bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil Carbon Cannot Efficiently Accumulate in Sand‐Based River Valley
Authors: Zhao Song , Cui Ji‐Fa , Wang Zhi‐Ping , Xue Jian‐Guo , Feng Jin‐Chao , Zhang Xi‐Mei , Han Shi‐Jie
Published: February 2025

River valley is traditionally thought a landform with efficient soil carbon accumulation, because it is generally a low‐lying wetter area relative to surrounding landforms. However, soil carbon has been less studied in sand‐based river valley of arid and semi‐arid regions. This study was to mainly understand the capacity of soil carbon accumulation in sand‐based Xilin River valley in arid and semi‐arid Mongolia Plateau by comparing with the surrounding steppe and sandland. We found that soil carbon storage per unit area sequenced in steppe > meadow > sandland, which was inversely associated with soil sand fraction. Soil carbon storage in river valley meadow was close to the mean value in three landforms, without significant difference between both. River valley wetland and water body were also synthesized at weak soil carbon accumulation. These results can be concluded that soil carbon accumulation in the low‐lying Xilin River valley had no predominance relative to the surrounding high‐lying landforms. Sand‐based soils are more aerated than loamy and clayey soils, and their organic carbon is more easily decomposed. Again, sand‐based soils are mainly composed of silicate; their low quantities of organic and inorganic carbons are further mineralized and dissolved by water erosion in the river valley, respectively. Furthermore, low plant productivity, arid and semi‐arid climate, weak sediment transport, and deposition cannot efficiently promote soil carbon accumulation. We suggest that river valley cannot be overestimated in evaluating the storage of soil carbon in arid and semi‐arid regions.
Axial Ratio and Impedance Bandwidth Enhancement of a Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using Defected Ground Structure
Authors: Harkare Ankita H. , Kothari Ashwin G. , Bhurane Ankit A. , Solunke Yogesh , Peshwe Paritosh
Published: February 2025

This article presents a novel circularly polarized stacked dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) featuring etched slots arranged in an L‐pattern within the ground plane. An analysis of the current distribution on the ground plane reveals that the inclusion of these slots results in the formation of two distinct current paths. This, in turn, leads to measured resonances: one at 6.3 GHz corresponding to the fundamental mode, and another at 7.8 GHz corresponding to a higher order mode, . The DRA is a stacked antenna composed of two discs made of a material with  = 9.8, separated by an air gap. The upper disc is perforated with three holes, strategically reducing the effective dielectric constant and thereby yielding a substantial high‐impedance bandwidth spanning from 6 to 9 GHz. This innovative design boasts simplicity in fabrication while delivering impressive performance metrics. Specifically, it achieves a noteworthy 39.6% impedance bandwidth and a 38% 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth, with overlapping coverage ranging from 6 to 8.5 GHz. Consequently, this antenna stands as an excellent choice for 5G applications operating in frequency ranges beyond the sub‐6 GHz band. The measured gains for this antenna are 5.52 dBi at the resonant frequency of 6.3 GHz and 4.5 dBi at 7.8 GHz. These gains are consistently maintained above 4 dBi throughout the entirety of the 39.6% impedance bandwidth. Furthermore, the efficiency of the antenna remains consistently above 90%.
Feeding the Flock: The Role of the Revenue Portfolio in the Financial Growth of Congregations and Religious Organizations
Authors: Searing Elizabeth A. M. , Grasse Nathan J. , Cline R. Regina
Published: February 2025

There have been fewer population‐level studies of religious organization revenues compared to other nonprofit organizations. This discrepancy is due to the exemption of houses of worship from filing the U.S. Form 990, which is the basis for most nonprofit financial analysis in academic literature. Using granular financial data on over 30,000 religious organizations in Canada from 2009 to 2016, we explore the characteristics of the revenue portfolios for this under‐studied subsector of tax‐exempt organizations. In addition to providing useful descriptive information, such as the differences between funding portfolios by religion or denomination, we identify characteristics associated with financial growth using dynamic difference‐generalized method of moments estimations. We find that donations where receipts were given drive almost all portfolios, while revenues that comprise the portfolio fringe vary widely in form and importance for growth. This study yields information useful to practitioners and researchers interested in nonprofit finance and the financial management.
Integration of art with science: College agriculture students practice science communication by writing art museum labels
Authors: Jabbour R. , Cook R. K.
Published: February 2025

Museums, long considered institutions of learning, offer a platform for the integration of art with science. In our work shared here, an introductory college‐level agriculture science class collaborated with a university art museum. Our goal was to use art objects as a launching point for dialogue within our class, as well as a way that students could practice science and agricultural communication with a broad audience—any visitors to the art museum. These art objects, selected by the course instructor in collaboration with the university art museum's curator of academic engagement, aligned with course content. A series of guided class activities culminated in publicly displayed, student‐written extended labels that placed art objects into the scientific context of our agroecology course. Extended labels are concise, informative, and written for general audiences who are not subject matter experts. Across all labels (n = 7) created by the class, students touched on concepts related to all of the grand challenges of our course: agricultural production, conservation, pest management, and climate change. Extended labels are a unique pathway for students to practice public‐facing science communication in any type of museum willing to collaborate. Such collaboration with museums, and extended label production in particular, can be structured by instructors to meet a variety of communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking student learning outcomes.
Multi‐Slit Diffraction in Scaled Space‐Time
Authors: Feagin James M.
Published: February 2025

