bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Data-Driven Visualization Approach for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Open-Cut and Trenchless CIPP Methods for Sanitary Sewers: A PRISMA Systematic Review
Authors: Thakre Gayatri , Kaushal Vinayak , Karkhanis Eesha , Najafi Mohammad
Published: February 2025

The wastewater conveyance systems in the United States are facing severe structural challenges, with the nation’s overall wastewater infrastructure receiving a critically low grade of D- from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Innovative trenchless technologies, such as Cured-in-Place Pipe Renewal Technology (CIPPRT), offer a cost-efficient substitute for traditional open-cut construction methods (OCCM). However, the possibility of a comprehensive life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) comparing these methods remains unexplored. LCCA examines the comprehensive financial impact, encompassing installation, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement expenses, using net present value (NPV) over a set duration. The objective of this study is to systematically review the existing literature to explore advancements in calculating the LCCA for CIPPRT and compare the latter approach to OCCM. A rigorous PRISMA-guided methodology applied to academic databases identified 845 publications (1995–2024), with 83 documents being selected after stringent screening. The findings reveal limited use of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) in predicting CIPPRT costs. A bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer visualizes the results. The study underscores the potential of intelligent, data-driven approaches, such as spreadsheet models and AI, to enhance decision-making in selecting rehabilitation methods tailored to project conditions. These advancements promise more sustainable and cost-effective management of sanitary sewer systems, offering vital insights for decision-makers in addressing critical infrastructure challenges.
Spectrum Auction Policy Design for International Mobile Telecommunications in South Korea: Application of Agent-Based Simulation
Authors: Kim Sang-Yong , Kim Sojung
Published: February 2025

Spectrum auctions in international mobile telecommunications (IMT) are a representative method for selling the right to transmit signals within a specific band of electromagnetic waves to communication service providers (CSPs); it is important to design a fair spectrum auction that can benefit both government and auction bidders. The government should reduce the burden of maintenance costs by setting a reasonable initial price and selling it to bidders at the highest price they can afford. However, due to the complex auction rules and decision-making process, not many studies has been conducted on how to select an appropriate initial price for the auction. This study aims at introducing a novel simulation modeling approach to develop a spectrum auction policy for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) using agent-based simulation (ABS), which involves three telecommunications service provider types (i.e., the Aggressive bidder, the Moderate bidder, and the Conservative bidder) and the auction environment of IMT in South Korea. In particular, the proposed approach adopts the exponential utility theory to model the behavior of auction bidders and identify the optimal initial bid price. The devised ABS model is calibrated to the IMT spectrum auction conducted in 2018 in South Korea, and the best initial pricing policy identified (i.e., $85.24 million per spectrum block) regarding a sustainable market environment for existing service providers (i.e., 10 blocks for the Aggressive bidder, 10 blocks for the Moderate bidder, and 8 blocks for the Conservative bidder). The proposed approach will be beneficial to both government agencies and auction bidders under fair competition in the IMT market.
Innovative Antibacterial Polymer Coatings
Authors: Bryaskova Rayna , Philipova Nikoleta , Bakov Ventsislav , Georgiev Nikolai
Published: February 2025

The rising incidence of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms that exhibit multiple resistances to various groups of antibiotics has prompted many researchers to focus their investigations on alternative and more effective products with lasting antibacterial effects, minimizing the risk of resistance development. This review outlines the key approaches to developing effective antibacterial coatings. It emphasizes the highlights of significant achievements made in recent years, along with future challenges and perspectives in this field. The examples presented illustrate both the application potential and the issues associated with traditional and innovative materials. We hope that this review will inspire researchers to develop effective and practically useful antibacterial coatings.
Rock Indentation Behavior: Effects of Penetration Rates and Indenter Types
Authors: Feng Shangxin , Zhang Yuxing , Zhao Yufei , Yun Mengchen
Published: February 2025

This paper is an attempt to investigate the rock indentation behaviors of a conical pick under different loading rates (1, 2, 3, and 4 mm/min), indenter types (sharp and blunt indenters), and types of rock (concrete, limestone, granite). Serial indentation tests by indenters were first performed by an automatic universal testing machine and monitored by an i-SPEED high-speed camera to record the peak pick force, indentation depth, rock fracture area, and rock failure process. Accordingly, the effect of loading rates, rock brittleness, and pick type on rock indentation behaviors was subsequently analyzed for a sound understanding of rock fragmentation mechanisms with indenters. It was found that higher loading rates necessitate a higher pick force and indentation depth to achieve rock fragmentation, resulting in a larger fractured area. Notably, a positive linear relationship exists between loading rates, rock-breaking forces, and fracture areas. A sharp indenter induces multiple cycles of repeated crushing and chipping phases, resulting in an arcuate-shaped fracture pattern with a smaller fractured area. Conversely, the rounded blunt indenter leads to a single stage of compression, with cracks propagating directly through the rock specimen, producing a larger fractured area. In addition, rock brittleness is another key factor to control rock failure efficiency, with tensile strength serving as a significant component.
Fluorinated Polymers for Photonics—From Optical Waveguides to Polymer-Clad Glass Optical Fibers
Authors: Goldenberg Leonid M. , Köhler Mathias , Dreyer Christian
Published: February 2025

