bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrolyte and metabolite composition of cystic fluid from a rat model of ARPKD
Authors: Klemens Christine A. , Fedoriuk Mykhailo , Semenikhina Marharyta , Stefanenko Mariia , Zietara Adrian , Levchenko Vladislav , Dissanayake Lashodya V. , Palygin Oleg , Staruschenko Alexander
Published: February 2025

Fluid-filled cysts are the key feature of polycystic kidney disease, which eventually leads to renal failure. We analyzed the composition of cyst fluid from a rat model of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, the PCK rat, and identified sexual differences. Our results demonstrate that the ion composition of cyst fluid differs from that of urine or plasma. Untargeted metabolomics combined with transcriptomic data identified tryptophan metabolism, enzyme metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism as pathways differing between male and female PCK rats. We quantified 42 amino acids in the cyst fluid (PCK only), plasma, and urine of male and female PCK rats and Sprague Dawley rats. Taurine was the most concentrated amino acid present in the cyst fluid, and PCK rat urinary taurine excretion was over 3-fold greater than Sprague Dawley rats. Understanding the composition of cyst fluid provides valuable insights into disease pathophysiology and may help identify potential dietary or pharmacological interventions to mitigate disease progression and improve patient outcomes.
First-principles investigation of thermoelectric performance in KMnZ (Z = Sn, Pb) half-Heusler alloys
Authors: Gurunani Bharti , Gupta Dinesh C.
Published: February 2025

DFT (WIEN2k) and DFPT were used to analyze KMnZ half-Heusler alloys. Spin-polarized phase II proved most stable, with LDA, PBE-GGA, and TB-mBJ confirming half-metallicity. The ductile, robust alloy shows promise for spintronics and thermoelectrics.
Handling impedance surfaces in diffraction modeling
Authors: Peter Svensson U. , Henriksen Viggo , Olsen Herold
Published: February 2025

An edge-diffraction based method for computing the scattering from rigid convex 3D polyhedra, the ”Edge Source Integral Equation” (ESIE), has previously been shown to give very accurate results and to be an efficient calculation method, in comparison with the boundary element method. Here, the ESIE method is used in a secondary source approach, referred to as ”ESIE+SS”, to compute the scattering from rigid convex objects with impedance boundary conditions at part of the surface. Secondary piston sources are introduced at the impedance surface and made to fulfill the boundary conditions. Expressions are presented for handling 2D scattering problems with the 3D ESIE method. The ESIE+SS method is evaluated by computing the 2D scattering from a 3m by 0.2m rigid box where a 0.3m wide patch has a locally reacting impedance boundary condition that represents a 20 cm thick porous absorber. For a nearfield 2D point source and a circle of receivers, across the frequency range 50 Hz - 2.5 kHz, the ESIE+SS computed the pressure within [-0.30, +0.32] dB of the reference FEM results for 90% of all the data points.Large errors were observed for some receiver positions, for the same reason as has been previously found for the ESIE method: a slow convergence for the higher-order diffraction computations. It was found that for the transfer functions that represent the interaction between the secondary sources, diffraction can typically be left out, which reduces the computational load.
Profiting from prestige: the political economy of mega-events in Azerbaijan
Authors: LaPorte Jody
Published: February 2025

Why do rentier states seek out hosting rights for major international events? This article investigates this question through a qualitative case study of mega-events programs in Azerbaijan. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, hydrocarbon exports have formed the backbone of the country’s economy and the main source of rents for ruling elites. Focusing on the development of Azerbaijan’s events industry in the 2000’s and 2010’s, the article uses available evidence and process tracing techniques to develop the hypothesis that Azerbaijan’s elites sought out hosting rights, at least in part, to diversify their sources of private rents. By problematising the direction of causality between mega-events and rent-seeking behaviour, this analysis expands current theories on states’ motivations for hosting these events and contributes to existing understandings about how these proceedings serve to support and sustain rentier regimes.
Above 400 K robust ferromagnetic insulating phase in hydrogenated brownmillerite iron oxide films with distinct coordinate
Authors: Ou Jiahui , Zhou Haiping , Huang Haoliang , Rao Feng , Zeng Xierong , Chen Lang , Shao Ruiwen , Duan Manyi , Huang Chuanwei
Published: February 2025

Ferromagnetic insulators (FMIs) with excellent optical transparency are highly appealing materials for advanced magneto-optical and spintronic devices. However, their applications have been substantially hindered for decades due to the limited availability of FMIs with low Curie temperature Tc and frustrated optical transparency. Herein, we reported that hydrogenated BaFeO2.5 films via facile and effective hydrogen plasma treatment exhibit consecutive structural transformations, accompanying with robust ferromagnetic insulating states with Tc > 400 K and desirable optical transparency with spectral range from visible to infrared. We elucidate the effect of reconfigurations of Fe-O coordinate geometry with distinct crystal structures on the emergent electronic properties of hydrogenated BaFeO2.5 films by combining experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. These findings underscore the importance of engineering polyhedral coordinate of perovskite-derived oxides in surmounting the inherent trade-off between ferromagnetism and electric insulation and open up opportunities for manipulating multifunctional electronic materials.
Numerical investigation of air flow field evolution and leakage patterns in large-scale goaf areas
Authors: Zhang Pengyu , Ma Li , Sun Jianxi , Chen Rong , Pei Guangwei , Chen Xiaokun , Fan Jing
Published: February 2025

