bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeated environmental change mitigates inter-individual inequal food gain in a group foraging experiment of crow
Authors: Niki Yasuyuki , Takano Mayu , Izawa Ei-Ichi
Published: February 2025

Animal group foraging produces unequal distributions of food gains among participants because of individual differences, such as dominance rank. However, external environmental factors, such as fluctuation of food spatial distribution over time, may mitigate the impact of social features on food acquisition. Earlier experimental studies focused on a group’s internal environment or were conducted in stable and unchanging environments. Here, we investigated how environmental fluctuations affect food acquisition at group and individual levels in captive large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) by changing the relationship between feeding sites and food quantity. We found that foraging efficiency and food distribution equality initially declined after environmental changes, gradually increased, and improved with repeated long-term environmental fluctuations. The influence of sex was found, while that of dominance rank was not. The present results provide the first experimental evidence to suggests that environmental fluctuations mitigate inequal food gain among individuals in group foraging.
Rnalys: An Interactive Web Application for Transcriptomic Data Analysis and Visualization
Authors: Frisk Christoffer
Published: February 2025

Background

The rapid growth of biological data from omics and transcriptomics research necessitates tools that streamline data visualisation and interpretation. Existing solutions for RNA-Seq analysis are often complex. Rnalys was developed as a lightweight, open-source web application tailored for the downstream analysis of counted and quality-controlled reads. It is designed as a tool to identify outliers and efficiently handle datasets with multiple batches, tissues, and disease types. Additionally, Rnalys provides representation of biological relationships, enabling users to perform comprehensive exploratory data analysis and generate publication-quality figures.

Results

Rnalys leverages Plotly’s Dash framework to provide an intuitive, interactive interface for the exploration and analysis of high-dimensional genomic data. Users can perform a range of analyses, including sample selection, batch correction, data transformation, gene expression exploration, PCA, differential expression analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis. The platform offers dynamic parameter adjustments and real-time display, enhancing data exploration and analysis.

Conclusion

Rnalys simplifies the process of data handling and visualization, allowing researchers to concentrate on interpreting biological results. The open-source nature of the tool, coupled with its user-friendly interface, facilitates customization and integration into existing workflows, making it a valuable resource for both individual researchers and collaborative teams.
Successful axonal regeneration is driven by evolutionarily conserved metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Zhang Anyi , Bergmans Steven , Van Dyck Annelies , Beckers An , Moons Lieve , Masin Luca
Published: February 2025

Unlike mammals, zebrafish can regrow axons after injury and restore circuit function in the central nervous system (CNS). Mitochondria have been identified as key players in this process, but how different metabolic pathways work together to sustain regeneration remains unclear. Using RNA sequencing of adult zebrafish retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush injury, we found that oxidative phosphorylation is downregulated during axonal regrowth. Simultaneously, the thioredoxin antioxidant system was upregulated, likely to limit oxidative damage. Additionally, we observed an integrated upregulation of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway during the initial regrowth phases, possibly to provide energy and supplying NADPH for biosynthesis and antioxidant responses. We show that this metabolic reprogramming is evolutionarily conserved, as a comparable one occurs in the pro-regenerative mammalianPtenandSocs3co-deletion model. Inhibiting glycolysis and thioredoxin in zebrafish impairs axonal regrowth, suggesting that targeting these pathways could enhance CNS regeneration in mammals.
Perception and neural representation of intermittent odor stimuli in mice
Authors: Boero Luis , Wu Hao , Zak Joseph D. , Masset Paul , Pashakhanloo Farhad , Jayakumar Siddharth , Tolooshams Bahareh , Ba Demba , Murthy Venkatesh N.
Published: February 2025

Odor cues in nature are sparse and highly fluctuating due to turbulent transport. To investigate how animals perceive these intermittent cues, we developed a behavioral task in which head-restrained mice made binary decisions based on the total number of discrete odor pulses presented stochastically over several seconds. Mice readily learned this task, and their performance was well-described by widely used decision models. Logistic regression of binary choices against the timing of odor pulses within the respiratory cycle revealed that mice placed higher perceptual weight to stimuli arriving during inhalation than exhalation, a phase dependency that strongly correlated with the magnitude of responses in olfactory sensory neurons. The population response of anterior piriform cortex (APCx) neurons to odor pulses was also modulated by respiration phase, although individual neurons displayed varying levels of phase-dependence. Single APCx neurons responded stochastically and transiently to odor pulses, leading to a representation that carries signatures of sensory evidence, but not its accumulation. Our study reveals that mice can integrate intermittent odor signals across dozens of breaths, but respiratory modulation of sensory inputs imposes limits on information acquisition that cortical circuits cannot overcome to improve behavior.
The implementation of liquid biopsies in routine care of patients with advanced solid cancer (LIQPLAT): a study protocol for a single arm trial
Authors: Schwenke Johannes M. , Schmitt Andreas M. , Janiaud Perrine , Läubli Heinz , Binder Mascha , Alborelli Ilaria , Matter Matthias S. , Hinke Jennifer , Widmer Corinne C. , Hemkens Lars G. , Kasenda Benjamin
Published: February 2025

Background:Advanced solid cancers present significant treatment challenges due to their genomic heterogeneity and resistance. Liquid biopsies, specifically circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), have emerged as promising tools to support treatment decision making. However, evidence regarding their implementation in routine care remains limited.

