bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kalpa AND Pralaya: TimeScales Corresponding to Major Cosmological Events — A Concept Paper
Authors: Ramakrishnan Krishnamurthy
Published: February 2025

Indian Cosmology describes Cosmic Cycles and Brahma as the Creator of the Universe. A Day of Brahma is called Kalpa and is 4.32 billion years. A Night of Brahma is called Pralaya and is also 4.32 billion years. The Concept Paper examines whether there were significant cosmological events during Brahma's Day and reduced cosmological activity during Brahma's Night. Taking the Big Bang as a starting point and that the Universe is ~13.7 billion old, there have been two complete Kalpas and one complete Pralaya and the Universe is now ~760 million years into the second Pralaya. The Concept Paper attempts to correlate significant cosmological events during a Kalpa, and reduced cosmic activity during a Pralaya. While there does seem to be a correlation, given that there have been only two complete Kalpas and one complete Pralaya, the concept needs more research to definitively establish a correlation.
Identification of Elite Agronomic Traits using Chromosome Arm Substitution Lines of Triticum dicoccoides in the Background of Common Wheat
Authors: Zhao Yanhao , Wei Xiaofen , Jiang Yurong , Hu Xin , Rong Junkang
Published: February 2025

To effectively mine and utilize the valuable genes of wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides, 2n=4x=28, AABB), this study conducted an investigation of agronomic traits using two sets of chromosome arm substitution lines (CASLs) of wild emmer wheat in the backgrounds of the common wheat varieties Bethlehem (BLH) and Chinese Spring (CS). The results indicated notable differences in growth characteristics, including seedling agronomic traits, heading date (HD), and yield traits among the various CASLs in both the BLH and CS backgrounds. In both genetic backgrounds, the number of tillers in CASL6AL and CASL7BS was significantly less than that of the parents. Additionally, the average leaf width of six CASLs (2BS, 1AL, 7AL, 5BS, 4AS, and 2BL) was significantly smaller compared to the parents. Among CASLs in the CS background, CASL2BS exhibited a significantly narrower average leaf width and shorter average plant height compared to the parents and early-maturing CASLs. Conversely, CASL4AL had significantly more tillers and a shorter average plant height than other CASLs. In the BLH background, the spike phenotypes of all CASLs showed no significant differences from BLH. However, in the CS background, CASL6AS and CASL5AL demonstrated significantly longer spike lengths than CS. Moreover, CASL6BL had a more spikelets per spike than CS. CASLs 4AS, 4AL, 6BS, and 6BL exhibited short awns at the base and long awns at the top, while the remaining CASLs displayed no awns, consistent with CS. It is speculated that genes controlling physiological traits such as seedling tiller number, leaf width, plant height, and spike traits may be located on the corresponding chromosome arms.
Clinical Debates on Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): Visual Function After Schlemm’s Canal-Based MIGS
Authors: Kasahara¹ Masayuki , Shoji Nobuyuki
Published: February 2025

Filtration surgery is highly effective in lowering intraocular pressure; however, it is associated with a higher risk of severe complications. Visual dysfunction may persist in relatively uneventful cases because of induced astigmatism or worsening optical aberrations. Therefore, for early-to-moderate-stage glaucoma, an increasing number of surgeons are prioritizing surgical safety and preserving postoperative visual function by opting for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Among the various MIGS techniques, canal opening surgery—targeting aqueous outflow through the Schlemm’s canal (Schlemm’s canal-based MIGS, CB-MIGS)—has gained increasing popularity. Unlike filtration surgery, CB-MIGS does not require creating an aqueous outflow pathway between the intraocular and extraocular spaces. Consequently, it is considered a minimally invasive procedure with a reduced risk of severe complications and is increasingly being chosen for suitable cases. Although this surgical technique has limitations in lowering intraocular pressure, it avoids the manipulation of the conjunctiva or sclera and is primarily performed through a small corneal incision. Therefore, minimal impact on induced astigmatism or postoperative refractive changes is expected. However, few reviews have summarized the changes in visual function, such as postoperative corrected visual acuity, refraction, astigmatism, or the effectiveness of visual field preservation. Therefore, we aimed to review the literature on visual function after CB-MIGS. Hyphema is the primary cause of early postoperative vision loss and is often transient in cases in which other complications would have led to visual impairment. Severe complications that threaten vision are rare. Additionally, compared with filtration surgery, postoperative visual recovery tends to be faster, and the degree of induced astigmatism is comparable to that of standalone cataract surgery. When combined with cataract surgery, the refractive error is at the same level as that of cataract surgery alone. However, in some cases, mild hyperopic shifts may occur because of axial length shortening, depending on the extent of intraocular pressure reduction. This possibility has been highlighted in several studies. Regarding the effectiveness of slowing the progression of visual field defects, most studies have focused on short- to medium-term postoperative outcomes. Many of these studies have reported sufficient suppression of progression rates. However, studies with large sample sizes and long-term prospective designs are limited. To establish more robust evidence, future research should focus on conducting larger-scale, long-term investigations.
Entrepreneurial Skills in Clothing and Textile, Food and Nutrition, and Child Care: A Tripartite Approach to Family and Societal Viability
Authors: Ibrahim Amina Tani
Published: February 2025

