bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the accuracy of data assimilation algorithms for dense flow field reconstructions
Authors: Sciacchitano A. , Leclaire B. , Schröder A.
Published: February 2025

Within the framework of the European Union Horizon 2020 project HOMER (Holistic Optical Metrology for Aero-Elastic Research), data assimilation (DA) algorithms for dense flow field reconstructions developed by different research teams, hereafter referred to as the participants, were comparatively assessed. The assessment is performed using a synthetic database that reproduces the turbulent flow in the wake of a cylinder in ground effect, placed at the distance of one diameter from a lower wall. Downstream of the cylinder, this wall continues either in the form of a flat steady wall, or of a flexible panel undergoing periodic oscillations; these two situations correspond to two different test cases, the latter being introduced to extend the evaluation to fluid–structure interaction problems. The input data for the data assimilation algorithms were datasets containing the particle locations and their trajectories identification numbers, at increasing tracer concentrations from 0.04 to 1.4 particles/mm3 (equivalent image density values between 0.005 and 0.16 particles per pixel, ppp). The outputs of the DA algorithms considered for the assessment were the three components of the velocity, the nine components of the velocity gradient tensor and the static pressure, defined in the flow field on a Cartesian grid, as well as the static pressure on the wall surface, and its position in the deformable wall case. The results were analysed in terms of errors of the output quantities with respect to the ground-truth values and their distributions. Additionally, the performances of the different DA algorithms were compared with that of a standard linear interpolation approach. The velocity errors were found in the range between 3 and 11% of the bulk velocity; furthermore, the use of the DA algorithms enabled an increase of the measurement spatial resolution by a factor between 3 and 4. The errors of the velocity gradients were of the order of 10–15% of the peak vorticity magnitude. Accurate pressure reconstruction was achieved in the flow field, whereas the evaluation of the surface pressure revealed more challenging. As expected, lower errors were obtained for increasing seeding concentration. The difference of accuracy among the results of the different data assimilation algorithms was noticeable especially for the pressure field and the compliance with governing equations of fluid motion, and in particular mass conservation. The analysis of the flexible panel test case showed that the panel position could be reconstructed with micrometric accuracy, rather independently of the data assimilation algorithm and the seeding concentration. The accurate evaluation of the static pressure field and of the surface pressure proved to be a challenge, with typical errors between 3 and 20% of the free-stream dynamic pressure.
Upright positioning facilitates the absorption of macular hole-related oedema
Authors: Forsaa Vegard A. , Lindtjørn Birger , Dahlø Kristian , Ushakova Anastasia , Krohn Jørgen
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To investigate changes in macular hole-related oedema depending on positioning.

Methods

Prospective interventional study of 40 patients with primary macular hole (MH). Optical coherence tomography scanning was done at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Between the first and second scanning, the patients were instructed to stay upright, whereas they were positioned recumbent thereafter. Automated mean retinal thickness measurements were derived from the ETDRS grid for the central, parafoveal, and perifoveal subfields. Mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) was calculated for all time points. Primary endpoints were changes in MH-related oedema from 9 a.m.−1 p.m., and from 1 p.m.−3 p.m.

Results

In upright position from 9 a.m.−1 p.m., the mean parafoveal retinal thickness decreased from 362 μm (SD = 56) to 350 μm (SD = 51) (P < 0.001). The reduction of MH-related oedema when upright was positively correlated with a reduction in MOPP. Eyes with vitreomacular traction (VMT) exhibited significantly less reduction in MH-related oedema compared to eyes without VMT. In recumbent position from 1 p.m.−3 p.m., the mean parafoveal retinal thickness increased to 356 μm (SD = 52) (P = 0.002).

Conclusion

MH-related oedema belongs to the non-vasogenic cystoid maculopathies. The decrease in MH-related oedema when upright and its positive correlation to a reduction in MOPP is therefore unexpected. In recumbent position, the situation is reversed, and the oedema increases. This may be related to subtle leakage from the retinal capillaries. The presence of VMT seems to counteract the resolution of the oedema. In a clinical setting, upright positioning after MH surgery facilitates absorption of the oedema which is beneficial for MH closure.

Key messages

What is known
:

Macular hole formation is associated with cystoid macular oedema, possibly due to hydration of the outer retinal layers exposed to the hypotonic vitreous fluid. This oedema promotes the elevation of the hole edges from the retinal pigment epithelium.

What is new
:

Macular hole-related oedema decreases when the patients are upright and increases, in parallel with an increase in mean minimum macular hole diameter, when they are recumbent.

The reduction of macular oedema is correlated with a reduction in mean ocular perfusion pressure, indicating that the oedema is influenced by subtle leakage from retinal capillaries.

