bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A long-term analysis, modeling and drivers of forest recovery in Central Mexico
Authors: López-García José , Cruz-Bello Gustavo Manuel , de Lourdes Manzo-Delgado Lilia
Published: December 2024

This study aims to evaluate the changes in forest cover from 1994 to 2015, identify the key drivers of forest recovery, and predict future trends. Using high-resolution remote sensing data, we mapped forest canopy density into detailed categories (closed > 50%, open 10–50%, and deforested < 10%) to differentiate processes like degradation, deforestation, densification, reforestation, and afforestation. A multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between the forest processes and socioeconomic, proximity, planning, and policy potential drivers. Future trends were modeled using the Land Change Modeler. The analysis showed that 81.5% of the area remained unchanged, 14% experienced recovery, and 4.5% faced disturbances. Factors such as elevation, proximity to roads, and participation in payment for environmental services (PES) programs significantly influenced recovery trends. Predictive modeling for 2035 suggests forest cover will increase by 7%, reaching 77% coverage of the study area, and closed forest areas will rise by 12% compared to 1994. The findings underscore the effectiveness of conservation efforts and natural regeneration in enhancing forest cover, offering valuable insights for global forest management and policy-making efforts.
Human capital and socialism builders: a happy marriage? Analysing the construction of ‘high-level talent’ in Chinese higher education policy
Authors: Bian Zhiyun
Published: December 2024

This paper employs critical discourse analysis to investigate the construction of ‘high-level talents’ within China’s Double First-Class Project, an educational initiative implemented in 2015 to establish first-class universities and disciplines and cultivate high-level talents. The study examines the juxtaposition of human capital discourse and the political concern of ‘socialism builders and inheritors’ as articulated in key policy texts, including President Xi Jinping’s speeches and various government documents. It investigates how the global discourse of human capital has been recontextualised within Chinese higher education policy, highlighting the tensions and negotiations between economic objectives and ideological imperatives. The findings reveal a hybrid discourse—‘high-level talents with Chinese characteristics’—that reflects the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy in crafting its narrative to negotiate compliance with global policy discourses while strengthening its governing power in an increasingly globalised, economic, and individualising world. This study contributes to the understanding of how global educational ideologies are localised, offering insights into the implications for students’ educational choices and identities within the framework of China’s socio-political landscape.
Ethics at the Edge of Extinction: Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in the Conservation of the Northern White Rhino
Authors: Biasetti Pierfrancesco , Hildebrandt Thomas B. , Göritz Frank , Holtze Susanne , Stejskal Jan , Galli Cesare , Čižmàr Daniel , Simone Raffaella , Seet Steven , de Mori Barbara
Published: December 2024

Since assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are becoming increasingly important in wildlife conservation breeding programs, we need to discuss their implications to ensure their responsible use regarding the environment, the animals, and the people involved. In this article, we seek to contribute to the ongoing ethical and philosophical debate on ART in conservation by discussing the current attempt to save the northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni, NWR) from extinction. Only two female NWRs are known to the world, both unable to carry a pregnancy, and the last chance to avoid sure extinction relies on pushing the boundaries of contemporary science through the use of advanced ART and stem cell-associated techniques. The attempt to save the NWR constitutes a valuable testbed for assessing the use of ART in conservation and an occasion for identifying possible critical issues. It touches upon several ethically relevant points—that we identify and organize in an Ethical Matrix—such as the need to guarantee animal welfare, and it provides the opportunity to discuss some significant questions related to conservation. For instance, how far is it legitimate to go in trying to save a taxon? Is using sophisticated technologies to remedy anthropogenic harm a part of the problem rather than the solution?
Human Factors and AI in UAV Systems: Enhancing Operational Efficiency Through AHP and Real-Time Physiological Monitoring
Authors: Alharasees Omar , Kale Utku
Published: December 2024

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations has advanced efficiency, safety, and decision-making. This study addresses critical gaps in UAV methods, including insufficient integration of human factors, operator variability, and the lack of systematic error analysis. To overcome these challenges, a novel approach combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with three core human factors models: the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act (OODA) loop, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), and the SHELL model. An online survey was conducted across diverse UAV operator groups to prioritize critical factors within each model. Additionally, real-time monitoring of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and respiratory rate (RR) was conducted during UAV operations at various automation levels with different experience levels. Visualization through boxplots and percentage change matrices provided insights into operator stress and workload across automation levels. Integrating AHP findings and physiological data revealed significant differences in operator prioritization, highlighting the need for tailored AI-UAV strategies. This research combines survey data with real-time physiological monitoring, offering visions into optimizing human-AI interaction in UAV operations and providing a foundation for improving AI integration and operator strategies.
Role of protected areas for a colonial-breeding waterbird in a fragmented landscape throughout its annual cycle
Authors: Ferreira Hugo R. S. , Alves José A. , Jiguet Frédéric , Duriez Olivier , Blanchon Thomas , Lok Tamar , Champagnon Jocelyn
Published: December 2024

Context

Throughout their annual cycle and life stages, animals depend on a variety of habitats to meet their vital needs. However, habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation are making it increasingly difficult for mobile species such as birds to find suitable habitats. Wetlands are highly productive systems of great importance to many animals, but their continued degradation threatens their capacity to support different species, including waterbirds. In this context, waterbirds are likely to benefit not only from the creation and management of protected wetlands, but also from the existence of anthropogenic wetlands, managed for economic or recreational activities.

