bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of enzyme-assisted extraction on the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus (Ochrophyta, Fucaceae) to produce extracts for a sustainable agriculture
Authors: Choulot Manon , Jabbour Chirelle , Burlot Anne-Sophie , Jing Lun , Welna Maja , Szymczycha-Madeja Anna , Le Guillard Cécile , Michalak Izabela , Bourgougnon Nathalie
Published: January 2025

The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in sustaining population growth and ensuring our well-being. However, as this sector faces numerous challenges due to environmental conditions and the increasing population, it is essential to identify natural alternatives that promote sustainable farming practices and protect the environment. Seaweed-based extracts have gained popularity in agriculture because of their numerous benefits for plant growth and health. This study focuses on Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus, a brown seaweed species prevalent along the Brittany coast. The research involved comparing enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) with conventional aqueous extraction methods for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of EAE in producing enriched extracts that could have an interesting agricultural application. The results indicates that enzymatic extraction of F. vesiculosus significantly increased the content of neutral sugars by 34% and reducing sugars by 21% in the extracts, compared to conventional aqueous extraction (WE). Regarding plant growth regulators, the levels of isopentenyladenosine (iPR) and cis-zeatin (cZ) were enhanced by 6 times and 28 times, respectively, when using EAE instead of WE. Additionally, the total phenolic content was notably higher in EAE extracts, showing a twofold increase over WE extracts. Furthermore, the various extracts demonstrated superior antioxidant activity compared to raw F. vesiculosus powder. Thus, this study confirms that EAE is an effective method for enriching F. vesiculosus extracts with various compounds that can play a vital role in agriculture.
Reciprocal shift and symmetry breaking
Authors: Landau Idan
Published: January 2025

Bipartite reciprocal phrases are common in Indo-European, Indo-Aryan, and Semitic languages. When occurring with a case particle (K) or a preposition (P), K/P intervenes between the two units of the reciprocal phrase, producing an otherwise exceptional K/P-medial KP/PP. While diachronic descriptions successfully trace the origin of the two units to separate constituents that have gradually become closer, they fall short of explaining the stability of the K/P-medial outcome. Based on a detailed study of the Hebrew reciprocal construction, I argue that its two components are generated as sisters but cannot persist as such because they yield an illicit point of symmetry – an unlabeled phrase. The first member thus raises past K/P, breaking the symmetry, thereby allowing the complement of K/P to be labeled. The analysis is supported by data from intra- and crosslinguistic variation and predicts systematic correlations between the degree of symmetry between the two units of the reciprocal phrase and their separability.
Harborfront Anomaly Detection
Authors: Dueholm Jacob V. , Siemon Mia , Ionescu Radu T. , Moeslund Thomas B. , Nasrollahi Kamal
Published: January 2025

Creating high-quality datasets for the task of video anomaly detection is challenging due to a subjective anomaly definition and the rarity of anomalies, which oust the possibility of obtaining statistically significant data. This results in datasets where anomalies are placed in a single category, and are often considered less relevant from a security standpoint. Instead, we propose to create video anomaly datasets based on a framework utilizing object annotations to ease the annotation process and allow users to decide on the anomaly definition. Furthermore, this allows for a fine-grained evaluation w.r.t. anomaly types, which represents a novelty in the area of video anomaly detection. The framework is demonstrated using the existing thermal long-term drift (LTD) dataset, identifying and evaluating five different types of anomalies (appearance, motion, localization, density, and tampering) on six test sets. State-of-the-art anomaly detection methods are evaluated and found to underperform on the thermal anomaly detection dataset, which emphasizes a need for an adjustable anomaly definition in order to produce better anomaly datasets and models that generalize towards practical use. We share the code of the proposed framework to extract anomaly types along with object annotations for the LTD dataset at https://github.com/jagob/harborfront-vad.
An EM algorithm for fitting matrix-variate normal distributions on interval-censored and missing data
Authors: Lachos Victor H. , Tomarchio Salvatore D. , Punzo Antonio , Ingrassia Salvatore
Published: January 2025

Matrix-variate distributions are powerful tools for modeling three-way datasets that often arise in longitudinal and multidimensional spatio-temporal studies. However, observations in these datasets can be missing or subject to some detection limits because of the restriction of the experimental apparatus. Here, we develop an efficient EM-type algorithm for maximum likelihood estimation of parameters, in the context of interval-censored and/or missing data, utilizing the matrix-variate normal distribution. This algorithm provides closed-form expressions that rely on truncated moments, offering a reliable approach to parameter estimation under these conditions. Results obtained from the analysis of both simulated data and real case studies concerning water quality monitoring are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Use of Antihyperglycemic Medications Among US People with Limited English Proficiency
Authors: Müller Frank , Holman Harland , Bhangu Nikita , Kottutt Jepkoech , Azhary Hend , Alshaarawy Omayma
Published: January 2025

Background

Language barriers can impact pharmaceutical disease management leading to potential health disparities among limited English proficiency (LEP) people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the United States (US).

Objective

To assess the use of antihyperglycemic medications and estimate their impact on glycemic control by LEP status.