The results suggest that upright positioning might be beneficial in the early postoperative period of macular hole surgery.
The prognostic value of the tumor-stroma ratio compared to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer: a review
Authors: Andour Layla , Hagenaars Sophie C. , Gregus Barbara , Tőkes Anna Mária , Karancsi Zsófia , Tollenaar Rob A. E. M. , Kroep Judith R. , Kulka Janina , Mesker Wilma E.
Published: February 2025

Previous literature extensively explored biomarkers to personalize treatment for breast cancer patients. The clinical need is especially high in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment modalities. This review aims to evaluate the value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) as prognostic biomarkers in TNBC patients and assess their clinical potential. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Emcare, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Papers comparing survival outcomes of TNBC patients with low/high or negative/positive TSR and immune cells were included. The most frequently mentioned subgroups of TILs were selected and reported in this review. Data from 43 articles on TILs and eight articles on TSR were included. Among TNBC patients, high CD8 expression was generally associated with better survival. Notable, the poor survival outcomes were related to high intra-tumoral PD-L1 expression, whereas high stromal PD-L1 expression more often was correlated with favorable outcomes. For the TSR, a high amount of stroma in the primary tumor of TNBC patients was consistently associated with worse survival. This review highlights that a high number of CD8-positive T-cells is a promising prognostic factor for TNBC patients. PD-L1 expression analyzed for intra-tumoral and stromal expression separately reports strong but contrasting information. Finally, the TSR shows potential to be an important prognostic marker, especially for TNBC patients. Utilizing both biomarkers, either on itself or combined, could enhance clinical decision-making and personalization of treatment.
Global dysregulation of circular RNAs in frontal cortex and whole blood from DM1 and DM2
Authors: Srinivasan Arvind , Magner Dorota , Kozłowski Piotr , Philips Anna , Kajdasz Arkadiusz , Wojciechowski Paweł , Wojciechowska Marzena
Published: February 2025

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorders associated with expansions of microsatellites, respectively, in DMPK and CNBP. Their pathogenesis is linked to the global aberrant alternative splicing (AAS) of many genes and marks mostly muscular and neuronal tissues, while blood is the least affected. Recent data in DM1 skeletal muscles indicated that abnormalities in RNA metabolism also include global upregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs). CircRNAs are a heterogeneous group considered splicing errors and by-products of canonical splicing. To elucidate whether circRNA dysregulation is an inherent feature of the myotonic environment, we perform their analysis in the frontal cortex and whole blood of DM1 and DM2 patients. We find a global elevation of circRNAs in both tissues, and its magnitude is neither correlated with the differences in their parental gene expression nor is associated with AAS published earlier. Aberrantly spliced cassette exons of linear transcripts affected in DM1 and DM2 are not among the circularized exons, which unique genomic features prerequisite back-splicing. However, the blueprint of the AAS of linear RNAs is found in a variety of circRNA isoforms. The heterogeneity of circRNAs also originates from the utilization of exonic and intronic cryptic donors/acceptors in back splice junctions, and intron-containing circRNAs are more characteristic of the blood. Overall, this study reveals circRNA dysregulation in various tissues from DM1 and DM2; however, their levels do not correlate with the AAS in linear RNAs, suggesting a potential independent regulatory mechanism underlying circRNA upregulation in myotonic dystrophy.
Recurrence and survival after robotic vs laparoscopic liver resection in very-early to early-stage (BCLC 0-A) hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Bernardi Lorenzo , Balzano Emanuele , Roesel Raffaello , Senatore Annamaria , Pezzati Daniele , Catalano Gabriele , Garo Maria Luisa , Tincani Giovanni , Majno-Hurst Pietro , Ghinolfi Davide , Cristaudi Alessandra
Published: February 2025

Background

Robotic (RLR) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide similar short-term outcomes, but data focused on recurrence and survival are still lacking. We hypothesized non-inferior oncologic results of RLR compared to LLR for HCC of stage BCLC 0-A.

Methods

RLRs and LLRs on patients with HCC of stage BCLC 0-A and preserved liver function (Child A or B if cirrhosis) were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to mitigate selection bias. The primary endpoints were recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints were incidence, pattern, and treatment of recurrences.

Results

After 1:1 PSM, two groups (RLR = 68; LLR = 68) of patients with similar characteristics, liver function and HCC features were obtained: median age 71-years, males 73.5%, underlying cirrhosis 91.2% (Child A, 96.8%, MELD ≤ 9, 96.0%), portal hypertension 22.1%, single-HCC 90.4%. Two- and 5-year RFS were 78.0 vs 59.0% and 54.0 vs 53.0% (p = 0.107), while OS was 97.0 vs 90.0% and 87.0 vs 90.0% (p = 0.951) for RLR vs LLR, respectively. Incidence of HCC recurrence was similar (35.3 vs 39.7%; p = 0.723). Recurrences developed mostly within the liver (29.4 vs 30.9%; p = 1.000) and within 2 years after hepatectomy (19.1 vs 32.4%, p = 0.116) in RLR vs LLRs. Curative-intent treatment of recurrences did not differ (liver transplantation 19.6%, redo-resection 15.7%, locoregional treatments 52.9%) except for a tendency toward more redo-resections for recurrences after RLR.

