bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rewiring Catalytic Craters: A Path for Engineering β-Glucosidases to Improve Glucose Tolerance
Authors: Suryawanshi Abhishek B. , Bedi Rajiv K. , Pawar Meera , Noronha Santosh , Bhaumik Prasenjit
Published: January 2025

Bioethanol, a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, is produced from cellulose via enzymatic saccharification. β-Glucosidase, a key enzyme in this process, hydrolyses disaccharides into glucose but is limited by feedback inhibition. This study investigated GH1 β-glucosidase from a soil metagenome (UnBGl1) to understand and overcome this limitation. We solved the near-atomic resolution crystal structure of UnBGl1 at 1.15 Å as an apo enzyme and report the first high-resolution crystal structures of the enzyme in its pre-hydrolytic state as a cellobiose complex and covalent intermediate-bound state, capturing key stages of its catalytic mechanism. Structural analysis revealed three crucial glucose-binding subsites in UnBGl1’s crater. Glucose binding at the −1 subsite induced a 1.4 Å shift in E370, increasing the distance between catalytic glutamates and reducing enzymatic activity. The C188V variant, generated by rational engineering, significantly improved glucose tolerance to 2.5 M. Additionally, the H261W mutation at the +2 subsite enhanced kinetic properties by improving cellobiose affinity (Km= 22.87 ± 1.1 mM) and shifted the optimal pH to 5.5 from 6.0. Comparative structural analysis with other glucose-tolerant GH1 β-glucosidases revealed conserved residues at the −1 subsite crucial for substrate stabilization and +1 subsite residues interacting with glucose, offering targets for further optimization. Engineered UnBGl1 variants retained high stability and activity on sugarcane bagasse, demonstrating their potential for industrial cellulase cocktails. These findings provide a robust framework for engineering β-glucosidases with enhanced glucose tolerance and catalytic efficiency, paving the way for improved bioethanol production and contributing to sustainable energy solutions.
Development of a Novel Single Cell Multiomics Approach for Simultaneous Analysis of Replication Timing and Gene Expression
Authors: Shetty Anala V. , Steer Clifford J. , Low Walter C.
Published: January 2025

Replication timing (RT) allows us to analyze temporal patterns of genome-wide replication, i.e., if genes replicate early or late during the S-phase of the cell cycle. RT has been linked to gene expression in normal and diseased acute and chronic states such as cancer. However, studies done to date focused on bulk cell populations that required tens of thousands of cells for RT analysis. Here, we developed an affordable novel single cell (sc)-multiomics approach to simultaneously analyze RT and gene expression from cells or nuclei. We used this approach to generate sc-RT profiles and sc-gene expression data from the well-established human liver cancer cell line, HepG2. We demonstrated that as few as 17 mid S-phase cells were sufficient to produce cell-type specific pseudo bulk RT profiles that had a high correlation to previously published HepG2 bulk RT profiles. The sc-RT profiles allowed us to visualize how individual cells progressed through genome replication. We were also able to demonstrate high-resolution correlations between RT and gene expression within each individual cell, which to our knowledge, has not been reported. We observed trends that were conserved between individual cells, as well as cell-to-cell variations, which were not possible to detect with the bulk RT studies.
Radial ESWT combined with a specific rehabilitation program (rESWT + RP) is more effective than sham rESWT + RP for acute hamstring muscle complex injury type 3b: a randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Crupnik Javier , Silveti Santiago , Wajnstein Natalia , Rolon Alejandro , Wuerfel Tobias , Stiller Peter , Morral Antoni , Furia John P. , Maffulli Nicola , Schmitz Christoph
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study tested the hypothesis that radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with a specific rehabilitation program (rESWT + RP) is more effective than sham rESWT + RP in athletes with acute hamstring muscle complex (HMC) injury type 3b.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, single center trial with published protocol, concealed allocation, blinded patients and blinded assessors. A total of 36 semi-professional athletes (soccer, field hockey and rugby players) receiving fees or university scholarships with acute HMC injury type 3b were randomly allocated to rESWT + RP for up to 5 weeks (n=18) or sham rESWT + RP (n=18). The primary outcome was the individual time to return to sport. Secondary outcomes were the individual patient’s satisfaction and presence or absence of re-injury during 6 months post-inclusion into this trial.

Results

No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. The median / mean time to return to sport was 25.5 / 25.4 ± 3.5 (mean ± SD) days after rESWT + RP (n=18) and 27.5 / 28.3 ± 4.5 days after sham rESWT + RP (n=18) (p=0.037). The mean patient’s satisfaction was not significantly different between the groups. Only one patient in each group experienced a re-injury during 6 months post-inclusion into this trial.

Conclusion

In rehabilitation of athletes with acute HMC injury type 3b, rESWT + RP is more effective than sham rESWT + RP.

