bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Framework for Multiphase Pore-Scale Modeling Based on Micro-CT Imaging
Authors: Foroughi Sajjad , Shojaei Mohammad Javad , Lane Nathan , Rashid Bilal , Lakshtanov Dmitry , Ning Yang , Zapata Yuliana , Bijeljic Branko , Blunt Martin J.
Published: February 2025

We demonstrate how to use pore-scale modeling combined with high-resolution imaging to make predictions of multiphase flow properties. Experiments were performed on two sandstone samples that were mixed-wet after contact with crude oil: Bentheimer and a reservoir rock. Flow experiments were combined with high-resolution X-ray imaging from which the pore space, fluid configurations and local contact angles can be measured. We first show that both lattice Boltzmann modeling and a pore network model can predict the fluid occupancy to within experimental and model uncertainty in Bentheimer using the measured contact angles. We then used the greater computational efficiency of the network model to simulate flow in a large network representing the reservoir sample. By calibrating the contact angle to match the observed pore-by-pore arrangement of fluid, the model was able to make predictions of relative permeability and capillary pressure that were within the bounds of experimental and model uncertainty. The results provide a framework for predictive image-based pore-scale modeling, where wet and dry images of rock samples are used to characterize both the pore structure and wettability.
Do direct and courtesy prison stigma hinder support for a startup business? A vignette experiment
Authors: Hickert Audrey , Shi Luzi , Shaw Olivia , Yan Shi
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Test whether support for a small business is lower when started by prisoners or mothers of prisoners compared to local residents or people who identify as LGBTQ.

Methods

We conducted a vignette experiment using a hypothetical social media post for a new business followed by closed- and open-ended questions using a national YouGov sample (N = 1300).

Results

Support for the business is lower when founded by mothers of prisoners than former prisoners (or “local residents”), but lowest when founded by people who identify as LGBTQ. Open-ended responses suggest a lack of awareness of collateral consequences for families of people in prison. Explanations consistent with courtesy stigma were also present.

Conclusions

Given the public’s growing awareness of the benefits of successful reintegration and their willingness to support second chances, more education on the collateral harms of mass incarceration on families could assist with reinvestment in these communities.
Examining Teaching Competencies and Challenges While Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Authors: Ren Xinyue , Wu Min Lun
Published: February 2025

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has demonstrated their affordances and limitations in revolutionizing pedagogical strategies in higher education. Given the lack of guidelines, policies, and resources to assist instructors in efficiently and ethically integrating AI into teaching and learning practices, this systematic review aimed to investigate AI integration competencies and challenges in higher education from the intelligent Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) perspective. We first applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to identify 23 studies published between 2019 and 2023 that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After conducting open coding and thematic analysis, the research findings showed four AI integration competencies and strategies, including 1) AI literacy and readiness as intelligent technological knowledge, 2) AI-supported innovative pedagogy to supplement instructor social presence and transform the instructor-student relationship, 3) AI as intelligent learning partners to increase student engagement in self-regulated learning and higher-order thinking skills, and 4) AI-driven learning experience design and delivery. AI integration limitations and challenges contained: 1) the short-term novelty effect, 2) digital divides, 3) technical deficiencies, and 4) ethical concerns. Based on the implications for future practices, a diagram was developed to illustrate the systematic considerations to support the sustainability of AI-assisted teaching and learning in higher education.
Investigating normal stress effects on the shear and traction characteristics of performance infill materials used in artificial turf surfaces
Authors: McGowan Harry , Fleming Paul , James David , McMahon Jim , Pak Jae-Hwi , Forrester Steph
Published: February 2025

Styrene butadiene rubber crumb is currently the most widely used performance infill material for artificial turf surfaces globally. Concerns about the impact of microplastics on the environment and human health has led to organic performance infill materials becoming more popular. Research surrounding these new performance infill materials is lacking; one key gap in knowledge is the relationship between normal stress and rotational traction. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between normal stress and rotational traction for three performance infill materials: styrene butadiene rubber, cork and pine. Five normal stresses (10–46 kPa) were analysed during rotational traction testing on three artificial surface systems. Each performance infill material showed a positive, linear relationship between normal stress and mean peak torque, initial stiffness and secondary stiffness. However, the rate at which mean peak torque increased with normal stress varied between infilled systems. Pine infill increased at 1.55 Nm/kPa, cork at 1.51 Nm/kPa and styrene butadiene rubber at 1.16 Nm/kPa. Direct shear testing of each performance infill material was conducted at three normal stresses (25, 50 and 250 kPa) to investigate each performance infill materials relative resistance to shearing. The order of infill materials remained the same for both rotational traction and direct shear testing, with pine consistently producing the highest internal friction angle and styrene butadiene rubber the lowest. The results confirm the need to better understand the performance characteristics of organic infill materials used in artificial turf surfaces to maintain their safety and performance characteristics.
Maximum depositional age of the sedimentary succession in the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin from zircon age dating of conventional drilling cores
Authors: Lee Hyun Suk , Son Junghee , Song Gihun , Oh Juhyeon , Kim Yoonsup , Hwang In-Gul , Kim Sehyun , Kwak Wonjun
Published: February 2025