Understanding the evolution of air flow fields and leakage patterns in large-scale goaf areas is crucial for preventing spontaneous combustion of residual coal and ensuring mining safety. Current understanding of air leakage evolution in interconnected goaf areas remains insufficient for effective hazard control. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of air flow fields and establish prevention strategies for large-scale goaf areas. Fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in 3 dimensions (FLAC3D) numerical simulations were employed to analyze the fracturing and stress distribution of overlying strata, establishing a three-dimensional porosity model. The spatiotemporal evolution of air leakage flow fields was then simulated using FLUENT computational fluid dynamics software. Results indicated that stress distribution in the large goaf area was concentrated in the central region, exhibiting a “saddle-shaped” fracture pattern with a maximum stress of 35.4 MPa. The void ratio distribution displayed an elliptical pattern, with the lowest value of 0.097 in the compacted central goaf area, increasing to 0.34 at the boundary. Measurements of the air leakage field revealed inlet and outlet flow rates of 242.63 and 232.62 m3/min, respectively. The coupled hazardous zones were primarily concentrated around air leakage sources and their adjacent goaf areas, extending 336.42 m horizontally and 224.21 m vertically, encompassing a total area of 17 433.04 m2. Based on these findings, a three-zone prevention strategy was developed, providing new insights into spontaneous combustion control for large-scale goaf areas.
A clinically relevant model and method to study necrosis as a driving force in glioma restructuring and progression
Authors: Li Jiabo , Shih Ling-Kai , Markwell Steven M. , Olson Cheryl L. , Sullivan David P. , Arvanitis Constadina , Ross James L. , Lam Nicolas G. , Nuszen Hannah , Hambardzumyan Dolores , Becher Oren J. , Brat Daniel J.
Published: February 2025

All glioblastoma (GBM) molecular subsets share the common trait of accelerated progression following necrosis, which cannot be adequately explained by cellular proliferation arising from accumulated genetic alterations. Counter to dogma that “cancer outgrows its blood supply,” we suggest that development of necrosis is not merely a consequence of aggressive neoplastic growth but could be a contributing force causing tumor microenvironment (TME) restructuring and biologic progression. Mechanisms related to necrotic contributions are poorly understood due to a lack of methods to study necrosis as a primary variable. To reveal spatiotemporal changes related to necrosis directly, we developed a mouse model and methodology designed to induce clinically relevant thrombotic vaso-occlusion within GBMs in an immunocompetent RCAS/tv-a mouse model to study TME restructuring by intravital microscopy and demonstrate its impact on glioma progression. Diffuse high-grade gliomas are generated by introducing RCAS-PDGFB-RFP and RCAS-Cre in a

Nestin/tv-a; TP53
fl/fl
PTEN
fl/fl

background mouse. We then photoactivate Rose Bengal in specific, targeted blood vessels within the glioma to induce thrombosis, hypoxia, and necrosis. Following induced necrosis, GBMs undergo rapid TME restructuring and radial expansion, with immunosuppressive bone marrow–derived, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and glioma stem cells (GSCs) increasing dramatically in the perinecrotic niche. Collectively, this model introduces necrosis as the primary variable and captures glioma TME and growth dynamics in a manner that will facilitate therapeutic development to antagonize these mechanisms of progression.
Raver1 links
Ripk1
RNA splicing to caspase-8-mediated pyroptotic cell death, inflammation, and pathogen resistance
Authors: Zhang Boyao , Orning Pontus , Lehman Jesse W. , Dinis Alexandre , Torres-Ulloa Leslie , Elling Roland , Kelliher Michelle A. , Bertin John , Proulx Megan K. , Goguen Jon D. , Ryan Liv , Kandasamy Richard K. , Espevik Terje , Pai Athma A. , Fitzgerald Katherine A. , Lien Egil
Published: February 2025

Multiple cell death and inflammatory signaling pathways converge on two critical factors: receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1) and caspase-8. Careful regulation of these molecules is critical to control apoptosis, pyroptosis, and inflammation. Here, we found a pivotal role of Raver1 as an essential regulator of
Ripk1
pre-mRNA splicing, expression, and functionality and the subsequent caspase-8-dependent inflammatory cell death. We show that Raver1 influences mRNA diversity primarily by repressing alternative exon inclusion. Macrophages from
Raver1
-deficient mice exhibit altered splicing of
Ripk1
. As a result,
Raver1
-deficient primary macrophages display diminished cell death and decreased interleukin-18 and interleukin-1ß production, when infected with
Yersinia
bacteria, or by restraining TGF-ß-activated kinase 1 or IKKβ in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor family members, or interferon-γ. These responses are accompanied by reduced activation of caspase-8, Gasdermin D and E, and caspase-1 in the absence of
Raver1
. Consequently,
Raver1
-deficient mice showed heightened susceptibility to
Yersinia
infection. Raver1 and RIPK1 also controlled the expression and function of the C-type lectin receptor Mincle. Our study underscores the critical regulatory role of Raver1 in modulating innate immune responses and highlights its significance in directing in vivo and in vitro inflammatory processes.
The MutRS quorum-sensing system controls lantibiotic mutacin production in the human pathogen
Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Wyllie Ryan M. , Jensen Paul A.
Published: February 2025

