bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An economic analysis of cell-fencing in semi-arid rangelands
Authors: Dawson Stuart J. , Kreplins Tracey L. , Kennedy Malcolm S. , Wicks Santhi , Fleming Patricia A.
Published: February 2025

In Australia, livestock predation by dingoes (Canis familiaris) has contributed to what some livestock producers consider a dire situation for rangeland pastoralism, driving demand for cooperative regional-scale exclusion (‘cell’) fencing (i.e. pest-proof fences that encompass one or more individual properties) and landscape-scale predator control. The present case study predicted the effect of four cell-fences in the state of Western Australia (WA) on the gross margin of sheep (for meat or meat and wool) and cattle pastoral enterprises. We modelled the potential effects of the following four key variables: (1) four levels of commodity prices, (2) five levels of livestock weaning rate (based on livestock records collected 1985–1995; weaning rate is defined as number of lambs or calves that are born and survive to weaning, expressed as percentage of total mated females), (3) three predicted levels of time required to remove dingoes from within the fenced area, and (4) five levels of macropod (mainly kangaroo) response as competitive grazers, with a total of 3600 scenarios representing all combinations of these factors. Each scenario was assessed for profitability (i.e. net present value (NPV) over 25 years) and benefit of fencing (i.e. NPV compared with an unfenced enterprise of the same livestock type, region, and commodity prices). Finally, the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of investment in cell fencing was calculated for each fenced scenario. The majority (67%) of scenarios representing continuation of current management (i.e. no cell fencing) returned a negative NPV (i.e. livestock enterprises were projected to make a loss). However, only 37.4% of cell-fenced scenarios returned a positive NPV, meaning that even with a cell-fence and successful removal of dingoes, the enterprise was still unlikely to be profitable. Only 43.4% of cell-fenced scenarios returned a BCR of cell fencing greater than one. Weaning rate following dingo removal was the most important factor determining return on investment for cell-fencing. Survival and reproduction of small livestock, particularly wool sheep, benefit most from cell-fencing, whereas cell-fencing and dingo removal did not result in greater profits for cattle enterprises. Running sheep for wool and meat within cell fencing coupled with removal of dingoes would maximise the likelihood of achieving a positive return on investment in cell fencing (although the enterprise may remain unprofitable overall); otherwise, unfenced enterprises affected by dingoes should run cattle as this will be more profitable.
Substantial underdiagnosis and underreporting: changes in reported HIV and AIDS cases in 31 provinces in China at the beginning of COVID-19
Authors: Wu Xinsheng , Wang Zhongwen , Li Bin , Zhang Weijie , Chen Yuanyi , Wu Guozhen , Yang Juan , Zou Huachun
Published: February 2025

Background China implemented extensive non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain COVID-19. Methods National and provincial data on monthly reported HIV and AIDS cases from January 2017 to December 2020 were collected from the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. We used interrupted time series analysis to assess whether COVID-19-related NPIs had an impact on reported HIV and AIDS cases in 31 provinces in China, and estimated underreported numbers of HIV and AIDS cases in the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results A total of 393,357 HIV cases and 254,735 AIDS cases were recorded in China from January 2017 to December 2020. Nationally, the number of reported HIV cases decreased by 25.1% in the first month of the NPIs period (January 2020) compared with the counterfactual (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.749; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.664–0.845), whereas the number of reported AIDS cases decreased by 36.5% (IRR 0.635, 95% CI 0.543–0.741). An estimated 2208 HIV cases (95% CI 1209–3335) and 1525 AIDS cases (95% CI 927–2233) were underdiagnosed and underreported in the first month of the NPIs in China. The highest numbers of underdiagnosed and underreported HIV cases in the first month of NPIs were estimated in Sichuan (IRR 577, 95% CI 239–978), Guangdong (IRR 185, 95% CI 170–200) and Henan (IRR 170, 95% CI 77–286). Conclusions There was substantial underdiagnosis and underreporting of HIV and AIDS cases during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and certain provinces. Health departments should consider the specific barriers encountered during the pandemic, such as disrupted healthcare access and resource limitations, and implement targeted strategies to strengthen HIV surveillance and report systems.
Climate drying reduces serotinous seedbanks and threatens persistence in two fire-killed shrubs
Authors: Enright N. J. , Agne M. C.
Published: February 2025

Background Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) are experiencing declining rainfall, increasing temperature, and shifting fire regimes as climate changes. While changes in fire regimes and post-fire recruitment are widely reported, evidence for changing plant demographic rates is limited. Aims We hypothesised increased time to maturity and decreased serotinous seed stores available for post-fire recruitment due to declining rainfall over recent decades for two fire-killed serotinous shrubs of south-east Australian MTEs, Hakea decurrens and Banksia ornata. Methods Fruit and cone production for populations across time since fire chronosequences were measured in the same regions in the 1990s and in 2017. Key results Estimated time to 50% maturity increased from 3–15 years and 6–15 years for H. decurrens and B. ornata, respectively, while estimated canopy seed stores were 90% and 50% lower in 2017 than in the 1990s. Conclusions Delayed reproductive maturity and decreased total seed stores were significantly related to decreasing rainfall received by 2017 populations over their lifetimes (5–17% less than for stands in the 1990s). Implications Shifts in inter-fire rates of seed production and storage, combined with changes to fire regimes and post-fire recruitment conditions due to climate change may already threaten the persistence of some species.
Persistence selection between simulated biogeochemical cycle variants for their distinct effects on the Earth system
Authors: Boyle Richard A. , Moody Edmund R. R. , Babcock Gunnar , McShea Daniel W. , Álvarez-Carretero Sandra , Lenton Timothy M. , Donoghue Philip C. J.
Published: February 2025