Biostratigraphic research has been conducted over the last four decades in the southwestern Ulleung Basin and has provided a chronostratigraphic framework to understand basin evolution. However, absolute geologic ages for the basin are almost absent owing to the lack of deep-drilled cores. To obtain the absolute age from the zircon, we extensively sampled and measured five deep-drilled conventional cores previously obtained for hydrocarbon exploration from the southwestern shelf of the Ulleung Basin. Maximum Depositional Ages (MDAs) for each cored interval are determined by the youngest age groups of zircons and are calculated to 12.1 ± 0.1 Ma for Gorae I-1, 12.9 ± 0.2 for Gorae I-2, 10.2 ± 0.8 for Gorae V-3, 11.4 ± 0.7 for Gorae V-4, and 16.9 ± 0.3 for Dolgorae V-1. All age groups exhibited relatively narrow errors (avg. ± 0.4 Ma), indicating good accuracy of MDA. The MDAs for the cores were first obtained by Laser Ablation-Multi Collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS), and the youngest zircon grains were subsequently reanalyzed by Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) to prevent age underestimation due to possible Pb loss. The differences in absolute ages of Gorae I-1 and I-2 between LA-MC-ICPMS and SHRIMP methods are below than 0.8 Ma, indicating good verification of MDAs. The four seismic horizons that overlapped with the cored interval were newly established as GR I-2 MDA, GR I-1 MDA, GR V-4 MDA, and GR V-3 MDA (except for Dolgorae V-1 because of the poor quality of the seismic profiles). The newly defined MDA horizons were compared to the biostratigraphic sequence boundaries of (Yi et al., Marine and Petroleum Geology 122, 2020), indicating ages 1 to 3 Ma younger than the biostratigraphic estimates. The four MDA horizons provide a new time framework for sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the Miocene deposits as well as reconstruction of the basin-evolution model in the southwestern shelf of the Ulleung Basin.
Artificial intelligence in orthopedic research assistance: a resident’s perspective
Authors: Perez Rubén Dario Arias , Garcia Ricardo Londoño
Published: February 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming orthopedic research by optimizing academic workflows, improving evidence synthesis, and expanding access to advanced data analysis tools. Generative AI models such as ChatGPT and GPT-4, alongside specialized platforms such as Consensus and SciSpace, empower researchers to refine search queries, enhance literature reviews, synthesize documents, and conduct advanced statistical analyses. These technologies enable the interpretation of large datasets, saving time and boosting efficiency. For orthopedic residents, AI is particularly impactful, revolutionizing their education and fostering greater independence in research. This review explores the key applications of AI as a research assistant in orthopedics, as well as its ethical considerations and challenges.
In pursuit of equity in upper secondary education: the curious case of Ghana’s free senior high school policy
Authors: Akuffo Aboabea Gertrude
Published: February 2025

The Free Senior High School policy is Ghana’s attempt at actualising the SDG 4 global consensus on free upper secondary education. Using grounded theory method, this research scrutinises the Free SHS 2018 policy and strategy document, alongside interviews with policymakers, to answer the question: How does the equity provision ensure fairness in upper secondary education, and what equity blind spots exist? Specifically, the study employed a purposive sampling technique, allowing for the deliberate selection of data sources that ensured the collection of focused, meaningful data aligned with the research goals. The findings underscore a disconnect between the policy’s equity intentions and solutions. For example, the policy highlights that, intersectional differences—such as economic, school-based, gender, and regional factors—persist and drive inequitable access. However, these issues are inadequately addressed because the policy applies cookie-cutter-style economic solutions to all inequity concerns. Policymakers from within, and outside from government, hold diverse perspectives on the impact of this disconnect on sub-populations. The former underscores political and technical accountabilities where increasing numbers of enrolment are equated to equity, while the latter underscores differential policy effect sizes on sub-population to mean inequity. Curiously, the policy has improved access despite the equity conundrum, weak economy, lack of private–public initiatives, declining GDP allocation to education, no selective fee waivers, and neglect of secondary education expansion prerequisites. The paper advocates realigning the policy’s equity dimension with its equity goals.
A New Approach for Sleep Stage Identification Combining Hidden Markov Models and EEG Signal Processing
Authors: Pouliou Areti , Papageorgiou Vasileios E. , Petmezas Georgios , Pessoa Diogo , Paiva Rui Pedro , Maglaveras Nicos , Tsaklidis George
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Sleep constitutes a third of human life, underscoring its importance in health-related and psychophysiological research. Monitoring sleep stage evolution is critical for understanding sleep-related issues and diagnosing disorders. This study aims to classify sleep stages using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based on spectral statistical measures derived from raw electroencephalography (EEG) signals. It explores effective feature combinations to enhance classification accuracy while maintaining a practical approach requiring minimal inputs.

