bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In functionally aligned total knee arthroplasty, femoral component rotation follows the transepicondylar axis to achieve flexion balance
Authors: Moore Joss , Van de Graaf Victor A. , Wood Jil A. , Chen Darren B. , MacDessi Samuel J.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In functionally aligned (FA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA), femoral component rotation (FCR) is personalised to optimise flexion gap balance. As axial malalignment has been attributed to patellofemoral complications, this study assessed FA FCR in relation to the surgical transepicondylar axis (TEA) and early implant survivorship.

Methods

We analysed 446 robotic‐assisted primary TKAs in 393 patients using FA with preresection gap balancing. Femoral and tibial coronal resection boundaries were 6° valgus to 3° varus and 6° varus to 3° valgus, respectively. The TEA and posterior condylar axis (PCA) were identified on preoperative computed tomographic scans. Intraoperatively, FCR was initially set parallel to the PCA, then rotated to achieve flexion balance within 6° boundaries to the TEA. The primary outcome was the mean angular difference between the TEA and final FCR and the proportion of patients with FCR within 2°, 4° and 6° from the TEA. Secondary outcomes included all‐cause revisions for the robotic‐assisted TKAs in this series from our in‐house database and a national joint replacement registry at a mean of 3.3 years postoperatively (range 2.2–5.5).

Results

Mean FCR was 0.0° (SD 2.1°) relative to the TEA and 1.8° (SD 1.4°) externally rotated to the PCA. Final FCR was within 2° in 74.9%, within 4° in 97.3% and within 6° in 99.6% of patients relative to the TEA. There were seven postoperative procedures (1.6%) within the study period: two reoperations (0.5%) for early arthrotomy failure requiring repair (both exhibiting FCR within 1° to the TEA) and three revisions (0.7%) for deep surgical site infection (one after early traumatic arthrotomy failure, one revision for instability and one manipulation for stiffness).

Conclusion

In FA TKA, femoral components more closely align to the TEA than the PCA to achieve a balanced flexion gap. In conjunction with a low incidence of revision surgeries, this suggests the FA technique does not result in significant patellofemoral complications.

Level of Evidence

Level III.
Regression of carotid atherosclerosis in high‐risk individuals with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors
Authors: Luu Albert Z. , Hajiesmaeili Yasaman , Faezi Sholeh , Spence J. David , Hackam Daniel G. , Hadizadeh Hamed , Sohrevardi Seyyed M. , Azarpazhooh M. Reza
Published: January 2025

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors represent a novel approach for reducing cholesterol and, accordingly, the burden of atherosclerosis. However, limited data are available regarding the possible effects of PCSK9 inhibitors on atherosclerotic plaque. To evaluate the efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors in reducing carotid plaque progression in individuals with high‐risk carotid atherosclerotic disease. We used carotid total plaque area (TPA) to assess the burden of atherosclerosis. Ultrasound imaging of the carotid was acquired before and after the initiation of PCSK9 inhibitor therapy. We selected high‐risk cases with atherosclerosis with a minimum of three ultrasound examinations, 1 year before, one at the time of initiation of a PCSK9 inhibitor, and 1 year after initiating a PCSK9 inhibitor. Statistical analysis was conducted using the mixed‐effects model with Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML). We reviewed data from 131 patients with a mean follow‐up of 6 (±4) years. Patients were high‐risk, with the majority having diabetes or hypertension. There was a decrease in TPA, particularly during the first 3 years after initiating PCSK9 inhibitor therapy (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed that individuals with higher baseline serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels experienced a greater decline in TPA (p < 0.05). PCSK9 inhibitors are effective in achieving plaque regression in high‐risk patients with atherosclerosis. This is important, as plaque regression is associated with a lower risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death.
Porous Hydrogels from Nanoemulsion Templates With Different Structures
Authors: Abbasian Chaleshtari Zahra , Valipour Goodarzi Babak , Foudazi Reza
Published: January 2025

Porous hydrogels, including physical pores and spaces within the polymer network, exhibit rapid water uptake rates. Synthesizing porous hydrogels through nanoemulsion templating represents a promising avenue for the development of advanced materials with tailored properties. Certain attributes, including but not limited to the ability to tune droplet size, volume fraction, and interdroplet interactions, provide tools to precisely manipulate the structure of nanoemulsions. The main research question is how the colloidal structure of the template changes the characteristics of a polymer network. Therefore, this study investigates the preparation of porous hydrogels using concentrated nanoemulsions as templates where modulating interdroplet interactions results in different pore structures and properties of the polymer network. Nanoemulsions are prepared by dispersing oil droplets in a continuous phase containing poly (ethylene glycol)‐diacrylate (PEGDA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Subsequent photo‐polymerization of PEGDA and removal of the oil phase leaves behind a porous polymer structure. Then, Hydrogels are analyzed to study the relationship between netwrok structures and water uptake capacities. The discussion focuses on how droplet arrangement under the influence of altered concentrations of SDS, provides confinement for changing the crosslink density of the polymer network.
A Tutorial on What to Do With Skewness, Kurtosis, and Outliers: New Insights to Help Scholars Conduct and Defend Their Research
Authors: Iacobucci Dawn , Román Sergio , Moon Sangkil , Rouziès Dominique
Published: January 2025

