bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The multifaceted role of XCL1 in health and disease
Authors: Syed Muhammed , Dishman Acacia F. , Volkman Brian F. , Walker Tara L.
Published: January 2025

The chemokine XC motif chemokine ligand 1 (XCL1) is an unusually specialized member of a conserved family of around 50 small, secreted proteins that are best known for their ability to stimulate the directional migration of cells. All chemokines adopt a very similar folded structure that binds a specific G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR), and most chemokines bind extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans, often in a dimeric or oligomeric form. Owing in part to the lack of a disulfide bond that is conserved in all other chemokines, XCL1 interconverts between two distinct structures with distinct functions. One XCL1 fold resembles the structure of all other chemokines (chemokine fold), while the other does not (alternate fold). The chemokine fold of XCL1 displays high affinity for the GPCR XCR1, while the alternative fold binds GAGs and exhibits antimicrobial activity. Although the canonical role of XCL1 as a CD8+ dendritic cell chemoattractant was defined more than a decade ago, the misconception that XCL1 is a lymphocyte‐specific chemoattractant still prevails in the recent literature. This review aims to highlight the structure‐guided functions of XCL1 and reclarify its immunological role. In addition, the implications of this metamorphic chemokine in vaccine development and emerging functions in the nervous system will be explored.
Citrullination at the N‐terminal region of MDM2 by the PADI4 enzyme
Authors: Neira José L. , Rizzuti Bruno , Palomino‐Schätzlein Martina , Rejas Virginia , Abian Olga , Velazquez‐Campoy Adrian
Published: January 2025

PADI4 is one of the human isoforms of a family of enzymes involved in the conversion of arginine to citrulline. MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is critical for degradation of the tumor suppressor gene p53. We have previously shown that there is an interaction between MDM2 and PADI4 in cellulo, and that such interaction occurs through the N‐terminal region of MDM2, N‐MDM2, and in particular through residues Thr26, Val28, Phe91, and Lys98. Here, by using a “divide‐and‐conquer” approach, we have designed and synthesized peptides comprising these two polypeptide stretches (residues Ala21–Lys36, and Lys94–Val108), either in the wild‐type species or in their citrullinated versions. Some of the citrullinated peptides were aggregation‐prone, as suggested by DOSY‐NMR experiments, but the wild‐type versions of both fragments were monomeric in solution. We found out that wild‐type and modified peptides were disordered in all cases, as also tested by far‐UV circular dichroism (CD), and citrullination mainly affected the NMR chemical shifts of adjacent residues. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in the absence and presence of GSK484, an enzymatic PADI4 inhibitor, indicated that this compound blocked binding of the peptides to the enzyme. Binding to the active site of the N‐MDM2 fragments was also confirmed by in silico experiments. The affinities of PADI4 for the wild‐type peptides were more favorable than those of the corresponding citrullinated ones, but all measured values were within the micromolar range, indicating that there were no major variations in the thermodynamics of binding due to sequence effects. The kinetic dissociation rates, koff, measured by biolayer interferometry (BLI), were always one‐order of magnitude faster for the citrullinated peptides than for the wild‐type ones. Taken together, all these findings indicate that MDM2 is a substrate for PADI4 and is prone to citrullination in the identified (and specific) positions of its N‐terminal region.
Cripto‐1 acts as a molecular bridge linking nodal to ALK4 via distinct structural domains
Authors: Chu Kit‐Yee , Crawford Amberly N. , Krah Bradon S. , Thamilselvan Vijayalakshmi , Malik Anjali , Aitas Nina A. , Martinez‐Hackert Erik
Published: January 2025

The TGF‐β family ligand Nodal is an essential regulator of embryonic development, orchestrating key processes such as germ layer specification and body axis formation through activation of SMAD2/3‐mediated signaling. Significantly, this activation requires the co‐receptor Cripto‐1. However, despite their essential roles in embryogenesis, the molecular mechanism through which Cripto‐1 enables Nodal to activate the SMAD2/3 pathway has remained elusive. Intriguingly, Cripto‐1 also has been shown to antagonize other TGF‐β family ligands, raising questions about its diverse functions. To clarify how Cripto‐1 modulates TGF‐β signaling, we integrated AlphaFold3 modeling, surface plasmon resonance (SPR)‐based protein–protein interaction analysis, domain‐specific anti‐Cripto‐1 antibodies, and functional studies in NTERA‐2 cells. In contrast to canonical TGF‐β signaling, where ligands bridge type I and type II receptors for activation, Nodal, bound to the type II receptor, utilizes Cripto‐1 to recruit the type I receptor ALK4, forming a unique ternary complex for SMAD2/3 activation. Our molecular characterization of Cripto‐1‐mediated Nodal signaling clarifies the unique role of this enigmatic co‐receptor and advances our understanding of signaling regulation within the TGF‐β family. These insights have potential implications for both developmental biology and cancer research.
Multiscale Three‐Dimensional Evaluation and Analysis of Murine Lung Vasculature From Macro‐ to Micro‐Structural Level
Authors: Tielemans Birger , Marain Nora F. , Kerstens Axelle , Peredo Nicolas , Coll‐Lladó Montserrat , Gritti Nicola , de Villemagne Perrine , Dorval Paul , Geudens Vincent , Orlitová Michaela , Munck Sebastian , Leszczyński Bartosz , Swoger Jim , Velde Greetje Vande
Published: January 2025