Methods

We utilized raw EEG signals to extract various statistical features in the frequency domain, identifying combinations that maximize predictive performance. The proposed HMM was employed to classify sleep stages, leveraging these spectral features. Unlike many prior studies that focus solely on machine learning (ML) techniques, our analysis emphasizes feature significance and model interpretability.

Results

Our approach achieved a multiclass classification accuracy of 76.76% using only EEG recordings. This performance demonstrates the utility of spectral statistical features for sleep stage classification, with results comparable to more complex ML methods.

Conclusion

The proposed methodology highlights a practical, accurate and interpretable approach to sleep stage classification using EEG data. Its simplicity and efficiency make it suitable for both offline and online applications, supporting improved diagnosis of sleep disorders and advancing sleep research.
What determines participation in multi-stakeholder partnerships? Assessing sustainability awareness and knowledge
Authors: Enechi Okechukwu , Pattberg Philipp
Published: February 2025

Multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) are widely promoted as essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, their implementation is influenced by contextual factors, including stakeholder awareness. Yet while MSPs have been extensively researched as a participatory governance mechanism, there are limited studies examining the impact of sustainability awareness and knowledge on stakeholder participation in MSPs. This study, therefore, examines the impact of sustainability awareness on stakeholder participation in MSPs in Nigeria, focusing on the issue of climate change. Through a survey of 399 MSP participants, we found high overall climate change awareness but varied perceptions of its impact. Though stakeholders were moderately aware of climate policies, awareness of its implementation at the local level was limited. Furthermore, while there was general understanding of SDG interactions, specific linkages among the goals remained unclear. These knowledge gaps could limit local level stakeholder participation and result in misalignment of MSP agenda with local priorities, thereby hindering SDG implementation at the local level. Consequently, the study recommends strengthening MSPs as knowledge-sharing platforms, enhancing sustainability literacy, and fostering MSPs that are local in design with clear link to global sustainability framework. While these recommendations offer a roadmap for enhancing stakeholder participation in MSPs for acceleration of SDGs, it is essential to acknowledge the need for a robust meta-governance framework that would facilitate sustainability awareness and knowledge at the local level for effective local level stakeholder participation in MSPs. This study contributes to the literature on the role of MSPs as central mechanisms for enhancing participation in the SDG process, particularly at the local level in the sub-Saharan African region.
Curbing inappropriate C. difficile treatment in patients receiving concomitant laxatives
Authors: Fields Paige , David Christopher , Choksi Anish , Pettit Natasha N. , Lew Alison K. , Pisano Jennifer , Nguyen Cynthia T.
Published: February 2025

In the setting of universal Clostridioides difficile screening, we implemented an alert that triggered when C. difficile treatment was ordered in patients who recently received laxatives. This resulted in C. difficile treatment avoidance in 37% of patients and was associated with drug cost savings of $143,905 over a 10-month period.
Stewarding beyond the 9–5: Implementation of overnight review of rapid blood culture identification panel results by intensive care unit pharmacists
Authors: Arduser Sindelar Sarah M. , Ryder Jonathan H. , Tigh Jeremy , Blum Theodore , Prucha Jessica , Fey Paul , Bergman Scott J. , Van Schooneveld Trevor C. , Sunagawa Shawnalyn W.
Published: February 2025

Rapid blood culture identification is most effective with antimicrobial stewardship feedback, which is limited during non-business hours. We implemented overnight review of Blood Culture Identification 2 panel results by intensive care unit pharmacists and demonstrated reduced time to evaluation (3.6 vs 9.3 hours, P < .01).
The Evolution of the Irish 12.5 Percent Corporate Tax Rate: An Oral History
Authors: Doyle Elaine Marie , McCarthy Brendan , Tuck Penelope , Barry Frank
Published: February 2025

The sources formally documenting how tax policy evolves fail to capture many of the complexities inherent in such processes. Insights into such approaches would guide other tax administrations in navigating tax policy change in an international domain. This paper examines the historical background to the introduction of the Irish 12.5 percent corporate tax rate in 2003 in the face of the European Union’s (EU) dissatisfaction with the existing regime. A low corporate tax rate has long been seen as a critical element of the country’s industrial development strategy. Employing an oral history method to identify the perspectives and objectives of those involved in the policymaking process, we provide a case study of how one tax administration resolved what was seen as a particularly significant public policy dilemma.
Benchmarking broad-spectrum antibiotic use in older adult pneumonia inpatients: a risk-adjusted smoothed observed-to-expected ratio approach
Authors: Khatoun Abbas , Sasaki Noriko , Kunisawa Susumu , Fushimi Kiyohide , Imanaka Yuichi
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Antimicrobial resistance is increased by antibiotic overuse, so it’s crucial for stewardship programs to monitor and control their use. Pneumonia, particularly prevalent among older adults in Japan, is requiring higher rates of medical treatment. This study aimed to develop an improved method for benchmarking broad-spectrum antibiotic use in the empiric treatment of pneumonia in older adult inpatients by applying the “smoothed” observed-to-expected (O/E) ratio which adjusts for hospital-level variations and minimizes the effect of extreme values.

