bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critical review of empirical support for trauma‐informed approaches in schools and a call for conceptual, empirical and practice integration
Authors: Watson Kate R. , Astor Ron Avi
Published: January 2025

Interest in trauma‐informed approaches in schools is high throughout the US, UK, Australia, Canada and other countries, but the empirical evidence on whole‐school responses to trauma is limited. This conceptual and theoretical review explores relevant literature; outlines existing conceptual models for trauma‐informed organisations, including schools; reviews current evidence for individual components of conceptual models relevant to schools; and considers implications for future research, practice and policy. Four common components were identified in the literature: (a) understanding trauma and making a universal commitment to address it; (b) emphasising physical, emotional and psychological safety for all school members; (c) taking a strengths‐based, whole‐person approach toward staff, students and families; and (d) creating and sustaining trusting, collaborative and empowering relationships among all school constituents. Most of these components have been studied as part of other literature and are not specific to trauma‐informed schools. Practitioners would benefit from shifting to an organisational model for trauma rather than the historical emphasis on interpersonal approaches, toward ensuring that all staff members are trauma‐aware and ‐responsive, and emphasising the creation of healthy, healing schools for all communities.
Adaptive Event‐Triggered Output Feedback Consensus Tracking Control of Multi‐Agent Systems via K‐Filters
Authors: Zhang Tianping , Duan Yanan
Published: January 2025

In this paper, the issue of adaptive event‐triggered output feedback consensus tracking dynamic surface control is discussed for nonlinear multi‐agent systems (MASs) with unmodeled dynamics. The system states are estimated via K‐filters. The unknown nonlinear continuous functions are approximated using radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs). To lighten the load on communication, an event‐triggered control (ETC) method with a relative threshold is developed. By using command filter backstepping technology, a unique adaptive consensus tracking control strategy is presented. Then, through Lyapunov stability analysis, all signals in the closed‐loop system can be guaranteed to be semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB), and the Zeno phenomenon can be avoided. Finally, simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
ROLO‐SLAM: Rotation‐Optimized LiDAR‐Only SLAM in Uneven Terrain With Ground Vehicle
Authors: Wang Yinchuan , Ren Bin , Zhang Xiang , Wang Pengyu , Wang Chaoqun , Song Rui , Li Yibin , Meng Max Q.‐H.
Published: January 2025

LiDAR‐based SLAM is recognized as one effective method to offer localization guidance in rough environments. However, off‐the‐shelf LiDAR‐based SLAM methods suffer from significant pose estimation drifts, particularly components relevant to the vertical direction, when passing to uneven terrains. This deficiency typically leads to a conspicuously distorted global map. In this article, a LiDAR‐based SLAM method is presented to improve the accuracy of pose estimations for ground vehicles in rough terrains, which is termed Rotation‐Optimized LiDAR‐Only (ROLO) SLAM. The method exploits a forward location prediction to coarsely eliminate the location difference of consecutive scans, thereby enabling separate and accurate determination of the location and orientation at the front‐end. Furthermore, we adopt a parallel‐capable spatial voxelization for correspondence‐matching. We develop a spherical alignment‐guided rotation registration within each voxel to estimate the rotation of vehicle. By incorporating geometric alignment, we introduce the motion constraint into the optimization formulation to enhance the rapid and effective estimation of LiDAR's translation. Subsequently, we extract several keyframes to construct the submap and exploit an alignment from the current scan to the submap for precise pose estimation. Meanwhile, a global‐scale factor graph is established to aid in the reduction of cumulative errors. In various scenes, diverse experiments have been conducted to evaluate our method. The results demonstrate that ROLO‐SLAM excels in pose estimation of ground vehicles and outperforms existing state‐of‐the‐art LiDAR SLAM frameworks.
The Simulation and Path Tracking Control Study of Magnetic Miniature Soft Robots
Authors: Wang Sanxiu , Dai Zhenhao , Lu Qun , Su Chun‐Yi
Published: January 2025

Magnetic miniature soft robots hold significant potential in biomedical research, especially for targeted therapy, drug delivery, and cell manipulation. Precise path tracking control is crucial for these robots in complex biomedical applications. Here, we propose a Stanley path tracking control algorithm based on visual feedback for magnetic soft robots. First, a magnetic miniature soft crawling robot was designed and fabricated, and its crawling mechanism was detailed. Next, a simulation framework using the material point method (MPM) was constructed to simulate the movement and deformation of the miniature robot and to verify the proposed crawling mechanism. Finally, visual feedback technology was used to obtain the robot's position and posture, and the Stanley algorithm was applied for path tracking control in crawling mode. The effectiveness of the proposed path tracking control strategy has been verified through multiple experiments. Compared with the traditional Pure Pursuit control method, it has higher robustness and better control accuracy.
Biotin‐Modified Apoferritin Nanocarriers: Dual‐Targeting Strategy for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment
Authors: Varmaghani Fatemeh , Rafipour Ronak , Kashanian Soheila , Zhaleh Hossein , Hashemi Sadegh
Published: January 2025