We revisit multi‐slit diffraction with a scaling of space and time to exploit an equivalence of wave packets describing quantum free and harmonic oscillator (HO) motion. We introduce a co‐moving frame of space and time coordinates to define an effective, time‐independent, HO potential that confines and directs initially displaced wave packets along the classical phase space of the oscillator. ‐slit diffraction in the lab frame from the slits to a distant detector and the familiar spreading of the propagating wave front is then described as the propagation of HO wave packets over just a quarter cycle of the oscillator and confined to the HO potential well. We show that diffraction features are preserved in the co‐moving frame and well characterized in both the near and far fields by the classical trajectories of the HO phase space.
Trees and water: A survey of the perception and decisions of landowners in New Zealand
Authors: Villamor Grace B. , van Noordwijk Meine , Srinivasan M. S. , Clinton Peter W. , Meason Dean F.
Published: February 2025

Landowners' conceptualisation of the connection between trees and water matters for their land‐use decisions and the allocation of water resources in general. Tree–water interactions are commonly explored and explained through a biophysical lens where competing demands for water from other land uses, such as plantation forests and horticulture, are important. However, other values (positive or negative) can also play a role.

Using a mixed method approach, we explored the key stakeholders' and landowners' perceptions of trees on farms and their interactions with water resources in three regions of New Zealand. Of the 363 surveyed participants, a large majority (70%) reported the presence of (exotic and native) trees on their farms. Landowners, composed of farmers and lifestyle block owners, were identified as direct actors influencing the landscape's socio‐hydrology, and most of them rely on natural water supplies for their farms.

Our research reveals that issues relating to trees and their interaction with water—including climate change‐induced droughts, the effects of forest management and harvesting practices on water, and the decline in water quality—were raised by key stakeholders. Landowners chose to keep trees on their farms to enhance biodiversity, mitigate soil erosion and provide shelterbelts. They also value trees for shade for their livestock and for improving water quality.

Our findings suggest that older landowners, those who perceive water quality as less concern and those who perceive lower flood risks are less likely to plant trees. This study sets the foundation for understanding the relationship between trees and water in New Zealand. However, additional research is necessary to assess the synergies and trade‐offs arising from the interactions of socio‐hydrological systems.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Impact of local unfolding fluctuations on the evolution of regional sequence preferences in proteins
Authors: Voortman‐Sheetz Keila , Wrabl James O. , Hilser Vincent J.
Published: February 2025

The number of distinct structural environments in the proteome (as observed in the Protein Data Bank) may belie an organizing framework, whereby evolution conserves the relative stability of different sequence segments, regardless of the specific structural details present in the final fold. If true, the question arises as to whether the energetic consequences of amino acid substitutions, and thus the frequencies of amino acids within each of these so‐called thermodynamic environments, could depend less on what local structure that sequence segment may adopt in the final fold, and more on the local stability of that final structure relative to the unfolded state. To address this question, a previously described ensemble‐based approach (the COREX algorithm) was used to define proteins in terms of thermodynamic environments, and the naturally occurring frequencies of amino acids within these environments were used to generate statistical energies (a type of knowledge‐based potential). By comparing compatibility scores from the statistical energies with energies calculated using the Rosetta all‐atom energy function, we assessed the information overlap between the two approaches. Results revealed a substantial correlation between the statistical scores and those obtained using Rosetta, directly demonstrating that a small number of thermodynamic environments are sufficient to capture the perceived multiplicity of different structural environments in proteins. More importantly, the agreement suggests that regional amino acid distributions within each protein in any proteome have been substantially driven by the evolutionary conservation of the regional differences in stabilities within protein families.
Folding of a tandemly knotted protein: Evidence that a polypeptide chain can get out of deep kinetic traps
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Jackson Sophie E.
Published: February 2025

It is hard to imagine how proteins can thread and form knots in their polypeptide chains, but they do. These topologically complex structures have challenged the traditional protein folding views of simple funnel‐shaped energy landscapes. Previous experimental studies on the folding mechanisms of deeply knotted proteins with a single trefoil knot have yielded evidence that this topology has a more complicated folding landscape than other simpler proteins. However, to date, there have been no attempts to study the folding of any protein in which multiple threading events are needed to create more than one knot within a single polypeptide chain. Here, we report the construction and characterization of an artificial tandemly knotted protein. We find compelling evidence that both domains of the protein form trefoil knots with similar structures and stabilities to the parent single trefoil‐knotted protein. In addition, we show that this tandemly knotted protein has a complex folding pathway in which there are additional very slow folding phases that we propose correspond to the formation of the second knot within the system. We also find evidence that during folding this protein gets transiently trapped in deep kinetic traps, however, the majority of protein chains (>90%) manage to partially unfold and acquire the native tandem‐knot topology. This work highlights the fact that Nature can tolerate more complex protein topologies than we thought, and despite considerable misfolding during folding, protein chains can find their way to the native state even in the absence of molecular chaperones.
Torsional twist of the SARS‐CoV and SARS‐CoV‐2 SUD‐N and SUD‐M domains
Authors: Rosas‐Lemus Monica , Minasov George , Brunzelle Joseph S. , Taha Taha Y. , Lemak Sofia , Yin Shaohui , Shuvalova Ludmilla , Rosecrans Julia , Khanna Kanika , Seifert H. Steven , Savchenko Alexei , Stogios Peter J. , Ott Melanie , Satchell Karla J. F.
Published: February 2025