Design

Cross-sectional design. We compared the classes of prescribed antihyperglycemic medications and their impact on glycemic control between English-speaking and LEP participants (i.e., Spanish-speaking or needing interpretation services) with DM applying generalized linear models and adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Participants

Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003–2018).

Main Measures

Selected language for interview or interpreter request (main exposure). Outcomes include prescribed antihyperglycemic medications and glycemic control (HBA1c).

Key Results

Data for 4666 participants with DM were analyzed. Antihyperglycemic medications were similarly used by LEP and English-speaking people with DM, except for insulin, which was less frequently used by LEP people. Despite similar medications, LEP people using biguanides and TZDs were less likely to reach glycemic target levels (adjusted odds ratios ranging 1.7 to 3.3) compared to English-speaking people with DM.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the differences in DM outcomes among LEP people are likely attributed to factors other than medication prescription. These might include cultural beliefs, dietary adjustments, and communication barriers in healthcare. Enhanced patient education, acknowledgment of cultural practices, and improved language services could potentially mitigate these disparities.
Lipid Lowering Therapy Utilization and Lipid Goal Attainment in Women
Authors: van Oortmerssen Julie A. E. , Mulder Janneke W. C. M. , van der Bijl Marte F. , Mijnster Ruben J. M. , Kavousi Maryam , Roeters van Lennep Jeanine E. ,   on behalf of the IMPRESS consortium
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current status of lipid-lowering therapy utilization and lipid goal attainment in women. We focus on lipid-lowering therapy in individuals with and without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as well as familial hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, this review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms driving these sex differences and to identify existing knowledge gaps in this area.

Recent Findings

Despite the proven efficacy of lipid-lowering therapy in both sexes, real-world studies indicate that women with comparable risk profiles are less likely than men to receive these treatments. Furthermore, women who are prescribed statins typically receive lower-intensity regimens than men and are less likely to achieve guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals.

Despite advancements in lipid-lowering therapies, women compared to men, are systematically undertreated. This difference is influenced by patient-related, physician-related, and societal factors.

Graphical Abstract
Using large language models to facilitate academic work in the psychological sciences
Authors: Sohail Aamir , Zhang Lei
Published: January 2025

Large Language Models (LLMs) have significantly shaped working practices across a variety of fields including academia. Demonstrating a remarkable versatility, these models can generate responses to prompts with information in the form of text, documents, and images, show ability to summarize documents, perform literature searches, and even more, understand human behavior. However, despite providing many clear benefits, barriers remain toward their integration into academic work. Ethical and practical concerns regarding their suitability for various tasks further complicate their appropriate use. Here, we summarize recent advances assessing the capacity of LLMs for different components of academic research and teaching, focusing on three key areas in the psychological sciences: education and assessment, academic writing, and simulating human behavior. We discuss how LLMs can be used to aid each area, describe current challenges and good practices, and propose future directions. In doing so, we aim to increase the awareness and proper use of LLMs in various components of academic work, which will only feature more heavily over time.
Long-term safety and efficacy of fostamatinib in Japanese patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Kuwana Masataka , Tomiyama Yoshiaki
Published: January 2025

Fostamatinib had superior efficacy to a placebo and acceptable safety profiles for at least 1 year in a phase 3 study of Japanese patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia. Here, we report the 3-year safety and efficacy of fostamatinib in that study. Data from 33 patients who received at least one dose of fostamatinib were analyzed. A platelet response > 50,000/µL (at two consecutive visits at least 28 days apart while receiving fostamatinib) was achieved in 16 patients (48%). The median total duration of a platelet response > 50,000/µL was 589 (range: 106–1003) days. Gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea, hypertension, and hepatic enzyme elevation, were the most common fostamatinib-related adverse events. Most events occurred within 12 weeks of treatment. No thromboembolisms, treatment-related infections, or moderate or severe treatment-related bleeding events were observed. In summary, this extension study of a clinical trial found a sustained platelet response without new safety signals during 3-year treatment with fostamatinib.
One health and contaminated estuarine ecosystems: a critical review of the status of Thane Creek, Mumbai, India
Authors: Corbett Erin , Esiovwa Regina , Mooney Ronnie , Rodgers Kiri , Mukherji Soumyo , Connolly John , Hursthouse Andrew , Mukherji Suparna , Henriquez Fiona L.
Published: January 2025