This research examines the effect of nonnormal data on several frequently utilized statistical models. Behavioral scholars often encounter nonnormal and potentially problematic data such as outliers. In the absence of clear guidance, scholars generally report taking some compensatory action, including the deletion of data, data transformations, or alternative statistics. This research addresses the question, how much do such data actually affect results? Three sets of simulations investigate the effects of skewness, kurtosis, and outliers. Our findings show that some patterns of nonnormal data are perhaps not as problematic as one might anticipate. Many results are affected but in the statistically conservative direction (i.e., less likely to produce significance). In particular, data that were skewed, or showed kurtosis or univariate outliers did not lead to inappropriate statistical results, and, therefore, scholars may proceed with their analyses. Yet there are boundary conditions; specifically, we found that multivariate outliers could create biased results, so for such data, scholars need to be particularly transparent and vigilant in their data handling, posting data sets with and without any deleted or transformed data points.
How to Improve the Efficiency of the New Energy Vehicle Industry: Multiple Paths From Configuration Perspective
Authors: Zhang Tian , Fu Yaqin , Hu Jiang
Published: January 2025

This study examines regional new energy vehicle (NEV) industry efficiency across 26 Chinese provinces, addressing the need for deeper insights into the spatiotemporal efficiency patterns and configurational pathways influencing NEV development. By employing data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure efficiency, exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) to explore spatial clustering, and fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate configuration‐based pathways, this research provides a nuanced understanding of how regional factors shape NEV efficiency. The analysis identifies four distinct configurational pathways: policy bolstering for technological innovation, organizational synergy, market dynamics and regulatory synergy, and structural deficiency type. These findings suggest that developed regions benefit from prioritizing organizational collaboration and technological support, while less‐developed areas may improve efficiency through foundational policy enhancement and regulatory alignment. Furthermore, investing in human capital, technical innovation, and infrastructure can contribute to building a resilient NEV ecosystem. By integrating multiple analytical methods, this study sheds light on the complex interactions shaping NEV efficiency across regions and offers insights for policymakers to enhance the global competitiveness and sustainability of China's NEV industry.
Variational and Numerical Approaches to Contact Problems With Coulomb Friction in Thermoviscoelasticity
Authors: Hilal Mouna , Bouallala Mustapha , Ouafik Youssef
Published: January 2025

In this work, we present a mathematical model that describes the quasistatic frictional contact between a thermoviscoelastic body and a conductive foundation. The contact is modeled using Signorini's conditions, and the friction is described by Coulomb's law. The existence and uniqueness of a weak solution are proven using the theory of first‐order evolution variational inequalities and the Banach fixed point theorem. Finally, we present numerical results for a two‐dimensional test problem to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
An Intelligent Electric Vehicle Charging System in a Smart Grid Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Senthilkumar T. , Sivaraju S. S. , Anuradha T. , Vimalarani C.
Published: January 2025

The rapid combination of the electric vehicles into the recent transportation prefers very efficient charging systems involved in grid conditions. This increasing adoption of electric vehicles demands a dynamic and intelligent framework to control charging, confirming optimal grid performance, load balancing, and cost efficiency. In this work, we developed an optimized deep learning framework using the combined structure of Whale‐Optimized Neuro‐Fuzzy Classification for controlling electric vehicle charging within the grid. The increasing involvement of electric vehicle's produces new difficulties, involving overload of grid, and energy management, in real‐time and optimized decision making process. The Whale‐Optimized Neuro‐Fuzzy Classification method uses the hybrid abilities of neuro‐fuzzy systems, integrates the capability of the neural networks and also optimize using a Whale Optimization Algorithm for improved accuracy and efficiency. This proposed method maintains the charging and discharging process of electric vehicles, which have several factors like grid load, priorities of the vehicle and preferences of the user. The neuro‐fuzzy system combines deep convolutional neural network and fuzzy logic to predict charging patterns, considering user preferences, grid demand, renewable energy availability, and so on. This method contribute to the enhancement of energy systems, denotes the future requirement of future smart cities. Evaluation metrics included power usage, energy loss, cost, and processing speed. Analysis of experimental results revealed the accuracy of 99% for the proposed method compared to existing techniques.
Implicit Central Difference Approximations of Averaged Dynamics of Highly Oscillatory Systems With Applications to Direct Optimal Control
Authors: Harzer Jakob , De Schutter Jochem , Rutquist Per , Diehl Moritz
Published: January 2025