Microbes use quorum-sensing systems to respond to ecological and environmental changes. In the oral microbiome, the pathogenic bacterium
Streptococcus mutans
uses quorum-sensing to control the production of bacteriocins. These antimicrobial peptides kill off ecological competitors and allow
S. mutans
to dominate the microenvironment of dental plaques and form dental caries. One class of bacteriocins produced by
S. mutans
, the lantibiotic mutacins, are particularly effective at killing due to their broad spectrum of activity. Despite years of study, the regulatory mechanisms governing production of lantibiotic mutacins I, II, and III in
S. mutans
have never been elucidated. We identified a distinct class of quorum-sensing system, MutRS, that regulates mutacins and is widespread among the streptococci. We demonstrate that MutRS systems are activated by a short peptide pheromone (Mutacin Stimulating Peptide) and show that MutRS controls production of three separate lantibiotic mutacins in three different strains of
S. mutans
. Finally, we show that paralogous MutRS systems participate in inter- and intrastrain crosstalk, providing further evidence of the interplay between quorum-sensing systems in the oral streptococci.
Us and them
Authors: Osisanwo Ayo , Oji Ruth Karachi Benson
Published: February 2025

#EndSARS protest started publicly on October 8, 2020, with teeming Nigerian youths moving from one location to the
other to press home their demands, protesting police brutality among others. The protesters, especially those in Lagos, chose the
Lekki Toll Gate as their protest base. The protest protracted across the country until October 20, 2020, when there were alleged
shootings at the Lekki location by men in uniform believed to be from the Nigerian army. The protest and the shooting generated
controversies, with the international community lending their voice to condemn the act. Existing studies on protests in Nigeria
have examined #fuel fees must fall, Biafra protest, and so forth. Yet, studies have not adequately examined the #EndSARS-induced
Lekki shooting. Its critical examination can confirm or refute the existing claims on protest discourse. This study, therefore,
examines the newspaper narratives on the October 20 #EndSARS shooting at Lekki Toll Gate, to identify the deployed discourse
issues, the pragmatic acts, identities and ideological polarisations in the discourses. Using aspects of van Dijk’s model of
critical discourse analysis, Mey’s pragmatics acts and Voyant Tools, related narratives from two widely read Nigerian newspapers:
Punch and Leadership revealed two broad ideological polarisations (US vs THEM) and four
sub-categorisations of ideological discourse structure: actor description, argument, activity and goal description, and discourse
strategies, and different pragmatic acts.
Efficient noble gas purification using hot getters and gas circulation by convection
Authors: Teixeira J.M.R. , Henriques C.A.O. , Silva P.A.O.C. , Mano R.D.P. , Dos Santos J.M.F. , Monteiro C.M.B.
Published: February 2025

Noble gas radiation detectors with optical readout are gaining popularity in fields like
astrophysics and particle physics due to their ability to produce both ionization and
scintillation signals in response to ionizing radiation interaction. In addition, the
amplification of primary ionization signals can be achieved by promoting secondary scintillation
in the gas. Noble gas purity, especially concerning impurities like H2O, N2, O2,
CO2, and hydrocarbons, greatly influences its performance. These impurities can cause the
loss of primary electrons and quench the scintillation signal. A very high purity level of the gas
is required. In the early 90's, a simple method was developed for noble gas purification in
sealed, small volume (up to few litters) gas radiation detectors. Gas purification is achieved
promoting gas circulation through Zr-based hot getters, simply maintaining the gas circulation by
convection. The effectiveness of this method has been only confirmed by the energy resolutions
achieved in those detectors, which were similar to that achieved in other high-performance noble
gas detectors. In this work, we used waveform analysis of the primary and secondary scintillation
signals and we were able to evaluate the impact of the attachment and quenching caused by
impurities in one of our detectors filled with pure Xe, and estimate upper values for the impurity
content in the gas. The maximum overall impurity concentration was estimated to be below 4 ppm,
considering nearly all the impurities, and below 82 ppm if N2 is considered. The electron
lifetime was measured to be 2.1 ± 0.1 ms, in line with those achieved in other
high-performance optical detectors.
Uptake of the Harmonizing Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) core outcome set in eczema systematic reviews
Authors: Bunola-Hadfield Isabel , Loh Ayley , Thomas Kim
Published: February 2025

