bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of ground-based and satellite observations of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations during solar cycle 23
Authors: Nasurudiin Sebwato , Yoshikawa Akimasa , Elsaid Ahmed , Pappoe Justice Allotey , Mahrous Ayman
Published: February 2025

Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations (PGPs) are ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves within the 1–7 mHz frequency band observed both in space and on the ground. PGPs offer versatile methods for studying the interaction between the magnetosphere and ionosphere in space. This study presents a comparative analysis of Pc5 pulsations observed in space and on the ground. The dataset used is the magnetic field-aligned readings obtained from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-10 (GOES-10) and ground-based magnetometer stations from the Svalbard network located in the auroral zone during solar cycle 23. Using the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method, we transformed the magnetic field time series from GOES-10 into the mean field-aligned coordinate system. PGPs were extracted from the toroidal component using a bandpass Butterworth filter. In addition, Pc5 waves were extracted from the Bx component of the ground magnetometer stations to enable effective comparison. Before conducting the comparative analysis, Pc5 events on the ground and in space were denoised using the heuristic Stein Unbiased Risk Estimate (SURE) approach with soft thresholding. Consequently, a good coherence between events from space and on the ground was observed, indicating the possibility of the same generation source. However, space-borne Pc5 events have a smaller average amplitude of 12 nT compared to Pc5 events observed on the ground, having an average amplitude of 139 nT. We attributed this difference in amplitude to the transformative mechanisms during the wave's propagation to the ground. The average percentage of occurrence of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations observed in space was found to be 74%, and that on the ground was 92%. The percentage difference was found to be due to the spatial distribution of these waves. The integrity of the retrieved events was demonstrated by the strong correlation between the Kp index and events extracted from the ground magnetometer stations. Our results contribute significantly to the understanding of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations within the space weather community. These findings will aid in developing forecasting and predictive models, enabling more effective studies of these waves and helping to mitigate their potential impacts on human activities and infrastructure.
Gender integration in seismic risk assessment: towards equitable resilience in Colombia
Authors: Zapata-Franco A. M. , Vargas-Alzate Y. F.
Published: February 2025

Research on women’s exposure to natural hazards has shown that gender inequalities increase their risk. It has been a topic of discussion for many years, but in-depth research on the subject has been scarce and, although researchers in the field recognise that there is an equity problem, few have been able to quantify the magnitude and trend of the problem. In developing countries, for example, people living below the poverty line are the most exposed to natural hazards; 70% of the world population living in this condition are women. Moreover, many of them are responsible for household chores and raising children, which requires them to stay indoor for large periods of time, increasing their risk of being harmed in catastrophic events. This is exacerbated by the fact that their houses are not generally built with the minimum requirements to withstand natural hazards. This article seeks to integrate a series of well-known methods into a probabilistic framework to assess the consequences of gender inequalities in seismic events in Colombia. Based on the outcomes of probabilistic surrogate models that consider the average response of single-degree-of-freedom systems, fragility functions have been derived through the use of cloud analysis for two structural typologies: Unreinforced Mid-Rise Masonry and Confined Masonry. The former can be considered a highly vulnerable system, while the latter has a higher performance against seismic actions. The objective has been to assess the influence of potential retrofitting measures on the expected risk. Finally, the Hazus 99 methodology has been adapted to estimate the number of people affected, disaggregated by gender. The projections show that, in the event of an earthquake in Colombia, women are more likely to be adversely affected than men. Protective measures aimed at increasing the resilience of the entire community have proven effective in mitigating the imbalance in seismic risk.
Plasticity Bridges Microscale Martensitic Shear Bands in Superelastic Nitinol
Authors: Christison A. , Paranjape H. M. , Daly S.
Published: February 2025

Background

Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) such as nickel-titanium, also known as Nitinol, recover large deformations via a reversible, stress-induced martensitic transformation.

Objective

Partitioning the deformation into the contributions from superelasticity and plasticity and quantifying the interaction between these mechanisms is key to modeling their fatigue behavior.

Methods

We capture these microscopic interactions across many grains using a combination of scanning electron microscopy digital image correlation (SEM-DIC) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Modeling our data as a statistical distribution, we employ a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) soft clustering framework to understand how these mechanisms interact and evolve as a function of global strain.

Results

Our findings show that, under globally-applied uniaxial tensile loading, plasticity bridges deformation in regions where competing positive and negative martensitic shear bands intersect. Early stage transformation-induced plasticity is concentrated at these intersections and forms concurrently with the Lüders-like martensitic transformation front, often appearing with a zig-zag pattern that is linked to compound twinning at the martensite-martensite interface. At higher strains, austenite slip is activated as a second mechanism of plastic deformation.