Trajectory optimization of highly oscillatory systems can require huge computational efforts if the horizon of the problem is much larger than the duration of a single cycle. To alleviate this effort, stroboscopic averaging methods can be used, which utilize local single‐cycle simulations of the oscillatory dynamics to then approximate the average dynamics of the system and integrate them with integration steps much larger than a single cycle. Targeting especially the field of direct optimal control, where, after discretization, the simulation of the dynamics is often included implicitly in the equality constraints of the nonlinear programming problem, we introduce an implicit central difference scheme for the approximation of the average dynamics. In the introduced implicit central difference methods, we solve a nonlinear system of equations that connects single‐cycle simulations of the oscillatory dynamics in order to approximate the average dynamics from a linear combination of points in state‐space. We derive the accuracy order for this generalized ‐point central difference approximation of the average dynamics and confirm the claims in numerical experiments. Compared to existing explicit approaches, the introduced methods are up to twice as efficient while maintaining the same level of accuracy.
Young people's networked constructions of nature: Evidence from a qualitative multiple case study in the United Kingdom
Authors: Reed Jack , Beames Simon Kennedy , Macleod Gale
Published: January 2025

How young people interpret and engage with nature is an important consideration within our current biodiversity and climate crises. What remains less clear are the ways in which online, networked, spaces underpin young people's relationships with nature, and what consequences these spaces may have for in‐person nature interactions.

Given the ubiquitousness of networked spaces in society, it has been argued that day‐to‐day life is increasingly ‘postdigital’, in that we may no longer distinguish meaningful differences between our online and offline worlds. Therefore, it is necessary to examine this collapsing physical‐digital binary in the context of young people's in‐person interactions with nature to examine the effectiveness of this theoretical perspective.

Utilising ethnographically situated, participant‐as‐observer methods, this qualitative multiple case study generated data across three rural residential outdoor education centres in England, Scotland and Wales, with young people aged 12–17. Participants were visiting the residential centres from urban schools in England and Scotland, with each group spending 5 days at their respective centre.

Reflexive thematic analysis of fieldnote data revealed that young people had previously constructed their understandings and interpretations of what nature ‘is’ through networked environments such as Instagram, TikTok and Minecraft. These networked constructions often contextualised young people's direct, in‐person interactions with nature and demonstrated ways in which these online spaces influenced how nature was perceived and understood. The case is presented for interpreting the findings from a postdigital ‘networked baselines’ perspective.

The findings will resonate with practitioners and policymakers concerned with the relationships between young people, networked spaces and nature connectedness. Alongside this, given the editorial discussion on the impacts of ‘nature on screen’ from Silk et al. (2021) in People and Nature, this paper provides a set of empirical findings on how young people's organic engagements with nature on‐screen provided a degree of foundational knowledge about what nature is, what nature is for and how nature should be engaged with.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
An Exploration of Collaboration Between School Psychologists and School Administrators
Authors: Fish Marian C. , Wamba Nathalis , Matuza Tom , Cooperstone Julie
Published: January 2025

Prior research has highlighted strong benefits from having a collaborative environment within schools. However, there has been limited research regarding factors that can promote a collaborative relationship between two key professionals within the school environment: school administrators and school psychologists. The first purpose of this study was to examine the nature of collaboration between school psychologists and school administrators. The second purpose was to explore ways to facilitate and improve this interprofessional collaboration within the school to promote safe, equitable, and supportive school climates and positive student outcomes. Using a qualitative research method, we collected and analyzed data from three focus groups: school psychologists, school administrators, and a combined group of school psychologists and school administrators, all working in New York City and nearby suburban, public culturally and linguistically diverse school settings. We developed an interview guide disseminated to the participants before the focus group meetings which were held via conference call and recorded. Discussions were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Four raters coded the data and reached consensus on major themes. The findings suggest that quality collaboration between school psychologists and school administrators is infrequent and often haphazard and it should instead be intentional and purposeful. The study uncovered prerequisites for and challenges to effective collaboration, leading to recommendations for intervention in school practice and in preparation programs with a goal of enhancing school climate and student outcomes.
Parental Anxiety and Math Engagement: A Moderated Mediation Model of Math Anxiety and Perceived Teacher Support
Authors: Zhou Yu , Jing Bin , Zhang Jing , Pi Zhongling , Ma Hongliang
Published: January 2025

Students' engagement in math is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of math instruction. Previous studies examined the factors influencing math engagement, including parents, teachers, and students, however, few conducted a joint analysis of these variables. This study aimed to investigate the effects of these variables on math engagement by developing a moderated mediation model. A total of 1178 high school students and their primary caregiver (either father or mother) were involved in this study. The findings revealed the following: (1) Parental anxiety does not act as a direct predictor of math engagement; (2) Math anxiety fully mediates the relationship between parental anxiety and math engagement; and (3) Perceived teacher support does not significantly moderate the relationships between parental anxiety and math engagement or between parental anxiety and math anxiety. However, it does have a moderating effect on the relationship between math anxiety and math engagement. These results suggest that enhancing teacher support in math education may effectively reduce math anxiety and subsequently increase students' engagement in math.
Structure, Oligomerization, and Thermal Stability of a Recently Discovered Old Yellow Enzyme
Authors: Polidori Nakia , Babin Peter , Daniel Bastian , Gruber Karl
Published: January 2025