Conclusions

Oncologic outcomes of RLR were not inferior to those of LLR in selected HCC patients of stage BCLC 0-A with underlying cirrhosis. Both techniques guaranteed similar salvageability in case of HCC recurrence.
Deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamic region: a systematic review
Authors: Mofatteh Mohammad , Mohamed Abdulkadir , Mashayekhi Mohammad Sadegh , Skandalakis Georgios P. , Neudorfer Clemens , Arfaie Saman , MohanaSundaram ArunSundar , Sabahi Mohammadmahdi , Anand Ayush , Aboulhosn Rabii , Liao Xuxing , Horn Andreas , Ashkan Keyoumars
Published: February 2025

Background

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been successfully used for the treatment of circuitopathies including movement, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. The hypothalamus is a crucial integration center for many peripheral and central pathways relating to cardiovascular, metabolic, and behavioral functions and constitutes a potential target for neuromodulation in treatment-refractory conditions. To conduct a systematic review, investigating hypothalamic targets in DBS, their indications, and the primary clinical findings.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched in accordance with the PRISMA guideline to identify papers published in English studying DBS of the hypothalamus in humans.

Results

After screening 3,148 papers, 34 studies consisting of 412 patients published over two decades were included in the final review. Hypothalamic DBS was indicated in refractory headaches (n = 238, 57.8%), aggressive behavior (n = 100, 24.3%), mild Alzheimer’s disease (n = 58, 14.1%), trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis (n = 5, 1.2%), Prader-Willi syndrome (n = 4, 0.97%), and atypical facial pain (n = 3, 0.73%). The posterior hypothalamus was the most common DBS target site across 30 studies (88.2%). 262 (63.6%) participants were males, and 110 (26.7%) were females. 303 (73.5%) patients were adults whereas 33 (8.0%) were pediatrics. The lowest mean age of participants was 15.25 ± 4.6 years for chronic refractory aggressiveness, and the highest was 68.5 ± 7.9 years in Alzheimer’s disease patients. The mean duration of the disease ranged from 2.2 ± 1.7 (mild Alzheimer’s disease) to 19.8 ± 10.1 years (refractory headaches). 213 (51.7%) patients across 29 studies (85.3%) reported symptom improvements which ranged from 23.1% to 100%. 25 (73.5%) studies reported complications, most of which were associated with higher voltage stimulations.

Conclusions

DBS of the hypothalamus is feasible in selected patients with various refractory conditions ranging from headaches to aggression in both pediatric and adult populations. Future large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are required to validate the safety and efficacy data and extend these findings.
Has a fast treatment transition from surgical to endovascular operations improved the survival of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Authors: Asikainen Aleksanteri , Rautalin Ilari , Raj Rahul , Korja Miikka , Niemelä Mika
Published: February 2025

Background

Several studies have attributed decreasing case fatality rates (CFRs) of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) to the gradually increasing use of endovascular treatment without considering improvements in other outcome-affecting factors. To assess the independent effect of a treatment modality on CFRs, we investigated CFR changes in a high-volume center rapidly transitioning from surgical to endovascular operations as the first-line treatment for all aSAH patients except those with middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms.

Methods

We identified all surgically/endovascularly treated aSAH patients in Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) during 2012–2017. As the treatment shift occurred in 2015, we defined two treatment eras: surgical (2012–2014) and endovascular (2015–2017). We compared time-dependent changes in 1-year CFRs between non-MCA and MCA patients using a Poisson regression model. To analyze consistency in operation rates, we also identified sudden-death and conservatively treated aSAHs in the HUH catchment area via two externally validated registers.

Results

Of all 665 hospitalized aSAH cases in the HUH catchment area, 557 (84%) received operative treatment; 367 (66%) underwent surgical and 190 (34%) endovascular operations. Between the treatment eras, endovascular treatment for non-MCA cases increased from 21 to 79%, whereas 99% of the MCA cases were treated surgically during the whole study-period. Among the operatively treated patients, the 1-year CFRs decreased similarly in patients with non-MCA (42%; from 14 to 8%; adjusted risk ratio (aRR) = 0.66 (95% CI 0.37–1.19)) and MCA aneurysms (42%; from 15 to 9%; aRR = 0.66 (0.16–1.60)). The proportion of operatively treated patients, their clinical condition on admission, and amount of bleeding on the first CT-scan remained unchanged over time.

Conclusions

We found similar CFR decreases in aSAH groups with and without undergoing a fast transition from surgery to endovascular operations, providing real-world evidence on the small independent effect of endovascular treatment on the decreasing CFRs in high-volume centers.
Coated sutures for use in oral surgery: a comprehensive review
Authors: Makrygiannis Ioannis H. , Nikolaidis Alexandros K. , Tilaveridis Ioannis , Kouvelas Alexis D. , Lykakis Ioannis Ν. , Venetis Gregory
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Clinicians have access to a variety of suture materials for effective wound repair. Recent studies have suggested utilizing coatings on sutures to enhance their properties. Literature indicates that such coatings may improve the tensile strength of sutures and augment their antimicrobial capabilities. Various materials, including zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, and antimicrobial agents, have been investigated. This study aims to elucidate the materials utilized for coating sutures, identify the types of sutures employed, and detail the properties imparted by each coating.

Method

A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases using the keywords “coat*,” “sutures,” and “oral surgery.”

Results

20 articles met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into this review. The literature is sparse regarding comparative studies on sutures with specific coatings. Triclosan-coated sutures have not shown a significant reduction in microbial load in oral surgery. However, silver nanoparticle coatings have been effective in reducing wound contamination. Antiseptic-coated silk sutures demonstrated significantly lower microbial colonization compared to controls. Notably, sutures with lycopene coatings did not exhibit superior antimicrobial or mechanical properties to uncoated sutures. ZnO nanoparticle-coated silk fibers displayed higher tensile strength than their uncoated counterparts. Other coatings, such as silicone or wax, have been developed to reduce suture friction.