Core outcome sets reduce selective reporting bias and increase homogeneity by providing a pre-defined set of outcomes that should always be reported. The Harmonizing Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative has developed a core outcome set (COS) for randomised control trials (RCTs) of eczema intervention. We assessed the COS uptake in systematic reviews in order to appreciate changes in the research landscape. In systematic reviews, uptake of the COS reduces research waste and facilitates updating reviews. We found positive improvements in COS implementation although it is yet to be uniformly implemented in systematic reviews.
The role of IgA and IgG in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: A cross-sectional study in Ethiopia
Authors: Islam Rubiyat E , Zewdie Meaza , Mussa Daniel , Abebe Yonas , Ottenhoff Tom H M , Franken Kees L M C , Abebe Fekadu , Wassie Liya
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Despite the high global prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in humans, most infected individuals achieve a stable immunological equilibrium, without showing clinical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). Although the role of antibodies in TB is assumed to be relatively small compared to cell-mediated immunity, their role in TB has been documented in a few recent studies.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we quantitated antibody responses to Mtb antigens, lipoarabinomannan (LAM), and heparin-binding hemagglutinin adhesin (HBHA) by determining antigen-specific immunoglobulin A(IgA) and G(IgG) secretion levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum and saliva of pulmonary TB patients (PTB), their household contacts (HHC), and community controls (CC) (determined by QuantiFERON TB Gold assay QFT- test result).

Results

The HBHA-specific IgA levels were significantly higher in both saliva and serum in HHC groups compared to PTB patients (P=0.013, P=0.023). Exposed contacts, who were QFT-negative had higher serum HBHA-specific IgA responses compared to PTB patients (P=0.04). QFT-negative HHC and QFT-positive CC showed higher HBHA and LAM-specific IgG responses (P=0.006, P=0.002, P=0.0009, P=0.006, respectively) than PTB patients. Generally, LAM and HBHA-specific IgA levels were significantly higher in saliva compared to serum (P<0.0001) in all study groups.

Conclusion

Overall, the observed higher levels of IgA and IgG in controls, and exposed but QFT-negative contacts suggest a correlation with, and perhaps a role for these antibodies in preventing the development of active TB. The findings highlighted the potential involvement of saliva IgA in the immune response to Mtb, underscoring the relevance of mucosal immunity in TB infection.
Towards standardization in robotic lung transplant: a novel approach in minimally invasive thoracic surgery
Authors: Ascanio Fernando , Abdallah Naoufal Zebdi , Rosado Joel , Sánchez Leire , Romero Laura , Jauregui Alberto
Published: February 2025

Robotic lung transplantation presents a viable and innovative alternative to traditional open surgery, providing notable advantages in terms of surgical precision, enhanced patient recovery and improved wound healing. This article details a standardized, step-by-step robotic-assisted technique, strategic port placement, dissection of pulmonary vessels, and sequential anastomoses. By aiming to establish and refine this minimally invasive approach, the technique sets a foundation for further advancements in complex surgical procedures.
Unveiling the Structural Character of Informal Work: New Labour Subject and Financial Exploitation Beyond the Promise of Transition
Authors: Lobato Julieta
Published: February 2025

Informal work is a defining aspect of the contemporary global labour landscape, not only in the Global South but also notably in the Global North. The predominant approach to informality in international labour and economic law frequently depicts it as a market failure, suggesting its effective rectification through labour market policies aimed at transitioning informal workers into the formal sector—the ‘transitional approach’. This article challenges this approach. The main argument contends that by characterising informality as exceptional, the transitional approach fails to recognise its integral role in the shaping of contemporary capitalism. Furthermore, this characterisation perpetuates a paradigm of full employment, which relies on a notion of formal labour markets as internally coherent, embedded in colonial narratives surrounding development discourse. Drawing from the case of the ‘Workers of the Popular Economy’ (Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de la Economía Popular) in Argentina, the article posits that the structural character of informality is underscored by: (i) the emergence of a new labour subject not captured by traditional labour law (socio-political argument) and (ii) a shift in the labour–capital relationship, increasingly mediated by debt rather than solely by wages (economic argument).
Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) as hosts for ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Powassan virus in Virginia, USA
Authors: Schiff Peter , Cumbie Alexandra N , Roberts Ashley , Riley Jennifer , Eastwood Gillian
Published: February 2025

Tick-borne pathogen infections are an increasing occurrence globally, yet many aspects of pathogen maintenance and host-tick interactions remain poorly understood. Here we consider the potential role of eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) in the enzootic cycles of tick-borne pathogens of medical importance in Virginia. Over a 3-year period, ticks and blood were collected from rabbits acquired through passive surveillance in 21 counties in Virginia. Seven hundred seventy ticks were collected from 90 of the 121 rabbits examined in this study. Tick species collected from the rabbits included Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes spp. Ticks identified as Ixodes spp. and H. leporispalustris were tested in pools for Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Powassan virus (POWV). Borrelia burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum were detected in several Ixodes spp. pools yielding a pooled infection rate of 4.6% and 3.7%, respectively. These bacterial pathogens along with POWV were detected in pools of H. leporispalustris yielding pooled infection rates of 0.2%, 0.2%, and 0.5%, respectively. In addition, 3 rabbits were found to have neutralizing antibodies against POWV indicating exposure to this tick-borne flavivirus. We describe the presence of infected ticks (including juvenile ticks that could bite humans as adults) utilizing rabbits as hosts, as well as evidence of POWV infection (1.75% seroprevalence) in rabbit sera. These results provide useful information about the role of rabbits as hosts to infected ticks, though cannot ascertain their role in the maintenance or the transfer of pathogens from the rabbits to naïve ticks. Future studies are warranted to explore any additional roles these and other lagomorphs may be playing in the enzootic cycle of tick-borne pathogens.
Navigating the tension: US refugee resettlement agency support of postsecondary access
Authors: Casellas Connors Ishara , Unangst Lisa , Evans Kerri
Published: February 2025

