometric analysis based on 3,242 documents sourced from the Web of Science database to map the development, key contributions, and innovation within the field from 1985 to 2023. The study identifies exponential growth in research output, particularly from 2003 onwards, indicating a robust interest and expanding research base predominantly in China, India, and the United States. We segmented the research timeline into three distinct phases, each marked by varying growth rates and research foci. This paper presents novel insights into the geographical and institutional distributions of research, highlighting the predominant role of developing countries in advancing Bacillus-based technologies. Key research hotspots have evolved from basic applications to complex interactions involving synthetic microbial communities and advanced multi-omics techniques. Our findings demonstrate a trend towards more strategic and technologically integrated approaches to developing Bacillus biofertilizers, reflecting broader shifts towards more sustainable agricultural systems. This study not only charts historical progress but also proposes future research trajectories aimed at enhancing the application and effectiveness of microbial fertilizers across diverse ecosystems.
The Stability of the Financial Cycle: Insights from a Markov Switching Regression in South Africa
Authors: Magubane Declek Khwazi
Published: January 2025

The stability of the financial cycle is paramount for the effective formulation and implementation of macroprudential policy in South Africa. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Prudential Authority strive to mitigate excessive fluctuations in the financial cycle, recognizing that a stable cycle provides more reliable signals for financial sector activity and anchors macroprudential policy decisions. However, the tightening of macroprudential policy by the SARB and the Prudential Authority during the post-2009 recovery period, despite mild signs of recovery from the global financial crisis, raises concerns about the stability of the South African financial cycle. This study aims to construct a financial cycle volatility index to assess its stability and identify key macroeconomic drivers of financial instability in South Africa. Employing data from 1970 to 2024, the study utilizes a dynamic conditional correlation model and a Markov switching regression model to analyze the relationship between macroeconomic variables and financial stability. The findings reveal heightened financial cycle volatility around crisis periods and demonstrate that macroeconomic variables such as exchange rate fluctuations, price level changes, and the implementation of monetary and macroprudential policies can significantly increase financial instability. These results suggest a need for proactive and aggressive macroprudential policy measures in the years preceding potential crises. Moreover, the findings of the study emphasize the importance of considering macroeconomic conditions when calibrating financial cycle policies.
Breakthrough Advances in Beta-Lactamase Inhibitors: New synthesized Compounds and Mechanisms of Action Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Huang Ya-Si , Zhou Hong
Published: January 2025

Beta-lactam drugs hold a central place in the antibacterial arsenal, and the production of beta-lactamases by drug-resistant bacteria has severely compromised the effectiveness of nearly all available beta-lactams. Therefore, in the face of the increasing threat of drug resistance, the combined use of beta-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) with beta-lactam antibiotics is crucial for treating infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. Hence, the development of BLIs has always been a hot topic in the field of medicinal chemistry. In recent years, significant progress has been made in screening active drugs by enhancing the affinity of inhibitors for enzymes and the stability of their complexes, based on the design concept of competitive inhibitors. Here, we review the effects and mechanisms of newly synthesized beta-lactamase inhibitors on various BLIs in recent years, to provide ideas for the development of subsequent beta-lactamase inhibitors.
Evaluation and Adjustment of Historical Hydroclimate Data: Improving the Representation of Current Hydroclimatic Conditions in Key California Watersheds
Authors: Schwarz Andrew , Chen Z.Q. Richard , Perez Alejandro , He Minxue
Published: January 2025

The assumption of stationarity in historical hydroclimatic data, fundamental to traditional water resource planning models, is increasingly challenged by the impacts of climate change. This discrepancy can lead to inaccurate model outputs and misinformed management decisions. This study addresses this challenge by developing a novel monthly data adjustment approach, the Runoff Curve Year-to-Month (RC-YTM) method. The application of this method is exemplified at five key California watersheds. The RC-YTM method accounts for the increasing variability and shifts in seasonal runoff timing observed in the historical data (1922-2021), aligning it with the contemporary climate conditions represented by the period from 1992 to 2021 at the study watersheds. The method adjusts both annual and monthly streamflow values using a combination of precipitation-runoff relationships, quantile mapping, and water year classification. The adjusted data, reflecting current climatic conditions more accurately than the raw historical data, serves as valuable inputs for operational water resource planning models like CalSim3, commonly used in California for water management. This approach, demonstrably effective in capturing the observed climate change impacts on streamflow at monthly timesteps, enhances the reliability of model simulations representing contemporary conditions, which can lead to better-informed decision-making in water management, infrastructure investment, drought and flood risk assessment, and adaptation strategies. While focused on specific California watersheds, the study's findings and the adaptable RC-YTM method hold significant implications for water resource management in other regions facing similar hydroclimatic challenges in a changing climate.
Chinese Cultural Identity Represented in Crazy Rich Asian Novel by Kevin Kwan
Authors: Hanggraeni Theresa Wella
Published: January 2025

This research analyzes Chinese cultural identity represented in Crazy Rich Asian written by Kevin Kwan. It aims to identify the Chinese cultural signs and analyze the representation of Chinese cultural signs in representing Chinese cultural identity in the novel. This research employs semiotic approach by C. S. Peirce in representing Chinese cultural identity. As taking Crazy Rich Asian novel as the main source of data, the data taken is in the form of words, phrases, and sentences in the novel. The collected data is analyzed to identify the Chinese cultural signs and their representation. The results of this research show that there are cultural signs namely language used, body language, and family as Chinese cultural signs in the novel. These signs are identified based on legisign. The representation of Chinese cultural signs is examined by seeing the relationship between the sign and its object in three different perspectives including the similarities (icon), the real cause-effect (index), and the general rules (symbol). The results of their representation show Chinese tradition, terms, history and environment.
Social Ownership and Restitution of Agricultural Land in Croatia
Authors: Ernst Hano , Josipović Tatjana
Published: January 2025