The average long-term impact of Darwinian evolution on Earth’s habitability remains extremely uncertain. Recent attempts to reconcile this uncertainty by “Darwinizing” nonreplicating biogeochemical processes subject to persistence-based selection conform with the historicity of the geochemical record but lack mechanistic clarity. Here, we present a theoretical framework showing how: 1) A biogeochemical “cycle-biota-variant” (CBV) can be defined non-arbitrarily as one biologically facilitated pathway for net recycling of an essential element, plus the genotypes driving the relevant interconversion reactions. 2) Distinct CBVs can be individuated if they have climatic or geochemical side effects that feed-back on relative persistence. 3) The separation of spatial/temporal scales between the dynamics of such effects and those of conventional Darwinian evolution can introduce a degree of randomness into the relationship between CBVs and their Earth system impact properties, loosely analogous to that between the biochemical causes and evolutionary effects of genetic mutation. 4) Threshold behavior in climate feedback can accentuate biotic impacts and lead to CBV-level “competitive exclusion”. 5) CBV-level persistence selection is observationally distinguishable from genotype-level selection by strong covariance between “internal” CBV properties (genotypes and reactions) and “external” climatic effects, which we argue is analogous to the covariance between fitness and traits under conventional Darwinian selection. These factors cannot circumvent the basic fact that local natural selection will often favor phenotypes that ultimately destabilize large-scale geochemical/climatic properties. However, we claim that our results nevertheless demonstrate the theoretical coherence of persistence-selection between non-replicating life–environment interaction patterns and therefore have broad biogeochemical applicability.
Mapping of the full polarization switching pathways for HfO
2
and its implications
Authors: Hu Qi , Lv Shuning , Tsai Hsiaoyi , Xue Yufeng , Jing Xixiang , Lin Fanrong , Tong Chuanjia , Cao Tengfei , Teobaldi Gilberto , Liu Li-Min
Published: February 2025

The discovery of ferroelectric phases in HfO
2
offers insights into ferroelectricity. Its unique fluorite structure and complex polarization switching pathways exhibit distinct characteristics, challenging conventional analysis methods. Combining group theory and first-principles calculations, we identify numerous unconventional electric polarization switching pathways in HfO
2
with energy barriers of 0.32 to 0.57 eV as a function of the different shift in the suboxygen lattices. In total, we identify 47 switching pathways for the orthorhombic phase, corresponding to the left cosets of the

F
m

3
¯

m

group with

P
c
a

2
1

group. Contrary to the conception that the tetracoordinated oxygen (O
IV
) layers are inactive, our result demonstrates that both the tricoordinated oxygen (O
III
) and O
IV
can be displaced, leading to polarization switching along any axial direction. The multiple switching pathways in HfO
2
result in both 180° polarization reversal and the formation of 90° domains observed experimentally. Calculations show that specific switching pathways depend on the orientation of the applied electric field relative to the HfO
2
growth surface. This allows HfO
2
to automatically adjust the in-plane polarization direction under an out-of-plane electric field, thereby maximizing the out-of-plane component and contributing to the wake-up process. These findings redefine the roles of O
III
and O
IV
layers, clarify unconventional switching pathways, and enhance our understanding of electric field response mechanisms, wake-up, and fatigue in ferroelectrics.
Black holes in the expanding Universe
Authors: Poplawski Nikodem J
Published: February 2025

The McVittie metric does not describe a physical black hole in an expanding universe because the curvature scalar and pressure at its event horizon are infinite.We show that extending this metric to an inhomogeneous scale factor, which depends on both the time and radial coordinate, removes those infinities by imposing at the horizon the constancy of the Hubble parameter and a particular constraint on the gradient of the scale factor.We consider a special case of this metric, and show that the Hubble parameters at the event horizons of all centrally symmetric black holes are equal to the same constant $H_\textrm{hor}=(\Lambda/3)^{1/2}$.Because of this equality and the equivalence to the Kottler metric near the horizon, black holes do not grow with the Universe expansion.
Growth of compositionally uniform InxGa1−xN layers with low relaxation degree on GaN by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Kang Jingxuan , Ruiz Mikel Gómez , Dinh Duc Van , Campbell Aidan F , John Philipp , Auzelle Thomas , Trampert Achim , Lähnemann Jonas , Brandt Oliver , Geelhaar Lutz
Published: February 2025