Conclusions

We propose that this plastic bridging mechanism underpins the prestrain effects previously reported in the literature, where higher prestrains can enhance the fatigue strength of superelastic materials within a given loading mode.
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) biotechnology research in South Africa
Authors: Snyman Sandra J. , Koch Aimee C. , Jacob Robyn M. , Joshi Shailesh V. , McFarlane Sharon A. , van der Vyver Christell , Rutherford R. Stuart
Published: February 2025

Commercial sugarcane, Saccharum spp. hybrids, arose from interspecific crossing in the late 1890s and the resultant complex polyploid genome has challenged conventional breeding approaches. The grower- and miller-funded South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) has a 100-yr history which began by breeding for local agroclimatic regions. Biotechnology for cultivar improvement was introduced in the early 1990s. Collaborations with local research institutes and the International Consortium for Sugarcane Biotechnology (ICSB) have enabled advances such as the genome sequence being published this year, signifying a real opportunity to implement bioinformatic and marker techniques for targeted cultivar enhancement. This review focuses on biotechnology-related interventions that have supported sugarcane research and resulted in SASRI-bred N cultivars being widely grown in many sub-Saharan African sugarcane-growing countries.
Investigation of life satisfaction and spiritual well-being of living liver donors in Turkey
Authors: Gunes Hüseyin , Bulbuloglu Semra , Saritas Serdar
Published: February 2025

Spiritual well-being may be among the most common feelings felt by living liver donors. The feeling that pushes an individual to good behavior may be spiritual well-being, and the feeling that emerges as a result of achieving goodness may be life satisfaction. In our study, we aimed to analyze the spiritual well-being and life satisfaction of living liver donors and to examine the relationship, if any, between spiritual well-being and life satisfaction. Our descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 306 living liver donors (n = 306). In the data collection process, we used a personal information form, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. In data analysis, we utilized descriptive statistical methods, one-way analysis of variance. Of all living liver donors participating in this study, 37.3% were aged 41–50 years, 73.5% were female, and 53.9% donated their liver to their spouse or child. The predictor variable of spiritual well-being was found to account for approximately 29% of the total variance in the predicted variable of life satisfaction. There was a positive and strong correlation between spiritual well-being and life satisfaction of living liver donors (p < 0.05). Spiritual well-being and life satisfaction of living liver donors are positively affected by each other. In order to provide more psychosocial support to these heroes who disregard their own health and try to save others’ lives, it is best practice to support their spiritual well-being, increase their life satisfaction and develop awareness about these two values. No Level Assigned. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/0026.
Slow-pyrolysis of municipal sewage sludge: biochar characteristics and advanced thermodynamics
Authors: Vali Naeimeh , Zabihi Samyar , Shamim Shahin , Mohsenzadeh Abas , Pettersson Anita
Published: February 2025

Municipal sewage sludge (MSS) contains significant amounts of trace elements including zinc, copper, cadmium, and lead. This study investigated the behavior of these trace elements in municipal sewage sludge biochar during the pyrolysis of both anaerobically digested and undigested sludge at temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 900 °C using a rotary pyrolyzer. Microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES) was used to measure the concentrations of trace elements in the biochars. Additional analyses included Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis to determine the activation energies, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis coupled with scanning electron microscopy to assess the porosity, specific surface area, and morphology at different temperatures. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations (TECs) were utilized to understand the speciation of trace elements under varying thermal conditions. The results demonstrated that as the pyrolysis temperature increased, both the undigested and digested biochars exhibited higher surface areas and total porosity volumes, along with a decrease in the average pore size. The digested biochar showed a higher surface area and pore volume at 500 °C than the undigested biochar. However, both types processed at 900 °C had similar average pore diameters of approximately 7.5 nm, according to BET analysis. All biochars had H/C ratios below and around 0.2, indicating strong degradation resistance. TECs results indicated that, at 500 °C, the thermal volatility sequence of the trace elements was established as Cr < Ni < Cu < Mn < Zn < Pb < Cd. Consequently, higher temperatures led to reduced concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in all biochars while Cr, Ni, and Cu were largely retained in the biochar. Phosphorous (P) was enriched in the biochars at all temperatures for both MSS, however anaerobically digested MSS biochar exhibiting higher concentration of nutrient such as P, higher porosity and a finer pore structure compared to undigested one. Biochar yield decreases as pyrolysis temperature rises (500–900 °C) for both digested (BSS) and undigested (LSS) sludge, with BSS consistently yielding more than LSS.

Graphical Abstract
Quadrotor-Based Aerial Manipulator Robotics
Authors: Sumathy Vidya , Ghose Debasish
Published: February 2025

Aerial manipulators are being increasingly used in many applications. This paper surveys several quadrotor-based aerial manipulators (QAM) that have been designed and reported in the literature. After a brief review of the history of the developments in aerial manipulator systems, it presents the main components of the QAM system and the various challenges faced by designers in terms of controller design, the various methods used and some actual control system implementations. Finally, the paper presents a complete design and hardware field experiment of an in-house-designed QAM system.
Sustainable prospects of lignocellulosic wood and natural fiber-based materials in 3D and 4D printing
Authors: Hasan K. M. Faridul , Rahman Md Mazedur , Rima Fatema Khanum , Sultana Jakiya , Taher Muhammad Abu , Horváth Péter György , Garab József , Bejó László , Alpár Tibor
Published: February 2025

