bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Barriers to Digital Pain Assessment by Family Carers of People Living with Dementia: An Application of the Behaviour Change Wheel
Authors: Hussein Areej , Stafford Andrew , Hughes Jeffery , Moullin Joanna
Published: February 2025

PainChek® is a validated medical device, currently approved for clinical use by healthcare professionals to assess and monitor pain in people with moderate to severe dementia living in residential aged care facilities. The implementation of PainChek® by family carers of people with dementia living in the community has not yet been researched. To identify implementation strategies for PainChek® in community settings, specifically to assist family carers in assessing and monitoring the pain of people with dementia. The first seven steps of the Behaviour Change Wheel were applied. Identification of the problem in behavioural terms and behavioural analysis was enabled by referring to the results of a previous qualitative study. Barriers to implementation were mapped to the core model of the Behaviour Change Wheel: capability, opportunity, and motivation. Intervention functions and Behaviour Change Techniques were selected during two consensus meetings, based on discussion and ratings on their Affordability, Practicability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, Acceptability, Side-effects or safety and Equity. Family carers use PainChek® to assess and document pain levels for people with dementia during caregiving routines, and family carers communicate PainChek® results with healthcare professionals to guide pain management for people with dementia were determined as the target behaviours. Five intervention functions (education, training, persuasion, enablement, and modelling) and 18 Behaviour Change Techniques met the criteria. Applying the Behaviour Change Wheel resulted in the selection of a range of intervention functions and Behaviour Change Techniques to overcome multifaceted implementation barriers to PainChek® as a pain assessment tool for use by family carers of people with dementia in community settings. Future research is needed to evaluate the practical application of the implementation strategies developed and the impact of this evaluation on pain management in people with dementia in real-world settings.
A comprehensive strategy for identifying plagiarism in academic submissions
Authors: Setu Deblina Mazumder , Islam Tania , Erfan Md. , Dey Samrat Kumar , Asif Md. Rashid Al , Samsuddoha Md.
Published: February 2025

Plagiarism is a major problem in education, especially in higher education environments. To address this problem, a comprehensive detection method is proposed, utilizing cutting-edge models like Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and cosine similarity for detecting direct copy and semantic changes. The methodology involves evaluating the BERT model and cosine similarity first, then performing pairwise comparisons to determine how similar a student’s work is to a reference text. If the semantic changes are higher, the content is classified as paraphrased; otherwise, it is considered direct copy in cases where the similarity threshold is greater than 30%. When the similarity threshold is less than or equal to 30%, the method moves to online plagiarism detection. This includes web scraping, generating search queries, and employing Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) vectorization with cosine similarity to assess the similarities between students’ content and online content. As a result, the study detects online plagiarism and distinguishes between plagiarizing and authentic content. The purpose is to provide an effective method to maintain academic integrity and enhance originality in student work. In similarity testing on MIT plagiarism detection datasets, this study demonstrated an average recall of 80%, precision of 68%, accuracy of 71%, and f1-score of 74%. With a threshold of 0.2, the average precision for online plagiarism detection reached 65%, accompanied by a 56% recall, an accuracy of 60%, and an f1-score of 60%. The results of the study demonstrate the efficiency of the strategy in enhancing plagiarism detection accuracy while reducing false positives.
An overview of the development of perinatal stress-induced fatty liver and therapeutic options in dairy cows
Authors: Hu Haitao , Wang Lamei , Zhang Rui , Tian Mei , Zhang Shuo , Li Hongrui , Cai Chuanjiang , Yao Junhu , Wang Jianguo , Cao Yangchun
Published: February 2025

