bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Degradation of Dye Wastewater using Electrocoagulation Method
Authors: Suruuri M , Wibowo E , Ulya N , Fatona I W , Rokhmat M
Published: February 2025

We conducted a study on the degradation of dye wastewater (Wantex) using the electrocoagulation technique with four aluminum plates as electrodes. We investigated how varying the time, voltage, and electrode spacing affected the efficiency of color removal. The electrocoagulation process lasted 420 minutes (7 hours), with samples collected every 30 minutes. The voltage was maintained at 12 V, and the electrode spacing was adjusted to 1, 2, and 3 cm. Wantex solutions with concentrations of 2.67%, 3.33%, and 4% (w/v) were prepared by dissolving 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 g of dye in 1 L of distilled water. Our analysis revealed a dye degradation rate of 99.89% under optimal conditions—12 V and 1 cm spacing at the 3rd hour, with a pH of 7.79, which complies with government safety standards. Compared to previous research, our study achieved a higher degradation rate, highlighting the potential of electrocoagulation as a cost-effective and eco-friendly method for treating textile industry wastewater.
Design and Performance Assessment of a Combined Grater and Milk Extraction Mechanism for Coconut Meat
Authors: Atienza A H , Arce J L , Banawa K I , Rabanal M C T
Published: February 2025

Coconut meat processing in the Philippines is considered to be labor and energy intensive. Using traditional methods such as grating and milk extraction consumes more time, with safety issue with the operators and low efficiency. This study was aimed to design and fabricate an innovative machine that will solve the problems of small - scale coconut industry in the Philippines with the help of engineering applications. The study aimed to increase the time efficiency of the coconut milking process by combining the coconut grating and milk extraction in one mechanism and improving the existing design of the coconut grating mechanism. Another objective was to increase the overall efficiency by using a proper milk extractor mechanism. Lastly, the study aimed to improve the existing design of the coconut grating mechanism to lessen the occurrence and possibility of having physical injuries from using the said mechanism. The target beneficiary of the study was the market of the coconut industry in San Pablo City, Laguna. One horsepower motor was used to run the combined mechanisms. Welding, milling, grinding, drilling, boring was done to fabricate the prototype. A screw type compressor for coconut milking process was used to increase the efficiency of the milking process. An emergency brake was provided to ensure the safety of the workers. Belts, pulleys, bearings, coconut grater, sprockets, screen, bolts and screws were used on the prototype. After testing, it was found out that there is reduction of 15.63% in time processing the coconut compared to the traditional piston press that was used mostly in the local market. It was also observed to have an average efficiency of 47.5% with screw press efficiency of 32.5%.
Rebates and grid decarbonization from the Inflation Reduction Act promote equitable adoption of energy efficiency retrofits
Authors: Joseph Jordan M. , Samaras Constantine , Nock Destenie , Gregory Kelvin B. , Vaishnav Parth
Published: February 2025

Residential and commercial buildings account for 75% of electricity and 40% of the total energy consumption in the United States, costing over $400 billion annually. Electrification and energy efficiency retrofits offer a viable decarbonization pathway, especially since half of U.S. homes were built before modern building codes. These older homes are often occupied by low-to-moderate-income (LMI) families. Equitable electrification provides a unique opportunity to considerably reduce emissions in communities where energy bill savings have the most impact on household finances. This study evaluates how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) impacts the adoption potential of air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and clothes dryers, and electric cooking ranges across income groups in the United States. Using a database which statistically represents the U.S. housing stock, we estimate indicative adoption potential of these technologies under scenarios that represent Pre-IRA conditions and a reference case with IRA provisions. After IRA rebates were introduced, adoption potential for LMI households more than doubled for air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and electric cooking ranges and more than tripled for heat pump clothes dryers relative to Pre-IRA adoption potential. Cooking retrofits had the lowest adoption potential, and homes that electrified space heating without weatherization had greater adoption potential than those that underwent basic or enhanced enclosure upgrades. Our results show that the introduction of IRA rebates and a gradually decarbonizing grid substantially improves adoption potential for LMI households and even surpasses the adoption potential of middle and upper-income households.
Inhomogeneous aerosol forcing increasing tropical cyclone intensity in western North Pacific by weakening vertical wind shear
Authors: Yu Xiaochao , Lei Yadong , Wang Zhili , Zhao Dajun , Li Yingfang , Liu Lin , Wu Bo , Che Huizheng , Zhang Xiao-Ye
Published: February 2025

Faced with increasing tropical cyclone (TC) intensity in the western North Pacific (WNP) in recent decades, the simultaneous decrease in vertical wind shear (VWS) has been considered an important contributor. However, anthropogenic contribution to this decreased VWS remains uncertain. Here, we isolate the individual effects of greenhouse gases, aerosols, natural forcings, and internal climate variability on the decreased VWS over the WNP using multi-model ensemble simulations. We find that Eurasia’s inhomogeneous aerosol forcing triggers a southeastward-propagating wave train from central Europe and a meridional circulation teleconnection over southeastern Eurasia, inducing anomalous westerlies at 200 hPa in the WNP monsoon trough (MT) region. This dominates the weakening of VWS in the MT region, thereby promoting dynamic conditions favorable for increased TC intensity. Given that aerosol emissions in Europe show limited potential for further reduction, future aerosol emissions mitigation in East Asia is expected to intensify VWS over the WNP, thereby dampening the intensification of TC.
The Mangrove Distribution Detection of National Capital Region (Case Study: Balikpapan Bay)
Authors: Gaffara Ghefra Rizkan , Pratama Muhammad Rizky , Kurniawan Surya , Nurhaidar Wa Ode
Published: February 2025