The pulmonary vasculature plays a pivotal role in the development and progress of chronic lung diseases. Due to limitations of conventional two‐dimensional histological methods, the complexity and the detailed anatomy of the lung blood circulation might be overlooked. In this study, we demonstrate the practical use of optical serial block face imaging (SBFI), ex vivo microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT), and nondestructive optical tomography for visualization and quantification of the pulmonary circulation's 3D architecture from macro‐ to micro‐structural levels in murine lung samples. We demonstrate that SBFI can provide rapid, cost‐effective, and label‐free visualization of mouse lung macrostructures and large pulmonary vessels. Micro‐CT offers high‐resolution imaging and captures microvascular and (pre)capillary structures, with microstructural quantification. Optical microscopy techniques such as optical projection tomography (OPT) and light sheet fluorescence microscopy, allows noninvasive, mesoscopic imaging of optically cleared mouse lungs, still enabling 3D microscopic reconstruction down to the precapillary level. By integrating SBFI, micro‐CT, and nondestructive optical microscopy, we provide a framework for detailed and 3D understanding of the pulmonary circulation, with emphasis on vascular pruning and rarefaction. Our study showcases the applicability and complementarity of these techniques for organ‐level vascular imaging, offering researchers flexibility in selecting the optimal approach based on their specific requirements. In conclusion, we propose 3D‐directed approaches for a detailed whole‐organ view on the pulmonary vasculature in health and disease, to advance our current knowledge of diseases affecting the pulmonary vasculature.
Theoretical Study of Halogen Anion Batteries With Ultra‐Thin InSe
Authors: Wei Xin , Liu Fengjun , Zhu Mengyu , Wang Lin , Sha Maolin
Published: January 2025

We systematically explored the adsorption, diffusion, thermodynamics stability, and electrochemical performance of halogen anions (F−, Cl−, Br−, I−) on monolayer InSe using first‐principles calculations. F−, due to its strong electronegativity, has a destructive effect on the surface. The rank of the adsorption ability of other three anions is Cl− > Br− > I− according to the value of adsorption energy, which is agreement with their electronegativity strength. It was found that the halogen anions exhibited excellent diffusion performance with low diffusion energy barriers. Cl− can adsorb up to three layer showing an excellent theoretical capacity of 415 mA h g−1, while Br− and I− cannot obtain a stable structure when the coverage exceeds 1 and (2/3) layer. In summary, this study evaluates a prospective electrode material and establishes a theoretical foundation for the development of novel rechargeable batteries.
Establishment of a 3D spheroid culture system to evaluate the responsiveness of uterine leiomyoma cells to female hormones
Authors: Sakai Takahiro , Sato Shun , Tamehisa Tetsuro , Takasaki Hitomi , Kajimura Takuya , Tamura Isao , Sugino Norihiro
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Uterine leiomyomas (ULMs) are classified into those with and without MED12 mutations (MED12m(+) and MED12m(−), respectively). This study was undertaken to establish a culture system to evaluate the effect of female hormones on the growth of ULM cells in each ULM subtype.

Methods

ULM cells isolated from MED12m(+) or MED12m(−) tissues were cultured in a monolayer for 7 days with four hormone treatments: estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) (E + P), E only (E), P only (P), and medium only (CTRL). They were also cultured in a 3D spheroid culture system with the above four treatments and a fifth treatment: E + P + selective progesterone receptor modulator (E + P + SPRM). The hormonal effects were evaluated based on cell number, spheroid size, and histology.

Results

In the monolayer cultures, female hormones did not cause the proliferation of ULM cells of either subtype. In the spheroid cultures, spheroid sizes for both subtypes were significantly larger with the E + P and P treatments than with the CTRL and E treatments and were comparable in the E and E + P + SPRM treatments. Histological staining showed that collagen fibers were present only in the spheroids of the P‐treated groups of MED12m(+).

Conclusion

We established a 3D spheroid culture system to evaluate the effects of female hormones on ULM cells.
Embryologist staffing in assisted reproductive technology laboratories: An international comparative review
Authors: Shirasawa Hiromitsu , Terada Yukihiro
Published: January 2025

Background

Embryologists are crucial in assisted reproductive technology (ART), yet their duties, education, and licensing requirements vary significantly across countries, complicating the determination of optimal staffing levels in ART laboratories. With anticipated advancements such as automation in ART laboratories, this review comprehensively analyzes factors necessary for appropriate future staffing.

Main Findings

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed to identify relevant articles up to July 2024, employing keywords such as “embryologist,” “staffing,” and “certification.” Articles were evaluated for content related to laboratory operations, and guidelines from five organizations regarding licensing and education were compared.

Results

The review revealed significant international differences in embryologist certification, duties, and staffing recommendations. These disparities, along with the integration of advanced ART technologies and regulatory requirements, significantly impact future staffing needs in ART laboratories.