Methods:LIQPLAT is a single-arm trial (SAT), assessing the feasibility of implementing ctDNA measurements in the usual care of patients with advanced solid cancers excepting primary brain tumours, at the University Hospital Basel. Patients are randomly invited from an ongoing research registry to take part in the SAT. We aim to include 150 randomly invited patients to receive ctDNA measurements alongside standard care. CtDNA samples are collected at baseline, between the second and third months, fifth and seventh months after cancer treatment start, and during serious clinical events such as disease progression or treatment changes. Results are evaluated by a molecular tumor board to guide clinical management. Feasibility outcomes include detectability of ctDNA, identification of actionable alterations, and analysis turnaround time. Other outcomes include patient-reported quality of life, progression-free survival and overall survival, time to next treatment line, and unscheduled hospital and emergency visits, all obtained from routine healthcare data.

Discussion:LIQPLAT will examine the implementation of ctDNA measurements in routine care. The random selection for invitation to this SAT within an existing registry embedded in routine care creates a representative sample and allows for better assessment of implementation and generalization of findings.

Trial registration:The trial is registered atclinicaltrials.gov(2024-04-11,NCT06367751) and kofam.ch (2024-03-15, SNCTP000005844).
Common Neural Choice Signals reflect Accumulated Evidence, not Confidence
Authors: Desender Kobe , Smet Andi , Erdil Deniz , Gunay Esna Mualla , Denmat Pierre Le , Marcke Hélène Van
Published: February 2025

While much research has investigated decision confidence, its neural underpinnings remain unclear. Although several studies have shown that centro-parietal EEG signals correlate with the reported level of confidence, according to recent computational work these signals reflect evidence which feeds into the computation of confidence, but they do not themselves track confidence. To test this prediction, we capitalized on our recent finding that a causal manipulation of prior beliefs selectively affects confidence, while leaving objective task performance unaffected. Using EEG recordings, we tested whether neural signals known to correlate with confidence (CPP and Pe) reflect evidence accumulation or confidence. Behaviorally, we replicated the finding that manipulating prior beliefs causally and selectively affected confidence without changing objective task performance. The EEG data showed a monotonic relation between the reported level of confidence and both CPP and Pe amplitudes. Importantly, this finding is compatible both with the theory that these signals track confidence as well as with the alternative theory that they track accumulated evidence. Critically, both neural signals were insensitive to the influence of prior beliefs on confidence, showing that they reflect the accumulated evidence that is used by the system to compute confidence, instead of directly reflecting confidence. Likewise, oscillatory activity in alpha and beta band was insensitive to the influence of prior beliefs on confidence. Decoding analyses revealed that the brain does hold shared representations for prior beliefs and confidence, and we identified a frontal signal that is sensitive to both confidence and prior beliefs. These findings are in line with recent views suggesting that the CPP and the Pe reflect evidence accumulation, which is combined with prior beliefs to form a confidence judgment.
Dynamical resource theory of incompatibility preservability
Authors: Hsieh Chung-Yun , Stratton Benjamin , Wu Chao-Hsien , Ku Huan-Yu
Published: February 2025

The uncertainty principle is one of quantum theory's most foundational features. It underpins a quantum phenomenon called measurement incompatibility—two physical observables of a single quantum system may not always be measured simultaneously. Apart from being fundamentally important, measurement incompatibility is also a powerful resource in the broad quantum science and technologies, with wide applications to cryptography, communication, random number generation, and device-independent tasks. Since every physical system is unavoidably subject to noise, an important, yet still open, question is how to characterize the ability of noisy quantum dynamics to preserve measurement incompatibility. This work fills this gap by providing a resource theory of this ability, termed incompatibility preservability. We quantify incompatibility preservability by a robustness measure. Then, we introduce an operational task, entanglement-assisted filter game, to completely characterize both the robustness measure and the conversion of incompatibility preservability. Our results provide a general framework to describe how noisy dynamics affect the uncertainty principle's signature.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Breakup of positronium by Compton scattering of high-energy photons
Authors: Najjari B. , Pedain C. , Müller C. , Voitkiv A. B.
Published: February 2025