Objectives

We investigated the habitat use of Eurasian spoonbills within an extensive and heterogeneous area in Southern France, and how it varies across the annual cycle and for different age classes.

Methods

We tracked 91 spoonbills of different ages throughout their annual cycle and tested for overall differences in the use of strongly protected areas in Camargue between periods and age classes. Additionally, we identified the main sites used and their management practices.

Results

Our study shows that privately managed wetland areas play a complementary role to strongly protected areas: they may provide spoonbills (and other waterbirds) with suitable foraging habitat at certain periods of the year when these are less available in strongly protected areas.

Conclusions

This study illustrates how the spoonbill, a moderately specialized species, is benefiting from current global changes due to its ability to use suitable habitats, natural and artificial, in fragmented landscapes. Nevertheless, reliance on privately managed wetland areas may have serious consequences for species that are highly dependent on them, and thus, habitat management promoting natural conditions may be crucial to maintain species resilience. It is therefore essential to understand how specific management actions may affect waterbird presence and habitat use, not only to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts, but also to promote wetland connectivity and species resilience, particularly in fragmented landscapes.
Trends in Income and Well-Being Inequality During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan
Authors: Ishii Kayoko , Yamamoto Isamu
Published: December 2024

Although the COVID-19 pandemic could have caused both monetary and non-monetary distributional changes, existing studies have only investigated its immediate monetary impacts. This study examines the pandemic’s medium-term impacts on income and well-being inequality using individual longitudinal data from the Japan Household Panel Survey. Gini coefficients and income mobility before and after the pandemic are calculated to analyze income inequality. Various well-being measures such as mental health and life satisfaction are used to analyze well-being inequality. The findings reveal no increase in income inequality. Progressive income growth ensured stable inequality throughout the pandemic. Conversely, on average, well-being worsened, and well-being inequality increased. Furthermore, we find an association between income and well-being inequality. The random-effects and fixed-effects models indicate that the well-being of the high-income group tended to improve, whereas that of the low-income group tended to deteriorate after the outbreak of the pandemic. Additionally, the causal mediation analysis shows that the adoption of remote work served as a factor for the increase in the well-being of people in the high-income group. Remote work became disproportionately prevalent during the pandemic, especially among people in the higher income group. This group experienced various benefits of remote work, which contributed to an improvement in their well-being and an increase in well-being inequality.
Pore-space partitioning in geological porous media using the curvature of the distance map
Authors: Ben-Noah Ilan , Hidalgo Juan J. , Dentz Marco
Published: December 2024

Media classification and the construction of pore network models from binary images of porous media hinges on accurately characterizing the pore space. We present a new method for (i) locating critical points, that is, pore body and throat centers, and (ii) partitioning of the pore space using information on the curvature of the distance map (DM) of the binary image. Specifically, we use the local maxima and minima of the determinant map of the Hessian matrix of the DM to locate the center of pore bodies and throats. The locating step provides structural information on the pore system, such as pore body and throat size distributions and the mean coordination number. The partitioning step is based on the eigenvalues of the Hessian, rather than the DM, to characterize the pore space using either watershed or medial-axis transforms. This strategy eliminates the common problem of saddle-induced over-partitioning shared by all traditional marker-based watershed methods and represents an alternative method to determine the skeleton of the pore space without the need for morphological reconstruction.
Coenzyme Q10 Attenuates Kidney Injury Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Cadmium Co-exposure in Rats
Authors: Abd-Elhakim Yasmina M. , Hashem Mohamed M. M. , Abo-EL-Sooud Khaled , El-metawally Abeer E. , Hassan Bayan A.
Published: December 2024

This study examined the possible defensive role of coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) against the impact of cadmium (Cd) and titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TNP) exposure on rat kidneys. Distilled water (1 mL/rat), corn oil (1 mL/rat), 10 mg CQ10/kg b.wt, 50 mg TNP/kg b.wt, 5 mg Cd/kg b.wt, TNP + Cd, or TNP + Cd + CQ10 was administered orally to seven groups of 70 male Sprague Dawley rats for 60 days. The findings demonstrated that TNP and/or Cd exposure considerably raised serum levels of several renal damage products, disturbed electrolyte balance including sodium, potassium, and calcium, decreased antioxidant enzyme concentration in the kidneys, and elevated malondialdehyde. In addition, rats exposed to TNP and/or Cd had significantly higher levels of renal titanium and Cd. In addition, rats exposed to TNP and/or Cd showed significant histopathological lesions and collagen deposition as revealed by H and E and Masson trichrome staining, respectively. The kidneys were severely damaged by the combined effects of TNP and Cd, although CQ10 greatly mitigated these effects. According to the study, exposure to TNP and Cd can damage the kidneys’ function and structure, especially when combined. However, CQ10 can protect against TNP and Cd’s nephrotoxic effects.
Low-cost predictive models of dementia risk using machine learning and exposome predictors
Authors: Camacho Marina , Atehortúa Angélica , Wilkinson Tim , Gkontra Polyxeni , Lekadir Karim
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Diagnosing dementia, affecting over 55 million people globally, is challenging and costly, often leading to late-stage diagnoses. This study aims to develop early, accurate, and cost-effective dementia screening methods using exposome predictors and machine learning. We investigate whether low-cost exposome predictors combined with machine learning models can reliably identify individuals at risk of dementia.