This study introduces a novel dual‐targeting drug delivery system where mitoxantrone (MTO) is encapsulated within horse spleen apoferritin (HsAFr) nanocarriers, modified with biotin to enhance breast cancer targeting. This strategy aims to increase precision and efficacy by engaging multiple receptors in cancer cells. Structural analyses confirmed that the encapsulation and surface modification preserved the protein structure. The system demonstrated high entrapment efficiency (91%) and notable drug loading (9.75%). In vitro, the HsAFr–MTO–Btn complex exhibited greater cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 breast cancer cells compared to free MTO, attributed to enhanced cellular uptake and apoptosis through caspase‐3 activation. These results indicate that HsAFr–MTO–Btn is a promising approach for breast cancer therapy, with potential applications in other difficult‐to‐treat cancers.
Progress in Graphitic Carbon Nitride‐Based Composite Materials for Electrochemical Sensing and Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Suganthi Sanjeevamuthu , Ahmad Khursheed , Oh Tae Hwan
Published: January 2025

Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐CN) is cost‐effective and economically sustainable carbon‐based material with excellent physicochemical properties. Previously, g‐CN has been extensively used as efficient electrode material for the construction of electrochemical sensors, and energy storage applications. The performance of the electrochemical sensors and energy storage devices can be affected by the presence of catalytic properties of the electrode materials. The g‐CN has good catalytic properties and catalytic properties of the g‐CN can be further improved by combining it with nanostructured materials. The g‐CN‐based composite materials may exhibits higher catalytic properties which can associated to the presence of synergistic interactions. Thus, various g‐CN‐based composite materials have been designed and fabricated for electrochemical sensing and energy storage applications. The g‐CN and g‐CN‐based composite materials exhibited excellent performance for the determination of various toxic compounds such as nitro‐aromatics and phenolic compounds. In this mini review article, we summarized the progress in the electrode materials such as g‐CN and its composite materials for the fabrication of electrochemical sensors and energy storage devices. We believe that present mini review article would be beneficial for the researchers working on the fabrication of g‐CN‐based electrode materials for electrochemical sensing and energy storage applications.
Synthesis, Structure, DFT Investigation, and In Silico Anticancer Activity of N‐(4‐Methoxyphenyl)‐N′‐Methyl Thiourea
Authors: Benharkat Noureddine , Baara Fayssal Triki , Chouaih Abdelkader , Atalay Şehriman , Aygün Muhittin , Belkafouf Nour El Houda , Dege Necmi , Belhachemi Mohamed Hadj Mortada , Djafri Ayada , Boukabcha Nourdine
Published: January 2025

The molecule of N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐N′‐methyl thiourea (NMTU) was synthesized and characterized through FT‐IR, UV–vis, and 1H, 13C NMR analyses. Its absolute structure was established using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD). The compound crystallizes in the P21/c space group of the monoclinic crystallographic system. Additionally, theoretical evaluations were performed using the density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional at the 6‐311G(d,p) basis set in the gas phase, showing that the theoretical geometry is in agreement with the X‐ray structural parameters. The analysis of the 3D structure, including dihedral angles, revealed that the compound was non‐planar. The HOMO and LUMO energy values, the global chemical reactivity descriptors, and the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) were calculated, highlighting the molecule's positive and negative regions, as well as its stability and several electronic characteristics. Hirshfeld surface and 2D fingerprint plots were used to study intermolecular interactions within the crystal. The identified predominant interactions were H⋅⋅⋅H (58.1%), S⋅⋅⋅H/H⋅⋅⋅S (19%), and C⋅⋅⋅H/H⋅⋅⋅C (18.4%). Non‐bonded and weak interactions were investigated using the reduced density gradient (NCI‐RDG). Also, Mulliken charge distribution and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis for electron transfer were performed at the same theoretical level. Finally The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) assessment followed by molecular docking studies were conducted to explore the toxicity and the biological activity of NMTU against mitochondria‐related disease and binding energies with the target protein (PDB ID: 1NTK).
Development of a Novel D–π–A Mechanochromic Luminescent AIEgen for Multifunctional Applications
Authors: Cao Yangyuan , Ke Yanbing , Sun Yongxiao , Wu Hongmei , Zheng Bin , Xie Lijun
Published: January 2025

Despite recent extensive studies on mechanochromic luminescence (MCL), rational crafting of new facilely obtainable multifunctional luminescent (MFL) materials from the simple AIEgen skeleton that remain a great challenge due to the impact of the undesirable concentration quenching effect. In this study, we have precisely designed and synthesized a novel donor (D)‐π‐acceptor (A) type of AIE fluorophore (RFTP) by adding one tetraphenylethylene (TPE) unit as a rotator unit to the rofecoxib skeleton by one facile step reaction. RFTP showed a clear mechanochromic behaviors, accompanied by a redshift of 74 nm. In addition, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves indicated the reversible mechanochromic process of RFTP that was caused by the effective phase transition from crystalline state to an amorphous state. Furthermore, RFTP displayed a good optical properties including a large Stokes shift (252 nm) and a typical AIE properties. Meanwhile, density functional theory (DFT) theoretical results support that larger conjugation in RFTP may be the reason for red emissive fluorescence. RFTP can also be effectively localize lipid droplets, positioning it as a useful fluorescent probe for monitoring lipid metabolism in living cells. Taken together, we can provide an efficient strategy to obtain new AIEgens for developing promising multifunctional materials.
Nickel‐Doping Induced Oxygen Vacancies in MnO2 Hollow Cube with Enlarged Interlayer Spacing for Stable Sodium Ions Storage
Authors: Cui Zhibiao , Li Qizhi , Li Shiru , Zheng Weijie , Li Xiuhua , Shu Dong , Yuan Libei , Lu Jingcheng , Cheng Honghong , Meng Tao
Published: January 2025

