bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences and Preferences in Zambia and South Africa for Delivery of HIV Treatment During a Client’s First Six Months: Results of the PREFER Study’s Cross-Sectional Baseline Survey
Authors: Mutanda Nyasha , Morgan Allison , Kamanga Aniset , Sande Linda , Ntjikelane Vinolia , Maskew Mhairi , Haimbe Prudence , Lumano-Mulenga Priscilla , Rosen Sydney , Scott Nancy
Published: February 2025

Disengagement from antiretroviral therapy (ART) is highest in the early treatment period (≤ 6 months after initiation/re-initiation), but low intensity models designed to increase retention generally exclude these clients. We describe client preferences for HIV service delivery in the early treatment period. From 9/2022 to 6/2023, we surveyed adult clients who were initiating or on ART for ≤ 6 months at primary health facilities in South Africa and Zambia. We collected data on experiences with and preferences for HIV treatment. We enrolled 1,098 participants in South Africa (72% female, median age 33) and 771 in Zambia (67% female, median age 32), 38% and 34% of whom were initiating/re-initiating ART in each country, respectively. While clients expressed varied preferences, most participants (94% in South Africa, 87% in Zambia) were not offered choices regarding service delivery. 82% of participants in South Africa and 36% in Zambia reported receiving a 1-month supply of medication at their most recent visit; however, South African participants preferred 2- or 3-month dispensing (69%), while Zambian participants preferred 3-or 6-month dispensing (85%). Many South African participants (65%) would prefer to collect medication in community settings, while Zambian participants (70%) preferred clinic-based collection. Half of participants desired more one-on-one counselling and health information. Most participants reported positive experiences with providers, but long waiting queues were reported by South African participants.During the first six months on ART, many clients would prefer less frequent clinic visits, longer dispensing intervals, and frequent, high-quality counselling. Care models for the early treatment period should reflect these preferences.

Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05454839, Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05454852.
Using the long-term genetic monitoring network ARMS-MBON to detect marine non-indigenous species along the European coasts
Authors: Pagnier Justine , Daraghmeh Nauras , Obst Matthias
Published: February 2025

The increasing prevalence of non-indigenous species (NIS) in marine ecosystems poses significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Advances in molecular techniques enable early detection and long-term monitoring of such taxa, especially when coupled with spatio-temporally wide sampling by networks such as the European ARMS Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (ARMS-MBON). This initiative performs standardised sampling campaigns using autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS) along European coasts and adjacent regions, providing open-access DNA metabarcoding data sets. We tested the potential of genetic observatory networks to detect and monitor marine NIS by analysing all publicly available ARMS-MBON cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing data as of February 2024 using a customised bioinformatic pipeline. Screening against the World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS) and applying manual curation, we identified 63 marine taxa considered non-indigenous at one or more locations. This included widespread taxa and potential new introductions, such as Eucheilota menoni in the Adriatic Sea. We found no significantly higher number of NIS in samples from locations particularly impacted by maritime traffic compared to other areas. Our results suggest that the genetic observatory network approach is powerful for detecting and monitoring marine NIS, and that manual curation still is an essential step for obtaining reliable results. We recommend key improvements including more spatially intense sampling across diverse environments as well as enhancement of NIS reference checklists and genetic databases to ensure accurate identification of both known and unknown NIS across Europe.
No Praise for Unknown Cakes: What Is the Source of the Acquaintance Inference?
Authors: Felka Katharina
Published: February 2025

Based on utterances of sentences that contain predicates of taste hearers typically infer that the speaker has first-hand experience with the object being evaluated. That is, utterances of such sentences invoke an acquaintance inference. Various authors have argued that the acquaintance inference is due to peculiarities of predicates of taste. In the paper we critically discuss these proposals and reject them in favour of a version of an epistemic account, according to which the acquaintance inference results from peculiarities of knowledge about taste.
The backreaction problem for black holes in semiclassical gravity
Authors: del Rio Adrian
Published: February 2025

The question of black hole evaporation is reviewed in the framework of quantum field theory in curved spacetimes and semiclassical gravity. We highlight the importance of taking backreaction effects into account to have a consistent picture of the fate of gravitational collapse in this framework. We describe the difficulties of solving the backreaction semiclassical equations due to practical complications of renormalizing the stress-energy tensor of quantum fields in general 3+1 spacetimes. We end with some personal views and plans on the subject.
Safety and efficacy of a temperature-controlled ablation system for ventricular tachycardia: Results from the TRAC-VT study
Authors: Kautzner Josef , Moreno Javier , Tondo Claudio , Anselme Frédéric , Burrell James , Becker Daniel , Peichl Petr , Patchett Ian , Dhanjal Tarvinder
Published: February 2025

Background

Catheter ablation using radiofrequency (RF) energy is an established treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT). Tissue temperature is a key determinant of successful lesion creation, and yet, it is difficult to measure during conventional RF ablation because of the cooling effect of high-flow rate saline irrigation. The TRAC-VT study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a novel irrigated RF ablation system modulating power based on real-time tissue temperature.