Estuaries are critical components in the environmental risk assessment of anthropogenic contamination. They funnel the emissions from upstream terrestrial catchments and are often within historically established population and industrial centers. They are sensitive and biodiverse and increasingly acknowledged be subject to increasing risks and hazards from urban development and climate change. To understand these effects, regular monitoring is essential but needs to be appropriate to allow impact assessment and direct long-term mitigation strategies, building resilience under the advancing impacts of climate change. A One Health approach to environmental assessment is needed to counter the emergence of global public health threats, such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) supporting the interaction between estuarine ecology, humans and the environment. We focus on Thane Creek, Mumbai, India as a critical case being recently designated a RAMSAR site and India’s only urban RAMSAR wetland. The necessity of a robust environmental monitoring system for regulatory policy development reflects impacts from historic and emerging pollution sources. It is a particularly sensitive environment, and one of the largest creeks in Asia, with ecosystem function identified to be highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rapid urbanization, causing alterations to creek geometry over relatively short timescales, has impinged on wetland habitats. Data from governmental monitoring and previous studies of environmental quality in Thane Creek are compared to data for other Indian estuaries. Overall, there is evidence of contamination from sources including domestic sewage and nearby industries, which may have chronic impacts on the ecosystem. Dissolved oxygen was lower, biochemical oxygen demand higher, and coliform counts similar in Thane Creek compared to other estuaries. The influence of tidal dynamics and sediment movement is likely to develop seasonal variation in AMR within water and sediments with potential impact on a rich and diverse ecology, especially for migratory birds. Subsets of organic contaminants and potentially toxic elements are currently monitored infrequently in water but have been found enriched in the creek’s sediments. These key geochemical parameters are likely to have significant impacts on environmental health and highlight the need for wider assessment of environmental stressors and the development of more robust estuarine health indicators. Given both the ecological and geographical sensitivity of the region focusing on one health is a more appropriate monitoring strategy to address the emerging ecosystem challenges.
Leukocytosis in Cushing’s syndrome persists post-surgical remission and could predict a lower remission prognosis in patients with Cushing’s disease
Authors: Masri-Iraqi Hiba , Rudman Yaron , Shochat Tzipora , Kushnir Shiri , Shimon Ilan , Fleseriu Maria , Akirov Amit
Published: January 2025

Context

Leukocytosis frequently noted in Cushing’s syndrome (CS), along with other blood cell changes caused by direct and indirect cortisol effects.

Objective

Assess baseline white blood cell (WBC) profile in CS patients compared to controls and WBC changes pre- and post-remission after surgical treatment for CS.

Design

A comparative nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Data from Clalit Health Services database.

Patients

297 patients (mean age 51 ± 16.1 years, 73.0% women) with CS and 997 age-, sex-, body mass index-, and socioeconomic status-individually matched controls. Ectopic CS or adrenal cancer patients were excluded.

Main outcome measure

Mean WBC, neutrophils, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) two-years before and after pituitary or adrenal surgery. WBC and neutrophils are expressed as Kcells/µl.

Results

At baseline, leukocytosis was observed in 21.5% of patients with CS vs. 8.9% of controls (P < 0.001). Patients with CS had significantly higher WBC (8.8 ± 2.88 vs. 7.54 ± 2.45, p < 0.0001), neutrophils (5.82 ± 2.38 vs. 4.48 ± 1.97, p < 0.0001), and NLR (3.37 ± 2.63 vs. 2.27 ± 1.86, p < 0.0001) compared to controls, regardless of pituitary or adrenal source of hypercortisolemia. Post-surgery, patients with CS experienced significant decreases in mean WBC (-0.57 ± 2.56, p < 0.0001), neutrophils (-0.84 ± 2.55, p < 0.0001), and NLR (-0.63 ± 2.7, p < 0.0001). Despite achieving disease remission, patients with CS still had higher WBC (8.11 ± 2.4 vs. 7.46 ± 2.17, p = 0.0004) and neutrophils (4.71 ± 2.10 vs. 4.41 ± 1.87, p = 0.03) compared to controls. Patients with CD and baseline leukocytosis had lower remission rate than those with normal WBC (36.7% vs. 63.9%, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

At diagnosis, CS patients have elevated WBC, neutrophils, and NLR compared to controls. Remission does not normalize WBC levels in all patients, and baseline leukocytosis predicts a poorer remission prognosis in CD.
Recommendations Provided to Families of Neurodivergent Children with Histories of Interpersonal Trauma across Two Clinical Assessment Services within a Major Metropolitan Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Kalisch Lauren A. , Lawrence Katherine A. , Howard Kelly , Basu Soumya , Gargaro Belinda , Kypriano Kypros , Spencer-Smith Megan , Ure Alexandra
Published: January 2025

Despite substantial evidence to suggest that neurodivergent children are particularly vulnerable to experiencing interpersonal trauma, evidence-based therapeutic guidelines for this group of children are lacking and best practice parameters have yet to be established. This study aimed to synthesise and describe recommendations provided by two specialist clinical assessment services within a major metropolitan children’s hospital in Melbourne, Australia, to families of children diagnosed with autism and/or an intellectual disability who have experienced interpersonal trauma. Twenty-six assessment reports written between 2021–2022 containing such recommendations were analysed. While less than half of the reports (43%) provided recommendations intended to directly support the child’s experience of interpersonal trauma, the majority (88%) provided ‘indirect’ recommendations that addressed other treatment targets known to benefit neurotypical children, or neurodivergent children without a history of trauma. Overall, these results shed light on the limited evidence-based strategies clinicians can reliably draw upon when working with this vulnerable population and reinforce the importance of developing empirically supported trauma interventions that are appropriate for neurodivergent children.
Rational torsion of generalised modular Jacobians of odd level
Authors: Curcó-Iranzo Mar
Published: January 2025