Intrinsic low conductivity, poor structural stability, and narrow interlayer spacing limit the development of MnO2 in sodium‐ion (Na+) supercapacitors. This work constructs the hollow cubic Mn‐PBA precursor through an ion‐exchange process to in situ obtain a hollow cubic H‐Ni‐MnO2 composite with Ni doping and oxygen vacancies (OV) via a self‐oxidation strategy. Experiments and theoretical calculations show that the hollow nanostructure and the expanding interlayer spacing induced by Ni doping are beneficial for exposing more reactive sites, synergistically manipulating the Na+ transport pathways. COMSOL simulations reveal the hollow cube can buffer the deformation stress generated by the electrochemical reaction, leading to the stable Na+ storage ability of the H‐Ni‐MnO2 electrode. Meanwhile, Ni doping induces a rich abundance of OV at the molecular level, triggering intense interfacial electronic interactions and regulating the Na+ adsorption energy to improve Na+ reaction kinetics. The prepared H‐Ni‐MnO2 electrode exhibits superior rate capability (80.6% at 10 A g−1) and high‐rate long‐term cycle stability (92.7% retention after 10 000 cycles at 10 A g−1). In addition, the assembled hybrid supercapacitor demonstrates outstanding energy/power density output and application prospects. This work provides a novel approach to the structure and function design of MnO2‐based materials for advanced Na+ storage.
Innovative use of Portland limestone cement and date palm ash in sustainable preplaced aggregate concrete grouts
Authors: Saleh Majed Ali , Isleem Haytham F. , Su Zhihao , Zhang Shunyuan , Zhang Ji
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the innovative integration of Portland limestone cement (PLC) and date palm ash (DPA) in preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) grouts, addressing the urgent need for sustainable construction materials with a lower carbon footprint. With the construction industry contributing significantly to global CO2 emissions, utilizing agricultural by‐products like DPA offers an eco‐friendly alternative while mitigating waste disposal challenges. The research evaluates single, binary, and ternary binders incorporating supplementary cementitious materials such as silica fume (SF) and metakaolin to optimize PAC's mechanical properties. Findings reveal that binary grouts with PLC and 10% SF achieved the highest compressive strength (68.3 MPa), outperforming traditional mixtures by 40%. Microstructural analysis confirmed that DPA enhances matrix density and reduces pore size, contributing to improved durability. Recommendations include further exploration of DPA's role in reducing cement content and promoting resource efficiency. The findings highlight PLC and DPA as viable components for greener construction, advancing PAC's potential as a sustainable concrete for structural applications.
Research on Integrated Technology of Overall Aerial Building Formwork Equipment and Concrete Placing‐Boom
Authors: Tingchen Fang , Jian Gong , Desheng Yang , Fengyu  , Yimin Zhu
Published: January 2025

The overall aerial building formwork is an independently invented support equipment in China, specifically designed for the construction of concrete structures in super high‐rise buildings over 200 m. The integration of a concrete placing‐boom and integrated aerial building formwork equipment plays a crucial role in this new type integrated system. This article provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of the integrated connection structure between the existing concrete placing‐boom and the overall aerial building formwork equipment. It also presents an innovative design for a lightweight unit‐type formwork concrete placing‐boom integrated platform, along with detailed explanations of its structure design and construction process. Furthermore, calculations and analyses were conducted to determine maximum stress and deformation under various conditions such as climbing, steel bar binding and formwork synchronization operation and concrete pouring by using MIDAS finite element software. The results demonstrate that the maximum stress and deformation meet the control requirements effectively. This article invents a novel overall aerial building formwork equipment integrated with a concrete placing‐boom, compared to the existing integrated platform, the lightweight unit‐type formwork concrete placing‐boom integrated platform offers advantages including flexible assembly, strong structural applicability, excellent safety performance, high construction efficiency, superior load‐bearing capacity as well as overall performance enhancement. These features make it more suitable for meeting the specific construction needs of super high‐rise buildings over 200 m, and provided a new equipment for the construction of super‐high‐rise reinforced concrete core.
Bending behavior of needle‐punched carbon/carbon composites: Efficient computation model
Authors: Han Meng , Zhang Xingyu , Wang Zhichao , Zhou Chuwei , Silberschmidt Vadim V. , Bi Qinsheng
Published: January 2025

Needle‐punched carbon/carbon composites (NP C/Cs) are advanced materials widely used in aerospace applications. The needle‐punching technique improves the structural integrality of carbon‐fiber plies; however, it also introduces many defects affecting the mechanical behavior of NP C/Cs. To investigate the behavior of needle‐punched carbon/carbon composites under bending loads, a circular‐arc beam element with a needle‐hole defect is developed to model the punched carbon fibers and an extended spring element is suggested to model the matrix. This model allows quick predictions of the bending modulus, strength and progressive damage of NP C/Cs. It is shown that efficient numerical predictions agree well with the experimental results, thus validating the proposed method.
The Taste of Inclusivity: A Food-Led Strategy for Cardiff’s Urban Transformation
Authors: Sattari Zeinab
Published: January 2025