In this paper, our work in the field of fluorinated UV-curable polymers is reviewed. These polymers possessing tunable low refractive indices and low optical propagation losses for telecommunication wavelengths are intended to be used as core and cladding materials for the fabrication of passive channel waveguides in optical microchips on the polymer platform. This application requires low thermo-optic coefficients. With this goal, we used a combination of fluorinated polymers with low-refractive index inorganic nanoparticles of SiO2 and MgF2. Another application requiring extremely low refractive indices is polymer cladding for optical glass fibers. UV-curable fluorinated monomers/oligomers were used.
A Simplified Algorithm for a Full-Rank Update Quasi-Newton Method
Authors: Berzi Peter
Published: February 2025

An efficient linearization method for solving a system of nonlinear equations was developed, showing good stability and convergence properties. It uses an unconventional and simple strategy to improve the performance of classic methods by a full-rank update of the Jacobian approximates. It can be considered both as a discretized Newton’s method or as a quasi-Newton method with a full-rank update of the Jacobian approximates. A solution to the secant equation presented earlier was based on the Wolfe-Popper procedure. The secant equation was splitted into two equations by introducing an auxiliary variable. A simplified algorithm is given in this paper for the full-rank update procedure.It directly solves the secant equation with the pseudoinverse of the Jacobian approximate matrix. Numerical examples are shown for demonstration purposes. The convergence and efficiency of the suggested method are discussed and compared with the convergence and efficiency of classic linearization methods.
Automated Extraction of Key Entities from Non-English Mammography Reports Using Named Entity Recognition with Prompt Engineering
Authors: Akcali Zafer , Cubuk Hazal Selvi , Oguz Arzu , Kocak Murat , Farzaliyeva Aydan , Guven Fatih , Ramazanoglu Mehmet Nezir , Hasdemir Efe , Altundag Ozden , Agildere Ahmet Muhtesem
Published: February 2025

Objective: Named entity recognition (NER) offers a powerful method for automatically extracting key clinical information from text, but current models often lack sufficient support for non-English languages. Materials and Methods: This study investigated a prompt-based NER approach using Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro, a large language model (LLM) with a 1.5-million-token context window. We focused on extracting important clinical entities from Turkish mammography reports, a language with limited available natural language processing (NLP) tools. Our method employed many-shot learning, incorporating 165 examples within a 26,000-token prompt derived from 75 initial reports. We tested the model on a separate set of 85 unannotated reports, concentrating on five key entities: anatomy (ANAT), impression (IMP), observation presence (OBS-P), absence (OBS-A), and uncertainty (OBS-U). Results: Our approach achieved high accuracy, with a macro-averaged F1 score of 0.99 for relaxed match and 0.84 for exact match. In relaxed matching, the model achieved F1 scores of 0.99 for ANAT, 0.99 for IMP, 1.00 for OBS-P, 1.00 for OBS-A, and 0.99 for OBS-U. For exact match, the F1 scores were 0.88 for ANAT, 0.79 for IMP, 0.78 for OBS-P, 0.94 for OBS-A, and 0.82 for OBS-U. Discussion: These results indicate that a many-shot prompt engineering approach with large language models provides an effective way to automate clinical information extraction for languages where NLP resources are less developed, and as reported in the literature, generally outperforms zero-shot, five-shot, and other few-shot methods. Conclusion: This approach has the potential to significantly improve clinical workflows and research efforts in multilingual healthcare environments.
Human Cytomegalovirus Infection and Breast Cancer: A Literature Review of Clinical and Experimental Data
Authors: Blanco Rancés , Muñoz Juan P.
Published: February 2025

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant global health challenge, highlighting the need for continued research into novel risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and personalized treatments. Among emerging risk factors, viral infections have been implicated as potential contributors to breast carcinogenesis and BC progression. Recent evidence suggests that specific oncogenic strains of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may have the capacity to transform human mammary epithelial cells. This review assesses clinical data regarding HCMV presence in both tumor and non-tumor breast tissues, examining the role of HCMV oncoproteins in BC development and progression. Current findings indicate a higher prevalence of HCMV infection in breast carcinomas compared to non-tumor tissues, associated with an elevated risk of BC. Additionally, the HCMV-driven breast carcinogenesis model proposed here suggests that HCMV oncoproteins may activate multiple oncogenic pathways, fostering cell proliferation, survival, and tumor development. A deeper understanding of the role of HCMV in BC could enhance risk stratification and support the creation of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Nutritional Factors and Therapeutic Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review
Authors: Nogueira-de-Almeida Carlos A. , de Araújo Liubiana A. , da V. Ued Fábio , Contini Andrea A. , Nogueira-de-Almeida Maria E. , Martinez Edson Z. , Ferraz Ivan S. , Del Ciampo Luiz A. , Nogueira-de-Almeida Carla C. J. , Fisberg Mauro
Published: February 2025