Methods:

Using nationwide data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination research group, pneumonia patients between April 1st 2018 and March 31st 2020 were analyzed. The primary outcome was the smoothed O/E ratio of the broad-spectrum antibiotic use for hospitals. It was calculated from the predicted values of broad-spectrum antibiotic use that were obtained through multilevel logistic regression using patient characteristics as predictors from data clustered by hospitals. The analysis investigated the risk-adjusted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics among hospitals.

Results:

A total of 244,747 patients from 958 hospitals were included, with a mean age of 81 (±8.30) years. The proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotic use was 35.3% (n = 86,316). The prediction model showed a C-statistic of 0.722. There was a noticeable variation in the O/E ratio among hospitals with values ranging from 0.13 (95% CI: 0.09–0.20) to 2.81 (95% CI: 2.64–2.97).

Conclusions:

Using a risk-adjusted smoothed O/E ratio, we assessed the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics across hospitals, identifying those with high O/E ratios that may indicate a need for improvement.
Stabilising nonlinear travelling waves in pipe flow using time-delayed feedback
Authors: Yasuda Tatsuya , Lucas Dan
Published: February 2025

We demonstrate the first successful non-invasive stabilisation of nonlinear travelling waves in a straight cylindrical pipe using time-delayed feedback control working in various symmetric subspaces. By using an approximate linear stability analysis and by analysing the frequency-domain effect of the control using transfer functions, we find that solutions with well-separated unstable eigenfrequencies can have narrow windows of stabilising time delays. To mitigate this issue we employ a ‘multiple time-delayed feedback’ approach, where several control terms are included to attenuate a broad range of unstable eigenfrequencies. We implement a gradient descent method to dynamically adjust the gain functions in order to reduce the need for tuning a high-dimensional parameter space. This results in a novel control method where the properties of the target state are not needed in advance, and speculative guesses can result in robust stabilisation. This enables travelling waves to be stabilised from generic turbulent states and unknown travelling waves to be obtained in highly symmetric subspaces.
Teaching history of mathematics for first year undergraduate skills development
Authors: Rowlett Peter
Published: February 2025

There has long been a recognition of the role history can play in supplementing the mathematics curriculum, perhaps to make the mathematics “easier, clearer, or more interesting” [1], though not all view this positively [2]. Beyond this, history of mathematics is often taught in its own right at university.
Some applications of the Chebyshev polynomials to polynomials in general
Authors: Jameson G.J.O.
Published: February 2025

The Chebyshev polynomials: some basic facts

The Chebyshev polynomials Tn, named after the Russian mathematician P. L. Chebyshev (1821-1894), are defined by
(1)
$${\text{cos }}nt = {T_n}({\text{cos }}t).$$
Solving the Cramer-Castillon problem using Pascal’s theorem
Authors: Shang Zian , Treeby David
Published: February 2025

In 1742 the Swiss mathematician Gabriel Cramer gave the following seemingly innocuous problem to the young Italian mathematician, Jean de Castillon:

The Cramer-Castillon problem: Given a circle and three points A, B and C, inscribe in the circle a triangle DEF whose sides (extended) pass through each of these points.
A series expansion for standard normal probabilities
Authors: Brown Geoffrey W. , Brown Adam C.
Published: February 2025

The goal of this paper is to derive a series expansion for standard normal probabilities F(b), where b ≥ 0 and the upper half of the cumulative distribution function (or CDF) of the standard normal is given by(1) See [1, Chapter 4] for information and results about the normal distribution. It is known that this integral is not elementary, and the usual approach is to use the Taylor series expansion for ez in order to evaluate the integral. We know that and therefore that (2).
On the monotonicity behaviour of a generalised Fibonacci-type Sequence
Authors: Sadek Jawad
Published: February 2025

In [1], the authors presented a class of sequences generated by powers of the kth-order Fibonacci recurrence relation and showed that the sequences converge. Precisely, the following result was shown:

Suppose that k ∈ Z+ and 0 < p < 1. Let x1, x2, …, xk be positive numbers. For n > k, let (1) Then {xn} converges to .
Odd Profiles in Conjoint Experimental Designs: Effects on Survey-Taking Attention and Behavior
Authors: Bansak Kirk , Jenke Libby
Published: February 2025

Scholars often face a choice when designing conjoint experiments: to allow for or to exclude “odd” combinations of attribute levels in the randomized conjoint profiles shown to respondents (such as a profile of a Democratic candidate who does not support abortion rights or an individual who is a medical doctor but does not have a graduate degree). While previous work has studied the statistical and theoretical implications of this decision, there has been little effort to analyze how it impacts the behavior of survey respondents. Utilizing eye-tracking, this study considers how respondents’ attention, information search behavior, and choice patterns respond to odd combinations of attributes included in conjoint profiles. We find that the impact of odd attribute-level combinations is minimal. They do not impact attention, search, or choice behavior substantially or consistently. Our conclusion is that scholars should prioritize other considerations—such as statistical, theoretical, and substantive considerations—when designing conjoint experiments.
THE NUMBER OF PAIRWISE NONCOMMUTING SETS IN A FINITE GROUP
Authors: YANG YONG , ZARRIN MOHAMMAD
Published: February 2025