Balikpapan Bay recorded 13 species with different distribution and density patterns based on the Importance Value Index, Rhizophora apiculata is the highest at 81.63%. At the sapling level, the number of mangrove species found in Balikpapan Bay was recorded at 15 species, the largest INP was owned by the Rhizophora apiculata species (168.71%). In the Balikpapan Bay mangrove forest, only 10 species of mangrove plants were found at the tree level, the largest INP was owned by the Rhizophora apiculata species (177.63%). The purpose of this study was to detect the distribution of mangrove forests and their density levels. The current condition of the distribution of mangrove forests in Balikpapan Bay was obtained through satellite imagery interpretation using Landsat 8. Mangrove density was identified using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) calculation.
The Total Economic Value of Bandar Bakau Mangrove Ecosystem, Dumai City, Riau Province
Authors: Insusanty Enny , Mulyadi Aras , Efriyeldi  , Warningsih Trisla
Published: February 2025

Efforts to sustainably preserve mangrove ecosystem was carried out by quantifying mangrove ecosystem environmental services with economic valuation. The Total Economic Value (TEV) of mangrove ecosystem consists of direct use value, indirect use value, option value and existence value. Economic valuation can be used as a reference in managing coastal areas to maintain the existence and sustainability of mangrove ecosystems. The aim of this research to estimate the economic value of mangrove ecosystem in Bandar Bakau Dumai. This research was obtained using survey methods and measuring the carbon stored in mangrove stands and questionnaires. Total economic value of mangrove ecosystem in Bandar Bakau Dumai was IDR 30.839.766.562. The value of direct benefit such as fish, shrimp and langkitang (molussca) was IDR 25.609.408.557 (83,04%). Whereast the direct benefit of timber was IDR 1.807.596.414 for with total timber volume of mangrove was 336,08 ha/m3. Meanwhile, the value of indirect benefit IDR 1.804.632.631 as carbon absorption was IDR. 1.204.656.631 and waterbreak was IDR 599.976.000. The value of option benefit was IDR 8.328.960 dan The existence benefits used Willingness To Pay (WTP) IDR. 1.609.800.000
Spatial Analysis of Flood Risk Assessment in Sungai Pinang District, Samarinda City, Using GIS Technology
Authors: Agus F , Saleh B U A , Kamil Z A , Gifari O I
Published: February 2025

Urban flooding is a common occurrence that affects numerous cities around the world. People frequently blame the disaster on global warming, which causes sea levels to increase. Floods often strike Samarinda, a town in East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. We are also preparing this city as a buffer zone for Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital. We can use a geographical information system with analytical capabilities as a monitoring technology to assess the risk level of flood-affected areas. This study aims to conduct spatial analysis utilizing weighting and overlay methods to create a flood risk rating map in Samarinda City’s Sungai Pinang district. We studied five urban flood variables using a weighted method, which generated flood categorization theme layers for each factor. Rainfall, land usage, soil type, slope, and land height are the five parameters studied, according to data from Samarinda City’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency and Central Statistics Agency. After that, we performed an overlay analysis to classify floods into four categories: very vulnerable, vulnerable, moderately vulnerable, and safe locations. The study results classify 44.21% of Sungai Pinang District, Samarinda City’s total area as very vulnerable, 53.57% as vulnerable, 2.19% as somewhat vulnerable, and only 0.03% as safe. We tested the classification results with a kappa accuracy test of 90.31%, indicating a high confidence level that practically the entire region of this sub-district is flood-prone.
The Application of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNS) for Geothermal Well Thermal Recovery Post-Injection
Authors: Piere Canilandi Mesias , Sutopo  , Ashat Ali , Dominicus Sinurat Pahala
Published: February 2025

This study explores the application of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINN) to simulate thermal recovery in geothermal wells following injectivity tests. The primary objective is to implement PINN to model well thermal recovery. Real well data from the literature, encompassing parameters such as circulation time, injectate temperature, heating-up surveys, and wellbore radius measurements, are gathered for analysis. Subsequently, governing equations and initial and boundary conditions for PINN modeling are established. The Ascencio and Horner analytical methods are employed to formulate boundary conditions for PINN. The application involves predicting natural state temperatures and temperature profiles across varying radii from the wellbore to the maximum radius of interest. However, it is crucial to acknowledge certain limitations. The iterative nature of PINN requires considerable computational resources, similar to numerical models. Furthermore, assuming vertical parameter independence may oversimplify reservoir behavior. In conclusion, despite limitations, PINN demonstrates the potential to aid thermal recovery simulations. Refining natural state temperature extrapolation is deemed essential, considering a tendency to overestimate values. Validating the model’s accuracy involves refining physical parameters through backpropagation. Additionally, it is imperative to establish the model’s credibility through a rigorous comparative analysis of outcomes with those obtained from established commercial software.
Novel Multiple Focal Point Technique for Laser-Induced Shear Wave Generation in Deep Tissue: Simulation Insights
Authors: Bahrami Gorji Reza , Mohammadi Mohammad , Makkiabadi Bahador
Published: February 2025