Methods

We analyzed data from 500,000 UK Biobank participants, selecting 1523 diagnosed with dementia and an equal number of healthy controls, matched by age and sex. A total of 3046 participants were included: 2740 for internal validation and 306 for external validation. We used 128 low-cost exposome factors from baseline visits, imputed missing data, and assessed two predictive models: a classical logistic regression and a machine learning ensemble classifier (XGBoost). Feature importance was estimated within the predictive models.

Results

The XGBoost model outperformed the logistic regression model, achieving a mean AUC of 0.88 in external validation. We identified novel exposome factors that might be combined as potential markers for dementia, such as facial aging, the frequency of use of sun/ultraviolet light protection, and the length of mobile phone use.

Conclusions

Machine learning models utilizing exposome data can reliably identify individuals at risk of dementia, with XGBoost showing superior performance. This approach highlights the potential of low-cost, readily available exposome factors as markers for dementia. Future studies should validate these findings in diverse populations and explore the integration of additional exposome factors to enhance prediction accuracy.
Rayleigh-based crack monitoring with distributed fiber optic sensors: experimental study on the interaction of spatial resolution and sensor type
Authors: Herbers Max , Richter Bertram , Marx Steffen
Published: December 2024

Cracks can negatively affect the durability of concrete structures, making effective crack monitoring crucial for maintenance. Utilizing coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry, it is possible to accurately localize cracks and measure their widths. However, long distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS) lengths, required for structural health monitoring applications, are accompanied by a reduced spatial resolution due to technical limitations of the interrogator. This study investigates the impact of spatial resolution on signal quality in areas with large strain gradients and demonstrates its implications for crack monitoring. First, tensile tests were conducted on a calibration rig to determine the measurable strain gradient for different gage pitches (gps) and further influencing parameters. Subsequently, four types of DFOS – categorized as robust and filigree – were installed on a 4 m long reinforced concrete beam subjected to a 4-point bending test. Crack widths up to 0.5 mm were measured with varying gps to assess how spatial resolution affects crack width calculations. The results indicate that a reduced spatial resolution impairs the ability to accurately record regions with large strain gradients, leading to diminished signal quality and reduced measurable crack widths. While strain gradients of approximately $$1500\,\upmu \varepsilon$$

1500

μ
ε

/mm could be measured with the finest gp of 0.65 mm, this threshold dropped to about $$60\,\upmu \varepsilon$$

60

μ
ε

/mm for a gp of 5.20 mm. For the DFOS/adhesive combinations tested, and at the highest spatial resolution available for sensor lengths greater than 50 m (gp = 2.60 mm), reliable crack monitoring of crack widths larger than 0.2 mm was not possible. This limitation poses challenges for practical applications. A method for determining the required gp based on the expected crack width and the DFOS/adhesive combination used is proposed to ensure reliable crack monitoring.
Particle Current in Double-Path Josephson Junction under Rashba Interaction Connected to Bose-Einstein Condensate Reservoirs
Authors: Kawaguchi Satoshi
Published: December 2024

We investigate the properties of a double-path Josephson junction connected to Bose-Einstein condensate reservoirs. By comparing the current in the proposed setup with that in a similar system connected to superconductors, we elucidate the key differences between the two systems. The systems are influenced by the Aharonov-Bohm effect, Rashba spin-orbit interaction, and phase difference of order parameters between left and right leads. Utilizing the Keldysh formalism, it turns out that, in the system connected to Bose-Einstein condensate reservoirs, the Josephson current includes higher frequency components of the phase difference between left and right reservoirs. Additionally, the dependence of critical current on energy level does not show the complete symmetric resonance but the Fano-type resonance with single or double peaks. These differences result from the bosonic statistics of reservoirs.
Impact of climate change on water resources in the Yarmouk River Basin of Jordan
Authors: Bashabsheh Abdelaziz Q. , Alzboon Kamel K.
Published: December 2024