Coronavirus non‐structural protein 3 (nsp3) forms hexameric crowns of pores in the double membrane vesicle that houses the replication–transcription complex. Nsp3 in SARS‐like viruses has three unique domains absent in other coronavirus nsp3 proteins. Two of these, SUD‐N (Macrodomain 2) and SUD‐M (Macrodomain 3), form two lobes connected by a peptide linker and an interdomain disulfide bridge. We resolve the first complete x‐ray structure of SARS‐CoV SUD‐N/M as well as a mutant variant of SARS‐CoV‐2 SUD‐N/M modified to restore cysteines for interdomain disulfide bond naturally lost by evolution. Comparative analysis of all structures revealed SUD‐N and SUD‐M are not rigidly associated but rather have significant rotational flexibility. Phylogenetic analysis supports that the potential to form the disulfide bond is common across betacoronavirus isolates from many bat species and civets, but also one or both of the cysteines that form the disulfide bond are absent across isolates from bats and pangolins. The absence of these cysteines does not impact viral replication or protein translation.
Protein Data Bank Japan: Improved tools for sequence‐oriented analysis of protein structures
Authors: Bekker Gert‐Jan , Nagao Chioko , Shirota Matsuyuki , Nakamura Tsukasa , Katayama Toshiaki , Kihara Daisuke , Kinoshita Kengo , Kurisu Genji
Published: February 2025

Protein Data Bank Japan (PDBj) is the Asian hub of three‐dimensional macromolecular structure data, and a founding member of the worldwide Protein Data Bank. We have accepted, processed, and distributed experimentally determined biological macromolecular structures for over two decades. Although we collaborate with RCSB PDB and BMRB in the United States, PDBe and EMDB in Europe and recently PDBc in China for our data‐in activities, we have developed our own unique services and tools for searching, exploring, visualizing and analyzing protein structures. We have recently introduced a new UniProt‐integrated portal to provide users with a quick overview of their target protein and shows a recommended structure with integrated data from various internal and external resources. The portal page helps users identify known genomic variations of their protein of interest and provide insights into how these modifications might impact the structure, stability and dynamics of the protein. Furthermore, the portal page also helps users to select the optimal structure to use for further analysis. We have also introduced another service to explore proteins using experimental and computational approaches, which enables experimental structural biologists to increase their insight to help them to more efficiently design their experimental studies. With these new additions, we have enhanced our service portfolio to benefit both experimental and computational structural biologists in their search to interpret protein structures, their dynamics and function.
From duplication to fusion: Expanding Dayhoff's model of protein evolution
Authors: Muthahari Yusran Abdillah , Magnus Lilian , Laurino Paola
Published: February 2025

Dayhoff's hypothesis suggests that complex proteins emerged from simpler peptides or domains, which duplicated and fused to create more complex proteins and novel functions. These processes expanded and diversified the protein repertoire within organisms. Extensive studies and reviews over the past two decades have highlighted the impact of gene duplication on protein evolution. However, the role of fusion in this evolutionary narrative remains less understood. This perspective seeks to address this gap by emphasizing the role of fusion in evolution. Fusion is critical in determining the evolutionary fate of duplicated protomers, either preserving their ancestral function or evolving entirely new functions. It complements mutations, insertions, and deletions as evolutionary steps to enhance protein evolvability by expanding the capacity of the protein to explore new structural and functional space.
Cancer‐Targeting Peptides Functionalized With Polyarginine Enables GRP78‐Dependent Cell Uptake and siRNA Delivery Within the DU145 Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Hilan George , Daniel Grace , Collak Filiz , Sabatino David , Willmore William G.
Published: February 2025