Purpose:Laser applications in biomedical imaging have several decades of history; however, some unexplored corners remain for study. While previous studies contain massive data on photoacoustic imaging, optical coherence imaging/elastography, and surface acoustic waves, the generation of shear waves in bulk by laser remained rarely investigated. Here, we study the applicability of multipoint laser exposure to generate deep tissue shear waves, which have potential applications in dynamic elastography.Method:Previous studies used single shots of laser to induce shear waves and create weak waves. Based on this, we suggest a multipoint approach to enhancing the amplitude of the shear wave in bulk. These approaches contain supersonic exposure, overlay Mach 1, and comb-push exposure in a finite element simulation environment.Result:Although the results showed a linear relationship between laser power and shear wave amplitude, the supersonic and overlay exposure increased the amplitude from 15 nm to over 60 nm and 230 nm, respectively.Conclusion:Our approaches showed a potentially successful increase in shear wave amplitude in the simulation environment. However, experimental data still need to be investigated before these techniques can be suggested for laser-induced shear wave elastography in the deep medium.
To Stereotype Is to Discriminate
Authors: Beeghly Erin
Published: February 2025

This chapter argues that stereotyping constitutes a form of discrimination. This is the constitutive claim. It opens with a distinction between two ways in which stereotyping and discrimination can relate to each other. First, stereotyping might cause discriminatory treatment, such as when people act on stereotypes or enshrine them in law or policy. Second, stereotyping might be itself a form of discrimination. Investigating this second claim, the chapter explores the constitutive claim’s deeper justifications and, ultimately, vindicates it. One of the constitutive claim’s upshots is that we can wrongfully discriminate against (or in favor of) others in thought, even if no one finds out. A second implication—crucial for the book’s overall argumentative strategy—is that theories of wrongful discrimination bear on the ethical questions associated with stereotyping.
Disrespect and Harm
Authors: Beeghly Erin
Published: February 2025

This chapter uses Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa’s groundbreaking feminist anthology This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color to develop a modestly pluralistic theory of what’s wrong with stereotyping. It begins by documenting two themes that run throughout its essays and poetry: the disrespect of stereotyping and the harms of stereotyping. It then introduces a theory that formalizes Bridge contributors’ insights. According to the disrespect or harm theory, stereotyping is wrongful when it is disrespectful or causes harm. Keeping discrimination theory in conversation with the lived experience, the chapter argues that the best interpretation of this theory features hybrid understandings of “disrespect” and “harm.” What emerges is a novel philosophical theory of wrongful stereotyping that riffs on existing theories of wrongful discrimination while also challenging them. Though ultimately not pluralistic enough, it lays the groundwork for a theory that recognizes an even richer array of ethical objections to stereotyping in lived experience.
No Justice, No Peace
Authors: Pasternak Avia
Published: February 2025

In the summer of 2020, angry citizens took to the streets of Minneapolis after a recording of the murder of George Floyd went viral. They set fire to a police station, destroyed cars and shops, and clashed with police. In the summer of 2023, violent disorder broke out across France after police killed a 17-year-old boy. In 2011, violent protests spread from London across England after police killed a young black man during an arrest. State authorities are quick to denounce such protests as callous lawlessness. But are their denouncements justified? Are violent protestors unscrupulous criminals, or might their resort to violent protest be justified, despite its lawlessness and the heavy costs it imposes? In No Justice, No Peace: The Ethics of Violent Protests, Avia Pasternak offers the first in-depth examination of these pressing questions. The analysis focuses on the political nature and the protective goals of violent protestors. Violent protestors, she argues, disrupt the peace in order to achieve justice and to express their defiance of an unjust political order. Pasternak shows that, even in liberal democracies, the resort to some violence on behalf of these important goals can be necessary and proportionate. Combining empirical analysis of political oppression in contemporary states with a normative assessment of the duties and obligations of resistance that such oppression generates for ordinary citizens, Pasternak argues that some violence in protest against state injustices can be permissible but also sets important limits to it.
Nck1 regulates the in vitro development of human regulatory T cells through AKT pathway
Authors: Nuiyen Aussanee , Sanguansermsri Donruedee , Sayasathid Jarun , Thatsakorn Kanthachat , Thapmongkol Siraphop , Ngoenkam Jatuporn , Pongcharoen Sutatip
Published: February 2025

T cell receptor (TCR) signalling is crucial in determining the fate of thymocyte differentiation in the thymus. The high-avidity interaction between TCR and self-peptide-MHC complexes induces development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), lineage commitment for which is controlled by expression of transcription factor Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) . The non-catalytic region of the tyrosine kinase (Nck) comprises two members, Nck1 and Nck2, with Nck1 playing a dominant role in TCR-mediated T-cell activation and function. Nck’s role, while established in thymocyte development, remains unelucidated in development of Tregs. In this study, we aimed to determine the function of Nck1 in the in vitro development and differentiation of human thymocytes. Human thymocytes were transfected with shRNA plasmid to silence Nck1 expression. The number of FoxP3+ Tregs decreased noticeably in Nck1 knockdown thymocytes after co-cultivation with myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and thymic epithelial cells (TECs) for 14 days. Furthermore, decreased phosphorylation of AKT and FoxO1 was observed in Nck1-silenced thymocytes, in association with reduced FoxO1 nuclear localisation. Taken together, these findings identify the pivotal role of Nck1 in Treg development.
Temperature induced changes in the relevance of viral lysis and microzooplankton grazing of Antarctic phytoplankton indicates future alterations in seasonal carbon flow
Authors: Biggs T E G , Piedade G J , Wesdorp E M , Meredith M P , Evans C , Brussaard C P D
Published: February 2025