Conclusion

In oral surgery, the effectiveness of coatings remains limited, potentially due to the high microbial load present in the anatomical region. Many coated materials are available for use in oral surgical sutures, but further research is necessary. Timely removal of sutures is recommended to minimize the risk of surgical wound infections, along with maintaining good oral hygiene.
An adaptive, provable correct simplex architecture
Authors: Maderbacher Benedikt , Schupp Stefan , Bartocci Ezio , Bloem Roderick , Ničković Dejan , Könighofer Bettina
Published: February 2025

Simplex architectures optimize performance and safety by switching between an advanced controller and a base controller. We propose an approach to synthesize the switching logic and extensions of the base controller in the Simplex architectures to achieve high performance and provable correctness for a rich class of temporal specifications by maximizing the time the advanced controller is active. We achieve provable correctness by performing static verification of the baseline controller. The result of this verification is a set of states that is proven to be safe, called the recoverable region. We employ proofs on demand to ensure that the base controller is safe in those states that are visited during runtime, which depends on the advanced controller. Verification of hybrid systems is often overly conservative, resulting in smaller recoverable regions that cause unnecessary switches to the baseline controller. To avoid these switches, we invoke targeted reachability queries to extend the recoverable region at runtime. In case the recoverable region cannot be extended using the baseline controller, we employ a repair procedure. This tries to synthesize a patch for the baseline controller and can further extend the recoverable region. Our offline and online verification relies upon reachability analysis since it allows observation-based extension of the known recoverable region. We implemented our methodology on top of the state-of-the-art tool HyPro which allowed us to automatically synthesize verified and performant Simplex architectures for advanced case studies, like safe autonomous driving on a race track.
Paternalism attitudes and the happiness value of fundamental freedoms
Authors: Konrad Kai A. , Simon Sven A.
Published: February 2025

Governmental regulations and prohibitions may effectively reduce self-harming behavior, but might also restrict personal freedom rights. This paper investigates into individuals’ preferences for the trade-off between being protected from taking self-harming actions by the state, and the desire to be free to choose. We introduce the Paternalism Preference Index to measure this preference. Our results indicate considerable heterogeneity in how individuals support, or object to, such governmental prescriptions. More importantly, we show the importance of the paternalism preference in a survey on life satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic. We find a reversed relationship between the preference for paternalistic state interventions and the valuation of personal freedoms. Individuals who prefer to have a larger choice set at the expense of committing potentially self-harming actions derive a higher value from personal freedoms in terms of life satisfaction.
A cluster of patterns for trusted computing
Authors: Fernandez Eduardo B. , Muñoz Antonio
Published: February 2025

The proliferation of Internet of Things and cyberphysical systems has introduced unprecedented challenges in ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of critical data, making robust security mechanisms essential. There are several mechanisms intended to assure trust with respect to the software loaded into the system and the trustworthiness of the boot process. These mechanisms start from a Root of Trust (RoT), from where all the other trusts, e.g., for components and software are derived. As part of the RoT, a Secure Storage is needed. This Secure Storage can be considered as part of the RoT or considered a separate component. After a RoT is established, a Trusted Boot can be performed. The execution of computational processes can then be supported by using separate execution zones (Zone Isolation). More complex trust functions such as remote attestation can be performed by a Trusted Platform Module
(TPM). In this paper, we propose security patterns for these components. The abstraction power of patterns can be used to define the basic aspects that each of these components must have, thus serving as reference for designers and for security evaluation.
Overcoming water quality effects in biological monitoring: a case study of amphipod in situ exposures in Ontario agricultural streams
Authors: Hammond Matthew , Brown Lisa , Struger John , Grapentine Lee , Palace Vince , Bartlett Adrienne J.
Published: February 2025

Bioindicators add valuable understanding of biological impacts to contaminant monitoring programs. However, attributing effects (e.g., mortality and growth impairment) to contaminant exposures is challenging because of potential confounding by environmental variables. We assessed the influence of four water quality variables (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity) on contaminant effects assessments during in situ exposures of the amphipod Hyalella azteca in six agricultural and urban watersheds in southern Ontario, Canada (2005–06, 2008–10). We further tested whether sampling in specific months of the growing season would minimize confounding effects. While high toxicity from organophosphate and carbamate pesticides increased mortality and reduced growth in caged amphipods, warmer stream temperatures also affected endpoints, increasing mortality and improving growth. Seasonal patterns indicated early summer (June) as optimal for detecting impacts when: (1) stream pesticide concentrations were highest, (2) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition (a biomarker of organophosphate/carbamate exposure) was highest, and (3) stream temperature was below its seasonal peak. Specifically, higher correlations among organophosphate pesticide concentrations, AChE inhibition, and mortality indicated better attribution of cause in this month (r = 0.53—0.76, p < 0.05). Ability to discriminate between pesticide-impacted sites and reference sites was also greater than other months (June = 100% correct assignment as high-impact or reference site). Considering sampling times of stream bioindicators that maximize pesticide responses and limit confounding effects of water quality may improve the accuracy and resource-efficiency of biological monitoring programs.
Subjective School Experience and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fernandez-Urbano Roger , Salza Guido , Samuel Robin
Published: February 2025