This study investigated a peptide‐based GRP78‐targeting strategy for short‐interfering (si) RNA delivery in cancer cells. Synthetic fluorescein‐labeled amphiphilic peptides composed of the hydrophobic cell surface (cs) GRP78‐targeting and hydrophilic, polycationic arginine‐rich cell penetrating peptides demonstrated GRP78‐dependent cell uptake in the DU145 prostate cancer cells, and to a lesser extent in the non‐cancerous human lung fibroblast WI‐38 cell line. Mechanistic studies revealed energy‐dependent GRP78 receptor‐mediated endocytosis of the GRP78‐targeting peptide with polyarginine (W1‐R9). The cytosolic accumulation of this peptide underscored its potential utility in siRNA delivery. Peptide:siRNA complexes formed stably condensed nanoparticles, with calcium functioning as an ionic stabilizer and additive promoting endosomal siRNA escape for RNA interference (RNAi) activity. Preliminary peptide‐based siRNA transfections in the DU145 cells demonstrated that GRP78 knockdown led to an interplay in between pro‐survival and cell death outcomes under ER stress induction. Thus, the GRP78‐targeting polyarginine peptides enables efficient cell uptake for specific siRNA delivery in the DU145 cells. This class of bio‐active synthetic peptides is important for the investigation of cancer biology, leading to the innovation of cancer‐targeted gene delivery and therapy approaches.
Efficient Simulation of Open Quantum Systems on NISQ Trapped‐Ion Hardware
Authors: Burdine Colin , Bauer Nora , Siopsis George , Blair Enrique P.
Published: February 2025

Simulating open quantum systems, which interact with external environments, presents significant challenges on noisy intermediate‐scale quantum (NISQ) devices due to limited qubit resources and noise. In this study, an efficient framework is proposed for simulating open quantum systems on NISQ hardware by leveraging a time‐perturbative Kraus operator representation of the system's dynamics. This approach avoids the computationally expensive Trotterization method and exploits the Lindblad master equation to represent time evolution in a compact form, particularly for systems satisfying specific commutation relations. The efficiency of this method is demonstrated by simulating quantum channels, such as the continuous‐time Pauli channel and damped harmonic oscillators, on NISQ trapped‐ion hardware, including IonQ Harmony and Quantinuum H1‐1. Additionally, hardware‐agnostic error mitigation techniques are introduced, including Pauli channel fitting and quantum depolarizing channel inversion, to enhance the fidelity of quantum simulations. These results show strong agreement between the simulations on real quantum hardware and exact solutions, highlighting the potential of Kraus‐based methods for scalable and accurate simulation of open quantum systems on NISQ devices. This framework opens pathways for simulating more complex systems under realistic conditions in the near term.
Fast Pyrolysis of Cigarette and Cigar Leaves: Differential Analysis of Their Heavy Products by Ultrahigh‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhu Zihan , Zhang Cunyong , Shi Yaqi , Zou Peng , Ding Naihong , Zong Kun , Jia Liangyuan , Guo Dongfeng
Published: February 2025

Rationale

The cigars have characteristic flavors in smoke when compared with cigarettes, and cigars from various origins also have a difference in taste. However, little information can be found about the difference in chemical components of smokes between cigar and cigarette as well as between cigars, so it is interesting to compare their pyrolysis product distribution.

Methods

The cigarette and cigar leaves were pyrolyzed in a microfluidized‐bed reactor, and the pyrolysis vapors were condensed and collected using cold traps. Mass spectrometric analysis of condensed liquids was performed utilizing electrospray ionization‐orbitrap mass spectrometry in both positive and negative ion modes.

Results

The mass spectra of condensable pyrolysis products of three tobacco leaves were obtained by Orbitrap‐MS in both positive and negative ESI modes. The DBE values (to carbon atom number) and the relative distribution (to nitrogen or oxygen atom number) of different products were carefully compared and discussed.

Conclusion

The main difference in pyrolysis products between cigarette and cigar leaves relates to N1–N2 class compounds in high‐mass range as well as highly unsaturated nitrogenated compounds, while the one between two cigar leaves is associated with CxHyOzN5–9 and C30‐50HyOzNw compounds. Besides, the oxygenated products that fall into the H/C > 2 and O/C < 1 ranges are also characteristic for Dominican cigar.
Combination of Metabolite Analysis and Network Pharmacology to Explore the Potential Anticough Mechanism of Protopine—A Marker in Zhi‐Ke‐Bao Tablets
Authors: Zou Qi‐Feng , Chen De‐Jian , Liu Cheng‐Jun , Chen Zi‐Hao , Yang Xia , Xu Rong‐Huang , Zhou Zhen‐Hui , Chen Jian‐Xin , Shi Wei , Zhang Feng‐Xiang
Published: February 2025

Rationale

Protopine, an active alkaloid in Papaver somniferum L., was abundant in a well‐known anticough traditional Chinese medicine preparation—Zhi‐Ke‐Bao tablets. Till now, the metabolism feature and anticough mechanism of protopine have not been fully elucidated, restricting its further development.

Methods

The metabolites of protopine in rats were profiled by using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and its anticough targets and mechanism were predicted by network pharmacology.

Results

In rats, a total of 19 metabolites were identified following ingestion of protopine (21 mg/kg/day, i.g.), including 4 in plasma, 6 in urine, 5 in feces, 10 in liver, 2 in spleen, 4 in lung, 3 in kidney, 3 in heart, and 3 in brain. The main metabolic features were ring‐opening, methylation, demethylation, glucuronidation, sulfation, and hydroxylation. Among them, methylation, sulfation, and hydroxylation of protopine in vivo were revealed for the first time. The network pharmacology results show that protopine and its metabolites regulate physiological activities by acting on STAT3, SRC, CASP3, MTOR, MMP9, ESR1, and other targets, involving PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway, etc.