Phytoplankton play a pivotal role as the primary producers in polar marine ecosystems. Despite evidence suggesting that production rates and loss factors vary from year to year, and thus drive dynamic ecosystem functioning, interannual comparisons remain sparse. In this study, we examined viral lysis and microzooplankton grazing rates on Antarctic phytoplankton during two productive seasons and compared them with published data from a previous year. Higher rates of phytoplankton gross growth and total mortality during the warmer productive season suggest global warming induced increases in the magnitude of ecosystem carbon flow. Viral lysis rates appear to be relatively independent of average seasonal temperatures, whereas grazing rates were lower during the colder productive seasons (average temperature <0 °C). This resulted in a greater relative impact of viral lysis on phytoplankton mortality, particularly pronounced during periods of phytoplankton accumulation. The interannual variations in phytoplankton fate are likely due to a stronger coupling between rates of viral infection and phytoplankton growth compared with grazing. Our results emphasize the importance of monitoring rates of viral lysis, specifically in combination with the size and taxonomy of the phytoplankton community. Collectively these factors determine the relative significance of the different carbon fates, and hence the ocean's efficacy as a carbon sink.
Genomic comparison of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata with tropical corals yields insights into winter quiescence, innate immunity, and sexual reproduction
Authors: Stankiewicz Kathryn H , Guiglielmoni Nadège , Kitchen Sheila A , Flot Jean-François , Barott Katie L , Davies Sarah W , Finnerty John R , Grace Sean P , Kaufman Leslie S , Putnam Hollie M , Rotjan Randi D , Sharp Koty H , Peters Esther C , Baums Iliana B
Published: February 2025

Facultatively symbiotic corals provide important experimental models to explore the establishment, maintenance, and breakdown of the mutualism between corals and members of the algal family Symbiodiniaceae. Here, we report the de novo chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of the facultatively symbiotic, temperate coral Astrangia poculata. Though widespread segmental/tandem duplications of genomic regions were detected, we did not find strong evidence of a whole genome duplication (WGD) event. Comparison of the gene arrangement between A. poculata and the tropical coral Acropora millepora revealed considerable conserved colinearity despite ∼415 million years of divergence. Gene families related to sperm hyperactivation and innate immunity, including lectins, were found to contain more genes in A. millepora relative to A. poculata. Sperm hyperactivation in A. millepora is expected given the extreme requirements of gamete competition during mass spawning events in tropical corals, while lectins are important in the establishment of coral-algal symbiosis. By contrast, gene families involved in sleep promotion, feeding suppression, and circadian sleep/wake cycle processes were expanded in A. poculata. These expanded gene families may play a role in A. poculata’s ability to enter a dormancy-like state (“winter quiescence”) to survive freezing temperatures at the northern edges of the species’ range.
Real-time Peak Ground Acceleration Prediction via a Hybrid Deep Learning Network
Authors: Zheng Zhou , Lin Binhua , Wang Shicheng , Jin Xing , Liu Heyi , Zhou Yueyong
Published: February 2025

The rapid and accurate prediction of peak ground acceleration (PGA) few seconds after earthquake start is crucial for assessing the potential damage in target areas in impact-based earthquake early warning systems. However, it is difficult to substantially improve the performance of PGA prediction methods based on empirically defined ground motion prediction equations. In this study, we proposed a hybrid deep learning network (HDL-Net) model for PGA prediction based on Japanese and Chinese datasets. The HDL-Net model is capable of extracting useful spatial and temporal features from the input physical feature parameters and three-component waveforms. The test results showed that HDL-Net outperformed the traditional empirical approaches in terms of timeliness and accuracy. To further validate the robustness of the HDL-Net model for PGA prediction, we conducted a potential damage analysis for five earthquakes in Japan. The results showed that the successful alarm (SA) rate reached 95.22%, the successful no alarm (SNA) rate was 100%, and there was no false alarm (FA). The HDL-Net model provides a potential method for earthquake early warning (EEW) and seismological PGA prediction.
Carotene hydroxylase DcCYP97A3 affects carotenoids metabolic flow and taproot color by influencing the conversion of α-carotene to lutein in carrot
Authors: Wang Hui-Ru , Zhang Rong-Rong , Wang Ya-Hui , Zhou Jian-Hua , Sun Miao , Wang Li-Xiang , Zhang Yu-Qing , Liang Yi , Li Xiao-Jie , Xu Zhi-Sheng , Ma Jing , Liu Hui , Tao Jian-Ping , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: February 2025