The sustainable options for 3D/4D printing, utilizing lignocellulosic materials derived from wood and natural fibers, have gained significant attention in the pursuit of building a greener and more environmentally friendly world. As environmental concerns continue to grow, there is an increasing focus on greener materials and manufacturing processes. The utilization of these environmentally friendly alternatives as substitutes for synthetic fiber filled polymer matrices in 3D/4D printing is driven by the objective of enhancing the material properties of printed items while reducing material costs. 3D/4D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, represents a promising frontier in environmentally friendly manufacturing. Recent progress and advancements in 3D/4D printing technology have expanded its capabilities beyond prototyping to the rapid fabrication of finished goods. This review explores the characteristics, processing techniques, mechanical and physical properties, applications, and future possibilities of sustainable 3D/4D printed products developed from wood and natural fibers. Architectural design and polymer selection have the potential to yield materials with improved functionality, mechanical characteristics, porosity, and stability. Additionally, the multifunctional polymer-based 3D/4D printing product development has enabled the production of biomedical devices, electrical products, and aerospace-related items. The challenges associated with utilizing these products for large-scale production and other aspects of sustainable 3D/4D printing will also be discussed, along with recommendations for future solutions. Overall, this work offers valuable insights that can guide future research, development, and implementation of lignocellulosic-based 3D/4D printed composites. By exploring the potential of these sustainable materials in 3D/4D printing, it contributes to the advancement of environmentally friendly manufacturing practices and promotes the adoption of greener alternatives across various industries.

Graphical Abstract
Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy for Kr thrusters
Authors: Dancheva Yordanka , Funalbi Stefano , Coniglio Pietro , Garde Avantika , Pagano Damiano , Scortecci Fabrizio , Lazurenko Alexey , Weis Stefan , Genovese Angelo , Holtmann Peter , Da Valle Matteo , Biancalana Valerio , Mariotti Emilio
Published: February 2025

Electric propulsion requires exhaustive ground testing for the characterization of the devices (thrusters). Among the many plasma parameters accurately determined during the tests, ion velocity distribution is of particular importance. Non-intrusive tools like Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) diagnostics enable the detection of ion velocity through Doppler shift measurements. This requires precise knowledge of the ions’ resonant wavelength when they are at rest, followed by analysis to account for mechanisms that alter the spectral lines. Electric propulsion is transitioning towards the use of Krypton as a propellant, given the substantial rise in the cost of the more advantageous and customary Xenon gas. This transition implies suitable adaptation of LIF diagnostic tools. This paper proposes a combined LIF analysis on Kr I and Kr II to enhance the information gathered on the plasma by providing complementary data. When LIF analysis is applied in strong magnetically-confined plasma, the spectral profiles recorded are altered significantly. Performing LIF measurements in both Kr I and Kr II can provide a more accurate interpretation of data by detecting the effect of the magnetic field, and providing additional plasma parameters such as temperature and most probable velocity. The presented apparatus enables a more accurate determination of the wavelength of the investigated Kr II transition, resulting in an improved in accuracy ion velocity determination.
Engineering stress resistance: advances in glycine betaine production for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Zhao Fei , Luo Jinyan , Ibrahim Ezzeldin , Chen Lei , Shen Ying , Ibrahim Muhammad , Alonazi Wadi B. , Lu Jianfei , Luo Yuanchan , Wu Hui
Published: February 2025

With the rapid development of industry and frequent extreme weather events, sustainable agricultural production is increasingly confronted with various adversities. Improving the resistance of plants and eco-friendly microbial fertilizers to abiotic stresses is essential for sustainable agricultural development. Glycine betaine (GB), a trimethyl derivative of glycine, plays a crucial role as a cellular osmotic pressure regulator, enhancing the resistance of agricultural plants and microorganisms to stress. Betaine is typically obtained through natural extraction or chemical synthesis; however, the former faces seasonal and geographical limitations, whereas the latter is associated with environmental pollution. Additionally, the post-extraction processes for both methods can increase production costs. Biosynthesis via plants or microorganisms represents a more sustainable approach to betaine production, aligning with the principles of green agriculture. Genetically engineered plants incorporating the betaine synthesis pathway can directly increase GB production, improving plant stress resistance and eliminating the need for costly post-extraction processes. Similarly, genetically engineered microorganisms that construct or enhance the GB synthesis pathway can effectively increase GB production and associated resistance, with relatively simple post-extraction processes that further reduce costs and can be produced continuously. However, the GB synthesis pathway in microorganisms has been less studied. This review summarizes metabolic engineering studies of the GB synthesis pathway in plants and microorganisms and proposes strategies to further increase GB production in engineered microorganisms. In this paper, we review the methods of GB production, its protective effects, its synthesis pathways in organisms, and advancements in genetic engineering research. We also discuss the potential for developing genetically engineered plants or microorganisms for GB synthesis technologies, aiming to lay the groundwork for future applications in sustainable agricultural development.

