bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular detection of parasites and host preference in wild-caught Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces, Thailand
Authors: Kyi Soe Baby , Kaewmee Saowalak , Mano Chonlada , Pattanawong Urassaya , Tipparawong Nopporn , Siriyasatien Padet , Gatherer Derek , Urbaniak Michael D. , Bates Paul A. , Jariyapan Narissara
Published: January 2025

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been reported as potential vectors for haemoparasites. Information about host-vector-parasite specificity is required to confirm their status. Here, molecular detection of haemosporidians, Leishmania, trypanosomatids, and filarial nematodes in biting midges was conducted to understand their potential role as vectors, and their host preference was determined. Wild-caught biting midges were collected from six different localities of Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces, Thailand. A total of 6,578 individual Culicoides (170 males, 6,408 females) comprising 15 species of six sub-genera and two groups were collected. Also, 738 parous females and 29 engorged females were examined for parasites and host blood meals, respectively. Culicoides arakawae, C. mahasarakhamense, C. peregrinus and C. innoxius in Chiang Mai province, and C. innoxius and C. peregrinus in Nakhon Si Thammarat province were the most dominant species. Leucocytozoon spp., Leucocytozoon caulleryi and Plasmodium juxtanucleare were identified in five Culicoides species including C. mahasarakhamense, C. arakawae, C. oxystoma, C. fulvus, and C. guttifer. This study is the first record of L. caulleryi in the biting midge C. arakawae in Thailand. Blood meal analysis revealed that Culicoides primarily fed on cattle (17/29, 58.6%), followed by chickens (10/29, 34.5%), and humans (2/29, 6.9%). Our findings confirmed the existence of several Culicoides species in Thailand, which might be potential vectors for transmission of haemosporidians (Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium). Information from host blood meal analyses underlined their preference for large mammals, followed by domestic chickens. More anthropophilic Culicoides species remain to be discovered.
In-vitro-Wirksamkeit von Bakteriophagen gegen die gängigen biofilmbildenden Bakterien in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie
Authors: Zellner Alberto Alfieri , Wirtz Dieter Christian , Schildberg Frank Alexander
Published: January 2025

Biofilmbildende Bakterien stellen im klinischen Alltag eine große Herausforderung dar. Dies gilt insbesondere für den bakteriellen Befall von Prothesen oder Osteosynthesematerial in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie. Die Therapie mit Bakteriophagen bildet hierfür in der Zukunft, neben chirurgischem Débridement und Antibiotikagabe, möglicherweise das 3. Standbein in der Therapie von Biofilmen.

Das Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die aktuellen Daten zur In-vitro-Wirksamkeit von Bakteriophagen gegen Biofilm zu bündeln und somit als Wegweiser für weitere Studien zu dienen.

Es wurde eine systematische Literaturrecherche in der PubMed-Datenbank durchgeführt. Von Interesse waren in dieser Suche Studien, die sich mit der In-vitro-Wirksamkeit von Bakteriophagen gegen Biofilme der gängigen Bakterien in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie beschäftigt haben.

Die Inhalte der durch die systematische Suche gefundenen Studien wurden in verschiedene Kategorien unterteilt und im Anschluss diskutiert. Von Interesse waren die Oberflächen und die Dauer, auf denen die Biofilme gezüchtet wurden. Weiterhin wurde auf die Wirksamkeit von Bakteriophagen und Antibiotika bei gemeinsamer Anwendung Rücksicht genommen. Abschließend wird dargestellt, wie die verschiedenen Autoren die Phagen erhielten, Sensibilitätstestungen durchführten und unter welchen Bedingungen (pH, Temperatur) die Phagen wirksam waren.

Die aktuellen Daten zur In-vitro-Wirksamkeit von Bakteriophagen zeigen sich hinsichtlich der Stabilität in sauren und basischen sowie in breiten Temperaturspektren vielversprechend. Es fehlen noch Studien, bei denen mehrwöchig gereifte Biofilme auf Oberflächen untersucht werden, die in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie von Interesse sind.
National Consensus on the Assessment of Visual Function for Driving in Switzerland
Authors: Blaser Frank , Schneebeli Martina , Keller Kristina H. , Pfäffli Matthias , Todorova Margarita G. , Kaeser Pierre-François , Anastasi Stefano , Wildberger Hannes , Bochmann Frank , Zweifel Sandrine , Said Sadiq
Published: January 2025

Purpose To establish a national consensus on assessing visual function for fitness to drive in Switzerland.

Methods The minimum medical requirements for visual function for fitness to drive are regulated by Swiss Federal Law, namely, by the Traffic Licensing Ordinance (TLO). The medical examination techniques relevant in this context and their assessment are not further specified therein, which leads to legal inequality among drivers and uncertainty among examiners. We established a study group of representatives of the Traffic Medicine Section of the Swiss Society of Forensic Medicine and the Traffic Commission of the Swiss Society of Ophthalmology to develop a national consensus on assessing visual function for fitness to drive in Switzerland. In structured meetings, the authors discussed medical examination techniques and available international and local recommendations on this topic, with respect to Swiss legislation. In the event of a contrary opinion, the topic was discussed again in a follow-up session until we reached an agreement. We defined consensus as complete
agreement on the subject under discussion.