Objective: To explore recent findings on how nutritional, gastrointestinal, social, and epigenetic factors interact in autism spectrum disorder, highlighting their implications for clinical management and intervention strategies that could improve development and quality of life of affected children. Sources: Studies published from 2000 to 2024 in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases were collected. The process for the review adhered to the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis framework. Summary of the findings: Children with autism spectrum disorder have restrictive eating habits and often exhibit food selectivity with either hyper- or hypo-sensory characteristics. This review provides an overview of the literature on diagnosis and intervention strategies for selectivity in autism spectrum disorder, including the involvement of family members in meals, sharing a healthy diet and positive relationship with food, and the importance of exploring visual, olfactory, and tactile experiences of food and introducing new foods through play activities to expand the food repertoire. Modifications in the microbiota and gastrointestinal disorders may also be present in autism spectrum disorder and are presented due to their frequent nutritional repercussions. The medium and long-term implications of food preferences and behavior issues for nutritional status are also discussed, given the tendency for children with autism spectrum disorder to consume low-quality and energy-dense foods, leading to nutritional problems. Conclusions: Children with autism spectrum disorder have feeding difficulties, especially selectivity, gastrointestinal problems, changes in the microbiota and can evolve with micronutrient deficiencies, malnutrition and obesity. This review describes the evidence for possible targets for interventions aiming to improve nutritional health for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Role of Sex in Shaping Brain Network Organization During Reading in Developmental Dyslexia
Authors: Taskov Tihomir , Dushanova Juliana
Published: February 2025

Background/Methods: The influence of sex on brain organization was investigated in functional reading networks in 8-year-old children, in those typically developing and those with developmental dyslexia (DD), utilizing the minimum spanning tree model. Results: The word reading task revealed subtle sex differences in brain connectivity and highlighted even small individual variations in functional connectivity characteristics, particularly among boys with DD. In girls, significantly stronger connections and core hubs were identified within and between motor, parietal, and visual networks in posterior brain regions in both hemispheres, particularly in the θ (dyslexics) and δ (normolexics) frequency bands. In contrast, boys showed a more diffuse connectivity pattern, predominantly in the left hemisphere, encompassing anterior heteromodal and sensorimotor networks. Girls exhibited greater network complexity (bigger leaf fraction, kappa, and tree hierarchy), particularly in the θ and δ frequency bands, while boys with DD showed increased network efficiency, except for in the γ2 band (smaller diameter and bigger leaf fraction). Therefore, gender-specific differences in brain network organization may affect reading development and dyslexia. While sex may influence brain network development, its impact on the sensorimotor and frontoparietal networks of 8-year-old children is relatively limited. Significant sex differences were observed in only a small subset of children, primarily in higher (β2-γ2) frequency bands. Conclusions: Interindividual variations were evident only in boys with DD, impacting both sensorimotor and association networks. Different rates of cortical network maturation between sexes with DD during childhood may contribute to variations associated with disruptions in brain network development, even within fundamental networks like the sensorimotor network.
Folliculogenesis: A Cellular Crosstalk Mechanism
Authors: Orozco-Galindo Bianca Viviana , Sánchez-Ramírez Blanca , González-Trevizo Cynthia Lizeth , Castro-Valenzuela Beatriz , Varela-Rodríguez Luis , Burrola-Barraza M. Eduviges
Published: February 2025

In vitro embryo production has accelerated in the cattle industry in recent years. Because women are similar to cows, this represents an opportunity to improve women’s reproductive protocols. This review focuses on crosstalk communication during folliculogenesis for an in-depth understanding of the events involved in developing the oocyte competence necessary to generate an embryo after fertilization. This knowledge can be used to improve oocytes in in vitro maturation cultures, which would allow us to obtain oocytes of high quality and competence, resulting in successful pregnancies in both women and cows. The first part of this review covers the concepts of cellular crosstalk before puberty in the primordial, primary, and secondary follicles. The next part involves cellular crosstalk after puberty, when gonadotropin hormones act on the ovary, promoting oocyte maturation. The final part comprises a perspective on using cow models to study human ovary physiology.
Comment on Rooman et al. Entropy Optimization on Axisymmetric Darcy–Forchheimer Powell–Eyring Nanofluid over a Horizontally Stretching Cylinder with Viscous Dissipation Effect. Coatings 2022, 12, 749
Authors: Pantokratoras Asterios
Published: February 2025