Understanding the impact of climate change on water resources is important for developing regional adaptive water management strategies. This study investigated the impact of climate change on water resources in the Yarmouk River Basin (YRB) of Jordan by analyzing the historical trends and future projections of temperature, precipitation, and streamflow. Simple linear regression was used to analyze temperature and precipitation trends from 1989 to 2017 at Irbid, Mafraq, and Samar stations. The Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) was applied to predict changes in temperature and precipitation from 2018 to 2100 under three Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios (i.e., RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5), and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was utilized to estimate their potential impact on streamflow at Addasiyia station. Analysis of data from 1989 to 2017 revealed that mean maximum and minimum temperatures increased at all stations, with average rises of 1.62°C and 1.39°C, respectively. The precipitation trends varied across all stations, showing a significant increase at Mafraq station, an insignificant increase at Irbid station, and an insignificant decrease at Samar station. Historical analysis of streamflow data revealed a decreasing trend with a slope of −0.168. Significant increases in both mean minimum and mean maximum temperatures across all stations suggested that evaporation is the dominant process within the basin, leading to reduced streamflow. Under the RCP scenarios, projections indicated that mean maximum temperatures will increase by 0.32°C to 1.52°C, while precipitation will decrease by 8.5% to 43.0% throughout the 21st century. Future streamflow projections indicated reductions in streamflow ranging from 8.7% to 84.8% over the same period. The mathematical model results showed a 39.4% reduction in streamflow by 2050, nearly double the SWAT model’s estimate under RCP8.5 scenario. This research provides novel insights into the regional impact of climate change on water resources, emphasizing the urgent need to address these environmental challenges to ensure a sustainable water supply in Jordan.
A note on surfaces with constant angle intersection in Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Meléndez Josué , Rodríguez-Romero Eduardo
Published: December 2024

We study ruled surfaces that intersect with constant angle a surface M in a Riemannian manifold $$\bar{M}^3$$

M

¯

3

, thus extending some results recently given in (Meléndez and Rodríguez-Romero in Differ Geom Appl 91:102063, 2023). We also deal with normal and tangent submanifolds of arbitrary dimension, giving some properties about them.
Critical policy analysis of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives within health and physical education: moving beyond the past
Authors: Bonato Graeme
Published: December 2024

The ideology of a national curriculum is to facilitate and nurture a nation’s aspirations for future generations. The curriculum must provide a balance between recognition of cultural history and global contexts for 21st century learners. However, what constitutes effective policy reform to achieve future goals is always open to debate. Over the past decade, the Australian Professional Teacher Standards have increasingly emphasised the requirement for educators to demonstrate enhanced knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their histories, and cultures. As such, there has been a renewed focus to ensure that Indigenous knowledges and perspectives are embedded and ultimately enacted within the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education (AC: HPE). A critical policy analysis was undertaken to investigate the evolution of the effectiveness and representation of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives within the AC: HPE Version 9 and to explore tensions arising from an Indigenous standpoint. The findings revealed evidence of cultural inclusiveness and reconciliation discourse across the curriculum context (within the content elaborations), albeit with varying degrees of prominence in each and with particular emphasis of specific contexts. Examination of the curricula yielded three primary tensions: (i) Disruption of Western ideologies; (ii) Indigenous self-determination; and (iii) Power dynamics. A positive contribution to the field, revealing a lack of substantive progress with embedding Indigenous knowledges and perspectives within HPE, the results of this study provide direction for policy makers and curriculum developers when further incorporating Indigenous knowledges and perspectives within the AC: HPE.
K-hyperparameter tuning in high-dimensional genomics using joint optimization of deep differential evolutionary algorithm and unsupervised transfer learning from intelligent GenoUMAP embeddings
Authors: Gikera Rufus , Maina Elizaphan , Mambo Shadrack Maina , Mwaura Jonathan
Published: December 2024

K-hyperparameter optimization in high-dimensional genomics remains a critical challenge, impacting the quality of clustering. Improved quality of clustering can enhance models for predicting patient outcomes and identifying personalized treatment plans. Subsequently, these enhanced models can facilitate the discovery of biomarkers, which can be essential for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response in cancer research. Our paper addresses this challenge through a four-fold approach. Firstly, we empirically evaluate the k-hyperparameter optimization algorithms in genomics analysis using a correlation based feature selection method and a stratified k-fold cross-validation strategy. Secondly, we evaluate the performance of the best optimization algorithm in the first step using a variety of the dimensionality reduction methods applied for reducing the hyperparameter search spaces in genomics. Building on the two, we propose a novel algorithm for this optimization problem in the third step, employing a joint optimization of Deep-Differential-Evolutionary Algorithm and Unsupervised Transfer Learning from Intelligent GenoUMAP (Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection). Finally, we compare it with the existing algorithms and validate its effectiveness. Our approach leverages UMAP pre-trained special autoencoder and integrates a deep-differential-evolutionary algorithm in tuning k. These choices are based on empirical analysis results. The novel algorithm balances population size for exploration and exploitation, helping to find diverse solutions and the global optimum. The learning rate balances iterations and convergence speed, leading to stable convergence towards the global optimum. UMAP’s superior performance, demonstrated by short whiskers and higher median values in the comparative analysis, informs its choice for training the special autoencoder in the new algorithm. The algorithm enhances clustering by balancing reconstruction accuracy, local structure preservation, and cluster compactness. The comprehensive loss function optimizes clustering quality, promotes hyperparameter diversity, and facilitates effective knowledge transfer. This algorithm’s multi-objective joint optimization makes it effective in genomics data analysis. The validation on this algorithm on three genomic datasets demonstrates superior clustering scores. Additionally, the convergence plots indicate relatively smoother curves and an excellent fitness landscape. These findings hold significant promise for advancing cancer research and computational genomics at large.
The Effect of Concrete and Virtual Manipulative Blended Instruction on Mathematical Achievement for Elementary School Students
Authors: Siller Hans-Stefan , Ahmad Sagheer
Published: December 2024