Registration

ClinicalTrials.govIDNCT03473899(registered on March 22, 2018).
EPHA2-dependent Ephrin-B1 signaling supports self-renewal ability and recurrence of oral cancer
Authors: Reshma Raj R , Soumya Krishnan U , Shanmugam Geetha , Datta Nandini , Louis Jiss Maria , Jeyaram Ravichandran Damodaran , Datta Keshava K , Gowda Harsha , Sarkar Meghna , Nair Madhumathy G , Prabhu Jyothy S , Shabeer Hafsa , Balagopal P G , Thameem A , Jose Alan , Maliekal Tessy Thomas
Published: January 2025

As self-renewal of cancer cells is the underlying cause of recurrence and poor prognosis, understanding its molecular determinants is important. Despite the established role of Ephrin-B1 in the regulation of normal stem cells, its role in the self-renewal of cancer cells is poorly explored. Here, using proteomic approach, we report that Ephrin-B1 and its signaling is critical for the self-renewal of oral cancer cells. Further, biochemical analyses revealed that the expression of Ephrin-B1 and EPHA2, a known regulator of cancer stem cells (CSCs), are up-regulated in parallel to the enrichment of self-renewal. Unlike the normal context, as reported, this aberrant upregulation enables theircis-interaction, leading to the phosphorylations of EphrinB1 Y324/329 and Y317. Ourin vitroandin vivofunctional analyses confirmed the role of Ephrin-B1-EPHA2 signaling in enriching CSCs. Using mouse orthotopic models, we show that abrogation of the ligand, receptor or both results in better prognosis. Moreover, the results of thein silicoand immunohistochemical analysis of oral cancer samples reinforced the critical involvement of this signaling in the recurrence of the disease.
Phases of quartic scalar theories and
PT
symmetry
Authors: Chen Leqian , Sarkar Sarben
Published: January 2025

For quantum mechanical anharmonic oscillator-type Hamiltonians, it is shown that there is a relation between the energy eigenvalues of parity symmetric and PT-symmetric phases for weak coupling. The possibility of such a relation was conjectured by Ai, Bender, and Sarkar on examining the imaginary part of the ground state energy using path integrals. In the weak coupling limit, we show that the conjecture is true also for the real part of the ground state energy and of the excited state energies. However, the conjecture is false for strong coupling. The analogous relation for partition functions in zero spacetime dimensions is valid for many cases. However O(N) symmetric multicomponent scalar fields, with N>1 and a quartic interaction, do not satisfy the conjecture for zero and one dimensional spacetime. The possibility that the conjecture is valid, for a single component field theory in higher dimensional spacetimes, is discussed in a simplified model.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
New Standard for the Logarithmic Accuracy of Parton Showers
Authors: van Beekveld Melissa , Dasgupta Mrinal , El-Menoufi Basem Kamal , Ferrario Ravasio Silvia , Hamilton Keith , Helliwell Jack , Karlberg Alexander , Monni Pier Francesco , Salam Gavin P. , Scyboz Ludovic , Soto-Ontoso Alba , Soyez Gregory
Published: January 2025

We report on a major milestone in the construction of logarithmically accurate final-state parton showers, achieving next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic (NNLL) accuracy for the wide class of observables known as event shapes. The key to this advance lies in the identification of the relation between critical NNLL analytic resummation ingredients and their parton-shower counterparts. Our analytic discussion is supplemented with numerical tests of the logarithmic accuracy of three shower variants for more than a dozen distinct event-shape observables in Z→qq¯ and Higgs→gg decays. The NNLL terms are phenomenologically sizeable, as illustrated in comparisons to data.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Automated and highly parallelized Bayesian optimization scheme for direct drive fusion experiments on OMEGA
Authors: Gopalaswamy V. , Lees A. , Ejaz R. , Thomas C. A. , Collins T. J. B. , Anderson K. S. , Ebmeyer W. , Betti R.
Published: January 2025

Finding the optimal implosion design on existing experimental facilities for inertial confinement fusion requires an exhaustive search of the vast design parameter space. This is infeasible both with experiments and with simulations. Consequently, a large fraction of the experimentally realizable design space remains unexplored, and new design schemes are challenging to optimize in a reasonable time frame. On the OMEGA laser facility, predictive machine learning models have been developed to accurately forecast the result of an experiment using only inexpensive simulations and the large dataset of prior experimental data. However, the full design space remains vast enough to be unassailable with simple optimization techniques. Here we develop an automated and optimally parallel Bayesian optimization algorithm that can entirely optimize the target and pulse shape of a direct-drive ICF implosion under a given design paradigm. We use this algorithm to find a markedly improved design for the performance implosions on OMEGA that is predicted to hydroequivalently scale to ignition at 2.15 MJ.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Nuclear Spins in a Solid Exceeding 10-Hour Coherence Times for Ultra-Long-Term Quantum Storage
Authors: Wang Fudong , Ren Miaomiao , Sun Weiye , Guo Mucheng , Sellars Matthew J. , Ahlefeldt Rose L. , Bartholomew John G. , Yao Juan , Liu Shuping , Zhong Manjin
Published: January 2025