500 nm-thick

In

x

Ga

1
−
x

N

layers with

x
=

0.06–0.14 are grown using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, and their properties are assessed by a comprehensive analysis involving x-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and cathodoluminescence as well as photoluminescence spectroscopy. We demonstrate low degrees of strain relaxation (10% for x = 0.12), low threading dislocation densities (

1
×

10

9

cm

−
2

for x = 0.12), uniform composition both in the growth and lateral direction, and a narrow emission band. The unique sum of excellent materials properties make these layers an attractive basis for the top–down fabrication of ternary nanowires.
Effective field theories for collective excitations of atomic nuclei
Authors: Coello Pérez Eduardo Antonio , Papenbrock Thomas
Published: February 2025

Collective modes emerge as the relevant degrees of freedom that govern low-energy excitations of atomic nuclei. These modes - rotations, pairing rotations, and vibrations - are separated in energy from non-collective excitations, making it possible to describe them in the framework of effective field theory. Rotations and pairing rotations are the remnants of Nambu-Goldstone modes from the emergent breaking of rotational symmetry and phase symmetries in finite deformed and finite superfluid nuclei, respectively. The symmetry breaking severely constrains the structure of low-energy Lagrangians and thereby clarifies what is essential and simplifies the description. The approach via effective field theories exposes the essence of nuclear collective excitations and is defined with a breakdown scale in mind. This permits one to make systematic improvements and to estimate and quantify uncertainties. Effective field theories of collective excitations have been used to compute spectra, transition rates, and other matrix elements of interest. In particular, predictions of the nuclear matrix element for neutrinoless double beta decay then come with quantified uncertainties. This review summarizes these results and also compares the approach via effective field theories to well-known models and ab initio computations.
Engineering the decay time of Ti3C2T
x
MXene by gold nanoparticle decoration
Authors: Rajput Gaurav , Rawat Ankita , Chourasia Nitesh K , Jalendra Gaurav , Gupta Govind , Yadav Aditya , Kulriya P K
Published: February 2025

MXenes, specifically Ti3C2T
x
having peculiar structural and electronic characteristics display not only high surface area, and excellent thermal and electrical conductivity but also have the potential for functionalization. The primary focus of this research is to control the decay time of gold nanoparticle (NP) (Au NP) decorated multilayer Ti3C2T
x
MXene (Au–Ti3C2T
x
) synthesized by a simple two-step selective etching technique. Incorporation of Au NPs in the multilayer Ti3C2T
x
MXene leads to lattice expansion, micro-strain reduction, and crystallinity improvement, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction analysis. Observation of a well-developed G band in the Au–Ti3C2T
x
MXene across different Au concentrations by Raman spectroscopy investigations suggests the accumulation of graphitic carbon on the MXene surface which has greatly improved the charge transfer characteristic of the carbide layer. Furthermore, the Au-Ti3C2T
x
MXene exhibits promising optical properties for different concentrations of gold. The time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy studies displayed a reduction in the average decay time (τ
av) to ∼30% with increasing gold concentration from 100 to 150 μl in Au NPs solution which is explained based on Au NPs induced surface plasmon resonance. The decoration of Au NPs facilitates the accumulation of carbon on the surface of MXene, resulting in enhanced crystallinity, reduced micro-strain, and decreased decay time. By engineering decay time through the decoration of noble metal NPs onto MXene, it becomes possible to fabricate highly efficient photodetectors and imaging devices. This is especially advantageous in applications where shorter decay times are desired.
Light storage by electromagnetically induced transparency for one second at the level of a single photon in

Pr

3
+

:

Y
2

SiO
5

prepared with multiple frequency ensembles
Authors: Hain Marcel , Stewen Niklas , Halfmann Thomas
Published: February 2025

Efficient and long-term storage of quantum information encoded in single photons is crucial for applications of optical quantum technologies, e.g. quantum repeaters in communication networks. Obviously, the maximal storage time is an important benchmark for such memories, as it defines the distances covered by the network or the applicability of quantum communication protocols therein. In this paper, we present the implementation of an optical memory driven by electromagnetically induced transparency, permitting the storage of weak coherent pulses containing on average a single photon with a signal-to-noise ratio of

1.3
(
3
)

for a long storage time of one second. To achieve this goal, we apply decoherence control by static magnetic fields and robust dynamical decoupling sequences to prolong the coherence time in a rare-earth ion doped crystal to 14 s. A novel optical preparation scheme serves to increase the optical depth of the medium, which enables a light storage efficiency of

12.7
(
5
)

% at the single photon level and one second storage time.
Study on the surface binding energy of W-Mo alloy (110) surface
Authors: Liu Xiaoqiao , Li Xiaolong , Zhang Xin , Xu Yuhong , Hu Jun , Lei Guangjiu , Liu Sanqiu , Li Heng , Cui Zilin , Zhu Yiqin , Zheng Huaqing , Ma Yubo , Geng Shaofei , Chen Xiaochang , Liu Haifeng , Wang Xianqu , Liu Hai , Cheng Jun , Tang Changjian
Published: February 2025

