bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of physical exercise on white matter microstructure in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial (PAM study)
Authors: Koevoets Emmie W. , Schagen Sanne B. , May Anne M. , Geerlings Mirjam I. , Witlox Lenja , van der Wall Elsken , Stuiver Martijn M. , Sonke Gabe S. , Velthuis Miranda J. , Jobsen Jan J. , van der Palen Job , de Ruiter Michiel B. , Monninkhof Evelyn M.
Published: January 2025

Physical exercise is a promising intervention to improve brain white matter integrity. In the PAM study, exercise intervention effects on white matter integrity were investigated in breast cancer patients. Chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients with cognitive problems were randomized 2–4 years post-diagnosis to an exercise (n = 91) or control group (n = 90). The 6-month exercise intervention consisted of four hours/week of aerobic and resistance training. White matter integrity was measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up with fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), which were derived from magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Both DTI metrics were analyzed whole brain and voxel-wise with a modified tract based spatial statistics (TBSS) procedure. Other measurements included cognition and physical fitness. Exercise effects were analyzed with multiple regression analyses. An explorative analysis was conducted in highly fatigued patients. DTI scans were available for 69 patients of the intervention (age = 52.3 ± 8.9yrs.) and 72 patients of the control group (age = 53.2 ± 8.6yrs.). Whole brain and voxel-wise analyses revealed no significant intervention effects on FA and MD. In highly fatigued patients (exercise: n = 32; control: n = 24), significant clusters of decreased FA post-intervention were observed in the left inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus. Mean FA in these clusters was not predictive of cognition. A 6-month exercise intervention did not affect white matter integrity in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients. However, in highly fatigued breast cancer patients a significant FA decrease was observed post-intervention. The direction of these results is unexpected, and more research is needed to further understand these results.
Structure-H Type Hydrates Containing Cyclooctane-Based Epoxy (Oxirane) Compounds
Authors: Seol Jiwoong
Published: January 2025

Recently, various epoxy (oxirane) compounds have been identified as novel methane hydrate formers, and their hydrates’ structural and thermodynamic properties have been studied. However, most epoxy compounds reported, thus far, are relatively small molecules that form structure-II (sII) hydrates. This study demonstrates that two epoxy compounds, 1,2-epoxycyclooctane and 1,2,5,6-diepoxycyclooctane, which have cyclooctane backbones with one and two epoxy groups, respectively, can form structure-H (sH) hydrates with CH4 help gas and serve as thermodynamic promoters of CH4 hydrates. Crystallographic, spectroscopic, and phase equilibrium analyses indicate that the epoxy group of LGM has minimal effect on the composition of CH4 hydrates (i.e., CH4 storage) but significantly influences equilibrium conditions. The moderate hydrophilicity induced by the epoxy group significantly enhances the thermodynamic stability of the CH4 hydrates. These findings suggest that epoxy compounds have potential as thermodynamic promoters in various hydrate-based technologies.
Old and New Biomarkers in Idiopathic Recurrent Acute Pericarditis (IRAP): Prognosis and Outcomes
Authors: Mascolo Ruggiero , Bizzi Emanuele , Martelli Martina , Facoetti Chiara , Colazzo Giulia , Barone Fabio , Brucato Antonio
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

To outline the latest discoveries regarding the utility and reliability of serum biomarkers in idiopathic recurrent acute pericarditis (IRAP), considering recent findings on its pathogenesis. The study highlights the predictive role of these biomarkers in potential short- (cardiac tamponade, recurrences) and long-term complications (constrictive pericarditis, death).

Recent Findings

The pathogenesis of pericarditis has been better defined in recent years, focusing on the autoinflammatory pathway. New studies have demonstrated the pivotal role of the classical inflammatory biomarkers in distinguishing pericarditis phenotypes (high-grade vs. low-grade inflammation) and in defining outcomes of this condition.

Pericarditis involves intense inflammatory activity, which causes elevation of different markers, such as C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophils and platelets, serum amyloid A and D-Dimer. Conversely, lymphocytes are often reduced, as well as hemoglobin during the acute phase. Cardiac troponins T and I are elevated in up to 30% of cases. A Biomarker for CRP-negative cases is needed. Other markers have been proposed for diagnosis and prognosis in IRAP, such as anti-heart antibodies and anti-intercalated disk antibodies, but we need further studies to validate them.
Influence of pH and Sulfur Dioxide in Unaged Wine Distillates on the Physicochemical and Sensory Profile of the Brandies de Jerez
Authors: Butrón-Benítez Daniel , Valcárcel-Muñoz Manuel J. , García-Moreno M. Valme , Rodríguez-Dodero M. Carmen , Guillén-Sánchez Dominico A.
Published: January 2025