The concentration shown in Equation (4) in [1] is given as follows:(1)w∂C∂r+u∂C∂z=DB∂2C∂r2+1r∂C∂r+DTT∞∂2T∂r2+1r∂T∂r [...]
Reference Intervals for Common Biochemistry and Hematology Parameters in Early Pregnancy—A Prospective Study
Authors: Šupak-Smolčić Vesna , Franin Lucija , Antončić Dragana , Matejčić Sabina , Vrdoljak-Colo Iva , Homar Sonja , Horvat Mihovil , Bilić-Zulle Lidija
Published: February 2025

Background: The aim of this study was the determination of reference values for the common laboratory parameters in early pregnancy using a direct method and to assess their clinically significant difference, which was compared to the reference intervals for non-pregnant women with respect to the reference change value (RCV). Methods: This study was conducted from September 2022 to December 2023 at the Clinical Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Clinical Hospital Centre RIJEKA, Croatia. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥ 18 years, singleton pregnancy, normal ultrasound examination, and prenatal screening. The exclusion criteria were as follows: recent illness, pregnancy-related complications, medically assisted reproduction, and medication use. The reference intervals were established using the non-parametric percentile method according to the CLSI EP28-A3c recommendation. The reference values were compared to those of non-pregnant women and judged against RCV values based on biological variation. Additionally, we tested the influence of food consumption and oral supplements. Results: The data of 299 participants were included in the study. Laboratory tests whose changes are clinically relevant lower in early pregnancy are as follows: hemoglobin, MCV, hematocrit, MCH, urea, creatinine, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium, and magnesium. The clinically relevant higher values are as follows: RDW, total leukocyte count, neutrophil granulocytes, monocytes, CRP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and amylase. UIBC has a wider reference range. The consumption of food and supplements has no clinically significant influence in relation to the RCV. Conclusions: Establishing reference intervals in pregnancy remains a challenge due to the metabolic changes during pregnancy, as well as its clinical significance.
Retrospective Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Genotyping and Cytology (Pap Smears) in Cervical Cancer Screening: An Institutional Experience in the State of Oregon, USA
Authors: Lu Zhengchun , Knapp Maxwell , Downs Siouxzanna , Ali Rabeka A. , Morgan Terry K. , Ruff Heather M. , Qin Xuan , Fan Guang
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: The 2020 American Cancer Society guidelines endorse human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the preferred method for cervical cancer screening. This study aims to evaluate the concordance of HPV and cytology findings for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) at a population level. Methods: A retrospective cohort review of cervical cytology, HPV testing, and biopsies for all patients at a single Oregon-based medical center was performed over 21 months. The performance of HPV and cytology in detecting high-grade CIN lesions was compared. Results: A total of 22,488 tests were evaluated, showing 7.5% abnormal cytology and 7.4% positive HPV. Among 574 patients who underwent co-testing and a subsequent biopsy, 345 had abnormal cytology, with 212 having abnormal biopsy results. HPV was positive in 455 cases, with 266 having abnormal biopsy results. Among 455 HPV-positive cases, there were 283, 104 and 33 cases of non-16/18, 16, and 18 types, respectively. Additionally, 35 cases had co-infection with multiple HPV types. Among the cases diagnosed as CIN3 on biopsy, 90.6% had positive HPV testing (N = 96), and 82.9% had abnormal cytology (N = 94). HPV testing demonstrated a slightly higher sensitivity (88.8% vs. 78.3%, p = 0.128) and lower specificity (27.1% vs. 48.9%, p < 0.01) compared to cytology for CIN2 and CIN3 diagnosis. Conclusions: HPV testing showed a similar sensitivity but lower specificity compared to cytology for detecting high-grade lesions.
Determination of Gingival Index and Salivary Proinflammatory Cytokines (Interleukin 6 and Tumour Necrosis Factor α) After Chemical–Mechanical Retraction Procedure
Authors: Igić Marko A. , Kostić Milena M. , Đorđević Nadica S. , Bašić Jelena T. , Đorđević Marija G. , Gligorijević Nikola R. , Jovanović Goran , Jovanović Rodoljub G. , Stavreva Natasha , Todić Jelena T. , Stanković Jana Pešić , Stojanović Simona M. Tarana
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the impact of the gingival chemical–mechanical retraction procedure on the value of the gingival index (GI) and salivary concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The importance of this clinical study is that it provides an exact conclusion regarding the behaviour of the gingival tissue after the application of an impregnated retraction cord in the gingival sulcus of the subjects. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted as a prospective clinical study. The study included 60 subjects divided into two experimental groups, i.e., with and without tooth preparation. Each group was divided into two subgroups according to the retraction agent used. The parameters were measured before, one day after, and three days after the retraction procedure. Results: One day after the application of both gingival retraction agents in both study groups, there was a statistically significant increase in the value of the GI and the salivary concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α (p < 0.001) compared to the values at the beginning of the study. After 72 h, the values decreased in comparison to those from the second observation period, but they remained statistically significantly higher than the initial values of the study (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study showed moderate inflammation of the gingival tissue one day after the retraction procedure, which decreased over time. Higher values of the studied parameters were observed with the application of the ferric sulphate-based retraction agent.
Rethinking Professional Development: Development and Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Online PD Course on the Effective Use of Technology in the Classroom
Authors: Fütterer Tim , Wurst Christina , Goeze Annika
Published: February 2025