The color diversity of non-purple carrot taproots is mainly affected by carotenoid species and content. Carrot cytochrome P450 carotene β-ring hydroxylase (DcCYP97A3) may influence carotenoid accumulation in carrots, however, the roles of DcCYP97A3 in carrot remain unclear. Compared to the orange carrot ‘Kurodagosun, KRD’, the yellow carrot ‘Yellowstone, YST’ had greater relative transcript levels of DcCYP97A3. DcCYP97A3 was shown to catalyze the β-ring hydroxylation of α-carotene to create zeaxanthin when it was expressed in Escherichia coli accumulating α- and β-carotene. Expression of the DcCYP97A3 of ‘YST’ in DcCYP97A3 functionally deficient orange carrot ‘KRD’ resulted in yellow taproots, decreased α-carotene and β-carotene content, decreased α-/β-carotene ratio, and increased lutein content. In carrots overexpressing the DcCYP97A3 gene, the transcript levels of DcLCYE and DcLCYB1 were significantly up- and down-regulated, respectively. Gene editing of DcCYP97A3 in ‘YST’ resulted in DcCYP97A3 knockout mutants with significantly reduced levels of lutein and β-carotene and significantly up-regulated transcript levels of DcCHXB2 and DcCCD4. These findings advance our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind carrot carotenoid metabolism.
Segmented ring-mesh model of glycosaminoglycan chains based on the 3D analysis of normal individual and Musculocontractural Ehlers-Danlos syndrome skin using scanning transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Takahashi Naoki , Hirose Takuya , Kametani Kiyokazu , Iwasaki Tomohito , Imamura Yasutada , Kosho Tomoki , Watanabe Takafumi
Published: February 2025

Collagen fibrils in the dermis are bundled by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains of decorin, which contribute to its strength. The three-dimensional structure of collagen fibrils and GAG chains has been discussed on the basis of observations and experiments. This study uses scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) tomography with high Z-axis resolution to analyze the three-dimensional structure of GAG chains in the dermis from a healthy individual and a patient with Musculocontractural Ehlers-Danlos syndrome caused by pathogenic variants in CHST14 (mcEDS-CHST14). This observation revealed that the dermis from a healthy individual featured multiple GAG chains that wrapped around collagen fibrils and formed incomplete ring structures. However, in the dermis from a patient with mcEDS-CHST14, GAG chains were linear and did not form rings. Based on the relationship between collagen fibrils and GAG chains, we suggest the three-dimensional structure of normal GAG chains in a new model named the “segmented ring-mesh model.” The interactions between collagen fibrils and GAG chains in this model also apply to the dermis of mcEDS-CHST14 patients, in which the GAG chain composition changes to become CS-rich and more linear. This change leads to an increased inter-fibrillar space, which inhibits the dense packing of collagen fibrils. These findings suggest that this phenomenon contributes to the skin fragility observed in mcEDS-CHST14 patients. Our study suggests the “segmented ring-mesh model” of GAG chains is essential for the dense packing of collagen fibrils in normal dermis. STEM tomography is highly effective in analyzing the three-dimensional structure of collagen fibrils and GAG chains.
Analysis of the JWST spectra of the kilonova AT 2023vfi accompanying GRB 230307A
Authors: Gillanders J H , Smartt S J
Published: February 2025

Kilonovae are key to advancing our understanding of r-process nucleosynthesis. To date, only two kilonovae have been spectroscopically observed, AT 2017gfo and AT 2023vfi. Here, we present an analysis of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) spectra obtained +29 and +61 days post-merger for AT 2023vfi (the kilonova associated with GRB 230307A). After re-reducing and photometrically flux-calibrating the data, we empirically model the observed X-ray to mid-infrared continua with a power law and a blackbody, to replicate the non-thermal afterglow and apparent thermal continuum ≳ 2 μm. We fit Gaussians to the apparent emission features, obtaining line centroids of $20218_{-38}^{+37}$, 21874 ± 89 and $44168_{-152}^{+153}$ Å, and velocity widths spanning 0.057 − 0.110 c. These line centroid constraints facilitated a detailed forbidden line identification search, from which we shortlist a number of r-process species spanning all three r-process peaks. We rule out Ba ii and Ra ii as candidates and propose Te i–iii, Er i–iii and W iii as the most promising ions for further investigation, as they plausibly produce multiple emission features from one (W iii) or multiple (Te i–iii, Er i–iii) ion stages. We compare to the spectra of AT 2017gfo, which also exhibit prominent emission at ∼2.1 μm, and conclude that [Te iii] λ21050 remains the most plausible cause of the observed ∼2.1 μm emission in both kilonovae. However, the observed line centroids are not consistent between both objects, and they are significantly offset from [Te iii] λ21050. The next strongest [Te iii] transition at 29290 Å is not observed, and we quantify its detectability. Further study is required, with particular emphasis on expanding the available atomic data to enable quantitative non-LTE spectral modelling.
A comparative study of preclinical and clinical molecular imaging response to EGFR inhibition using osimertinib in glioblastoma
Authors: Ellingson Benjamin M , Okobi Qunicy , Chong Robert , Plawat Rhea , Zhao Eva , Gafita Andrei , Sonni Ida , Chun Saewon , Filka Emese , Yao Jingwen , Telesca Donatello , Li Shanpeng , Li Gang , Lai Albert , Nghiemphu Phioanh , Czernin Johannes , Nathanson David A , Cloughesy Timothy F
Published: February 2025

Background

To demonstrate the potential value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) as a rapid, non-invasive metabolic imaging surrogate for pharmacological modulation of EGFR signaling in EGFR-driven GBM, we synchronously conducted a preclinical imaging study using patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) models and validated it in a phase II molecular imaging study in recurrent GBM (rGBM) patients using osimertinib.