School life is an important determinant of adolescents’ subjective well-being. While there is now an extensive literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents’ well-being, adolescents’ school experience during the pandemic and how it relates to different dimensions of their subjective well-being has received little attention. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between young people’s school experience and their cognitive and affective subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Luxembourg. We rely on a unique two-wave panel dataset that contains granular information about young people’s lives shortly after the onset of the pandemic in July 2020 and one year later in July 2021. Our study extends the current scientific knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic by highlighting that while school experience has a weak relationship with affective subjective well-being (i.e., happiness), it is strongly associated with cognitive subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction), particularly one year after the pandemic outbreak for those with more negative feelings about school. Our study also reveals that our results on cognitive well-being are stratified by social status.
Theranostic Near-Infrared Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (NMI) Protein Binding Interactions with MAOA and Albumin
Authors: Irwin Ronald W. , Shah Unnati H. , Soni Shivani , Lenz Heinz Josef , Shih Jean C.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The protein binding interactions of near-infrared monoamine oxidase inhibitor (NMI) are reported here.

Methods

NMI-bound proteins were examined by fluorescent SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry using tumor tissues from brain and colon cancer mouse models.

Results

This study shows protein interactions with NMI, a chemical conjugate of MAOA inhibitor clorgyline and tumor-seeking dye, MHI-148. NMI fluorescence in MAOA knock-out (KO) mice was significantly lower compared to WT mice, including whole animal, organs, and tissue lysates which indicated that NMI binds to MAOA. Pure recombinant MAOA protein was detectable as a single fluorescent band that migrated at ~ 65kD. NMI inhibited MAOA activity (IC50 1–5 µM). In a glioma mouse model, NMI targeted specifically to tumor with high contrast to adjacent normal brain, shown by a 65 kD protein band. Recent studies demonstrated heptamethine cyanine dyes (e.g., MHI-148) interact with serum albumin, contributing to tumor uptake and cancer cell internalization. Our study shows NMI binds to albumin but highly prefers MAOA, providing a plausible mechanism for systemic drug delivery via serum albumin to the tumor target and subsequent MAOA inhibition. Further studies in a colon cancer mouse model found the ~ 65 kD SDS-PAGE band, bound to NMI, contained both MAOA and albumin proteins by mass spectrometry.

Conclusion

NMI was shown to interact with MAOA and the blood carrier protein, albumin. This study provides insights for drug delivery and protein target specificity of NMI to image and treat cancer.
Low-Temperature Aqueous Alteration of Chondrites
Authors: Lee Martin R. , Alexander Conel M. O’D. , Bischoff Addi , Brearley Adrian J. , Dobrică Elena , Fujiya Wataru , Le Guillou Corentin , King Ashley J. , van Kooten Elishevah , Krot Alexander N. , Leitner Jan , Marrocchi Yves , Patzek Markus , Petaev Michail I. , Piani Laurette , Pravdivtseva Olga , Remusat Laurent , Telus Myriam , Tsuchiyama Akira , Vacher Lionel G.
Published: February 2025

Chondritic meteorites (chondrites) contain evidence for the interaction of liquid water with the interiors of small bodies early in Solar System history. Here we review the processes, products and timings of the low-temperature aqueous alteration reactions in CR, CM, CI and ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites, the asteroids Ryugu and Bennu, and hydrated dark clasts in different types of meteorites. We first consider the nature of chondritic lithologies and the insights that they provide into alteration conditions, subdivided by the mineralogy and petrology of hydrated chondrites, the mineralogy of hydrated dark clasts, the effects of alteration on presolar grains, and the evolution of organic matter. We then describe the properties of the aqueous fluids and how they reacted with accreted material as revealed by physicochemical modelling and hydrothermal experiments, the analysis of fluid inclusions in aqueously formed minerals, and isotope tracers. Lastly, we outline the chronology of aqueous alteration reactions as determined using the 53Mn-53Cr and 129I-129Xe systems.
Mesoporous Silica-Polyethyleneimine Composites as High-Capacity Adsorbents for CO2 Adsorption: Isotherm and Thermodynamic Analysis
Authors: Yargıç Adife Şeyda , Şener Mustafa
Published: February 2025