Results The study group held five in-person meetings between March 2019 and January 2023. The authors developed recommendations intended for all professional groups assessing driving fitness. We prepared an aid for daily practice on how to examine the minimum medical requirements for visual function listed in the TLO Annex 1, using standardized test procedures and considered how to interpret the findings obtained, accounting for aspects of traffic medicine and ophthalmology.

Conclusions A consensus on the assessment of visual function for fitness to drive in Switzerland is crucial to ensure legal equality for drivers and legal certainty for examiners. Regular review of the consensus is imperative if we are to consider future legal developments and new scientific evidence in assessing fitness to drive.
Ergebnisse der Behandlung von Fingerkuppendefektverletzungen mit
einem semiokklusiven Verband („Folienverband“) in Kombination mit operativer
Versorgung im Rahmen einer erweiterten Indikationsstellung
Authors: Dimitrova-Chakarova Polina , Prommersberger Karl-Josef , van Schoonhoven Jörg , Mühldorfer-Fodor Marion
Published: January 2025

Die Anwendung von semiokklusiven Folienverbänden (SOFV) hat sich
seit ihrer Einführung durch Mennen und Wiese 1993 kontinuierlich erweitert,
einschließlich der Behandlung von Fingerkuppendefektverletzungen (FKDV) vom
Typ Allen IV, der Nutzung bei einliegendem Fremdmaterial sowie zur
Behandlung von Fingerkuppennekrosen (FKN).

Diese Studie untersucht, ob und gegebenenfalls wie sich die
Ergebnisse von FKDV Typ Allen III und IV sowie FKN von denen vom Typ Allen I
und II unterscheiden und, ob unter einem SOFV eingebrachtes Fremdmaterial
wie Nahtmaterial, Kunstnagel und/oder Kirschner-Drähte das Risiko von
Komplikationen erhöht.

Insgesamt wurden 50 Patienten mit 44 FKDV und 13 mit FKN im Rahmen einer
operativen Versorgung mit einem SOFV behandelt. Bei 22 der 50 Patienten lag
Fremdmaterial unter dem SOFV ein. Bei der Nachuntersuchung wurden die
Kälteempfindlichkeit, Schmerzen in Ruhe und bei Belastung, der Einsatz des
verletzten Fingers im Alltag, die Zufriedenheit der Patienten mit dem
ästhetischen Ergebnis, die Sensibilität, Schweißsekretion, Papillarleisten
und Beweglichkeit erfasst. Die Fingernägel wurden auf Wachstumsstörungen
kontrolliert. Die Ergebnisse der FKDV Typ Allen I – IV sowie der FKN wurden
miteinander verglichen und wo möglich in Relation zu den Befunden der
unverletzten Finger der Gegenseite gesetzt.

Die klinischen Ergebnisse zeigten, dass der SOFV bei allen Amputationshöhen
des Endglieds und auch bei FKN zur Ausbildung einer guten Fingerkuppe
führte. Allerdings traten mehr Nagelwachstumsstörungen auf je kürzer das
Endglied war. Die Patienten mit FKN waren mit dem ästhetischen Ergebnis
weniger zufrieden als Patienten mit primärer Behandlung einer FKDV. Unter
dem SOFV einliegendes Fremdmaterial hatte keinen Einfluss auf die
Ergebnisse, insbesondere traten keine Infektionen auf.

SOFV zeigen bei FKDV Typen Allen III und IV sowie FKN gute Ergebnisse,
vergleichbar mit denen der Typen Allen I und II. Allerdings ist es wichtig,
Patienten über mögliche Risiken wie Nagelwachstumsstörungen und
Beeinträchtigungen des ästhetischen Erscheinungsbildes aufzuklären.
Operative Maßnahmen, durch die Fremdmaterial unter einen SOFV zu liegen
kommt, beeinträchtigen nicht die Heilung von FKDV, so dass das
Indikationsspektrum für SOFV um entsprechende Verletzungen erweitert werden
kann.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Prolonged Air Leak and Expansion Failure in the Lung after Resection in Patients with Pulmonary Malignancy and Predictive Value of Preoperative Quantitative Chest Computed Tomography
Authors: Ozgur Gizem Kececi , Yavuz Hasan , Cakan Alpaslan , Durgun Kevser , Ergonul Ayse Gul , Akcam Tevfik Ilker , Özdil Ali , Bayraktaroglu Selen , Turhan Kutsal , Cagirici Ufuk
Published: January 2025

Background The factors affecting the prolonged air leak (PAL) and expansion failure in the lung in patients undergoing resection for lung malignancy were analyzed. In this context, the value of the percentage of low attenuation area (LAA%) measured on preoperative quantitative chest computed tomography (Q-CT) in predicting the development of postoperative PAL and the expansion time of the remaining lung (ET) in patients undergoing resection for lung malignancy was investigated.

Methods The data of 202 cases who underwent lung resection between July 2020 and December 2022 were analyzed. The factors affecting the development of PAL and ET were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The cut-off value for LAA% was determined and its relationship with postoperative results was examined.