This review summarizes the mechanisms of hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorders caused by the negative energy balance encountered in periparturient dairy cows and the relevant research on nutritional additives as a therapeutic option. Factors such as dietary management, hormonal regulation, and overall metabolic stress in the body of the transition cow all contribute greatly to fatty liver formation. Nutritional strategies, such as using gluconeogenic precursors, growth factor, natural plant extracts, and methyl donors can positively modulate the negative effects of fatty liver in periparturient dairy cows. Choline, a methyl donor as a feed additive in transition cows minimizes lipid accumulation in the liver by increasing the efficiency of lipoprotein transport. In conclusion, the disruption of hepatic gluconeogenesis, changes in hormone levels, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress during the transition period in dairy cows collectively disturb hepatic anabolic homeostasis. This disruption promotes the formation of fatty liver and reduces lactation performance in dairy cows. Understanding the specific physiological phenomena of hepatic lipid metabolism disorders in transition cows and intervening with nutritional additives will reduce the negative effects of transition stress and improve animal health.
Measuring and understanding changes in the physical built environment of cities with street view images
Authors: Zhou Yang , Thill Jean-Claude , Liu Xingjian , Zhong Chen , Tu Wei
Published: February 2025

Street view images (SVIs) may provide information on near-surface urban changes which are not necessarily captured by spaceborne remote sensing data. The application of SVIs in assessing diverse built environment changes at the street level and over time remains challenging. This paper presents a stepwise rule-based method to identify key types of urban built environment changes using multi-year SVIs. In particular, physical/built environment changes along streets are evaluated based on proposed Street Units of Analysis (SUA) that account for both street layouts and street view features. The approach employs sharp variations of visual attributes derived from deep learning segmentation model DeepLabv3+. A stepwise rule-based algorithm classifies SUAs. Using panoramic SVIs from 2015–2019 in Wuhan, China, we identify critical types of changes such as those related to highway bridges, sidewalk increases, building increases, road losses, greenness increases, and mixed changes. Identified changes take place on over 50% of roads in the study area. In addition, the robustness of proposed approach is assessed based on results produced by manual labeling and by a fuzzy rough sets analysis. The approach is found to be robust and effective by having an 81.7% agreement with manually labeled analysis and an 80.5% agreement with fuzzy rough sets analysis. Overall, this study contributes to the development of a cost effective and efficient method for detecting physical changes on SUAs, which can be further utilized in studies that link urban changes, space use, and policy interventions.
Renormalization of circle maps and smoothness of Arnold tongues
Authors: GONCHARUK NATALIYA , YAMPOLSKY MICHAEL
Published: February 2025

We study the global behavior of the renormalization operator on a specially constructed Banach manifold that has cubic critical circle maps on its boundary and circle diffeomorphisms in its interior. As an application, we prove results on smoothness of irrational Arnold tongues.
Advanced plasma target from pre-ionized low-density foam for effective and robust direct laser acceleration of electrons
Authors: Rosmej Olga N. , Gyrdymov Mikhail , Andreev Nikolay E. , Tavana Parysatis , Popov Vyacheslav , Borisenko Nataliya G. , Gromov Alexandr I. , Gus’kov Sergey Yu. , Yakhin Rafael , Vegunova Galina A. , Bukharskii Nikolai , Korneev Philipp , Cikhardt Jakub , Zähter Sero , Busch Sebastian , Jacoby Joachim , Pimenov Vladimir G. , Spielmann Christian , Pukhov Alexander
Published: February 2025

Low-density polymer foams pre-ionized by a well-controlled nanosecond pulse are excellent plasma targets to trigger direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons by sub-picosecond relativistic laser pulses. In this work, the influence of the nanosecond pulse on the DLA process is investigated. The density profile of plasma generated after irradiating foam with a nanosecond pulse was simulated with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic code, which takes into account the high aspect ratio of interaction and the microstructure of polymer foams. The obtained plasma density profile was used as input to the three-dimensional particle-in-cell code to simulate energy, angular distributions and charge carried by the directional fraction of DLA electrons. The modelling shows good agreement with the experiment and in general a weak dependence of the electron spectra on the plasma profiles, which contain a density up-ramp and a region of near-critical electron density. This explains the high DLA stability in pre-ionized foams, which is important for applications.
Hacking Reproductive Justice: Solomon’s Judgment and the Captive Maternal
Authors: van der Waal Rodante , Villarmea Stella
Published: February 2025