We consider the generalised Jacobian

$$J_{0}(N)_{{\textbf{m}}}$$

J
0

(
N
)

m

of the modular curve

$$X_{0}(N)$$

X
0

(
N
)

of level N, with respect to the modulus 

$${\textbf{m}}$$

m

consisting of all cusps on the modular curve. When N is odd, we determine the group structure of the rational torsion

$$J_{0}(N)_{{\textbf{m}}}(\mathbb {Q})_{{{\,\textrm{tor}\,}}}$$

J
0

(
N
)

m

(
Q
)

tor

up to 2-primary and l-primary parts for any prime l dividing N. Our results extend those of Wei–Yamazaki for squarefree levels and Yamazaki–Yang for prime-power levels.
Half-Covered ‘Glitter-Cake’ AM@SE Composite: A Novel Electrode Design for High Energy Density All-Solid-State Batteries
Authors: Kim Min Ji , Park Jin-Sung , Lee Jin Woong , Wang Sung Eun , Yoon Dowoong , Lee Jong Deok , Kim Jung Hyun , Song Taeseup , Li Ju , Kang Yun Chan , Jung Dae Soo
Published: January 2025

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are pursued due to their potential for better safety and high energy density. However, the energy density of the cathode for ASSBs does not seem to be satisfactory due to the low utilization of active materials (AMs) at high loading. With small amount of solid electrolyte (SE) powder in the cathode, poor electrochemical performance is often observed due to contact loss and non-homogeneous distribution of AMs and SEs, leading to high tortuosity and limitation of lithium and electron transport pathways. Here, we propose a novel cathode design that can achieve high volumetric energy density of 1258 Wh L−1 at high AM content of 85 wt% by synergizing the merits of AM@SE core–shell composite particles with conformally coated thin SE shell prepared from mechanofusion process and small SE particles. The core–shell structure with an intimate and thin SE shell guarantees high ionic conduction pathway while unharming the electronic conduction. In addition, small SE particles play the role of a filler that reduces the packing porosity in the cathode composite electrode as well as between the cathode and the SE separator layer. The systematic demonstration of the optimization process may provide understanding and guidance on the design of electrodes for ASSBs with high electrode density, capacity, and ultimately energy density.
Classroom Observations and Post-Observation Conversations: Powerful Tools for Developing Teacher Adaptive Expertise
Authors: Bhagwandhin Vijay , Grudnoff Lexie , Meyer Frauke
Published: January 2025

Adaptive expertise is considered key to improving teacher practice. While literature suggests that classroom observations followed by professional learning conversations may contribute to the development of adaptive expertise, few studies have specifically examined the influence of this process. Hence, this qualitative study investigated the perceptions of four teachers and four middle leaders from two New Zealand primary schools, on the use and usefulness of existing classroom observation and post-observation conversation processes in contributing to teacher adaptive expertise. Data included video-recorded observations, pre-observation sheets, transcripts of post-observation conversations and interviews with middle leaders and teachers. Thematic analysis showed that participants believed the process was useful in aiding the development of some elements associated with adaptive expertise such as reflective practice, engagement with evidence, and a focus on improvement. However, data also indicated that a stronger emphasis on goal setting, more time to embed the process in whole school practice would improve its usefulness.
Weiterbildung im Kontext von Hochschulbildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung – Nutzung und Wahrnehmung des Angebots aus der Sicht von Lehrenden
Authors: Ruckelshauß Teresa , Siegmund Alexander
Published: January 2025

Das Bildungskonzept Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung ist in allen Bildungsbereichen von Bedeutung. Dies schließt die Hochschule mit ein, weswegen Hochschullehrende adäquat weitergebildet werden müssen. Der Beitrag stellt Ergebnisse einer Studie unter Hochschullehrenden (N = 313) vor. Die Befragten haben mehrheitlich keine Weiterbildungen mit thematischem Bezug zu Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung besucht und schätzen das Angebot an solchen Weiterbildungen als nicht ausreichend ein. Zusammenhänge mit individuellen Charakteristika wie Geschlecht und Disziplin werden geprüft. Die Ergebnisse werden insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund von Erkenntnissen aus der Teilnahmeforschung diskutiert und Schlussfolgerungen für Weiterbildungen für Hochschullehrende abgeleitet.
Religious fundamentalism and radicalization: how nationalist-Islamist party politics polarizes Turkey—and how polarization can be reduced
Authors: Demmrich Sarah , Hanel Paul H. P.
Published: January 2025