Ongoing changes in the three sectors of social institutions, namely, the market, the state, and civil society.
One-dimensional QCD at finite density and its ’t Hooft-Veneziano limit
Authors: Borisenko O. , Chelnokov V. , Voloshyn S. , Yefanov P.
Published: January 2025

Abstract

An exact solution of one-dimensional lattice gauge theory at finite temperature and non-zero chemical potential is reviewed for the gauge groups G = Z(N), U(N), SU(N) for all values of N and the number of fermion flavors N

f
. Calculated are the partition function, free energy, the Polyakov loop expectation values, baryon density, quark condensate, meson and baryon correlation functions. Detailed analysis of the exact solutions is done for N = 2, 3 with one and two fermion flavors. In the large N

f
limit we uncover the Roberge-Weiss phase transition and discuss its remnants at finite N

f
. In the case of N

f
degenerate flavors we also calculate 1) the large N limit, 2) the large N

f
limit and 3) the ’t Hooft-Veneziano limit of all models. The critical behavior of the models in these limits is studied and the phase structure is described in details. A comparison of all limits with U(3) and SU(3) QCD is also performed. In order to achieve these results we explore several representations of the partition function of one-dimensional QCD obtained and described in the text.
Soft theorems for two-scalar sigma models
Authors: Kampf Karol , Novotny Jiri , Shifman Mikhail , Trnka Jaroslav
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we study the scattering amplitudes and soft theorems for the sigma models with two scalars. We show that if the particles are Goldstone bosons, then you necessarily get Adler zero with no possibility for non-trivial soft theorems. For non-Goldstone bosons, the soft behavior is generically captured by the geometric soft theorem studied by Cheung et al., and the right-hand side contains derivatives of lower-point amplitudes. Inspired by the recent work on the 2D sigma models, we study one special two-scalar sigma model, where the presence of symmetries in the target space translates into a special but non-trivial soft theorem without derivatives. We further generalize the construction to two larger classes of such models and derive certain soft theorem sum rules, again avoiding the derivatives of amplitudes. Our analysis provides an interesting hierarchy of two-scalar sigma models and soft theorems, ranging from Goldstone boson case to a generic target space, and showing that there are interesting theories in between.
Correlators of long strings on AdS3×S3×T4
Authors: Yu Zhe-fei , Peng Cheng
Published: January 2025

Abstract

In this work, we calculate correlators of long strings on AdS3×S3×T4 with pure NS-NS flux. We first construct physical vertex operators that correspond to long strings. Due to the GSO projection, they depend on the parity of the spectral flow parameter w. For a given w, we construct the physical operators that have the lowest space-time weights in both the NS and R sector. Then, we calculate three point correlators for each possible type of parities of spectral flows. We find that the recursion relations of correlators in the bosonic SL(2, ℝ) WZW model can be understood from the equivalence of these superstring correlators with different picture choices. Furthermore, after carefully mapping the vertex operators to appropriate operators in the dual CFT, we find that once the fermionic contributions together with the picture changing effects are correctly taken into account, some mathematical identities of covering maps lead to the matching of the correlators of the two sides. We check this explicitly at the leading order in the conformal perturbation computation and conjecture that this remains correct to all orders.
Identifying optimal large N limits for marginal ϕ4 theory in 4d
Authors: Flodgren Nadia
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We apply our previously developed approach to marginal quartic interactions in multiscalar QFTs, which shows that one-loop RG flows can be described in terms of a commutative algebra, to various models in 4d. We show how the algebra can be used to identify optimal scalings of the couplings for taking large N limits. The algebra identifies these limits without diagrammatic or combinatorial analysis. For several models this approach leads to new limits yet to be explored at higher loop orders. We consider the bifundamental and trifundamental models, as well as a matrix-vector model with an adjoint representation. Among the suggested new limit theories are some which appear to be less complex than general planar limits but more complex than ordinary vector models or melonic models.
Dirichlet problems associated to abstract nonlocal space–time differential operators
Authors: Willems Joshua
Published: January 2025

Let the abstract fractional space–time operator $$(\partial _t + A)^s$$

(

∂
t

+
A
)

s

be given, where $$s \in (0,\infty )$$

s
∈
(
0
,
∞
)

and $$-A :{\textsf{D}}(A) \subseteq X \rightarrow X$$

-
A
:
D
(
A
)
⊆
X
→
X

is a linear operator generating a uniformly bounded strongly measurable semigroup $$(S(t))_{t\ge 0}$$

(
S

(
t
)

)

t
≥
0

on a complex Banach space X. We consider the corresponding Dirichlet problem of finding $$u :{\mathbb {R}} \rightarrow X$$

u
:
R
→
X

such that $$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{aligned} (\partial _t + A)^s u(t)&= 0,&t&\in (t_0, \infty ), \\ u(t)&= g(t),&t&\in (-\infty , t_0], \end{aligned} \right. \end{aligned}$$

(

∂
t

+
A
)

s

u

(
t
)

=
0
,

t

∈
(

t
0

,
∞
)
,

u
(
t
)