Long-term quantum storage for quantum communication applications will require optically accessible states with coherence times exceeding the desired storage time. Ground-state hyperfine levels in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 have previously shown coherence times as long as 6 h at 1.4 K when operated at a zero-first-order-Zeeman (ZEFOZ) point. Here, we have characterized the limiting decoherence mechanisms acting in this regime, which shows that the coherence time is limited by the presence of spin impurities. This dephasing effect has been suppressed by cooling the sample to 125 mK, resulting in an extension in the coherence time to over 13 h. In the absence of these impurities, the dominant source of dephasing is the field inhomogeneity of the ZEFOZ point arising from the spin inhomogeneous broadening. We have shown that coherence times over 18 h can be achieved by operating using a spectrally narrow subensemble selected from within the inhomogeneous line. The observed coherence time is longer than that of any other system suitable for an optical quantum memory. Furthermore, at a much higher temperature of 6 K, we have realized a 6-h coherence time, which has been obtainable using single-stage cryocoolers. These results imply advanced engineering feasibility in designing and operating future quantum information-storage devices for a wide range of applications, including in satellites.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
SCXRD, CSP-NMRX and microED in the quest for three elusive polymorphs of meloxicam
Authors: Jeziorna Agata , Malinska Maura , Sugden Isaac , Paluch Piotr , Dolot Rafał , Dudek Marta K.
Published: January 2025

Crystal structure determination is a crucial aspect of almost every branch of the chemical sciences, bringing us closer to understanding crystallization, polymorphism, phase transitions, and the relationship between a structure and its physicochemical and functional properties. Unfortunately, many molecules notoriously crystallize as microcrystalline powders, providing a significant challenge in establishing their structures. In this work, we describe the crystal structure determination of three elusive polymorphs of the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam (MLX) using three approaches, of which only one was successful for each crystal phase. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction allowed us to solve the structure of MLX-III, MLX-II was solved by a combination of NMR crystallography and crystal structure prediction (CSP) calculations, and MLX-V (Z′ = 4 polymorph) was only solvable using electron diffraction. By considering the factors influencing the choice of crystal structure determination method, we showcase their strengths and weaknesses as an indication of their applicability. Additionally, we discuss the issues encountered in the CSP search for MLX-II and MLX-III (both Z′ = 2 polymorphs) which turned out to be computationally elusive, in addition to being so in crystallization experiments. This indicates a complex crystal energy landscape for MLX and hints at more general challenges in CSP.
Impact of green reputation on green evangelism: the role of green fidelity, respect and credibility
Authors: Eivazinezhad Salman , Akbari Mohsen , Florentin Nkoulou Mvondo Gustave
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Given the challenging economic conditions and unstable employment situation in developing countries like Iran, sustainable development has become a primary focus. With coastlines along both the north and south, the growth and development of coastal and marine tourism could provide a solid foundation for generating stable and continuous income streams. This research investigates the factors that facilitate and hinder communication between local communities and key stakeholders in the development of coastal tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

The research community comprised local communities, tourists, and government officials involved in tourism processes. Participants were selected based on specific criteria through targeted sampling, resulting in a total of 17 samples. The primary research tool utilized was semi-structured interviews. Interview questions were developed within the frameworks of two theories: social exchange and social network theory. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis methods.

Findings

The results indicated that all the promoting and inhibiting factors can be categorized into four themes: economic, socio-cultural, environmental, and institutional governance. According to the analyzed data, the inhibiting factors in the environmental sector significantly outnumber the driving factors. In contrast, in the other sectors, the gap between the driving and inhibiting factors is smaller.

Originality/value

This research provides a novel perspective on advancing green evangelism. By strengthening emotional connections with the brand, green evangelism lays the groundwork for developing green respect and green credibility. This approach, which focuses on enhancing emotional bonds with the brand, contributes to the expansion of the green brands in developing countries. Therefore, instead of direct advertising for green brands, the focus should be on attracting key customers to form a community dedicated to the green brand.
Biochar production from olive tree prunings by using open flame pyrolysis
Authors: Ainatzoglou Michalis , Tsiaras Evangelos , Papadakis Vagelis G. , Tampekis Stergios , Coutelieris Frank A.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of open-flame pyrolysis kilns as an efficient and sustainable solution for managing olive tree prunings in Mediterranean regions. By converting agricultural residues into biochar, this method aims to reduce biomass waste, mitigate CO2 emissions, and enhance soil quality. The research seeks to highlight the environmental, economic and agricultural benefits of this approach, promoting its integration into local farming practices as part of a circular economy strategy and a broader effort toward climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explores the use of open-flame pyrolysis kilns for converting olive tree prunings into biochar. Portable kilns were utilized to carbonize biomass residues in a controlled manner, offering an affordable and efficient solution with minimal technical requirements. The process was evaluated for carbon capture efficiency, biochar quality and emissions reduction. A life-cycle assessment was conducted to estimate potential environmental impacts, with a focus on CO2 mitigation. Field trials assessed the feasibility of integrating this method into local agricultural practices, emphasizing its role in sustainable waste management, soil improvement and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