In recent years, humanitarian crises have displaced millions of people across the globe. This mixed-methods project examines US refugee resettlement agency (RRA) support for displaced individuals seeking to access postsecondary education. Drawing on survey data and complemented with key stakeholder interviews, we characterize how agencies frame their current populations of clients and their interests in postsecondary education, as well as the projects, programs, and policies RRAs utilize to support displaced peoples’ access to postsecondary education. Through the lenses of neoliberalism and resource dependence theory, we capture how student aspirations inform postsecondary programming and the role of staffing, networks, and partnerships—pointing to the ways that agencies leverage discretionary space. In a real sense, RRAs intervene in neoliberal, exclusionary tactics to ensure that postsecondary education, while aligning with program participants’ aspirations, becomes centered within resettlement.
Gene expression driving ethylene biosynthesis and signaling pathways in ripening tomato fruit; a kinetic modelling approach
Authors: Nguyen Thao Minh Viet , Tran Dinh Thi , Mata Clara I , Van de Poel Bram , Nicolaï Bart M , Hertog Maarten L A T M
Published: February 2025

Ethylene biosynthesis and signaling are pivotal pathways in various plant aging processes, including fruit ripening. Kinetic models can be used to better understand metabolic pathways, but modeling of the ethylene-related pathways is limited and the link between these pathways remains unsolved. A transcriptomics-based kinetic model was developed, consisting of ordinary differential equations describing ethylene biosynthesis and signaling pathways in tomato during fruit development and ripening, both on- and off-vine. This model was calibrated against a large volume of transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic data during on-vine fruit development and ripening of tomato fruit grown in winter and summer. The model was validated using data on off-vine ripening of mature green harvested fruit grown in the same seasons. The ethylene biosynthesis pathway under different conditions appeared to be largely driven by gene expression levels. The ethylene-regulation of fruit ripening of a heat tolerant tomato grown in different seasons is identical but with quantitative differences at the targeted omics levels. This is reflected by some of the same parameters with distinct values for summer and winter fruit. The current model is the first attempt to model the ethylene signaling pathway starting from gene expression, the various protein – protein interactions, including the link with ethylene production, internal ethylene levels and the binding to its receptors.
Inoperable Orbital Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma Treated With Radiation Therapy
Authors: Gutkind Naomi E. , Panneerselvam Sugi , Kiryakoza Lauren C. , Shoji Marissa K. , Chen Ying , Abou-Kzam Rayan , Tang Vincent , Dubovy Sander , Lee Wendy
Published: February 2025

Epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas (EHs) are rare vascular tumors originating from bone or soft tissue. An 81-year-old woman with inoperable EH of the right orbit presented with right-sided decreased vision, proptosis, and facial numbness secondary to a frontotemporal soft tissue mass. Imaging revealed a heterogeneous enhancing mass surrounding the right sphenoid bone extending into the right orbit and right temporal intracranial fossa. The biopsy of the lesion was consistent with EH. The patient received orbital radiation with improvement in her proptosis, vision, and tumor size. However, 20 months later, she developed metastatic spread and her brief improvement rapidly worsened to require eventual enucleation. Orbital EH is rare, with few case reports in the literature. Treatment typically involves complete excision, although adjuvant radiation has been rarely reported. This case highlights rare orbital EH treated initially with radiotherapy with good effect, potentially indicating a role for this palliative therapy in extensive disease.
2-form U(1) spin liquids: A classical model and quantum aspects
Authors: Chung Kristian Tyn Kai , Gingras Michel J. P.
Published: February 2025

We introduce a geometrically frustrated classical Ising model, dubbed the “spin-vorticity model,” whose ground-state manifold is a classical spin liquid: a 2-form Coulomb phase. We study the thermodynamics of this model both analytically and numerically, exposing the presence of algebraically decaying correlations and an extensive ground-state entropy, and give a comprehensive account of its ground-state properties and excitations. Each classical ground state may be decomposed into collections of closed two-dimensional membranes, supporting fractionalized string excitations attached to the edges of open membranes. At finite temperature, the model can then be described as a gas of closed strings in a background of fluctuating membranes. The emergent gauge structure of this spin liquid is naturally placed in the language of 2-form electrodynamics, which describes one-dimensional charged strings coupled to a rank-2 antisymmetric gauge field. After establishing the classical spin-vorticity model, we consider perturbing it with quantum exchange interactions, deriving an effective “membrane exchange” model of the quantum dynamics, analogous to ring exchange in quantum spin ice. We demonstrate the existence of a Rokhsar-Kivelson point where the quantum ground state is an equal-weight superposition of all classical ground-state configurations, i.e., a quantum spin liquid. The quantum aspects of this spin liquid are exposed by mapping the membrane exchange model to a strongly coupled frustrated 2-form U(1) lattice gauge theory. We further demonstrate how to quantize the string excitations by coupling a 1-form string field to the 2-form U(1) gauge field, thus mapping a quantum spin model to a 2-form U(1) gauge-Higgs model. We discuss the stability of the gapless deconfined phase of this gauge theory and the possibility of realizing a class of quantum phases of matter: 2-form U(1) quantum spin liquids.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
In pursuit of the tetratic phase in hard rectangles
Authors: Dertli Denis , Speck Thomas
Published: February 2025