Conclusions

The metabolic features of protopine and its potential mechanisms for anticough effects were outlined, providing data for further anticough pharmacological validation of protopine.
Distributed Adaptive Tracking Control for Non‐Linearly Parameterized Time‐Varying Multi‐Agent Systems
Authors: Wang Meiqiao , Li Wuquan
Published: February 2025

This article studies the tracking problem for a class of non‐linearly parameterized multi‐agent systems with the powers being unknown time‐varying functions. The essence of the multi‐agent systems and the serious uncertainties distinguish the question in this article from the existing works. By combing the algebraic graph theory, adding a power integrator method and adaptive technique, a new distributed adaptive tracking controller is presented with a dynamic estimating a reconstructed unknown parameter depending on the system parameters, which guarantees that both the system state and the control input are globally bounded and meanwhile, the tracking error can be adjusted to arbitrarily small. Finally, we offer a simulation to interpret the validity of the control scheme design.
Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, Molecular Docking and In‐silico ADMET Studies of Mutual Prodrugs of Some Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drugs
Authors: Patel Zanza , Tandel Falguni , Tripathi Rati Kailash Prasad
Published: February 2025

The use of NSAIDs is limited due to their gastrointestinal (GI) side‐effects. To mitigate this, substantial research has focused on developing bio‐reversible derivatives like mutual prodrugs to temporarily mask the acidic group of NSAIDs, thereby reducing or eliminating GI toxicity. This study aims to synthesize mutual prodrugs by conjugating propyphenazone with selected NSAIDs (flurbiprofen, mefenamic acid, aspirin, salicylic acid, and aceclofenac), to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing GI side‐effects. Prodrugs were evaluated for in‐vitro COX‐1/COX‐2 inhibitory activities, key players in inflammation. Molecular docking studies were performed to examine binding free energies (ΔG), binding poses, and interactions within COX enzymes’ active sites. Besides, prodrugs were tested for in‐vitro antioxidant activity and in‐vivo anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and ulcerogenic potential including in‐silico pharmacokinetic properties. Flurbiprofen‐propyphenazone prodrug (compound 4) exhibited most potent activity among others, inhibiting COX‐1 (IC50 = 6.16 ± 0.02 µM) and COX‐2 (IC50 = 1.19 ± 0.02 µM). Molecular docking revealed key interactions crucial for ligand‐protein stabilization. Compound 4 depicted better anti‐inflammatory and analgesic activities and showed decrease in ulcerogenic index. Antioxidant assay confirmed good radical‐scavenging capabilities. Computational ADMET studies predicted favorable drug‐like properties, making compound 4 a lead candidate for further optimization. These findings underscore the potential of this approach in developing safer NSAIDs for inflammatory disorders.
Fostering positive CEO‐board relationships: Board synchronization skill and relationship cycles in new ventures
Authors: Garg Sam , Bingham Christopher B.
Published: February 2025

Research Summary

This article explores how new venture leaders foster positive CEO–board relationships, a critical yet underdeveloped topic in governance research. We examine the ongoing interactions between first‐time CEOs and their boards, focusing on the tension between boards' need for influence and transparency and CEOs' desire for autonomy and control. Introducing the concept of “relationship cycles,” we demonstrate how early interactions create virtuous or vibcious feedback loops that shape long‐term governance outcomes. We also propose “board synchronization skill” as a key construct, highlighting how CEOs successfully manage communication to align competing goals. Finally, we set forth a temporal contingency view of live communication that reveals how interaction effectiveness varies by stage, thereby impacting CEO–board dynamics. More broadly, this study offers a process‐oriented view of governance, expanding our understanding of CEO–board relationships in ventures.

Managerial Summary

This article examines how leaders of new ventures can build and sustain effective CEO‐board relationships—an essential yet often overlooked aspect of corporate governance. Drawing on the experiences of first‐time CEOs, we explore the dynamic tension between a board's need for influence and transparency and a CEO's desire for autonomy and control. We introduce the concept of "relationship cycles" to explain how initial interactions can establish positive or negative feedback loops that influence long‐term governance outcomes. We also identify "board synchronization skill" as a critical capability for CEOs, emphasizing the importance of managing communication to balance competing priorities. Additionally, a stage‐specific approach to live communication is proposed, illustrating how the effectiveness of interactions evolves over time and shapes CEO‐board dynamics. Overall, the study takes a process‐oriented perspective, offering new insights into how governance practices can drive better alignment and performance in entrepreneurial ventures.
Periodic Table Exploration of MXenes for Efficient Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia
Authors: Nittoor‐Veedu Radhika , Ju Xiaohui , Langer Michal , Gao Wanli , Otyepka Michal , Pumera Martin
Published: February 2025