Technology-enhanced teaching (TET) is most effective when integrated meaningfully into classroom settings. Teachers require technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK) to achieve this integration. This study details the development and evaluation of an online professional development (OPD) course aimed at enhancing teachers’ TPK for the effective use of technology in science and language subjects. The course was created to rethink OPD, i.e., to overcome known shortcomings of OPD design consciously. It was based on the Interactive–Constructive–Active–Passive (ICAP) framework, which promotes interactive and constructive learning activities. Thus, the OPD course incorporated text-based and video-based interactive learning modules (learning nuggets), discussions about staged video vignettes showing classroom situations with conventional vs. good use of technology by the teacher, professional learning communities, and practical teaching trials with group reflections. The evaluation study of this OPD followed a pre–post design involving 76 in-service teachers. Participants completed surveys and a test of their ability to apply ICAP knowledge to teaching situations before and after the OPD. The evaluation revealed that teachers perceived the course as beneficial, though no statistically significant improvement in applied ICAP knowledge was observed. These findings highlight opportunities and challenges in designing and measuring effective OPDs that support the meaningful integration of technology into classroom practice.
Applying Natural Language Processing Adaptive Dialogs to Promote Knowledge Integration During Instruction
Authors: Li Weiying
Published: February 2025

We explored the value of adding NLP adaptive dialogs to a web-based, inquiry unit on photosynthesis and cellular respiration designed following the Knowledge Integration (KI) framework. The unit was taught by one science teacher in seventh grade middle school classrooms with 162 students. We measured students’ integrated understanding at three time points across instruction using KI scores. Students received significantly higher KI scores after the dialog and with instruction. We found that students who had complete engagement with the dialogs at three time points during instruction received higher KI scores than those who had inconsistent engagement with the dialog across instruction. By investigating the idea progression among students with full engagement with the dialogs, we found significant improvements in KI scores in revised explanations after the dialog at three instruction time points, with significant interaction with the dialog and instruction facilitating a shift toward more KI links. Two rounds of guidance in the dialog elicited more ideas. Students were more likely to add mechanistic ideas of photosynthesis reactants and cellular respiration after the dialog, especially during and after instruction. Case analyses highlight how adaptive dialogs helped one student refine and integrate scientific mechanisms at three time points. These findings demonstrate the potential of combining NLP adaptive dialogs with instruction to foster deeper scientific reasoning.
Investigation into Adhesion of Coatings and Adhesives of Eucalyptus and Grey Poplar for Building Applications
Authors: Csiha Csilla , Hofmann Tamás , Zinad Omar Saber
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the bonding strength and chemical composition (as an influencing factor of adhesion) of red eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) (EUW) and grey poplar (Populus canescens) (GPOW) wood surfaces, comparing their suitability for indoor and outdoor wood-building applications. The research focused on adhesion strength using different coatings and adhesives, including lasure and 2K lacquer. The results showed that whilst both wood species had a conveniently high cellulose content, GPOW had a higher cellulose content (48.21%) than EUW (45.18%). However, EUW demonstrated superiority in tensile shear strength tests when using structural adhesives. Additionally, EUW exhibited stronger pull-off adhesion with 2K lacquer (5.25 MPa) compared with GPOW (3.42 MPa), suggesting that whilst both reached the expectations, EUW was more appropriate for high-stress indoor applications like flooring or wall cladding. EUW and GPOW performed well with lasure, achieving comparable adhesion strengths. EUW had a density of 1020 kg/m3 vs. 575 kg/m3 for GPOW and stronger bonding capabilities than GPOW, which suggests that it is equally suitable for wood applications inside and outside buildings. The study concluded that whilst both wood species met expectations and proved to be suitable for doors, windows, and other wood-building product applications, GPOW was suitable for the production of cellulose-based products, while EUW was worth relying on for its excellent adhesion to coatings and adhesives.
Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Myricaria laxiflora and Identification of Candidate MylAP2/ERF Genes Involved in Flooding Stress
Authors: Xiang Weibo , Li Linbao , Li Guoli , Huang Guiyun , Dun Bicheng , Wang Junchen , Chen Huiyuan , Ma Xiaobo , Zhang Haibo , Xiao Zhiqiang , Liu Jihong , Yang Zhen , Wu Di
Published: February 2025