Methods

Patients with sustained monomorphic VT and structural heart disease (SHD) were enrolled. Catheter ablation was performed in temperature-control mode (irrigation 8 ml/min, temperature set-points 55 or 60 °C, and power output ≤ 50 W), with RF applications for ≤ 45 s. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular-specific serious procedure-related adverse events within 30 days post-ablation. The primary effectiveness endpoint was acute success (i.e., non-inducibility of all clinically relevant VTs).

Results

Thirty-eight patients were enrolled with monomorphic VT (age 68 ± 12 years and 84% male), with an average of 1.7 ± 1.2 VTs targeted per patient. In total, 41 ± 23 RF applications per patient were delivered. Acute procedural success was 100% (95% CI, 91–100%). No primary safety endpoints were observed. Six-month follow-up was completed in 92% of patients with 81% (95% CI, 65–91%) freedom from sustained or treated VT. A repeat ablation was performed in three patients.

Conclusions

Ablation of VT in SHD, using a temperature-controlled irrigated RF catheter, was safe and effective with a low rate of VT recurrence at 6 months.

Graphical abstract
Design of Electrospun Hydrophobically Modified Polyacrylic acid Hydrogel Nanofibers and their Application for Removal of Ciprofloxacin
Authors: İlyasoğlu Gülmire , Abdullah Turdimuhammad , Okay Oguz , Koyuncu İsmail
Published: February 2025

The global water scarcity crisis has been exacerbated by the increasing demand for clean water and water pollution caused by the persistent release of pharmaceuticals such as ciprofloxasin, into water systems. The biodegradation and adsorption potential of CIP is crucial for its elimination in wastewater treatment systems. However conventional methods in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) often struggle to efficiently eliminate of CIP from water due to its chemically stability and nonbiodegradability. Many researchers observed that CIP was not biodegraded even after 48 days in municipal WWTP, therefor no CIP removal occurred. The objective of this study was to investigate adsorption potential of CIP using a designed electrospun nanofiber. Within the scope of this purpose, we prepared electrospun acrylic acid (AAc)-based hydrogels modified with n-hexadecyl acrylate (C16A) for the first time and evaluated their efficacy in removing CIP from water. Our results show that the desired fiber size and surface smoothness can be obtained in the electrospun hydrogel containing 35 mol% of C16A. As a result, the AAc-based hydrogel nanofiber containing 35 mol% C16A exhibited superior adsorption properties. The adsorption efficiency of the hydrogel for CIP removal from aqueous medium was as high as 98% under equilibrium conditions. The adsorption process was found to follow the pseudo-second-order model, which suggests chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. Isothermal analysis showed that the adsorption fit well with the Langmuir model, suggesting single layer adsorption on a uniform surface. These results highlight the potential of AAc-based hydrogels for the sustainable removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater, addressing a critical need in environmental contaminant management.

Graphical Abstract
High Strength Composites from Wastewater Sludge, Plant Oils, and Fossil Fuel By-Product Elemental Sulfur
Authors: Tisdale Katelyn A. , Wijeyatunga Shalini K. , Graham Matthew J. , Sauceda-Oloño Perla Y. , Tennyson Andrew G. , Smith Ashlyn D. , Smith Rhett C.
Published: February 2025

Herein high-strength composites are prepared from elemental sulfur, sunflower oil, and wastewater sludge. Fats extracted from dissolved air flotation (DAF) solids were reacted with elemental sulfur to yield composite DAFS (10 wt% DAF fats and 90 wt% sulfur). Additional composites were prepared from DAF fat, sunflower oil and sulfur to give SunDAF

x
(x = wt% sulfur, varied from 85–90%). The composites were characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, and mechanical methods. FT-IR spectra revealed a notable peak at 798 cm–1 indicating a C–S stretch in DAFS, SunDAF

90
, and SunDAF

85
indicating successful crosslinking of polymeric sulfur with olefin units. SEM/EDX analysis revealed homogenous distribution of carbon, oxygen, and sulfur in SunDAF

90
and SunDAF

85
. The percent crystallinity exhibited by DAFS (37%), SunDAF

90
(39%), and SunDAF

85
(45%) was observed to be slightly lower than that of previous composites prepared from elemental sulfur and fats and oils. DAFS and SunDAF

x
displayed compressive strengths (26.4–38.7 MPa) of up to 227% above that required (17 MPa) of ordinary Portland cement for residential building foundations. The composite decomposition temperatures ranged from 211 to 219 °C, with glass transition temperatures of − 37 °C to − 39 °C. These composites thus provide a potential route to reclaim wastewater organics for use in value-added structural materials having mechanical properties competitive with those of commercial products.
Brain interleukins and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Abdelhamed Heba G. , Hassan Arwa A. , Sakraan Alaa A. , Al-Deeb Radwa T. , Mousa Dalia M. , Aboul Ezz Heba S. , Noor Neveen A. , Khadrawy Yasser A. , Radwan Nasr M.
Published: February 2025