Sylvia Wynter’s sociogenic principle, Chiara Bottici’s feminist mythology, and Denise Ferreira da Silva’s Black feminist praxis of hacking, all underscore the importance of working through the myths, codes, and origin stories that discursively form our world. We identify the biblical story of Solomon’s judgment as an origin story which constitutes an understanding of justice in matters of reproduction that is still hegemonic today, and that must be subverted to realize the Black feminist aim of reproductive justice. Through Solomon’s judgment, justice in reproduction got established as what Édouard Glissant terms, an “obsession with the chain of affiliation” inscribed with the “tragedy of miscegenation,” capturing the maternal in the arché-form of the future subject. We differentiate between the patriarchal configuration of “justice in reproduction” and the feminist concept “reproductive justice,” which is a popular, strong, and important activist concept. To arrive at reproductive justice, a “hack” of the patriarchal configuration of justice in Solomon’s judgment is orchestrated: through a radical affirmation of the events of both abortion and birth, we aim to “explode” the narrative code that constitutes the hegemonic patriarchal understanding of justice, in order to liberate the captive maternal and reimagine reproductive justice within a true feminist mythology.
Risk period for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza: a rapid review
Authors: Stone Erin C. , Okasako-Schmucker Devon L. , Taliano Joanna , Schaefer Melissa , Kuhar David T.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Restricting infectious healthcare workers (HCWs) from the workplace is an important infection prevention strategy. The duration of viral shedding or symptoms are often used as proxies for the infectious period in adults but may not accurately estimate it.

Objective:

To determine the risk period for transmission among previously healthy adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant (omicron) or influenza A (influenza) by examining the duration of shedding and symptoms, and day of symptom onset in secondary cases of transmission pairs.

Design:

Rapid review

Methods:

This rapid review adhered to PRISMA-ScR; five databases were searched. The cumulative daily proportion of participants with an outcome of interest was calculated for each study and summarized.

Results:

Forty-three studies were included. Shedding resolved among ≥ 70% of participants by the end of day nine post symptom onset for omicron, and day seven for influenza; and for ≥ 90% of participants, by the end of day 10 for omicron and day nine for influenza. Two studies suggested shedding continues > 24 hours post-fever resolution for both viruses. Symptom onset occurred in ≥ 80% of secondary cases by the end of day seven post-primary case symptom onset for omicron and day six for influenza.

Conclusions:

Omicron shedding is consistent with previous recommendations to exclude infected HCWs from work for 10 days; and influenza follows a similar trend. Earlier symptom onset in most secondary cases for both pathogens indicates that, despite persistent viral shedding, most transmission occurs earlier; and the cumulative serial interval might better approximate the duration of infectiousness.
Failure of timely removal of central and peripheral venous catheters after antibiotic therapy in nursing homes
Authors: Mauricio Amarah , Hsi Joshua B. , Tjoa Tom , Singh Raveena D. , Nourollahi Shereen , Saavedra Raheeb , Bahadori Bardia , Alsharif Mohamad N. , Tam Steven , Chang Justin , Rashid Syma , Gohil Shruti K.
Published: February 2025

Each day a venous catheter is retained poses unnecessary safety risks. In a retrospective evaluation of central/peripheral lines in nursing home residents receiving antibiotics, 80% were retained beyond antibiotic treatment end and nearly one third were retained longer than a week. Interventions for timely catheter removal are urgently needed.
Elimination of Legionella colonization in a hospital water system: evidence from 23 years of chlorine dioxide use
Authors: Exum Natalie G. , Avolio Lindsay N. , Bova Gregory , Rock Clare , Curless Melanie S. , Maragakis Lisa L. , Schwab Kellogg J.
Published: February 2025

A hospital water system colonized with Legionella bacteria (three of four buildings, with > 50% of positive samples) was able to reduce detections to <1% positivity in the long term only after ClO2 was iteratively added first to the cold-water and then hot-water systems followed by pipe replacements (n = 6835 total samples).
Ditching the defaults: Assessing the impact of default duration removal on antibiotic prescriptions originating in the emergency department
Authors: Van Abel Amy L. , Stevens Ryan W. , Ausman Sara , Arensman Hannan Kellie , Ilges Dan , Kooda Kirstin , Lessard Sarah , Willis Courtney M. , Rivera Christina G. , Jensen Kelsey
Published: February 2025