M. laxiflora is an endangered plant that grows in the Yangtze River floodplain of China and often suffers from flooding stress. Due to the lack of a reference genome for M. laxiflora, the molecular regulatory mechanism of waterlogging stress in this plant remains unclear. In this study, we report a high-quality reference genome of M. laxiflora with a size of 1.29 Gb. A total of 23,666 gene-encoding proteins and 5457 ncRNAs were predicted in this reference genome. A comparative genome analysis revealed that 902 and 4299 gene families significantly expanded and contracted, respectively, in M. laxiflora. The expansions of the 902 gene families were significantly related to the “response to stress”, “response to abiotic stimulus”, and “response to oxygen-containing compounds” pathways. In the M. laxiflora genome, 101 MylAP2/ERF genes were identified and divided into five subgroups. Several MeJA-, ABA-, and hypoxia-responsive elements were found in the promoter regions of these MylAP2/ERF genes. According to the transcriptome data analysis, 74 MylAP2/ERF genes responded to flooding stress. Moreover, three genes (MylAP2/ERF49/78/91) that belong to the same branch as the RAP2.2 gene exhibited different expression trends under flooding stress. Our results provide valuable information on the molecular regulatory mechanism of flooding stress in M. laxiflora.
Sensitivity of First Leaf Date to Temperature Change for Typical Woody Plants in Guiyang, China
Authors: Huang Wenjie , Cao Lijuan , Dai Junhu
Published: February 2025

The temperature sensitivity of plant phenology reflects how and to what extent plants respond to climate change and is significantly related to their ability to adapt to climate change. Previous studies on the temperature sensitivity of first leaf date (FLD) primarily focus on temperate regions, with relatively few studies conducted in subtropical areas. This study analyzed observational data on the FLD of 63 typical woody plant species from 1980 to 2019 in Guiyang, located in the subtropical zone of China. We quantified the trend of FLD and its sensitivity to temperature changes and then assessed the impact of sample size on the stability of sensitivity estimates. The results showed that (1) significant warming occurred in Guiyang during the study period, with the largest warming occurring in spring. (2) The FLD of the vast majority of plants (95.2%) showed an earlier trend during the study period (19.0% significantly at p < 0.05). The earlier trend of most species ranged from −3 to −1 days decades−1. The median of trends for all 63 species investigated was 1.97 days decades−1. (3) The interannual variation in FLD was significantly negatively correlated with the preseason average temperature (p < 0.05). Most of the temperature sensitivity of FLD was between −5 and −3 days °C−1, with a mean of −4.53 days °C−1. (4) The sample size significantly influenced the stability of the temperature sensitivity estimates. Using randomly selected 20-year data could limit the standard deviation of the sensitivity estimate to 0.3 days °C−1. These results suggest that the leaf unfolding date of subtropical species could track climate warming closely like temperature species. The temperature sensitivity of FLD should be estimated based on long-term observation data.
Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Versions of the Activity Restriction Scale
Authors: García-García Laura , Jiménez-Gonzalo Lucía , Fernandes-Pires José A. , Mausbach Brent T. , Pérez-Cardona Luis Manuel , Benito-Rincón Claudia , Losada-Baltar Andrés
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Activity restriction (i.e., feeling limited in performing certain activities) has been studied in relation to psychological distress. The Activity Restriction Scale (ARS) has been widely used, with a two-factor structure obtained in previous studies. However, there is no validated instrument for this measure in Spanish. This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the original ARS and to create an adapted version for older adults. Method: In Phase 1, the original ARS was tested in 143 Spanish family caregivers. In Phase 2, this version was explored through a pilot study with 10 Spanish older adults. In Phase 3, the ARS-Older Adults version (ARS-OA) was tested in a sample of 246 Spanish older adults. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in Phases 1 and 3, in addition to testing reliability, and convergent and concurrent validity. A descriptive analysis was carried out in Phase 2. Results: Both factor analyses provided support for a two-factor solution: instrumental and expressive activity restriction. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.86 (Phase 1) and 0.81 (Phase 3). The data also suggested good convergent and concurrent validity. Conclusions: The results revealed good psychometric properties of both versions of the ARS, suggesting that it is a suitable instrument for assessing activity restriction in Spanish-speaking populations. Activity restriction is suggested as a relevant variable to take into account in understanding people’s mental health.
Analysing Differences in Cognitive Health, Physical Fitness and Brain Activity in Older Women With and Without MCI
Authors: Cheon Wookwang , Tian Jidong , Park Jinkee
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study is analyse the differences in cognitive health, geriatric fitness, and brain activity between female elderly people with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to contribute to the development of strategies for the prevention and management of MCI. The study included 56 female elderly residents of G city, and the participants were divided into an MCI group (32) and a non-MCI group (24). Cognitive health was assessed by an MMSE, and geriatric physical fitness was measured by various indicators such as strength, flexibility, and balance ability. Brain activity was measured by EEG(Electroencephalogram) to record concentration, stress, and left and right brain activity. Data were processed using independent samples t-tests and multiple regression analyses. The results showed that the MCI group was older, had more chronic diseases, and had a lower MMSE scores compared to the non-MCI group. In geriatric fitness measures, the non-MCI group had higher scores in handgrip strength and balance ability. In brain activity analyses, the MCI group had higher workloads and left brain activity than the non-MCI group, but there was no significant correlation with overall cognitive health. Regression analyses showed that, among the elderly physical fitness variables, vigour had a significant effect on cognitive health, suggesting that physical robustness may enhance cognitive reserve. The MCI group had lower cognitive health and physical fitness compared to the non-MCI group and showed some differences in brain activity. In particular, handgrip strength had a significant effect on cognitive health, suggesting that an exercise programme focused on strength training may be an effective intervention for the prevention and management of MCI.
“Curiosa Impertinente”: Women and Curiosity on the Spanish–North African Borderlands
Authors: Infante Catherine
Published: February 2025