We numerically investigate two-dimensional systems of hard rectangles at constant pressure through extensive hard-particle Monte Carlo simulations. We determine the complete phase diagram as a function of packing fraction and aspect ratio, which consists of four distinct phases. At very high packing fractions, particles assemble into a smectic phase for all aspect ratios. Rodlike particles with large aspect ratio assemble into an intervening nematic phase, which is displaced by a “tetratic” phase (also called biaxial nematic) for moderately elongated rectangles. Surprisingly, we find evidence that the transition from tetratic to smectic is weakly discontinuous at variance with previously proposed two-step scenarios for the melting of hard particles.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Anisotropic Ta2O5 photonic crystal waveguide etching using inductively coupled plasma etching
Authors: Wang Wenjie , Arzubiaga Libe , Shayesteh Maryam , Fenner Stephen , Clark Owain , Charlton Martin D. B.
Published: February 2025

Achieving smooth and vertical sidewall profile in the 2D photonic crystals (PhCs) is crucial for the photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) in integrated optical devices, since “volcano” shaped PhCs lead to light leakage and the drift of photonic bandgap. This paper optimizes the inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE) process for improving the sidewall profile of Ta2O5 PCW with minimum PhC dimension of 300 nm pitch and 185 nm diameter. A set of experiments was generated by statistical software (minitab) to efficiently investigate the region of interest in the process space by varying RF platen power, ICP power, %C4F8 in gas mixture (C4F8 and O2), and chamber pressure. Subsequently, the most suitable experimental conditions were identified and used as the central run for analyzing the influence of individual parameters on ICP etching of Ta2O5. Key findings include the importance of maintaining a 50% C4F8 in total gas flow and trade-offs related to ICP and RF power adjustments. Pressure has a negligible impact on sidewall angle but exerts a more pronounced influence on etch rate and micromasking. A delicate balance among these parameters is crucial for optimal etching results. The recommended recipe (50 W RF platen power, 2000 W ICP power, 10 mTorr pressure, 50% C4F8 in total gas flow) achieves an etch rate of 113.325 nm/min with a smooth and vertical sidewall in PhCs. The entire etching exploration process was conducted on a Ta2O5 layer deposited on a Si substrate. Additionally, this recipe was applied to etch Ta2O5 with a 2 μm SiO2 layer interposed between the Ta2O5 layer and the Si substrate, yielding favorable results and preserving the integrity of the PhC sidewall.
Insights into Cordilleran collisional processes: Early shared history of the Eocene Siletzia and Yakutat terranes as a ridge-centered oceanic plateau
Authors: Donaghy Erin E. , Eddy Michael P. , Ridgway Kenneth D.
Published: February 2025

A regional network of dextral strike-slip faults along the northwestern margin of North America separates crustal fragments of early Eocene oceanic plateau crust by ∼1600 km. In this study, we test the hypothesis that both the Siletzia terrane (Pacific Northwest) and Yakutat terrane (southern Alaska, USA) had a shared origin and early history prior to strike-slip separation. New high-precision U-Pb zircon geochronology (chemical abrasion−isotope dilution−thermal ionization mass spectrometry) from the volcanic strata of the Yakutat oceanic plateau (Hubbs Creek volcanics; HCV) yield an eruption date of 56.26 ± 0.12 Ma, matching the age of the oldest part of Siletzia volcanic strata. The pelagic siltstone of Oily Lake overlies the HCV and is interbedded with a tuff that yields an eruption date of 55.672 ± 0.079 Ma. These strata are coeval with and have similar depositional settings as the precollisional strata of Siletzia. Our findings are consistent with the initial construction of both terranes as conjugate oceanic plateaus that formed on different sides of an Eocene spreading ridge offshore the Pacific Northwest.
Seismic anatomy of Miocene clinoform sequences on the New Jersey (USA) shelf, and implications for sediment transport during base-level rhythms
Authors: Aali Masoud , Nedimović Mladen R. , Gibling Martin R. , Fulthorpe Craig S. , Mountain Gregory S. , Austin, Jr. James A.
Published: February 2025