The Old Yellow Enzyme from Ferrovum sp. JA12 (FOYE) displays an unusual thermal stability for an enzyme isolated from a mesophilic organism. We determined the crystal structure of this enzyme and performed bioinformatic characterization to get insights into its thermal stability. The enzyme displays a tetrameric quaternary structure; however, unlike the other tetrameric homologs, it clusters in a separate phylogenetic group and possesses unique interactions that stabilize this oligomeric state. The thermal stability of this enzyme is mainly due to an unusually high number of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Finally, this study provides a general analysis of the forces driving the oligomerization in Old Yellow Enzymes.
Melatonin: A Review of the Evidence for Use in Hospital Settings
Authors: Adattini Josephine A. , Wills Carly , Martin Jennifer H.
Published: January 2025

New onset insomnia is often experienced by patients during hospitalization due to environmental disruptions, pain and increased patient care activities. Patient distress arising from poor sleep quality and quantity often results in the prescribing of hypnotics. Melatonin use in hospital settings is common and is increasingly used for off label indications including primary insomnia in those aged < 55 years, prevention of delirium and to facilitate benzodiazepine discontinuation. A literature review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, tolerability, and cost‐effectiveness of melatonin for various off‐label indications in inpatient hospital settings. The review found limited high quality evidence demonstrating a clinically meaningful benefit from melatonin in improving sleep, delirium, or facilitating benzodiazepine discontinuation in the inpatient setting. Study findings were inconsistent, and those that did show statistical improvement were of uncertain clinical benefit. The review also found a paucity of data on the safety of melatonin when used in hospitalized patients, and no evidence to support cost‐effectiveness. Non‐pharmacological interventions are recommended as first‐line treatment of insomnia and for the prevention of delirium in inpatient settings. The use of interventions without evidence for efficacy or effectiveness is contrary to the quality use of medicines principles in Australia's National Medicines Policy. Context‐specific evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of a medicine should guide clinician decision‐making and prescribing, to improve the quality use of medicines.
Dysfunction of a lepidopteran conserved gene, BmBLOC1S6, causes a translucent larval integument in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Sun Tao , Song Jiangbo , Luo Jingzhi , Jiang Yu , Tan Duan , Zhou Lei , Wu Wentao , Han Minjin , Hu Hai , Tong Xiaoling , Lu Cheng , Dai Fangyin
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Diverse lepidopteran insects cause serious damage to plants, and their larvae possess a crucial epidermal barrier against environmental stimuli. Their ultraviolet (UV) resistance is enhanced by accumulating uric acid granules in the epidermis, suggesting that genes involved in this process may be potential targets for lepidopteran pest management.

RESULTS

The silkworm pan‐genome dataset is a valuable source for studying genomic mutations and phenotype–genotype associations. Hoarfrost translucent (oh) is a recessive silkworm mutant with a translucent larval integument. Using comparative genomic analysis, we found that the oh mutant has an 828‐bp deletion in the BmBLOC1S6 genome. BmBLOC1S6 encodes a BLOC‐1 complex subunit and is conserved during lepidopteran evolution. Knockout of BmBLOC1S6 replicated the oh phenotype. Furthermore, BmBLOC1S6 knockout and oh larvae are more sensitive to UV irradiation compared to the wild‐type. These results revealed that BmBLOC1S6 is essential in forming uric acid granules for silkworm epidermal UV resistance.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that BmBLOC1S6 is responsible for the oh phenotype in silkworms and is conserved during lepidopteran evolution. This study may help us better clarify uric acid granules formation in the epidermis, explore their function in UV resistance and identify a potential molecular target for lepidopteran pest control. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
Tomonaga–Luttinger Liquid Parameters in Multiwalled Nanotubes
Authors: Grigoryan Naira , Chudzinski Piotr
Published: January 2025

Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid (TLL) theory is a canonical formalism used to describe 1D metals, where the low‐energy physics is determined by collective Bosonic excitations. Herein, a theoretical model to compute the parameters of Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid (TLL) in multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs) is presented. MWNTs introduce additional complexity to the usual Fermionic chains due to interactions and hybridization between their multiple coaxial shells. A model in which conducting paths along the length of the MWNTs are randomly distributed among the shells is considered. Since the valley degree of freedom remains a good quantum number, the TLL description in addition to spin and charge contains also valley degree of freedom and hence four‐mode description applies. The values of all four TLL parameters are obtained for this model. A surprising outcome is that the compressibility of the holon mode becomes a universal quantity, while the parameters of neutral modes will depend on the details of intershell coupling. Finally, experiments where predictions can be tested are proposed.
Towards reproducible systematic reviews in Open, Distance, and Digital Education—An umbrella mapping review
Authors: Zawacki‐Richter Olaf , Cefa Berrin , Bai John Y. H.
Published: January 2025

More and more systematic reviews (SRs) are being published in the educational sciences. This umbrella mapping review examines 576 SRs published between 2018 and 2022 in the field of open, distance, and digital education (ODDE) to investigate publication and authorship patterns and to evaluate the quality of these SRs. A quality index score was calculated for each included study based on the PRISMA reporting items for SRs (including elements such as the search strategy, eligibility criteria, protocol registration, study quality appraisal, interrater reliability, etc.). Almost as many SRs were published in 2022 as in the previous four years and the most rigorous SRs come from the field of medical education. However, the results show that there is room for improvement in SRs published in ODDE. A content analysis that explored the thematic scope of SRs showed that the majority of SRs addressed topics related to learning design, AI in education, and the effectiveness of online learning and teaching interventions. Research during this time period was strongly influenced by the experiences with online learning during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The results of this umbrella review should help to improve the quality of SRs towards reproducible reviews in ODDE.