As economic instability affects many societies, people are struggling with higher unemployment and worsening living conditions. This paper looks at how individuals and families cannot just survive but thrive during these tough times by tapping into entrepreneurial opportunities. Specifically, it focuses on how starting businesses in clothing and textiles, food and nutrition, and childcare can offer real solutions. These sectors hold great potential for creating jobs, improving food security, and providing crucial services. However, in Nigeria, entrepreneurs face challenges like poor infrastructure, limited funding, and lack of support. The paper explores how addressing these issues and fostering entrepreneurship can make a significant difference, helping communities grow and adapt even in the face of economic downturns.
Revisiting Kirkpatrick Model for assessing the impact of the training on inland ornamental fisheries management
Authors: Som Sukanya , Roy Aparna , Das B. K. , Yengkokpam Sona , Naskar Malay , Pandit Arun
Published: February 2025

The present study aimed to assess the impact of the impact of the trainers’ training programme on “Inland ornamental fisheries management for income Generation”, organised by the Guwahati Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), by constructing a composite training impact index based on four-stage model of Kirkpatrick. The index was developed by conducting two factor analyses for “Reaction” and “Learning-Behaviour-Result” stages. Total 15 variables were reduced into six factors, namely, Quality, Utility, Need gratification, Overall grading, Change in Knowledge-Attitude-Skill (KAS) and Result. The average composite index score of all trainees was found to be 72.92% and around 57% of the respondents fell in the “very high” category regarding impact of the training. Around 42.86% respondents graded the training programme as excellent. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed significant change in knowledge and attitude among the trainees at 5% level of significance. Around 66.67% had taken some action after going back and the obtained KAS was extended to 110 fishers who were sensitised or trained on inland ornamental fishery management practices. The study presents a comprehensive scenario about the impact of the training programme on the trainees by digging deep into the final outcome level rather than restricting to only immediate reaction level. The devised composite index can be useful for researchers and academicians of other institutes working on human resource development for measuring the impact of similar type of programmes.
Keywords: Composite Index, KAS, Kirkpatrick model, Ornamental fisheries, Training
Characterisation of betanodavirus of finfishes from India and its purification using CsCl density gradient ultracentrifugation
Authors: G. S. Ghode  , M. Makesh  , Rathinam R. Bharathi , Tripathi Gayatri
Published: February 2025

Betanodavirus is a pathogen of many tropical and temperate marine and brackishwater fish species. It is an etiological agent of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) in fish larvae and juveniles, leading up to 100% mortality. One among the best and effective approaches to control viral diseases in aquaculture is vaccination. Purified viral particles are useful for the development of immunodiagnostics and vaccines. In this study, purification of betanodavirus was attempted through ultracentrifugation using CsCl density gradient. SSN-1 cells were infected with betanodavirus and after recording cytopathic effect (CPE), cells were harvested. Virus infection was confirmed by PCR assay using reported primers and sequencing. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was carried out for confirmation ofinfection. Virus from cell culture supernatants was purified using CsCl density gradient and ultracentrifugation. Purified virus was further confirmed by PCR assay, SDS-PAGE analysis and TEM. The purified particles were tested for infectivity by incubating with SSN-1 cell line for its biological activity.
Keywords: Betanodavirus, CsCl gradient, Density gradient, SSN-1 cells, Ultracentrifugation TEM, VNN
First record of Scomber scombrus Linnaeus, 1758 from the central Atlantic coast of Morocco
Authors: BOUZZAMMIT NADIA , El Habouz Hammou , El Ouizgani Hassan
Published: February 2025

The present study reports a new record of Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus Linnaeus, 1758, in the central Atlantic coast of Morocco. While this species is widely distributed on both sides of the North Atlantic, its occurrence in Moroccan waters has not beenpreviously reported and only the species Scomber colias (Gmelin, 1789) has been reported from Atlantic coast of Morocco. In March 2018, 30 specimens of Scomber colias were sampled from the fishing port of Agadir Bay. Among them three individuals were identifiedas Scomber scombrus. Their otoliths were analysed for morphology and shape using a binocular microscope. The occurrence of S. scombrus in the area may indicate extension of its distribution to the central Atlantic coast of Morocco, possibily linked to spawningmigration. This finding highlights the need for more focused research on this species in Moroccan waters.
Keywords: Agadir, Atlantic coast, Otolith, Scomber colias, Scomber scombrus
Shark consumption in India: An exploratory study on trends and awareness
Authors: Menon Muktha , Joe Kizhakudan Shoba , Thomas Sujitha , S. Salim Shyam , P. U. Zacharia  , Sen Dash Swatipriyanka , K. V. Akhilesh  , T. M. Najmudeen  , Malayilethu Vinod , V. Mahesh  , P. Gop Ambarish , L. Remya  , P. P. Manojkumar  , Rahangdale Shikha , G. B. Purushottama  , Roul Subal Kumar , Pradhan Rajesh Kumar , Wilson Livi , Nair Rekha J. , Patil Gaurav , Jamalabad Abhishek , K. S. S. M. Yousuf  , M. Radhakrishnan  , K. T. S. Sunil
Published: February 2025