The New Jersey, USA, continental margin has become a natural laboratory for studying sediment dynamics and sequence architecture associated with eustatic rhythms. We collected 564 km2 of ultrahigh-resolution 3-D seismic data in the region of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 313 to investigate the formation of the shelf and clinoform system during early to middle Miocene time. We identified 22 high-frequency sequences and 76 systems tracts, using a geometric breakdown approach based on changes in the landward and seaward terminations and elevation of clinoform rollovers in successive reflector packages. Predicted petrophysical properties of acoustic impedance, P-wave velocity, density, and clay content show rhythmic patterns that follow the seismic sequence architecture, with landward fining in transgressive deposits and basinward fining in other systems tracts. Similar proportions of lowstand, transgressive, and highstand deposits suggest that sediment accumulated during periods of both rise and fall in relative sea level, with a low proportion of falling-stage deposits (4%), which suggests that forced regression rarely exposed clinoform breakpoints. Maximum dip azimuths for the Miocene section indicate southwestward sediment transport, broadly along strike of the margin. Enhanced sediment accumulation to the southwest caused a 13° anticlockwise rotation in clinoform orientation after the late Oligocene, and this uneven stress load influenced the orientation of contemporary polygonal faults on basinward parts of the clinoforms. In contrast to models that emphasize downslope sediment transport in margin development, we highlight the importance of along-shore advective processes in shaping the New Jersey margin during the Miocene.
Supplemental Material: Lacustrine nitrogen cycling linked to redoxcline fluctuations during the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event
Authors: Li Binbing , Jin Xin , et al.
Published: February 2025

Geochemical parameters of the Anya rocks from the Ordos Basin.
Towards Lifelong Learning of Large Language Models: A Survey
Authors: Zheng Junhao , Qiu Shengjie , Shi Chengming , Ma Qianli
Published: February 2025

As the applications of large language models (LLMs) expand across diverse fields, their ability to adapt to ongoing changes in data, tasks, and user preferences becomes crucial. Traditional training methods with static datasets are inadequate for coping with the dynamic nature of real-world information. Lifelong learning, or continual learning, addresses this by enabling LLMs to learn continuously and adapt over their operational lifetime, integrating new knowledge while retaining previously learned information and preventing catastrophic forgetting. Our survey explores the landscape of lifelong learning, categorizing strategies into two groups based on how new knowledge is integrated: Internal Knowledge, where LLMs absorb new knowledge into their parameters through full or partial training, and External Knowledge, which incorporates new knowledge as external resources like Wikipedia or APIs without updating model parameters. The key contributions of our survey include: (1) Introducing a novel taxonomy to categorize the extensive literature of lifelong learning into 12 scenarios; (2) Identifying common techniques across all lifelong learning scenarios and classifying existing literature into various technique groups; (3) Highlighting emerging techniques such as model expansion and data selection, which were less explored in the pre-LLM era. Resources are available at https://github.com/qianlima-lab/awesome-lifelong-learning-methods-for-llm.
Considering Time and Feature Entropy in Calibrated Recommendations
Authors: da Silva Diego Corrêa , Jannach Dietmar , Durão Frederico Araújo
Published: February 2025

The essence of calibration in recommender systems is to generate recommendations that match the distribution of a given user’s past preferences regarding certain item features—e.g., in terms of preferred genres in the case of movies—while preserving relevance. The user’s past preference distribution is usually derived by considering the features of all items that the user previously liked. However, the most common approach in the literature to derive this distribution has certain limitations. First, it does not consider that user preferences may change over time. Second, there are domains where the relevant item features are set-valued, e.g., a movie can have several genres. In such cases, existing calibration approaches may represent the true user’s preference distribution in a suboptimal way. In this work, we, therefore, propose two novel approaches to derive the preference distributions of users for the purpose of calibration. The first method allows us to decrease the relevance of possibly outdated preference information. The second method is an entropy-based approach, which aims to capture better the user’s true preferences towards certain item features. Extensive experimental evaluations on four distinct datasets confirm that the proposed techniques are more effective in reducing the level of miscalibration than the common state-of-the-art calibration approach.
Momentum-accelerated and Biased Unconstrained Non-negative Latent Factor Model for Handling High-Dimensional and Incomplete Data
Authors: Lin Mingwei , Yang Hengshuo , Xu Xiuqin , Lin Ling , Xu Zeshui , Luo Xin
Published: February 2025

High-dimensional and incomplete (HDI) data are involved frequently in big data-related industrial applications. Latent factor (LF) analysis aims at extracting the knowledge of great value from such extremely sparse HDI data efficiently. Non-negative latent factor models based on the single latent factor-dependent, non-negative and multiplicative update rules exactly are the representative of LF analysis. However, these models face low generalization dilemma due to incompatible with general unconstrained optimization techniques. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel momentum-accelerated and biased unconstrained non-negative latent factor (MBUNLF) model, which matches with unconstrained optimization techniques. The proposed MBUNLF model is built on three main ideas: a) Improving the generalization through a non-negative mapping function; b) Capturing information among different entities through linear biases; c) Accelerating convergence during the training process through generalized momentum method. Empirical studies on six datasets from industrial applications indicate that the proposed MBUNLF model outperforms nine state-of-the-art models when processing HDI data, reducing the root mean square error by 19.47% on average. It demonstrates the validity of the MBUNLF model in extracting non-negative LFs from HDI data.
ORIC: Feature Interaction Detection through Online Random Interaction Chains for Click-Through Rate Prediction
Authors: Kou Yannian , Lin Qiuqiang , Gao Chuanhou
Published: February 2025