Brandies are spirits produced from wine spirits and wine distillates aged in less than 1000 L oak casks for at least 6 months. The composition of each brandy is determined by its raw material and its aging. During aging, two different phenomena occur: the extraction of compounds from the cask wood and reactions between the different compounds. Characteristics of the casks have a significant impact during this process. Those casks that have previously contained some type of Sherry wine give rise to the so-called Sherry Cask®, which not only contributes to the compounds from the wood but also to those that were originally found in the Sherry wine previously aged in them. The quality of brandy is also determined by the physicochemical composition and characteristics of the distillate, which depends both on the quality of the distilled wine and on the distillation process itself. This work studied the effect of sulfur dioxide and the role that the pH of the distillate plays on the physicochemical and sensory composition of three brandies aged 24 months in a static system of Sherry Casks®. The analyses were carried out following the OIV methods. Results have revealed that high levels of sulfur dioxide and the distillate pH significantly condition the extraction of phenolic compounds and organic acids from the wood, as well as reactions such as hydrolysis or esterification that take place between the compounds in the spirits. These factors have led to a differentiated sensory evaluation of the final brandies.
Correlation between in vivo imaging and post‑mortem autopsy findings for the medico-legal evaluation of a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm as a fatal complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Pelletti Guido , Sech Maria , Montanari Nicola , Quaia Emilio , Garcea Domenico , Pelotti Susi
Published: January 2025

A 36-year-old woman diagnosed with complicated cholecystolithiasis underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), then converted to open cholecystectomy because of a massive intraoperative bleeding. Hemostasis was performed with clipping and suturing the source of bleeding. In post-operative period, the patient suffered from persistent anemia associated with hemoperitoneum diagnosed through abdominal CT scanning, in absence of any sign of active bleeding. She died 16 days after the surgical procedure. Autopsy revealed the presence of 2 clips adjacent to the suture used for ligating the cystic artery and the presence of 3 surgical metal clips on the right hepatic artery, that should not be present in a routine cholecystectomy. The review of CT scans performed during the hospital stay revealed contrast extravasation from the right hepatic artery, near the 3 clips, allowing the post-mortem diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm (PA). The diagnosis of PA of right hepatic artery is typically made in living patients, through imaging, and autoptic identification is rarely obtained. The innovation of this report is to present an iconographic correlation between in vivo imaging and autopsy data, allowing for the tracing of the PA’s origin to the wall weakening caused by the placement of 3 clips on the right hepatic artery, and having significant medico-legal implications.
Burden, trends, and predictions of liver cancer in China, Japan, and South Korea: analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Yang Si , Deng Yujiao , Zheng Yi , Zhang Jing , He Dongdong , Dai Zhijun , Guo Changcun
Published: January 2025

Background

Liver cancer (LC) is a major concern in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China, Korea, and Japan. In this study, we aimed to investigate the burden, trends, and predictions related to LC in these countries.

Methods

Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, the epidemiological characteristics [incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)] for LC were analysed and stratified by specific etiologies in China, Japan, and South Korea. We examined temporal trends in LC burden over the last 32 years and projected changes over the following 25 years. The risk factors associated with LC deaths and DALYs were also investigated.

Results

In 2021, the highest LC-related incidence, mortality, and DALYs were recorded in China (196,637 incidents, 172,068 mortalities, and 4,890,023 DALYs), and the lowest in South Korea (18,642 incidents, 13,674 deaths, and 326,336 DALYs). South Korea recorded the highest age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence, mortality, and DALYs for LC (19.94 per 100,000, 14.53 per 100,000, and 354.57 per 100,000), and Japan the lowest (9.89, 7.29, and 145.74, respectively). From 1990 to 2021, LC incidents and deaths in the three countries increased, and the trends in ASRs decreased. LC incidents and deaths caused by five etiologies also increased in the past 32 years, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was the largest increasing etiologies in China. Infections with hepatitis B virus remained the leading cause of LC in China and South Korea, while hepatitis C virus was the prevailing cause in Japan. High body mass index (BMI) was the most sharply increasing risk factor in China. Alcohol and drug use were the main risk factors for LC in South Korea and Japan, respectively. The LC burden in the three countries was projected to rise steadily between 2022 and 2046.

Conclusions

LC remains a significant disease burden in China, Japan, and South Korea now and over the next 25 years. Regarding etiologies and risk factors, NASH and high BMI in China, alcohol use in South Korea, and drug use in Japan should receive significant attention.
Primary Liver Rhabdomyosarcoma with Burnt-out Paravertebral Disease
Authors: Niharika Vadisetti Satya , Patkar Shraddha , Pai Trupti , Qureshi Sajid
Published: January 2025