In European imaginings of the Islamic world, women incited intense curiosity and were often depicted by early modern writers as sexualized subjects and curious objects of male desire. However, this Orientalist fascination ignores the very curiosity of these women and their desire to glean knowledge about the world around them. While curiosity became increasingly valued in the early modern period as a means of progress, female curiosity was still often linked to the perils of excess (Neil Kenny). This essay examines this apparent contradiction by focusing on the Muslim protagonist in one of Miguel de Cervantes’s plays that takes place on the Spanish–North African borderlands. In Los baños de Argel (1615), Zahara defends her desire to inquire about the world by portraying herself as a “curious impertinent” (“curiosa impertinente”), a name that clearly recalls the tale of “El curioso impertinente” intercalated in the first part of Don Quixote (1605). Moreover, Zahara harnesses her ability to ask questions to further her goals and ambitions. Ultimately, through a close reading of the female protagonist in this play, I argue that Cervantes considers the ways in which women asserted their own curiosity and represented themselves as agents of inquiry.
Turkish Adaptation and Validation of Patient Participation Questionnaire (PPQ)
Authors: Aydoğdu Adil , Yorulmaz Mehmet
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: The concept of patient participation is increasingly recognized as an important component in many areas, such as redesigning healthcare processes, improving patient safety, increasing satisfaction, and managing chronic diseases. In this context, measuring the level of patient participation in healthcare services is an important factor. The “Patient Participation Questionnaire” is a tool used to assess patients’ evaluations of their participation in their in-hospital care. The absence of a scale in the Turkish literature that measures this concept reveals the importance of this research. Methods: In this study conducted in a tertiary public hospital in Turkey, the final scale translated into Turkish was applied to 355 people using the convenience sampling method. In addition to the “Patient Participation Scale”, the “Patient Satisfaction Scale” was used for context validity in the study. Data were analyzed with SPSS 27 and AMOS programs. Results: As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis, the scale, which originally consisted of 16 questions and four dimensions, was adapted to Turkish as 14 questions and four dimensions. As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, the goodness of fit values of the scale were found to be x2/sd = 2.53, GFI = 0.93, AGFI = 0.90, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.066, RMR = 0.041, and NFI = 0.90. These values are within the acceptable and good fit level ranges. As a result of the correlation analysis performed for context validity, it was determined that there was a positive significant relationship between the adapted patient participation scale and the patient satisfaction scale (r = 0.692, p < 0.001). In addition, the internal consistency coefficient of the scale was examined to determine the reliability of the scale, and it was revealed that the scale was reliable at a good level (α = 0.86). Conclusions: Based on the findings, it was revealed that the “Patient Participation Scale” developed in English is a valid and reliable measurement tool in Turkish culture.
The Use of Narratives as a Therapeutic Tool Among Latin American Immigrant Women: Processes of Reconstruction and Empowerment in Contexts of Vulnerability
Authors: Pereñíguez Mª Dolores , Palacios José , Echevarría Paloma , Morales-Moreno Isabel , Muñoz Aarón
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: This study explores how narratives can act as therapeutic tools for Latin American immigrant women residing in the Region of Murcia, Spain. The objective is to analyse how the act of narrating their migratory experiences contributes to emotional relief, the re-signification of their trajectories, and the construction of resilience, while strengthening identity and fostering a sense of belonging in contexts marked by exclusion and inequalities in gender and class. Methods: A qualitative methodology was used with a narrative and gender approach. The field work was carried out between 2022 and 2023, with a sample of 20 women selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed through an inductive approach using MAXQDA 24.5 software. The emerging categories reflected the emotional experience and meanings constructed during the migration process. Results: The narratives revealed five key categories: emotional relief of social suffering through expression, reconstruction of identity and re-signification of experiences, emotional validation and strengthening of identity, empowerment and symbolic resistance, and sense of belonging and connection. Likewise, it was observed that the interviews created therapeutic spaces that strengthened the bond between researcher and participant. Conclusions: The narratives contribute to processing emotions and redefining traumatic experiences, while also allowing greater agency in the participating women. This approach highlights the transformative potential of narrative research to generate situated knowledge and promote inclusive practices in contexts of vulnerability.
Creation and Comparison of High-Resolution Daily Precipitation Gridded Datasets for Greece Using a Variety of Interpolation Techniques
Authors: Ntagkounakis Giorgos , Nastos Panagiotis , Kapsomenakis John , Douvis Kostas
Published: February 2025