This paper discusses the state of agricultural land in Croatia from a historical perspective. It first discusses the genesis and development of collectivisation of agricultural land in Croatia after the Second World War, particularly with reference to the idiosyncrasies of Yugoslav socialist property as compared to traditional Soviet doctrines. The developments are characterised by gradual changes in legal status as reflections of changing ideologies and policies during the socialist period concerning self-management, as well as sectoral developments (cooperative and industrial sectors). The paper goes on to analyse the transformation of social ownership over agricultural land, both in terms of its direct transformation into state ownership, as well as its in-kind restitution to former rights-holders or their descendants, particularly referencing the causes and consequences of various problems in achieving initial privatisation goals. The paper finally draws conclusions on the current state of agricultural land policies and its prospects.
Constitutional and Legal Aspects of the Processes of (De)nationalisation and Privatisation of land and of state-owned enterprises – Macedonian examples of controversial politicisation and elitisation
Authors: Karakamisheva-Jovanovska Tanja
Published: January 2025

The process of transition from former socialist to democratic systems brought to surface numerous questions about the political, legal, economic, social and cultural transformation in the societies in which these systems existed. With the fall of the Berlin wall and the so-called Iron Curtain, the former socialist states faced numerous challenges in dealing with the unfair nationalisation of citizens’ private property, dilemmas on how to apply a denationalisation process that will be fair and just, and which model of privatisation of state-owned capital to apply, having in mind the experience of the more advanced western democracies. The key issues in this context were: which type of market economy to choose, how fast should the transition be implemented and through which methods; the answers to these questions differed from country to country, because the transition, just as in a game of chess, does not have a winning formula, but offers merely a limited set of general rules of behaviour. The quest for an intellectually perfect concept of transition that would cover all possible scenarios and details would mean indefinite delay in its application. However, the lack of a coherent and clear strategy also generates serious social and economic problems. This is what the transfer from a planned and politically monolithic economy to a  pluralistic and market-oriented economy has done in the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe, leaving behind a number of open issues and dilemmas. On the other hand, certain governments which captured the state institutions and did not set any boundaries between the party (personal) interests and the state interests, caused additional political turbulence. Partisan domination in the public/state administration had a  strong effect on the ongoing privatisation processes, because business and the party in power were always on the same side of the coin. The high degree of political control over state resources created fertile ground for the emergence of political elites which entirely usurped the national economic potential of the given countries. Unlike the Central and East European countries, which successfully completed their denationalisation processes, the number of incomplete denationalisation cases in Macedonia is devastating. This paper will focus on the Macedonian transition under the influence of the transition processes in the region and will reveal a number of specific features of the Macedonian model. It will show the connection between the captured state and the privatisation of state capital. This connection results in a strong influx of private capital in the hands of the political elite through dubious processes of state capital privatisation, thus generating sources of corruption, clientelism, elitism, technocraticism and other similar processes that reflect the political power in a captured state.
Restitution of Nationalised or Collectivised Agricultural Lands and Forests – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lost in Transition
Authors: Povlakić Meliha
Published: January 2025

In the former Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereafter: SRBH) agricultural and forest land, as important natural resources of any economy, were the subject of double restrictions. One was a result of the social attachment of property, and is immanent not only to socialistic regimes. The other restriction was the result of socialist ideology, which meant that these important economic resources could only to a limited extent be privately owned — and that everything beyond prescribed limits was nationalised. There was also a vast range of other reasons for the nationalisation of these goods. The transformation process entailed the removal of restrictions on the extent of ownership of these properties, and this was done within the framework of the constitutional reforms in the former Yugoslavia (1989/90). Still in the SRBH, after these constitutional reforms it was clear that denationalisation and restitution should follow. In 1991 it was forbidden by law to dispose of nationalised property. The measures of denationalisation and restitution of nationalised property are the focus of this article. First, a short analysis is given of the history of nationalisation and confiscation of property in the former Yugoslavia after the World War II. Since the end of the 20th Century (1995), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) has been an independent state which has performed crucial reforms within the process of transformation. But the denationalisation measures regarding agricultural and forest land are still pending. One of the reasons for that is the fact that BH is composed of three separate legal orders: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska and Brčko District of BH. All three legal orders have been thoroughly analysed, since the legislative competencies for regulating denationalisation are merely given to these constituent parts of BH. Due to the political tensions and problems, it is unlikely that a framework law will be passed. The unclear ownership of agricultural and forest land (no criterion for the division of state ownership has yet been established) led to the OHR imposing a ban on the disposal of these assets in 2022. The consequence of the long absence of restitution and the coexistence of two restraining orders, which have different reasons and follow different goals, is a lack of legal certainty. The article concludes that in Bosnia  and Herzegovina  the final implementation of the transformation process in general, and restitution as a part of it, still faces many obstacles — lack of legal basis, facts established during the war, processes that are not centralised and coordinated due to the state structure, adoption of legal solutions that may jeopardise restitution in general, and restitution of agricultural land and forests as well. In brief: Bosnia and Herzegovina is still lost in transition.