Less than 20 cases of primary hepatic rhabdomyosarcoma have been reported in literature. The authors present this occurrence in a neonate with paravertebral and peritoneal disease. Histopathology was the solution to authors’ diagnostic dilemma. Multimodality management is the solution for rare cases where specific guidelines are not yet defined. This is a rare case reporting a primary liver rhabdomyosarcoma with peritoneal disease with excellent survival.
Life Stressors, Social Support, and Children’s Subjective Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Cross-National Survey of 20 Societies
Authors: Chen Xi , Kühner Stefan
Published: January 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the well-being of people across all age groups, with children being particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on stable routines and social interactions for healthy development. Guided by stress-coping theory, this study examines the impact of life stressors and social support on children’s subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a large-scale, cross-national dataset of 20,047 children aged 7–15 from 20 societies, we assessed how various stressors and social support from friends, family, and teachers influenced indicators of subjective well-being, including life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, and negative affect. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that virus-related stressors and pandemic-induced disruptions negatively impacted children’s subjective well-being. Conversely, social support from family, friends, and teachers was generally associated with better well-being. However, the role of social support in moderating stress was complex: while support from friends buffered the adverse effects of stressors on life satisfaction and positive affect, family support sometimes amplified the negative impact of stressors, demonstrating a reverse buffering effect. These findings underscore the critical role of life stressors and social support in shaping children’s well-being during crises and highlight the need for targeted interventions to strengthen social connections and support systems.
Value Sensitive Design of Social Robots: Enhancing the Lives of LGBT+ Older Adults
Authors: Poulsen Adam , Burmeister Oliver K. , Greig Jenni , Ulhaq Anwaar , Tien David
Published: January 2025

The integration of care and social robots in aged care offers a promising solution to the increasing global challenges posed by an ageing population and caregiver shortages. While these robots have demonstrated promising outcomes in enhancing emotional wellbeing and social interactions among older adults, there are legitimate concerns regarding the ethical implications, particularly regarding dignity, privacy, and autonomy. Furthermore, marginalised groups, such as LGBT+ older adults, which face existing disparities in old age are at risk of exclusion in the implementation of social robots in aged care. To better account for the diverse set of stakeholder values within the social robot ecosystem, this study applies a value sensitive design approach to a case study: social robot interventions to address the problem of loneliness in the older LGBT+ community. It aims to understand the values of LGBT+ older adults relating to the design of social robots intended to alleviate loneliness and explore emerging value sensitive robot design recommendations. To that end, 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted with LGBT+ older adults, healthcare professionals and LGBT+ ageing service providers, and robot experts. Using reflexive thematic analysis, this study identifies three themes—care values, social values, and community values—and 16 values relevant to the design of social robots for LGBT+ older adults. Further, this study contributes practical, value sensitive design recommendations for social robots in this context, as they emerge from the findings.
Proximale Hautatrophie und positive NOR-90-Antikörper: atypische systemische Sklerodermie oder Lipodystrophie?
Authors: Rademacher Jan-Gerd
Published: January 2025

Die systemische Sklerodermie ist eine potenziell lebensbedrohliche Erkrankung mit Fibrosierung unterschiedlicher Organsysteme. Eine namensgebende Sclerosis cutis beginnt in der Regel distal und kann nach proximal fortschreiten. Es wird der Fall einer 55-jährigen Patientin demonstriert, die sich zur rheumatologischen Abklärung mit isoliert proximaler und symmetrischer Lipoatrophie sowie Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen Nucleolus Organizer Region 90 (NOR-90) vorstellte. Die Differenzialdiagnose der Lipodystrophie (LD) umfasst neben der Beurteilung der Lokalisation und metabolischer Erkrankungen eine genaue Medikamentenanamnese. Im vorliegenden Fall führte die subkutane Injektion von Piritramid über mindestens 18 Monate zu einer ausgeprägten lokalen LD und imitierte aufgrund der symmetrischen Verteilung eine systemische Erkrankung.
The Contribution of Reward Systems in the Work Context: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research
Authors: Figueiredo Elisabeth , Margaça Clara , García José Carlos Sánchez , Ribeiro Célia
Published: January 2025

Currently, companies face several challenges and are increasingly concerned about human capital, particularly after the pandemic period. Reward systems emerge as a powerful resource to influence workers’ behavior. This study systematically reviews 61 articles on reward systems in an organizational context, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and three databases were used. By limiting the year range, it was possible to confirm that there was an increase in scientific production in the post-pandemic. This research provides a significant contribution to academia and to organizations by offering deeper insights into how reward systems shape the management of intellectual capital, facilitate knowledge sharing within organizations, and foster innovation. The results also offer organizations differentiated strategies, helping them, in the current business environment, to manage their best talents more efficiently, increasing competitiveness.
Macrophages co-loaded with drug-associated and superparamagnetic nanoparticles for triggered drug release by alternating magnetic fields
Authors: Desai Omkar , Kumar Sandhya , Köster Mario , Ullah Sami , Sarker Sushobhan , Hagemann Valentin , Habib Mosaieb , Klaassen Nicole , Notter Silke , Feldmann Claus , Ehlert Nina , Hauser Hansjörg , Wirth Dagmar
Published: January 2025