Conclusion

The definitions of an ART cycle and required staffing levels vary across organizations, influenced by the certification and duties of embryologists in different countries. Adequate embryologist staffing is essential for ensuring laboratory quality control and impacting patient ART outcomes. As new technologies and automation reshape laboratory workflows, collaborative efforts among organizations, countries, and embryologist associations are essential for developing comprehensive educational curricula and determining appropriate staffing levels.
Reading Fiction and Psychological Well‐being During Older Adulthood: Positive Affect, Connection and Personal Growth
Authors: Currie Nicola K. , Wilkinson Katherine , McGeown Sarah
Published: January 2025

The relationship between reading and well‐being is gaining increasing interest among those working in research, policy and practice, as we seek to better understand if, and how, reading books supports wellbeing. To date, the majority of research has focused on children and young people, neglecting to consider the well‐being benefits that reading books may have later in life. Drawing upon in‐depth interviews with 15 older adults (aged 63–83) from the UK, we provide novel insights into how reading fiction supports feelings of positive affect (emotions elicited by, and influencing, reading experiences), connection (to fictional characters, settings, and authors, in addition to real‐life others) and personal growth (lifelong reflection, empathy and enhanced understanding of others, and improved knowledge and communication). This article provides much needed nuanced insights into the role of fiction book reading later in life. Implications for practice and future research directions are suggested.
Smart Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment, Immunogenicity, and Clinical Translation
Authors: Yousefiasl Satar , Ghovvati Mahsa , Alibakhshi Abbas , Azizi Mehdi , Samadi Pouria , Kumar Arun , Shojaeian Ali , Sharifi Esmaeel , Zare Ehsan Nazarzadeh , Dey Asmita Deka , Chehelgerdi Mohammad , Makvandi Pooyan
Published: January 2025

In cancer research and personalized medicine, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have emerged as a significant breakthrough in both cancer treatment and diagnosis. MSNs offer targeted drug delivery, enhancing therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing adverse effects on healthy cells. Due to their unique characteristics, MSNs provide targeted drug delivery, maximizing therapeutic effectiveness with minimal adverse effects on healthy cells. The review thoroughly investigates the role of MSNs as potent drug carriers, noted for their high drug‐loading capacity and controlled release, which significantly improves drug permeability and retention. Additionally, it discusses surface modification techniques that enable MSNs to target cancer cells precisely. The manuscript provides comprehensive insights into various MSN applications, including their role in cancer diagnosis, the design of advanced biosensors, and the development of both conventional and stimuli‐responsive drug delivery platforms. Special focus is given to stimuli‐triggered MSN systems, responsive to internal stimuli (e.g., pH, redox, enzyme) and external stimuli (e.g., temperature, magnetic field, light, ultrasound), highlighting the cutting‐edge progress in MSN technology. Additionally, the review delves into the immunogenicity and biosafety aspects of MSNs, underscoring their potential for clinical translation. Besides summarizing the current state of MSN research in oncology, this review also illuminates the path for future advancements and clinical applications.
Graphene‐Based Opto‐Electronic Platform for Ultra‐Sensitive Biomarker Detection at Zeptomolar Concentrations
Authors: Piscitelli Matteo , Franco Cinzia Di , Bianco Giuseppe Valerio , Bruno Giovanni , Macchia Eleonora , Torsi Luisa , Scamarcio Gaetano
Published: January 2025

A ground‐breaking graphene‐based biosensor designed for label‐free detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) achieving a remarkable concentration of 100 zeptomolar (10−19 m), is reported. The sensor is a two‐terminal device and incorporates a millimeter‐wide gold interface, bio‐functionalized with ≈1012 anti‐IgM antibodies and capacitively coupled to a bare graphene electrode through a water‐soaked paper strip. In this configuration, few affinity binding events trigger a collective electrostatic reorganization of the protein layer, leading to an extended surface potential (SP) shift of the biofunctionalized Au surface. The SP shift, mediated by electrolyte capacitive coupling, induces a corresponding shift in the Fermi level of graphene. This shifts the graphene phonon frequencies, which are measured by Raman spectroscopy. Decoupling the sensing interface from the transducing graphene layer provides flexibility in surface chemistry modifications, while preserving the graphene integrity. A key aspect of this biosensor is its ability to precisely determine the graphene charge neutrality point from the voltage dependence of phonon frequency shifts, enabling detections of biomarker at unprecedented low concentrations. The integration of graphene with optical probing demonstrates a proof‐of‐concept and establishes a ground‐breaking approach to in situ biomarker detection, setting the stage for a future generation of portable opto‐electronic high‐performance diagnostic tools for single‐marker detection.
Eoldist, a Web Application for Estimating Cautionary Detection Distance of Birds by Automatic Detection Systems to Reduce Collisions With Wind Turbines
Authors: Fluhr Julie , Duriez Olivier , Blary Constance , Chambert Thierry , Almasi Bettina , Byholm Patrik , Buitendijk Nelleke H. , Champagnon Jocelyn , Dagys Mindaugas , Fiedler Wolfgang , Francesiaz Charlotte , Jiguet Frédéric , Lee Simon , Millon Alexandre , Monti Flavio , Morcelet Lucile , Nathan Ran , Nolet Bart A. , Nuijten Rascha , Pilard Philippe , Ponchon Cécile , Roulin Alexandre , Santos Carlos D. , Spiegel Orr , Schalcher Kim , De Seynes Aurélie , Spanoghe Geert , Wikelski Martin , Žydelis Ramunas , Besnard Aurélien
Published: January 2025