The domestic consumption of sharks in maritime states of India and consumer perception were examined to assess the utility of such studies in conservation planning. The study surveyed 309 respondents in person, across the coastal states of India during 2018. The respondents covered were fish consumers and had highest monthly food expenditure on fish. The study found out that low consumption of sharks among respondents, though expenditure on fish was relatively high. Fifty-nine percent of the consumers felt that their consumption of sharks had decreased and the main reason attributed was irregular/poor supply of sharks. The study revealed that consumer awareness on shark conservation was poor with 63.2% of the respondents unaware that some shark species are protected in India or require protection. Consumer fidelity towards sharks was found to be low indicating that even if additional shark species were protected, they would be replaced by other fish in the consumer’s diet. Focused efforts are essential to sensitise consumers about the vulnerability of sharks and their conservation needs. Strategies could include integrating marine conservation topics into school curricula, conducting awareness campaigns on shark conservation at retail markets and promoting consumption of sharks sourced from sustainable stocks. Additionally, the study recommends implementing minimum legal size (MLS) regulation for ensuring sustainable shark stocks in Indian waters.
Keywords: Awareness, Consumer survey, Elasmobranchs, Perception, Sustainability
A Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment of Hydraulic Fracturing
Authors: Khan Abdul Muqtadir , Anderson Christine , Prabhu Rasika , Beletskaya Anna , Kuan Pearl , Danican Samuel , Mostowfi Farshid
Published: February 2025

The oil and gas industry has been taking steps to achieve sustainable growth. Most exploration and production companies have declared their commitment to a carbon-neutral future. The first step in realizing this goal is to identify high-intensity operations, such as unconventional hydraulic fracturing, and reduce those emissions. Therefore, the primary objective of this work is to quantify the main sources of emissions in the hydraulic fracturing value chain and identify technologies that could dramatically reduce those emissions.

Our first primary goal is to identify nearly all sources of emissions and the scale of their impact. Once the main emission sources are identified in the entire unconventional fracturing chain, we then focus on technologies that enable significant emission reduction. We used qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess the emissions impact of diesel engines, material transportation, and water utilization. Our observations yielded a high-level view of emission intensity across the value chain of hydraulic fracturing. Wellsite execution–related fuel consumption during pumping was the highest contributor to emissions at 36%, followed closely by the flaring for fracture cleanup at 29%. Total transportation contributed 24% to the total emissions. While the emissions of the fracturing fleets are often very visible due to their large footprint and duration, surprisingly, the nonroutine flaring and transportation are also impactful. In fact, nonroutine flaring could have a much higher impact depending on how fast the cleanup process could take place, which may not be easy to predict.

It is reported that using natural gas in internal combustion engines reduces CO2 emissions. However, the methane leak from engines would offset the CO2 savings and render the benefits marginal. We also observed that the reuse of produced water is a feasible way to reduce the well stimulation footprint on water resources, which could be enabled by improved water treatment techniques at scale, advances in hydraulic fracturing fluid composition, and appropriate infrastructure. We quantified the upstream emissions (embodied carbon) of commonly used chemicals, and our calculations show that the embodied carbon of commonly used chemicals in unconventional fracturing is rather small. Our conclusions emphasize the importance of adopting ecofriendly technologies to address the challenges posed by hydraulic fracturing. They can impact up to 35% of emissions reduction.

This study contributes a high-level, yet accurate, perspective on emissions of the hydraulic fracturing process. We highlight the high-emitting steps in the process and identify technology gaps that could reduce the emission footprint of the industry. This research underscores the urgency of adopting responsible practices in hydraulic fracturing for a harmonious coexistence with global sustainability objectives.
Enhancing profitability, sustainability, and resilience of rice-based cropping systems by including premium quality rice and intensifying and diversifying cropping systems
Authors: Ahmed Sharif , Ferdous A.K.M , Alam Md. Jahangir , Alam Muhammad Khairul , Bhandari Humnath , Timsina Jagadish
Published: February 2025

To increase the profitability and sustainability of rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh, sustainable intensification through diversifying high-value and climate-smart crops/varieties is required. Therefore, a multi-location farmer’s participatory cropping systems trial was conducted in two consecutive years in south-west Bangladesh aimed at the profitable and sustainable cropping systems evaluation. The on-farm trial included five rice-based cropping systems such as (i) rice-fallow-rice (R-F-R), (ii) rice-mustard-rice (R-M-R), (iii) rice-lentil-mungbean (R-L-M) (iv) rice-wheat-mungbean (R-W-M) and (v) rice-relay mustard-rice (R-RM-R). The trial was conducted in 60 farmers’ fields in two adjacent districts with similar weather conditions and premium quality rice variety/es was tested in the R-M-R and R-RM-R systems. We evaluated the systems rice equivalent yield (REY), systems profitability, sustainable yield index (SYI), production and land use efficiency, and systems protein and energy outputs. The highest system REY (14.1–14.4 t ha-1) was recorded from the cropping system R-M-R which was similar to the cropping system R-RM-R in 2015/16. The R-M-R cropping systems had 20–25% higher REY than the systems R-F-R which recorded the lowest REY (11.2–11.4 t ha-1). The highest systems net return (1610–1879 USD ha-1) was recorded from the CS R-M-R; however, the highest (1.83–1.99) benefit-cost ratio was involved with CS R-L-M and it was due to lower production cost involvement with this system. The CS R-M-R had the highest SYI (0.84–0.85), followed by R-RM-R and R-L-M, and the lowest value was from R-W-M (0.75–0.77). The highest systems protein, systems energy, and systems profitability were recorded from the CS R-M-R; however, the highest land-use efficiency was recorded from the CS R-RM-R. The study revealed that planting mustard between two rice crops (premium quality varieties with short duration aman), either as a sole crop or with the relay of aman rice, is one of the most profitable options for crop intensification in rice-fallow-rice cropping systems.
Generalized mechanism model for ecosystem hysteresis
Authors: Wang Yanfen , Hao Yanbin , Wang Xin , Liu Jie , Du Jianqing , Xue Kai , Cui Xiaoyong , Song Xiaoning , Zhao Tong
Published: February 2025