This study used molecular dynamics software LAMMPS to simulate the surface binding energy of W1-xMox (x = 0, 0.9375, 0.875, 0.75, 0.625, 0.5) alloy (110) surface. The effect of thermal vibration, model size, energy step size and temperature for surface binding energy comprehensively considered. Finally, reference values for the surface binding energy of W-Mo alloys with different concentrations were obtained, and it was found that, within the simulation range, as the Mo concentration increased, the surface binding energy of W atoms increased from 11.661 ± 0.017 eV to 12.058 ± 0.047 eV, while the surface binding energy of Mo atoms decreased from 9.378 ± 0.012 eV to 9.249 ± 0.031 eV. This indicated that alloying Mo with W has a positive effect on surface binding energy. These results provide reference values for simulations of W-Mo alloys.
Design of a metallic half-wave plate based on birefringent metamaterial for applications in the visible range
Authors: Kebci Z , Hamidi M , Zeghdoudi T , Belkhir A , Lamrous O , Baida F I
Published: February 2025

The main objective of this study is to design an artificial birefringent metamaterial to operate within the visible spectrum. This plate consists of a C-Shaped Aperture Array (CSAA) engraved into a silver metallic film deposited on a glass substrate. The artificial anisotropy of this structure is generated by the simultaneous excitation of two guided modes with different effective indices. These excitations occur within the same C-Shaped aperture, at the same wavelength, for two distinct states of orthogonal polarization of the electric field. They propagate at different velocities, resulting in a phase difference Δϕ between the transmitted electric fields. We show that by adjusting the thickness of the silver layer, it is possible to achieve a phase difference of π corresponding to a Half-Wave Plate (HWP). This design is highly innovative, being more compact and efficient, exhibiting enhanced transmission of T = 75% at a wavelength of λ = 727nm, with a thickness of H = 146 nm. Such a configuration results in an extraordinary birefringence of Δn = 2.5.
Investigating late-time dark energy and massive neutrinos in light of DESI Y1 BAO
Authors: Rebouças João , de Souza Diogo H.F. , Zhong Kunhao , Miranda Vivian , Rosenfeld Rogerio
Published: February 2025

Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), in combination with Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data and Type Ia Supernovae (SN) luminosity distances, suggests a dynamical evolution of the dark energy equation of state with a phantom phase (w < -1) in the past when the so-called w
0
wa
parametrization w(a) = w
0 + w

a
(1-a) is assumed. In this work, we investigate more general dark energy models that also allow a phantom equation of state. We consider three cases: an equation of state with a transition feature, a model-agnostic equation of state with constant values in chosen redshift bins, and a k-essence model. Since the dark energy equation of state is correlated with neutrino masses, we reassess constraints on the neutrino mass sum focusing on the model-agnostic equation of state. We find that the combination of DESI BAO with Planck 2018 CMB data and SN data from Pantheon, Pantheon+, or Union3 is consistent with an oscillatory dark energy equation of state, while a monotonic behavior is preferred by the DESY5 SN data. Performing model comparison techniques, we find that the w
0
wa
parametrization remains the simplest dark energy model that can provide a better fit to DESI BAO, CMB, and all SN datasets than ΛCDM. Constraints on the neutrino mass sum assuming dynamical dark energy are relaxed compared to ΛCDM and we show that these constraints are tighter in the model-agnostic case relative to w
0
wa
model by 70%–90%.
Free streaming in warm wave dark matter
Authors: Ling Siyang , Amin Mustafa A.
Published: February 2025

We provide a framework for numerically computing the effects of free-streaming
in scalar fields produced after inflation. First, we provide a
detailed prescription for setting up initial conditions in the field. This prescription allows us to specify the power
spectra of the fields (peaked on subhorizon length scales and without a homogeneous field mode), and importantly, also correctly reproduces the
behaviour of density perturbations on large length scales consistent with
superhorizon adiabatic perturbations. We then evolve
the fields using a spatially inhomogeneous Klein-Gordon equation, including the effects of expansion and radiation-sourced metric perturbations. We show how gravity enhances, and how free streaming erases the initially
adiabatic density perturbations of the field, revealing more of the underlying, non-evolving, white-noise isocurvature density contrast. Furthermore, we explore the effect of
non-gravitational self-interactions of the field, including oscillon formation, on the suppression dynamics. As part of this paper, we make our code, Cosmic-Fields-Lite (CFL)
, publicly available.
For observationally accessible signatures, our work is particularly relevant for structure formation in light/ultralight dark matter fields.
Kilonova Emission from Neutron Star Mergers with Different Equations of State
Authors: Qiumu Wu-Zimo , Chen Meng-Hua , Chen Qiu-Hong , Liang En-Wei
Published: February 2025