The installation of automatic detection systems (ADSs) on operating wind energy facilities is a mitigation measure to reduce bird collisions. The effectiveness of an ADS depends on a combination of parameters, including the detection distance of the bird, its flight speed, and the time to complete the chosen action (e.g., turbine shutdown). We created a web application, Eoldist, to calculate cautionary detection distances required by an ADS, using bird flight speed and turbine shutdown time as input parameters. We compiled a database of the flight speeds of 168 Western Palearctic birds from a review of scientific literature supplemented by an analysis of unpublished GPS‐tracking datasets. To estimate turbine shutdown time, we conducted 137 field trials of experimental shutdown at seven wind farms and found that the duration to reach residual rotor speeds of 3 or 2 rotations per minute (rpm) was respectively 32.2 or 38.8 s on average. Based on this data, Eoldist allows the user to select a species from the database, wind turbine characteristics, and a residual rotor speed (3 or 2 rpm); it then calculates the time to reach the selected threshold and provides a distribution curve for the cautionary detection distance needed to prevent collision. This article includes examples of cautionary detection distances required for several species to demonstrate the sensitivity of key input parameters. Eoldist is freely available and should help the wind energy industry, ADS suppliers, and environmental agencies to define requirements for ADS bird detection that are compatible with the biology of the target species.
A generative pre-trained transformer industrial bot to improve operators’ working experience in a small Industry 5.0 factory
Authors: Kiangala Kahiomba Sonia , Wang Zenghui
Published: January 2025

The industrial sector is embracing a new revolution, Industry 5.0 (I5.0), focusing on human well-being and ecosystem preservation. Previous industrial revolutions have emphasized incorporating the latest state-of-the-art innovations and technologies to improve production processes, overseeing some of their long-term damaging impact on human beings. Our research contributes to the I5.0 practical implementation in factories by proposing the design of a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) industrial bot as a tool to assist workers of a small experimental factory in improving their daily working experience. The industrial bot closely tracks factory production and allows operators to monitor a few fundamental elements of their well-being via text queries, such as the pollution level and the maximum overtime hours per worker. It also provides factories with three valuable functions: faulty equipment discovery, root cause analysis, and synthetic data generation. These features originate from factory-customized data loaded into the OpenAI GPT4 language model (LM) presented in two industrial bot versions. The first is an offline version, created using a Langchain agent connected to the GPT4 LM through OpenAI APIs and visualized with Streamlit, an open-source front-end tool. The second is an online version produced by the GPT4 internal function that creates customs GPTs. We highlight both versions’ advantages and disadvantages to guide factories in considering the suitable environmental model when adopting I5.0. Our system also allows operators to receive additional tips, thanks to the online GPT4 robust database, to enhance their knowledge on maintaining their well-being and their factory contextualized on the query sent to the industrial bot.
Investigation of cyclic water infiltration and dry-out in coated spruce using finite-element simulations
Authors: Brandstätter Florian , Senoner Magdalena , Lukacevic Markus , Autengruber Maximilian , Truskaller Michael , Grüll Gerhard , Füssl Josef
Published: January 2025

Accurate prediction of moisture distributions in wood is among the most critical challenges in timber engineering. Achieving this requires a well-coordinated comparison of experimental methods and simulation tools. While significant progress has been made in developing simulation tools in recent years, a lack of experience with and trust in these tools continues to hinder broader implementation, especially when it comes to free water and its absorption. Investigations and model advancements have allowed for the simulation of increasingly complex cases, including one-dimensional moisture transport above the fiber saturation point (FSP) in coated boards and below FSP in coated glued laminated timber (GLT). However, free water flow in coated GLT beams has not yet been addressed, which can become problematic in case of extreme scenarios, such as water infiltration. In this study, we demonstrate that the multi-Fickian free water transport model developed by some of the authors can successfully simulate three-dimensional coated cases. Uncoated and coated boards and GLT members were subjected to cyclic wetting and drying, both experimentally and numerically. To simplify the calibration process of the mass transfer coefficient of free water—identified as the most significant parameter for the simulation of free water transport—experiments previously conducted by some of the authors were simulated. Based on the simulation results, approaches for an initial estimation of the mass transfer coefficient were developed. If the water uptake of coated specimens is measured three days after continuous soaking in water and the result exceeds a specific limit, the coefficient can be sufficiently predicted. The simulation and experimental results show a good agreement.
Isolation and characterization of haploid heterothallic beer yeasts
Authors: Badura Jennifer , Bernardi Beatrice , Muno-Bender Judith , Matti Katrin , Zimmer Kerstin , Wendland Jürgen
Published: January 2025