The central nervous system (CNS) is immune-privileged by several immuno-modulators as interleukins (ILs). ILs are cytokines secreted by immune cells for cell-cell signaling communications and affect the functions of the CNS. ILs were reported to orchestrate different molecular and cellular mechanisms of both physiological and pathological events, through overproduction or over-expression of their receptors. They interact with numerous receptors mediating pro-inflammatory and/or anti-inflammatory actions. Interleukins have been implicated to participate in neurodegenerative diseases. They play a critical role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology which is characterized by the over-production of pro-inflammatory ILs. These may aggravate neurodegeneration, in addition to their contribution to detrimental mechanisms as oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity. However, recent research on the relation between ILs and AD revealed major discrepancies. Most of the major ILs were shown to play both pro- and anti-inflammatory roles in different experimental settings and models. The interactions between different ILs through shared pathways also add to the difficulty of drawing solid conclusions. In addition, targeting the different ILs has not yielded consistent results. The repeated failures of therapeutic drugs in treating AD necessitate the search for novel agents targeting multiple mechanisms of the disease pathology. In this context, the understanding of interleukins and their roles throughout the disease progression and interaction with other systems in the brain may provide promising therapeutic targets for the prevention or treatment of AD.
Gamispotify: a gamified social music recommendation system based on users’ personal values
Authors: Hajarian Mohammad , Carrillo Miguel Herrera , Díaz Paloma , Aedo Ignacio
Published: February 2025

In this article, we have introduced Gamispotify. For the first time, in a social network-based environment, and by benefiting from gamification and crowdsourcing, Gamispotify recommends music to the users based on their personal values. The proposed method has been compared to another published article by conducting two experiments and surveys on 32 application participants. Experimental results indicate that user engagement has significantly increased using the proposed method. Spending time on the application increased by 299.48%, the music play count increased by 150%, and receiving music recommendations increased by 244.41%. Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test confirmed these improvements were significant (p < 0.05). Moreover, survey results support these findings and show a notable increase in user satisfaction with the proposed music recommendation system compared with the previous work (p = 0.019). It also indicates that the proposed method successfully motivated users to discover new songs (p = 0.043). We have also found that social networking features, recommendations based on personal values, and gamification have positively impacted the users’ motivation to use the music streaming application.
Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Primary Progressive Aphasia with and Without Concomitant Speech and Language Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Lomi Francesco , Simonelli Ilaria , Cappa Stefano , Pasqualetti Patrizio , Rossi Simone
Published: February 2025

Primary progressive aphasias (PPA) represent a group of neurodegenerative conditions affecting verbal communication abilities for which no effective medication is currently available. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NiBS) has been mainly explored as adjunctive therapy to conventional speech and language therapy (SLT) with promising results. The present meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) aims to evaluate the efficacy of NiBS in PPA patients on a range of linguistic tasks (naming, phonemic fluency, semantic fluency). A literature search was carried out using EMBASE and PUBMED, searching for multi-session RCTs administering NiBS on PPA patients as stand-alone or with SLT. The results were not significant overall, indicating a null difference between the active and the sham condition on language functions; pooled effects tended to be higher in parallel than in crossover studies and for follow-ups than post-treatment. In the naming analyses, the combined effects for the studies that coupled NiBS with SLT were slightly higher than the overall effect at each time point, although not significant. These results need to be considered with caution given the low number of included studies and small sample sizes, but offer relevant indications for future research in terms of optimal treatment protocols and personalization of therapies.
Multi-objective surrogate optimization of mixed-variable IPM motor design problem with ADMM-based approach
Authors: Asanuma Tatsuya , Kanno Yoshihiro
Published: February 2025

Designing electric motors boils down to solving multi-objective optimization problems where we look for design variables satisfying multiple requirements on, e.g., torque and electromagnetic losses. To design high-performance motors without restriction by existing design ideas, it is necessary to take the design space as wide as possible at the initial design stage. When dealing with the extensive design space, it is required to treat the basic structure parameters of motors and the detailed dimensions as design variables. For an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor, which is one of the typical motor types, we need to handle discrete integer design variables such as the number of slots and the coil pitch in addition to the continuous ones. However, it is difficult to obtain the discrete design variable values without rounding off to the nearest allowed values in the framework of the existing continuous surrogate optimization such as sequential approximation optimization (SAO) with the response surface created from the electromagnetic finite element analysis results. We solve this mixed-variable optimization problem by the heuristic approach based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) and show with example design problems that the better results are obtained more efficiently in terms of the number of expensive objective function evaluations compared to taking rounding-off measures.
Graphene-based programmable dual dipole antenna with parasitic elements
Authors: Ullah Sana , Marasco Ilaria , D’Orazio Antonella , Magno Giovanni
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a novel transparent disc-shaped programmable antenna employing a polyimide substrate that exploits graphene parasitic elements to achieve programmable beamforming in sub-THz frequencies. The antenna consists of two orthogonal dipoles assisted by eight fan-blade-shaped graphene parasitic elements. By changing their state through chemical potential, the antenna current distribution is modified, enabling the formation of different radiation patterns such as single, dual, and quad beams. The inherent symmetry of the structure and that of the imposed programming codes is explained through the discussion of different radiation patterns generated in the azimuthal plane. The proposed antenna allows for discrete step beam reconfiguration over 360° in the azimuth plane. The maximum realized gain reaches 2 dBi for single beam, 1.3 dBi for dual beam and 0.7 dBi for quad beam configurations, accompanied by a minimum S11 value of − 36.4 dB at 200 GHz and by a − 10 dB bandwidth ranges from 187 GHz to 214 GHz.
Theoretical Analysis of Diffraction Grating-Based SPR Sensor Using the Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis Method
Authors: Saxena Suryansh , Rastogi Yagyasha , Sharma Navneet K.
Published: February 2025