In this study, polyethyleneimine-mesoporous silica composite materials were prepared and the effectiveness of the promising sorbents in adsorbing CO2 was evaluated, along with the impacts of the silica support types (Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN) and Mobil Composition of Matter No.48 (MCM-48)), polyethyleneimine (PEI) loading percentages (50 and 70 wt.%), calcination, surface functionalization by alkyl chains (CTMABr), and adsorption temperature (75 and 100 °C). The analysis’s results revealed that the pores of the sorbents were mostly covered with PEI molecules following PEI-functionalization, and the specific surface area and pore volume were also reduced with rising amine content. The highest CO2 adsorption capacities were achieved for UC-MCM-48–50 and UC-MSN–50 at 2.26 mmol/g and 3.31 mmol/g, respectively. The CO2 uptake capacities of CC-MSN–50 and CC-MCM-48–50, composed by dispersing CTMABr surfactant with the calcined materials before incorporating PEI, were remarkably similar to those of non-surfactant functionalized adsorbents. When the temperature’s influence on CO2 adsorption capacity was evaluated, the maximum holding capability adsorbent UC-MSN–50 had a slight increase in adsorption capacity (~ 3.6%), whereas UC-MCM-48–50 had a considerable drop (~ 23.9%) as the temperature elevated to 100 °C. Besides, Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin isotherms were used to model pure CO2 adsorption data, and a thermodynamic study was applied. In conclusion, a low-cost and more beneficial approach, which included less PEI handling and eliminating the calcination step, was implemented to enhance the CO2 sorption capacity of composites of PEI with the long alkyl chain template MCM-48 or MSN silica support materials.
Lung cell toxicological effects of 3D printer aerosolized filament byproducts
Authors: Beard Jonathan M. , Royer Brooke M. , Hesita Jacob M. , Byrley Peter , Lewis Ashley , Hadynski John , Matheson Joanna , Al-Abed Souhail R. , Sayes Christie M.
Published: February 2025

As 3D printing has become more compact and affordable, the use of the technology has become more prevalent across household, classroom, and small business settings. The emissions of fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers consist of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosolized particulate matter (PM) dependent upon the filament in use. This study investigates the hazards posed by these emissions through aerosol characterization and cell exposure. Seventeen filaments were obtained from five manufacturers, consisting of fourteen plastic filaments (polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polycarbonate (PC) polymers) and three filaments with metal filler (copper, bronze, and steel). For 1-h trials, BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells were directly exposed to aerosolized 3D printer emissions at the air–liquid interface (ALI). Particle characterization showed ABS filaments produced more PM and VOC emissions with particles in the ultrafine size range. ABS filaments also elicited a greater biological response, with significant shifts in mitochondrial activity compared to the PLA filaments. Significant changes in amounts of glutathione (GSH) were observed after ABS and PLA emission exposure. Exposure to emissions from the steel filament resulted in the lowest average amount of glutathione, though insignificant, and a significantly lower mitochondrial activity, revealing a unique cause for concern among filaments tested. 3D printer emissions and subsequent cell responses appear filament-dependent, and users should mitigate personal exposure to aerosols.

Graphical abstract

Made using elements from BioRender.
Wie können Studierende über gesundheitsförderliche Angebote an ihrem Studienort informiert werden?
Authors: Kneer K. J. , Kliner A. , Kielin K. , Rüttinger D. , Walter V. , Reusch A. , Neuderth S.
Published: February 2025

Hintergrund

Studierende weisen spezifische gesundheitsbezogene Problemlagen auf und besitzen häufig unzureichende Kenntnisse über regionale Angebote der Gesundheitsförderung. Das Ziel der Studie war die Entwicklung und Umsetzung einer bedarfsgerechten Informationsstrategie zu gesundheitsförderlichen Angeboten.

Methode

Studierende wurden per Online-Fragebogen und in Fokusgruppen zu Bedarfen und Wünschen im Hinblick auf Gesundheitsförderung befragt. Auf Basis der Ergebnisse wurden eine Website und ein Social-Media-Kanal entwickelt und umgesetzt.

Ergebnisse

In der Befragung wurden die Gesundheitsbereiche „Stress“ und „psychische Belastung“ als besonders relevant betrachtet. In den Fokusgruppen wurde die Hochschule in der Pflicht gesehen, als Ansprechpartner zu und Anbieter von gesundheitspräventiven Leistungen aufzutreten. Über die Angebotslandschaft waren die Studierende unzureichend informiert. Die Informationssuche erfolgte digital und eher unsystematisch. Für die Website, die im November 2023 ans Netz ging, wurden die regionalen Angebote grafisch aufbereitet. Die Akzeptanz der Seite ist – basierend auf den Besucherzahlen – gut. Der Instagramkanal startete im Juni 2022 und konnte über 16.700 Konten erreichen.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Hochschulen sind gefordert, als Ansprechpartner zu und Anbieter von gesundheitsförderlichen Angeboten aufzutreten. Initiativen zum studentischen Gesundheitsmanagement (SGM) sind häufig über Projektmittel zeitlich befristet finanziert. Eine Verstetigung könnte die Gesundheitskompetenz fördern und zur Profilbildung von Hochschulen beitragen. Darüber hinaus bedarf es der zielgruppenspezifischen digitalen Information zu regionalen Angeboten und einer tragfähigen Verstetigungsstrategie.
The Influence of Different Hot-Dip Zinc Coating Types on the Gas Metal Arc Welding of Galvanized Steel Sheets
Authors: Sejč Pavol , Gábrišová Zuzana , Vanko Branislav , Belanová Judita
Published: February 2025