Graphical Abstract
Envy between Girls: A Philosophical Analysis of Simone de Beauvoir and Elena Ferrante
Authors: Fell Talia
Published: February 2025

I bring together the work of Simone de Beauvoir and Elena Ferrante to philosophically analyze envy in girlhood friendships. I compare two kinds of envy: the destructive envy between girls in their mode as object-beings as described by Beauvoir in The second sex (2011); and the more ambivalent form of envy that I identify in Lenu’s friendship with Lila in Ferrante’s The Neapolitan quartet (2012–15) and Beauvoir’s with Zaza in both Memoirs of a dutiful daughter (1963) and The inseparables (2021). Using Beauvoir’s existentialist understanding of subjectivity and freedom in The ethics of ambiguity (1976) and The second sex, I argue that envy for a girl friend’s intellectual abilities can act as an impetus for the girl to pursue new ends in her mode as subject-being, while simultaneously causing her negative feelings. In doing so, I demonstrate that intellectual friendships between girls that feature envy can open up the girl’s situation such that new possibilities of freedom are available to her that may not have been otherwise.
Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Isr. in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem (Advisory Opinion) (I.C.J.)
Authors: Becker Michael A.
Published: February 2025

On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rendered an advisory opinion on Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem. By votes of 11–4, the Court found that Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) was unlawful and needed to be ended as rapidly as possible. By a 14–1 majority, the Court also found that Israel was obligated to cease all new settlement activities, evacuate existing settlers from the OPT, and make reparation. The ICJ further opined by votes of 12–3 that all states and international organizations were obliged not to recognize as legal the situation arising from Israel's unlawful presence in the OPT, that all states must refrain from giving aid or assistance to the maintenance of that situation, and that the United Nations “should consider the precise modalities” required to bring Israel's unlawful presence in the OPT to an end.
Toward a (more) parsimonious account of the link between ‘dark’ personality and social decision-making in economic games
Authors: Hilbig Benjamin E. , Thielmann Isabel
Published: February 2025

There are large individual differences in prosocial vs. antisocial behavior as studied via economic games. Prominent among the personality traits that have been considered as potential correlates are ‘dark’ traits (especially Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Sadism). However, although such traits should account for choices in games, the corresponding associations are weak and inconsistent, leading to a state of knowledge that lacks specificity and parsimony. We argue and demonstrate across 10 studies and 8 economic games (total N = 10,474) that a clearer picture emerges once (a) including games that (also) afford the expression of forgiveness (vs. retaliation) and/or (dis)trust and (b) considering the shared vs. unique aspects of dark traits. Specifically, we find that (i) the common core of all dark traits—the dark factor of personality, D—consistently predicts antisocial behavior in all games, (ii) dark traits also (though less strongly) predict antisocial behavior, and (iii) dark traits do so almost entirely due to D. We discuss the theoretical and methodological implications of these findings for the study of individual differences in pro- vs. antisocial behavior in economic games.
Los cautivos tempranos de Oxpemul: Nuevas interpretaciones
Authors: Mumary Farto Pablo Alberto
Published: February 2025

Superadas las crisis sociales y políticas que tuvieron lugar en las décadas finales del período Preclásico, nuevas entidades comienzan a emerger en el panorama geopolítico de las tierras bajas mayas. En el caso del Petén campechano, el descubrimiento de sitios arqueológicos con vestigios de estructuras defensivas y monumentos pétreos permite inferir la configuración de una nueva realidad en la que entidades como Oxpemul parecen comenzar a despuntar. En este sitio destacan dos monumentos que preservan registro iconográfico de cautivos, las Estelas 22 y 23; estas exhiben patrones iconográficos típicos del Clásico temprano, entre los que destacan tres figuras desnudas e hincadas. Con la toma de nuevas fotografías diurnas y nocturnas de las estelas y la utilización de la herramienta computacional Reflectance Transformation Imaging, se presentan nuevas interpretaciones de los monumentos de Oxpemul; además, a través de los nuevos análisis iconográficos se proponen nuevas consideraciones sobre las dinámicas sociopolíticas regionales durante los contextos tempranos en los que Oxpemul parece jugar un papel destacable.
Tiller population dynamics and self-thinning law reveal stability mechanisms in mixed grass swards under variable grazing management
Authors: Pittaro Maria G. , Winter Fábio L. , Moncada Valentina Y. M. , Sbrissia André F.
Published: February 2025