=
g
(
t
)
,

t

∈
(
-
∞
,

t
0

]
,

for given $$t_0 \in {\mathbb {R}}$$

t
0

∈
R

and $$g :(-\infty ,t_0] \rightarrow X$$

g
:
(
-
∞
,

t
0

]
→
X

. We define the concept of $$L^p$$

L
p

-solutions, to which we associate a mild solution formula which expresses u in terms of g and $$(S(t))_{t\ge 0}$$

(
S

(
t
)

)

t
≥
0

and generalizes the well-known variation of constants formula for the mild solution to the abstract Cauchy problem $$u' + Au = 0$$

u
′

+
A
u
=
0

on $$(t_0, \infty )$$

(

t
0

,
∞
)

with $$u(t_0) = x \in \overline{{\textsf{D}}(A)}$$

u

(

t
0

)

=
x
∈

D
(
A
)

¯

. Moreover, we include a comparison to analogous solution concepts arising from Riemann–Liouville and Caputo type initial value problems.
The bias conjecture for elliptic curves over finite fields and Hurwitz class numbers in arithmetic progressions
Authors: Kane Ben , Pujahari Sudhir , Yang Zichen
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we consider a version of the bias conjecture for second moments in the setting of elliptic curves over finite fields whose trace of Frobenius lies in a fixed arithmetic progression. Contrary to the classical setting of reductions of one-parameter families over the rationals, where it is conjectured by Steven J. Miller that the bias is always negative, we prove that in our setting the bias is positive for a positive density of arithmetic progressions and negative for a positive density of arithmetic progressions. Along the way, we obtain explicit formulas for moments of traces of Frobenius of elliptic curves over finite fields in arithmetic progressions and related moments of Hurwitz class numbers in arithmetic progressions, the distribution of which are of independent interest.
CMV IgG in the blood is not associated with hepatitis but correlates with poor outcomes in immunotherapy treated melanoma patients
Authors: Strobel Sophia B. , Machiraju Devayani , Wiecken Melanie , Richter Jasmin , Klein Julian A. F. , Berger Annemarie , Hassel Jessica C.
Published: January 2025

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or reactivation in immune-compromised individuals can lead to a wide range of severe complications including hepatitis. However, its relation with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) induced hepatitis (ICI-hepatitis) and tumor responses in advanced melanoma patients remains unclear. Hundred and ninety metastatic cutaneous melanoma patients (mCM) who received ICI treatment, with CMV IgG or IgM information available at baseline, were included in the study (Cohort 1). Clinical characteristics and immune cell count in the blood were retrieved from medical records. In addition, anti-CMV IgG and IgM were measured in pre and on-treatment serum samples from 49 advanced skin cancer patients using ELISA (Cohort 2). In the event of a positive anti-CMV IgM, further analysis with PCR was performed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to assess the relationship between CMV IgG or IgM and ICI-hepatitis tumor outcomes. Twenty-one patients (11%) developed hepatitis during ICI treatment (Cohort 1). ICI-hepatitis was significantly associated with disease control rate (DCR; p = 0.017) and longer progression-free survival (PFS; p = 0.008) in mCM patients. Detection of CMV IgG or IgM antibodies were not associated with ICI-hepatitis (p > 0.05). However, increased CMV IgG values at baseline correlated with disease progression (p = 0.047) and shorter PFS (p = 0.081). In addition, increased CMV IgG values were associated with reduced levels of monocytes (p = 0.005), eosinophils (p = 0.062), and neutrophils (p = 0.065) in the blood. In summary, anti-CMV IgG or IgM in the blood may not be associated with ICI-hepatitis, but high anti-CMV IgG at baseline indicates poor outcomes in ICI-treated mCM patients.
Prognostic immune markers in esophageal cancer patients managed with trimodal therapy
Authors: Farrugia Mark K. , Repasky Elizabeth A. , Chen Minhui , Attwood Kristopher , Catalfamo Kayla , Rosenheck Hanna , Yao Song , Mattson David M. , Mukherjee Sarbajit , Kukar Moshim , Witkiewicz Agnieszka K. , Singh Anurag K.
Published: January 2025

Background

Esophageal cancer (ESC) is an aggressive disease which often presents at an advanced stage. Despite trimodal therapy, 40–50% patients can develop metastatic disease by 18 months. Identification of patients at risk for metastatic spread is challenging with need for improved prognostication. We investigated whether the immune landscape of pretreatment tissue was associated with relapse in ESC patients.

Methods

Between April 2010 and October 2018, we identified 25 patients who had undergone trimodal therapy for ESC and had pretreatment biopsies suitable for analyses. We performed high-throughput multispectral immunofluorescence (mIF) analysis on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded biopsy samples. Analysis of 27 unique populations via immune and exhaustion mIF panels was performed and expression was normalized to total cell counts.

Results

Of the 25 patients analyzed, the median follow-up time was 23.9 months, during which 12 (48%) patients suffered a relapse with a median time to progression of 13.1 months. mIF revealed higher expression of HLA-DR (p = 0.019), CD8/LAG3 (p = 0.046), and CD8/CTLA4 (p = 0.027) among patients without relapse. Time to progression (TTP) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were stratified by median expression of each significant subpopulation and formally tested by the log-rank test. Higher than median expression of HLA-DR (p = 0.027), CD8/LAG3 (p = 0.039), and CD8/CTLA4 (p = 0.039) were significantly associated with TTP. Similarly, HLA-DR (p = 0.0069) and CD8/CTLA4 (p = 0.036) were significantly associated with improved DSS, whereas no significant observations were found with CD8/LAG3 (p = 0.11) expression. Stromal, but not tumoral expression of CD163 and CD163/PDL1 were significantly associated with improved TTP and DSS.