Reducing antimicrobial exposure by limiting the duration of therapy is an effective antimicrobial stewardship strategy. In this article, we describe the impact of modification of the electronic health record to remove default durations of therapy on ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions issued from emergency departments in a large, multicenter health system.
Risk factors for the development of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients colonized with toxigenic Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Clement Josh , Barlingay Gauri , Addepalli Sindhu , Bang Heejung , Donnelley Monica A. , Cohen Stuart H. , Crabtree Scott
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Asymptomatic patients colonized with toxigenic Clostridioides difficile are at risk of progressing to C. difficile infection (CDI), but risk factors associated with progression are poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to estimate the incidence and identify risk factors to progression of hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI) among colonized patients.

Methods:

This was a nested case-control study at an academic medical center including adult patients colonized with toxigenic C. difficile, detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a rectal swab collected on admission from 2017 to 2020. Patients with prior CDI or symptoms on admission, neutropenia, prior rectal surgery, or hospitalization less than 24 hours were excluded. Colonized patients that developed HO-CDI were matched 1:3 to colonized patients who did not based on PCR test date. Bivariate and multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses were used to identify risk factors.

Results:

Of 2,150 colonized patients, 109 developed HO-CDI, with an incidence of 5.1%. After exclusions, 321 patients (69 with HO-CDI) were included, with an estimated incidence of 4.2%. Risk factors included cirrhosis (aHR 1.94), ICU admission (aHR 1.76), malignancy (aHR 1.88), and hospitalization within six months (aHR 1.6). Prior antibiotic exposure in the past three months (aHR 2.14) and receipt of at-risk antibiotics were also identified as potential risk factors (aHR 2.17).

Conclusions:

Progression to HO-CDI among colonized patients was not uncommon. This study highlights key risk factors associated with progression, underscoring the importance of enhanced monitoring and prevention efforts tailored to high-risk populations to mitigate HO-CDI.
QUATRE FRAGMENTS LITURGIQUES SUMÉRIENS DU MUSÉE DE BIRMINGHAM. SECONDE PARTIE
Authors: Cavigneaux Antoine
Published: February 2025

Edition with translation of a Sumerian liturgical fragment kept today in Birmingham City Museum. Three such fragments were edited in a previous article (Iraq 85). The fourth fragment tells us a dramatic story of Dumuzi in the steppe, which, thanks to the help of loving women and of the gods Utu and Nanna, finds a happy end.
Science ‘subservient to profit’? William Jackson Hooker and the first Glasgow Botanic Gardens (1817–1841)
Authors: Cournil Mélanie
Published: February 2025

This article examines the scientific legacy of the first Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the part they played in the global circulation of botanical knowledge, from their creation in 1817 to their relocation to the West End of Glasgow in 1841. Located in a thriving industrial city with strong commercial ties to the British Caribbean, the gardens stood at an important crossroads of political and economic interests, scientific discovery, cultural innovation and imperial motives. They were managed by the talented English botanist William Jackson Hooker, who strove to transform them into a training ground for prospective botanists and a leading scientific institution. Yet, like many other botanical establishments of similar stature at the time, the gardens encountered many financial setbacks that hampered their success and threatened the scientific ambitions of Hooker and his peers. This article discusses the extent of the gardens’ scientific contribution within and beyond the borders of Britain and seeks to determine the degree to which science in these gardens was constrained by economic factors.
Freshwater trematodes in Iceland and the surrounding north – current advances and questions
Authors: Faltýnková A. , Kudlai O. , Jouet D. , O’Dwyer K. , Pantoja C. , Skírnisson K.
Published: February 2025