The reactivity hypothesis posits that individuals who are, or perceive themselves to be, deprived tend to develop a fundamentalist worldview and/or are more likely to (further) radicalize. In the present study, however, we predicted that individuals who feel less deprived would exhibit a stronger fundamentalist worldview and/or radicalized attitudes in a political context characterized by polarization driven by leaders or institutions such as governments. Using Turkey as an example, we found partial support for our hypothesis in a Muslim sample (N = 736), which was representative of age, gender, education level, ethnic affiliations, and urbanity. Individuals who felt less disadvantaged—thus more privileged—were found to be more fundamentalist, even when controlling for a range of other variables previously associated with fundamentalism, including conspiracy beliefs, personality traits, and socio-demographic variables. In contrast, deprivation was unrelated to radicalization (acceptance of active and reactive violence). Interestingly, supporters of the nationalist-Islamist government (AKP-MHP) scored on average higher on fundamentalism and radicalization than supporters of other parties. However, we also note that there are substantial similarities between both groups and that most participants scored low on both radicalization measures. Finally, we discuss possible strategies drawn from various studies aimed at reducing polarization and radicalization.
Boron nitride nanotubes induced strengthening in aluminum 7075 composite via cryomilling and spark plasma sintering
Authors: Mohammed Sohail M. A. K. , Nisar Ambreen , John Denny , Sukumaran Abhijith K. , Fu Yifei , Paul Tanaji , Hernandez Alexander F. , Seal Sudipta , Agarwal Arvind
Published: January 2025

Al7075 is among the strongest commercial aluminum alloys with low density, making it a standout choice for structural metals. However, the never-ending quest for higher strength and low-density materials demands structural metals stronger than Al7075. In this study, high-strength and chemically inert one-dimensional boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are used to reinforce Al7075 alloy, making ultra-high strength aluminum matrix composite. Al7075-BNNT composite is fabricated using a multi-step process involving ultrasonication, cryomilling, and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Ultra-fine grains were efficiently achieved in 2 h of milling, resulting in an impressive ultimate strength of ~ 636.8 ± 18.9 MPa and elongation up to necking of 10.1 ± 0.5% in heat-treated Al7075-BNNT composite. The obtained strength is 1.3 times higher than SPS Al7075 and 2.9 times higher than cast Al7075 alloy. The cryomilling facilitated a homogeneous dispersion of BNNTs, fostering effective interfacial bonding, albeit leading to variations in BNNT length ranging from 1–50 µm. The interplay between BNNT lengths and their impact on mechanical properties is explored, showcasing a synergistic improvement in strength and elongation. The comprehensive understanding of the resulting strengthening mechanisms encompasses Hall–Petch, Orowan, dislocation-induced strengthening, and dominant load transfer mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights into fabricating high-performance aluminum matrix composites surpassing conventional strength. The Al7075-BNNT composite's unprecedented mechanical strength could further extend the use of aluminum alloys to more demanding aerospace applications, such as spacecraft structures and next-generation vehicles, as well as racing and automotive parts where the need for ultra-lightweight yet ultra-strong materials is paramount for fuel efficiency and performance under extreme conditions.
Synthesis, Optical and Electrical Properties of MXENE (Ti3C2Tx) Ink Fabrication for Coating Application
Authors: Ramalignam R. Jothi , Al-Lohedan Hamad , Karnan Muthusamy , Al-dhayan Dhaifallah M. , Sha Mizaj Shabil , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar
Published: January 2025

In this study, A colloidal solution of MXene containing multi and single-layered Ti3C2Tx was prepared by in-situ HF etching method from the precursor compound of Ti3AlC2. After ultrasonication, the as-prepared MXene ink appears from a green to a black solution. The as-prepared black powder of Ti3C2Tx in liquid and powder is further characterized by XRD, SEM, EDAX, and Electrical property characterization. We presented the detailed methodology for the MXene ink preparation and its electrical property characterization. As a result, we developed MXene ink obtained by the etching process in the measuring cloth. The homogeneity of the as-prepared ink is very efficient and shows promising conducting properties for future application study.
Enhanced Terrain-Referenced Navigation Through Adaptive Radar Altimeter Error Estimation with Monte Carlo Sampling
Authors: Kim Sungjoong , Park Junwoo , Bang HyoChoong
Published: January 2025

Terrain-referenced navigation serves as a reliable backup system for military aviation, but its performance is often compromised by inaccurate radar altimeter noise estimation. The wide beamwidth of radar altimeters causes complex error characteristics that vary with flight conditions and radar–terrain interactions. A mismatch between assumed and actual measurement error levels can lead to degraded navigation accuracy and potential filter divergence. This issue is exacerbated in mission scenarios such as low-altitude penetrations that require frequent rolling and pitching maneuvers. This study proposes a novel radar altimeter error modeling approach that uses Monte Carlo sampling to estimate measurement error levels on-the-fly. By incorporating a radar–terrain interaction measurement model, the method provides tighter error bounds to an extended Kalman filter, improving its response to state- and terrain-dependent error characteristics. Simulation across four distinct scenarios show that the proposed approach reduces the average divergence rate from 2.75 to 0.25%, and decreases horizontal position error by 32.3% in RMSE and 31.7% in CEP.
Functional Graphene Fiber Materials for Advanced Wearable Applications
Authors: Zhai Heng , Liu Jing , Liu Zekun , Li Yi
Published: January 2025