Improving ale or lager yeasts by conventional breeding is a non-trivial task. Domestication of lager yeasts, which are hybrids between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus, has led to evolved strains with severely reduced or abolished sexual reproduction capabilities, due to, e.g. postzygotic barriers. On the other hand, S. cerevisiae ale yeasts, particularly Kveik ale yeast strains, were shown to produce abundant viable spores (~ 60%; Dippel et al. Microorganisms 10(10):1922, 2022). This led us to investigate the usefulness of Kveik yeasts for conventional yeast breeding. Surprisingly, we could isolate heterothallic colonies from germinated spores of different Kveik strains. These strains presented stable mating types in confrontation assays with pheromone-sensitive tester strains. Heterothallism was due to inactivating mutations in their HO genes. These led to amino acid exchanges in the Ho protein, revealing a known G223D mutation and also a novel G217R mutation, both of which abolished mating type switching. We generated stable MAT

a
or MATα lines of four different Kveik yeasts, named Odin, Thor, Freya and Vör. Analyses of bud scar positions in these strains revealed both axial and bipolar budding patterns. However, the ability of Freya and Vör to form viable meiotic offspring with haploid tester strains demonstrated that these strains are haploid. Fermentation analyses indicated that all four yeast strains were able to ferment maltose and maltotriose. Odin was found to share not only mutations in the HO gene, but also inactivating mutations in the PAD1 and FDC1 genes with lager yeasts, which makes this strain POF-, i.e. not able to generate phenolic off-flavours, a key feature of lager yeasts. These haploid ale yeast-derived strains may open novel avenues also for generating novel lager yeast strains by breeding or mutation and selection utilizing the power of yeast genetics, thus lifting a block that domestication of lager yeasts has brought about.

Key points

• Haploid Kveik ale yeasts with stable MAT

a

and MATα mating types were isolated.

• Heterothallic strains bear mutant HO alleles leading to a novel inactivating G217R amino acid change.

• One strain was found to be POF- due to inactivating mutations in the PAD1 and FDC1 gene rendering it negative for phenolic off-flavor production.

• These strains are highly accessible for beer yeast improvements by conventional breeding, employing yeast genetics and mutation and selection regimes.
High-resolution Simulation Dataset of Hourly PM2.5 Chemical Composition in China (CAQRA-aerosol) from 2013 to 2020
Authors: Kong Lei , Tang Xiao , Zhu Jiang , Wang Zifa , Liu Bing , Zhu Yuanyuan , Zhu Lili , Chen Duohong , Hu Ke , Wu Huangjian , Wu Qian , Shen Jin , Sun Yele , Liu Zirui , Xin Jinyuan , Ji Dongsheng , Zheng Mei
Published: January 2025

Scientific knowledge on the chemical compositions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is essential for properly assessing its health and climate effects, and for decisionmakers to develop efficient mitigation strategies. A high-resolution PM2.5 chemical composition dataset (CAQRA-aerosol) is developed in this study, which provides hourly maps of organic carbon, black carbon, ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate in China from 2013 to 2020 with a horizontal resolution of 15 km. This paper describes the method, access, and validation results of this dataset. It shows that CAQRA-aerosol has good consistency with observations and achieves higher or comparable accuracy with previous PM2.5 composition datasets. Based on CAQRA-aerosol, spatiotemporal changes of different PM2.5 compositions were investigated from a national viewpoint, which emphasizes different changes of nitrate from other compositions. The estimated annual rate of population-weighted concentrations of nitrate is 0.23 µg m−3 yr−1 from 2015 to 2020, compared with −0.19 to −1.1 µg m−3 yr−1 for other compositions. The whole dataset is freely available from the China Air Pollution Data Center (https://doi.org/10.12423/capdb_PKU.2023.DA).
Measuring the visual environment of children and young people at risk of myopia: a scoping review
Authors: Dahlmann-Noor Annegret H. , Bokre Desta , Khazova Marina , Price Luke L. A.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Myopia (short-sightedness) is an emerging WHO priority eye disease. Rise in prevalence and severity are driven by changes in lifestyle and environment of children and young people (CYP), including less time spent in bright daylight and more time spent on near-vision activities. We aimed to systematically map the literature describing direct, objective measurements of the visual environment of CYP.

Methods

We conducted searches in Ovid Medline 1946, Ovid Embase and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in November 2024. We included primary research written in English on environmental/behavioural factors and myopia onset/progression in CYP 3–18 years. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts/full texts.

Results

We included 34 articles: 21 explored the association of indoor and/or outdoor light exposure and myopia and included light measurements, two near-vision activities, four both light and near-work, four time outdoors without illuminance measurements, and three light exposure based on meteorological data. Most measurements were carried out at the level of individual children, rather than the surrounding environment alone.