Findings

This study demonstrates that open-flame pyrolysis kilns are an effective and low-cost method for converting olive tree prunings into high-quality biochar. The process achieved high carbon capture efficiency with minimal emissions, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional biomass disposal practices. Biochar produced improved soil properties, supporting nutrient retention and microbial activity. In addition, the method significantly reduced CO2 emissions compared to burning prunings in fields. These findings highlight the environmental and agricultural benefits of biochar production, emphasizing its potential for waste management, climate change mitigation and enhancing soil health in Mediterranean farming systems.

Originality/value

This study introduces open-flame pyrolysis kilns as a novel, practical solution for managing olive tree prunings in Mediterranean regions, addressing both environmental and agricultural challenges. It highlights the dual benefits of reducing CO2 emissions and producing biochar to enhance soil quality. The research provides an accessible, low-cost alternative for small-scale farmers, integrating sustainable waste management with climate change mitigation. By emphasizing the use of portable kilns and minimal technical requirements, this study offers valuable insights into promoting biochar production as part of circular economy practices, filling a critical gap in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy strategies.
Unethical behaviour by professional accountants: a structured literature review
Authors: Maunzagona Liberty
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study critically examines research done in the accounting field to uncover the determinants of unethical conduct by professional accountants. It seeks to determine the current state of knowledge of the factors driving the unethical decision-making process of professional accountants.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative narrative approach using non-probability sampling in the form of non-purposive sampling to select the relevant articles to use. These articles were analysed using a thematic approach to determine what conclusions were arrived at.

Findings

Many studies have examined factors that influence unethical behaviour. However, many studies do not use a holistic approach in analysing the relative influence of each of the factors, and hence there are conflicting conclusions. Within the African context, political, social and legislative factors that appear to have a significant influence have not been thoroughly explored.

Originality/value

This study contributes a more precise understanding of the current state of knowledge determinants of unethical behaviour by professional accountants while identifying potential areas for future research and policy development.
Unveiling retail omnichannel challenges: developing an omnichannel obstacles scale
Authors: Radomska Joanna , Kawa Arkadiusz , Hajdas Monika , Klimas Patrycja , Silva Susana C.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Retail omnichannel implementation faces barriers hindering accurate and efficient integration across marketing channels. Our desk examination identified a need for a broader perspective in investigating these barriers, moving away from a dominant, narrow approach. This research aims to develop a comprehensive set of items to measure retail omnichannel obstacles, refine the scale and assess its reliability and validity for a robust measurement tool.

Design/methodology/approach

Our approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods, using data from primary and secondary sources to create and validate the omnichannel obstacles scale.

Findings

This study emphasises the inclusive nature of retail functional areas, departing from prior literature that examined them in isolation. Instead of focussing on separate domains where retail omnichannel obstacles may arise, we adopt a holistic perspective by integrating previously disconnected elements.

Originality/value

We assert that challenges in retail omnichannel operations encompass three distinct dimensions: operational efficiency, channel inefficiency, and strategy and organisational culture within retailing. In our final validated measurement model, we consolidate the channel inefficiency dimension and refine the omnichannel obstacles scale to emphasise two areas of consideration.
Laser land leveling technology for paddy mono-cropping system in Vietnam: addressing land fragmentation, demand heterogeneity and productivity
Authors: Le Loan T. , Tran Luan Duc , Phung Trieu Ngoc
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The study investigates determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for laser land leveling (LLL) technology, its demand heterogeneity across individual farmers and plot characteristics and the technology's empirical impact on paddy productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies the Becker-DeGroote, Marschak style to elicit the WTP for LLL technology and the Cragg model to examine the determinants of the WTP to capture both the demand decision and affordability. The randomized controlled trials (RCT) are incorporated with a production function model to analyze the technology effects on paddy productivity.

Findings

The Cragg model finds that the key demographic and behavioral traits such as age, extension services and risk acceptance significantly influence the adoption decision; however, the plot area, bank and financial capacity become predominant factors in the adoption affordability. The LLL treatment effect results in a statistically significant increase in paddy yield of 6.48%, equivalent to 492,138 kg ha-1.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis underscores the factor complexity, illustrating that the LLL-promoting interventions need to address both the adoption barriers and the enablers for greater affordability. A composite of climate-smart agricultural programs should be employed to facilitate the LLL adoption. The empirical evidence highlights the positive effect on agricultural productivity, potentially offering a significant boost to output and farmer income.