We study the breakup of positronium (Ps) by Compton scattering in the range of photon energies, where the motion of the electron and the positron remains nonrelativistic and the process is dominated by the interaction terms ∼Â2, where Â is the vector potential of the photon field. In this study we first compare the total cross section for this process with the total cross section for the positronium breakup by photoabsorption, showing that they become equal at the incident photon energy ℏωiPs≈2.2 keV and that—due to strong (and opposite) dependencies of these cross sections on the photon energy—the Compton scattering rapidly becomes by far the dominant breakup channel when the photon energy exceeds ℏωiPs. Then we explore the energy and angular spectra of electrons and positrons, which are emitted from the positronium in collisions with high-energy photons, and of the scattered photons. By analyzing the physical mechanisms, which determine the properties of the spectra, we demonstrate that in such collisions the atomic particles can be clearly subdivided into the “participator,” on which the incident photon scatters, and the “spectator,” which is not directly involved in the scattering process. The results for the positronium breakup are compared with the corresponding results for the ionization of atomic hydrogen and the similarities in these processes as well as the differences between them are discussed.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dynamical heterogeneity and large deviations in the open quantum East glass model from tensor networks
Authors: Causer Luke , Bañuls Mari Carmen , Garrahan Juan P.
Published: February 2025

We study the nonequilibrium dynamics of the dissipative quantum East model via numerical tensor networks. We use matrix product states to represent evolution under quantum-jump unravellings for sizes beyond those accessible to exact diagonalization. This allows us to demonstrate that dynamical heterogeneity accompanies slow relaxation, in analogy with what is seen in classical glassy systems. Furthermore, using variational matrix product operators we (i) compute the spectral gap of the Lindbladian and show that glassiness is enhanced in the presence of weak quantum fluctuations compared to the pure classical case, and (ii) obtain the dynamical large deviations by calculating the leading eigenvector of the tilted Lindbladian and find clear evidence for a first-order active-inactive dynamical phase transition. We also show how to directly sample the rare quantum trajectories associated to the large deviations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Exploring orbital angular momentum and spin-orbit correlations for gluons at the Electron-Ion Collider
Authors: Bhattacharya Shohini , Boussarie Renaud , Hatta Yoshitaka
Published: February 2025

In our previous work [S. Bhattacharya , ], we introduced a pioneering observable aimed at experimentally detecting the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of gluons. Our focus was on the longitudinal double spin asymmetry observed in exclusive dijet production during electron-proton scattering. We demonstrated the sensitivity of the cosϕ angular correlation between the scattered electron and proton as a probe for gluon OAM at small x and its intricate interplay with gluon helicity. This current work provides a comprehensive exposition, diving further into the aforementioned calculation with added elaboration and in-depth analysis. We reveal that, in addition to the gluon OAM, one also gains access to the spin-orbit correlation of gluons. We supplement our work with a detailed numerical analysis of our observables for the kinematics of the Electron-Ion Collider. In addition to dijet production, we also consider the recently proposed semi-inclusive diffractive deep inelastic scattering process, which potentially offers experimental advantages over dijet measurements. Finally, we investigate quark-channel contributions to these processes and find an unexpected breakdown of collinear factorization.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Machine learning conservation laws of dynamical systems
Authors: Mebratie Meskerem Abebaw , Nather Rüdiger , von Rudorff Guido Falk , Seiler Werner M.
Published: February 2025

Conservation laws are of great theoretical and practical interest. We describe an alternative approach to machine learning conservation laws of finite-dimensional dynamical systems using trajectory data. It is a unique approach based on kernel methods instead of neural networks which leads to lower computational costs and requires a lower amount of training data. We propose the use of an “indeterminate” form of kernel ridge regression where the labels still have to be found by additional conditions. We use a simple approach minimizing the length of the coefficient vector to discover a single conservation law.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Avalanches during micro-galvanic corrosion of Mg-Cu-Al alloys in NaCl solution
Authors: Tan Wei , Gou Boyuan , Ding Xiangdong , Sun Jun , Salje Ekhard K. H.
Published: February 2025

Alloying metals improves their mechanical properties. In the case of Mg, alloying atoms, such as Cu and Al, act as microcathodes and accelerate corrosion. We establish the relationship between the corrosion mechanisms and avalanche dynamics as observed by acoustic emission (AE) spectroscopy. The micro-galvanic corrosion of Mg-Cu-Al alloys is simultaneously investigated under conditions by AE and free-corrosion potential measurements, and optical observations. Three corrosion mechanisms are found, namely Mg matrix dissolution, crack propagation, and bubble burst. Mg matrix dissolution events show predominantly correlated avalanches with power law distributed AE signals. Their energy exponents decrease when initial sparse, localized corrosion events develop into large-scale corrosion. The crack propagation involves avalanches which accelerate micro-galvanic corrosion. To better understand the role of alloying of Mg we compare our results of a Mg-Cu-Al alloy with those of pure Mg. The incubation time in Mg alloys is much shorter (41 s versus 1236 s) than in pure Mg, and the initial attack regime is shortened (1236 s versus 1903 s). The power law exponents are generally reduced, and the power law regimes are wider in the Mg alloys than in pure Mg. The bubble bursts in the two materials are virtually identical. The statistical analysis demonstrates monitoring of corrosion based on these techniques is possible.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Fragile-to-strong glass transition in two-dimensional vortex liquids
Authors: Maccari I. , Benfatto L. , Castellani C. , Lorenzana J. , De Michele C.
Published: February 2025