Graphene fiber materials have emerged as key enablers in the advancement of wearable electronics due to their outstanding electrical conductivity, mechanical strength and flexibility. This review explores the fabrication techniques of graphene fibers, including wet spinning, electrospinning and dry spinning, which have been refined to produce high-performance fibers tailored for various wearable applications. Graphene fibers demonstrate exceptional functionality in wearable sensing technologies, such as strain, pressure and humidity sensors, while also showing promises in flexible energy storage devices like supercapacitors and batteries. Moreover, fabrication techniques like weaving, spinning and additional encapsulations have enabled the integration of graphene fibers into smart textiles, enhancing flexibility and durability. These methods ensure seamless electronic integration into fabrics for applications in flexible displays and wearable systems. By summarizing all the advances of graphene fibers in wearable electronics, this review provides a roadmap for future research directions. Future developments will focus on enhancing structural performance, hybridization with other materials and scalable fabrication techniques to support commercialization. These advancements position graphene fibers as a critical material for next-generation wearable electronics, offering seamless integration of functionality, comfort and durability.

Graphical Abstract
GIS and remote sensing based analysis for monitoring urban growth dynamics in Western Himalayan city of Dharamshala, India
Authors: Mehra Nishant , Swain Janaki Ballav
Published: January 2025

Ill-managed and unregulated urban sprawl has posed critical environmental and social challenges in the developing nations. There is an inherent need to monitor and measure the LULC changes to balance socio-economic development pressures and conservation measures. Integrating remote sensing and GIS has markedly helped frame intervention strategies in the fragile Himalayan regions. The research proposes establishing intervention strategies by monitoring LULC transitions occurring in Dharamshala, India, from 2016 to 2022. Maximum Likelihood Classification was performed on three Landsat 8 OLI images for 2016, 2019, and 2022 to prepare LULC thematic maps. The geographical and topographical complexities of the region necessitated the use of spectral vegetation indices, ancillary data, and the Strahler order algorithm to accurately represent LULC classes in the form of post-classification correction measures. The overall accuracy was found to be 88.06%, 87.02%, and 91.09% for the years 2016, 2019, and 2022. The study revealed a 140% increase in built-up areas from 2016 to 2022. The findings indicate increased developmental pressures in the 1500 m elevation and the progression of the urban sprawl towards higher altitudes, thereby increasing the risk of environmental degradation and posing a significant danger to the ecological susceptibility of the region. The tourism sector was a key factor driving LULC transitions in the area.
On smooth and peaked travelling waves in a local model for shallow water waves
Authors: Locke Spencer , Pelinovsky Dmitry E.
Published: January 2025

We introduce a new model equation for Stokes gravity waves based on conformal transformations of Euler's equations. The local version of the model equation is relevant for the dynamics of shallow water waves. It allows us to characterize the travelling periodic waves both in the case of smooth and peaked waves and to solve the existence problem exactly, albeit not in elementary functions. Spectral stability of smooth waves with respect to co-periodic perturbations is proven analytically based on the exact count of eigenvalues in a constrained spectral problem.
“That Party was Born without a Soul.” Re-examining the Populism of the Saskatchewan Party
Authors: Enoch Simon , Smith Charles
Published: January 2025

For the Saskatchewan Party (SKP), identifying with the Western populist tradition was essential to both its creation and initial electoral viability, leading many political commentators to regularly refer to the SKP as a right-wing populist party. Yet scholars have been much more reticent to classify the SKP as an authentically Canadian populist party in the style of the Reform Party of Canada. Part of this disconnect is a result of the SKP's uneven and opportunistic use of populism throughout its history. Indeed, this article argues that the SKP's initial commitment to populism was largely performative, embraced to fend off the challenge of a potential provincial Reform Party. Once the utility of the SKP's performative populism threatened its electoral viability, most of the party's symbolic nods to populism were abandoned. Yet, more recently, the SKP has embraced a new form of populism that merges its pro-business support for the region's oil and gas industry with right-wing policies that are often linked to its rural base. This form of populism, defined as extractive populism, demonstrates that the SKP continues to use populist discourse opportunistically when its right-wing base is threatened.
Conditioning Tourism and Trade: Designs for Travel Aboard the Great White Fleet in the “American Tropics,” 1899–1930
Authors: Sturtevant Elliott
Published: January 2025

Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the United Fruit Company (UFC) convinced tens of thousands of passengers a year to tour the Caribbean aboard its Great White Fleet. Many were awed by the ships’ pristine white hulls, lush interiors, surprisingly cool cabins, and on-deck swimming pools—each a means of both enjoying and mitigating the effects of the tropics. The fleet, along with the company's two hotels in Jamaica, augured a new era of leisurely travel in the Americas, but few grasped the extent to which their stays and the environments they experienced were shaped and conditioned by the preceding infrastructures of imperialist enterprise. Using literature published by the UFC and its subsidiary, Fruit Dispatch, along with travelogues and technical publications, this article looks at the distribution networks used by the United Fruit Company to ferry tourists to the Caribbean and “exotic” produce back to the US. It traces the movements of people and goods on- and offshore and reveals the technologies that connected the comfort of passengers above deck to the health of freight below, as well as the company's architectures of leisure to the infrastructures and violence of extractive industry.
Celebrity Public Relations in China: Power, Politics and Pop Propaganda
Authors: Xu Jian , Yang Ling
Published: January 2025