Originality/value

The study contributes to existing literature by analyzing the heterogeneous demand for LLL technology with two distinguishable features of the paddy mono-cropping system and land fragmentation and by incorporating the RCTs alongside a production function for the effects on paddy productivity.
Transaction monitoring in search of professional money launderers – a microeconomic model
Authors: Rose Kalle Johannes , Jensen Rasmus Ingemann Tuffveson
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper formulates a microeconomic model to investigate the effects of current anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The model is motivated by the requirement that banks undertake risk-based transaction monitoring, using “risk signals” to separate benevolent bank clients and money launderers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses methodology from the functional school of law and economics, holding that structural forces may hinder the development of efficient legal rules. The goal is to offer economic insights to address inefficiencies at a meta-level. Assuming money launderers have specific preferences and strategies, the paper models how they hide their activities. This allows us to investigate how money launderers respond to external shocks and policy changes.

Findings

As money launderers use resources to hide their activities, this paper finds several noteworthy effects. For instance, increasing criminal penalties may decrease the amount of money laundering that is detected. Furthermore, wealthy money launderers may rarely be detected.

Research limitations/implications

This paper only presents theoretical results.

Originality/value

The academic literature on AML is still relatively limited. This paper’s results suggest regulators should be aware of unintended and potentially adverse effects of current regulation.
Expressions of concern about two articles in the Journal of Islamic Marketing: is it time to resolve them?
Authors: Moussa Salim
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The Journal of Islamic Marketing (JIMA), established in 2010 and published by Emerald Publishing, has never retracted an article but has issued two expressions of concern (EoCs) about two of its articles. This study aims to investigate the context, content and outcome of these EoCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The author raises research questions about the two EoCs’ issuance, impact and handling by JIMA and Emerald Publishing. To answer the research questions, the author gathered data from a variety of sources, including JIMA’s website, Clarivate’s Web of Science, Scopus and Mendeley.

Findings

The two EoCs were issued under the acknowledgments section of articles, which is not standard practice, and they lacked separate Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs). The dates of EoC issuance were unknown, limiting understanding of the timeline and resolution progress. The two EoCs were issued by two different entities (i.e. Emerald Publishing and JIMA), one of which contained an incorrect journal name. Concerns included issues with originality and compromised peer review, which could involve duplication and fake peer review. Despite EoCs, the two articles continued to receive downloads, reads and citations, most likely because JIMA’s readership is unaware of related concerns.

Research limitations/implications

The lack of progress from EoCs to retractions or corrections puts authors and readers in limbo, necessitating prompt resolution. Recommendations include assigning DOIs to EoCs, providing issuance dates, correcting errors, tracking investigation progress and ensuring transparency in maintaining publishing ethics. The unresolved EoCs in JIMA highlight the importance of handling publication ethics concerns in a transparent and timely manner to maintain scholarly integrity and trustworthiness.

Originality/value

This opinion piece discusses a scholarly document that is rarely studied by (Islamic) marketing researchers.
Post-occupancy evaluation: an expert-user-oriented model proposal based on key sustainability indicators
Authors: Kutlu Izzettin , Bekar İrem , Ergün Ruşen
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The user-oriented reusing of historical heritages is a powerful planning strategy to increase sustainability and provide socioeconomic benefits for cities. The study aims to determine the post-occupancy sustainability of reused historical buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

A holistic model was designed by considering expert and user opinions to select the post-occupancy sustainability of reused historical buildings. The proposed model was developed concerning key sustainability indicators (KSI). This proposed model, which integrates expert and user views, is examined in an educational building with significant cultural value in Mardin.

Findings

The results of the KSI model indicate that the functional, technical and environmental sustainability of the building are at a medium level, while the aesthetic sustainability is rated as good. An analysis of the differences between importance and performance shows that the largest gap is in functional sustainability, with the smallest gap in technical sustainability. The environmental and aesthetic sustainability indicators show a smaller performance gap than the other two. The results suggest that functional sustainability requires immediate intervention, technical features should be improved based on user needs and aesthetic and environmental sustainability require monitoring but no urgent action.

Originality/value

The originality of the research is that it proposes a model that combines expert opinion and the opinions of building users to monitor the sustainability of the reused buildings throughout the usage process and enables them to be monitored with key sustainability criteria and to develop improvement suggestions in line with the results obtained.
Ecosystem of drivers for adopting integrated digital delivery for sustainable construction
Authors: Larbi Joshua Amo , Tang Llewellyn , Yevu Sitsofe Kwame , Opoku Alex , Ababio Benjamin Kwaku
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study evaluates the drivers that stimulate the adoption of integrated digital delivery (IDD) for sustainable construction. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the drivers of IDD and the means by which they contribute to the broader scheme of sustainable development in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a mixed-method systematic review in two phases to identify and examine how the drivers of IDD contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs) in literature. A total of 386 articles were retrieved for bibliometric analysis with the R-programming language, and 57 articles were selected for further systematic analysis.