Results In univariate analyses, for PAL, age (p = 0.022), presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI; p = 0.006), FEV1 (p = 0.020), FEV1/FVC (p < 0.001), LAA% (p = 0.008), diagnosis (p = 0.007), and surgical procedure (p < 0.001); for ET, diagnosis (p < 0.001) and surgical procedure (p = 0.001) were significant factors. A negative correlation between ET and BMI and FEV1/FVC (p < 0.01) and a positive correlation (p < 0.05) was detected with LAA%. The cut-off value for LAA% was calculated as 1.065. Multivariate analyses showed that the probability of developing PAL, increased 3.17-, 7.68-, and 3.08-fold in patients with COPD, lobectomy, and those above the cut-off value for LAA%, respectively (p = 0.045, p < 0.001, and p = 0.011). In addition, FEV1/FVC (p = 0.027), BMI (p = 0.016), and surgical procedure (p = 0.001) were shown to be independent factors affecting ET.

Conclusion Our study revealed the factors affecting PAL and expansion failure in the lung. Within this scope, it was concluded that preoperative Q-CT may have an important role in predicting the development of PAL and ET in the postoperative period and that LAA% measurement is an effective, objective, and practical method for taking precautions against possible complications.
Exosomes in Facial Plastic Surgery
Authors: Abraham Manoj T. , Wilson John
Published: January 2025

Exosomes have emerged as a promising therapeutic frontier in facial plastic surgery. Preclinical studies have demonstrated their ability to modulate wound healing, skin rejuvenation, hair growth, and nerve regeneration. Early clinical evidence suggests potential benefits in enhancing recovery after laser resurfacing, treating acne scars, and promoting hair growth. Despite their potential, there are currently no exosome products that are FDA-approved for medical use, and they should be considered experimental until receiving regulatory approval and robust clinical validation. As research advances, exosomes may offer valuable tools for facial plastic surgeons to improve patient outcomes and expand regenerative medicine applications in facial aesthetics and reconstruction.
Pathology-Independent Expansion of Indications for Rapid-Deployment Aortic Valve Replacement: Midterm Outcomes
Authors: Bae Seon Yong , Kim Kyung Hwan , Sohn Suk Ho , Kang Yoonjin , Kim Ji Seong , Choi Jae Woong
Published: January 2025

Background This study evaluated the midterm outcomes of rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) performed regardless of pathology for various aortic valve diseases at a single center.

Methods Of the 344 patients who underwent RDAVR using Edwards INTUITY during the study period at our institution, 176 had bicuspid valve diseases (51.2%), 20 had pure aortic regurgitation (5.8%), and 4 had infective endocarditis (1.2%). Median follow-up duration was 28.6 months (maximum: 86.4 months). Midterm clinical outcomes were evaluated, and the changes of valve hemodynamics from early postoperative period to 5 years after surgery were also investigated.

Results Mean age was 68.9 ± 9.8 years, and 46.2% of the patients were female. Isolated RDAVR was performed in 90 patients (26.2%), and concomitant procedures, including aortic surgery (48.8%), mitral valve surgery (20.3%), arrhythmia surgery (9.0%), tricuspid valve surgery (7.0%), and coronary artery bypass grafting (5.5%), were performed in 254 patients (73.8%). Operative mortality occurred in 11 patients (3.2%), and permanent pacemaker implantation was required in 5 patients (1.5%) in early postoperative period. Overall survival rate was 86.9% at 5 years, and cumulative incidence of cardiac death was 6.3% at 5 years. No deterioration of valve hemodynamics was observed at midterm echocardiographic evaluation in either the overall population or for each size of valve.

Conclusion Isolated or concomitant aortic valve replacement using rapid-deployment valves was performed for various aortic valve diseases regardless of the underlying pathology at our institution, and the clinical and hemodynamic outcomes were excellent for up to 5 years.
Maxwell’s and Stokes’s operators associated with elliptic differential complexes
Authors: Shlapunov A. A. , Polkovnikov A. N. , Mironov V. L.
Published: January 2025