Two features of macrophages make them attractive for targeted transport of drugs: they efficiently take up a broad spectrum of nanoparticles (NPs) and, by sensing cytokine gradients, they are attracted to the sites of infection and inflammation. To expand the potential of macrophages as drug carriers, we investigated whether macrophages could be simultaneously coloaded with different types of nanoparticles, thus equipping individual cells with different functionalities. We used superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs), which produce apoptosis-inducing hyperthermia when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF), and co-loaded them on macrophages together with drug-containing NPs (inorganic–organic nanoparticles (IOH-NPs) or mesoporous silica NPs (MSNs)). We show that individual macrophages can take up both SPIONs and drug-loaded NPs efficiently, thereby generating drug-loaded cells susceptible to AMF-induced cell death. Macrophages co-loaded with SPIONs and drug-containing IOH-NPs spontaneously released the drugs at similar rates irrespective of the application of an AMF. Notably, while the spontaneous drug release from macrophages co-loaded with SPIONs and drug-associated MSNs was low, AMF exposure accelerated the drug release. Thus, AMF exposure of SPION/drug-MSN coloaded macrophages provides a simple strategy for trigger-controlled drug release since it does not require any chemical modification of NPs or drugs. Thus, we assume that the coloading of different types of NPs will expand the potential of macrophages for drug delivery.

Graphical Abstract
Breaking Ground: From CPAP Treatment to the First Medicine for OSA Patients with Obesity
Authors: Lisik Daniil , Zou Ding
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

Pharmacologic alternatives in management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been pursued for decades. Considering rapid development and promising findings in recent years, we provide an overview of novel agents and treatment targets, ongoing trials, as well as future perspectives.

Recent Findings

Several drugs demonstrate efficacy, though none is sufficient to cure the disease as a monotherapy. Instead, the main potential lies in applying drug therapy in specific subgroups or as an addition to established treatments (e.g., positive airway pressure, oral appliance therapy). Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists may be particularly beneficial in obese OSA patients. As a major breakthrough, terzipatide, a GIP analog and GLP-1 receptor agonist, has become the first FDA-approved and EMA-sanctioned pharmacologic treatment option of OSA in obese individuals. Beyond this, alerting drugs could help manage residual daytime sleepiness and improve daytime functioning. However, long-term studies on safety, adherence, and effectiveness are scarce and highlight certain limitations and challenges.

Incorporating pharmaceuticals along conventional OSA management may provide synergy benefit in certain patients, but side-effects and risk reduction of related adverse outcomes over time is yet to be assessed. Furthermore, guidelines/frameworks for mapping out applicable treatment targets are needed.
Arm- und handspezifische Beschwerden, angstbedingte Vermeidungshaltung und Schmerzverhalten professioneller Orchestermusiker: Hohe und Tiefe Streicher
Authors: Böckelmann Irina , Huros David
Published: January 2025

Einleitung

Berufsmusiker sind aufgrund ihrer körperlichen Belastungen durch mehrstündiges Üben, Proben und Aufführungen einem erhöhten Risiko für gesundheitliche Beschwerden ausgesetzt. Die daraus resultierenden negativen Beanspruchungen können die Lebensqualität beeinträchtigen. Ziel war es, die arm- und handspezifischen Beanspruchungen von Streichern zu untersuchen.

Methoden

Von 2016 bis 2018 wurde eine prospektive Querschnittsstudie mit 60 Streichmusikern und Akademisten (43,9 ± 13,1 Jahre alt; 61,7 % Männer) aus 6 deutschen Orchestern durchgeführt. Die Belastungen und Beanspruchungen wurden mithilfe eines Fragebogenkatalogs zu soziodemografischen Daten, beruflicher Situation, sportlichen Aktivitäten sowie zur allgemeinen Gesundheit, Gesundheitsmaßnahmen, Handbelastung und handspezifischen Beschwerden (Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire, MHQ), Schmerzbewältigung (Fragebogen zu Schmerzverhalten) und zum angstbedingten Vermeidungsverhalten (Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, FABQ) nach Instrumentenart analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Chronische Verspannungen im Schulter- und Nackenbereich wurden bei 34,8 % der Violinisten festgestellt, während 52,2 % unter akuten Schulterschmerzen litten. Die Hälfte bzw. ein Drittel von Kontrabassisten gaben an, an einer akuten bzw. chronischen Sehnenentzündung zu leiden. Die durchschnittliche Gesamtpunktzahl im MHQ lag bei 56 (eine mittlere Handbelastung). Violinisten berichteten signifikant häufiger von Nackenverspannungen und Schulterschmerzen, während Kontrabassisten und Cellisten vermehrt über Probleme im Handgelenk und den Daumen klagten. Sieben Musiker wiesen im FABQ aufgrund von Schmerzen ein erhöhtes Chronifizierungsrisiko durch Vermeidungshaltung auf.