The article uses the scandal surrounding Jackson Yee, a state-endorsed celebrity and household name in China, as a case study to critically examine how the “government–industry–fan–platform” alliance co-conducts what we call “collaborative celebrity PR” to rescue co-opted stars from scandal. We find that the relationship between the four agents is symbiotic but that the government plays the most important “arbitrator” role. We argue that the state-endorsed celebrities face an inherent dilemma of “power(lessness)” in which they have to dedicate more effort towards propaganda and behave in a moral and exemplary way to please the government to gain more political capital and power and minimize their own precarity. We also highlight the uncertainty and risks using celebrities in its pop propaganda can bring to the CCP: if a state-endorsed celebrity cannot be saved, the scandal can damage the legitimacy and reliability of the Party propaganda.
Between Repression, Chaos and Uncertainty: Religious Minorities in Early Communist Czechoslovakia
Authors: Pácha Martin
Published: January 2025

Crackdown on religious institutions characterised the onset of the postwar communist dictatorships in East Central Europe. The literature commonly assumes that the new religious policies were influenced by the Soviet Union. However, the adoption of the Soviet blueprint was not straightforward and manifested differently across various regions. This article analyses the implementation process by examining the treatment of nonlegalised religious minorities in early Cold War Czechoslovakia. It argues that beyond adopting the legal framework, the strategy was not seriously informed by the Soviet realities. Through an analysis of the state's attitude towards Jehovah's Witnesses, the Pentecostal movement and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, this study concludes that the Czechoslovak Communist Party did not have any clear plan of action. The relationship with the religious organisations developed organically. It was heavily influenced by confessional distinctions among denominations and ad hoc local decisions, highlighting a deeply decentralised approach to creating religious policies.
Il nuovo volto del Foro di Traiano
Authors: Baldassarri Paola
Published: January 2025

Il volume di Elisabetta Bianchi (B.) e Roberto Meneghini (M.), Il Foro di Traiano nell'Antichità. I risultati degli scavi 1991–2007, esamina i risultati degli scavi condotti, tra il 1998 e il 2007, dalla Sovrintendenza ai Beni Culturali del Comune di Roma (attuale Roma Capitale) nel Foro di Traiano, focalizzando principalmente l'attenzione sulle strutture murarie dell'immenso complesso, scoperte ex novo o riesaminate alla luce dei nuovi rinvenimenti, e sulle loro originarie decorazioni. L'opera si propone, come sottolineato nella Premessa, come prosecuzione e completamento di una prima monografia, ad opera del solo M., pubblicata nel 2021 nella stessa collana, incentrata sulla storia del complesso traianeo nel Medioevo e nel Rinascimento, delineata sulla base dei sopracitati scavi 1998–2007.1
Addressing the concept of total pain in palliative care: A postcolonial South African hospice view
Authors: Petersen-Damon Michelle , Swartz Leslie
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Palliative care, which was formally established in the Global North, is now recognized globally as part of health care. As part of a larger study, we were interested in how decision-makers at a leading hospice in South Africa understood the changing local context and its influence on the delivery of services. We were interested in how the concept of “total pain,” as outlined by Saunders, applies in a very unequal and under-resourced society in the shadow of a long, oppressive colonial, and apartheid past.

Methods

We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 12 staff at St Luke’s Combined Hospices in Cape Town, South Africa, and analyzed the data following Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach.

Results

Four major themes emerged from the data. First, St Luke’s has faced the challenge of serving a larger and far more diverse population than it had under apartheid. Second, the organization has undergone a process of rethinking holism and holistic services offered to palliative care patients in this context. Third, diversity and cultural sensitivity are key to how services are offered, and finally, the concept of “total pain” in this context is linked to questions of power and empowerment.

Significance of results

This study is small and situated within a particular context, and it is clear that more data are needed. Nevertheless, the study shows that considering the Global South and postcolonial context is important for thinking about total pain and a global system of palliative care which is sensitive to the majority world context.
“How Will I Know?”: Semiotic Indeterminacy, Transparency, and Expectations of Sincerity in the Global Nuclear Order
Authors: Weichselbraun Anna
Published: January 2025

Semiotic indeterminacy describes the basic observation that signs are always unstable and open to interpretation. As such, semiotic indeterminacy can become a resource for the strategic pursuit and exploitation of political goals. In this article, I examine the role and multiple dimensions of semiotic indeterminacy in nuclear nonproliferation, the global governance project to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Taking as an illustrative example the controversy around the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I demonstrate that when the transparency practices implemented to close down on the semiotic indeterminacy of nuclear materials fail, nuclear verification turns from a techno-rational project into a moral-evaluative one with the aim of uncovering the hidden intentions of a state. This transduction of one semiotic register into another derives from transparency’s dual tradition as both a rationalizing imperative as well as a moralized norm of sincerity. Attending to the semiotic dimensions of liberal forms of governance offers a new perspective on its contradictions.
Pliocene Warmth and Patterns of Climate Change Inferred From Paleoclimate Data Assimilation
Authors: Tierney Jessica E. , King Jonathan , Osman Matthew B. , Abell Jordan T. , Burls Natalie J. , Erfani Ehsan , Cooper Vincent T. , Feng Ran
Published: January 2025