We propose a regular method for generating consistent systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) that describe a wide class of models in natural sciences. Such systems appear within typical constructions of the homological algebra as complexes of differential operators describing compatibility conditions for overdetermined PDEs. Additional assumptions on the ellipticity/parameter-dependent ellipticity of the differential complexes provide a wide range of elliptic, parabolic, and hyperbolic operators. In particular, most equations related to modern mathematical physics are generated by the de Rham complex of differentials on exterior differential forms. These include the equations based on elliptic Laplace and Lamé type operators; the parabolic heat and mass transfer equations; the Euler type and Navier-Stokes type equations in hydrodynamics; the hyperbolic wave equation and the Maxwell equations in Electrodynamics; the Klein–Gordon equation in relativistic quantum mechanics; and so on. The advantages of our approach are that (1) the proposed method of PDE generation covers a broad class of generated systems, especially in high dimensions, due to different underlying algebraic structures and (2) it enables a direct constructing of the fundamental solutions/parametrices for the generated systems.
Investigating the performance and emission characteristics of sunflower biodiesel blends with n-butyl and isopropyl alcohol additives
Authors: K. Shunmugesh , Muhammed Anaz Khan , Joseph Joby , Yelamasetti Balram , Vemanaboina Harinadh , Paramasivam Prabhu
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the potential of sunflower seed oil biodiesel as a renewable fuel source. The study focuses on the development of BD25 sunflower biodiesel blends and their impact on emissions and performance characteristics compared to diesel fuel. Sunflower seed oil undergoes transesterification with methanol and KOH, yielding biodiesel and glycerol. Due to its high oil content, sunflower oil is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. The BD25 blend is prepared by mixing 250 ml of sunflower biodiesel with 750 ml of diesel. Furthermore, seven additional blends are formulated by incorporating n-butyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol additives in varying proportions (5, 10, and 15 ml) within the BD25 base. These blends are then evaluated in a single-cylinder DI diesel engine at a constant speed of 2500 rpm. The study comprehensively analyzes various engine parameters, including initial and final weight, air–fuel ratio, exhaust gas temperature, and regulated emissions (CO, HC, CO2, and NOx). The addition of alcohol additives demonstrates the potential to reduce smoke opacity and hydrocarbon emissions, particularly at low engine speeds. By comparing the emission and performance characteristics of the biodiesel blends with diesel fuel, the study aims to assess the feasibility of large-scale sunflower oil biodiesel production as a viable alternative fuel source.
Corroborating the magnetic easy axis of epitaxial (100) α-iron and (0001) BaFe12O19 thin films by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy
Authors: Li Y. E. , Shine J. , Guguschev C. , Brützam M. , Schlom D. G. , Ravi N.
Published: January 2025

60 and 120 nm thick epitaxial films of isotopically enriched bcc iron (α-57Fe) grown on (100) MgO substrates are studied using x-ray diffraction, reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), and conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). X-ray diffraction and RHEED data indicate that each film behaves as a single crystal material consistent with the relative intensity ratios of the spectral lines observed in the CEMS spectrum. Data further confirm that the easy axis of magnetization lies along the ⟨100⟩ family of directions of the cubic α-iron film. The relevant theory to understand the relative intensities in a magnetic Mössbauer spectrum is outlined and is applied to interpret the intensity ratio of the Mössbauer spectral lines of a more complex hexaferrite magnetic system, BaFe12O19, grown on a single crystal substrate of Sr1.03Ga10.81Mg0.58Zr0.58O19. The conclusion that the magnetic moment in (0001)-oriented epitaxial BaFe12O19 film lies perpendicular to the plane of the substrate is deduced from the absence of the second and fifth lines by comparing the CEMS spectrum of the epitaxial (0001) BaFe12O19 film with the spectrum of a polycrystalline BaFe12O19 powder. Our measurements using CEMS corroborate what is known about the direction of the magnetic easy axis in α-iron and BaFe12O19 and motivate the use of CEMS to probe more complex atomically engineered epitaxial heterostructures, including superlattices.
An insight into Fermat's principle via acoustic propagation in inhomogeneous air temperature field
Authors: Li Yanqin , Wang Fei , Jia Shaoqi , Mário Fidel C. X.
Published: January 2025

Fermat's principle shows that an acoustic or optical eigenray takes a minimal, maximal, or saddle point travel time. Yet, no literature has fully characterized mechanisms on the eigenray extremum, except for a recognized evaluation method by the sign-constancy of the Hessian of a travel-time functional. Aiming at addressing such an issue, acoustic ray propagation in complicated inhomogeneous air temperature field was investigated in a theoretical and numerical way since experimental study can hardly be achieved. First, three numerical approaches, Fermat's variational method, Hamiltonian method, and forward deploying triangle method, were comparatively programed for acoustic ray tracing and gave results agreeing exactly with each other. Based on the essential validation, the numerical method was utilized to study the characteristics of multipath acoustic propagation in complex medium, with defined inhomogeneous air temperature fields as illustration. Next, a δ-neighborhood model was proposed and it turned out to successfully characterize the physics of the acoustic eigenray extrema. As a result, the wave travel-time Fermat functional was shown to be a generalized parabola opening upward, with a single extremum of minimum, or multiple minima together with local maxima or saddle points. In addition, for multipath propagation, the global minimal eigenray resides on the same side with the transmitter–receiver pair relative to the refractive index concave center, while the other stationary rays dwell on the other side. The Fermat's principle is thus further insighted, which governs the mechanism on acoustic/optic wave propagation in complicated medium.
Structural optimization and magneto-thermal coupling simulation of limited angle torque motor
Authors: Xu Xiufeng , Cheng Weixiang , Zhou Xu , Zhou Aiguo , Jin Jiang , An Siyuan , Zhang Xiaofeng
Published: January 2025