We say that two nonempty subsets A and B with cardinality r of a group G are noncommuting subsets if

$xy\neq yx$

for every

$x\in A$

and

$y\in B$

. We say a nonempty set

$\mathcal {X}$

of subsets with cardinality r of G is an r-noncommuting set if every two elements of

$\mathcal {X}$

are noncommuting subsets. If

$|\mathcal {X}| \geq |\mathcal {Y}|$

for any other r-noncommuting set

$\mathcal {Y}$

of G, then the cardinality of

$\mathcal {X}$

(if it exists) is denoted by

$w_G(r)$

and is called the r-clique number of G. In this paper, we try to find the influence of the function

$w_G: \mathbb {N} \longrightarrow \mathbb {N}$

on the structure of groups.
Geographical distribution and genetic analysis reveal recent global invasion of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, primarily associated with only three haplotypes
Authors: Peng Jing , Lv Xiao-Lu , Ran Xiao-Tong , Jindal Vikas , Banta Geetika , Gupta Virash K. , Kumar Vivek , Wu Qing-Jun , Mohindru Bharathi , McKenzie Cindy L. , Osborne Lance S. , Ahmed Muhammad Z. , Qiu Bao-Li
Published: February 2025

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic species complex in which one member, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) has invaded globally. After invading large countries like Australia, China, and the USA, MEAM1 spread rapidly across each country. In contrast, our analysis of MEAM1 in India showed a very different pattern. Despite the detection of MEAM1 being contemporaneous with invasions in Australia, the USA, and China, MEAM1 has not spread widely and instead remains restricted to the southern regions. An assessment of Indian MEAM1 genetic diversity showed a level of diversity equivalent to that found in its presumed home range and significantly higher than that expected across the invaded range. The high level of diversity and restricted distribution raises the prospect that its home range extends into India. Similarly, while the levels of diversity in Australia and the USA conformed to that expected for the invaded range, China did not. It suggests that China may also be part of its home range. We also observed that diversity across the invaded range was primarily accounted for by a single haplotype, Hap1, which accounted for 79.8% of all records. It was only the invasion of Hap1 that enabled outbreaks to occur and MEAM1’s discovery.
Eye metacercariae in invasive pirarucu Arapaima gigas (Pisces: Arapaimidae): A potential ecological sink interaction?
Authors: Franceschini L. , Dias F.G.C. , Miguel B.S. , Zago A.C. , Orsi M.L. , Vitule J.R.S. , de Almeida F.S. , Porto-Foresti F. , Balbuena J.A. , Ramos I.P. , Casatti L.
Published: February 2025

Biological invasions are among the main threats to global biodiversity and present the potential to disrupt host-parasite dynamics. In Brazil, the scientific reports of the occurrence of the Amazonian fish ‘pirarucu’ (Arapaima gigas) in the upper Paraná River basin, São Paulo state, were made in 2015. However, the effects of its introduction are still unknown, including those associated to its host-parasite relationships. As part of our studies on the possible effects of A. gigas introduction into this basin, the parasites from the eyes of 60 specimens of A. gigas were evaluated. We reported the occurrence of Austrodiplostomum compactum metacercariae (Trematoda, Diplostomidae) parasitizing the eyes of A. gigas supported by morphological and molecular data (COI mtDNA). The new partial sequences had a similarity of 100% to other sequences of Au. compactum previously deposited in Genbank. Five hosts (Prevalence = 8.33%) with a standard length between 69 and 116 cm were infected, with a mean intensity of infection of 31.8 ± 17.2 (1–93). Large infected hosts are unlikely to be a significant prey item for the definitive hosts (medium-sized piscivorous birds), and could act as an ‘ecological sink’, disrupting the transmission of this metacercariae. Hosts with high infection rates by these metacercariae may present cataracts, exophthalmos, and blindness, resulting in loss of visual acuity. Considering that A. gigas is a carnivorous and visual predator, the low infection observed possibly does not act as a biological filter to hinder or contain the invasion, probably presenting a low negative effect on the visual acuity of hosts.
Exploring reproductive and population characteristics of magnificent shrimp, Ancylomenes magnificus from the Gulf of Mannar, India
Authors: Chandran Rejani , Saravanane N. , Ajith Kumar T. T. , Sarkar U. K.
Published: February 2025