Context and implications

Rationale for this study: The field of Open, Distance, and Digital Education (ODDE) is in transition and an umbrella mapping review is warranted given the dynamic growth of SRs in this literature.

Why the new findings matter: The quality of many published SRs limits the reproducibility and validity of the presented research evidence—the results of the present quality appraisal call for more rigorous SRs in ODDE.

Implications for researchers: Conducting SRs is a fruitful exercise for individual researchers and research institutions to gain a solid overview of a given topic. However, researchers must be trained in the appropriate methodology for the results to be reproducible and valid.

Implications for practitioners and policy‐makers: Systematic reviews can be a valuable source to inform practice and policy‐making. However, attention must be paid to the quality of the reviews; if the method is not carried out accurately, the results must be interpreted with caution. Journal editors: As gatekeepers responsible for ensuring journal quality, editors should invite experts for the SR methodology to be members of the editorial team to handle the peer‐review process of submissions. It must be guaranteed that only methodologically sound SRs are published.
Sod1 deficiency in mouse oocytes during in vitro maturation increases chromosome segregation errors with a reduced BUBR1 at kinetochore
Authors: Nago Mitsuru , Yanai Masumi , Ishii Mika , Sato Yasuko , Odajima Kazuharu , Kimura Naoko
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with chromosome segregation errors caused by intrinsic oxidative stress during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) using oocytes from Sod1‐deficient (Sod1KO) mice.

Methods

Ovulated or in vitro matured cumulus‐cells oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from wild‐type (WT) and Sod1KO mice and evaluated chromosome alignment, chromosome segregation, meiotic progression, and BUBR1 and REC8 protein expression levels.

Results

In 21% O2 IVM, the Sod1KO had significantly higher frequencies of chromosome misalignment and segregation errors compared to the WT, and they also reached Germinal Vesicle Break Down (GVBD) and M I stages peak earlier and showed a shorter M I stage residence time compared to the WT. These changes were associated with a decrease in the recruitment of BUBR1 to kinetochores at M I stage, but there were no differences in the expression of REC8 between the two genotypes. Furthermore, the addition of L‐ascorbic acid (AsA) or N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) during IVM reduced the frequency of chromosome segregation errors in Sod1KO oocytes.

Conclusions

Oxidative stress caused by Sod1 deficiency during IVM impairs the spindle assembly checkpoint function due to a decrease in the recruitment of BUBR1 to M I stage kinetochores, leading to abnormalities in meiotic progression and chromosome segregation.
The Role of Non‐Native Plant Species in Modulating Riverbank Erosion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hardwick James , Hackney Christopher , Keen Lizzie , Fitzsimmons Clare , Willby Nigel , Pattison Zarah
Published: January 2025

Riverbank erosion is a naturally occurring process that influences riparian zone habitats. However, anthropogenic activities are increasing rates of riverbank erosion. Climate change and hydrological and physical modifications drive riparian zone perturbations. Whilst native riparian vegetation can reduce riverbank erosion, the proliferation of non‐native riparian plant species has been linked to riverbank instability, with marked changes in fluvial erosional regimes attributed to invasion by species such as Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam) or Tamarix (Tamarisk) into riparian zones. Yet, the role of non‐native plant species in modulating riverbank erosion remains unclear, in part due to the lack of investigations that quantify geomorphic change. We systematically assessed the relevant ecological and geomorphological literature to determine current understanding and to offer recommendations for future research on non‐native plant—riverbank erosion. Included articles focused on a limited number of non‐native plant species across a restricted range of habitats types, with dependency on topographic change and generally short study duration obscuring potential causal links or feedback cycles. It is critical in the face of parallel rapid proliferation of riparian non‐native plant species and climate change effects, that we improve mechanistic understanding of their role in riverbank erosion.
Chiral and Quantum Plasmonic Sensors: New Frontiers in Selective and Ultra‐Sensitive Sensing
Authors: Thapa Dev Kumar , Biswas Soumava
Published: January 2025

Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances (LSPRs) are fundamental phenomena in plasmonics that enable the confinement of electromagnetic waves beyond the diffraction limit. This confinement results in a significant enhancement of the electric field, making this phenomenon particularly beneficial for sensitive detection applications. However, conventional plasmonic sensors face several challenges, notably their difficulty in distinguishing chiral molecules, which are vital in drug development. Furthermore, these sensors exhibit sensitivity issues and energy losses, leading to broader resonance peaks and diminished signal‐to‐noise ratios. Recent research has concentrated on integrating chirality and quantum effects in plasmonics to overcome these limitations. Particularly, the development of plasmonic sensors with exceptional sensitivity and precision at scales smaller than the diffraction limit. This review assesses the latest advancements in chiral and quantum plasmonic sensing technologies. The first section details the theory and operational principles of conventional sensors based on SPPs and LSPRs. The second section discusses recent developments in chiral plasmonic sensors, while the third section focuses on plasmonic quantum sensing, highlighting contemporary findings. Specifically, this section emphasizes quantum‐enhanced sensing techniques that mitigate shot noise, a significant barrier to single‐molecule detection. The concluding section summarizes the review and identifies potential future research directions.
Fast‐Charging High‐Specific Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Oleophilic Garnet Suspension Electrolyte
Authors: Wang Shengxian , Wei Fengkun , Polu Anji Reddy , Singh Pramod K. , Hu Ning , Song Shufeng
Published: January 2025

Realizing fast charging in high‐specific‐energy lithium metal batteries (LMBs) remains a significant challenge. Here, a oleophilic garnet suspension electrolyte design is reported, using inorganic solid electrolyte modified by low‐surface‐energy 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorooctyl trichlorosilane (PFOTS), to address the dilemma of fast charging and high specific energy in LMBs. With the oleophilic suspension electrolytes, the ionic conductivity of carbonate electrolyte is increased by ≈20%. Importantly, Li+ transference number is increased by ≈50% (reaching 0.57). Furthermore, the oleophilic suspension electrolyte regulates the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), resulting in improved Coulombic efficiency (from 98.9% to 99.5%) and decreased Li/electrolyte interfacial impedance (from 263 to 86.5 Ω). As a result, LMBs using LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode and the oleophilic suspension electrolyte achieves a remarkable capacity retention of 81.7% at the 500th cycle under fast charging of 4 C rate. In the LMBs at high NCM811 loading of 18 mg cm−2, a cyclability of 89% capacity retention after 200 cycles along with limited increase in electrode overpotential is accomplished at a critical current density of 1.08 mA cm−2. The fast charging and remarkable cyclability are attributed to the enhancement of electrolyte transport capabilities and generation of a favorable solid electrolyte interphase at the Li surface.
Tissue optical clearing and expanding solution for improved nuclear segmentation
Authors: Matryba Paweł , Wolny Artur , Chwastowicz Anna , Tomczuk Jacek , Stefaniuk Marzena , Pawłowska Monika , Cysewski Dominik , Łukasiewicz Kacper , Szredzka Aleksandra , Zawada Aleksander , Kaczmarek Leszek , Gołąb Jakub
Published: January 2025

Over the recent years, fluorescence microscopy has seen substantial progress, transitioning from primarily qualitative analysis to a profoundly quantitative methodology, yet limitations in imaging depth and data quality persist due to tissue opacity. Tissue optical clearing (TOC) methodologies were implemented to overcome this hurdle, enabling the imaging and quantitative analysis of large tissue samples such as entire murine organs. Further improvements, including expansion microscopy merge TOC benefits with improved imaging resolution, converting cells and tissues into tissue‒gel hybrids. Yet, its intricate protocols lead to a remarkable, ∼10‒20× tissue volume expansion, making the acquisition of even thin sections exceedingly challenging in terms of time, labor, and data handling. Here, we present a novel solution, Improved Segmentation by gEntle Expansion (ISEE), for both TOC and gentle (1.6‒1.7×) tissue expansion for significantly improved precision of fluorescent signal segmentation, while maintaining tolerable increase during data acquisition in everyday laboratory practice. When applied to thick ∼40‒200 µm tissue slices, ISEE renders them transparent and ultimately expanded within minutes, in a simple, one‐step process compatible with immunohistochemistry as well as with all major murine organs.
Development and synthesis of anti‐zinc burn and antibacterial Schiff base zinc complexes as multi‐functional thermal stabilizers for PVC formulations
Authors: Wang Nan , Jiang Pingping , Zhang Pingbo , Mei Xue , Zhu Xiaoyuan , Chen Shijun , Sheng Xunxun , Gao Jingang , Gao Hang
Published: January 2025

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) thermal stabilizers are evolving toward greater efficiency and multifunctionality. This study aims to develop a multifunctional thermal stabilizer to meet the diverse application requirements. A Schiff base, VanHis, was synthesized by condensing histidine with vanillin, and its zinc salt derivative, VanHis‐Zn, was prepared by reacting VanHis with anhydrous zinc acetate. Infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the successful synthesis. Thermal stability tests, including oven aging, thermogravimetric, conductivity, and Congo red tests, were conducted. Results showed that VanHis‐Zn delayed zinc burn, with complete discoloration occurring after 120 min. Compared to commercially available calcium/zinc stearate stabilizers, VanHis‐Zn exhibited the lowest weight loss rates in both the first (72.26%) and second (17.21%) stages. Additionally, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and UV‐absorption spectroscopy confirmed that VanHis‐Zn suppressed the formation of conjugated double bonds during PVC thermal degradation. When blended with varying proportions of Ca(acac)2, the initial whiteness and long‐term thermal stability of PVC samples improved significantly, doubling the stability time compared to conventional systems. Antibacterial tests also demonstrated that both VanHis‐Zn and the blended PVC samples exhibited antibacterial properties. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to analyze the thermal stabilization mechanism using NPA charge distribution analysis.