Methods

A GBM PDOX mouse model study was performed concurrently with an open-label, single-arm, single-center, phase II study of osimertinib (NCT03732352) that enrolled 12 patients with rGBM with EGFR alterations. Patients received osimertinib daily and three 18F-FDG PET scans: two 24-hours apart prior to dosing, and one 48-hours after dosing.

Results

GBM PDOX models suggest osimertinib has limited impact on both 18F-FDG uptake (+9.8%–+25.9%) and survival (+15.5%; p=0.01), which may be explained by insufficient exposure in the brain (Kpuu: 0.30) required to robustly inhibit the EGFR alterations found in GBM. Treatment with osimertinib had subtle, but measurable decreases in the linear rate of change of 18F-FDG nSUV growth rate averaging -4.5% per day (p=0.01) and change in 18F-FDG uptake was correlated with change in tumor growth rate (R2=0.4719, P=0.0195). No metabolic (PERCIST) or radiographic (RANO) responses were seen, and no improvements in PFS or OS were observed.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the feasibility of using FDG PET as a clinically reliable imaging biomarker for assessing EGFR inhibition in GBM, while revealing osimertinib's limited impact on both metabolic activity and tumor growth in GBM, findings that were concordant between preclinical and clinical observations.
Blood group O attributes to prolonged PFS, OS and five-year survival in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma patients with MGMT promoter methylation
Authors: Wiewrodt Rainer , Kloss Maren , Jost-Engl Johanna , Troschel Fabian M , Troschel Benjamin O , Eich Hans Theodor , Thomas Christian , Lemcke Lars , Stummer Walter , Wiewrodt Dorothee
Published: February 2025

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains incurable despite multimodal therapeutic approaches. Here, we assessed the relevance of ABO blood groups for progression-free (PFS), overall survival (OS), and long-term survival in a large cohort of IDH-wildtype (wt) GBM patients.

Methods

Consecutive GBM patients (2009-2020) at a large tertiary brain tumour centre were included, and clinical data were retrospectively abstracted. We dichotomised patients into those with blood group O and those with a Non-O blood group. Patient, tumour, and treatment characteristics were compared between these groups. Association with outcomes was assessed in univariable and multivariable settings via log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards regressions, respectively.

Results

554 GBM IDH-wt had available ABO information. There were no substantial differences in patient, tumour, or treatment characteristics between group O and group Non-O. In contrast, blood group O patients showed increased PFS, OS, and five-year survivals in both univariable and multivariable analyses. Differences were strongly pronounced in patients with MGMT promoter methylated tumours receiving standardised radiochemotherapy (OS blood group O 24.6 months (95%CI 17.8–31.4) versus Non-O 17.7 months (14.1–21.3), p=0.015 log-rank analysis, hazard ratio 0.70 (95%CI 0.53-0.94)), but not apparent in MGMT promoter unmethylated tumours and in patients without (standardised) adjuvant therapy.

Conclusion

Blood group O status in conjunction with MGMT promoter methylation (including weak methylation) is an independent favourable prognostic marker in GBM IDH-wt patients receiving standardised radiochemotherapy. This finding is unprecedented, suggesting a linkage between the downregulation of a DNA repair protein and the absence of a functional blood cell surface glycosyltransferase.
66 THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON SOCIAL COGNITION IN ADOLESCENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
Authors: Gao Zhili , Yang Chaojie , Yang* Chaozhi
Published: February 2025

Background

In recent years, the social cognitive impairment of schizophrenia has become a focus of research. Social cognition refers to an individual’s ability to recognize, understand, and influence the behavior of others in social interactions, and for people with schizophrenia, impairment of this ability severely affects their social functioning and quality of life. As a special group of adolescents with schizophrenia, their social cognitive impairment is more significant. As a non-drug therapy, aerobic exercise has been proved to have a positive effect on social cognitive function in a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the potential positive effects of aerobic exercise on social cognition in adolescents with schizophrenia, and to provide evidence for clinical intervention.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed on 60 patients diagnosed with juvenile schizophrenia in a hospital, and the selected patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 people in each group. The experimental group received aerobic exercise training for 30 minutes five times a week for 12 weeks, while the control group only did the same amount of stretching. Before and after the experiment, facial expression recognition, eye contact, social reasoning and other indicators of social cognitive ability were evaluated in the two groups.

Results

The results of social cognitive indicators before and after comparison between the experimental group and the control group are shown in Table 1. As can be seen from Table 1, in the facial expression recognition index, the average value of pre-test and post-test in the experimental group was 50.2 and 68.5. In the index of eye contact, the pretest average was 35.6, and the posttest average was 52. In the social reasoning index, the average value of pre-test was 42.3, and the average value of post-test was 59.8.