The magnificent shrimp, Ancylomenes magnificus (Bruce, 1979), is a sea anemone associated marine ornamental organism exploited from Indo-Pacific waters, for the marine aquarium trade, as it has attractive coloration. However, there are no reports available yet on its population and reproductive characteristics (population structure, length–weight relationship, fecundity, sexual dimorphism, sex ratio and maturity stages). The present investigation provides information for the first time on the population and reproductive parameters of A. magnificus. In this study, a total of 158 individuals were collected from the intertidal regions of the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India from August 2021 to April 2022, out of which 61.4% (97 individuals) were females and 38.6% (61 individuals) were males. The estimated mean size (CL ± SD) of females was 4.93 ± 0.78 mm, while that of males was 3.22 ± 0.56 mm. The estimated mean body weight was 0.091 and 0.219 g in males and females, respectively. The study indicated strong sexual dimorphism in this species and considerable variation appeared in the carpus and chela of the second major pereopod, carapace and total length. The carapace length and weight showed a negative allometric relationship with a significant coefficient. Fecundity was relatively lower and embryo volume increased with size groups. Interestingly, the study revealed year-round breeding activity with a peak in the post-monsoon (January to March) and monsoonal period (October to December) for this species. The present investigation provides the first baseline information on the population and reproductive parameters of A. magnificus.
Revisiting Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) magnifica in the SW Atlantic: taxonomic amendments, new insights, and evidence for potential conspecificity with Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) sarsensis
Authors: Pavón Novarin Mariela , Fernandez Julio C. C. , Hajdu Eduardo , Schejter Laura
Published: February 2025

In the present study we update the distributional, bathymetric ranges and taxonomic characters of the carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) magnifica Lopez, Bravo & Hajdu, 2011 providing new records for Argentinian jurisdictional waters in the SW Atlantic Ocean, including the Marine Protected Area Namuncurá/Burdwood Bank. The shallowest bathymetric range is now changed to the upper bathyal (289 m depth). We also amend the original description after re-examination of type materials, when markedly different micrometric values were observed for their subtylostyles and acanthotylostrongyles. We noticed a remarkable similarity between Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) sarsensis Goodwin, Berman, Downey & Hendry, 2017 and A. (A.) magnifica and we suspect they may be synonymous, but we refrain from taking a formal decision pending revision of all materials reported for the younger taxon or a genetic analysis.
First report and molecular description of Amygdalum anoxicolum from a seamount in the eastern Arabian Sea
Authors: M. L. Vishnu , K. Devika Raj , K. U. Abdul Jaleel , Biju Anagha , Anas Abdulaziz
Published: February 2025

This paper reports one mytiloid species, Amygdalum anoxicolum P. G. Oliver, 2001 from the summit of a seamount located in the eastern Arabian Sea. This species was encountered from the core of the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone at a depth of 340 m and possessed several adaptations to low-oxygen concentration. This paper presents the first-ever DNA barcodes for this species.
Impulsivity facets and substance use involvement: insights from genomic structural equation modeling
Authors: Vilar-Ribó Laura , Hatoum Alexander S. , Grotzinger Andrew D. , Mallard Travis T. ,   23andMe Research Team, Elson Sarah , Fontanillas Pierre , Palmer Abraham A. , Gustavson Daniel E. , Sanchez-Roige Sandra
Published: February 2025

Background

Impulsivity is a multidimensional trait associated with substance use disorders (SUDs), but the relationship between distinct impulsivity facets and stages of substance use involvement remains unclear.

Methods

We used genomic structural equation modeling and genome-wide association studies (N = 79,729–903,147) to examine the latent genetic architecture of nine impulsivity traits and seven substance use (SU) and SUD traits.

Results

We found that the SU and SUD factors were strongly genetically inter-correlated (rG=0.77) but their associations with impulsivity facets differed. Lack of premeditation, negative and positive urgency were equally positively genetically correlated with both the SU (rG=.0.30–0.50) and SUD (rG=0.38–0.46) factors; sensation seeking was more strongly genetically correlated with the SU factor (rG=0.27 versus rG=0.10); delay discounting was more strongly genetically correlated with the SUD factor (rG=0.31 versus rG=0.21); and lack of perseverance was only weakly genetically correlated with the SU factor (rG=0.10). After controlling for the genetic correlation between SU/SUD, we found that lack of premeditation was independently genetically associated with both the SU (β=0.42) and SUD factors (β=0.21); sensation seeking and positive urgency were independently genetically associated with the SU factor (β=0.48, β=0.33, respectively); and negative urgency and delay discounting were independently genetically associated with the SUD factor (β=0.33, β=0.36, respectively).

Conclusions

Our findings show that specific impulsivity facets confer risk for distinct stages of substance use involvement, with potential implications for SUDs prevention and treatment.
Psychological interventions for preventing relapse in individuals with partial remission of depression: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
Authors: Gülpen Joost , Breedvelt Josefien J.F. , van Dis Eva A.M. , Geurtsen Gert J. , Warren Fiona C. , van Heeringen Cornelis , Hitchcock Caitlin , Holländare Fredrik , Huijbers Marloes J. , Jarrett Robin B. , Jermann Françoise , de Jonge Margo , Klein Daniel N. , Klein Nicola S. , Ma S. Helen , Moore Michael T. , Denys Damiaan A.J.P. , Williams J. Mark G. , Kuyken Willem , Bockting Claudi L.
Published: February 2025