This study investigates a range of precipitation interpolation techniques with the objective of generating high-resolution gridded daily precipitation datasets for the Greek region. The study utilizes a comprehensive station dataset, incorporating geographical variables derived from satellite-based elevation data and integrating precipitation data from the ERA5 reanalysis. A total of three different modeling approaches are developed. Firstly, we utilize a General Additive Model in conjunction with an Indicator Kriging model using only station data and limited geographical variables. In the second iteration of the model, we blend ERA5 reanalysis data in the interpolation methodology and incorporate more geographical variables. Finally, we developed a novel modeling framework that integrates ERA5 data, a variety of geographical data, and a multi-model interpolation process which utilizes different models to predict precipitation at distinct thresholds. Our results show that using the ERA5 data can increase the accuracy of the interpolated precipitation when the station dataset used is sparse. Additionally, the implementation of multi-model interpolation techniques which use distinct models for different precipitation thresholds can improve the accuracy of precipitation and extreme precipitation modeling, addressing important limitations of previous modeling approaches.
Characterization of PRDM9 Multifunctionality in Yak Testes Through Protein Interaction Mapping
Authors: Wang Guowen , Shu Shi , Fu Changqi , Huang Rong , Xu Shangrong , Zhang Jun , Peng Wei
Published: February 2025

Meiotic recombination is initiated by the formation of programmed DNA double-strand breaks during spermatogenesis. PRDM9 determines the localization of recombination hotspots by interacting with several protein complexes in mammals. The function of PRDM9 is not well understood during spermatogenesis in mice or yaks. In this study, we applied yeast two-hybrid assays combined with next-generation sequencing techniques to screen the complete set of PRDM9-interacting proteins and explore its novel functions in yak spermatogenesis. Our results showed that 267 PRDM9-interacting proteins were identified. The gene ontology (GO) analysis of the interacting proteins revealed that the GO terms were primarily associated with spermatogenesis, positive regulation of double-strand break repair via homologous recombination, RNA splicing, the ubiquitin-dependent ERAD pathway, and other biological processes. MKX and PDCD5 were verified to be strongly interacting with PRDM9 and expressed in prophase I of meiosis in both mouse and yak testes. The localizations of RNA splicing genes including THOC5, DDX5, and XRCC6 were expressed in spermatocytes. Cattleyak is the hybrid offspring of a yak and a domestic cow, and the male offspring are sterile. The gene expression of the interacting proteins was also examined in the sterile male hybrid of yak and cattle. Among the 58 detected genes, 55 were downregulated in cattleyak. In conclusion, we established a complete PRDM9 interaction network, and a novel function of PRDM9 was identified, which will further promote our understanding of spermatogenesis. It also provides new insights for the study of hybrid male sterility.
Automatic Translation Between Kreol Morisien and English Using the Marian Machine Translation Framework
Authors: Boodeea Zaheenah Beebee Jameela , Pudaruth Sameerchand , Chooramun Nitish , Sukhoo Aneerav
Published: February 2025

Kreol Morisien is a vibrant and expressive language that reflects the multicultural heritage of Mauritius. There are different versions of Kreol languages. While Kreol Morisien is spoken in Mauritius, Kreol Rodrige is spoken only in Rodrigues, and they are distinct languages. Being spoken by only about 1.5 million speakers in the world, Kreol Morisien falls in the category of under-resourced languages. Initially, Kreol Morisien lacked a formalised writing system, with many people using different spellings for the same words. The first step towards standardisation of writing Kreol Morisien was after the publication of the Kreol Morisien orthography in 2011 and Kreol Morisien grammar in 2012 by the Kreol Morisien Academy. Kreol Morisien obtained a national position in the year 2012 when it was introduced in educational organisations. This was a major breakthrough for Kreol Morisien to be recognised as a national language on the same level as English, French, and other oriental languages. By providing a means for Kreol Morisien speakers to connect with others, a translation system will help to preserve and strengthen the identity of the language and its speakers in an increasingly globalized world. The aim of this paper is to develop a translation system for Kreol Morisien and English. Thus, a dataset consisting of 50,000 parallel Kreol Morisien and English sentences was created, where 48,000 sentence pairs were used to train the models, while 1000 sentences were used for evaluation and another 1000 sentences were used for testing. Several machine translation systems such as statistical machine translation, open-source neural machine translation, a Transformer model with attention mechanism, and Marian machine translation are trained and evaluated. Our best model, using MarianMT, achieved a BLEU score of 0.62 for the translation of English to Kreol Morisien and a BLEU score of 0.58 for the translation of Kreol Morisien into English. To our knowledge, these are the highest BLEU scores that are available in the literature for this language pair. A high-quality translation tool for Kreol Morisien will facilitate its integration into digital platforms. This will make previously inaccessible knowledge more accessible, as the information can now be translated into the mother tongue of most Mauritians with reasonable accuracy.