Applying electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) to produce ammonia offers a sustainable alternative to the energy‐intensive Haber‐Bosch process, which is crucial for clean energy and agricultural applications. While 2D MXenes hold great promise as electrocatalysts for NO3RR, their application for ammonia production remains underexplored. This study combines experimental and theoretical approaches to evaluate the catalytic performance of a series of MXenes with different central metal atoms for NO3RR. Among the materials studied (Ti3C2Tx, Ti3CNTx, Ti2CTx, V2CTx, Cr2CTx, Nb2CTx, and Ta2CTx), Ti3‐based MXenes exhibit superior faradaic efficiency, ammonia yield rate, and stability. Density functional theory calculations offer further insights explaining the structure‐activity‐based observations. This research establishes a foundation for future studies aimed at leveraging MXenes for electrochemical nitrate reduction for green synthesis of ammonia.
Simultaneous Measurement of Surface Tension and Viscosity Using a Liquid Dynamics Sensor
Authors: Seimiya Naruhito , Takei Kuniharu
Published: February 2025

The dynamics of liquids upon impact with an object exhibit distinctive behaviors influenced by physical parameters such as surface tension and viscosity, which can be determined by analyzing a liquid's dynamic response. However, measuring these parameters typically requires different tools, a complicated setup, increased space, and higher costs. To streamline this process, a liquid dynamic sensor capable of simultaneously extracting surface tension and viscosity via a single‐step measurement is proposed. The proposed measurement method uses a superhydrophobic sensor comprising three electrode pairs, which are fabricated using laser‐induced graphene on polydimethylsiloxane. The sensor monitors time‐series resistance changes triggered by liquid impact dynamics. The results show that time‐series liquid dynamics on the sensor surface vary with the liquid's surface tension and viscosity, allowing for the differentiation of these properties. By implementing an echo state network algorithm, surface tension and viscosity are successfully estimated simultaneously. In addition, the system demonstrates reliable generalization capability, accurately estimating the properties of unknown liquids, which confirms the proposed sensor's robustness for simultaneous measurement of liquid physical parameters.
Numerische Simulation des Bruchverhaltens von thermisch vorgespanntem Glas
Authors: Kanan Anas , Kaliske Michael
Published: February 2025

Im Beitrag wird das Versagensverhalten von Glas durch numerische Untersuchungen wiedergegeben. Dafür wird das Bruchverhalten von thermisch vorgespanntem Glas mit der Finite‐Elemente‐Methode simuliert. Ein Bruchmodell wird angewandt, um die dynamische Fragmentierung zu modellieren. Um den Fragmentierungsprozess in einer angemessenen Rechenzeit zu simulieren, wird ein parallelisiertes Finite‐Elemente‐Programm verwendet. Die numerischen Simulationsergebnisse zeigen, dass der Bruchansatz in der Lage ist, die dynamische Rissverzweigung und ‐verschmelzung sowie die Bildung von Bruchfragmenten zu beschreiben, die in thermisch vorgespannten Glasscheiben auftreten. Der Inhalt dieses Beitrags wurde am 25. Oktober 2024 im Rahmen des 28. Dresdner Baustatik‐Seminars präsentiert.
Gewichtsreduzierung von VSG durch Dünnglas bei gleichbleibender Stoßfestigkeit
Authors: Bornemann Steffen , Salam M. Abdus , Fleckenstein Elena , Engelmann Michael
Published: February 2025

Die Minimierung des Einsatzes von Ressourcen ist ein zentrales Ziel der UN‐Nachhaltigkeitsagenda. Im Bausektor bietet die Verwendung von dünneren Gläsern und die damit verbundene Gewichtseinsparung eine Möglichkeit, dieses Ziel im Sinne des Leichtbaus zu unterstützen. Dabei stellen die hohen Sicherheitsanforderungen der Bauindustrie Herausforderungen an die Entwicklung von Verbundsicherheitsgläsern (VSG), v. a. hinsichtlich der Stoßsicherheit, Splitterbindung und Resttragfähigkeit. Aufgrund des reduzierten Glasanteils bei Verwendung dünnerer Gläser nimmt die Beanspruchung der Zwischenschicht zu, sodass ihre Relevanz am Lastabtrag steigt. Ziel der hier vorgestellten Versuche war es daher, herauszufinden, wie die Gewichtsreduzierung möglich ist, ohne die Stoßfestigkeit zu verringern. Hierfür wurde der Einfluss von Glasdicke, ‐art sowie von einlagigen Zwischenschichten aus Ethylenvinylacetat‐Copolymer (EVA) und mehrlagigen Zwischenschichten aus EVA und modifiziertem Polyester (MPE) auf die Stoßsicherheit anhand des Kugelfallversuchs gemäß DIN EN 14449 bzw. DIN 52338 untersucht. Nach der Beschreibung des Versuchsaufbaus und der Methode wird der Einfluss der Konstruktionsparameter auf das Bruchbild und die Fallhöhe thematisiert. Es zeigt sich, dass der Einsatz mehrlagiger Zwischenschichten eine signifikante Verbesserung der Stoßsicherheit und damit eine Reduktion der Glasdicke bei gleichbleibender Fallhöhe ermöglicht, was einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Ressourcenschonung leistet.
The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
Authors: Galvin James E. , Germain Deborah M. , Moore Claudia P. , Jeanty Jennifer A. , Tofaeono Vaatausili , Wiese Lisa K.
Published: February 2025

INTRODUCTION

Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities. We created the Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA) to improve ADRD health literacy.