Kilonova is an optical-infrared transient powered by the radioactive decay of heavy nuclei from binary neutron star mergers. Its observational characteristics depend on the mass and the nuclide composition of meger ejecta, which are sensitive to the equation of state (EoS) of neutron star. We use astrophysical conditions derived from different EoSs as nucleosynthesis inputs to explore the impact of various EoS on the $r$-process nucleosynthesis and the kilonova emission. Our results show that both the abundance patterns of merger ejecta and kilonova light curves are strongly dependent on the neutron star EoSs. Given the mass of two neutron stars, the merger with a softer EoS tends to generate a larger amount of ejected material, and may lead to a brighter kilonova peak luminosity. The relationship between the neutron star EoS and the peak luminosity provides a probe for constraining the properties of EoS in multi-messenger observations of neutron star mergers.
Solid angle compensation in gas proportional scintillation counters using an annular anode with azimuthal geometry
Authors: Silva P.A.O.C. , Fernandes L.M.P. , dos Santos J.M.F. , Monteiro C.M.B.
Published: February 2025

A new, simple and robust design for a gas proportional scintillation counter (GPSC) is studied. One sole electrode, the anode, is used to define the electric field in the drift and scintillation regions of the detector volume. The anode has an annular shape aligned with the photosensor axis. Such design allows to keep constant the solid angle subtended by the photosensor relative to the different positions of the scintillation region. Having an oblong anode with a 10 cm inner diameter and a 5 cm photomultiplier tube placed 5 cm below the anode, an energy resolution of 12.0 % FWHM has been achieved for a 10 kV anode bias, the maximum voltage that could be applied to the anode in the present prototype. According to simulations, energy resolutions of ~10 % can be achieved for anode voltages of ~13 kV, a value comparable to the 9–10 % achieved in GPSC using solid angle variation compensation. Independently of having a constant solid angle, the absolute value of the solid angle must be considered, a lower number of EL photons detected at the photosensor due to a reduced solid angle may contribute to the GPSC energy resolution degradation. In addition, non-uniformities present in the photosensor or in the GPSC must be taken into account, since they will contribute to a dependence of the pulse amplitude on the radiation interaction position despite the constant solid angle subtended by the photosensor relative to the scintillation region.
Design space exploration for particle detector read-out implementations in Matlab and Simulink on the example of the SHiP SBT
Authors: Rössing F. , Arutinov D. , Brignoli A. , Fischer H. , Grewing C. , Lacker H. , Lyons F. , Zambanini A. , van Waasen S.
Published: February 2025

On a very fundamental level, particle detectors share similar requirements for their read-out chain. This is reflected in the way that typical read-out solutions are developed, where a previous design is modified to fit changes in requirements. One of the two common approaches is the current-based read-out, where the waveform of the sensor output is sampled in order to later extract information in the central processing unit. This approach is used in many detector applications using scintillation based detectors, including PET.

With this contribution, we will introduce how we use Matlab in order to simulate the read-out electronics of particle detectors. We developed this simulation approach as a base for our ongoing development of software-defined read-out Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) that cover the requirements of a variety of particle detector types. Simulink was chosen as a base for our developments as it allows simulation of mixed-signal systems and comes with built-in toolkits to aid in developments of such systems.

With our approach, we want to take a new look at how we approach designing such a read-out, with a focus on digital signal processing closer to the sensor in order or reduce transmission bandwidth, making use of known signal characteristics and modern methods of communications engineering. We are taking into account the time profile of an event, the bandwidth-limiting properties of the sensor and attached electronics, digitization stages and finally the parameterization of approaches for digital processing of the signal.

We will show how we are applying the design approach to the development of a read-out for the proposed SHiP SBT detector, which is a scintillation based detector relying on SiPMs sensors, using this as an example for our modelling approach and show preliminary results.

Given the similarity in principle, the modelling approach could easily be modified for PET systems, allowing studies of the read-out chain to possibly gain in overall performance.
A coaxial electrospun PLLA/PPDO/NAR mesh for abdominal wall hernia repair
Authors: Xv Yifan , Xu Li , Wei Dandan , Tao Yinghua , Zhang Tianzhu , Ji Zhenling
Published: February 2025

This study aims to employ poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO), loaded with naringin (NAR) to fabricate a functionalized degradable mesh which can promote abdominal wall hernia (AWH) repair. Three meshes named PPDO, PLLA/PPDO, and PLLA/PPDO/NAR were fabricated by electrospinning. The physical and chemical properties of the meshes were evaluated from the aspects of morphology, wettability, chemical composition, mechanical properties, and in vitro degradation. Then, the meshes were implanted into rats to evaluate their repair effects on abdominal wall defect models. The mechanical properties of PLLA/PPDO/NAR mesh were superior to the other two meshes, with a fixed tensile strength of 36.47 ± 2.40 N cm−1 and an elongation at break of 287.98% ± 51.67%, which adequately met the mechanical strength required for the human abdominal wall. The core–shell structure effectively delayed the degradation of PLLA/PPDO as well as PLLA/PPDO/NAR mesh, and drug release of PLLA/PPDO/NAR mesh. On the 7th, 14th, and 28th day after implantation, more neovascularization and tissue formation were observed in the PLLA/PPDO/NAR group and the newborn collagen was arranged in a regular and neat manner compared to the other two groups. The immunohistochemical results showed that the PLLA/PPDO/NAR mesh promoted abdominal wall repair by inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinase2 as well as interleukin-6, and increasing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. The PLLA/PPDO/NAR mesh is promising for application in AWH repair.
Research experimental on surface integrity and parameters optimization of micro-milling dual-phase titanium alloy
Authors: Zhao HaiYue , Cao Yan , Gorbachev Sergey , Kuzin Victor , Du Jiang , He WeiLiang
Published: February 2025