Diskussion

Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die erheblichen instrumentenartspezifischen Belastungen und verdeutlichen die Notwendigkeit von präventiven Maßnahmen, um die langfristige Gesundheit und Arbeitsfähigkeit zu sichern.
Leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced food processing techniques for enhanced food safety, quality, and security: a comprehensive review
Authors: Dhal Sambandh Bhusan , Kar Debashish
Published: January 2025

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force in addressing the multifaceted challenges of food safety, food quality, and food security. This review synthesizes advancements in AI-driven technologies, such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and their applications across the food supply chain, based on a comprehensive analysis of literature published from 1990 to 2024. AI enhances food safety through real-time contamination detection, predictive risk modeling, and compliance monitoring, reducing public health risks. It improves food quality by automating defect detection, optimizing shelf-life predictions, and ensuring consistency in taste, texture, and appearance. Furthermore, AI addresses food security by enabling resource-efficient agriculture, yield forecasting, and supply chain optimization to ensure the availability and accessibility of nutritious food resources. This review also highlights the integration of AI with advanced food processing techniques such as high-pressure processing, ultraviolet treatment, pulsed electric fields, cold plasma, and irradiation, which ensure microbial safety, extend shelf life, and enhance product quality. Additionally, the integration of AI with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, and AI-powered sensors enables proactive risk management, predictive analytics, and automated quality control. By examining these innovations' potential to enhance transparency, efficiency, and decision-making within food systems, this review identifies current research gaps and proposes strategies to address barriers such as data limitations, model generalizability, and ethical concerns. These insights underscore the critical role of AI in advancing safer, higher-quality, and more secure food systems, guiding future research and fostering sustainable food systems that benefit public health and consumer trust.
Expression and prognosis of cellular senescence genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Feng Chen , Zhu Lijuan , Mao Wei , Dong Pin , Chen Xinwei
Published: January 2025

Background

Cellular senescence refers to cells entering a relatively stable state of cell cycle arrest, which is a barrier that tumor cells must cross to achieve immortalization and plays an extremely important role in preventing the occurrence and development of tumors. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that inducing tumor cells to enter a senescent state has become a feasible tumor control strategy. At present, cellular senescence has become a research hotspot in tumor prevention and treatment, as well as in cell biology. However, the expression and prognostic values of cellular senescence genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remain unclear.

Material/Methods

We analyzed the expression patterns and prognostic values of cellular senescence genes in HNSC from TCGA and GEO. The TCGA-HNSC data were used as the training group and were divided into high- and low-risk groups, and the GEO database was used as the test group. Analyses included survival analysis, ROC curve analysis, risk curve analysis, independent prognostic analysis and model validation for clinical grouping. We used the HPA database for protein-level validation of the genes.

Results

We identified 5 cellular senescence genes associated with HNSC, namely, BTG3, EHF, EZH2, TACC3 and TXN. These cellular senescence genes were analyzed in the training and test groups and were found to be significantly associated with the prognosis of HNSC patients.

Conclusions

The tumor immune microenvironment of HNSC appears to have correlations with certain cellular senescence-related features. Genes associated with cellular senescence, such as BTG3, EHF, EZH2, TACC3, and TXN, show promise as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HNSC.
Orbital ameloblastoma: research and challenges of a rare benign tumor
Authors: Zhang Rui , Huang Xiaoming , Sun Fengyuan , Wu Tong
Published: January 2025

There are numerous types of orbital tumors, among which orbital ameloblastoma is a rare metastatic benign tumor that often originates in the jaw and later metastasizes to the orbit. The mystery of it lies in that, although it is classified as a benign tumor, it exhibits high recurrence and malignant potential with high invasiveness, posing a serious threat to ocular health and the quality of life of patients. The prognosis of orbital ameloblastoma is relatively poor, but there is still hope. With aggressive treatment and close follow-up observation, patients may still have the possibility of achieving a longer survival period and a better quality of life. The global incidence of ameloblastoma is 0.92 cases per million people per year. According to world literature reports, there are 32 cases of maxillary bone metastasis to the orbit and 4 cases of mandibular bone metastasis to the orbit. With more and more cases and related research being reported, it is necessary to comprehensively review the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of orbital ameloblastoma, in order to enhance ophthalmologists' understanding and diagnostic and treatment skills of this disease, and ultimately improve patients' prognosis and quality of life.
Unravelling the aromatic symphony: redirecting bifunctional mushroom synthases towards linalool monofunctionality
Authors: T Rehka , Lin Fu , Chen Xixian , Zhang Congqiang
Published: January 2025

Enzymes are the cornerstone of biocatalysis, biosynthesis and synthetic biology. However, their applicability is often limited by low substrate selectivity. A prime example is the bifunctional linalool/nerolidol synthase (LNS) that can use both geranyl diphosphate (GPP) and farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to produce linalool and nerolidol, respectively. This bifunctionality can lead to undesired byproducts in synthetic biology applications. To enhance enzyme specificity and create monofunctional linalool synthases, we modified amino acids in the loop between helices C and D of four bifunctional mushroom LNSs. Through these modifications, we successfully shifted the substrate preference of two LNSs (ApLNS from Agrocybe pediades and HsLNS from Hypholoma sublateritium) from FPP towards GPP. Although complete monofunctionality was not achieved, we significantly increased linalool yield by 13 times while minimizing nerolidol production to 1% of the wildtype HsLNS. Docking simulations revealed a substantial reduction in the FPP binding score compared to that of the wildtype. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that Tyr300 in the apo HsLNS mutant has a greater tendency to adopt an inward orientation. Together with Met77, the inward-facing Tyr300 creates a steric barrier that prevents the longer FPP molecule from entering the substrate binding pocket, thereby greatly reducing its activity towards FPP. This study demonstrates the potential of enzyme engineering to design substrate-specific terpene synthases, which is a challenging task and few successful examples are available. The insights gained can inform future enzyme design efforts, including the development of artificial intelligence models.
A new future for dog breeding
Authors: Proschowsky Helle Friis , Arendt Maja Louise , Bonnett Brenda N , Bruun Camilla S , Czycholl Irena , Fredholm Merete , O’Neill Dan , Serpell James A , Sandøe Peter
Published: January 2025