Click-Through Rate prediction aims to predict the ratio of clicks to impressions of a specific link, which is challenging due to (1) extremely high-dimensional categorical features; (2) both important original features and their interactions; and (3) reliance on different features and interactions in different time periods. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a new feature interaction detection method based on the idea of frequent itemset mining, named Online Random Intersection Chains (ORIC), which detects informative feature interactions with high interpretability. ORIC can be updated by controlling the importance of the historical and latest data with a tuning parameter, which saves computational burden and makes full use of historical information. Further, Streaming Integrated Model (SIM) is developed to feed the time-varying feature interactions into CTR prediction models. Empirical results on three benchmark datasets show that SIM achieves better performance than many CTR prediction models, as well as the efficiency, consistency and interpretability of ORIC.
The Adoption of Open Source Software Among Universities in Iraq: The Moderating Role of AI Capability
Authors: Qasim Mustafa Moosa , Abdulkareem Ali Raad , Sneesl Radhwan
Published: February 2025

Open source software (OSS) is a trendy innovation that is being used by all organizations. However, the usage of OSS is still limited in higher education. This research examines the adoption of OSS among universities in Iraq, focusing on the moderating role of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The research is aimed at exploring how factors such as perceived ease of use (PEOU), compatibility, perceived risk, security, and cost‐effectiveness influence OSS adoption. Using a quantitative research methodology, data was collected from 272 university decision‐makers and analysed using Smart PLS 4. The results of the study indicate that factors such as PEOU, compatibility, perceived risk, security, and cost‐effectiveness have a significant positive influence on the adoption of OSS. The research findings provide valuable insights for decision‐makers in university settings who are grappling with the intricate process of adopting OSS. These findings offer valuable insights for higher education institutions in Iraq and other developing regions seeking to adopt OSS.
Conversion surgery after immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapy for initially unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Piao Mingjian , Li Chengjie , Huang Ziyue , Zhang Nan , Li Jiongyuan , Yang Xu , Li Shuofeng , Wang Shanshan , Xun Ziyu , Zhang Longhao , Sun Boyu , Zhang Ting , Yang Xiaobo , Zhao Haitao
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence rate and is often asymptomatic in its early stages. Combination therapies using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated survival benefits and high objective response rates, offering hope for conversion surgery in patients with initially unresectable HCC. We aimed to investigate the oncological outcomes of conversion surgery compared to those with continuing systemic treatment alone in patients who responded well to ICIs-based therapy, as well as the surgical outcomes associated with conversion surgery.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with HCC between January 1, 2019 and February 1, 2024. These patients received treatment with ICIs combined with either anti-VEGF antibodies or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Tumor response and resectability were assessed every 2 months. Patients who responded positively and met the criteria for conversion surgery were included.

Results: Among 613 patients with initially unresectable HCC, 128 achieved conversion and met the surgical resection criteria during combination therapy. Of these, 54 continued non-surgical comprehensive treatment, 74 underwent conversion surgery, and 57 continued their original treatment post-surgery. The median follow-up time was 24.1 and 42.5 months for the surgery and non-surgery groups, respectively. The median PFS was 29.4 months in the surgery group versus 11.2 months in the non-surgery group (P<0.0001, hazard ratio [HR]=0.39 [0.24–0.63]). The median OS was not reached in the surgery group, compared to 25.4 months in the non-surgery group (P<0.0001, HR=0.26 [0.14–0.46]). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that conversion surgery was independently associated with improved OS and PFS (P<0.001), and continuing the original treatment post-surgery significantly influenced OS and recurrence -free survival.

Conclusion: Conversion surgery after meeting the surgical criteria during immunotherapy provides significant prognostic benefits for patients with initially unresectable HCC, demonstrating high safety and R0 resection rates. For those undergoing conversion surgery, promptly resuming the original treatment after surgery is necessary.
Two new bamboo feeding leafhopper species of the subfamily Deltocephalinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from China
Authors: HUANG YIHONG , TANG LIUHONG , HUANG YINGYING , WEBB MICHAEL D. , DUAN YANI
Published: February 2025

Two new bamboo feeding leafhopper species of the subfamily Deltocephalinae, from China, are described and illustrated: Bambusananus anhuiensis Huang & Tang, sp. nov. (Athysanini) and Scaphotettix aurantiacus Huang & Tang, sp. nov. (Mukariini). Checklists to the two tribes and two genera from China are given and keys to the species of the two genera are provided.
A synopsis of the genus Salvina Melichar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Neocoelidiinae) with two new combinations, key to males, and list of host plants for the subfamily
Authors: GONÇALVES CLAYTON CORRÊA , DOMAHOVSKI ALEXANDRE CRUZ , PALADINI ANDRESSA
Published: February 2025

Neocoelidiinae comprises leafhoppers endemic to the New World, with the highest diversity found in the Neotropical Region. Currently, there are 200 valid species within 36 genera. In this study, we transfer Coelidiana distinctissima Linnavuori, 1965 and C. undata (Linnavuori, 1956) to the genus Salvina Melichar, 1926, describe and illustrate the female genitalia of Salvina undata comb. nov., and report a new record for the species in the state of Paraná. Additionally, we provide a new diagnosis for the genus, propose an identification key for males, and conduct a literature survey of host plant records for neocoelidiine species.