Findings

Conclusively, 30 drivers were identified and categorized into six classes based on their practical commonalities. The study identified “resource development drivers” as the most prominent drivers. In addition, the study identified eight value domains stimulated by the drivers of IDD to achieve three SDGs in the construction industry. The study significantly contributes to knowledge by developing a framework of drivers of IDD to achieve SDG 9 (innovation, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (climate change).

Originality/value

This study makes a significant contribution to knowledge by being the foremost on the drivers of IDD. Findings from this study provide a grounded understanding of the intricacies of the drivers that encourage the adoption of IDD for sustainable construction. For policy and corporate decision-making, findings of the sustainability value domains would be valuable for informed policy drafting and corporate evaluations of IDD adoption to achieve sustainable developments goals 9, 11 and 13. Lastly, the study proposes a viable framework to achieve sustainable construction, which serves as a guide for further deliberation on IDD adoption in the construction industry.
Plastic particles and their additives promote plant invasion through physicochemical mechanisms on seed germination
Authors: Lozano Yudi M. , Landt Lena , Rillig Matthias C.
Published: January 2025

Plant invasions pose a major threat to terrestrial biodiversity, and microplastic pollution in soil could exacerbate this problem. Seed germination, a crucial stage for plants, can be affected by microplastics through both physical interference of plastic particles and chemical leaching from plastic additives.

We conducted a greenhouse experiment using native and invasive plant species of European grasslands, and evaluated individual and combined effects of plastic particles and additives on germination parameters.

We found that plastic particles primarily affected seed germination as physical agents, while additives from these particles exerted a comparatively lesser impact.

Particles negatively affected seed germination of all native species. Germination velocity, synchrony and total germination decreased by ~30%, ~11% and ~11%, respectively, in soils containing plastic particles compared to those without. Certain species were negatively affected by plastic additives. For Achillea millefolium and Dactylis glomerata, germination velocity and total germination decreased by ~26% and ~7%, respectively, while germination synchrony of Dactylis glomerata decreased by ~21% in soils with additives than without them. Plastic particles may have blocked seed pores and inhibited hypocotyl and radicle growth, while toxic compounds from additives may have disrupted key germination processes.

By contrast, particles and additives generally did not affect invasive species, suggesting that the negative effects of plastic experienced by natives, whether physical or chemical, were counteracted by effects resulting from the novel conditions created by microplastics, which may include the amelioration of soil physical properties such as increased soil porosity and aeration, and potential positive plant–soil feedbacks. Invasive species may profit from windows of variable resource availability, with positive effects on seed germination.

Synthesis. Plastic particles and additives may promote plant invasion by negatively affecting seed germination of native species while having neutral effects on invasive species. The delayed germination of natives due to microplastics poses a potential threat, leading to competitive disadvantages, reduced reproductive success and increased vulnerability to invasive species. Microplastic pollution appears to favour invasive species over natives during the early stages of seed germination, highlighting that the negative effect of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems may be more severe than previously thought.
Is frequent emergency department use a complement or substitute for other healthcare services? Evidence from South Carolina Medicaid enrollees
Authors: Giannouchos Theodoros V. , Pirrallo Ronald G. , Wright Brad
Published: January 2025

Objective

To compare healthcare services utilization across the healthcare system between frequent and non‐frequent emergency department (ED) users among Medicaid enrollees in South Carolina.

Study Setting and Design

We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal study of individuals with at least one ED visit in 2017 in South Carolina and identified their healthcare services visits over 730 days (2 years) after their first ED visit. We classified individuals based on intensity of ED use: superfrequent (≥9 ED visits/year), frequent (4–8 ED visits/year), and non‐frequent ED users (≤3 visits/year). We estimated differences between the three groups of ED users and non‐ED hospital and office‐based visits using multivariable two‐part regression models.

Data Sources and Analytic Sample

We used statewide Medicaid claims from January 2017 to December 2019 for ED users aged 18–64 years with continuous Medicaid enrollment. We analyzed data on all frequent and superfrequent users and selected a 4:1 random sample among all non‐frequent users (~half of all non‐frequent users).

Principal Findings

The study included 52,845 ED users, of whom 42,764 were non‐frequent, 7677 frequent, and 2404 superfrequent users. Within 2 years from the date of their first ED visit, superfrequent ED users averaged 38.3 ED visits, frequent ED users 10.9 ED visits, and non‐frequent ED users 2.6 ED visits (p < 0.001). Compared with non‐frequent users, frequent and superfrequent ED users had more comorbidities and chronic conditions on average (1.6 vs. 3.5 vs. 6.4, p < 0.001). Both frequent and superfrequent users had more hospital visits beyond the ED overall (marginal effects: 0.23, 95% CI 0.18–0.27; 0.40, 95% CI 0.29–0.50), and more outpatient office visits overall (marginal effects: 4.39, 95% CI 2.52–6.27; 9.23, 95% CI 5.66–12.81), including primary care and most specialists' visits, compared with non‐frequent users.