The modern idea of purebred dogs has come under increasing critical scrutiny over recent decades. In light of this critical focus and other developments in society, some new trends in how companion dogs are bred and acquired have emerged. This means a diminishing influence from traditional kennel clubs with more dogs being sold without a pedigree, stricter legal restrictions on dog breeding, growing popularity of deliberate crosses of established breeds (i.e. so-called designer breeds) and growing hype around the benefits of mixed-breed dogs. We give an overview of these trends and discuss to what extent they will serve to promote dogs that are innately healthy, have good welfare and function well in their various roles in today’s world. We argue that newly invented designer breeds and mixed breeds also have worrying health and behavioural problems, and that the predictability of purebred dogs with respect to body size, basic behaviours, known need for grooming, disorder profiles and other attributes may well offer some benefits for a satisfying human-dog relationship seen from both sides. The optimal future seems to lie in the middle ground, where the future organised dog world (i.e. kennel and breed clubs or their successor organisations) will need to re-open the breed registries, remove wording from breed standards that currently promotes extreme conformation, support selection against disease-predisposing genotypes and phenotypes and refocus dog showing and breeding to promote health and appropriate behaviour.
Is Sex Work Inherently Gendered?
Authors: McKeever Natasha
Published: January 2025

Sex work is highly gendered, with 80 percent of sex workers being female, and the vast majority of buyers of sex being male. It is often taken for granted that this is how it is, and implicit in much of the debate around sex work is the assumption that it is inherently gendered. In this paper, I question this assumption, drawing on sociological research to challenge arguments which purport that it is inconceivable that women would ever want to pay for sex, or that sex work would exist under conditions of gender equality. I argue that gendered sexual norms likely are a significant reason for why sex work is so gendered, but sex work would probably continue to exist under conditions of gender equality, due to the diversity in motivations people have for buying and selling sex. Acknowledging that sex work is not inherently gendered is important for (at least) two reasons. First, it is probable that the gendered nature of sex work contributes to the stigma and bad treatment that sex workers, particularly female ones, face. Secondly, if sex work is not inherently gendered, this will have implications for how we should think about it, morally, practically, and legally.
Fracturing behaviour of a shear-thinning fluid in a lubricated Hele-Shaw cell
Authors: Hutchinson A.J. , Worster M.G.
Published: January 2025

We undertake an experimental investigation into the instabilities that emerge when a shear-thinning fluid intrudes a less viscous Newtonian fluid axisymmetrically in a lubricated Hele-Shaw cell. Pre-formed lubrication layers of Newtonian fluid that separate the shear-thinning fluid from the cell walls are incorporated into the experimental design. Provided the lubrication layers remain effective at reducing shear stress, so that extensional stresses dominate the flow of the intruding fluid, the instabilities evolve to form branch-like structures, which exhibit fracturing or tearing behaviour at their troughs. Thicker lubrication layers enable the branches to propagate radially outwards, whilst thinner, less effective ones hinder their development and progression. In the absence of lubrication layers, the shear-thinning fluid spreads radially and remains axisymmetric. For lubricated flows, we show that the number of branches is dependent primarily on the strain rate at the radial distance where they first emerge, and that the number of branches decreases with increasing strain rate.
ON A BOGOMOLOV TYPE VANISHING THEOREM
Authors: LI ZHI , MENG XIANKUI , NING JIAFU , WANG ZHIWEI , ZHOU XIANGYU
Published: January 2025

Let X be a compact Kähler manifold, and let

$L \rightarrow X$

be a holomorphic line bundle equipped with a singular metric h such that the curvature

$\mathrm {i}\Theta _{L,h}\geqslant 0$

in the sense of currents. The main result of this paper is the vanishing of

$H^n(X,\mathcal {O}(\Omega ^p_X\otimes L)\otimes \mathcal {I}(h))$

for

$p\geqslant n-\operatorname {nd}(L,h)+1$

, which generalizes Bogomolov’s vanishing theorem and Watanabe’s result.
Securitizing Russian-speakers in Estonia and Latvia: The Frame-Policy Nexus before and after Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Schulze Jennie L. , Pupcenoks Juris
Published: January 2025