The fragile-to-strong glass transition is a fascinating phenomenon that still presents many theoretical and experimental challenges. A major one is how to tune the fragility of a glass-forming liquid. Here, we study a two-dimensional (2D) system composed of vortices in a superconducting film, which effectively behaves as a 2D glass-forming liquid. We show that the kinetic fragility in this system can be experimentally varied by tuning a single parameter: the external magnetic field H applied perpendicularly to the film. This conclusion is supported by the direct comparison between the analysis of experimental measurements in an amorphous MoGe superconducting film and Monte Carlo simulations in a disordered XY model, that captures the universality class of the two-step melting transition. We show that by increasing disorder strength, a fragile-to-strong transition is induced, in close similarity with the experimental findings in a magnetic field. Our numerical results shed light on the evolution of the dynamical heterogeneity from a fragile-to-strong glass, as due to the subtle interplay between caging effects arising from hexatic order and strong random pinning.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Blending digital and physical experiences in luxury wine hospitality: an experiential approach to technology integration
Authors: Bartoli Chiara , Baccelloni Angelo , Di Leo Alessio , Mattiacci Alberto
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study explores luxury wine hospitality by considering (1) physical activities and (2) activities created by integrating the physical domain with digital technology. In doing so, it aims to identify the different types of wine tourism-related luxury experiences and build a framework for interpreting hybrid luxury experiences in wine hospitality in the digital era.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative mixed-methods approach was adopted to investigate types of luxury wine hospitality using cluster analysis and in-depth interviews with producers of wines with controlled and guaranteed designation of origin in Italy’s Sangiovese area.

Findings

This study presents a framework for understanding hybrid digital and physical experiences in wine hospitality by examining the core components of luxury experiences. We identify six types of luxury experiences in wine hospitality that combine a physical experiential component with varying degrees of integration with digital technologies.

Practical implications

Our findings (1) provide wine businesses operating in hospitality within the luxury segment with a useful tool for optimising the integration of digital technology into physical experiences to add value to visitors’ activities and (2) highlight the importance of digital skills for wineries that organise luxury experiences.

Originality/value

This study systematises the integration of digital technologies into physical activities related to wine hospitality. It presents a hybrid physical–digital analytical framework that adopts an experiential outline of the strategic design of wine hospitality businesses.
Socially responsible cocreation in service recovery: the role of pride in prosocial compensation
Authors: Alhouti Sarah (Sa’arah) , Lindsey Hall Kristina K. , Kuo Andrew , Baker Thomas L.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study explores the incorporation of prosocial compensation in service recoveries by allowing customers to cocreate the process through compensation choice, explains the underlying mechanism driving these results and identifies a boundary condition for these effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Three scenario-based experimental studies are conducted to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Incorporating cocreation in a service recovery featuring prosocial compensation can outperform purely financial compensation (i.e. monetary-only) if the customer is given a choice. Moreover, pride is higher for customers who choose prosocial compensation (i.e. donations) as part of a service recovery. These findings are contingent on the firm’s reputation, namely, its corporate social responsibility (CSR) authenticity, such that companies with high (vs low) CSR authenticity perceptions benefit more in terms of enhanced pride given cocreated prosocial recoveries.

Research limitations/implications

Drawing on service-dominant logic and social exchange theory, the findings of this research suggest that incorporating prosocial compensation, an element of CSR, as part of a cocreated service recovery strategy can enhance pride and repurchase intent.

Practical implications

This research demonstrates instances where prosocial compensation can outperform monetary-only compensation, leading to higher repurchase intent, highlighting conditions for this to occur and offering prescriptions for managers to implement these strategies in service recoveries.

Social implications

Cocreating service recoveries with prosocial compensation, like donations, boosts customer pride and strengthens relationships. Firms with authentic CSR perceptions benefit most, addressing customers’ emotional and economic needs while enhancing community goodwill.