Grazing management is an important component affecting pasture stability, but the underlying demographic mechanisms remain poorly understood in mixed-species systems. This three-year study investigated how grazing height (15 cm and 20 cm pre-grazing) and strategic spring defoliation (7 cm) influence stability in mixed pastures composed of complementary C3/C4 grasses (Lolium arundinaceum and Cenchrus clandestinus). Utilizing demographic and tiller size/density relationship theories, we examined population dynamics to better understand pasture stability. The results indicated that height management significantly affected the demographic traits with shorter grazing (15 cm) increasing tiller emergence and population density while reducing individual tiller weight. In addition, higher tiller population density (TPD) and lower tiller weight (TW) were observed in the shorter treatments. Despite these contrasting responses, the mixed pasture maintained consistent stability across treatments through compensatory relationships between tiller traits. The stability index remained close to 1 (0.956 ± 0.02) regardless of management, demonstrating robust demographic equilibrium. Individual species showed distinct seasonal stability patterns - L. arundinaceum dominating in winter and C. clandestinus in spring and summer - yet their complementary growth maintained year-round system stability. The self-thinning law effectively revealed stable size-density compensation across treatments, suggesting its utility for assessing mixed sward persistence. These findings demonstrate that mixed pastures can maintain demographic stability under varying grazing regimes through species complementarity and population-level compensatory mechanisms.
Individual Experience and Home Price Expectations
Authors: Fang Shuai , Liu Xiaolong , van der Vlist Arno J.
Published: February 2025

We examine whether the heterogeneity of expectations is associated with idiosyncratic variations in experience. Combining household survey data and administrative data from the Netherlands, we find that given market development, households’ expectations about house price changes vary with their individual experience. This association is related to the use of information conveyed by experience, which varies in terms of informativeness, recency, and household sophistication. Finally, we find that individual experience also explains how far house price expectations deviate from realized house prices and that it may affect household behavior. Our findings elucidate the role that individual experience plays in expectation formation.
True wh-movement and wh-in-situ in one language: Evidence from Colloquial Singapore English
Authors: Tan Rachel , Shen Zheng
Published: February 2025

wh-fronting questions (as in English) are analyzed as wh-movement while wh-in-situ questions (as in Chinese) are analyzed as LF movement or unselective binding. Optionality between the two types of questions is observed in many languages, however, upon closer inspection, a stream of previous literature argues that only one strategy is truly available in any given language. Cheng (1991) and Faure & Palasis (2021) argue that wh-fronting languages in Indonesian and Colloquial French are not derived by wh-movement, while Chang (2016) argues that wh-in-situ questions in Colloquial Singapore English (CSE) are not derived from unselective binding or LF movement but are declarative syntax questions. Bobaljik & Wurmbrand (2015) explicitly propose that a language can either have the true wh-in-situ or the wh-movement strategy, but not both.

This paper uses CSE as a case study and argues that it allows true wh-movement and true wh-in-situ questions. CSE has been argued to only allow wh-movement by some (Chang 2016) and to only allow wh-in-situ by others (Lan 2016). This study experimentally tests the predictions made by these analyses and shows that the patterns are best accounted for if both ‘true’ wh-movement and ‘true’ wh-in-situ questions exist in CSE (see also Sato & Ngui 2017), thus challenging the previous analyses for CSE, and the cross-linguistic generalization in Bobaljik & Wurmbrand 2015.
First record of the bluespotted dottyback Pseudochromis persicus (Teleostei: Pseudochromidae) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Ohayon Sarah , Neser Walter , Rothman Shevy B.-S.
Published: February 2025

We report the first non-indigenous dottyback Pseudochromis persicus record in the Mediterranean Sea. A single individual was documented several times at the same location on October 2024 in Bat Galim reef, a shallow rocky shelf of Rosh Carmel underwater ridge on the northern coast of Israel. This record represents the first sighting of Pseudochromidae, a family native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is also the first record of P. persicus beyond its native range in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
Finnish referative constructions as alternatives to subordinate clauses in Finnish Bible translations from 1548 to 2020
Authors: Niskanen Oskari , Priiki Katri
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the development and use of Finnish referative constructions, which are formed with a participle, from the sixteenth century to the present. The study aims to determine how the use and frequency of these structures have evolved throughout the history of written Finnish. It examines six Finnish translations of the New Testament from 1548 to 2020, comparing participial referative constructions to corresponding subordinate clauses formed with the conjunction että (‘that’), typically used to report speech, thoughts, or perceptions. The findings reveal that the preference for certain matrix verbs to occur with either referative constructions or subordinate clauses has changed during the period examined. Initially, the frequency of referative constructions increased, but it later declined steadily. Referative constructions with a different semantic subject from the main clause are more complex than same-subject constructions, thus being more likely to be changed to subordinate clauses or other constructions.
Plasma Protein Variability in Monozygotic Twins: Further Studies and Applications
Authors: Milani-Comparetti M. , Britti F. , Casini D. , Saccucci F. , Gedda L.
Published: February 2025

Previous collaborative studies have shown the substantial superimposability of electrophoretic patterns of non-Ig plasma proteins in twin pairs only if MZ. The above findings provide the basis for (a) twin pair zygosity determinations and (b) studies aimed at discriminating genetic and environmental factors in the alteration of protein patterns in various diseases (especially neoplastic). Such studies require adequate standardization of methods, and the present paper offers a substantial contribution to the standardization of pattern comparisons.
Influence of Initial Soil Organic Carbon in Grassland on the Sensitivity of Carbon Changes to Climate After Grassland‐to‐Cropland Conversion
Authors: Dou Pengpeng , Wang Jie , Cai Tianyu , Miao Zhengzhou , Wang Xu , Liang Junyi , Li Ping , Fan Jiangwen , Tang Shiming , Xiao Xiangming , Guo Lizhu , Huang Jing , Gao Qian , Chen Chao , Liu Kesi , Wang Kun
Published: February 2025