Mathematics has been crucial to learning and extending the frontiers of knowledge in all academic areas. At the elementary level, several teaching approaches have been implemented to improve students’ mathematical achievement. However, compared to traditional teaching exposition techniques, the teaching with the use of math manipulatives has been found useful to enhance mathematical achievement. The current quasi-experimental study was carried out with Pakistani students, and aimed to explore the blended effect of concrete and virtual manipulatives on fifth-graders’ mathematical achievement. Different mathematical concepts such as whole number, decimals and percentages, fraction, unitary method, perimeter, area, and geometry from a grade 5 textbook were targeted for the intervention period. Following randomization, one section from a public school was chosen as a control group and the other section classified as an experimental group. The mathematical achievement of fifth graders was measured through mathematics achievement test (MAT), developed, and piloted for this particular study, in a pre–posttest design. The data were analysed using one-way ANCOVA and mixed between-within ANOVA test to examine the significant differences, if any exist, in pretest/posttest scores between and within the groups over the period of intervention. The results revealed blended use of concrete and virtual manipulatives significantly enhances students’ mathematical achievement as compared to the results achieved from traditional instruction. This study offers information for teachers and students to incorporate concrete and virtual manipulatives simultaneously in mathematics lessons.
Decolonizing AI ethics in Africa’s healthcare: An ethical perspective
Authors: Grancia Mugalula Kalule
Published: December 2024

Owing to the ethical tension between the ethics frameworks developed in the Global North and the African understanding of ethics, health, and care, decolonization can be a useful tool through which Artificial Intelligence (AI) ethics is understood and applied in Africa. While existing AI ethics frameworks often reflect Western values and perspectives like individuality, the African setting is still largely communalist. Thus, the current frameworks, developed in the Global North, need to be interpreted in the African context to represent the values of people in Africa. It is then that they will be suitable for addressing the healthcare challenges in Africa today. Challenges like resource constraints, coloniality and the paternalism of the Global North toward the Global South have put Africa at the periphery of the AI Ethics debate. This article discusses the need to “decolonize” AI ethics to ensure just, equitable, and inclusive AI in healthcare in Africa. It critiques the current ethical frameworks largely developed from the Global North in shaping ethical AI development in Africa, calling for the decolonization of ethical principles. The paper discusses key considerations for a decolonized approach in healthcare and proposes key principles that can ensure an approach rooted in African contexts and values.
A Dynamical Downscaling Framework for Tropical Cyclone Activity Over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Wang Pingan , Wang Chao , Wu Liguang , Cao Jian , Zhao Haikun
Published: December 2024

Due to the limited theoretical framework for tropical cyclone (TC) formation, the current downscaling strategies for TC activity face challenges in accurately capturing climate variations in TC genesis and the subsequent track and intensity in the western North Pacific (WNP). In this study, we introduce the recently developed dynamical genesis potential index (DGPI) into a new downscaling framework for TC activity in the WNP. Our findings indicate that the framework effectively reproduces the mean spatial distribution of TC genesis and track frequency, along with the frequency distribution of TC intensity. It also demonstrates strong skill in simulating variations in TC genesis, track, and intensity related to the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. Additionally, the temporal evolution of TC genesis frequency, track frequency, peak intensity, and power dissipation index in the WNP from 1979 to 2022 aligns closely with observations, showing significant correlation coefficients of 0.67, 0.75, 0.61, and 0.65, respectively. These results confirm the robustness of the downscaling framework in capturing both the mean and temporal features of TC activity in the WNP. Furthermore, an initial application to historical CMIP6 simulations suggests that climate change has contributed significantly to the poleward shift in TC activity from 1900 to 2014, driven by an El Niño‐like sea surface temperature warming pattern. Given that this downscaling system relies solely on large‐scale conditions and operates independently of historical observations, it offers a promising approach for investigating TC behavior in eras lacking reliable observations and in future warming scenarios.
Insight Into the Environment Implication of Primary and Photochemical Aging Processes of Nitrogen‐Containing Organic Chromophores From Residential Fuel Combustion Over Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
Authors: Zhang Qian , Meng Ziqi , Shen Zhenxing , Zhao Jiaxue , Zhang Bin , Zeng Yaling , Xu Hongmei , Wang Qiyuan , Ho Steven Sai Hang , Li Zhihua
Published: December 2024

The Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (TPL), crucial for the global climate, lacks a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen‐containing organic compound (NOCs) emissions and their impact on light absorption and radiative forcing through atmospheric oxidation. This study examined NOCs from dung and bitumite combustion in the TPL and their atmospheric oxidation by hydroxyl (·OH) and nitrate (·NO3) radicals using an integrated experimental and theoretical approach. Dung produced higher NOC emissions, mainly methyl types, while bitumite emitted more fused‐ring NOCs. Exposure to intense solar radiation resulted in substantial photobleaching of methyl NOCs through hydroxyl (·OH) reactions, reducing the maximum molar absorption at 300–400 nm wavelengths by 76.9%–96.4%. Moreover, nitrate radical (·NO3) oxidation maintained spectral characteristics while producing minor absorption decreases of 48.9%–58.8%. The oxidative aging of fused‐ring NOCs exhibited structure‐dependent responses, wherein both ·NO3 and ·OH oxidation induced photo‐enhancement effects proportional to the number of aromatic rings in the molecular structure. Oxidation generally reduced radiative forcing for methyl NOCs but enhanced it for fused‐ring NOCs, particularly through ·OH reactions, which increased simple forcing efficiency at 300–400 nm by 43.7%. This study provides crucial insights into NOCs' effects on regional climate and air quality, emphasizing the need for source‐specific considerations in atmospheric models for TPL's unique high‐altitude environment.
Tadpole‐Shaped Nanoparticles in Impact Melt and Implication of High Temperature Chemical Garden in Lunar Soil
Authors: He Qi , Hu Wentao , Xiao Long , Zhang Xiang , Wang Zaicong , Qian Yuqi , Shu Jinfu , Zhao Jiawei , Chang Yuqing , Li Chen , Xiao Zhiyong , Zhang Xiaoping , Li Yiheng , Dominic Papineau , Zhao Siyuan , Huang Jun , Zhao Jiannan , Wang Jiang , Wu Xiang , Hu Zhaochu , Zong Keqing , She Zhenbing , Li Yang
Published: December 2024

Nanoparticles within lunar soil grains are a primary product of space weathering. The microstructural and chemical characteristics of the nanoparticles are diverse and their formation mechanisms are still under debate. In this paper, for the first time, tadpole‐shaped nanoparticles (with Fe‐Ni(‐S) head and Fe‐Ti‐O tail) were found in the impact melt glass spherule of an agglutinate in the returned Chang'e‐5 lunar soil, and their possible formation mechanisms were discussed. In terms of the Fe‐Ni(‐S) “head” formation mechanisms, they probably produced by shock‐induced dissemination. Another possibility is that the Fe‐Ni(‐S) heads were derived from the impact glass due to liquid immiscibility. The S degassing of FeS was contributed to nanophase Fe‐Ni metal. For the Fe‐Ti‐O tails, they are devitrified ilmenites, nucleated as a result of the passage of the Fe nanoparticles through the melt. These nanoparticles formed though impact‐induced nonequilibrium growth and recorded the movement and migration of the Fe‐Ni‐S nanoparticles within the melt. The tadpole‐shape nanoparticles provide a new example of viscous fingering in impact melts and the associated ilmenite dendrites point to the formation of high‐temperature chemical gardens in lunar impact melt.
Dynamic 3D metasurface holography via cascaded polymer dispersed liquid crystal
Authors: Sun Shuo , Li Jin , Li Xiaoxun , Zhao Xianyu , Li Kun , Chen Liang
Published: December 2024

Metasurface with natural static structure limits the development of dynamic metasurface holographic display with rapid response and broadband. Currently, liquid crystal (LC) was integrated onto the metasurface to convert the passive metasuface into an active one. But, majority of LC-assisted active metasurfaces often exhibit trade-offs among degree of freedom (DoF, typically less than 2), information capacity, response speed, and crosstalk. Herein, at first time, we experimentally demonstrate a cascaded device with polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) and broadband metasurface, enabling dynamic three-dimensional (3D) holographic display with ultra-high contrast, rapid response and continuous regulation. The PDLC droplets enable modulation of scattering state of incident light by high-speed dynamic control system for electric scanning. Based on self-addressing, rapid response and multi-channel PDLC-metasurface device, the dynamic holographic effect of monochrome holographic images switching and color-changing holographic display with broadband, low-crosstalk and high contrast, has been achieved. Our approach offers a novel perspective on dynamic metasurface.
Ovarian cancer-derived TGF-β1 induces cancer-associated adipocytes formation by activating SMAD3/TRIB3 pathway to establish pre-metastatic niche
Authors: Gao Tian , Li Jibin , Cheng Tianyi , Wang Xingguo , Wang Mengqing , Xu Zhiyang , Mu Yang , He Xianli , Xing Jinliang , Liu Shujuan
Published: December 2024