Discussion

The experimental group showed significant improvement in facial expression recognition, eye contact and social reasoning, which indicated that aerobic exercise had a positive effect on the social cognitive ability of adolescents with schizophrenia. This study not only provides a new idea and method for non-drug treatment of adolescents with schizophrenia, but also provides strong evidence for further exploring the impact of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in patients with mental illness. Future studies can further explore the effects of different exercise types, exercise intensity and exercise time on social cognition of adolescents with schizophrenia, as well as the combined application of aerobic exercise and other therapeutic means.
First Report of Purple Seed Stain Caused by Cercospora cf. flagellaris on Soybean in Korea
Authors: Yang Jung-Wook , Kim Yul-Ho , Kang In-Jeong , Kim Eun Young , Kim Yun-Hee
Published: February 2025

In November 2021 and 2022, soybean seeds exhibiting purple staining were collected from Suwon, Gimje, and Yeoncheon in Korea. The symptoms first appeared on aging leaves and eventually covered the entire leaf. Initial infection manifested as small yellow spots that turned light brown or white, accompanied by yellow halos, with visible clusters of conidia at the center. The seeds showed shallow purple discoloration on the seed coat and deep purple staining within the seed. Infected leaves were surface sterilized with 10% chlorine solution and cultured on general isolation media. Colonies appeared white to gray after incubation in a growth chamber at 25°C with a 12-hour photoperiod. Single-spore isolates were transferred to PDA with 6% sucrose, showing a color change to brown or dark shades. Three isolates were selected for identification and pathogenicity tests. Conidiophores were brown, straight or slightly curved, and uniformly wide, forming clusters of 5-12 on the leaf's lower surface, measuring 300-700 μm (average = 560 μm, n = 25). Conidia were hyaline, needle-shaped, straight or slightly curved, and tapered at the base, with 3-15 indistinct septa, measuring 60-240 μm (average = 180 μm, n = 25). DNA was extracted from the three isolates, and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions 1 and 2, actin (ACT), HIS3, and calmodulin (CAL) were obtained. These sequences were deposited in GenBank (PQ578698, PQ583605, PQ583606, PQ583607 and PQ583608). BLAST search results revealed 99-100% identity with Cercospora flagellaris for ITS and ACT sequences. To fulfill Koch's postulates, the isolates were grown in a growth chamber (25°C, 12-hour photoperiod) for 20 days. Spore suspensions (10^4 spores/ml) with 0.01% Tween 20 were sprayed on Nuriol and Jangol cultivars. Inoculated plants were maintained in a humid environment for 72 hours and then transferred to a greenhouse. Control plants were sprayed with sterilized water and kept under the same conditions. Five weeks post-inoculation, all inoculated plants exhibited purple seed stain symptoms, while control plants remained healthy. The same pathogen was re-isolated from the inoculated plants. Cercospora flagellaris is known to affect a wide range of plant species in various countries, including the USA and Brazil. This is the first report of C. flagellaris causing purple seed stain on soybean in Korea. Soybean is a critical food and oil crop in Korea. Therefore, further studies are needed to assess the epidemiology, cultivar responses, fungicide sensitivity, and management strategies to support the sustainability and future potential of soybean cultivation in Korea.
Evaluation of Fungicides for the Management of Glomerella Leaf Spot and Bitter Rot on Apple in North Carolina
Authors: Johnson Kendall , Douglas Rachel Kreis , Allen W. Chester , Yoder Keith , Sherif Sherif M. , Cox Kerik , Jurick Wayne , Weber Aaron , Villani Sara M.
Published: February 2025

Glomerella leaf spot (GLS) and bitter rot caused by species in the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex are the most economically devastating fungal diseases of apples in North Carolina. Crop losses have reached 100% in highly susceptible cultivars. In the southeastern United States, management of this disease has predominantly relied on broad-spectrum fungicide programs targeting several summer diseases of apples. To improve control of GLS and bitter rot, field experiments to evaluate the efficacy of multi- and single-site fungicides were conducted over multiple years in a ‘Gala’ research orchard located in Mills River, NC from 2017-2019. Fungicides representing different modes of action were applied in a non-rotational program from petal fall until the immediate pre-harvest period to assess their efficacy in reducing GLS incidence, shoot defoliation due to GLS, and pre-and post-harvest bitter rot. Of the fungicides evaluated, Captan 80WDG (a.i. captan), Merivon (a.i. fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin), Cabrio (a.i. pyraclostrobin), and Aprovia (a.i. benzovindiflupyr), provided good to excellent control against disease caused by Colletotrichum chrysophilum. In these programs, the incidence of GLS, expressed as relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC), ranged from 4.6 to 43.8 in the Captan 80WDG (2019) and the Aprovia (2017) programs, respectively. The incidence of bitter rot at harvest in these programs from 2017-2019 ranged from 0.0% to 45.3% in the 2018 and 2017 Captan 80WDG programs, respectively. Conversely, the highest incidences of GLS and pre-harvest bitter rot were consistently observed in the Inspire (a.i. difenoconazole), Sercadis (a.i. fluxapyroxad) and untreated programs. Shoot defoliation due to GLS followed a similar trend across the evaluated fungicide programs. In addition to non-rotational fungicide programs, the effect of carrier water pH for applications of captan was evaluated for bitter rot control in Virginia and NC. No differences in captan efficacy were observed at either location. Results of this study will inform the development of new management programs for GLS and bitter rot in the southeastern United States and provide a foundation for the development of new season-long fungicide programs for apple disease management.
Epidural Analgesia During Labour and Severe Maternal Morbidity: Population-Based Study
Authors: Kearns RJ , Kyzayeva A , Halliday LOE , Lawlor DA , Shaw M , Nelson SM
Published: February 2025

(BMJ. 2024;385:e077190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-077190)