Partial remission after major depressive disorder (MDD) is common and a robust predictor of relapse. However, it remains unclear to which extent preventive psychological interventions reduce depressive symptomatology and relapse risk after partial remission. We aimed to identify variables predicting relapse and to determine whether, and for whom, psychological interventions are effective in preventing relapse, reducing (residual) depressive symptoms, and increasing quality of life among individuals in partial remission. This preregistered (CRD42023463468) systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) pooled data from 16 randomized controlled trials (n = 705 partial remitters) comparing psychological interventions to control conditions, using 1- and 2-stage IPD-MA. Among partial remitters, baseline clinician-rated depressive symptoms (p = .005) and prior episodes (p = .012) predicted relapse. Psychological interventions were associated with reduced relapse risk over 12 months (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.84), and significantly lowered posttreatment depressive symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.29, 95% CI 0.04–0.54), with sustained effects at 60 weeks (Hedges’ g = 0.33, 95% CI 0.06–0.59), compared to nonpsychological interventions. However, interventions did not significantly improve quality of life at 60 weeks (Hedges’ g = 0.26, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.58). No moderators of relapse prevention efficacy were found. Men, older individuals, and those with higher baseline symptom severity experienced greater reductions in symptomatology at 60 weeks. Psychological interventions for individuals with partially remitted depression reduce relapse risk and residual symptomatology, with efficacy generalizing across patient characteristics and treatment types. This suggests that psychological interventions are a recommended treatment option for this patient population.
Sleep and circadian difficulties in schizophrenia: presentations, understanding, and treatment
Authors: Freeman Daniel , Waite Felicity
Published: February 2025

It is common in mental health care to ask about people’s days but comparatively rare to ask about their nights. Most patients diagnosed with schizophrenia struggle at nighttime. The next-day effects can include a worsening of psychotic experiences, affective disturbances, and inactivity, which in turn affect the next night’s sleep. Objective and subjective cognitive abilities may be affected too. Patients commonly experience a mix of sleep difficulties in a night and across a week. These difficulties include trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping at all; nightmares and other awakenings; poor-quality sleep; oversleeping; tiredness; sleeping at the wrong times; and problems establishing a regular sleep pattern. The patient group is also more vulnerable to obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. We describe in this article how the complex presentation of non-respiratory sleep difficulties arises from variation across five factors: timing, mental state, need for sleep, self-care, and environment. We set out 10 illustrative patterns of such difficulties experienced by patients with non-affective psychosis. These sleep problems are eminently treatable with intensive psychological therapy delivered over approximately eight sessions. We describe key techniques and their typical order of implementation by presentation. Sleep problems are an important issue for patients. Giving them the therapeutic attention patients often desire brings both real clinical benefits and improves views of services. Treatment is also very likely to lessen psychotic experiences and mood disturbances while improving daytime functioning and quality of life. Tackling sleep difficulties can be a route toward the successful treatment of psychosis.
Affect as a component of second language speech perception
Authors: Burton John Dylan , Winke Paula
Published: February 2025

Growing evidence suggests that ratings of second language (L2) speech may be influenced by perceptions of speakers’ affective states, yet the size and direction of these effects remain underexplored. To investigate these effects, 83 raters evaluated 30 speech samples using 7-point scales of four language features and ten affective states. The speech samples were 2-min videorecordings from a high-stakes speaking test. An exploratory factor analysis reduced the affect scores to three factors: assuredness, involvement, and positivity. Regression models indicated that affect variables predicted spoken language feature ratings, explaining 18–27% of the variance in scores. Assuredness and involvement corresponded with all language features, while positivity only predicted comprehensibility scores. These findings suggest that listeners’ perceptions of speakers’ affective states intertwine with their spoken language ratings to form a visual component of second-language communication. The study has implications for models of L2 speech, language pedagogy, and assessment practice.
Blend up: empowering LESLLA learners through blended learning
Authors: Jehoul Annelies , Van Nuffel Helena , Schiepers Mariet
Published: February 2025

Blended language learning has recently experienced substantial growth, offering numerous potential benefits such as increased learning opportunities and personalization. However, digital inequalities persist, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like migrants with limited education. While the integration of technology in adult education may pose additional challenges for these groups, online learning paradoxically holds the promise of enhancing their basic skills. This study addresses this apparent contradiction, focusing on blended learning in Dutch second language (L2) education in Flanders (Belgium) for L2 learners with emerging literacy and limited formal education, representing the most vulnerable subgroup of L2 learners. This group is referred to as LESLLA learners (LESLLA is an acronym for Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults). Through a combination of a systematic literature review and a needs analysis of stakeholders, including LESLLA learners themselves, the study explores the benefits and challenges of blended learning for LESLLA learners. The study reveals that while many affordances and limitations for adult L2 learners in general also apply to LESLLA learners, the significance varies based on their characteristics, curriculum goals, and context. In order to realize the affordances, while also tackling the challenges, effective blended education for low-literate L2 learners requires (1) a thoughtful design of the blend, in which instructional design principles are integrated with didactic principles for L2 teaching; (2) effective teacher conduct; and (3) powerful policy of adult education centers. This paper outlines the characteristics of each component, offering insights to strengthen blended L2 learning experiences for LESLLA learners.
Impacts of an employer’s contributory pillar: evidence from Chile
Authors: Parada-Contzen Marcela , Provoste Lucas , Sanhueza Cristóbal , Traina James , Tran Uyen
Published: February 2025