Ecosystem hysteresis, the occurrence of irreversible state transitions due to external disturbances, is a prevalent phenomenon in dynamic ecosystems. Understanding hysteresis is essential for predicting ecosystem responses and developing effective restoration strategies. However, the intrinsic dynamics quantifying the positive-negative feedback in driving hysteresis and its intensity remain undisclosed. We introduce a quantitative framework to address hysteresis by assessing ecosystem states and feedback loops, which diverges from prior phenomenological theories of hysteresis. Employing this framework, a generalized mechanism model is proposed to estimate positive-negative feedback strengths and defines the irreversible potential of hysteresis to determine its intensity. We identify a dimensionless critical constant that indicates whether hysteresis occurs. The model effectively captures both forward and backward trajectories of hysteresis across various ecological scale. The direction of state transitions may be predicted using unidirectional data. Our findings offer a universal framework for predicting and mitigating irreversible state shifts of ecosystems.
Low-Dimensional Templates and Delayed Crystallization for High-Quality Tin-Based Perovskite Films
Authors: Li Wenwu , Wu Yanqiu , Yang Shuzhang , Li Enlong , Liu Yu , Yuan Feng , Wen Jincheng , Hua Lina , Wang Wunan , Yang Yingguo , Lei Yusheng , Chu Junhao
Published: February 2025

The quasi-2D tin-based perovskite is a prominent candidate for p-type perovskite semiconductor materials because of their remarkable thermodynamic stability and diminished ion migration tendencies. However, the competitive growth of low-dimensional and high-dimensional phases in quasi-2D perovskites leads to structural disorder and poor crystal orientation, thereby forming defective films and further impacting charge carrier transport. Here, we introduce a strategy to selectively promote the formation of high-quality PEA2FAn − 1SnnI3n−1SCN2 (n = 2) templates by incorporating PEASCN into the perovskite precursor solution. By substituting formamdinium iodide (FAI) with formamidinium formate (FAHCOO) and ammonium iodide (NH4I), we effectively inhibit the growth of 3D FASnI3, thus achieving control over crystallization kinetics. This approach facilitates the growth of low-dimensional templates that guide the formation of high-dimensional phases during the annealing process. The resulting optimized perovskite films exhibit a well-defined vertical crystallographic orientation and reduced defect density, which significantly enhance charge carrier transport. The fabricated field-effect transistors demonstrate a maximum mobility of 43 cm2 V− 1 s− 1 and an on/off ratio exceeding 108. Furthermore, the unencapsulated devices show outstanding operational and environmental stability, maintaining performance for over 30 days. These results offer new insights into the material engineering of tin-based perovskite films and highlight the potential for high-performance and stable devices.
Telegram Messenger as a Learning Tool for Medical Students During Corona Virus Pandemic in the University of Benghazi
Authors: Awad Hend Rafa , Amer Abeer Hussein , Abass Gada
Published: February 2025

Globally, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic reached all sides of life, and education was greatly affected. Medical education in Libya has constantly depended on the traditional classroom teaching method. These intense and impulsive changes in the education system may affect students and their prospective toward online classrooms. Hence, we aimed to study the advantages and disadvantages of online learning. Classes online with the use of the Telegram app were Studied. 299 participants (220 females and 79 males) from the first and second years of the Medical Faculty, University of Benghazi, contributed to the current study. The investigators employed data collection through a questionnaire during the study period from March to April of 2022. The outcomes of the present study showed that the applicants displayed highly positive attitudes toward using online learning during the COVID-19 period. On the other hand, the biggest difficulties that challenged students during online learning were the weakness of the internet connection and technical problems. In conclusion, learning online with both live classes and recorded videos can be included as a part of the curriculum for medical education, although it can never replace interactive face-to-face classroom learning or practical sessions.
Global Increase in Tropical Cyclone Rapid Slowdown Events in Offshore Regions
Authors: Wang Chao , zhong Jian , Wu Yuqin , Sun Yimei , Li Hongyan
Published: February 2025