Conclusion

Despite limitations in measurement techniques, there is evidence that reduced illuminance, less time spent in bright light and increased daily duration/sustained episodes of near-vision activities and reduced working distance are associated with increased myopia prevalence/progression.
The Transition to Kindergarten for Hispanic and Latine Autistic Children: A Focus Group Study with Caregivers
Authors: Jellinek-Russo Emily , Keller-Margulis Milena , Mire Sarah S. , Lozano Ivana , Duran Brenda , Fein Rachel H. , Gonzalez Jorge , Day Susan X.
Published: January 2025

Purpose: Past research highlights the different facilitators and barriers that caregivers of children on the autism spectrum experience during the transition to kindergarten and when navigating special education services. Caregivers who identify as Hispanic and/or Latine may face distinct challenges during this process, such as language differences, differences in understanding autism and special education, and barriers to advocating for their child. Hispanic and Latine caregivers also have strengths, resources, and strategies (i.e. cultural capital) that they use during this time. However, there is little research aimed at understanding the unique experiences of Hispanic and Latine caregivers of autistic children during their entry to kindergarten. Methods: To address this shortcoming, the current study used qualitative methods and thematic analysis to explore the transition to kindergarten experiences of four caregivers of autistic children. Results: This study identified strengths, supportive practices, and challenges that participants experienced fell under four major themes: importance of proactive and ongoing partnerships between caregivers and schools, navigating unfamiliar language and processes, the need for dissemination of information about autism to teachers and support from trusted systems. Themes highlighted challenges such as communication differences, unfamiliar school processes, community and teacher misconceptions about autism. Facilitators the transition included proactive communication, shared goals and partnerships with school. Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth Framework is integrated into the discussion of themes and the forms of cultural capital participants used to support their child. Conclusion: Recommendations for practice and research to support Hispanic and Latine autistic children during the kindergarten transition are provided.
90 years of catch data reveal changes in catch composition in the Australian east coast recreational marlin fishery
Authors: Guillemin Tristan A. , Pepperell Julian G. , Schilling Hayden T. , Williamson Jane E.
Published: January 2025

Long-term continuous datasets that record fishery catch are key to predicting and managing changes in fisheries. Unfortunately, long-term datasets are rare for recreational fisheries, which hinders our ability to understand long-term changes within these fisheries. Here we use several unconventional long-term datasets, including tournament and tagging program data, to assess changes in catch composition over time in the Australian east coast marlin fishery. We found significant changes to the species and size composition of species within the fishery over time. In the 1930s, catch was solely comprised of striped (Kajikia audax) and black (Istiompax indica) marlin. Black marlin proportionally dominated the fishery in the 1940s to 1980s, but the proportions of blue (Makaira nigricans) and striped marlin increased significantly from the 1980s until present. Currently, the fishery is comprised of primarily striped and black, and to a lesser extent blue marlin. Declines in the mean weight of black and striped marlin were also evident from the 1930s to 1980s. Technological advances improving offshore access may have driven changes in species composition. Our results demonstrate a potential change in technology and gear reshaping species composition within a fishery. This highlights how recreational fisheries, particularly those offshore, have changed with the technology over time, and the potential for future technological to dramatically alter recreational fisheries globally.

Graphic abstract
Transverse-Electric Surface Plasmon in Graphene Under Uniform Strain
Authors: Gómez L. A. Galeana , de la Cruz G. González
Published: January 2025

Compared to surface plasmon polariton in metals, graphene can support transverse electric (TE) surface modes when the imaginary part of its conductivity is negative. TE graphene plasmons are generally weakly confined in direction perpendicular to the graphene plane, and they cannot be resonantly excited by an external incident wave because their dispersion curve spectrally lies just below the light line. In this work, we investigate theoretically the light reflectance of a graphene layer under uniform strain on the top of a one-dimensional photonic crystal consisting of high and low-index dielectric materials and a material film layer on the graphene sheet. The strain not only changes the electronic band structure but also can be employed to influence the electronic collective excitations and thus the optical reflectance of graphene monolayers. We demonstrate that TE plasmon excitation is based on the observation of a pronounced sharp minimum in the reflection coefficient of the suggested photonic structure upon the incident angle, the wavelength, and refractive index. Therefore, the graphene under uniform strain on the photonic structure is found to be promising in the fabrication of optical sensors devices with TE plasmons.
The Contribution of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Neighborhood Characteristics on Outcomes Experienced by Urban Dwelling Black Men After Serious Traumatic Injury
Authors: Richmond Therese S. , Quinn Ryan , Duan Anna , Morrison Christopher N. , Kassam-Adams Nancy , Boateng Augustine Cassis Obeng , Jacoby Sara F.
Published: January 2025

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are serious consequences of physical injuries. Stress associated with living in urban neighborhoods with socioecological disadvantages and the cumulative burdens of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to poorer psychological outcomes. Limited research has explored how ACEs and socioecological environmental exposures in childhood and adulthood, together, impact post-injury outcomes. This study assessed the relative contributions of ACEs and neighborhood exposures during childhood and adulthood on post-injury outcomes among Black men in Philadelphia. We used data from a prospective cohort of 414 Black men from the Philadelphia region, aged ≥ 18 years, who sustained acute physical injuries requiring hospitalization. Primary outcomes were post-injury PTSD and depression. Secondary outcomes were sleep quality, self-reported health status, changes in substance use, and return to work. The study used perceived and objective measures of neighborhood characteristics and self-reported ACEs to model their relative impact on outcomes 3 months after hospital discharge. Higher levels of ACEs and higher perceived neighborhood disorder during childhood and adulthood were significant predictors of PTSD and depression symptom severity. Perceived neighborhood disorder contributed to sleep disturbances and decline in post-injury health. Census/administrative objective measures of neighborhood disadvantage did not show consistent associations with post-injury outcomes. Findings suggest that both ACEs and subjective perception of neighborhood environments are critical factors influencing post-injury recovery in urban Black men. Interventions to improve post-injury outcomes should consider preventing ACEs and addressing the tangible conditions of neighborhoods and residents’ perceptions of their surroundings to promote health equity and injury recovery.
Young students’ engagement with data to create decision trees
Authors: Podworny Susanne , Biehler Rolf , Fleischer Yannik
Published: January 2025