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors are crucial for highly sensitive, label-free detection in various applications, including biosensing and environmental monitoring. This study investigates the sensitivity and performance of diffraction grating-based SPR sensors using rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA). The analysis focuses on single- and bi-layered metallic structures composed of copper, gold, and silver. The results reveal that single-layer silver sensors exhibit the highest sensitivity of 169.37°/RIU followed by Au and Cu with a sensitivity of 168.4°/RIU and 167.9°/RIU respectively. Further, to enhance the stability and reliability, bilayered configurations were introduced, incorporating protective coatings of one metal over the other. Among the bilayered configurations, Ag-Cu demonstrated the greatest sensitivity of 175°/RIU followed by Ag-Au with a sensitivity of 173.25°/RIU and Au-Cu with the sensitivity of 168.5°/RIU. This study establishes the potential of bi-metallic SPR sensors for achieving superior sensitivity and stability, highlighting their applicability in advanced detection systems. The novel insight into the interplay between material properties and sensor performance offers a roadmap for designing next-generation plasmonic sensors.
Enhanced oxygen ion conductivity in Ba3W1+xV1−xO8.5+x/2 (− 0.2 ≤  ×  ≤ 0.2) hexagonal perovskite derivative compounds
Authors: Kumar Nitin , Rao K. Sandeep , Deshpande U. P. , Sathe Vasant , Sahu A. K. , Achary S. N. , Deshpande S. K.
Published: February 2025

A series of hexagonal perovskite derivative compounds Ba3W1+x
V1−x
O8.5+x/2 (x =  − 0.2, − 0.1, 0, 0.1, 0.2) with varying oxygen content was synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction route and characterized using X-ray diffraction, SEM–EDX, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and dielectric spectroscopy. All samples were isostructural, having features of both palmierite and 9R hexagonal perovskite. The unit cell volume showed a continuously decreasing trend with increasing oxygen content. The XPS studies showed no deviation of oxidation states of W6+ and V5+ and hence confirmed that the oxygen stoichiometry is solely controlled by the W to V ratio in the samples. The presence of both octahedral MO6 and tetrahedral MO4 units in all samples was inferred from temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic studies. The translational and rotational motion of MO4 tetrahedra are appreciably affected by temperature. The dc conductivity was obtained directly from the complex ac conductivity derived from temperature-dependent dielectric measurements. It was found that the dc conductivity increases when the composition deviates from x = 0.0, i.e., W:V = 1:1. An estimate of the ion mobility and mobile ion concentration was obtained using the Almond-West formalism. The conductivity was found to be significantly higher in W-rich compounds (x > 0), and the ion mobility was also correspondingly higher. It could be inferred that the compositional dependence of unit cell parameters, particularly a- or b-axis, and the oxygen stoichiometry, play crucial roles in governing the ionic conductivity of these hexagonal perovskite derivatives.
Experiencing Complications After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeries is a Risk Factor for Postoperative Emergency Department Admissions: a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Toprak Şükrü Salih , Toprak Hatice , Köse Fulya
Published: February 2025

Background

Emergency department admissions significantly burden hospital staff and countries’ health system. Studies are encouraged for effective and correct utilization of emergency departments. Rational management of obesity-related medical problems and postoperative complications may reduce emergency department visits. This study aimed to determine the rates, characteristics, and antecedents of emergency room admissions after metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBSs) performed in our hospital. According to our hypothesis, experiencing postoperative complications is the most common reason for emergency department admissions.

Methods

The study was designed as a single-center, retrospective, cohort study. Metabolic and bariatric surgeries performed in our hospital between June 2021 and June 2023 were evaluated. Clavien Dindo Classification was used to classify complications. The reasons for emergency department admissions, re-hospitalization and surgical requirements, time relationships, and possible antecedents were examined in stages.

Results

A total of 153 patients were evaluated in the study. The average follow-up period was found to be 609.63 ± 222.89. The emergency department admission rate following MBSs was found to be 31%, and the admission rate within the first month was 7.8%. The major complication rate following MBSs was 4.6%. Experiencing complications was the most important antecedent for admissions 1 month postoperatively.