We estimate labor demand elasticities to predict the employment effects of an employer’s contributory pillar in Chile’s pension system. The Chilean system has been a model for reform in many countries worldwide. We find labor demand to be inelastic, with baseline estimates ranging from −0.27 to −0.91. We predict that the implementation of an employer contributory pillar with contribution rates of 1% increase would increase unemployment rates by 0.20 to 0.71 percentage points (pp) from a baseline unemployment of 6.51%. Our results show sizable differences in labor demand elasticities and employment impacts by industry and workforce characteristics. Simulations imply implementing a uniform employer contributory pillar would especially reduce employment for low-skilled workers and workers in industries where labor is easily substitutable.
Improving SINR with smart RIS solutions: exploring optimal dimensions and sizes
Authors: Qeryaqos Bushra J. , Ayoob Saad A.
Published: February 2025

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) enhance the performance of wireless communication networks, particularly within millimeter wave (mm-Wave) bands. When a line-of-sight link is not strong enough or is fully blocked. The location of RIS has a significant impact on the RIS’s wireless channel and system performance. A wireless communication model has been proposed in a mm-Wave environment supported by RIS. The proposed model contains one transmitter and five users at the receiving end. Due to the small distance between users, there is interference between them and the received signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) decreases. Three RISs separated by different interspace distances were proposed to serve users at various distances from the transmitter to reduce inter-user interference. The simulation results showed that increasing the distance between the RIS site and the TX-User line served a larger number of users, and the three heights of the RIS provided a coverage range domain complementary to each other for different user sites. The improvement percentages in SINR for the second and third RIS are 48.46% and 77.38%, respectively. Enlarging the size of the RIS only increases the signal capacity and does not affect the coverage range domain of the single RIS.
Effects of Grass Cover on the Overland Soil Erosion Mechanism Under Simulated Rainfall
Authors: Zhang Mingwang , Zhang Kuandi , Cen Youdong , Wang Pengfei , Xia Junqiang
Published: February 2025

Existing research on soil erosion primarily focuses on the individual effects of factors such as rainfall intensity, slope gradient, grass cover, and soil characteristics, with limited exploration of the interactions among these factors. This study investigated the mechanisms of soil erosion on overland covered with vegetation in the Loess Plateau region through indoor artificial simulated rainfall experiments. The experiments included six levels of grass coverage (0, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%), five grass distribution patterns (DP, CP, VP, SP, HP), five rainfall intensities (60, 80, 90, 100, 120 mm/hr) and three slope gradients (5°, 10°, 15°) to explore the effects of experimental design factors and hydraulic parameters on the overland soil erosion mechanisms. The results show that as the grass coverage increases, the soil erosion rate on the overland decreases. Under different grass distribution patterns, horizontal grass distribution played an important role in inhibiting overland soil erosion rate. The overland soil erosion rate increased following a power function relationship with rising slope steepness and rainfall intensity, with erosion rates being more sensitive to changes in rainfall intensity than slope gradient. Among the six hydraulic parameters, dimensionless stream power was the optimal hydraulic parameters for predicting overland soil erosion rate under grass cover. Furthermore, an overland soil erosion model under the influence of grass cover and rainfall intensity was established based on general dimensionless hydraulic parameters (KGE = 0.931, R2 = 0.912). The model satisfactorily simulates overland soil erosion rate under grass cover and helps to reveal the mechanism of overland soil erosion.
Apatite Geo‐Thermochronology and Geochemistry Constrain Oligocene‐Miocene Growth and Geodynamics of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Guo Chao , Zhang Zhiyong , Lease Richard , Malusà Marco G. , Chew David , Lu Haijian , Wu Lin , Xiang Dunfeng , Wang Nan , Grasemann Bernhard , Xiao Wenjiao
Published: February 2025

Understanding the geodynamics of plateau evolution requires examining the spatial and temporal aspects of mountain building in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, which are still under debate. Here we integrate apatite geo‐thermochronological and geochemical data from the Oligocene‐Miocene succession of the Xunhua Basin to elucidate the evolution of the regional topography. The results suggest sediment provenance changes, at ca. 28, 20 and 12 Ma, indicating topographic growth of the West Qinling, Laji Shan, and Jishi Shan source areas, respectively. Our findings reveal Oligocene‐Miocene stepwise deformation and middle Miocene stress reorganization within the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. We attribute this to Oligocene lithospheric foundering beneath the south‐central Tibetan Plateau and the middle Miocene initiation of sinistral strike‐slip faults due to the underthrusting of India and North China. This study highlights the roles of lithospheric removal and continental underthrusting in plateau growth, and the value of multi‐proxy apatite analyses in provenance studies.