Statistics and machine learning are critical because they play an essential role in our everyday lives and the careers we may pursue in the future. It may be beneficial to introduce machine learning, such as decision trees (DTs), at an early stage of education. The data-based construction of DTs is an example of a machine learning process, which can be addressed in mathematics or statistics teaching because of relatively low prior knowledge requirements. This paper focuses on investigating how sixth-grade students create and evaluate data-based DTs. The basis is a teaching unit that aims to lay the foundation for machine learning and enhance students’ understanding of the process. We investigate students’ processes in detail while they build DTs with data cards about food items to predict whether a new item is recommendable. After the teaching unit, an interview study examines students’ strategies for creating decision trees. The findings contribute to understanding students’ learning processes and the challenges when working with decision trees.
Blood Flow Velocity Analysis in Cerebral Perforating Arteries on 7T 2D Phase Contrast MRI with an Open-Source Software Tool (SELMA)
Authors: Pham S. D. T. , Chatziantoniou C. , van Vliet J. T. , van Tuijl R. J. , Bulk M. , Costagli M. , de Rochefort L. , Kraff O. , Ladd M. E. , Pine K. , Ronen I. , Siero J. C. W. , Tosetti M. , Villringer A. , Biessels G. J. , Zwanenburg J. J. M.
Published: January 2025

Blood flow velocity in the cerebral perforating arteries can be quantified in a two-dimensional plane with phase contrast magnetic imaging (2D PC-MRI). The velocity pulsatility index (PI) can inform on the stiffness of these perforating arteries, which is related to several cerebrovascular diseases. Currently, there is no open-source analysis tool for 2D PC-MRI data from these small vessels, impeding the usage of these measurements. In this study we present the Small vessEL MArker (SELMA) analysis software as a novel, user-friendly, open-source tool for velocity analysis in cerebral perforating arteries. The implementation of the analysis algorithm in SELMA was validated against previously published data with a Bland–Altman analysis. The inter-rater reliability of SELMA was assessed on PC-MRI data of sixty participants from three MRI vendors between eight different sites. The mean velocity (vmean) and velocity PI of SELMA was very similar to the original results (vmean: mean difference ± standard deviation: 0.1 ± 0.8 cm/s; velocity PI: mean difference ± standard deviation: 0.01 ± 0.1) despite the slightly higher number of detected vessels in SELMA (Ndetected: mean difference ± standard deviation: 4 ± 9 vessels), which can be explained by the vessel selection paradigm of SELMA. The Dice Similarity Coefficient of drawn regions of interest between two operators using SELMA was 0.91 (range 0.69–0.95) and the overall intra-class coefficient for Ndetected, vmean, and velocity PI were 0.92, 0.84, and 0.85, respectively. The differences in the outcome measures was higher between sites than vendors, indicating the challenges in harmonizing the 2D PC-MRI sequence even across sites with the same vendor. We show that SELMA is a consistent and user-friendly analysis tool for small cerebral vessels.
Barrier Properties Against UV Radiation of Woven Fabrics Coated With Micronized Pumice
Authors: Şapcı Nükhet , Öncü Güler
Published: January 2025

This research primarily investigates the UV properties obtained in woven fabrics with different properties coated with micronized pumice. Most of the studies in the textile industry are based on the search for new technologies and materials to produce functional products. In this study, three different types of fabrics woven from polyamide/viscose, polyamide/linen and cotton/silk yarns were covered with 50-μm pumice material at 5%, 10%, and 15% ratios. At these rates, the effect of pumice coating on the physical and UV properties of the mentioned fabrics was investigated. SEM/EDS analysis, tear strength, fabric stiffness (bending length) and air permeability values of the coated fabrics were evaluated. According to the results of the study, it was observed that the UPF values of fabrics coated with 15% pumice were improved by 5.08 times in cotton/silk, 8.7 times in polyamide/viscose and 34.9 times in polyamide/linen compared to control uncoated fabrics.
Effect of Metakaolin and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag on the Performance of Hybrid Fibre-Reinforced Magnesium Oxychloride Cement-Based Composites
Authors: Ahmad Farhan , Rawat S. , (Chunhui) Yang Richard , Zhang Lihai , Fanna Daniel J. , Soe Khin , Zhang Y. X.
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the effect of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and metakaolin (MK) on the strength and ductility of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) based hybrid basalt and polyethylene fibre reinforced cementitious composite (FRMOC). MOC was chosen as the matrix due to its unique properties and environment friendliness as a green cement. MK and GGBFS were selected as primary additives to reinforce the MOC matrix owing to their outstanding performance in cementitious composites, coupled with their widespread availability and sustainable characteristics. The influence of GGBFS and MK on physical and mechanical properties of FRMOC was studied in this paper through extensive physical and mechanical testing and microscopic analysis. It was found that the hardened density of FRMOC was not significantly affected by these additives, and it ranged from 1909.3 to 1976.0 kg/m3, retaining its lightweight characteristics. Compressive strength of specimens cured for one day reached approximately 69.1–84.0% of that for specimens cured for 28 days, indicating the high early strength characteristics of the material. All FRMOC specimens exhibited tensile strain hardening properties, with tensile strength and strain capacity ranging from 6.74 to 8.58 MPa and 1.14 to 2.22%, respectively. The mix containing 30% GGBFS, 0.75% basalt fibre, and 1.25% polyethylene fibre was identified as the optimum MOC mix with enhanced compressive strength (73.9 MPa), tensile strength (8.52 MPa), and strain capacity (2.22%). Microscopic analysis further revealed that the addition of GGBFS-MK blends did not alter the primary phase composition of hydration products but essentially promoted the formation of phase 5, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing the performance of FRMOC.
Coping with mobile-online-dating fatigue and the negative self-fulfilling prophecy of digital dating
Authors: Degen Johanna L. , Kleeberg-Niepage Andrea
Published: January 2025