Ovarian cancer (OC) is prone to adipose tissue metastasis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we observed that omental adipocytes were induced into cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) by OC-derived TGF-β1 to establish a pre-metastatic niche (PMN) through collagen and fibronectin secretion. Mechanistically, OC-derived TGF-β1 binds to adipocyte membrane receptors and thus activates intracellular signaling by SMAD3 phosphorylation. The activation of TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling pathway dedifferentiates adipocytes into CAAs by upregulating Tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3), which suppresses the phosphorylation of CEBPβ. Additionally, CAAs secrete collagen I, collagen VI, and fibronectin to remodel the extracellular matrix and promote the adhesion of OC cells. Pharmacological inhibition of the TGF-β1/SMAD3 pathway significantly inhibits CAAs and PMN formation, thereby reducing the OC metastatic burden. Our findings indicate that the formation of CAAs and PMN in adipose tissues facilitates OC cell implantation and blocking the TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling pathway could prevent OC omental metastasis.
Mechanistic insights into SIRT7 and EZH2 regulation of cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer cells
Authors: Cao Yudong , Wang Shuo , Ma Jinchao , Long Mengping , Ma Xiuli , Yang Xiao , Ji Yongpeng , Tang Xingxing , Liu Jia , Lin Chen , Yang Yong , Du Peng
Published: December 2024

Cisplatin (CDDP) resistance has been established to significantly impact Bladder Cancer (BCa) therapy. On the other hand, the crucial regulatory involvement of SIRT7 and EZH2 in bladder cancer development is well known. Herein, the collaborative regulatory roles and underlying mechanisms of SIRT7 and EZH2 in CDDP resistance in bladder cancer were explored. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western Blot (WB) analyses were used to assess the expression levels of SIRT7/EZH2 and RND3 in bladder cancer tissues, normal ureteral epithelial cells, and bladder cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the impact of various treatments on of UMUC3 cell proliferation and CDDP sensitivity was assessed using CCK-8 assays, plate cloning assays, and flow cytometry analysis. Additionally, the levels of H3K18ac and H3K27me3 at the promoter region of the RND3 gene, the binding abilities of SIRT7 and EZH2, and the succinylation level of the EZH2 protein were examined using ChIP-qPCR assays, CO-IP assays, and IP assays, respectively. Moreover, in vivo experiments were conducted using a bladder cancer mouse model created by subcutaneously injecting UMUC3 cells into Balb/c nude mice. According to the results, SIRT7 correlated with the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to both the platinum-based chemotherapy and CDDP. Specifically, SIRT7 could bind to the RND3 promoter, downregulating H3K18ac and RND3, ultimately leading to an increased CDDP sensitivity in UMUC3 cells. Furthermore, EZH2 siRNA could decrease H3K27me3 levels in the RND3 promoter, upregulating RND3. Overall, in the promoter region of the RND3 gene, SIRT7 upregulated H3K27me3 and EZH2 downregulated H3K18ac, leading to a decline in RND3 expression and CDDP sensitivity in bladder cancer cells. Additionally, SIRT7 reduced the succinylation of the EZH2 protein resulting in an EZH2-mediated RND3 downregulation. Therefore, targeting SIRT7 and EZH2 could be a viable approach to enhancing CDDP efficacy in bladder cancer treatment.
A contemporary review of the management strategies for sickle cell disease related ischaemic and stuttering priapism
Authors: Emmanuel Anthony , Moussa Ahmed , Kesse-Adu Rachel , Shabbir Majed
Published: December 2024

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorders with 23% and over 70% of men with this condition, experiencing episodes of ischaemic priapism and stuttering priapism, respectively, with potentially severe consequences. The effective prevention of sickle cell disease induced ischaemic priapism and stuttering priapism requires a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach. A search of the English literature was performed utilising Pubmed® and Google Scholar to identify publications on contemporary and novel treatment options, with their associated treatment outcomes if available, that are utilised to prevent stuttering priapism episodes and hence a fulminant ischaemic priapism. This narrative review focuses on three main aspects which include firstly, patient education and lifestyle modifications. Secondly, strategies aimed at preventing stuttering priapism episodes with traditional treatments such as alpha-adrenergic agonists and hormone manipulation strategies among others. Finally, we review treatments utilised to treat the underlying sickle cell disease with contemporary options such as hydroxyurea to more novel therapies such as crizanlizumab and voxelotor. The role of potentially curative techniques such as gene therapy and stem cell transplantation are also reviewed and summarised.
A practical guide to the diagnosis and management of suspected Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) in the United Kingdom
Authors: Dhasmana D. J. , Whitaker P. , van der Laan R. , Frost F.
Published: December 2024

Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) is a chronic disease characterised by progressive inflammatory lung damage due to infection by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Global prevalence of NTM-PD is generally low but is rising, likely due to a combination of increased surveillance, increasing multimorbidity and improved diagnostic techniques. Most disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium complex species. NTM-PD can be challenging to both diagnose and manage but given the risk of untreated disease and the challenges around drug treatments, it is vital that all healthcare professionals involved in primary care consider NTM-PD at the earliest opportunity. In particular, NTM-PD should be considered where there are respiratory symptoms in the setting of pre-existing chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. Early suspicion should lead to appropriate primary screening measures. This article discusses the relevance of NTM-PD today, risk factors for developing disease, pathways from clinical presentation to referral to specialist care, and discusses management and drug treatments. A flow diagram of a screening process is presented as a guideline for best practice from a United Kingdom perspective.
Ecologically sustainable benchmarking of AI models for histopathology
Authors: Lan Yu-Chia , Strauch Martin , Pilva Pourya , Schmitz Nikolas E. J. , Sadr Alireza Vafaei , Niggemeier Leon , Nguyen Huong Quynh , Hölscher David L. , Nguyen Tri Q. , Kers Jesper , Bülow Roman D. , Boor Peter
Published: December 2024