The limited-angle torque motor (LATM) is an electric actuator capable of rotating within a limited angular range and outputting a stable torque. It features a simple structure and high reliability and can be used in precise position or torque control scenarios. To reduce the torque fluctuation within the constant torque range (CTR), the effects of the stator tooth topology and size, PM magnetization direction and size, and sleeve permeability on the torque-angle characteristic of the LATM within the CTR were analyzed through FEM simulation, and the characteristics of the LATM before and after optimization were compared. Furthermore, a magneto-thermal coupling simulation of the steady-state temperature increase and thermal deformation generated by the LATM was conducted to study the effect of temperature on the LATM. The results show that the optimized LATM can output a more stable torque within the CTR and that the rated torque fluctuation rate relative to the torque at the zero position decreases by 3.2%. In addition, the temperature increase and corresponding thermal deformation of the optimized motor at 20 °C decreased by 0.22% and 0.29%, respectively.
A definite must read
Authors: Garssen Bart , Svačinová Iva
Published: January 2025

The present study aims at clarifying how in literary reviews value judgements about novels are justified. For this purpose we first give an overall description of the place of literary reviews in journalism. Then, we characterize literary reviews as an argumentative activity type. Next, we turn to the argumentative pattern prototypical of literary reviews. To illustrate our account of literary reviews, we present an exemplary analysis of a particular review. In so doing we propose a tool for the empirical study of literary reviews.
Atmospheric turbulence degradation image restoration based on multi-input multi-output U-Net network
Authors: Tao Rong , Zhang Leihong , Fang Yao , Yang Haima , Zhang Dawei , Xu BangLian , Sun Quan
Published: January 2025

Aiming at the problem of limited ability to recover degraded images of atmospheric turbulence when they are severely damaged, a recovery method based on a multi-input multi-output U-Net network is proposed. The network can input information from multiple images at the same time, which improves the extraction and representation of image features. And it introduces multiple inverse convolutional head transposition attention during jump connection to better aggregate local and non-local pixel interactions and improve the recovery quality. Experiments demonstrate that the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the proposed network is improved by 4–5 db and the structural similarity is improved by about 6.4% compared with general recovery methods. Compared with the existing deep learning restoration methods, the PSNR of the improved network is improved by about 2–3 db, and the frequency structure similarity is improved by about 2.7%.
Mode evolution of TAE due to alpha particles and synergy with ripple loss in CFETR
Authors: Hao Baolong , Chen Wei , Lin Xiaodong , Li Jiquan , Hao Guangzhou , Chen Jiale , Wu Bin , Chan Vincent , Yang Wenjun ,   CFETR Physics Team
Published: January 2025

The alpha particle should have good confinement when there are instabilities and toroidal field ripples in fusion devices. With the alpha particle slowing down distribution generated by TRANSP/NUBEAM, the Alfven eigenfunction calculated by NOVA/NOVA-K, and a quasilinear model in the ORBIT code, the study investigated the nonlinear evolution of Toroidal Alfven Eigenmodes (TAE) driven by alpha particles and the resulting transport, particularly focusing on the synergistic effects with ripple loss. The amplitude level of strong pulsations is about

A
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5.0
×

10

−
4

R
0

, frequency chirping and particle transport in phase space are also observed. Enhancement of the saturation level does not occur because the two mode-particle resonant regions are well separated. No synergistic effect of TAE and toroidal field ripple perturbation on alpha particle loss was observed. This is because co-passing particles near the core dominated the mode particle resonance. Only trapped particle redistribution and flattening near the edge can have particle loss enhancement. The conclusions of saturation amplitude, particle transport, and synergy with ripple loss have no concerns for the present scenario of CFETR, but no synergy is not a general conclusion and should be investigated case by case. The methodology demonstrated in this work is general and can facilitate rapid iteration of engineering and physics for fusion reactor design.
Exploring the impact of HAp on the surface morphology, mechanical, wettability, and biodegradation rate of PVA-collagen nanofiber bone scaffolds
Authors: Hartatiek  , Wuriantika M I , Ayu W E S , Yudyanto  , Rahayu S E , Nazriati
Published: January 2025

Nanofibers are considered promising materials for tissue engineering applications due to their ability to promote cell adhesion and form desired environments where new tissue can grow. Furthermore, we evaluated the impact of increasing the concentration (1–6 wt%) of HAp on the morphology and subsequent consequences regarding mechanical properties, wettability, and biodegradative nature of wrinkle-free PVA/collagen nanofiber scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning. FTIR and SEM were used to analyze the functional groups on their surface and observe the morphological characteristics of those particles. SEM revealed that when the concentration of HAp was enhanced, a finer fiber with diameters in the range of 80–500 nm was obtained. The mechanical test demonstrated better mechanical properties of the composites with increasing HAp load. In addition, the water contact angle decreased with increasing HAp concentration (a faster degradation rate), which was consistent with higher suitability degradation.
Focus on green printed electronics
Authors: Leclerc Mario , Carmichael Tricia Breen
Published: January 2025

This Editorial summarizes the content of the Focus Issue on green printed electronics, featuring contributions from the NSERC green electronics network and others. The collection brought together original research on green synthetic methods for electronic materials, green printing processes, and the design, modelling, and fabrication of green printed devices.
The impact of new urbanization pilot policies on carbon emissions in China's small and medium-sized cities
Authors: Xin JinGuo , Du Kun , Tong Jiayao , Guan Xiaoyong
Published: January 2025