Originality/value

This work uniquely explores the effect of cocreated recoveries using prosocial compensation on pride and repurchase intent.
Invisible to influential: customer emotional labour’s impact on luxury services
Authors: Park Jungkun , Chen Yuhsuan
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to empirically test the influence of customer perceptions of employee emotional labour (CPEL) and customer emotional labour (CEL) on perceived service quality, satisfaction with service and repurchase intentions in luxury retail. It further examines the moderating role of perceived customer interactivity in the relationships among CPEL, CEL and service outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 249 customers with experience in offline luxury service interactions was conducted. Statistical analyses and hypothesis testing were performed using SPSS and AMOS.

Findings

This study highlights the critical role of customer perceptions of employee deep acting and customer surface acting in shaping perceived service quality. It demonstrates that customers’ efforts to regulate their emotions, similar to employees’ efforts, significantly affect service outcomes. Additionally, the results suggest that perceived customer interactivity significantly moderates only the relationship between CEL and service satisfaction.

Originality/value

By exploring emotional labour from the customers’ perspective within the luxury retail sector, this study offers novel insights into service quality management. It extends the theoretical framework of emotion regulation theory to this context, offering practical implications for enhancing service experiences in developing luxury markets.
Analysis of adhesive mortar bonding to ceramic tiles using resonance frequencies method
Authors: Salustio Janaina , Torres Sando , Azevedo António , Nogueira Silva Fernando Artur , Delgado J.M.P.Q.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Prismatic specimens were fabricated, consisting of two ceramic tiles bonded by an intermediate adhesive mortar layer. To simulate pre-existing defects, an acetate film was strategically inserted into one of the mortar-ceramic interfaces, creating controlled cracks of varying sizes. The specimens were subjected to low-amplitude cyclic loading, inducing simultaneous tensile and shear stresses within the system. The vibrational responses of the samples were recorded, and their frequency-domain amplitudes were analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Ceramic tile detachment remains a significant issue in contemporary construction, despite advancements in technology and updates to regulatory standards. The majority of these failures occur at the adhesive mortar-ceramic tile interface due to the combined effects of tensile and shear stresses. While this phenomenon is well-documented, experimental studies assessing the adhesion integrity of façade cladding systems are limited. This study aims to evaluate the adhesion performance of adhesive mortars using a non-destructive vibrational analysis technique.

Findings

The results enabled the characterization of the dynamic behavior of the specimens, identification of frequency regions corresponding to individual components, and formulation of diagnostic criteria for damage detection. Analysis of the resonance spectra also made it possible to identify a peak that can be related to the behavior of the mortar-substrate interface. Additionally, the elastic and dissipated energy metrics were calculated to quantify the system’s mechanical behavior. The study further investigated the impact of crack size, curing time and adhesive mortar type on the overall structural integrity.

Originality/value

This work aims to evaluate the adhesion performance of adhesive mortars using a non-destructive vibrational analysis technique. Resonance frequency measurements have also been used in research to analyze the propagation paths of cracks in metallic samples from aircraft engines. However, despite the widespread use of non-destructive techniques based on resonance frequencies for damage assessment, their application in the field of coating systems seems to be virtually unexplored. Therefore, this research attempts to address this gap by investigating the bond integrity of adhesive mortar joints, focusing on the analysis of the material’s resonance frequencies and their associated peak parameters.
Many a little makes a mickle: avatar accumulability and loyalty
Authors: Tai Shih-I , Huang Tzu-Ling , Huang Hsin-Yi , Wu Chieh-Ni , Cheng T.C.E. , Teng Ching-I
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Online games are highly popular Internet applications. Some games enable players to save game progress and accumulate experiences or changes to avatars during gameplay, whereas some other games do not, requiring players to restart from the beginning each time. That is, games differ in avatar accumulability. However, we do not know whether games should be designed to permit avatar accumulability or not and how it affects players’ gameplay experience and therefore game outcomes, indicating gaps. Research addressing these gaps can inform game makers in designing games that effectively strengthen their players’ game loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

We used social identity theory (SIT) to construct a theoretical model. To test this model, three waves of survey data were gathered from the same 778 participants.

Findings

These findings uniquely indicate that avatar accumulability fosters avatar identification and increases players’ focused immersion, thus increasing players’ loyalty.

Practical implications

Game providers could include game features that enable players to accumulate their avatars’ in-game skins, levels, items (weapons and equipment) and experience points. This accumulability can help strengthen players’ game loyalty.