The securitization of Russian-speakers has been central to nation-building in Estonia and Latvia since they regained their independence in 1991. Securitization at the levels of discourse and policy varies over time as a result of historical legacies, Russia’s kin state activism, and the minority protection requirements of European institutions. This article introduces a typology that links discursive frames with policies to map securitizing trends in Estonia and Latvia after the Soviet collapse: securitizing exclusion — less accommodating policies are justified by presenting the minority as a threat to the state or core nation; securitizing inclusion — more accommodating policies are justified to “win over” the minority in order to decrease the threat; and desecuritizing inclusion — more accommodating policies are justified on grounds of fairness or appropriateness without reference to security. The utility of the typology is demonstrated by analyzing frames in the public broadcast media and recent policy developments in Estonia and Latvia immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The analysis points to increasing convergence across countries in favor of securitizing exclusion. The analysis points to increasing convergence across countries in favor of securitizing exclusion. We conclude by evaluating these trends in light of minority mobilization and recent data on support for the active defense of the state among Russian-speakers and titulars.
Well-posedness for strongly damped abstract Cauchy problems of fractional order
Authors: Aquino João , Lizama Carlos , Prokopczyck Andréa
Published: January 2025

Let X be a complex Banach space and B be a closed linear operator with domain

$\mathcal{D}(B) \subset X,\,\, a,b,c,d\in\mathbb{R},$

and

$0 \lt \beta \lt \alpha.$

We prove that the problem

\begin{equation*}
u(t) -(aB+bI)(g_{\alpha-\beta}\ast u)(t) -(cB+dI)(g_{\alpha}\ast u)(t) = h(t), \quad t\geq 0,
\end{equation*}

where

$g_{\alpha}(t)=t^{\alpha-1}/\Gamma(\alpha)$

and

$h:\mathbb{R}_+\to X$

is given, has a unique solution for any initial condition on

$\mathcal{D}(B)\times X$

as long as the operator B generates an ad-hoc Laplace transformable and strongly continuous solution family

$\{R_{\alpha,\beta}(t)\}_{t\geq 0} \subset \mathcal{L}(X).$

It is shown that such a solution family exists whenever the pair

$(\alpha,\beta)$

belongs to a subset of the set

$(1,2]\times(0,1]$

and B is the generator of a cosine family or a C0-semigroup in

$X.$

In any case, it also depends on certain compatibility conditions on the real parameters

$a,b,c,d$

that must be satisfied.
Who Deserves to Die? The Moral Logic of Mau Mau Killings in Colonial Kenya, 1952–56
Authors: Mbunga H. Muoki
Published: January 2025

This article seeks to explain how Mau Mau combatants selected and killed their civilian targets. The central argument is that Mau Mau members shared a moral logic that informed whom they killed, how, and why they did it. This moral logic was partly based on traditional Kikuyu ethics of violence, which were widely held and traceable to the late nineteenth century. Yet it was also a logic born out of novel, albeit contested, ethical convictions that developed in the context of an asymmetrical anticolonial war in 1950s-Kenya. Using captured guerrilla documents and oral history interviews with Mau Mau veterans, the article analyzes the perceived offenses that civilians committed against Mau Mau, the motives of Mau Mau assailants, and the internal conflicts that arose regarding the killings of some civilians. Ultimately, this article demonstrates that the moral logic of Mau Mau killings was firmly rooted in a dialectical tension between longstanding Kikuyu ethics of violence and the harsh realities of waging an asymmetrical anticolonial war. It also shows that Mau Mau debates over who to kill formed part of a larger process of sacralization, whereby members of the movement reimagined what they deemed sacred, moral, and just measures for conducting the war.
Life and death of Yfh1: how cool is cold denaturation
Authors: Temussi Piero Andrea , Martin Stephen R. , Pastore Annalisa
Published: January 2025

Yeast frataxin (Yfh1) is a small natural protein from yeast that has the unusual property of undergoing cold denaturation at temperatures above the freezing point of water when under conditions of low ionic strength. This peculiarity, together with remarkable resilience, allows the determination, for the whole protein as well as for individual residues, of the stability curve, that is the temperature dependence of the free energy difference between the unfolded and folded forms. The ease of measuring stability curves without the need to add denaturants or introduce ad hoc destabilizing mutations makes this protein an ideal ‘tool’ for investigating the influence of many environmental factors on protein stability. The present review aims at recapitulating all the open questions that Yfh1 has helped to address, including understanding the differences and commonalities of the cold, heat and pressure unfolded states. This protein thus offers a unique tool for studying aspects of protein stability so far been considered difficult to assess and provides important guidelines that could allow the identification of other similar systems.
Topos of threat and metapolitics in Russia’s securitisation of NATO post-Crimea
Authors: Hjermann Anni Roth , Wilhelmsen Julie
Published: January 2025

This article makes a twofold contribution on the relationship between self/other securitisation, ambiguous threat constructions, and anxiety at the intersection of Securitisation Theory (ST) and Ontological Security Studies (OSS). First, we develop the concept topos of threat (TT) as a potent linguistic anchor in securitisation processes. TTs depict an entire self/other threat situation that warrants escape, serving identity needs while staying flexible and ambiguous. However, their frequent rhetorical deployment can blur the threat construction and increase anxiety: this challenges the classical scholarly assumption that antagonism necessarily alleviates anxiety. Second, we theorise metapolitics as an anxiety mediation strategy. Metapolitics is a mode of interpretation – a relentless analysis of surface clues to expose a deceptive, powerful adversary – which in the final event fails to alleviate anxiety. The dual practice of nurturing topoi of threat and metapolitics drives conflict because it sets in motion a vicious securitisation spiral that entrenches rigid patterns of self/other representation and fosters a bias of anticipating hostility. We employ abductive theorising: working with established theory alongside empirical discovery through a discourse analysis of Russia’s official rhetoric on NATO and the use of the TT ‘colour revolution’ since the conflict in Ukraine began in 2014.
Ideology
Authors: Schmidtz David
Published: January 2025