The increasing incidence of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is a worldwide health concern impacting both mothers and their children. As outlined by the CDC, SMM encompasses 21 different conditions or procedures, such as heart attacks and childbirth-related hysterectomies. In the UK, the incidence of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) almost doubled between 2009 and 2018, possibly as a result of factors like advanced maternal age, obesity, and more concurrent health conditions. SMM is seen as a signal of maternal deaths, allowing for interventions to enhance the health of mothers and babies. Epidural analgesia (EA) is commonly advised for women with an increased chance of experiencing severe maternal morbidity (SMM), such as those with more than one pregnancy, obesity, or certain underlying health conditions, because of its physiological advantages and quick pain relief in urgent situations. Limited evidence exists to support the role of EA in preventing severe maternal morbidity (SMM).
Childbirth Experiences in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cohort Study
Authors: Husby AE , Simpson MR , Dalbye R , Larsen M , Vanky E , Løvvik TS
Published: February 2025

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2024;103(6):1092–1100. doi:10.1111/aogs.14800)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated disorder with 4 different types, impacting 5% to 20% of females based on diagnostic standards and the specific group being examined. It is linked with various other health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular risks, as well as psychological issues like anxiety and depression. Matters related to reproduction, like gestational diabetes, premature birth, and cesarean delivery, are frequently seen. Metformin, a drug for diabetes, is commonly utilized to enhance insulin sensitivity and has been proven to lower rates of preterm births and late miscarriages in PCOS patients, but it does not prevent gestational diabetes.
Nationwide, Couple-Based Genetic Carrier Screening
Authors: Kirk EP , Delatycki MB , Archibald AD , Tutty E , Caruana J , Halliday JL , Lewis S , McClaren BJ , Newson AJ , Dive L , Best S , Long JC , Braithwaite J , Downes MJ , Scuffham PA , Massie J , Barlow-Stewart K , Kulkarni A , Ruscigno A , Kanga-Parabia A , Rodrigues B , Bennetts BH , Ebzery C , Hunt C , Cliffe CC , Lee C , Azmanov D , King EA , Madelli EO , Zhang F , Ho G , Danos I , Liebelt J , Fletcher J , Kennedy J , Beilby J , Emery JD , McGaughran J , Marum JE , Scarff K , Fisk K , Harrison K , Boggs K , Giameos L , Fitzgerald L , Thomas L , Burnett L , Freeman L , Harris M , Berbic M , Davis MR , Cifuentes Ochoa M , Wallis M , Wall M , Chow MTM , Ferrie MM , Pachter N , Quayum N , Lang N , Pandy PK , Casella R , Allcock RJN , Ong R , Edwards S , Sundercombe S , Jelenich S , Righetti S , Lunke S , Kaur S , Stock-Myer S , Eggers S , Walker SP , Theodorou T , Catchpool T , Clinch T , Roscioli T , Hardy T , Zhu Y , Fehlberg Z , Boughtwood TF , Laing NG ,   Mackenzie’s Mission Investigators
Published: February 2025

(N Engl J Med. 2024;391:1877–1889. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2314768)

The Australian Reproductive Genetic Carrier Screening Project (Mackenzie’s Mission) aimed to assess the feasibility and outcomes of offering reproductive genetic carrier screening (RGCS) to more than 10,000 reproductive couples, focusing on the identification of pathogenic variants in genes associated with severe, childhood-onset conditions. The study tested these couples (free of charge) for pathogenic variants in at least 1281 genes, linked to about 750 autosomal recessive or X-linked conditions. The primary objective was to evaluate the uptake of screening, participant attitudes, and psychosocial outcomes, as well as to explore the impact of genetic information on reproductive decision-making.
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Late Preterm Antenatal Corticosteroids: The ALPS Follow-Up Study
Authors: Gyamfi-Bannerman C , Clifton RG , Tita ATN , Blackwell SC , Longo M , de Voest JA , O’Shea TM , Bousleiman SZ , Ortiz F , Rouse DJ , Metz TD , Saade GR , Rood KM , Heyborne KD , Thorp JM , Swamy GK , Grobman WA , Gibson KS , El-Sayed YY , Macones GA ,   for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network
Published: February 2025

(JAMA. 2024;331(19):1629–1637. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.4303)

The Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids (ALPS) trial, a significant study in US clinical practice, demonstrated that administering antenatal betamethasone to women delivering between 34 and 36 weeks 6 days of gestation could reduce short-term neonatal respiratory morbidity. However, the trial also revealed a higher incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia linked to the betamethasone treatment. Given these findings, a subsequent follow-up study was designed to assess whether this late-preterm steroid administration had any impact on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
Variation in Hospital Neuraxial Labor Analgesia Rates in California
Authors: Parameshwar P , Guo N , Bentley J , Main E , Singer SJ , Peden CJ , Morris T , Ansari J , Butwick AJ
Published: February 2025

(Anesthesiology. 2024; 140:1098–110. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000004961)

Neuraxial analgesia (NA) includes epidural, spinal, and combined spinal-epidural analgesia, and is recommended to be available in all maternity hospitals in the United States. There are significant maternal benefits to this effective method of pain reduction during labor and delivery and though this recommendation was instituted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists there is little data about the prevalence of NA and about factors that can account for variation in its use or accessibility. This study was designed to assess hospital variation in the prevalence of NA using maternal discharge and vital statistics data in California.