Rapid slowdown (RS) of tropical cyclone (TC) motion in offshore regions poses an increased threat to coastal populations and economies due to its unexcepted nature and prolonged exposure. However, the variations of global RS events in offshore regions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that, unlike open oceans where RS counts show no significant changes, offshore areas within 400 km of the coastline have experienced a fourfold increase in RS events from 1982 to 2023. Both the global sea surface temperature and Pacific decadal oscillation contribute to this trend, through producing favorable environmental conditions—namely reduced vertical wind shear and increased potential intensity. Climate model simulations suggest that global ocean warming has intensified these changes. Moreover, RS events are significantly correlated with the rapid intensification within the coastal regions. These findings underscore the increasing threat of RS in coastal regions over the recent decades, which may continue under a warming climate.
Moringa oleifera Lam.-Enriched Diet Boosts Serum Protein Levels Independently of Dietary Protein Intake
Authors: Patil Pradeep B. , Alduri Parimala , Purushottam Gudepu , Devarasetti Ashok , reddy Kumar , Deshmukh Swapnil , J Sreenivasa Rao , Qadri SSYH , Tulja B.
Published: February 2025

Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves (MOL) have been a staple food source in India for centuries. Recent reports have highlighted their potential as immunomodulators, hepatoprotectants, and more. To verify these claims, we conducted a study aimed at shedding light on the nutritional benefits of MOL consumption. This six-week study employed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous feeding trial, using a pelleted diet with 20% protein, supplemented with either 2% or 4% MOL. Healthy adult male rats were subjected to a unique forced exercise regimen. We analyzed the biochemical parameters of 30 rats distributed across five groups. The results showed that the test groups had significantly lower levels of serum urea and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) compared to the control group. Total protein levels increased significantly (14–19%) in all test groups, with no significant difference in creatinine levels. This analysis concludes that administering MOL powder orally at doses of 2% and 4% is biochemically safe and exhibits liver-protective and nephroprotective properties. In conclusion, our study suggests that MOL powder can be safely incorporated into both human and animal diets in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the synergistic effect of exercise enhances these benefits. Notably, our unique model provides long-term results without altering animal behavior, making MOL a promising option for combating protein-energy malnutrition and malnutrition in India.
Integrative bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation identify CHEK1 as an unfavorable prognostic biomarker related to immunosuppressive phenotypes in soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Rong Chao , Liu Yun , Xiang Fang , Zhao Xin , Zhang Jinjin , Xiao Zuorun , Wang Jinsha , Chen Lin , Guo Zhiqi , Zhang Ziyu , An Jingnan , Shen Jing , Hess Jochen , Yuan Xiaodong , Zhang Qiong , Wang Shouli
Published: February 2025

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents one of the most common soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in children and adolescents. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) is a potent inhibitor of myogenic differentiation in RMS and plays a significant function in the tumour immune microenvironment. Currently, unsupervised tumor immune phenotype based on multi-omics expression profiling has been less studied. To reveal the tumour immune phenotype of STS and identify promising therapeutic targets, multi-omics expression profiling in 363 tumours across subtypes of STS was investigated. Here, we validated the TGFβ1 signal function in RMS myogenic differentiation and established a novel molecular classifier based on immune cell subsets related to TGFβ1 and Interferon-γ (IFNγ) to identify distinct immune phenotypes with higher or lower cytotoxic contents. Moreover, we compared multi-omics expression profiling across subgroups of RMS and STS to identify CHEK1 as an unfavourable prognostic biomarker related to immunosuppressive phenotypes. In situ analysis of independent validation cohorts addresses the correlation between CHEK1 and tumour-infiltrating immune cells. Collectively, our data validate the TGFβ1 signal function in RMS myogenic differentiation and establish a novel risk assessment strategy for RMS and STS patients. This work potentially improves risk assessment for STS patients and offers a new therapeutic strategy to increase antitumor immunity through the combined targeting of CHEK1 inhibition.
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1 prevents autism-like behaviors by reshaping the maternal and offspring microbiome
Authors: Yang Ruili , Xu Jinchun , Xu Yi , Huang Chengqing , Zhu Feng , Wang Tian , Kong Rui , Xiao Jie , Gu Xiaozhen , Wang Hui-Li
Published: February 2025

As a prevalent neurodevelopmental disease, whether ASD (autism spectrum disorder) can be ameliorated by the early use of a single microbe remains unknown. Here we report that Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1 (LGR-1) prevented the occurrence of autism-like behaviors when administered exclusively to the pregnant mice, as evidenced by the improved behaviors and restored E/I balance in the prefrontal cortex of male pups. In parallel, the offspring microbiome was reshaped by LGR-1 treatment, mediated by the vertical transmission of maternal microbiome, with its roles validated by microbiota transplant and cross-fostering. In addition to gut commensals, the LGR-1-shaping vaginal microbiota also contributed to the establishment of “beneficial” microbiome. Regarding key taxa in offspring, Akkermansia muciniphila was influenced by LGR-1 and exerted effect on the ensuing behavior, through modulating immune pathways related to IL-17-producing cell population. In conclusion, a single microbe applied in utero protects offspring from autism-like behaviors via microbiome transmission, shedding light on the microbe-based avenue to mitigate the risk of ASD.
Monitoring changes in vitamin D levels during the COVID-19 pandemic with routinely-collected laboratory data
Authors: Grill Eva , Skapetze Lea , Koller Daniela , Zwergal Andreas , Feuerriegel Stefan , Rubinski Anna
Published: February 2025