To combat global warming, advancing the shift from extensive traditional urbanization to intelligent, green, and low-carbon new urbanization is essential for the high-quality and sustainable development of the Chinese economy. This paper considers the comprehensive pilot policy for new urbanization as a "quasi-natural experiment," and assesses the current status of carbon emissions using panel data from 139 small and medium-sized Chinese cities between 2006 and 2019. The direct effects of the new urbanization pilot policies on carbon emissions in small and medium-sized cities were assessed using the difference-in-differences (DID) method. The robustness of the findings was further validated through parallel trend tests and propensity score matching DID methods. Subsequently, the mediating effect model was employed to explore the mechanisms by which the new urbanization pilot policies affect carbon emissions in Chinese small and medium-sized cities. The findings are as follows: (1) In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the level of carbon emissions in China's small and medium-sized cities, with emissions in the western and northeastern regions notably lower than those in the central and eastern regions. (2) Compared to non-pilot regions, the new urbanization pilot policies have significantly reduced carbon emissions in pilot regions. (3) The new urbanization pilot policies reduce carbon emissions in small and medium-sized cities by optimizing the industrial structure and enhancing green innovation.
Multi-source soft sensor model for industrial processes based on Graph Convolution and Dual-constraint Adversarial Domain Generalization
Authors: Guo Xiaoping , Lin Ming , Li Yuan
Published: January 2025

To address the issue of poor generalization performance of soft sensor models owing to multimode characteristics within process data and insufficient labeling, this paper proposes a Multi-Source Graph Convolution and Dual Constraint Adversarial Domain Generalization (MSGCN-DADG) soft sensor model. Multimode data constitute multiple source domains, and treat the process variable in the source domain as a node in the diagram structure. By updating the graph convolution network with self-loops and adjacency information of nodes, multi-source domain features are obtained. Domain adversarial networks are employed to align these features, generating domain-invariant features common to all source domains. The proposed method improves the domain adversarial loss function with a dual constraint regularization using Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) to reduce the differences among source domain features and between the source domains and the prior distribution. A fully connected layer is used to establish a model between domain-invariant features and source domain labels, and this model is generalized to the target domain through domain generalization. The proposed model is validated on two real industrial processes, Multiphase Flow Process (MFP) and Thermal Power Plant (TPP) are compared with several domain adaptation and domain generalization methods. Experimental results verify that the proposed method exhibits better prediction accuracy and generalization ability.
Intersectional Listening
Authors: Martin Allie
Published: January 2025

This book explores the sonic elements of gentrification in Washington, DC, with particular attention to the racialized elements of sound. Intersectional Listening engages the sonorities of gentrification, drawing from ethnomusicology, Black Studies, geography, and digital humanities. At its heart, the book is an ethnography about what gentrification sounds like in Washington, DC, specifically how Black people throughout the city are experiencing gentrification as a sonic, racialized process. In telling these stories of music and sound in the nation’s capital, the book attempts to shift conversations about how Black life is listened to: by centering Black feminist listening practices, by thinking through digital modes of listening, and by imagining emancipatory soundscapes. This work prioritizes the significance of sound to Black life and Black knowing and challenges the reader to refute the consistent mishearing of Black people. Taking these provocations as a starting point, Intersectional Listening offers both methodological and theoretical interventions, forming a praxis that is committed to amplifying Black life in DC and beyond. Case studies in the book include the attempted passing of the Amplified Noise Act, a law that threatened to put street musicians in jail for busking in Chinatown; the displacement and institutionalization of go-go music, DC’s local subgenre of funk music; and a soundscape analysis of 7th Street and Florida Avenue, an iconic intersection in DC known for playing go-go music and the home of the 2019 #DontMuteDC movement.
“I’m On My Way to Atlanta”
Authors: Martin Allie
Published: January 2025

Chapter 1 examines how musicians in DC’s larger music scene(s) interact with, challenge, and participate in narratives of gentrification within the city. The author focuses on the stories of three Black women musicians who were interviewed for the project: Be Steadwell, Carolyn Malachi, and Asha Santee. These musicians have distinct musical stories but have all collaborated, and are a part of DC’s larger Black and queer music scene. For some, gentrification is an obstacle to their livelihoods; for others, an opportunity to grow their audiences. Others still consider gentrification to be another institutional crisis in a long line of institutional crises facilitated by anti-Blackness and disenfranchisement.
Smooth Jazz and Static
Authors: Martin Allie
Published: January 2025

This chapter explores how people in the Shaw neighborhood of DC understand change to be heard and enacted sonically. The author argues that people in Shaw perceive gentrification through aural expectations, neighborhood legacies, and sonic tension. This chapter is framed and argued through the story of Breonna Taylor’s murder in 2020, which has been linked to processes of gentrification by her family’s attorney and local journalists in Louisville, Kentucky. The author attempts to think through what deaths might be prevented if those who sound themselves as being marked for removal are listened to critically and carefully. This chapter is also grounded in the importance of the educational value of Black neighborhoods, where the stories people tell offer invaluable insight into the racialization of sound. The author argues that gentrification is heard throughout Shaw, and that attention to these understandings demonstrates the importance of music and sound to this historically Black neighborhood.
Interlude: Sounds of the City
Authors: Martin Allie
Published: January 2025