Originality/value

Overall, our study extends SIT by adding a new trigger (avatar accumulability) and two novel consequences of avatar identification (image protection and focused immersion) in avatar-related systems (games or gamified systems). The new trigger offers an actionable means to apply SIT, while the novel consequences verify the value of applying SIT to study online games.
Establishment of reversible four-dimensional (4D) printing capability of shape–memory responsive cellulosic composites (RCC) using experimental, theoretical, and computational modeling
Authors: Suryavanshi Purushottam , Lekurwale Srushti , Kumar Pankaj , Dwivedy Santosha K. , Banerjee Subham
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This research aims to provide a innovative class of shape-memory-responsive cellulosic composites (RCC) for 4D printing, enabling self-activated, reversible shape morphing. By integrating experimental, theoretical, and computational modeling, the study optimizes material behavior, offering precise curvature predictions for advanced biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents an innovative class of shape–memory–responsive cellulosic composites (RCC), with a unique combination of starch and AffnisolTM. RCC-mediated filaments were used to print single-layer strips using fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology. The printed single-layer strip exhibited reversible, contactless and self-activated shape morphing in response to swelling and heat. The programming stage involves the swelling and heating of the composite strip and subsequent shape recovery through heating. The shape deformation during the self-activated programming stage was both estimated and predicted using simple experimental, theoretical and computational tools. The study was conducted at different thicknesses (1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mm) and temperatures (25°C and 37°C) to validate the performance of the developed model in predicting bending curvature.

Findings

The developed model showed less than a 13.96 % difference in curvature predicted using theoretical and experimental modeling at studied temperatures. At lower thicknesses, the model can predict the bending curvature with less than a 2.0 % difference in curvature. These RCC materials exhibited potential reversible 4D printing capacity and satisfied the adopted approaches and modeling to forecast the bending curvature for reversible 4D printing.

Originality/value

This study introduces a new class of composite materials for potential 4D applications and provides simple predictive models to forecast bending curvature in reversible 4D printing.
Inclusion Financière Digitale et Croissance Economique dans L'espace UEMOA: Rôle de la Qualité des Institutions
Authors: Nonvide Gbêtondji Melaine Armel , Faton Charles Yédéhou , Togodo Azon Marlyse Sandrine S.
Published: February 2025

RÉSUME

Ce travail analyse l'effet de la qualité des institutions dans la relation inclusion financière digitale et la croissance économique des pays de l'Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) que sont le Bénin, Burkina‐Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, la Guinée Bissau, le Mali, le Niger, le Sénégal et le Togo durant la période 2015‐2022. Pour cela, un modèle de croissance de type Cobb‐Douglas à effets fixes a été estimé. Pour corriger l'hétéroscédasticité, nous avons recouru aux MCG et à la technique des doubles moindres carrés (DMC) pour la robustesse des résultats et corriger l'endogénéité. Les résultats révèlent qu'en l'absence d'institutions, l'inclusion financière digitale exerce un effet négatif et significatif sur la croissance économique dans l'UEMOA. Toutefois, la qualité des institutions joue un rôle de médiation dans cette relation. Une amélioration de la qualité des institutions renforce la relation positive entre l'inclusion financière digitale et la croissance économique. L'étude recommande de renforcer la qualité des institutions et de promouvoir l'utilisation des services financiers digitaux afin de faire de l'inclusion financière digitale un véritable levier de croissance économique dans l'UEMOA.
Robin Sequence: From Dilemmas to Developing an Adaptable Standardized Stepwise Approach
Authors: Goel Dimple , Wilson Andrew , Rao Shripada , Gillett David , Hayley Herbert H. , O'Donnell Anne
Published: February 2025

Aim

To review the literature to identify key issues causing variation in clinical practice, assess the knowledge gap, and develop a standardised pathway for managing upper airway obstruction (UAO) in infants with Robin sequence (RS).

Methods

The tripartite framework of evidence‐based practice, which included a systematic review of the literature, extensive consultation with a multidisciplinary team of experts, and feedback from the patients was used.

Results

Of the 2672 articles from the initial search, 66 were studied in detail. We identified five pivotal issues prevalent while managing UAO in RS. These issues were addressed systematically to develop an adaptable stepwise standardised pathway. The main pillars of the pathway are (a) early objective assessment of the severity of UAO using polysomnography, (b) graded treatment approach based on centre‐specific preferences, (c) early and regular multidisciplinary team discussions and (d) clearly defined criteria for treatment escalation or cessation, discharge and follow‐up.

Conclusion

This unique pathway is based on available evidence, consensus of experts and parents' feedback. It provides a stepwise guide to the clinician for the management of UAO in infants with RS, adaptability for centre‐specific treatment preferences and framework for future comparisons of different treatments.
Challenges in Histological Endpoints for MASH Therapies: An Exercise in Statistical Modelling
Authors: Shah Amrik , MacConell Leigh , Liberman Alexander , Di Bisceglie Adrian M. , Shapiro David
Published: February 2025

Background

Regulatory‐accepted efficacy endpoints for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; recently updated to metabolic‐dysfunction associated steatohepatitis, MASH) clinical trials include fibrosis improvement with no worsening of NASH or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis determined by liver biopsy using the NASH Clinical Research Network criteria. These endpoints involve the scoring of four liver histology parameters, all of which are associated with significant inter−/intra‐reader variability. Since few trials have shown positive results with these endpoints, we evaluated the effects of imprecision in histologic scoring on trial results from a statistical perspective.