METHODS

The DeLA, a storytelling method that included culturally adaptable vignettes embedded with important factoids about ADRD, was administered to 213 participants from urban and rural regions of Palm Beach and Broward County in Florida and 193 participants in American Samoa.

RESULTS

The DeLA increased dementia health literacy and performed well across different participant characteristics (age, sex, education, geographic locale, race, ethnicity, and cognitive performance). Gains in ADRD health literacy were associated with older age, more education, better socioeconomic status, greater resilience, and better cognitive performance.

DISCUSSION

Increasing ADRD health literacy could increase health‐seeking behaviors in diverse populations for treatment, enrich recruitment into clinical trials, and may help reduce disparities in health outcomes.

Highlights

Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities.

The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA), a storytelling method that included culturally adaptable vignettes embedded with important factoids about ADRD, was administered to 406 participants from urban and rural regions of Palm Beach and Broward County in Florida and American Samoa (11.8% White, 39.8% Black or African American, and 48.4% Pacific Islander [predominantly Samoan] individuals).

The DeLA increased dementia health literacy and performed well across different participant characteristics (age, sex, education, geographic locale, race, and cognitive performance).

Gains in ADRD health literacy were associated with older age, more education, better socioeconomic status, greater resilience, and better cognitive performance.

Increasing ADRD health literacy could increase health‐seeking behaviors in diverse populations for treatment, enrich recruitment into clinical trials, and help reduce disparities in health outcomes.
Modified APPEND Score for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in a New Zealand Pasifika Population
Authors: Pitesa Renato , Hill Andrew G. , MacCormick Andrew D.
Published: February 2025

Background

Diagnosing acute appendicitis often requires biochemical and imaging support which may not be feasible in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The APPEND score, developed in New Zealand, includes C‐reactive protein (CRP) which in resource‐limited settings, may be hindered by slow processing times. This study aims to evaluate a modified APPEND score (mAPPEND), excluding CRP for diagnosing appendicitis in a New Zealand Pasifika cohort.

Methods

This secondary analysis utilized data from two cohorts (2011 and 2017) from Middlemore Hospital, Auckland. Patients aged ≥ 15 years with right iliac fossa pain for < 7 days were included, excluding those with prior appendicectomy or generalized peritonitis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated, and diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, comparing the area under the curve (AUC) for both scores.

Results

Among 143 Pasifika patients, the AUC for the APPEND and mAPPEND scores were comparable (0.84 vs. 0.85 respectively, p = 0.41). The mAPPEND score demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy with scores between 1 and 2 showing high sensitivity (100% and 97%) and NPV (90% and 92%), scores 4–5 showing high specificity (94% and 100%, respectively) and PPV (90% and 100%, respectively), and a score of 3 being the most efficient with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 71%.

Conclusion

The mAPPEND score maintains high diagnostic accuracy for appendicitis in a New Zealand Pasifika population. This modified score is a simple and viable tool in settings where CRP testing is unfeasible, supporting its use in Pacific Island countries.
Important radiological and clinicopathological risk factors for the recurrence of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms after surgical resection
Authors: Park Junghoan , Kim Jung Hoon , Ryu Rae Rim , Hwang Sungjun
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To assess significant radiological and clinicopathological risk factors for post-surgery recurrence in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).

Materials and methods

Patients with IPMNs who underwent surgery from 2011 to 2021 at a single center were retrospectively included. Two reviewers evaluated CT findings according to international guidelines. Clinicopathological data were collected from medical records and surgical pathology reports. Patients were monitored for recurrence with contrast-enhanced CT or MRI up to 2023. Univariable Cox regression analysis included potential risk factors: all high-risk stigmata and worrisome features in the international guidelines, age, sex, tumor location, type, carcinoembryonic antigen, surgery type, postsurgical residual cyst, adjuvant treatment, pathologic grade, type, size, margin status, lymph node metastasis, gland type, and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Variables with p < 0.2 were included in multivariate analysis.

Results

Among 332 patients (mean age, 66.3 ± 9.0 years; 212 men), recurrence occurred in 39 (11.7%) over a median follow-up of 3.2 years (range: 0.1–12.3 years). Two- and five-year recurrence-free survival rates were 91.2% and 86.4%, respectively. Significant radiological risk factors included enhancing mural nodule (EMN) presence (hazard ratio [HR] 5.088, p = 0.007) and lymphadenopathy (HR 2.837, p = 0.01). Associated invasive carcinoma (HR 25.030), lymph node metastasis (HR 27.562), adjuvant treatment (HR 0.203), and history of pancreatitis (HR 2.608) were also significant. Most imaging features showed moderate to excellent interobserver agreement, except for thickened/enhancing cyst walls (κ, 0.25).

Conclusion

The presence of EMNs and lymphadenopathy, along with several clinicopathologic factors, were significantly associated with IPMN recurrence.