In 2016, DC multihyphenate rapper and performer Kokayi Issa was commissioned by the annual Funk Parade to create four songs based on crowdsourced sounds of DC, one for each quadrant of the city. These songs draw from conversation, music, nature, and the everyday sounds of Washington DC, offering a synthesis of the city’s changing soundscape. This interlude briefly analyzes the production and sound sources of each song, as well as Kokayi’s larger position as an internationally known artist that remains committed to the cultural life of his hometown. His commitment extended into organizing against the Amplified Noise Act, which is the subject of the next chapter.
“Plainly Audible”
Authors: Martin Allie
Published: January 2025

Chapter 5 tells the story of the Amplified Noise Act (ANA), a law introduced in the DC council in June of 2018 outlawing amplified music in the DC, punishable by fine, jail time, and/or the impounding of musicians’ equipment. In this chapter, the author recounts the events of the ANA through council hearing transcripts, interviews, and her own observations. Residents and workers in Chinatown, tired of the noise levels of street musicians, petitioned the DC council to draft and pass legislation that would allow the police to enforce the noise standards, which they were seemingly unwilling or unable to do previously. These residents leaned on a combination of both legislative and criminal justice aspects of city policies in order to take care of what they considered a problem in their neighborhood.
Coda: Freedom Sounds in the Nation’s Capital
Authors: Martin Allie
Published: January 2025

The book concludes with an analysis of Juneteenth weekend 2022 in Washington, DC. The city hosted Pharrell’s Something in the Water music festival, which included a number of local vendors, go-go bands, and artists. While typically held in Pharrell’s hometown of Virginia Beach, the festival brought a great deal of publicity to DC in 2022. However, the exorbitant festival ticket costs led two other local organizations, Moechella and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, to hold their own free community events in other areas of the city during the same weekend. The author explores these sonic performances of Black freedom in a gentrifying city, arguing that Black people are creating emancipatory soundscapes every day.
The Diversity of Work
Authors: Wærn-Carlsson Carl Mikael , Kardell Örjan , Lindström Jonas
Published: January 2025

This chapter discusses the combination of occupational diversity and specialization that characterized people’s lives in the period 1720 to 1880. While specialization is often associated with modernity, many still relied on multiple sources of income at the end of the period. As evidence from probate inventories makes clear, this was true of both the affluent and the destitute. The chapter shows that specialization and diversification could coexist within the same household. Masters and mistresses carried out a wide range of tasks, whereas servants had monotonous repertoires of work. Their ‘specialization’ was an effect of their subordination. The chapter goes on to argue that while diversity and specialization were intertwined in practice, perceptions of work diversity started to change. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the norm emerged that men should have a main fulltime occupation. The use of the old word for a craft profession was widened to encompass all such occupations.
The Home as a Place for Work
Authors: Ågren Maria , Wærn-Carlsson Carl Mikael , Jansson Karin Hassan , Kardell Örjan
Published: January 2025

This chapter discusses the home as a place of work in the period 1720 to 1880. It starts by asking what people at the time meant when they talked about ‘home’ and shows that the word was used to designate a place that offered shelter and protection rather than privacy. With time, people tended to talk more and more about their homes. The chapter analyses practices taking place in homes and demonstrates that both women and men performed much home-based work, but women were more often observed working in their own homes while men were observed in the homes of others. Nearly all forms of work could take place in home environments, not only ‘housework’ (as conventionally defined). The chapter demonstrates that women did more cleaning and washing than men, but maintains that because this was before the introduction of ideas of cleanliness and domestic hygiene, it is unlikely that housework took up a large share of women’s total time. Women and men could earn money at home by renting out rooms, particularly in the city. In this way, the domestic sphere was commercialized rather than private.
Conclusion
Authors: Jansson Karin Hassan , Lindström Jonas , Ågren Maria
Published: January 2025

This chapter shows how, to what extent, and why the division of work between men and women changed in the transition from early modern to modern society. It summarizes the main empirical findings and evaluates the usefulness of the verb-oriented method for studies of the nineteenth century. The chapter analyses the verb data from the period 1720 to 1880 with the help of a statistical method (Duncan segregation index) and compares with verb data from the period 1550 to 1799. The analysis shows that over time, the importance of marital status for people’s work patterns declined and, conversely, the importance of gender increased. The change was not dramatic but irrefutable, and it chimes with the other evidence presented in the book. By way of explanation, the chapter points to increasing social differentiation and shifts in labour relations. The growing impact of gender was not the result of a trickling down of new middle-class ideals, nor the effect of new preferences, nor a consequence of a separation of home and work. Instead, differences grew because more people were in a position where someone else—an employer—controlled how they used their time. The chapter puts this change into a larger theoretical perspective with the help of the concepts patriarchy, women’s status, and forced labour (Judith Bennett, Marcel van der Linden).
tttrlib: modular software for integrating fluorescence spectroscopy, imaging, and molecular modeling
Authors: Peulen Thomas-Otavio , Hemmen Katherina , Greife Annemarie , Webb Benjamin M , Felekyan Suren , Sali Andrej , Seidel Claus A M , Sanabria Hugo , Heinze Katrin G
Published: January 2025

We introduce software for reading, writing and processing fluorescence single-molecule and image spectroscopy data and developing analysis pipelines to unify various spectroscopic analysis tools. Our software can be used for processing multiple experiment types, e.g. for time-resolved single-molecule spectroscopy, laser scanning microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and image correlation spectroscopy. The software is file format agnostic and processes multiple time-resolved data formats and outputs. Our software eliminates the need for data conversion and mitigates data archiving issues.