Highlights

VanHis‐Zn from biomass enhances PVC stability under heat and delays zinc burning.

VanHis‐Zn imparts antibacterial properties and inhibits PVC conjugated bond formation.

Thermal stability mechanism analyzed via quantum chemical and NPA charge analysis.
Applying the Eightfold Path to Morocco's Cabinet Order 2.23.105
Authors: Kalpakian Jack , Jenks Henry
Published: January 2025

Morocco is fighting its sixth year of drought. As part of its comprehensive response to the drought, the Moroccan cabinet passed order 2.23.105 in December 2023. The new rules require the regulation of well drilling entities. The problem of illegal wells, often dug by farmers who do not know that they need a license, represented a threat to the country's water tables long before the current drought and constitutes a significant barrier towards the adoption of effective Integrated Water Resource Management and Demand Side Management policies. The paper is based on an examination of the current laws including order 2.23.105, by applying the eightfold path of policy analysis, interviews with water officials, and including the views of farmers concerning their efficacy. The paper argues that the state is an essential player in framing an effective response to drought and to climate change. Soil and Water Analysis Tools (SWAT) like ArcSWAT will help improve the state's response and enable it to identify and engage key stakeholders.
Assessing Closed Hydroponic Subsystems for Batavia Lettuce Growth Under Different Planting Densities
Authors: Çekin Demet , El‐Gabry Hamis , Lothmann Ricarda , Hassan Nayira , Hassanen Mariam , Hassanen Mostafa , Sewilam Hani
Published: January 2025

Hydroponic systems have the potential to be sustainable and alternative methods for food production that confer advantages of high production and better control of growth. However, only a few studies have focused on leafy vegetable growth in different subsystems and environmental variables. The main objective of this study is to comprehensively analyze growth rates, sensory attributes, and nutrient uptake in lettuce across these different hydroponic subsystems—deep water culture (DWC), nutrient film technique (NFT), media bed (MB), and sandponic (SP)—evaluated at narrow (20 × 25) and larger (24 × 25 cm) planting spacings. Notably, DWC and NFT subsystems demonstrated superior performance in terms of yield and plant growth parameters, across both planting spacings. Particularly, DWC lettuces exhibited higher levels of Chlorophyll B (29.1 ± 0.8 mg/100 g) and carotene content (32.4 ± 1.2 mg/100 g) in the narrow spacing, underlining their potential for heightened photosynthetic efficiency and nutritional content. Moreover, DWC lettuces were favored in taste tests (52.4%). The NFT subsystem also demonstrated promising outcomes, exhibiting effective utilization of planting spacing across different planting densities. The highest lettuce productivity per unit of land was observed at 7.43 kg in narrower spacing, whereas it was 2.8 kg in larger spacing in the NFT system. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of DWC and NFT subsystems, confirming their potential for enhancing hydroponic lettuce production. Moreover, the use of substrates promotes the uptake of macroelements in hydroponics.
Quadratic Counts of Twisted Cubics
Authors: Levine Marc , Pauli Sabrina
Published: January 2025

Using a quadratic version of the Bott residue theorem, we give a quadratic refinement of the count of twisted cubic curves on hypersurfaces and complete intersections in a projective space.
What Do They Think of Us? American Perceptions of Québec Before, During and After Trump’s First Term in the White House
Authors: Gagnon Frédérick , Cloutier-Roy Christophe
Published: January 2025

This chapter argues that the election of Donald Trump in 2016 has prompted Americans to take a greater interest in Québec and become more skeptical about the benefits of Québec-U.S. relations, and that some of these trends persisted during Joe Biden’s presidency.  Drawing on the work of Richard Fenno and his qualitative “soaking and poaking” approach, we conducted field surveys during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 U.S. midterm elections in ten New England and Midwestern states that the Québec government describes as part of its “historic strategic perimeter” to compare how Americans in these regions perceived “La Belle Province” before, during and after Trump’s first term in the White House, on issues such as trade and the economy, the border and immigration, and climate and the environment. We conducted semi-structured interviews with dozens of actors interested in Québec-U.S. relations: federal and local candidates for office, voters, journalists, lobbyists, trade unionists, campaign advisors and managers, staff members of party organizations. Presenting original qualitative data, our research method enables us to offer a complementary perspective to that of scholars who rely exclusively on survey data to try to “measure” how Americans and Canadians/Québecers perceive each other.
Perceptions of the United States and Political Debates in Québec
Authors: Piroth Scott
Published: January 2025

This chapter considers how Québec’s relationship with the United States has influenced politics within Québec. The principal argument of this chapter is that political developments in the U.S. in recent decades have been broadly unfavorable to sovereigntists. First, despite free trade agreements, considerable uncertainty persists in the Québec-U.S. economic relationship. Second, the U.S. policy of non-interference in Canadian affairs has not prevented the U.S. government from expressing support for Canadian unity. Third, controversial foreign policy decisions by the United States have tended to unite, rather than divide, Canadians and Québecers since the end of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Lastly, large shift in the attitudes of Québecers toward the United States during different presidential administrations have had little effect on Québecer’s attitudes toward Canada.
Zukunftsbilder und Imaginaries der Mobilität
Authors: Wentland Alexander
Published: January 2025