Methods

Estimating the probability (sensitivity) of accurately scoring histology is based on the relationship between measures of agreement and sensitivity. We simulated kappa values for a range of sensitivities. Then, using published kappa values from NASH trials, we selected corresponding sensitivities for histology parameters. Finally, simulations assuming a range of “overscore” and “underscore” probabilities were conducted to estimate the dilution of the true effect size.

Results

Simulations for 2‐arm trials with sample sizes of 400 (mix of stage 2/3 fibrosis) subjects showed ~50% dilution of the true effect size for both approvable endpoints due to scoring imprecision. Such dilution remains constant regardless of sample size.

Conclusion

Imprecise histologic scoring disproportionately impacts the ‘superior’ arm as the error is proportional to the true response rate. This dilution of effect size should be considered when weighing the clinical benefit and the overall risk–benefit profile in the review of NASH studies. This argues for the adoption of non‐invasive biomarkers rather than histologic endpoints.
An optimised Bcl‐3 inhibitor for melanoma treatment
Authors: Saamarthy Karunakar , Daams Renée , Sime Wondossen , Persson Cecilia , Chygorin Eduard , Ahlqvist Kristofer , Evans‐Axelsson Susan , Strand Daniel , Massoumi Ramin
Published: February 2025

Background and Purpose

Malignant melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, characterised by a poor survival rate. One of the key factors driving the aggressive growth of melanoma cells is the elevated expression of the proto‐oncogene Bcl‐3. This study aims to optimise, evaluate and characterise a second‐generation Bcl‐3 inhibitor, using melanoma as a model to demonstrate its potential therapeutic efficacy.

Experimental Approach

We synthesised and screened a series of structural analogues and selected A27, the most promising candidate for further investigation. We assessed whether A27 disrupted the interaction between Bcl‐3 and its binding partner, p50, and examined the subsequent effects on cyclin D1 expression. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of A27 on melanoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro, as well as its therapeutic efficacy in various in vivo melanoma models.

Key Results

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed that A27 directly binds to Bcl‐3, effectively inhibiting its function. By disrupting the Bcl‐3/p50 interaction, A27 led to a significant down‐regulation of cyclin D1 expression. In cellular assays, A27 markedly reduced proliferation and migration of melanoma cells. In vivo, treatment with A27 resulted in a substantial reduction in melanoma tumour growth, with no observed toxicity in treated animals.

Conclusions and Implications

At present, no other Bcl‐3 inhibitors exist for clinical application in the field of oncology, and as a result, our novel findings provide a unique opportunity to develop a highly specific drug against malignant melanoma to meet an urgent clinical need.
Global Trends in the Value of Author Order Across Medical Publications: A Cross‐Sectional Bibliometric Study
Authors: Hashimoto Hidenori , Sekine Miwa , Nishizaki Yuji , Aune David , Mizuno Atsushi , Homma Yasuhiro , Kiyama Yasuhiko , Sanada Shoji , Aoki Shigeki
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to analyse the value of author order across countries, within the ‘Medicine General Internal’ and ‘Surgery’ fields, to enhance transparency and fairness in academic evaluations, particularly in international collaborative research. A cross‐sectional bibliometric study was conducted using data from 2,845,748 papers published in 2022 across over 18,000 journals listed on Web of Science. The study focused on 124,736 papers from the ‘Medicine General Internal’ and ‘Surgery’ fields published in the top 19 countries. The analysis examined the position of the corresponding author relative to other co‐authors by country and specialty. Hierarchical clustering was applied to identify patterns and group countries based on author order. Three distinct clusters were identified with regard to the corresponding author's position. In Cluster A (South Korea, China and Taiwan), the corresponding author was often the last author. In Cluster B (India, Japan, Italy, Türkiye and Spain), the corresponding author was frequently the second author. Cluster C (the United States, England and Germany) included countries where the corresponding author was typically the first author. The findings underscore the need for clear, internationally accepted author order standards. Establishing such standards is crucial for promoting fairness, transparency and efficiency in international collaborative research and for ensuring equitable scientific communication.
Vegetative Propagation: A Tool to Enhance Conservation and Management of Xaxim (Dicksonia sellowiana), an Endangered Tree Fern
Authors: Paiva Daniela Ivana , Bernardi Alison Paulo , Lauterjung Miguel Busarello , Ribeiro Saimom Poczapski Noro , Scussel Giulia Fabrin , Rodrigues Igor de Carvalho Aguiar , Thalmayr Peggy , Mantovani Adelar , dos Reis Maurício Sedrez , Montagna Tiago
Published: February 2025