Conclusions

High expression of HLA-DR, CD8/CTLA4, and stromal expression of CD163 and CD163/PDL1 within pretreatment biopsy ESC samples was associated with significantly reduced rates of relapse. Increased presence of these markers suggests that an improved immune landscape is associated with less aggressive disease and may provide an opportunity for risk-based treatment strategies.
Spatial expression of fibroblast activation protein-α in clear cell renal cell carcinomas revealed by multiplex immunoprofiling analysis of the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Larrinaga Gorka , Redrado Miriam , Loizaga-Iriarte Ana , Pérez-Fernández Amparo , Santos-Martín Aida , Angulo Javier C. , Fernández José A. , Calvo Alfonso , López José I.
Published: January 2025

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most challenging neoplasms because of its phenotypic variability and intratumoral heterogeneity. Because of its variability, ccRCC is a good test bench for the application of new technological approaches to unveiling its intricacies. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) is an emerging method that enables the simultaneous and detailed assessment of tumor and stromal cell subpopulations in a single tissue section. This novel approach represents a promising step forward for analyzing the microenvironmental cell composition and distribution across the tumor and understanding its possible interactions with tumor cells. This study provides the first characterization of the spatial distribution of fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP)-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts (FAP + CAFs) in conjunction with lymphoid (CD4 + , CD8 + , CD4 + FOXP3 + , and CD20 +) and myeloid (CD68 +) cells in tissue sections from ccRCC in their early phases of evolution (n = 88). Both the tumor center and periphery were analyzed with mIF. FAP + CAFs and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were significantly concentrated at the tumor periphery. Additionally, elevated percentages of FAP + CAFs were correlated with larger tumors and synchronous metastases. Increased levels of CD68 +  and CD4 + FOXP3 +  cells (above the 75th percentile) were linked to worse cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with ccRCC. Furthermore, significant correlations emerged among FAP + CAFs, TILs, and CD68 +  cells, and the co-occurrence of elevated FAP + CAFs, T-cytotoxic (CD8 +), T-regulatory (CD4 + FOXP3 +) cells, and macrophages (CD68 +) at the tumor center were independently associated with worse CSS. These findings suggest that FAP + CAFs contribute to the aggressiveness of ccRCC, and their role is potentially mediated by their ability to foster an immunosuppressive environment within the renal tumor microenvironment.
Tissue factor targeted near-infrared photoimmunotherapy: a versatile therapeutic approach for malignancies
Authors: Takao Seiichiro , Fukushima Hiroshi , Furusawa Aki , Kato Takuya , Okuyama Shuhei , Kano Makoto , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Suzuki Motofumi , Kano Miyu , Choyke Peter L. , Kobayashi Hisataka
Published: January 2025

Tissue factor (TF) is a cell surface protein that plays a role in blood clotting but is also commonly expressed in many cancers. Recent research implicated TF in cancer proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and immune escape. Therefore, TF can be considered a viable therapeutic target against cancer. Herein, we developed and tested a TF-targeted near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) as a potential treatment for several types of cancer. Tisotumab, a TF antibody, was conjugated to IR700. The efficacy of TF-targeted NIR-PIT was investigated using multiple cancer cell lines (A431; epidermoid carcinoma, HPAF-II; pancreatic adenocarcinoma, HSC-2; oral carcinoma, HT1376-luc; bladder carcinoma, MDAMB231; breast adenocarcinoma, and SKOV3-luc; ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma) in vitro. In vivo, the efficacy of TF-targeted NIR-PIT was evaluated in HPAF-II and A431 xenograft mouse models. Pathologic changes in these tumors after NIR-PIT were evaluated in these tumor models. All cancer lines demonstrated TF expression in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, TF expression was documented to localize to cancer cells in tumors. In vitro, TF-targeted NIR-PIT caused cell death in a light dose-dependent manner. In vivo, TF-targeted NIR-PIT suppressed tumor growth and improved survival rates compared to controls. Furthermore, in vivo NIR-PIT showed histological signs of cancer cell damage, such as cytoplasmic vacuolation, nuclear dysmorphism, and extracellular leakage of LDHA consistent with cell death. In conclusion, TF-targeted NIR-PIT holds promise as a treatment for multiple cancer models expressing TF, spanning multiple cancer types.
Cell therapies for viral diseases: a new frontier
Authors: Nardo David , Maddox Emileigh G. , Riley James L.
Published: January 2025