Availability and implementation

tttrlib is available via pip (https://pypi.org/project/tttrlib/) and bioconda while the open-source code is available via GitHub (https://github.com/fluorescence-tools/tttrlib). Presented examples and additional documentation demonstrating how to implement in vitro and live-cell image spectroscopy analysis are available at https://docs.peulen.xyz/tttrlib and https://zenodo.org/records/14002224.
Soft skills during residency in spain: an analysis of specialised training programmes
Authors: Sánchez-Peralta L F , Pagador J B , Sánchez-Margallo F M
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The significance of soft skills in reducing errors and improving clinical practice has become increasingly evident. Training in these skills should form an integral part of residency programmes.

Methods

The specialised training programmes for Health Sciences approved by the National Council of Specialties in Health Sciences were reviewed to evaluate the inclusion of five soft skills: communication, teamwork, leadership, situational awareness, and decision-making. A systematic keyword search was conducted across all programme documents.

Results

Most of the training programmes were published in 2006 or 2007 (23 programmes, 39%), with only 3 (5%) published in the last three years. Communication (35 programmes, 59.3%) and teamwork (23 programmes, 39.0%) were the most commonly mentioned skills, followed by decision-making (15 programmes, 25.4%) and leadership (11 programmes, 18.6%). Situational awareness was referenced in just one programme (1.7%). None of the programmes addressed all five skills, and only 4 (6.8%) covered four of them. In contrast, 17 programmes (28.8%) did not include any of the skills.

Conclusion

The inclusion of soft skills varies greatly across specialised training programmes. Given their proven importance in clinical practice, it is essential to develop targeted training tools, such as micro-credentials, to certify and enhance competency in these areas.
Intracoronary cardiosphere-derived cell secretome therapy: effects on ventricular tachycardia inducibility and cardiac function in a swine model
Authors: Báez Díaz C , Torrescusa A , Sánchez Margallo F M , Vázquez López F , Pulido M , López Esther , Arenal Maíz Á , Crisóstomo Ayala Y V
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Following myocardial infarction (MI), there is a high risk of sudden cardiac death due to the development of ventricular tachycardia (VT). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intracoronary (IC) administration of cardiosphere-derived cell secretome (S-CDCs) on VT inducibility and cardiac function in a porcine model of MI.

Methods

Fourteen pigs underwent endovascular MI induction. At four weeks, either saline (CON; 5 ml; n=7) or S-CDCs (9.16 mg protein in 5 ml saline; n=7) were blindly administered via the IC route. VT inducibility and magnetic resonance (MR) studies were performed both pre- and four months post-IC therapy, assessing ejection fraction (EF), infarct size (%MI), and indexed end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (VDFi, VSFi).

Results

IC therapy was successfully performed in all cases. While VT was inducible in 100% of animals prior to IC therapy, the inducibility rate was lower in the S-CDCs group compared to the CON group at four months (57% versus 100%, p=0.05). Additionally, in the S-CDCs group, EF was higher (35±10% versus 29±10%, p=NS), and ventricular volumes were lower (83±18 ml/m² and 56±20 ml/m² versus 88±29 ml/m² and 64±20 ml/m², p=NS). Furthermore, %MI was significantly reduced in the S-CDCs group (12±3% versus 16±3%, p=0.03).

Conclusion

IC therapy with S-CDCs appears to reduce post-MI VT development and suggests beneficial effects on cardiac function, including a reduction in %MI, in this swine model.
Rat model of nerve regeneration
Authors: Vela F J , Campos J L , Pires L C , Sánchez-Margallo F M , Abellán E
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Peripheral nerve injuries affect numerous patients annually, with outcomes influenced by factors such as the nerve’s regenerative capacity, injury severity, and the surgeon’s technical skill. Animal models are essential for refining surgical techniques and exploring new therapies to improve nerve regeneration. The choice of animal model depends on the target nerve. This study describes a standardized rat sciatic nerve defect model.

Methods

The sciatic nerve defect model involves the rat under deep anesthesia. The lateral thigh area is shaved and disinfected with chlorhexidine. A 3 cm incision is made below the femur, followed by the identification of the superficial gluteal and biceps femoris muscles using scissors and forceps. The sciatic nerve, located between the two muscle heads, is isolated by cutting the fascia and dissecting the muscle heads. A background band is placed to isolate the nerve from surrounding structures. After implementing the selected technique and treatment, the incision is closed in layers. For skin closure, intradermal sutures are used to prevent the rats from biting protruding threads.

Results

This rat sciatic nerve defect model supports various follow-up evaluations, including the sciatic functional index, ultrasonography, electromyography, MRI, genetic studies, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy.

Conclusion

This rat sciatic nerve model is easy to replicate and provides a robust platform for studying nerve regeneration.