Vitamin D is critical for bone health and immune function, but the COVID-19 pandemic,characterized by lockdowns and reduced outdoor activity, raised concerns about potential declines in vitamin D levels due to dietary changes and limited sunlight exposure. In this study, we analyzed routinely-collected laboratory data (N = 292,791 patients) from a large laboratory chain in Bavaria, Germany, to assess changes in vitamin D levels before (March 2018 to February 2020) and during (March 2020 to February 2022) the pandemic. Different statistical approaches (i.e., descriptive statistics, propensity score matching, and a causal forest) were used to evaluate confounder-adjusted changes in vitamin D levels and deficiency rates. Mean vitamin D levels decreased significantly from 26.7 µg/l pre-pandemic to 26.0 µg/l during the pandemic (p-value < 0.001), with a corresponding increase in deficiency rates from 31.3% to 35.2% (p-value < 0.001). Across all statistical approaches, the decline in mean levels and the increase in deficiency rates were particularly pronounced among elderly women. These findings highlight the importance of public health strategies to monitor and improve vitamin D status, especially during periods of restricted outdoor activity.
Overshooting convection drives winter mixed layer under Antarctic sea ice
Authors: Gayen Bishakhdatta , Bhadouriya Ankit , Garabato Alberto Naveira , Silvano Alessandro
Published: February 2025

Antarctic sea ice regulates atmosphere-ocean heat and gas exchanges by insulating the upper-ocean mixed layer. Simultaneously, winter sea ice formation intensifies ocean mixing and deepens the mixed layer, influencing further ice growth. Understanding this interaction is crucial for accurate Antarctic sea ice and climate predictions, yet winter observations remain scarce due to harsh conditions. Here, we use high-resolution state-of-the-art large eddy simulations to unravel the upper-ocean dynamics linking vertical heat flux to sea ice growth. Our results show that sea ice formation drives energetic meter-scale saline convective plumes that penetrate the pycnocline, overshoot their neutral depth, and rebound upward, entraining warm subsurface water, thereby moderating ice formation. A scaling theory is developed to estimate plume-induced turbulent heat flux and applied to an ice-ocean reanalysis dataset, revealing its large-scale impacts. Overshooting convection significantly limits Antarctic sea ice expansion and explains regional thickness variations, underscoring its importance for future climate projections.
Evolution of Critical Shear Stress in the Seabed of an Urbanized Estuary and Natural Estuary after the Passage of Hurricane Ian
Authors: Fugate David
Published: February 2025

Sediment transport and mixing in estuaries impact a number of ecosystem services, including the flux of nutrients and the mediation of turbidity of the water column, which in turn affects the health of seagrasses and other benthic primary producers. A key factor to predicting the direction and strength of sediment transport is the critical shear stress required to erode sediment from the bed. But the erodibility of fine sediments is poorly constrained because of the complicated interactions between grainsize, consolidation, and biological factors. This study assessed the evolution of critical shear stress and erodibility of the seabed in southwest Florida, USA after the intense disturbance of Hurricane Ian. We also compared how the evolution of the bed differed in a location that has had extensive development with a nearby but undeveloped bay with no anthropogenic development. Erodibility and critical shear stress were measured with Gust-type erosional chambers. Profiles of 7Be and Xradiographs were used to determine the extent of new sediment deposition and bioturbation. Hydrodynamics were measured with an acoustic doppler current profiler. Hurricane Ian initially eroded the seabed down to a consolidated layer with high critical shear stress (1-1.5 Pa) and low erodibility at both sites. In the subsequent months, new sediments were deposited and rapid bioadvection of the top 6 cm ensued. The shear stress was reduced (~0.25 Pa) and erodibility increased by the end of the study. Recovery was more rapid in the undeveloped site because the hydrodynamics were more energetic. Both sites returned to stability within one year of the passage of the storm.
Public health impact of COVID-19 vaccination and economic implications in Ghana and Benin: a mathematical modelling and cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Owusu Richmond , Dwomoh Duah , Asare Brian Adu , Aniwanou Bernard , Landry Kaucley , Adjagba Alex , Asfaw Elias , Nonvignon Justice
Published: February 2025