Conclusions

In patients with complications after MBS, the discharge decision should be provided with stricter controls, and outpatient clinic controls should be planned more frequently. Providing training to patients on managing complications should be considered as a strategy that may reduce the number of emergency department visits.

Clinical Trial Registration

ACTRN12624000810516
Effect of Calcination Temperature on the Transformation of Spent NCM811 into Efficient TMO Electrocatalysts
Authors: Kim Hyeeun , Kim Seongkwan , Kim Min-Ho , Hwang Chihyun , Jang Haeseong
Published: February 2025

The expansion of electric vehicles has increased spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) containing valuable transition metals. Recycling these materials reduces economic costs and addresses resource shortages. Additionally, transition metal-based catalysts derived from spent LIBs can replace expensive noble metal catalysts. This study examines the catalytic performance of spent LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) materials, enhanced by adjusting mixed valence states and defect structures. Increasing calcination temperature transformed the layered structure into spinel and rock salt phases, inducing mixed valence states. Consequently, the optimized NCM catalysts exhibited improved catalytic activity in both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The ORR onset potential increased by 0.07 V, while the OER overpotential decreased by about 26.9%. In a zinc-air battery, the optimized catalyst demonstrated a discharge capacity of 792.1 mAh g⁻1 and stable performance over 100 cycles. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirmed Mn as the main active site, with Ni and Co enhancing Mn's activity as electron donors and acceptors. These findings suggest that calcination-induced structural changes and mixed valence states enhance Mn site reactivity, improving catalytic performance. Overall, this study highlights the feasibility of repurposing spent LIB cathode materials into efficient electrocatalysts, thereby improving the economic viability and sustainability of catalyst development.
Intravital skin ulcer in a late 18th century Spanish child mummy: evidence for septicemic death?
Authors: Nerlich A. G. , Loynes R. D. , Badia A. Jardiel , Begerock A. , Delgado D. , Gonzalez M. , Bianucci Raffaella
Published: February 2025

During excavation campaigns carried out in north-eastern Spain (Aragonese), a well -preserved late 18th century infant mummy was exhumed from the topsoil of El Piquete church (Quinto, Zaragoza). At morphological macroscopical observation, a penetrating lesion lateral to the right knee was identified. The lesion was covered by linen bindings with a circumscribed brownish discoloration. Investigations were carried out with a special focus on the lower tight lesion in order to ascertain whether it had occurred intra-vitam, perimortem or post-mortem. A CT scan was performed to establish the age at death of the infant and to identify possible pathological disorders of the skeleton and internal organs. Histology was performed on the ovoid, deep penetrating lesion in order to determine whether it was vital or was due to taphonomic alterations. The body belonged to a male, 12–16 months old infant. It did not show any pathological disorder apart from the presence of an ovoid deep penetrating skin lesion lateral to the right knee. Histology showed that, apart from the typical postmortem alterations, several small haemosiderin deposits, such as in siderophages, were present, thus indicating, not only the vitality of the ulceration, but also its age of more than several days. We conclude that the infant survived the traumatic lesion for a few days and he most likely died of systemic infection related syndrome (SIRS). This rare case adds to the paleopathological literature on children’s possible cause of death.
Involvement of CRMP2 Phosphorylation in Amyloid Beta-induced Tau Phosphorylation of Hippocampal Neurons in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
Authors: Noguchi Daisuke , Watamura Naoto , Nikkuni Miyu , Saido Takaomi C. , Goshima Yoshio , Ohshima Toshio
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), a microtubule (MT)-binding protein, regulates MT dynamics and is phosphorylated at Ser522 by cyclin-dependent kinase 5. Previous studies have shown increased CRMP2 phosphorylation at Ser522 (CRMP2-pSer522) in early AD stages and AD mouse models, where it colocalizes with phosphorylated tau. However, the role of CRMP-pSer522 in AD pathology remains unclear. In this study, we generated double transgenic mice by crossing tau Tg (PS19) mice and CRMP2 S522A knock-in (CRMP2KI) mice, in which S522 of CRMP2 was replaced with alanine to create a phospho-defective model. No significant change in tau phosphorylation was observed in the hippocampus of tau Tg; CRMP2KI mice compared to tau Tg littermates. However, when Aβ25-35 oligomers were injected into the hippocampus, tau phosphorylation was significantly reduced in Aβ-injected tau Tg; CRMP2KI mice compared to Aβ-injected tau Tg controls. These findings suggest that CRMP2 phosphorylation at Ser522 promotes Aβ-induced tau phosphorylation in this mouse model of AD.
Do White and Black People Truly View the Police Differently? Findings from a Study of Crime Hot Spots in Baltimore, Maryland
Authors: Kuen Kiseong , Appleton CJ , Weisburd David , Uding Clair V.
Published: February 2025