The work was focused on evaluating the influence of the structure of the protective Zn coating on steel sheets on arc welding. Two types of galvanized steel sheets were used in the experiments, HX340LAD + ZF (GA type) and HX300LAD + Z (GI type), with a thickness of 2 mm. First, the analysis of the structure of the Zn protective layer was carried out on the selected materials. After that, test welds were made using the gas metal arc (GMA) welding in the short-circuit metal transfer. The influence of the type of protective Zn coating on the occurrence of defects, the geometry of the weld, and the stability of the welding process was evaluated. From the achieved results, it can be concluded that the protective Zn layer on the HX340LAD + ZF sheet was formed by intermetallic phases FexZny-Fe concentration ranged from 19.0 wt.% (at the steel plate coating interface) up to 9.5 wt.% (on the coating surface). An Fe-Al inhibitor layer was observed at the steel sheet-coating interface of the HX300LAD + Z material, while the Fe content in the Zn coating decreased from 8.2 to 0.8 wt.% towards the surface. Better weld evaluation results were achieved on samples made on HX340LAD + ZF galvanized sheet. The welds were without porosity, and the stability parameter (electric arc stability criterion) was almost two times smaller than the stability parameter in the evaluation of the HX300LAD + Z sheet metal welding process.
Port Site Placement and Outcomes for Surgical Obesity and Metabolic Surgeries (PSPOSO) Checklist: A New Reporting Checklist Based on Evidential Assessment of the Number of Trocars and Positions
Authors: Zidan Mohamed H. , El-Masry Hassan , Amgad Ahmed , Altabbaa Hashem , Abdou Marwan Emad , Amer Samar A. , Zayed Nour , Ismail Haidy Osama , Alokl Mohammed , Abokhozima Ahmed
Published: February 2025

Since the early 1980s, efforts to standardize ergonomic practices in laparoscopic surgeries have aimed to improve procedural efficiency and reduce complications, but clinical validation remains limited. In metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBS), innovations in trocar site placements, driven by the popularity of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), have advanced surgical techniques. However, practices often vary based on individual surgeon preferences rather than standardized evidence-based criteria. This study introduces the Port Site Placement and Outcomes for Surgical Obesity and Metabolic Surgeries (PSPOSO) checklist, aiming to standardize port placements and improve reporting consistency. A systematic review and meta-analysis of LSG studies were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Data were extracted from 34 studies involving 7173 cases. Key variables included port configurations, manipulation angles, and outcomes such as operative time and excess weight loss percentage (EWL%). Innovative methods were used to estimate manipulation and azimuth angles from available intraoperative images. Statistical analyses and meta-regression were performed to identify associations between port configurations and surgical outcomes. Findings revealed substantial variability in port placements, with no significant effect of manipulation angles or port numbers on operative time or EWL% at 6, 12, and 24 months (p-values > 0.05). High residual heterogeneity suggests that factors beyond manipulation angles and port counts contribute to outcome variability. The PSPOSO checklist provides a framework for standardizing port placement and ergonomic parameters in MBS, enhancing reproducibility and safety. Future studies should validate the checklist across diverse clinical settings to refine surgical approaches and improve patient outcomes. PROSPERO: CRD42024598674.
Overcoming annotation bottlenecks in underwater fish segmentation: a robust self-supervised learning approach
Authors: Saleh Alzayat , Sheaves Marcus , Jerry Dean , Azghadi Mostafa Rahimi
Published: February 2025

Accurate fish segmentation in underwater videos is challenging due to low visibility, variable lighting, and dynamic backgrounds, making fully-supervised methods that require manual annotation impractical for many applications. This paper introduces a novel self-supervised learning approach for fish segmentation using Deep Learning. Our model, trained without manual annotation, learns robust and generalizable representations by aligning features across augmented views and enforcing spatial-temporal consistency. We demonstrate its effectiveness on three challenging underwater video datasets: DeepFish, Seagrass, and YouTube-VOS, surpassing existing self-supervised methods and achieving segmentation accuracy comparable to fully-supervised methods without the need for costly annotations. Trained on DeepFish, our model exhibits strong generalization, achieving high segmentation accuracy on the unseen Seagrass and YouTube-VOS datasets. Furthermore, our model is computationally efficient due to its parallel processing and efficient anchor sampling technique, making it suitable for real-time applications and potential deployment on edge devices. We present quantitative results using Jaccard Index and Dice coefficient, as well as qualitative comparisons, showcasing the accuracy, robustness, and efficiency of our approach for advancing underwater video analysis.
The Metabolic Profile of Plasma During Epileptogenesis in a Rat Model of Lithium–Pilocarpine-Induced Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Antmen Fatma Merve , Matpan Emir , Dayanc Ekin Dongel , Savas Eylem Ozge , Eken Yunus , Acar Dilan , Ak Alara , Ozefe Begum , Sakar Damla , Canozer Ufuk , Sancak Sehla Nurefsan , Ozdemir Ozkan , Sezerman Osman Ugur , Baykal Ahmet Tarık , Serteser Mustafa , Suyen Guldal
Published: February 2025