Background: The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has led to numerous cases and deaths globally. Ghana and Benin are two Africa countries which prioritized vaccination, introducing them as early as March 2021 alongside non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to mitigate the epidemiological and socio-economic impact of COVID-19. This study quantified the impact of vaccination coverage on cases, deaths averted, hospital resources, and economic impacts compared to a scenario without vaccination.
Methods: This study adopted the COVID-19 International Modelling Consortium (CoMo) model to estimate COVID-19 transmission dynamics, disease burden, and the impact of vaccination scenarios accounting for NPIs at varying intensity. We assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination programs by estimating additional cases and deaths averted if no vaccines were distributed. We assumed a 78% vaccine efficacy and conducted sensitivity analyses by varying vaccination coverage targets above the 20% set by COVAX and 40% by WHO by the end of 2022. A cost-effectiveness analysis of COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana and Benin was conducted from societal and health system perspectives. Our analysis considered vaccination coverage target of 20% - 80%.
Results: Vaccinating approximately 40% of the population in Ghana and Benin, as recommended by WHO, would reduce the total predicted reported cases from 1.6% (95% CrI: 1.1, 1.9) to 0.7% (95% CrI: 0.6, 1.3) and avert additional 3585 (95% CrI: 1793-4066) and 33 COVID-19 deaths between April 2020 to December 2022. For reported+unreported cases, it would reduce from 35.3% (95% CrI: 20.5, 43.7) to 18.8% (95% CrI: 13, 33) in Ghana and from 1.5% (95% CrI: 0.4, 8.1) to 1.0% (95% CrI: 0.5, 15.3) in Benin. In both countries, at 40% vaccination coverage compared to no vaccination, vaccination is cost-effective from both health system and societal perspectives. Also, in Ghana vaccination up to 70% coverage is still cost-effective from the societal perspective. In Benin, any coverage beyond 40% of the population was not cost-effective.
Conclusion: Higher vaccine coverage alone, does not necessarily lead to greater health or economic benefits. The cost-effectiveness of increasing COVID-19 vaccine coverage is influenced by coverage rates, national context and scope of costs considered. Overall, vaccination is only cost-effective when it is done together with adherence to COVID-19 prevention guidelines, and that should be the priority of policymakers for the two countries.
Mortality Risk Factors in Invasive Candidiasis: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Feng Qiangsheng , Ha Xiaoqin , Song Yuejuan
Published: February 2025

Background
Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a critical infection disease with high mortality caused by Candida spp., accurate clinical diagnosis for significant treatment and infection control challenges in critical care settings‌.
Method
This study evaluated IC inpatients diagnosed through mycological evidence over 12 months, Inclusion criteria required at least one positive mycological result including blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural and ascitic fluid, joint fluid, and pus.
Results
A total of 223 inpatients with IC, with a mortality rate was 46.2%, bloodstream infections (BSIs) were the most severe disease with mortality at 70.3%. Among 88 cases of BSIs, 77.3% were aerobic bottles with a culture mean time was 39.1 ± 26.7h(3 ~ 140h). Abdominal infection was the main source of infection at 46.6%, followed by catheter-related sources at 18.8%. Biomarkers for IC diagnosis value, with area under the curve (AUC) values for PCT was 0.827, when PCT ≥ 0.778 ug/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of 0.667 and 0.862,respectively.The IC 28-day survival rate was 0.640 ± 0.038 overall, compared to 0.499 ± 0.061 for BSIs patients. Multivariable regression analysis identified several significant factors associated with in-hospital mortality: PCT ≥ 0.778 ng/mL (OR 3.800, 95% CI1.995-7.237, p < 0.001), IL-6 ≥ 25.375 pg/mL (OR 3.667,95% CI, 1.372–9.795, p = 0.01), the BSIs (OR 4.431,95% CI 2.438–8.054, p < 0.001), and ICU admission (OR:2.351,95% CI, 1.269–4.356 p < 0.007).
Conclusion
IC is a serious infectious disease with high mortality and source mainly from abdominal infection, key risk factors for mortality include BSIs, ICU admission elevated PCT and IL-6.
Omission of axillary dissection without radiation in breast cancer patients with one macrometastatic sentinel lymph node undergoing mastectomy
Authors: Ogiya Akiko , Sakai Takehiko , Nakadaira Uta , Miyagi Yumi , Takahata Chikako , Abe Tomomi , Inoue Yuka , Yoshida Kazuyo , Uehiro Natsue , Maeda Tetsuyo , Takahashi Yoko , Inari Hitoshi , Kataoka Akemi , Takano Toshimi , Osako Tomo , Ueno Takayuki
Published: February 2025

Background
This study is an ad hoc analysis of a single-center trial that investigated the oncologic safety of omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients who had one macrometastasis in sentinel lymph nodes (SNs). Herein, we report the outcomes of patients who underwent mastectomy without ALND, had one macrometastasis in SNs, and did not receive radiotherapy (RT).
Materials and Methods
The study group comprised 136 patients with cTis-3N0 who underwent mastectomy and had one macrometastasis in SNs and who did not receive ALND nor RT. For comparison, a historical control group of 67 patients who received mastectomy and ALND without RT and had one nodal macrometastasis in SNs was used. Both groups received systemic therapy. The primary endpoint was distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and secondary endpoints were ipsilateral axillary lymph node recurrence rate, and overall survival (OS). Outcomes were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test.
Results
The median duration of follow-up in the study group was 73.5 months. The five-year DDFS was comparable in the two groups (study group: 95.5%; control group: 95.4%; p = 0.74). The five-year ipsilateral axillary lymph node recurrence rate was 0.8% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.80). There was no significant between-group difference regarding the five-year OS rate (99.2% and 96.9%, respectively, p = 0.91).
Conclusion
Omission of ALND without RT could be a promising approach in patients who have one macrometastasis in SNs and undergo mastectomy with systemic therapy.
Trial registration
The trail has been registered in UMINCTR on March 19, 2014 (Registration No. UMIN000013059).
A High-Efficiency Single Layer Slot Array Antenna with GGW Pillbox Feeding System
Authors: Mohammadpour Mohammad , Mohajeri Farzad , Parizi Seyed Ali Razavi
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a slot array antenna composed of H-plane horns as radiating slots and a pillbox feeding mechanism in gap waveguide (GW) technology. This new configuration presents a new full-metal slot array antenna with low complexity, fabrication cost, and high gain and directive radiation. The proposed fully metallic antenna leverages a design that offers high efficiency and a flat gain response over the desired bandwidth. A fabricated prototype exhibits 70–90% efficiency, an impedance bandwidth of about 8% (S11 < -10 dB), and a 2.5 dB gain variation across the operating bandwidth.
Novel Aryl Substituted sulfonyl piperazine derivatives: Tandem one-pot multi component synthesis via palladium catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling, structure studies and evaluation of anticancer activity
Authors: S jeevan Chakravarthy A , A Shriraksha , R Sreenatha N , N Sharadamma , R Nagesh Babu
Published: February 2025