With the rise of mobile-online-dating apps new principles have entered the dating culture, including parallel dating, acceleration, efficacy, and non-commitment. These practices negatively affect the self, inhibit dating success and contribute to the emergence of mobile-online-dating fatigue. Despite its significance, research on dating fatigue remains underdeveloped so far, with limited exploration of its underlying mechanisms and broader social contextualization. This study draws on qualitative insights from 27 interviews, exploring social mechanisms of mobile-online-dating fatigue, users’ meaning-making processes, and resulting coping strategies. The findings show how fatigue is a widely experienced social phenomenon rather than an individual vulnerability. Instead, mobile-online-dating fatigue arises from reciprocal hurtful experiences, specific attribution patterns and interpretations of experiences, just as resulting attitudes and strategies that foster negative social dynamics, including stereotyping, devaluation, repetitive and dissatisfying dating practices, and sometimes sexual coercive behaviors. These dynamics culminate in a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. The results also reveal coping strategies, with users projecting negative effects on other users and the app providers, while continuously reproducing negative dynamics hanging on to their app usage, opting for a general dating abstinence, or seeking digital alternatives. One prominent digital alternative is Instagram, where users re-enact excitement through practices characterized by deceleration, ambiguity, social embeddedness, personal risk-taking, and equivocal communication– practices that are perceived as an opportunity for resonating and therefore more meaningful dating practices. The findings are discussed against the background of a social understanding of the self, with users navigating a restrictive dating context, seeking for experiences of resonance and meaningful connections.
An iterative dynamic chemical stiffness removal method for reacting flow simulations
Authors: Xu Chao , Lu Tianfeng
Published: January 2025

An iterative dynamic chemical stiffness removal method (IDCSR) based on quasi-steady-state approximation (QSSA) is proposed. The IDCSR method is built on a previously developed non-iterative method which has proved to work well for small timestep sizes. A novel iterative procedure is designed in IDCSR to enable explicit time integration of stiff chemistry at relatively large timestep sizes relevant to practical reacting flow simulations. The effectiveness of the iterative procedure is first demonstrated with a toy problem and homogeneous auto-ignition with fixed integration step sizes, showing that larger timestep sizes can be allowed for explicit time integration using IDCSR compared with the previous non-iterative method. IDCSR is then compared with existing explicit chemistry solvers for simulations of homogeneous auto-ignition and shows similar or lower computational cost but significantly higher accuracy across a wide range of timestep sizes. IDCSR is further combined with an automatic adaptive time-stepping scheme for simulations of 0-D homogeneous auto-ignition and a 2-D laminar lifted n-dodecane jet flame. For the 0-D auto-ignition simulations, IDCSR is shown to reduce both the error (by 43%–90%) and computational cost (by 6–15 times) compared with existing explicit solvers, while achieving speed-up factors of up to 400 compared with VODE for a wide range of timestep sizes and reaction mechanisms. For the 2-D jet flame simulations, speed-up factors of 15 and 31 for chemistry integration, and 5 and 9 for overall simulation, are achieved by IDCSR compared with CVODE with and without analytic Jacobian, respectively.
Mudie's Select Library and the Shelf Life of the Nineteenth–Century Novel
Authors: Wade Karen
Published: January 2025

Mudie's Select Library was a major nineteenth-century literary institution. Substantially larger than its competitors, the library leveraged regional and global distribution networks and close commercial ties with publishers which allowed it to maintain a key position within the British publishing industry. In its heyday, it was widely believed that novelists and publishers were required to conform to aesthetic, moral and formal standards established by Mudie's, or risk the rejection and consequent failure of their books. However, the lack of a comprehensive study of the library's holdings leaves open questions about what the library actually stocked, and to what extent the library could determine a novel's fate. This Element describes a data analysis of a collection of Mudie's catalogues spanning eighty years, in order to reassess understandings of the library's role in the nineteenth-century publishing industry. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.