The conversion of grassland to cropland alters the terrestrial carbon cycle. However, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) induced by grassland reclamation are poorly quantified due to the scarcity of large‐scale‐sampling data. Through paired sampling of 101 cropland and 101 grassland plots, this study examined changes in SOC resulting from conversion of grassland to cropland in an agropastoral ecotone of northern China. Results showed that grassland reclamation caused an average decrease of 16.07% in the surface (0–10 cm) SOC content. Over 80% of this region experienced SOC loss, while less than 20% showed increased SOC. As grassland soil organic carbon increased, the sensitivity of soil organic carbon changes to climate change following grassland‐to‐cropland conversion decreased, while the positive effects of changes in water flux and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) strengthened. The most important factor influencing the change in SOC after grassland reclamation was the change in NDVI in low and medium SOC grasslands and the change in vegetation transpiration in high‐SOC grasslands. This study found spatial heterogeneity in the effects of grassland reclamation on SOC at the regional scale and offers insights into enhancing regional SOC sequestration.
Spatially Variable Electron Beams in Io's Northern Alfvén Wing and Downstream Region
Authors: Ebert R. W. , Allegrini F. , Bagenal F. , Bolton S. J. , Connerney J. E. P. , Dols V. , Pontoni A. , Saur J. , Szalay J. R. , Valek P. , Wilson R. J.
Published: February 2025

We report on 0.032–32 keV electron observations during two Juno flybys of Io on 30 December 2023 and 3 February 2024. The first explored Io's northern Alfvén wing, the second covering its downstream region, south of the plasma wake. Both had closest approach altitudes of ∼1,500 km. Lower fluxes of >32 eV electrons in the Io torus transitioned to higher fluxes of energized, field‐aligned electrons within these regions. The electron fluxes were spatially variable within the Alfvén wing, highest at the boundaries, the distributions evolving from bi‐directional to mono‐directional as Juno traversed this region. Electron fluxes in the downstream region were also field‐aligned, energized, and comparable to those during the northern flyby, supporting the interpretation of a glancing encounter with the southern Alfvén wing. The electron energy flux in these regions ranged from 1–15 and 2–22 mW m−2, respectively, which are enhanced compared to estimates from Galileo.
Asymmetry in the Ring Current During Geomagnetic Disturbances
Authors: Bower G. E. , Milan S. E. , Imber S. , Schillings A. , Fleetham A. , Beggan C. , Gjerloev J. W.
Published: February 2025

Geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) are defined as rapid changes in the magnetic field of the Earth that can lead to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). Recent studies have shown that there are two main populations of GMDs, one in the pre‐midnight sector and one in the dawn sector. The pre‐midnight GMDs have been related to the substorm current wedge. The dawn population of GMDs has previously been found to occur during multiple intensification events. We adapt the SOPHIE substorm list to identify more instances of multiple intensifications. Recent models suggest the formation of a “dawnside current wedge” (DCW) during the main phase of storms that could lead to dawn sector GMDs. We investigate GMDs at all latitudes using the SuperMAG local time indices (SMR‐LT), where SMR‐LT are local time measurements of the magnetic field at low latitudes. During multiple intensification events the dawn sector low latitude magnetic field between 3 and 9 MLT (SMR06) is typically higher than the dusk sector between 15 and 21 MLT (SMR18), which is indicative of a DCW. Statistical analysis of the local time ring current indices during the dawn and pre‐midnight GMDs shows that the dawn GMDs occur when the difference between the dawn sector and dusk sector SMR values (SMR06‐SMR18) is largest and thus when there is a DCW.
Tsunami Variability for the 2021 Megathrust and 2023 Outer Rise MW 7.7 Earthquakes Southeast of the Loyalty Islands
Authors: Robert William H. , Yamazaki Yoshiki , Cheung Kwok Fai , Lay Thorne
Published: February 2025

The 2021 shallow plate‐boundary thrust‐faulting and 2023 outer rise normal‐faulting MW 7.7 earthquakes southeast of the Loyalty Islands produced significant, well‐recorded tsunamis around the North and South Fiji Basins. The two earthquakes occurred in close proximity on opposing sides of the Southern Vanuatu Trench with similar seismic moments and east‐west rupture lengths but different faulting mechanisms. This provides a basis to examine tsunami sensitivity to source geometry and location for paths in the complex southwest Pacific region. Finite‐fault models of the source processes for both events were inverted from teleseismic body wave data with constraints from forward, nonhydrostatic modeling of regional tide gauge and seafloor pressure sensor recordings. The wave motions are reversed in sign, with a leading crest generated by 1.31 m uplift on the upper plate slope for the 2021 tsunami and a leading trough from 2.37 m subsidence on the subducting plate near the trench for the 2023 tsunami. The more recent outer rise normal faulting produces narrower seafloor deformation beneath deeper water resulting in shorter period tsunami waves that shoal and refract more effectively along seamounts and island chains to produce a more elaborate radiation pattern. The source location relative to seamounts and small islands in the near field influences the energy lobes and directionality of the far‐field tsunami to the north. In contrast, both events have very similar radiation patterns to the south due to absence of major bathymetric features immediately southward of the sources.
Gastrodin promotes CNS myelinogenesis and alleviates demyelinating injury by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling
Authors: Shi Xiao-yu , He Yi-xi , Ge Man-yue , Liu Peng , Zheng Ping , Li Zheng-hao
Published: February 2025