What is the difference between a philosophy and an ideology? Would simply observing some aspect of human experience count as ideology? No. But suppose we try to explain and interpret what we have seen. Now, we enter the neighborhood of what gets called ideology. What else does it take to sort out what should be called ideological? And why would a worldview sometimes turn into an echo chamber, a cocoon of confirmation bias that fosters false consciousness?
The Insidious Ambiguity of “Ideology”
Authors: McGrath Molly Brigid
Published: January 2025

This essay identifies and explores three dominant intellectual traditions that critique and theorize about ideology: Marxist, prudentialist, and social scientific. For these traditions, the word ‘ideology’ names interest-serving rationalizations, pseudoscientific totalitarian zealotry, or political outlooks. The blending of these three specialized meanings has generated a colloquial sense of ideology that is philosophically untenable and damaging to political discourse. According to this colloquial sense, all thinking is ideological and we are all ideologues. In response, I instead offer in this essay an adverbial account of ideology. In this account, “ideology” names a kind of epistemic vice. Admitting that this is something we all may do sometimes, I describe how we think when we think ideologically. Finally, I conclude with some suggestions about how education might help us avoid the epistemic vice of ideological thinking.
Null subject comprehension and production revisited: a look at English and Italian
Authors: Gerard Juliana , Singh Muskaan , Bencini Giulia , Valian Virginia
Published: January 2025

This study will investigate how children acquire the option to drop the subject of a sentence, or null subjects (e.g., “Tickles me” instead of “He tickles me”). In languages that do not permit null subjects, children produce sentences with null subjects from 1 to 3 years of age. This non-adultlike production has been explained by two main accounts: first, the null subject sentences may accurately reflect the children’s linguistic knowledge, that is, a competence account. Alternatively, they may result from immature processing resources, therefore underestimating children’s competence, that is, a performance account. We will test the predictions of these accounts by using a central fixation preference procedure and elicited imitation to measure children’s comprehension and production, respectively, in monolingual 19- to 28-month-olds acquiring English (a non-null subject language) and Italian (a null subject language). The results will shed light on acquisition across languages, and the features that provide evidence to a learner.
Exploring the MASS-DoA2 control-switching mechanism: Results from the autonomous ship guidelines review and expert survey
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Mu Congrui , Wang Yu , Yang Xue , Zhou Xiangyu , Meng Xiangkun , Li Lianbo
Published: January 2025

The development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) is progressing rapidly within the maritime industry. Degree Two of MASS (MASS-DoA2), balancing human oversight and autonomous efficiency, will likely gain regulatory approval and industry acceptance. MASS-DoA2 possesses different control modes to adapt to various scenarios. However, the control-switching mechanisms among operators at shore control centres, autonomous navigation systems and number of seafarers onboard remain ambiguous, which poses a new risk that may significantly influence navigation safety. This study focuses on MASS-DoA2 and carries out a systematic review of autonomous ship guidelines. A questionnaire was designed based on the review findings, and a survey was carried out among captains and researchers in related fields. The review identified 11 control-switching scenarios with suggested takeover agents and the switching process and outlined the priority relationship between various takeover agents. Finally, a control-switching framework for MASS – DoA2 is proposed. It can serve as a theoretical framework for research on MASS's dynamic degree of autonomy and provide a reference for maritime regulatory authorities in establishing MASS – DoA2 control-switching mechanisms.
A fishing vessel operational behaviour identification method based on 1D CNN-LSTM
Authors: Xia Rongfei , Xu Lijie , Xu Yiqun , Chen Yifei
Published: January 2025

The identification of fishing vessel operations holds significant importance in addressing fishing industry issues, such as overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF). Many countries utilise data from vessel monitoring systems (VMSs) or automatic identification systems (AISs) to monitor fishing activities. These data include vessel trajectories, headings and speeds, among others. We aimed to analyse the fishing behaviours of three types of fishing gear used by vessels (trawl, purse seine and gill net) and identify the types of gear employed by the vessels. Therefore, a 1D CNN-LSTM fishing vessel operational behaviour prediction model was proposed by combining a one-dimensional convolutional (1D CNN) neural network and a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. The model utilises 1D CNN to extract local features from fishing vessel trajectories and employs LSTM to capture the time series information in the data, eventually classifying fishing gears. The results show that the proposed model achieves a classification accuracy of 92% in categorising fishing vessel operational trajectories. This study significantly contributes to preventing IUUF, curtailing overfishing, and enhancing fisheries management strategies.