Dieser Beitrag erörtert die Rolle von Technikzukünften und deren Einfluss auf moderne Gesellschaften, insbesondere im Mobilitätssektor. Aus Sicht der Science and Technology Studies (STS) und des Konzepts der soziotechnischen Imaginaries wird untersucht, wie kollektive Visionen einer wünschenswerten Zukunft durch Fortschritte in Wissenschaft und Technik geformt und gestützt werden. Dabei werden sowohl die Dynamik technologischer Entwicklungen als auch die Kontinuität bestehender Systeme beleuchtet, um zu verstehen, wie Gesellschaften ihre Mobilitätszukünfte konzipieren und realisieren.
Mobilitätspraktiken im Alltag: Konzepte, Methoden und empirische Einblicke
Authors: Rau Henrike
Published: January 2025

Dieser Beitrag betrachtet die Rolle von Mobilität im Alltag und die damit verbundenen Bedeutungen, Kompetenzen und materiellen Bedingungen. Dabei erfahren praxistheoretische Zugänge sowie die Mobilitätsbiographienforschung (MBF) besondere Beachtung. Diese konzeptionell und methodisch innovativen Ansätze haben erheblich zum besseren Verständnis von Alltagsmobilität als Kombination von mehr oder weniger ressourcenintensiven und dynamischen sozial-räumlichen Praktiken beigetragen. Empirische Studien zu Themen wie Nichtradfahrende, Mobilität im Lebensverlauf und Mobilitätskulturen liefern konkrete Beispiele für inhaltliche, konzeptionelle und methodische Trends und Entwicklungen in der sozialwissenschaftlichen und interdisziplinären Mobilitätsforschung und verdeutlichen deren hohe politische und planungspraktische Relevanz.
Lagrangian Subvarieties of Hyperspherical Varieties
Authors: Finkelberg Michael , Ginzburg Victor , Travkin Roman
Published: January 2025

Given a hyperspherical G-variety 𝒳 we consider the zero moment level Λ𝒳⊂𝒳 of the action of a Borel subgroup B⊂G. We conjecture that Λ𝒳 is Lagrangian. For the dual G
∨-variety 𝒳∨, we conjecture that that there is a bijection between the sets of irreducible components
$\operatorname {Irr}\Lambda _{{\mathscr{X}}}$
and
$\operatorname {Irr}\Lambda _{{\mathscr{X}}^{\vee }}$
. We check this conjecture for all the hyperspherical equivariant slices, and for all the basic classical Lie superalgebras.
The home advantage and COVID-19: the crowd support effect on the english football premier league and the championship
Authors: Lyhagen Johan
Published: January 2025

It is well known that there is an home advantage in football (American English: soccer) where the home team wins in about 45% of the games compared to the 27% of the away team. This has mainly been attributed to the support of the home audience and is commonly denoted the crowd support effect. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many football leagues to play the games without spectators thus making it possible to analyse the effect of crowd support in football. We analyse more than 18,000 games in the two top English football leagues during the period 2001–2020 for the Premier league and the Championship with an ordinal logistic model with explanatory variables (e.g., previous team performance, a time trend, league dummy) including a pandemic dummy. We discovered that the absence of spectators has no impact on the outcome probability in the Premier League. However, it significantly reduces the probability of the home team wins in the Championship.
Can potato cropping be made regenerative? Cover crops and dead organic mulch support soil microbial activity
Authors: Henzel Deborah , Junge Stephan M. , Joergensen Rainer G. , Finckh Maria R.
Published: January 2025

To address the decline in soil organic matter and thus soil life and soil health due to intensive tillage in organic potato production, innovative regenerative farming approaches employ cover crops and transferred dead organic mulch to improve plant nutrition, minimize soil disturbance, and foster soil microbial activity. Starting in 2019 to 2021, three organic two-year field experiments were set up in a field that had been converted to non-inversion tillage since 2015, to investigate the effects of cover cropping before and organic dead mulch application to potatoes compared to weedy fallow and N-fertilization with hair meal pellets as controls. For every experiment, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), basal respiration, and fungal ergosterol were examined, starting with the cover crop in fall before potatoes until the spring in the crop succeeding potatoes. In all three experiments, initial effects on soil microbial activity depended on the incorporated biomass with no differences between vetch-triticale as a cover crop or a weedy fallow. During potato cropping, however, especially the incorporation of the vetch-triticale cover crop combined with the application of grass-clover mulch resulted in increased MBC, basal respiration and ergosterol. After potato cropping, basal respiration and ergosterol were increased in plots with weedy fallow before and mulched with grass-clover during potatoes pointing to a slower and overall more fungal based mulch degradation at that time in those plots. These results underscore the potential of regenerative practices to enhance soil microbiology during potato cultivation.