Demyelination is a common feature of numerous neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophies. Although myelin can be regenerated spontaneously following injury, this process is often inadequate, potentially resulting in neurodegeneration and exacerbating neurological dysfunction. Several drugs aimed at promoting the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) have yielded unsatisfactory clinical effects. A recent study has shifted the strategy of pro-OPC differentiation towards enhancing myelinogenesis. In this study we identified the pro-myelinating drug using a zebrafish model. Five traditional Chinese medicine monomers including gastrodin, paeoniflorin, puerarin, salidroside and scutellarin were assessed by bath-application in Tg (MBP:eGFP-CAAX) transgenic line at 1–5 dpf. Among the 5 monomers, only gastrodin exhibited significant pro-myelination activity. We showed that gastrodin (10 µM) enhanced myelin sheath formation and oligodendrocyte (OL) maturation without affecting the number of OLs. Gastrodin markedly increased the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR in primary cultured OLs via direct interaction with PI3K. Co-treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (5 µM) mitigated gastrodin-induced OL maturation. Furthermore, injection of gastrodin (100 mg·kg−1·d−1, i.p.) effectively facilitated remyelination in a lysophosphatidylcholine-induced demyelinating mouse model and alleviated demyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice. These results identify gastrodin as a promising therapeutic agent for demyelinating diseases and highlight the potential of the zebrafish model for screening pro-myelinogenic pharmacotherapy.
Atlas of expression of acyl CoA binding protein/diazepam binding inhibitor (ACBP/DBI) in human and mouse
Authors: Li Sijing , Mingoia Silvia , Montégut Léa , Lambertucci Flavia , Chen Hui , Dong Yanbing , De Palma Fatima Domenica Elisa , Scuderi Sarah Adriana , Rong Yan , Carbonnier Vincent , Martins Isabelle , Maiuri Maria Chiara , Kroemer Guido
Published: February 2025

Acyl CoA binding protein encoded by diazepam binding inhibitor (ACBP/DBI) is a tissue hormone that stimulates lipo-anabolic responses and inhibits autophagy, thus contributing to aging and age-related diseases. Protein expression profiling of ACBP/DBI was performed on mouse tissues to identify organs in which this major tissue hormone is expressed. Transcriptomic and proteomic data bases corroborated a high level of human-mouse interspecies conservation of ACBP/DBI expression in different organs. Single-cell RNA-seq data confirmed that ACBP/DBI was strongly expressed by parenchymatous cells from specific human and mouse organs (e.g., kidney, large intestine, liver, lung) as well as by myeloid or glial cells from other organs (e.g., adipose tissue, brain, eye) following a pattern that was conserved among the two species. We identified a panel of 44 mRNAs that are strongly co-expressed with ACBP/DBI mRNA in normal and malignant human and normal mouse tissues. Of note, 22 (50%) of these co-expressed mRNAs encode proteins localized at mitochondria, and mRNAs with metabolism-related functions are strongly overrepresented (66%). Systematic data mining was performed to identify transcription factors that regulate ACBP/DBI expression in human and mouse. Several transcription factors, including growth response 1 (EGR1), E2F Transcription Factor 1 (E2F1, which interacts with retinoblastoma, RB) and transformation-related protein 53 (TRP53, best known as p53), which are endowed with oncosuppressive effects, consistently repress ACBP/DBI expression as well as its co-expressed mRNAs across multiple datasets, suggesting a mechanistic basis for a coregulation network. Furthermore, we identified multiple transcription factors that transactivate ACBP/DBI gene expression together with its coregulation network. Altogether, this study indicates the existence of conserved mechanisms determining the expression of ACBP/DBI in specific cell types of the mammalian organism.
Cryo-EM structure of the human THIK-1 K2P K+ channel reveals a lower Y gate regulated by lipids and anesthetics
Authors: Rödström Karin E. J. , Eymsh Bisher , Proks Peter , Hayre Mehtab S. , Cordeiro Sönke , Mendez-Otalvaro Edward , Madry Christian , Rowland Anna , Kopec Wojciech , Newstead Simon , Baukrowitz Thomas , Schewe Marcus , Tucker Stephen J.
Published: February 2025