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) arises mostly because of an initial injury. Certain stimuli can make a normal brain prone to repeated, spontaneous seizures via a process called epileptogenesis. This study examined the plasma metabolomics profile in rats with the induced TLE to identify feasible biomarkers that can distinguish progression of epileptogenesis in three different time points and reveal the underlying mechanisms of epileptogenesis. Status epilepticus (SE) was induced by repetitive intraperitoneal injections of low-dose lithium chloride–pilocarpine hydrocholoride. Blood samples were collected 48 h, 1 week, and 6 weeks after SE, respectively. Plasma metabolites were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst 6.0. An orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model was employed to represent variations between the TLE model groups and respective controls. Volcano plot analysis was used to identify key features, applying a fold-change criterion of 1.5 and a t-test threshold of 0.05. 48 h after SE, dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) and creatinine levels were decreased, whereas glycine and creatine levels were increased. The only metabolite that changed 1 week after SE was pyruvic acid, which was increased compared to its control level. Lactic acid, pyruvic acid, and succinic acid levels were increased 6 weeks after SE. The identified metabolites were especially related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. The results illustrate that distinct plasma metabolites can function as phase-specific biomarkers in TLE and reveal new insights into the mechanisms underlying SE.
Successful treatment of type I cryoglobulinemia with a combination of carfilzomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone: a case report and literature review
Authors: Yasuda Yohei , Maki Hiroaki , Shimura Arika , Honda Akira , Masamoto Yosuke , Kurokawa Mineo
Published: February 2025

Type I cryoglobulinemia is typically associated with hematological malignancies such as B-cell lymphomas and plasma cell neoplasms. Its treatment basically targets underlying hematological malignancies, and the prognosis remains unsatisfactory. Despite several reports of type I cryoglobulinemia treated with bortezomib-based regimens, little is available on the treatment of bortezomib-resistant cases. We report a case of severe type I cryoglobulinemia associated with plasma cell neoplasm, refractory to bortezomib and daratumumab, which was successfully managed with a combination of carfilzomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (KCd therapy). No sign of relapse has been seen for more than 3 years with maintenance therapy with ongoing carfilzomib. This case highlights the potential efficacy of carfilzomib-based regimens in bortezomib-resistant type I cryoglobulinemia, offering a promising option for cases refractory to conventional treatments.
Assessment of Geotourism Potential of the Carian Trail (SW Türkiye)
Authors: Gül Murat , Küçükuysal Ceren
Published: February 2025

Increasing tourism diversity and spreading it over a year is becoming prominent for local and regional economies. Among the various tourism sites in Türkiye, Muğla province has always been one of the most attractive summer tourism areas. Besides this, it also hosts numerous places of natural, historical, archeological, geological, and geomorphological values which enable year-long tourism and contribute to the sustainability and development of the regional economy. In this respect, the Carian Trail, very famous for walking over 800 km in natural beauty is selected in this study as a georoute to be promoted for its geotourism potential by its scientific, educational, cultural and ecological values. To achieve this, an inventory was created that includes geological, geomorphological, and geological heritage values, along with other key features. The inventory and characterization stage is followed by qualitative & semiquantitative approaches. As the first study on such assessments for the Carian Trail, this study highlights the need to evaluate each site individually in order to develop strategies and policies for geoconservation.
Cannabidiol-Induced Autophagy Ameliorates Tau Protein Clearance
Authors: Vrechi Talita A. M. , Guarache Gabriel C. , Oliveira Rafaela Brito , Guedes Erika da Cruz , Erustes Adolfo G. , Leão Anderson H. F. F. , Abílio Vanessa C. , Zuardi Antonio W. , Hallak Jaime Eduardo C. , Crippa José Alexandre , Bincoletto Claudia , Ureshino Rodrigo P. , Smaili Soraya S. , Pereira Gustavo J. S.
Published: February 2025

Tau is a neuronal protein that confers stability to microtubules; however, its hyperphosphorylation and accumulation can lead to an impairment of protein degradation pathways, such as autophagy. Autophagy is a lysosomal catabolic process responsible for degrading cytosolic components, being essential for cellular homeostasis and survival. In this context, autophagy modulation has been postulated as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Studies point to the modulatory and neuroprotective role of the cannabinoid system in neurodegenerative models and here it was investigated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on autophagy in a human neuroblastoma strain (SH-SY5Y) that overexpresses the EGFP-Tau WT (Wild Type) protein in an inducible Tet-On system way. The results demonstrated that CBD (100 nM and 10 µM) decreased the expression of AT8 and total tau proteins, activating autophagy, evidenced by increased expression of light chain 3-II (LC3-II) protein and formation of autophagosomes. Furthermore, the cannabinoid compounds CBD, ACEA (CB1 agonist) and GW-405,833 (CB2 agonist) decreased the fluorescence intensity of EGFP-Tau WT; and when chloroquine, an autophagic blocker, was used, there was a reversal in the fluorescence intensity of EGFP-Tau WT with CBD (1 and 10 µM) and GW-405,833 (2 µM), demonstrating the possible participation of autophagy in these groups. Thus, it was possible to conclude that CBD induced autophagy in EGFP-Tau WT cells which increased tau degradation, showing its possible neuroprotective role. Hence, this study may contribute to a better understanding of how cannabinoids can modulate autophagy and present a potential therapeutic target in a neurodegeneration model.

Graphical Abstract
Three-dimensional homogeneous Lorentzian structures
Authors: Calvaruso Giovanni , Zaeim Amirhesam
Published: February 2025

We completely classify homogeneous structures on all non-symmetric three-dimensional Lorentzian Lie groups. Differently from the Riemannian case, non-canonical homogeneous structures also arise in some cases not corresponding to naturally reductive spaces.