Conclusions

Frequent ED users utilized non‐ED hospital and outpatient office‐based healthcare services significantly more than non‐frequent ED users. These findings can guide tailored interventions using data across the healthcare system to efficiently coordinate care, contain costs, and improve health outcomes for these individuals.
Occurrence, toxicity, dietary exposure, and management of Alternaria mycotoxins in food and feed: A systematic literature review
Authors: Zhang Yimin , Liu Cheng , van der Fels‐Klerx H. J.
Published: January 2025

Alternaria mycotoxins are emerging contaminants frequently detected in food products and threaten human health. This systematic review aims to provide an up‐to‐date overview of scientific data and knowledge and gaps therein of natural occurrence, toxicological effects, dietary exposure, and prevention and control management of Alternaria mycotoxins in food and feed. A systematic review has been performed, using the databases Scopus and PubMed, retrieving relevant scientific papers published in English from 2011 to 2024. Alternaria mycotoxins are widely present in various food and feed products, with tomatoes and cereals being the most contaminated products. From the Alternaria mycotoxins, tenuazonic acid (TeA) and alternariol were reported with the highest detection rate and concentrations. Identified toxicological effects vary between the different Alternaria mycotoxins and include carcinogenicity, immune toxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity. Dietary exposure assessments for Alternaria mycotoxins have been conducted in several countries but vary in their scope. The calculations and risk values suggest that exposure of children to TeA via their diet is close to their tolerable daily intake. A similar finding has been reported for exposure of adults to alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether via food consumption. Most Alternaria mycotoxins are heat‐stable and cannot easily be removed during food processing; therefore, prevention and control measures for Alternaria mycotoxin contamination in food and feed are crucial. Fungicide and biocontrol applications have been shown effective in reducing Alternaria fungal growth and toxin production, and the development of predictive models may be promising. Collectively, they can contribute to mitigating the impact of Alternaria mycotoxins on human health.
Enhancing drying characteristics and quality of fruits and vegetables using biochemical drying improvers: A comprehensive review
Authors: Suo Kui , Yang Zhenfeng , Wu Lili , Zhang Yang , Feng Yabin , Xu Baoguo , Zhou Cunshan , Shi Liyu , Chen Wei
Published: January 2025

Traditional drying is a highly energy‐intensive process, accounting for approximately 15% of total manufacturing cost, it often resulting in reduced product quality due to low drying efficiency. Biological and chemical agents, referred to as biochemical drying improvers, are employed as pretreatments to enhance both drying characteristics and quality attributes of fruits and vegetables. This article provides a thorough examination of various biochemical drying improvers (including enzymes, microorganisms, edible film coatings, ethanol, organic acids, hyperosmotic solutions, ethyl oleate alkaline solutions, sulfites, cold plasma, carbon dioxide, ozone, inorganic alkaline agents, and inorganic salts) and their effects on improving the drying processes of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, it introduces physical drying improvers (including ultrasonic, pulsed electric field, vacuum, and others) to enhance the effects of biochemical drying improvers. Pretreatment with biochemical agents not only significantly enhances drying characteristics but also preserves or enhances the color, texture, and bioactive compound content of the dried products. Meanwhile, physical drying improvers reduce moisture diffusion resistance through physical modifications of the food materials, thus complementing biochemical drying improvers. This integrated approach mitigates the energy consumption and quality degradation typically associated with traditional drying methods. Overall, this review examines the role of biochemical agents in enhancing the drying characteristics and quality of fruits and vegetables, offering a comprehensive strategy for energy conservation and quality improvement.
A comprehensive review of effects of ultrasound pretreatment on processing technologies for food allergens: Allergenicity, nutritional value, and technofunctional properties and safety assessment
Authors: Pang Lidong , Chen Chen , Liu Ming , Huang Zhen , Zhang Wei , Shi Jia , Yang Xinyan , Jiang Yujun
Published: January 2025

Many proteins are essential food components but also major allergens. Reducing protein allergenicity while preserving its nutritional value and technofunctional properties has always been the goal of the food industry. Ultrasound (US) is a green processing method for modifying proteins. In addition, US pretreatment combined with other processing techniques (USPCT) has been increasingly used in the food industry. Therefore, this review presents an overview of recent advances in the impact of US and USPCT (US‐combined enzymatic hydrolysis [USCE], US‐combined glycation [USCG], and US‐combined polyphenol conjugation [USCP]) on the allergenicity, nutritional value, and technofunctional properties of food allergens. We discuss the potential mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of these technologies for improving the properties of proteins and analyze their safety, challenges, and corresponding solutions. It was found that USPCT can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of different methods, which in turn can be more effective in reducing protein allergenicity and improving the nutritional value and functional properties of processed products. Future research should start with new processing methods, optimization of process conditions, industrial production, and the use of new research techniques to promote technical progress. This paper is expected to provide reference for the development of high‐quality hypoallergenic protein raw materials.
Appraising the role of biotics and fermented foods in gut microbiota modulation and sleep regulation
Authors: Singh Akanksha , Negi Pradeep Singh
Published: January 2025