As the application of dual-phase polycrystalline materials in micro-components expands, the surface integrity evaluation criteria developed for macro-scale machining are become insufficient. To investigate the effects of cutting parameters on surface integrity at the micro-scale, a typical dual-phase titanium alloy was selected as the subject for micro-milling. First, a physical experimental platform for micro-milling was established. Subsequently, a single-factor experimental method was employed to analyze the effects of cutting parameters on the micro-morphology, surface roughness, and micro-hardness of the processed dual-phase titanium alloy. Following this, orthogonal experimental range analysis and response surface variance analysis were conducted to evaluate the significance of cutting parameters on the target factors. Finally, cutting parameters were optimized using the signal-to-noise ratio method and response surface methodology, followed by physical experimental validation. Results reveal that feed per tooth significantly influences surface roughness, while cutting depth least. In contrast, spindle speed is the primary factor affecting micro-hardness, with feed per tooth having minimal effect. Optimal parameters minimize both surface roughness and micro-hardness, with experimental and theoretical values differing by no more than 5%. The findings provide both theoretical and experimental support for the surface integrity and parameters optimization of dual-phase alloys in micro-machining.
Bi2WO6 thin films grown by high-power InfraRed Nd:YAG pulsed laser deposition: a structural and spectroscopic study
Authors: Arici Lorenzo , Bolanos Carolina Gutierrez , Chaluvadi Sandeep Kumar , Chalil Shyni Punathum , Vobornik Ivana , Fujii Jun , Mazzola Federico , Brollo Maria Eugenia Fortes , Ciancio Regina , Goldoni Andrea , Orgiani Pasquale , Caputo Marco
Published: February 2025

We report on the epitaxial growth of Bi2WO6 thin films by Pulsed Laser Deposition using a high-power infrared Nd:YAG laser source. X-ray diffraction investigation confirms that single (00l)-oriented thin films can be obtained on both LSAT and SrTiO3 substrates by using a LaNiO3 adapting layer. Moreover, reciprocal space maps show that the films coherently grow on such substrates with the in-plane lattice parameters fully matching those of the substrates. In-situ x-ray photoemission spectroscopy experiments show that a UHV annealing process makes the film more conductive even though it also affects the Bi:W chemical ratio by reducing the Bi content. Alternately, the conductivity of the films can be effectively tuned by either growing the film in Ar atmosphere or by depositing potassium on its surface without modifying the Bi:W chemical ratio. Our results provide a viable route to synthesize high-quality Bi2WO6 thin films with tailored electronic properties.
Digital twin-driven intelligent design and fabrication of the energy-efficient wiper prototype for electrical vehicle
Authors: Dong Guan , Wang Jie , Song Qiangwei , Wu Xiangjun , Li Kai
Published: February 2025

Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained popularity due to their efficiency, low emissions, and reduced noise. However, limited driving range, or range anxiety, remains a challenge, as all EV accessories rely on battery power. This study proposes a digital twin-driven methodology to design energy-efficient wipers, addressing this issue. Five driving modes are proposed, the authors analyzed wiper motor energy consumption through both experimental test and digital modeling, and compared with the traditional wiper drive mode, Results show potential efficiency improvements of up to 33%, demonstrating significant energy-saving opportunities. We also examine wiper vibration properties and develop contact models to create quieter prototypes. This research guides the design of energy-efficient EV accessories, potentially easing range anxiety and improving overall performance. The approach could be applied to other EV components to further enhance efficiency and driving range.
Poetry's Nature
Authors: Stewart Susan
Published: February 2025

Though it is common to speak of “nature poetry,” Poetry’s Nature contends that the essential nature of poetry is bound up with the natural world: by looking to nature, we can better understand poetry, and—perhaps—vice versa. The study draws on contemporary physics and philosophy to argue that all beings, and all matter, are enmeshed in relations to one another, and that such processual relations can help us to think about poetry as an ever-arriving, ever-unfinished art. The poem may then be a microcosm of the world: parts are grounded by their relation to one another, always in the process of creating a whole. Poetry’s Nature’s four chapters explore four paradigms that illuminate poetry’s relation to other natural phenomena: the ways poems draw on birdsong to veer between language and sound, and hence between semantic density and meaninglessness; the experience of seasonality as a paradigm for the lyric’s recursive use of time; the flows and forms of water as an inspiration for the enactment and depiction of motion and rest in poems; and, finally, the vast domain of the imperceptible as a resource for the imagination. Poems are events that are felt in time rather than being merely cognized; rewarding of our attention, like the natural world; experienced, like the weather, in our bodies. By reframing poetry in its relation to nature, Poetry’s Nature hopes to reframe our relation to the world in which we live, a task that is of ever-greater urgency.
What Was the Ark and What Did It Do?
Authors: McGeough Kevin M
Published: February 2025