Novel N,N-substituted biphenyl sulfonyl piparazines were synthesized through a tandem one-pot reaction of N-substituted piparazines with p-bromosulfonyl chloride in DCM, followed by the palladium catalyzed cross coupling with aryl boronic acids at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The N-p-bromosulfonylpiparazine intermediate was isolated and crystals obtained through slow evaporation technique was subjected to single crystal diffraction studies to get the structural insights. The study revealed the crystallization in triclinic lattice with P1 space group with each asymmetric unit comprising of two molecules A & B in a nonplanar geometry. The piperazine ring in each molecule was seen to have a puckering environment with Chair conformation. Hirshfeld surfaces mapped on dnorm property and two-dimensional fingerprint graphs provided the types and extent of contribution of intermolecular interaction present in the crystal. The relevant two-dimensional fingerprint graphs revealed H…H, H…C, H…O, and H…Br to be the main forces leading to the crystallization of the intermediate. The novel biphenyl N-sulfonyl piperazine compounds obtained by the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction were isolated, characterized and subjected to insilico and invitro anticancer investigations. Biological activity prediction and in-silico ADMET analysis performed using Swiss ADME and ProTox-II tools gave an insight into the pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles of the synthesized molecules. Synthesized compounds were predicted to have high gastrointestinal absorption and termed safe for organ toxicity parameters. Also, molecular docking studies were conducted using Autodock Vina and Discovery Studio to predict and analyse the binding affinity and interaction of the novel piperazine molecules with survivin protein and human B-DNA. Compound 5a showed highest binding affinity of -8.2 kcal/mol with survivin. Docking of compounds 5 with DNA showed binding affinity of -9.6 kcal/mol. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of the molecules on U87 (glioblastoma) and OVCAR3 (ovarian carcinoma) cell lines, by MTT assay demonstrated appreciable results, suggesting them as prospective candidates for anticancer agents.
Patch-CLIP - Contrastive Health Record-Image Joint Training with Patch Embedding Loss
Authors: Bhat Sheethal , Mansoor Awais , Georgescu Bogdan , Zinnen Mathias , Sahu Pranjal , Panambur Adarsh B. , Ghesu Florin C. , Grbic Sasa , Maier Andreas
Published: February 2025

Vision-Language (VL) models such as Contrastive Language-Image pretraining (CLIP) use multimodal self-supervised learning (SSL) methods to extract maximal information from large-scale datasets. This enables the trained model to learn key image encodings while correlating them to corresponding textual information through a contrastive loss function that maximizes the similarity of VL pairs. Due to weak supervision provided by the text information, these VL models demonstrate strong zero-shot classification performance; however, their performance on downstream tasks such as object detection and localization remains suboptimal [1]. In this work, we introduce a novel contrastive loss function that aligns image patch embeddings with text embeddings. These patch embeddings that are usually discarded output from the image encoder can naturally incorporate location information during unsupervised training. The proposed approach improves both localization and classification performance, thus allowing key findings to be localized without the need for a complex downstream object detection framework. We evaluated the performance of our proposed method on two chest X-ray (CXR) datasets for abnormality detection and localization tasks. The experiments achieved state-of-the-art (SOTA) results for 8 abnormality detection tasks. Moreover, the patch prediction maps introduced in work considerably reduce False Positive (FP) rates at a given sensitivity, compared to saliency maps.
Assessment of Irrigation Water Quality of the River Cauvery and Its Distributaries in Tamil Nadu, India through Hydrochemical Analysis
Authors: Sharma Rakesh
Published: February 2025

The river Cauvery and its tributaries are vital for irrigation in Tamil Nadu, India, but face pollution from anthropogenic activities, raising concerns about water suitability. This study analyzed water samples from the river Cauvery and its distributaries in the Tiruchirappalli district across four seasons to assess irrigation suitability using hydrochemical parameters. The results showed that parameters such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) were within permissible limits for irrigation. The Koolayar channel exhibited slightly elevated chemical levels compared to other distributaries in both summer (EC: 960 µS/cm, Cl: 174 mg/l, Ca: 120 mg/l & Na: 112 mg/l) and winter (EC: 996 µS/cm, Cl: 149 mg/l & Na: 106.6 mg/l). Piper diagram analysis revealed that chloride dominance, particularly in summer season. Overall, the river Cauvery and its distributaries remain suitable for irrigation despite localized pollution. These findings support sustainable water management and agricultural practices in the study region.