Before starting any species conservation strategy, it is essential to know which is the most effective propagation method, even more so if it is about rare and/or endemic species. Our goal was to evaluate a method of vegetative propagation of xaxim (Dicksonia sellowiana), an endangered tree fern from the Atlantic Forest, under different light conditions. We conducted two experiments on an experimental farm in the Araucaria Forest domain. One experiment was installed under an Atlantic Forest canopy (shade), and the other was installed in an open area surrounded by a forest with direct sunlight (without shade). All individual plants were standardised in height and frond number by removing all fronds and removing lower trunk material where trunks were longer than 50 cm. We tested three different propagule treatments: whole propagule (1 propagule), propagules cut in half lengthwise (½ propagule) and propagules cut into four equal parts lengthwise (¼ propagule). Each experiment was conducted in a randomised complete block design with four replicates. We evaluated survival, total height and diameter at ground level 6 and 10 years after the implantation, as well as the increment in those years. For survival data, the interaction between shade condition and propagule manipulation method was nonsignificant (p = 0.256) (joint analysis of experiments), and survival rate was higher for shaded propagules (58%) when compared with propagules exposed to light (41%). Higher survival was also observed for whole plants (96%). The mean height obtained from the shade experiment was statistically different among the different propagule sizes in both measurements and in the increment. The use of whole plants for transplanting of xaxim propagules significantly increased their chances of development. We recommend the establishment of whole propagules in shaded environments to ensure greater efficiency in the transplant process of this species of tree fern. The use of whole, or partial, plant propagules for propagation expands the range of strategies that can be used for the management and conservation of xaxim.
Evaluating the effectiveness of medical therapy in infantile epileptic spasms syndrome due to surgically‐remediable lesions
Authors: Singh Avantika , Hadjinicolaou Aristides , Briscoe‐Abath Christina , Donatelli Stephanie , Salussolia Catherine , Gupta Nishtha , Almansa Alexandra Santana , Zhang Bo , Stone Scellig , Libenson Mark , Samanta Debopam , Bolton Jeffrey , Harini Chellamani
Published: February 2025

Objective

This single‐center retrospective study examined the response to initial standard therapy in children with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) associated with surgically‐remediable lesion and evaluated the risk factors for drug resistance. We assessed whether the failure of the first standard therapy for surgically‐remediable IESS predicted eventual drug resistance.

Methods

New‐onset IESS with surgically‐remediable lesions was included. Regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for drug resistance. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis stratified by the response to first standard therapy was conducted to explore if earlier recognition of drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE) was possible.

Results

We identified 61 patients (57% female) with IESS and surgically‐remediable lesion (median follow‐up of 52 months). First standard treatment started at a median of 15 days after IESS onset resulted in favorable initial response in 31%. Response rate to second standard therapy among those who failed first treatment was 53%, with an overall response rate to sequential standard therapy of 63.8%. Relapses (epileptic spasms/focal seizures) were frequent (59%). At last follow‐up, 41% (n = 25) remained drug responsive. The cumulative proportion of survival free of drug resistance was 57% at 2 months, dropping to 38% at 36 months after IESS diagnosis. The odds for DRE increased with extensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormality (odds ratio [OR] = 38.5) and congenital‐structural abnormality (OR = 23.3) and decreased with older age at IESS onset (OR = 0.68). Kaplan–Meier survival curve differed significantly between responders and non‐responders to first standard therapy (p = .02). In the drug‐resistant group (n = 36), 34 underwent surgery with Engel class I outcome in 76.5%.

Significance

Although two‐thirds of surgically‐remediable IESS exhibited an initial response to medical therapy, relapses were frequent. The majority progressed to DRE during follow‐up, particularly those with younger age at IESS onset, congenital‐structural etiology, or extensive MRI abnormalities. Patients at risk for DRE can be recognized early by the lack of response to first standard therapy (OR 4.15). Our findings can help reduce delays for surgical referral in patients with surgically‐remediable IESS.
Pitfalls during histological assessment in locally resected pT1 colorectal cancer
Authors: Norton Emma J , Bateman Adrian C
Published: February 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy worldwide, and the stage of the tumour is closely related to clinical outcome. Bowel cancer screening programmes have resulted in the identification of colorectal cancer at earlier stages. Approximately 10% of patients with the earliest stage of CRC (i.e. pT1) will possess regional lymph node metastases (LNM). Therefore, if these patients have initially been treated by local resection (e.g. polypectomy), this subgroup will require surgical resection. Identification of pathological risk factors for LNM within locally resected pT1 CRC is a very important process during the histological assessment of these lesions. This paper describes the most commonly encountered and clinically significant difficulties in the histological assessment of these cases. These pitfalls are illustrated using four examples of locally resected pT1 CRC that were received by our department during routine diagnostic practice.