This chapter describes what the Bible tells us about the Ark. It discusses the narrative traditions surrounding the Ark, emphasizing the different political and social roles that the Ark played in different episodes recounted in the Old Testament. The chapter surveys how God commanded Moses to build it and how the Ark was carried by the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness. According to the Bible, it played a role in the conquest of the Land. The Ark was briefly lost to the Philistines, but it was eventually installed in Jerusalem as that city became the capital of David’s kingdom. The various elements of the Ark’s physical description are explained, as are areas of scholarly disagreement about what it looked like. The chapter discusses the different Hebrew names used for the Ark and its treatment in different biblical sources.
Puddling in butterflies: current knowledge and new directions
Authors: Lamie Emily , Morton Elise R , Parzer Harald F
Published: February 2025

Puddling, a behavior in which butterflies and other insects aggregate on mineral-rich substrates such as mud, animal excrement, carrion, and even human perspiration, is a well-documented phenomenon in both temperate and tropical regions. This behavior is thought to compensate for the limited access to micronutrients in the adult diet that are important for fitness, primarily sodium and nitrogen, essential for nervous system function, growth, and reproductive processes. In this review, we consolidate existing knowledge on butterfly puddling and highlight key gaps in our understanding. The review is organized into 4 main themes: the benefits of puddling, social dynamics in puddling, sensory cues for site selection, and behavioral variation across species and regions. We explore how nutrient preferences are influenced by diet, environmental factors, and evolutionary history, with a particular focus on the role of sodium and nitrogen. We also discuss the potential reproductive benefits of puddling, including its impact on mating success and fecundity. In addition, we consider the sensory and social mechanisms butterflies use to locate suitable puddling sites. Lastly, we give a short overview on puddling in moths. This review identifies several areas for future research, particularly in understanding the adaptive significance of puddling across different taxa and environments.
Time in Target Range, All-cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Wu Zhijun , Huo Zhenyu , Huang Zhe , Zhao Xiujuan , Wang Guodong , Ruan Chunyu , Chen Shuohua , Wu Shouling
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Time in target range (TTR) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) is a concept characterizing the extent of blood pressure (BP) control. We aimed to compare the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in participants with >50% time of their SBP within different target ranges.

METHODS

A total of 40,914 participants who had complete BP data and were free of CVDs or cancer were included. Four SBP records over 6 years were used to calculate TTR and mean levels of covariates. The death and CVD events were recorded via reviewing medical records and death certificates.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up period of 8.78 (interquartile range: 8.50-9.05) and 7.76 (interquartile range: 7.46-8.04) years, we identified 2,398 death cases and 1,995 incident CVDs, respectively. Participants who had >50%TTR >150mmHg had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR):1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 2.41) than those with >50% TTR <120mmHg. The corresponding HR was 2.06 (95%CI: 1.37,3.10) for incident CVDs. The increased risk of all-cause mortality and CVD events persisted when we adjusted the covariates measured at the 2012 visit or excluded coalminers, the hypotensive participants, the incident cases occurring the first 2 years or who used BP lowering drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggested that >50% TTR in a high target range of SBP significantly predicted the occurrence of all-cause mortality and CVDs.
Human-induced pheromone pollution leads to changes in alternative mating tactics of moths
Authors: Waner Rips Shevy , Motro Michal , Motro Uzi , Kolodny Oren , Harari Ally
Published: February 2025

Environmental changes driven by anthropogenic activities often disrupt animal communication and mating behavior. Consequently, these changes may force animals to adopt alternative mating tactics and strategies to find a mate. The mating disruption technique is an environmentally friendly tactic often used to control the pink-bollworm moth population in cotton fields. Though mating disruption is eco-friendly, it represents a Human-Induced Rapid Environmental Change for the targeted moths. Mating disruption involves spreading a synthetic version of the species-specific sex pheromone in the field, creating a pheromone-polluted environment, making it difficult for male moths to locate females and thereby reducing mating rates. We hypothesized that the intense sexual selection and environmental changes affecting communication would lead moths to increase their use of alternative mating strategies. An observed alternative mating behavior in male pink bollworm moths is disturbing mating pairs to displace the male and mate with the female. We compared this behavior between two populations and found that males long exposed to mating disruption disturbed mating pairs more frequently than those never exposed to it. In addition, males with a prolonged history of exposure to mating disruption showed reduced choosiness of females and increased their mating rate with small females of lower reproductive potential. The success rate of the observed couple disturbance was low. Nonetheless, this strategy, alongside other strategies, may contribute to the males’ reproductive success when facing the additional challenge of locating females due to the pheromone-polluted environment.
ELLIPSIS: Robust quantification of splicing in scRNA-seq
Authors: Van Hecke Marie , Beerenwinkel Niko , Lootens Thibault , Fostier Jan , Raedt Robrecht , Marchal Kathleen
Published: February 2025

Motivation

Alternative splicing is a tightly regulated biological process, that due to its cell type specific behaviour, calls for analysis at the single cell level. However, quantifying differential splicing in scRNA-seq is challenging due to low and uneven coverage. Hereto, we developed ELLIPSIS, a tool for robust quantification of splicing in scRNA-seq that leverages locally observed read coverage with conservation of flow and intra-cell type similarity properties. Additionally, it is also able to quantify splicing in novel splicing events, which is extremely important in cancer cells where lots of novel splicing events occur.