While numerous studies demonstrate that Black individuals have more negative perceptions of the police than their White counterparts, few have simultaneously examined racial differences in perceptions of procedural justice, police effectiveness, and legitimacy. Additionally, limited research has rigorously examined the relationship between race and perceptions of the police while carefully accounting for potentially relevant factors that could influence this relationship. Using unique survey data largely drawn from crime hot spots in Baltimore, Maryland, we examined the differences between White (n = 500) and Black (n = 2,452) individuals’ perceptions of procedural justice, police effectiveness, and police legitimacy. Furthermore, by conducting propensity-score matching on White and Black residents in our data, we compared perceptions of the police between 394 pairs of similarly situated Black and White residents who were matched based on demographics, victimization, offending, self-control, recent experiences with the police, perceived police presence, and street environments. Results indicated that while Black people have more negative perceptions of procedural justice than White people, they do not hold different perceptions regarding police effectiveness and obligation to obey. These findings hold even when comparing the matched White and Black people. Our findings suggest a nuanced relationship between race and perceptions of the police.
1H, 13C, 15N and 31P chemical shift assignment of the first stem-loop Guanidine-II riboswitch from Escherichia coli
Authors: Koob Tatjana , Döpp Silas , Schwalbe Harald
Published: February 2025

A comprehensive understanding of RNA-based gene regulation is a fundamental aspect for the development of innovative therapeutic options in medicine and for a more targeted response to environmental problems. Within the different mechanisms of RNA-based gene regulation, riboswitches are particularly interesting as they change their structure in response to the interaction with a low molecular weight ligand, often a well-known metabolite. Four distinct classes of riboswitches recognize the very small guanidinium cation. We are focused on the Guanidine-II riboswitch with the mini-ykkC motif. We report here the assignment of the 1H, 13C, 15N and 31P chemical shifts of the 23 nucleotide-long sequence of the first stem-loop of the Guanidine-II riboswitch aptamer from Escherichia coli. Despite its small size, the assignment of the NMR signals of this RNA proved to be challenging as it has symmetrical base pairs and palindromic character.
Improving the spatial prediction of topsoil properties in a typical grazing area using multi-season PlanetScope spectral covariates and data mining techniques
Authors: Phinzi Kwanele , Bertalan László , Chakilu Gashaw Gismu , Szabó Szilárd
Published: February 2025

Understanding the spatial distribution of topsoil properties in grassland ecosystems is essential for improving soil ecosystem services, quality, and erosion resilience. The availability of free, high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced data mining techniques offers new opportunities for efficient soil property assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of multi-season PlanetScope imagery to predict soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Using random sampling, 121 topsoil samples (0–30 cm depth) were collected with an auger across grasslands, bare soil, and eroded areas within a typical grazing land use. Three data mining techniques: random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and support vector machines (SVM), were applied and evaluated using a 10-fold cross-validation. The results indicated that multi-season spectral covariates considerably improved the accuracy of the target soil properties compared to single-season imagery. SVM was the most effective algorithm for predicting SOC, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.52%, mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.24%, and R² of 0.92. RF was the best-performing algorithm for predicting soil pH (RMSE = 0.22, MAE = 0.17, and R² = 0.97) and CaCO3 (RMSE = 0.55%, MAE = 0.42%, and R² = 0.96). While XGB failed to capture the variability in soil pH, the other models generated interpretable maps that accurately represented the distribution of soil properties across different land cover categories. The green-red vegetation index (GRVI) was the most critical covariate for predicting SOC, while elevation and the topographic wetness index (TWI) were key predictors for soil pH and CaCO3, respectively. This study underscores the potential of multi-season PlanetScope imagery for accurately predicting soil properties and recommends conducting similar studies in diverse geographical settings to validate these findings and develop more generalizable models.
Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles from Streptococcus thermophilus 065 and Their Potential to Modulate the Immune Response
Authors: Ortiz Camargo Angela Rocio , van Mastrigt Oscar , Gouw Joost W. , Liu Yue , Bongers Roger S. , van Bergenhenegouwen Jeroen , Knol Jan , Abee Tjakko , Smid Eddy J.
Published: February 2025

Bacteria can release membrane-derived nanoparticles made of lipid bilayers, so-called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which can carry diverse cargo and are important for microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Here, we studied the production of EVs by Streptococcus thermophilus 065, the protein composition of the EVs, and how the produced EVs impact the immune response in vitro. Cultures of S. thermophilus grown for 6 h at 40 °C in M17 broth with 2% lactose reached high biomass yields and a high level of EVs quantified by lipophilic fluorescent dye staining. Proteome analysis of the isolated EVs revealed a high abundance of membrane-associated binding proteins of ABC transporters, ribosomal proteins, and glycolytic enzymes. In addition, phage proteins were found to be present in the EVs, which suggests a low-level expression of prophage genes during growth most likely supporting the release of EVs without causing cell lysis. The role of prophage activation was confirmed in an experiment with the addition of mitomycin C resulting in the expression of phage proteins including holin and endolysin causing a drop in culture OD and concomitant EV release. Subsequent in vitro immune assays using non-activated and activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed immune regulation in both cases upon exposure to S. thermophilus EVs and producer cells. This study shows the capacity of S. thermophilus EVs to act as immune modulators and opens the possibility for their use as postbiotics.
A Quarter Century of Okun’s Law in Scholarly Literature
Authors: Boďa Martin , Považanová Mariana
Published: February 2025