Despite advances in medicine and antimicrobial research, viral infections continue to pose a major threat to human health. While major strides have been made in generating vaccines and small molecules to combat emerging pathogens, new modalities of treatment are warranted in diseases where there is a lack of treatment options, or where treatment cannot fully eradicate pathogens, as in HIV infection. Cellular therapies, some of which are FDA approved for treating cancer, take advantage of our developing understanding of the immune system, and harness this knowledge to enhance, or direct, immune responses toward infectious agents. As with cancer, viruses that evade immunity, do so by avoiding immune recognition or by redirecting the cellular responses that would eradicate them. As such, infusing virus specific immune cells has the potential to improve patient outcomes and should be investigated as a potential tool in the arsenal to fight infection. The present manuscript summarizes key findings made using cellular therapies for the treatment of viral infections, focusing on the potential that these strategies might have in controlling disease.
Small bowel duplication cyst in the pediatric population—when to operate?
Authors: Dreznik Yael , Almog Anastasia , Paran Maya , Konen Osnat , Kravarusic Dragan
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Aim

The aim of the study is to determine the optimal timing for surgery in patients with small bowel duplications.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study, including all patients younger than 18 years who were diagnosed with small bowel duplications from 2013 until 2024 in a single tertiary medical center, was performed. Patients’ demographics, duplication size and location, pathological results, and clinical outcomes were collected.

Results

Sixteen patients (nine boys, seven girls) underwent laparoscopic-assisted resection of small bowel duplication at an average age of 3 years. A prenatal diagnosis was made in 11 patients, 10 (91%) of whom underwent elective surgery at a median age of 1.3 years. Overall, six patients required semi-elective or urgent surgery due to bowel obstruction, abdominal discomfort, or symptomatic anemia, with most (83%) lacking prenatal evaluation. Elective surgery patients had significantly smaller duplications (13 cm3 vs. 135 cm3). Post-operative recovery was satisfactory in all patients, with an average hospital stay of 6 days.

Conclusion

In conclusion, asymptomatic, small duplication cysts in the small bowel of pediatric patients can be managed expectantly and can be operated after the first year of age. This approach is safe and allows for laparoscopic exploration in older infants, yielding satisfactory outcomes.
Bandgap characteristics analysis and graded design of a novel metamaterial for flexural wave suppression
Authors: Yang Fan , Ma Zhaoyang , Guo Xingming
Published: January 2025

A novel elastic metamaterial is proposed with the aim of achieving low-frequency broad bandgaps and bandgap regulation. The band structure of the proposed metamaterial is calculated based on the Floquet-Bloch theorem, and the boundary modes of each bandgap are analyzed to understand the effects of each component of the unit cell on the bandgap formation. It is found that the metamaterials with a low elastic modulus of ligaments can generate flexural wave bandgaps below 300 Hz. Multi-frequency vibrations can be suppressed through the selective manipulation of bandgaps. The dual-graded design of metamaterials that can significantly improve the bandgap width is proposed based on parametric studies. A new way that can regulate the bandgap is revealed by studying the graded elastic modulus in the substrate. The results demonstrate that the nonlinear gradient of the elastic modulus in the substrate offers better bandgap performance. Based on these analyses, the proposed elastic metamaterials can pave the way for multi-frequency vibration control, low-frequency bandgap broadening, and bandgap tuning.
Spatiotemporal analysis of land surface temperature and land cover changes in Prešov city using downscaling approach and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Uhrin Anton , Onačillová Katarína
Published: January 2025

In recent decades, global climate change and rapid urbanization have aggravated the urban heat island (UHI) effect, affecting the well-being of urban citizens. Although this significant phenomenon is more pronounced in larger metropolitan areas due to extensive impervious surfaces, small- and medium-sized cities also experience UHI effects, yet research on UHI in these cities is rare, emphasizing the importance of land surface temperature (LST) as a key parameter for studying UHI dynamics. Therefore, this paper focuses on the evaluation of LST and land cover (LC) changes in the city of Prešov, Slovakia, a typical medium-sized European city that has recently undergone significant LC changes. In this study, we use the relationship between Landsat-8/Landsat-9-derived LST and spectral indices Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) derived from Landsat-8/Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2 to downscale LST to 10 m. Two machine learning (ML) algorithms, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF), are used to assess image classification and identify how different types and LC changes in selected years 2017, 2019, and 2023 affect the pattern of LST. The results show that several decisions made during the last decade, such as the construction of new urban fabrics and roads, caused the increase in LST. The LC change evaluation, based on the RF classification algorithm, achieved overall accuracies of 93.2% in 2017, 89.6% in 2019, and 91.5% in 2023, outperforming SVM by 0.8% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2023. This approach identifies UHI-prone areas with higher spatial resolution, helping urban planning mitigate the negative effects of increasing urban LSTs.
Understanding the spatial distribution of tiny house villages for the homeless and the contextual factors underlying their establishment in the United States
Authors: Kpeebi Yetimoni , Evans Krista
Published: January 2025

The increase in homelessness in the US has prompted several responses, including the development of tiny house villages. Initial efforts were made in 2019 to establish a national database of these villages. While the geographical locations, physical and social characteristics of these villages have been well documented, there remains a gap in understanding the spatial distribution of these villages, and the contextual factors that underly their establishment. Building on the 2019 database, this study developed a more user-friendly interactive online map to facilitate public contribution and enhance data collection on tiny house villages for the homeless. The study also employed a density-based clustering tool using ArcGIS to analyze the spatial distribution of tiny house villages across the US. A pronounced clustering was found along the West Coast, especially in states like Washington, California, and Oregon. In terms of political leanings, Blue (Democratic) states were found to have a higher clustering of these villages compared to Red (Republican) states. The study recommends fostering stronger partnerships to address regulatory barriers and ensure the equitable distribution of tiny house villages, particularly in regions with high homelessness rates but fewer resources for affordable housing solutions.
A Review of Unmanned Vehicle Control with Adaptive Dynamic Programming Implementations
Authors: Liu Hao , Yi Xinning , Liu Deyuan , Valavanis Kimon P.
Published: January 2025