Results

Application of ELLIPSIS to simulated data, proves that our method is able to robustly estimate Percent Spliced In values in simulated data, and allows to reliably detect differential splicing between cell types. Using ELLIPSIS on glioblastoma scRNA-seq data, we identified genes that are differentially spliced between cancer cells in the tumor core and infiltrating cancer cells found in peripheral tissue. These genes showed to play a role in a.o. cell migration and motility, cell projection organization and neuron projection guidance.

Availability and implementation

ELLIPSIS quantification tool: https://github.com/MarchalLab/ELLIPSIS.git

Supplementary Information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Detecting residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: prospective multicentre preSINO trial
Authors: Yang Yang , Liu Zhichao , Wong Ian , Gao Xing , Zhang Hong , Liu Jun , Eyck Ben M , Shao Jinchen , Han Yuchen , van der Wilk Berend J , Chao Yinkai , Law Simon , Wijnhoven Bas P L , van Lanschot J Jan B , Li Zhigang
Published: February 2025

Background

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may lead to clinical complete response (cCR). It is important to know the accuracy of clinical response evaluations (CREs) before advocating active surveillance instead of oesophagectomy.

Methods

This was a prospective, multicentre study of patients with locally advanced OSCC. They received the first CRE (bite-on-bite biopsies) 4–6 weeks after nCRT. Patients with residual tumour underwent surgery. Patients with a cCR at CRE-1 underwent a second CRE 10–12 weeks after nCRT using PET-CT, bite-on-bite biopsies and endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). All patients without distant metastases underwent surgery. Primary endpoint was the accuracy of CREs for detecting Tumour Regression Grade (TRG)3–4 or TRG1–2 with ypN+ residual tumour with a prespecified false-negative rate (FNR) of 19.5%. Circulating-tumour DNA (ctDNA) at CREs was performed for exploratory analysis.

Results

In total 309 patients were included. Eighteen of 133 patients with TRG3–4 or TRG1–2 with ypN+ residual tumours were not detected by bite-on-bite biopsies and EUS-FNA (FNR: 13.5%). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of detecting any residual tumour were 81.7%, 93.2%, 68.7% and 96.5% respectively. PET-CT detected interval distant metastases in 13 (4.9%) of 268 patients presurgically. After a minimum 12-month follow-up, systemic recurrence rates were 28.0% in patients with positive ctDNA at CREs and 5.3% in those with negative ctDNA.

Conclusions

Bite-on-bite biopsies and EUS-FNA were accurate in detecting residual disease after nCRT in OSCC. Positive ctDNA at CREs may indicate an increased risk of systemic metastases.
Association of plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor concentrations and migraine with aura: a REFORM study
Authors: Tesfay Betel , Ashina Håkan , Christensen Rune Häckert , Al-Khazali Haidar M , Karlsson William Kristian , Amin Faisal Mohammad , Jawad Baker Nawfal , Andersen Ove , Ashina Messoud
Published: February 2025

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has garnered attention as a potential blood-based biomarker for low-grade chronic inflammation. However, its specific association with migraine, including its subtypes, remains to be elucidated. We sought to examine the association of plasma suPAR levels with migraine and its subtypes. In this single-centre, cross-sectional study, plasma was collected at a single time point in adults with migraine and sex-matched healthy controls from October 2020 to June 2022. The quantification of plasma suPAR levels was performed in a blinded fashion using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma suPAR levels were compared between participants with migraine (including subgroups) and healthy controls. Plasma samples were analysed from 634 eligible participants with migraine [mean (SD) age, 44.0 (12.2) years; 568 (89.6%) females] and 154 healthy controls [mean (SD), 41.3 (11.8%) years; 132 (86%) females]. Plasma suPAR levels were 6.7% higher (95% CI: 0.1–13.6%; P = 0.045, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index and smoking) in participants with migraine with aura, when compared with healthy controls. Further analysis revealed no difference in plasma suPAR levels between the overall migraine group and healthy controls (3.7%; 95% CI: −0.7–8.2%; P = 0.097), as well as between participants with migraine without aura and healthy controls (2.5%; 95% CI: −2.9–8.3%; P = 0.81). Similarly, plasma suPAR levels did not differ across participants with episodic migraine, chronic migraine and healthy controls. Finally, we found no difference when comparing participants with migraine at time of blood sampling with participants with non-migraine headache (1.0%; 95% CI: −5.7–8.2; P > 0.99), participants without headache (1.2%; 95% CI: −4.2–7.0%; P > 0.99) or healthy controls (4.5%; 95% CI: −1.9–11.3%; P = 0.39). Elevated plasma suPAR levels in migraine with aura indicate the presence of low-grade chronic inflammation. Future research should explore the role of suPAR in the neurobiologic underpinnings of migraine with aura.