In order to canvass the state of the art of research on Okun’s law, the paper surveys 84 articles published in Web of Science™ journals between 1995 and 2020 occupied with estimating the relationship between unemployment and output in the spirit of an approach proposed by Okun (1962). A bibliometric analysis is conducted to identify the most influential works and authors, to establish links between them, and to outline research fronts with main paths of knowledge diffusion. Under a content analysis, the articles included in the survey are further classified by their leitmotif and research agenda as well as by their geographical scope. The basal methodological choices of the articles are overviewed and their temporal patterns are studied. An emphasis is put on the stylized facts constituting the research agenda of 57 of the surveyed applications of Okun’s law (such as instability over time, asymmetries, or age and gender specificity). A majority of studies estimated Okun’s law on the basis of a regression equation that may suggest that it is unemployment that responds to fluctuations in output and adopted the difference version of Okun’s law. In estimating the gap version, the Hodrick-Prescott filter has continued to be a preferred choice despite its well-known flawed statistical properties. Lotka’s law indicates an above-average level of research productivity of authors in this field. The findings provide insights into the intellectual structure of the empirics of Okun’s law and act as guidance for future research on cyclical unemployment-output fluctuations.
Analytical and Numerical Comparison of the Two-Dimensional One-and Two-Phase Energy Storage Phenomenon in Phase Change Materials
Authors: Berent Hasan Kaan , Cihan Ertuğrul , Demir Hasan
Published: February 2025

This work investigated the thermal behavior of phase change material during the melting process in a two-dimensional (2D) plate intended for thermal energy storage. The analytical and numerical analyses were conducted for both one phase and two-phase systems. The numerical analysis was conducted using the Mathematica program, while the COMSOL Multiphysics program, which employs the finite element approach, was employed. To validate the numerical analysis answers, the Stefan-Neumann equations were solved analytically using the EES (Engineering Equation Solver) program. The present study investigated the temporal variation of heat transfer flow during the melting process of paraffin material under a constant wall temperature. A 98.9% agreement is seen between the regression analysis findings of the one-phase numerical and analytical solutions for the melting distance of paraffin from the wall in different time periods (0.8–16 h). This study examined the numerical and analytical solutions for one- and two-phase systems and found that the thermal energy storage values converged to 99.2% for two phase systems and 99.6% for one phase systems.
Analysis of Static Plate Load Test Results According to Czech, French, and German Methodologies
Authors: Pospíšil Jiří , Horníček Leoš
Published: February 2025

Many countries have a specific way of performing and evaluating the static plate load test for assessing the railway substructure deformation resistance, so its values cannot be easily compared for different countries. This paper describes an experimental study that compares the evaluated results of performed static plate load tests according to Czech, French, and German methodologies. To obtain comparable results, several measurement campaigns were carried out on test layers of crushed aggregates in experimental conditions and on a subgrade surface of soil stabilized by hydraulic binders or on sub-ballast layers of crushed aggregates on real railway track structures. The results were further statistically evaluated by arranging them in graphs, and the mutual correlations between individual methods were found. The dependence of the results turned out to be polynomial. For the comparison regarding the tested subsoil material, the correlation appeared to be better for aggregates than for stabilized soils. The performed experimental study aimed to compare the results of the static plate load test according to the mentioned methodologies and to establish mutual correlations between them. Its results can be used for adapting the requirements for the deformation resistance of the railway substructure defined in foreign standards to the Czech environment.
Development of eco-friendly binder using waste cement powder-silica fume and micro steel fibres
Authors: Zghair Luma A. G. , Hamad Hind Hussein , Yousif Mohammad Z. , Al-Hamd Rwayda Kh.S.
Published: February 2025

Interest has grown in recycled cement powder waste’s application in building projects as a workable, long-term solution to environmental issues. This work presents experimental results investigating the behaviour of plain and fibre-reinforced waste cement paste with different volume fraction percentages of micro steel fibres (1% and 2%), where densified micro silica partially replaces 10% of the waste cement. For each mix, the superplasticiser and water-cement ratios were maintained constant. The study involved a number of studies, including flow table inspections, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) tests, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM–EDX) testing, compressive and flexural strength assessments, dry density measurements, and ultrasonic tests. These evaluations aimed to analyse the specimens’ mechanical and physical characteristics thoroughly. The results showed that substituting densified micro fume and micro steel fibres (SF) for a certain amount of cement could improve waste cement’s properties. Using 2% of the micro-steel fibres significantly affected the cement paste’s compressive and flexural strengths. Nevertheless, an investigation revealed that the inclusion of fibres resulted in a reduction in the amplitude of the sound waves and a decrease in the stagnation flow. The SEM–EDX tests revealed satisfactory adherence between the cement paste and SF. This clarifies why adding SF causes the compressive strength to increase.
Laser-induced selective local patterning of vanadium oxide phases
Authors: Li Junjie , Navarro Henry , Pofelski Alexandre , Salev Pavel , El Hage Ralph , Qiu Erbin , Zhu Yimei , Fainman Yeshaiahu , Schuller Ivan K.
Published: February 2025