In this review, the optimal control designs via adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) of unmanned vehicles are investigated. Various complex tasks in unmanned systems are addressed as fundamental optimal regulation and tracking control problems related to the position and attitude of vehicles. The optimal control can be obtained by solving the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation using ADP-based control methods. Neural network implementations and policy iterative ADP algorithms are common approaches in ADP-based control methods, enabling online updates and partially model-free control for unmanned vehicles with various structures. For complexities and uncertain disturbances in unmanned vehicle dynamics, robust ADP-based control methods are proposed, including robust ADP control for matched and unmatched uncertainties, robust guaranteed cost control with ADP, and ADP-based $$H_\infty $$

H
∞

control. In order to reduce communication and computational costs in unmanned vehicle operations, a preliminary discussion on event-triggered optimal control using ADP-based control methods is presented.
Physics-Preserving IMPES Based Multiscale Methods for Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Highly Heterogeneous Porous Media
Authors: Wang Yiran , Chung Eric , Sun Shuyu
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we introduce a novel physics-preserving multiscale approach to tackle the challenge of immiscible two-phase flow problems. These are typically described as a coupled system comprising Darcy’s law and mass conservation equations. Physics-preserving IMplicit Pressure Explicit Saturation (P-IMPES) scheme, is designed to uphold local mass conservation for both phases while remaining unbiased. Notably, when the time step is kept below a certain threshold, the P-IMPES scheme ensures bounds-preserving saturation for both phases. For velocity updates, we employ the mixed generalized multiscale finite element method (MGMsFEM), a highly efficient solver that operates on a coarse grid to compute unknowns. We adopt an operation splitting technique to manage the complexities of two-phase flow, utilizing an upwind strategy for explicit saturation iteration, while employing the MGMsFEM to compute velocity via a decoupled system on a coarse mesh. To validate the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed method, we conduct a series of comprehensive experiments. Additionally, we provide a rigorous analysis to establish the theoretical underpinnings of the method, which are corroborated by our numerical findings. Both simulations and analysis demonstrate that our approach strikes a favorable balance between accuracy and computational efficiency.
Development and Validation of a Neurosurgical Phantom for Simulating External Ventricular Drain Placement
Authors: van Doormaal Jesse A. M. , Fick Tim , Boskovic Ernest , Hoving Eelco W. , Robe Pierre A. J. T. , van Doormaal Tristan P. C.
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to develop and validate a cost-effective, customizable patient-specific phantom for simulating external ventricular drain placement, combining image segmentation, 3-D printing and molding techniques. Two variations of the phantom were created based on patient MRI data, integrating a realistic skin layer with anatomical landmarks, a 3-D printed skull, an agarose polysaccharide gel brain, and a ventricular cavity. To validate the phantom, 15 neurosurgeons, residents, and physician assistants performed 30 EVD placements. The effectiveness of the phantom as a training tool was assessed through a standardized user experience questionnaire, which evaluated the physical attributes, realism, and overall satisfaction. The mechanical properties of the phantom brain were quantified by measuring catheter insertion forces using a linear force tester to compare them to those experienced in real brain tissue. The study participants successfully completed EVD placements with a 76.7% optimal placement rate, which aligns with rates observed in clinical practice. Feedback highlighted the anatomical accuracy of the phantom and its value in enhancing surgical skills, though it also identified areas for improvement, particularly in the realism of the skin layer. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the insertion forces required were comparable to those encountered in actual brain tissue. The developed phantom offers a realistic, low-cost, and adaptable model for EVD simulation. This tool is particularly beneficial for both training and research, with future enhancements planned to improve the realism of the skin and incorporate more anatomical features to increase the fidelity of the simulation.
Perception of Civil Society on the Curricular Integration of Media Competence: Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America
Authors: Rojas-Estrada Elizabeth-Guadalupe , García-Ruiz Rosa , Aguaded Ignacio
Published: January 2025

Media Competence (MC) enables citizens to efficiently utilize information and communication technologies, for both consuming and producing content, in order to participate in digital society in a responsible and reflective manner. Its integration in the curriculum requires inter-sectorial collaboration, which includes not only education authorities, but also key actors such as Civil Society Organizations (CSO). The present study examines the perception of CSO with regard to the integration of MC in the curriculum of basic education in Latin American countries. For this, a survey was designed that was stored in a digital platform. It was completed by 63 CSO from fourteen different countries. The main findings indicate that: a) the CSO recognize the importance of teaching MC and the associated challenges, such as the digital divide, the lack of political will, and the lack of understanding of the concept by the population in general; and b) they contribute through the creation of education resources and the teaching of classes for teachers and other vulnerable groups; however, it is crucial to strengthen the network of collaboration with other groups of interest, prioritize MC in their agendas, and ensure that CSO receive training in this area.