THIK-1 (KCNK13) is a halothane-inhibited and anionic-lipid-activated two-pore domain (K2P) K+ channel implicated in microglial activation and neuroinflammation, and a current target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, for example Alzheimer’s disease and amyothropic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, compared to other K2P channels, little is known about the structural and functional properties of THIK-1. Here we present a 3.16-Å-resolution cryo-EM structure of human THIK-1 that reveals several distinct features, in particular, a tyrosine in M4 that contributes to a lower ‘Y gate’ that opens upon activation by physiologically relevant G-protein-coupled receptor and lipid signaling pathways. We demonstrate that linoleic acid bound within a modulatory pocket adjacent to the filter influences channel activity, and that halothane inhibition involves a binding site within the inner cavity, both resulting in conformational changes to the Y gate. Finally, the extracellular cap domain contains positively charged residues that line the ion exit pathway and contribute to the distinct biophysical properties of this channel. Overall, our results provide structural insights into THIK-1 function and identify distinct regulatory sites that expand its potential as a drug target for the modulation of microglial function.
Multinational modelling of PM2.5 and CO exposures from household air pollution in peri-urban Cameroon, Ghana and Kenya
Authors: Williams Harry , Baame Miranda , Lorenzetti Federico , Mangeni Judith , Nix Emily , Betang Emmanuel , Chartier Ryan , Sang Edna , Wilson Daniel , Tawiah Theresa , Quansah Reginald , Puzzolo Elisa , Menya Diana , Ngahane Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou , Pope Daniel , Asante Kwaku Poku , Shupler Matthew
Published: February 2025

In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 85% of the population uses polluting cooking fuels (e.g. wood, charcoal). Incomplete combustion of these fuels generates household air pollution (HAP), containing fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) and carbon monoxide (CO). Due to large spatial variability, increased quantification of HAP levels is needed to improve exposure assessment in sub-Saharan Africa. The CLEAN-Air(Africa) study included 24-h monitoring of PM2.5 and CO kitchen concentrations (npm2.5 = 248/nCO = 207) and female primary cook exposures (npm2.5 = 245/nCO = 222) in peri-urban households in Obuasi (Ghana), Mbalmayo (Cameroon) and Eldoret (Kenya). HAP measurements were combined with survey data on cooking patterns, socioeconomic characteristics and ambient exposure proxies (e.g. walking time to nearest road) in separate PM2.5 and CO mixed-effect log-linear regression models. Model coefficients were applied to a larger study population (n = 937) with only survey data to quantitatively scale up PM2.5 and CO exposures. The final models moderately explained variation in mean 24-h PM2.5 (R2 = 0.40) and CO (R2 = 0.26) kitchen concentration measurements, and PM2.5 (R2 = 0.27) and CO (R2 = 0.14) female cook exposures. Primary/secondary cooking fuel type was the only significant predictor in all four models. Other significant predictors of PM2.5 and CO kitchen concentrations were cooking location and household size; household financial security and rental status were only predictive of PM2.5 concentrations. Cooking location, household financial security and proxies of ambient air pollution exposure were significant predictors of PM2.5 cook exposures. Including objective cooking time measurements (from temperature sensors) from (n = 143) households substantially improved (by 52%) the explained variability of the CO kitchen concentration model, but not the PM2.5 model. Socioeconomic characteristics and markers of ambient air pollution exposure were strongly associated with mean PM2.5 measurements, while cooking environment variables were more predictive of mean CO levels.
Evaluation the toxic effects of Cobalt-Zinc Ferrite nanoparticles in experimental mice
Authors: El-Nahass Eman E. , Salem B. I. , El-Naggar Sabry A. , Elwan Mona M.
Published: February 2025

Cobalt Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized utilizing the auto-combustion flash method, with the general formula Co1 − xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0,0.35). This study aimed to evaluate the hepato-renal and systemic toxicity of Cobalt Zinc Ferrite nanoparticles (CZF NPs). A total of eighty female mice were utilized to ascertain the median lethal dose (LD50) of CF NPs (100 mg/kg) and CZF NPs (100 mg/kg). Thirty female CD1 mice were placed into three groups, each containing ten animals. In Group 1 (Gp1), mice were administered a 200 µl injection of sterile saline intraperitoneally (i.p.). During a 6-day period, Gp2 and Gp3 received injections of CF NPs and CFZ NPs. On day 14 after injection, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological data were measured. CZF NPs were characterized using X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). There was a significant alteration in the overall body weight of mice injected with CZF NPs. Injections of CF NPs did not significantly alter red blood cells (RBC) counts, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit percentage (Hct%), total white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. However, injections of CZF NPs resulted in an increase in WBC count and a decrease in platelet count. Furthermore, injection of CZF NPs altered the differential leukocyte percentages. The liver and kidney functions in mice injected with CF NPs did not show any notable changes. However, mice treated with CZF NPs had considerable increases in liver and kidney bio-markers. The administration of CF NPS did not modify the histological structure of hepatic and renal tissues; however, the hepatic and renal structures were disrupted in animals injected with CZF NPs. Overall, the findings indicated high toxicity of CZF NPs in the mice used for the experiment.