Key Points

Question

Understanding postoperative recurrence risk in IPMN patients is crucial for determining surveillance strategies; however, research on radiologic risk factors remains limited.

Findings

The presence of EMNs and lymphadenopathy were identified as significant radiologic risk factors for the postoperative recurrence of IPMN, along with clinicopathologic factors.

Clinical relevance

IPMN recurrence is significantly associated with imaging findings like EMNs and lymphadenopathy, as well as clinical and pathologic factors. It can guide the development of tailored postoperative surveillance strategies for IPMN patients in further studies.

Graphical Abstract
The German pelvic database
Authors: Pohlemann Tim , Gänsslen Axel
Published: February 2025

The German Pelvic Group as part of the former German section of the AO-International (now AO Trauma Germany) and the German Trauma Society (DGU) represents a 34-year success story of data documentation for the optimization of pelvic and acetabulum surgery. The historical development and the corresponding course are presented. With increasing work, the initial data were integrated into the DGU Pelvic Register. It is used to record data on fractures of the pelvic ring and acetabulum with the aim to derive optimized treatment options and to gain new scientific knowledge. The register started in 2004 as an initiative of the DGU GPG. In June 2024, the DGU Board approved the upgrade of the status of the working group to a formal section Pelvic and Acetabulum Fractures as standing division of the German Trauma Society.
Feasibility and acceptance of transdermal auricular vagus nerve stimulation using a TENS device in females suffering from long COVID fatigue
Authors: Pfoser-Poschacher Veronika , Keilani Mohammad , Steiner Margarete , Schmeckenbecher Jim , Zwick Ralf Harun , Crevenna Richard
Published: February 2025

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant health challenges, with some individuals developing long COVID characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea and cognitive difficulties lasting weeks or months after infection. This condition predominantly affects women and may involve prolonged inflammation and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Current treatments focus on symptom relief and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is being investigated for its potential therapeutic benefits.

Methods

This pilot study was a prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial involving 36 female long COVID patients aged 18–70 years. Participants were assigned to three groups receiving VNS at frequencies of 10 Hz, 25 Hz, or a control of 2 Hz for 3 months. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after 4 and 12 weeks.

Results

The study revealed that all VNS treatment groups experienced reduction in symptoms associated with long COVID, particularly in fatigue and dyspnea, after 12 weeks. Participants across all frequencies reported an improvement in health-related quality of life. Heart rate variability remained stable throughout the trial, and no significant changes in morning salivary cortisol levels were seen across groups.

Discussion

Vagus nerve stimulation may offer therapeutic benefits for women with long COVID, particularly in reducing fatigue and dyspnea. The treatment was found to be safe, with no significant side effects reported; however, further research with larger study groups is needed to confirm these findings and examine the long-term effects of VNS on autonomic nervous system function.
A randomised clinical trial comparing a surgical approach for treatment of peri-implantitis to non-surgical debridement with adjunctive diode laser therapy
Authors: Hashim Dena , Courvoisier Delphine , Cionca Norbert
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of non-surgical debridement with repeated diode laser application in comparison to surgical treatment for management of peri-implantitis.

Materials and methods

Forty patients diagnosed with peri-implantitis were randomised into two groups. The test group received mechanical debridement and repeated diode laser therapy at Days 0, 7 and 14. The control group received mechanical debridement at Day 0 followed by surgical treatment at Day 14. Clinical evaluations were performed at baseline, 3 and 12 months.

Results

Thirty-six participants (test n = 17, control n = 19) completed the 12-month observation period. Laser treatment failed in 4 cases (23.5%); of which 3 implants lost osseointegration and one necessitated surgical treatment due to progressively increasing probing depths (PD) and bone loss. In comparison, the control group showed a 100% survival rate with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.04). Therefore, thirty-two participants were examined at the final evaluation (test n = 13, control n = 19). Twenty-two implants (57.9%) showed complete disease resolution without significant differences between the groups. The test group reported significantly lower post-operative discomfort on the visual analogue scale (VAS). At 3 months, both groups showed clinical signs of healing with reduction in probing depths (PD) and bleeding upon probing. Surgical treatment resulted in significantly lower PDs (control 3.7 mm [3.2, 4.0], test 4.5 mm [3.8, 4.8]), but recession was significantly higher (control 0.5 mm [0.3, 1.2], test 0 mm [0.0, 0.3]). At the final reevaluation, PD values remained significantly lower in the control group; 3.3 mm [3.1, 3.9] compared to 4.3 mm [3.7, 4.8] for the test group, but the difference in mucosal recession fell below the level of significance. Marginal bone levels improved after one year without significant differences between the two groups (Test = 3.5 mm [2.8, 4.6] at baseline and 1.5 mm [1.0, 4.4] at one year, Control = 2.8 mm [2.5, 3.1] at baseline and 1.4 mm [1.0, 2.6] at one year).

Conclusion

Surgical approaches for management of peri-implantitis demonstrated significant benefits over laser therapy in terms of treatment success and PD reduction. Nevertheless, diode laser therapy, as described in this study, could represent a minimally invasive alternative for treatment of non-advanced peri-implantitis defects.