Deep learning (DL) holds great promise to improve medical diagnostics, including pathology. Current DL research mainly focuses on performance. DL implementation potentially leads to environmental consequences but approaches for assessment of both performance and carbon footprint are missing. Here, we explored an approach for developing DL for pathology, which considers both diagnostic performance and carbon footprint, calculated as CO2 or equivalent emissions (CO2eq). We evaluated various DL architectures used in computational pathology, including a large foundation model, across two diagnostic tasks of low and high complexity. We proposed a metric termed ‘environmentally sustainable performance’ (ESPer), which quantitatively integrates performance and operational CO2eq during training and inference. While some DL models showed comparable diagnostic performance, ESPer enabled prioritizing those with less carbon footprint. We also investigated how data reduction approaches can improve the ESPer of individual models. This study provides an approach facilitating the development of environmentally friendly, sustainable medical AI.
A spontaneously immortalized muscle stem cell line (EfMS) from brown-marbled grouper for cell-cultured fish meat production
Authors: Xue Ting , Zheng Hongwei , Zhao Yaqi , Zhao Zhenxin , Wang Jinwu , Zhang Yue , Li Yaru , Wang Song , Liu Yongliang , Xue Changhu , Guo Huarong
Published: December 2024

Lacking of suitable fish muscle stem cell line has greatly hindered the fabrication of cell-cultured fish meat. Here, we established and characterized a spontaneously immortalized marine fish muscle stem cell line (EfMS) from brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), which could actively proliferate with good genetic stability and well maintain the stemness of myogenesis potential for over 50 passages. Taurine was found to be able to serve as a substitute of fish muscle extract in maintaining stemness. The EfMS cells could be efficiently induced to myogenic differentiation or adipogenic trans-differentiation in both 2D and 3D culture systems. Using edible 3D microcarriers, we produced 0.65 g fat-free and 1.47 g fat-containing cell-cultured fish meat in 8 days. The scaffold-free cell-cultured fish meat exhibited a much higher content of flavory amino acids than natural fish. Together, EfMS cell line can serve as an ideal seed cell line for the production of cell-cultured fish meat.
Manipulating the water–air interface to drive protein assembly for functional silk-like fibroin fibre production
Authors: Moreno-Tortolero Rafael O. , Michalski Juliusz , Wells Eleanor , Gibb Flora , Skaer Nick , Walker Robert , Serpell Louise , Holland Chris , Davis Sean A.
Published: December 2024

Silk’s remarkable properties arise from its hierarchical structure, formed through natural transformation from an aqueous solution to a solid fibre driven by pH and flow stress under low-energy conditions. In contrast, artificial silk fabrication typically relies on extrusion-based methods using coagulating baths and unnatural solvents, limiting true biomimetic replication. Here, we find that native-like silk fibroin forms viscoelastic films at the air-water interface. Utilizing this, we demonstrate a mild, all-aqueous method to seamlessly pull silk-like fibres with co-aligned nanofibrillar bundles. The fiber structure transitioned from hexagonally packed β-solenoid units at low pulling speeds to β-sheet-rich structures at higher speeds. Fibers pulled near physiological speeds (26.3 mm s-¹) exhibited optimal mechanical properties, with an elastic modulus of 8 ± 1 GPa and toughness of 8 ± 5 MJ m-³, comparable to natural silk. This platform also enables embedding nanoparticles and biologics, offering broad applications in sensors, biocatalysis, and tissue engineering, expanding the potential of silk-based composite materials.
Nanosized caltrops enable selective capture and directional maneuvering of water droplets
Authors: Cai Haoting , Tong Wei , Wei Lichuan , Song Mengjie , Zhao Yugang , Li Kang , Zhang Hua , Yang Chun , Cheng Ping
Published: December 2024

Surface design by tailoring topographical features and interface function groups to modulate dynamic or kinetic behaviors of liquid droplets, has been an increasing hotspot due to its broad spectrum of applications in biochemical diagnosis, microfabrication, and energy conversion systems. Here we report an engineered surface decorated by packed nanosized caltrops resulting from two perfectly articulated oxidation processes, where self-assembled nanoislands generated in the 1st plasma oxidation serve as protective masks in the 2nd chemical oxidation. As caltrops per design can effectively block lateral motion, the present surface can anchor contact lines of advancing water films when being hydrophilic and selectively capture impinging droplets when being hydrophobic. Furthermore, biphilic patterns can be readily obtained by integrating nanocaltrops with other surface asperities, engendering directional droplet maneuvering and designated droplet arraying. This work provides guidelines in designing nanostructures that achieve on-demand manipulation of droplets and flow patterns for multifunctional applications.