The same elements can form different compounds with widely different physical properties. Synthesis of a single-phase material is commonly achieved by controlling experimental conditions. Synthesizing materials that incorporate multiple specific spatially distributed chemical phases is often challenging, especially if different phases must be organized into well-defined spatial patterns. Here, we present an efficient solid reaction laser annealing (SRLA) approach to directly write regions of different local chemical compositions. We demonstrate the practical utility of our approach by locally writing microscale patterns of distinct chemical phases in vanadium oxide thin films. Specifically, we achieved the controlled local recrystallization of a uniform V2O3 matrix into VO2, V3O5, and V4O7 regions exhibiting sharp 1st- and 2nd-order metal–insulator phase transitions over a wide range of critical temperatures, i.e., a characteristic feature of select vanadium oxides that is extremely sensitive to even minute structural or compositional imperfections. We utilized the local chemical phase writing to pattern spiking oscillators with distinct electrical behavior directly in the thin film sample without employing elaborate lithography fabrication. Our laser tuning local chemical composition opens a pathway to synthesize a wide range of artificially micropatterned composite materials, with precision and control unattainable in conventional material synthesis methods.

Graphical Abstract
Insightful Examination of Some Nonlinear Classifications Linked with Mathieu Oscillators
Authors: Moatimid Galal M. , Mohamed Mona A. A. , Elagamy Khaled
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The aim of the current study is to comparehend an analytical description of different classes of nonlinear Mathieu oscillators. The van der Pol-Duffing-Mathieu oscillator, and the generalized van der Pol-Duffing-Mathieu oscillator are examined. Additionally, the hybrid Rayleigh-van der Pol-Duffing-Mathieu oscillators, as well as the nonlinear Mathieu oscillator, are scrutinized.

Method

The non-perturbative approach (NPA) is utilized to convert the nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs), of the illustrated dynamical systems, into linear ones. The approximate solutions are derived independently in the series expansion and without the use of conventional perturbation techniques. Therefore, the goal is to deviate from conventional perturbation techniques and get approximations of small amplitude parametric components without imposing any restrictions. The method is also expanded to determine the best solutions for the nonlinear immense amplitude of fluctuation.

Results

The current method offers successive approximations of the solutions of parametric nonlinear fluctuations may be obtained by quickly estimating the frequency-amplitude relationship. The resulting parametric equations are validated, showing high degree of agreement with the original equation. Stability behavior is analyzed under various circumstances. The transition curves, bifurcation diagram, Poincaré map, and phase portrait are also examined using the Floquet theory.

Conclusion

The stability regions are found to be diminishing with the rise of the natural frequency, and the excited frequency. Moreover, the achieved regions are found to be growing with the rise of the damping coefficient and the excitation amplitude. The stability settings have been examined by considering the effects of various factors in both the damped and un-damped phases for each situation. In the un-damped state, PolarPlots are examined of the transition curves of the two corresponding solutions, namely Cos- and Sin-oscillations. The conclusions of the acquired results suggested that the approach presented here is highly efficient, robust, founded on solid premises, and remarkably intuitive.
The Affective Science Network: A Fieldwide Map of over 1 Million Citations
Authors: Iancarelli Alessia , Rypkema Nicholas R. , Ritchey Maureen , Satpute Ajay B.
Published: February 2025

Research in affective science includes over one hundred thousand articles, the vast majority of which have been published in only the past two decades. The size and rapid growth of this field have led to unique challenges for the twenty-first-century scientist including how to develop both breadth and depth of scholarship, curb siloing and promote integrative and interdisciplinary framework, and represent and monitor the field in its entirety. Here, we help address these issues by compactly mapping out this enormous field using citation network analysis (CNA). We generated a citation matrix of over 100,000 publications and over 1 million citations since the seminal works on emotion by Charles Darwin (1872) and William James (1884). Using graph theory metric and content analysis of titles and abstracts, we identified and characterized the contents of 69 research communities, their most influential articles, and their interconnectedness with each other. We further identified potential “missed connections” between communities that share similar content but do not have strong citation-based connections. In doing so, we establish the first, low-dimensional representation, or field-wide map, of a substantial portion of the affective sciences literature. This panoramic view of the field provides affective and non-affective scientists alike with the means to rapidly survey dozens of major research communities and topics in the field, guide scholarship development, and identify gaps and connections for developing an integrative science.