Sleep disturbances are increasingly prevalent, significantly impacting physical and mental health. Recent research reveals a bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and sleep, mediated through the microbiota–gut–brain axis. This review examines the role of gut microbiota in sleep physiology and explores how biotics, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and fermented foods, can enhance sleep quality. Drawing from animal and human studies, we discuss neurobiological mechanisms by which biotics may influence sleep, including modulation of neurotransmitters, immune responses, and hormonal regulation. Key microbial metabolites, such as short‐chain fatty acids, are highlighted for their role in supporting sleep‐related neurochemical processes. Additionally, this review presents dietary strategies and food processing technologies, like fermentation, as innovative approaches for sleep enhancement. Although promising, the available research has limitations, including small sample sizes, variability in biotic strains and dosages, and reliance on subjective sleep assessments. This review underscores the need for standardized protocols, objective assessments such as polysomnography, and personalized biotic interventions. Emerging findings highlight the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota modulation for sleep improvement, though further large‐scale human trials are essential to refine strain selection, dosage, and formulation. This interdisciplinary exploration seeks to advance food‐based interventions and holistic strategies for managing sleep disorders and improving quality of life.
Partisan temporal selective news avoidance: Evidence from online trace data
Authors: Heseltine Michael , Barnehl Hennes , Wojcieszak Magdalena
Published: January 2025

We assess the phenomenon of partisan temporal selective avoidance, or individuals dynamically altering their news consumption when news is negative toward their in‐ and out‐party. Using nine months of online behavioral data (27,648,770 visits) from 2,462 Americans paired with machine learning classifications, we examine whether changing daily news sentiment toward in‐ and out‐party (macro‐level) and exposure to articles negative toward in‐ or out‐party during one's browsing session (micro‐level) influence news use. We test if partisans change their consumption of (a) news overall, (b) partisan outlets, (c) hard versus soft news, and (d) individual articles. We find support for partisan temporal selective news avoidance; partisans alter the volume, type, and source of news because of changing news sentiment. On the macro‐level, partisan asymmetries emerge, and on the micro‐level negative news about either party reduce news browsing length while increasing hard news and negative news visits for both Democrats and Republicans.
Inequitable Ethnic and Rural Variations in Mammographic Surveillance of Breast Cancer Survivors in Regional Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Joret Maximilian O. , Davenport Emily
Published: January 2025

Objective

New Zealand and international guidelines recommend surveillance mammography in breast cancer survivors. Ethnic breast cancer‐specific diagnosis, treatment and survival inequities exist in Aotearoa New Zealand. Surveillance mammography uptake remains poorly studied internationally and has never been studied in AoNZ. We aim to study surveillance mammography uptake in our region and to probe for unrecognised ethnic and rural inequities.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Participants

Surveillance mammogram candidates who received potentially curative surgery for breast cancer between January 2008 and December 2010.

Main Outcome Measure

Patients' surveillance mammogram opportunity fulfilment rates in the first 10 post‐operative years were analysed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

Only two thirds of all surveillance mammogram opportunities in our patient's first ten post‐operative years were fulfilled. Fulfilment rates decrease significantly with time. Māori and those living rurally are significantly less likely to reach fulfilment rates of ≥ 70% even when accounting for covariates such as age, deprivation, healthcare system and oncology follow up.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers have a responsibility to distribute the benefits of health care equitably. This study reports previously unrecognised inequities affecting Māori and rural patients and calls for further research and policy to improve engagement of breast cancer survivors with surveillance mammography and healthcare equity in AoNZ.
EGLN1 mutations in Cis can induce congenital erythrocytosis with thromboses by increasing protein instability
Authors: Carillo Serge , Delamare Marine , Henry Laurent , Maaziz Nada , Safraou Hana , Gardie Betty , Lavabre‐Bertrand Thierry
Published: January 2025

Hereditary congenital erythrocytosis results from constitutive activation of the hypoxia pathway. This pathway is controlled by regulation of the α isoforms of the hypoxia‐inducible factor α/β heterodimer, notably via hydroxylation by prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2). Mutations affecting PHD2 are involved in Type 3 erythrocytosis. We report an atypical family bearing two PHD2 mutations located in Cis (L195H and E225D) transmitted in a dominant feature, together with a phenotypic analysis, structural modelling and functional study. Mutations have a cumulative effect, with E255D playing the major role, and severely compromised PHD2 stability, probably explaining why the hypoxia pathway at the origin of the disease is activated.