As the last time period when concentrations were near 400 ppm, the Pliocene Epoch (5.33–2.58 Ma) is a useful paleoclimate target for understanding future climate change. Existing estimates of global warming and climate sensitivity during the Pliocene rely mainly on model simulations. To reconstruct Pliocene climate and incorporate paleoclimate observations, we use data assimilation to blend sea‐surface temperature (SST) proxies with model simulations from the Pliocene Modeling Intercomparison Project 2 and the Community Earth System Models. The resulting reconstruction, “plioDA,” suggests that the mid‐Pliocene (3.25 Ma) was warmer than previously thought (on average 4.1°C warmer than preindustrial, 95% CI = 3.0°C–5.3°C), leading to a higher estimate of climate sensitivity (4.8°C per doubling of , 90% CI = 2.6°C–9.9°C). In agreement with previous work, the tropical Pacific zonal SST gradient during the mid‐Pliocene was moderately reduced (°C, 95% CI = –0.4°C). However, this gradient was more reduced during the early Pliocene (4.75 Ma, °C, 95% CI = –°C), a time period that is also warmer than the mid‐Pliocene (4.8°C above preindustrial, 95% CI = 3.6°C–6.2°C). PlioDA reconstructs a fresh North Pacific and salty North Atlantic, supporting Arctic gateway closure and contradicting the presence of Pacific Deep Water formation. Overall, plioDA updates our view of global and spatial climate change during the Pliocene, as well as raising questions about the state of ocean circulation and the drivers of differences between the early and mid‐Pliocene.
Multi‐Model Assessment of Groundwater Recharge Across Europe Under Warming Climate
Authors: Kumar Rohini , Samaniego Luis , Thober Stephan , Rakovec Oldrich , Marx Andreas , Wanders Niko , Pan Ming , Hesse Falk , Attinger Sabine
Published: January 2025

Climate change threatens the sustainable use of groundwater resources worldwide by affecting future recharge rates. However, assessments of global warming's impact on groundwater recharge at local scales are lacking. This study provides a continental‐scale assessment of groundwater recharge changes in Europe, past, present, and future, at a resolution under different global warming levels (1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 K). Utilizing multi‐model ensemble simulations from four hydrologic and land‐surface models (HMs), our analysis incorporates E‐OBS observational forcing data (1970–2015) and five bias‐corrected and downscale climate model (GCMs) data sets covering the near‐past to future climate conditions (1970–2100). Results reveal a north‐south polarization in projected groundwater recharge change: declines over 25%–50% in the Mediterranean and increases over 25% in North Scandinavia at high warming levels (2.0–3.0 K). Central Europe shows minimal changes (5%) with larger uncertainty at lower warming levels. The southeastern Balkan and Mediterranean region exhibited high sensitivity to warming, with changes nearly doubling between 1.5 and 3.0 K. We identify greater uncertainty from differences among GCMs, though significant uncertainties due to HMs exist in regions like the Mediterranean, Nordic, and Balkan areas. The findings highlight the importance of using multi‐model ensembles to assess future groundwater recharge changes in Europe and emphasize the need to mitigate impacts in higher warming scenarios.
A Stronger Kuroshio Intrusion Leads to Higher Chlorophyll a Concentration in the Northern South China Sea
Authors: Li Weinan , Shang Yiwei , Li Changlin , Xu Chao , Laws Edward A. , Liu Xin , Huang Bangqin
Published: January 2025

The Kuroshio intrusion from the Luzon Strait significantly affects ecosystems in the South China Sea (SCS), especially during the Northeast Monsoon, a time when field observations are notably sparse and where vertical mixing induced by strong winds can obscure the effects of the Kuroshio intrusion. In this study, we address these gaps by reanalyzing data from 20 cruises (5,067 samples) in the SCS between 2004 and 2015. We also carried out two dedicated field cruises during the Northeast and the Southwest Monsoon in 2018. Field observations from both cruises revealed a consistent unimodal relationship between total chlorophyll a (Chla) concentrations in the upper 50 m of the water column and the index of the Kuroshio intrusion. Specifically, a strong Kuroshio intrusion during the Northeast Monsoon significantly enhanced Chla concentrations in the northern SCS. This enhanced Chla concentration during the Northeast Monsoon was primarily driven by increases of Synechococcus and nanophytoplankton that contrasted with the dominance of Prochlorococcus during the Southeast Monsoon. Long‐term remote sensing data corroborated these findings and demonstrated a consistent pattern wherein intrusion by the Kuroshio led to elevated Chla concentrations, particularly during the Northeast Monsoon. There was a significant positive correlation between the intensity of the Kuroshio intrusion and the magnitude of the Chla increase. Furthermore, these findings suggested a concerning possibility: weakening of the Kuroshio intrusion intensity over time might diminish future biogeochemical effects on SCS ecosystems. Continued monitoring and research will be crucial to understanding and responding to these changes.