Iceland is an isolated, sub-Arctic, oceanic island of volcanic origin in the northern North Atlantic. With a limited faunal diversity and being the most northern point in the distributional range for some species, it is an intriguing model region to study parasite biodiversity and biogeography. Since 2006, there has been a history of intense biodiversity discoveries of freshwater trematodes (Trematoda, Digenea), thanks to the use of integrative taxonomic methods. The majority of digeneans (28 out of 41 known) were characterised with molecular genetic methods and morphological analyses, with some of their life-cycle stages and geographical distribution assessed. A surprising diversity has been discovered, comprising species of the families Allocreadiidae, Cyclocoeliidae, Diplostomidae, Echinostomatidae, Gorgoderidae, Plagiorchiidae, Notocotylidae, Schistosomatidae, and Strigeidae. Many of the recorded species complete their life cycles within Iceland, with three snail species (Ampullaceana balthica, Gyraulus parvus, Physa acuta) known as intermediate hosts. No trematodes endemic for Iceland were found; they appear to be generalists with wide geographical ranges dispersed mainly by migratory birds. Interestingly, fish trematodes recorded in Iceland were found in mainland Europe, indicating that they might be dispersed by anadromous fishes, by human activity, or by migratory birds carrying intermediate hosts. The trematode fauna is mainly Palaearctic, with few species recorded in North America. We highlight the ongoing need for precise species identification via integrative taxonomic methods, which is a baseline for any further ecological studies and adequate epidemiological and conservation measures. Also, there is still a need of obtaining well-preserved vouchers of adults for definite species delimitation.
Closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects using the Amplatzer vascular plug II: experience of a Mexican centre
Authors: Mijangos-Vázquez Roberto , Hernández-Reyes Rogelio
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

To demonstrate safety and efficacy of using the AmplatzerTM vascular plug II device for perimembranous ventricular septal defect closure with retrograde approach and show the follow-up in all patients.

Background:

At present, there is no FDA-approved device for transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects. Small studies and case reports have shown the use of various catheter-based devices in an off-label management; however, there are no large studies to show their efficacy. The second generation of AmplatzerTM vascular plug seems to offer a safe and attractive alternative for this procedure. Besides, a retrograde approach might decrease procedure time and radiation exposure time.

Methods and Results:

Patients with congenital perimembranous ventricular septal defects who underwent transcatheter closure using Amplatzer vascular plug II devices were included. Primary end point was to determine efficacy and safety of this generation of devices and the incidence of complications at follow-up (complete heart block and aortic/tricuspid/mitral regurgitation). Forty-five patients underwent perimembranous ventricular septal defect closure at a median age of 6 years (9 months–17 years). During the catheterization, there were only minor complications and at follow-up of 48 ± 25.7 months (up to 96 months). Closure rate was high of 93.3% and freedom from atrioventricular block was 100%.

Conclusions:

The second generation of the AmplatzerTM vascular plug II seems to offer a safe and attractive alternative for percutaneous closure of the perimembranous ventricular septal defects.
Use of ivabradine in tachycardia due to hyperthyroidism in a child: a case report and literature review
Authors: Küçük Mehtap , Erdoğan İlkay , Varan Birgül , Tokel N. Kürşad
Published: February 2025

Sinus tachycardia due to hyperthyroidism is generally treated with beta-blockers. But some patients do not respond to beta-blockers or may have non-tolerable side effects or have contraindications. We presented a case with persistent sinus tachycardia secondary to hyperthyroidism refractory to maximal doses of propranolol. After ivabradine treatment, her heart rate was < 100 bpm within 24 hours. There were no electrocardiogram changes or side effects. The use of ivabradine is promising and can be considered in cases where tachycardia cannot be controlled in children with hyperthyroidism.
THE SOCIALISTS’ HYPOTHESES AND THE ROAD TO SERFDOM
Authors: Benzecry Gabriel F. , Jensen Nicholas , Smith Daniel J.
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the writings of socialist scholars who played a pivotal role in shaping Friedrich Hayek’s perspective in The Road to Serfdom, including William Beveridge, Stuart Chase, Henry Dickinson, Hugh Dalton, Evan Durbin, Oskar Lange, Harold Laski, Abba Lerner, Barbara Wootton, and the contributing authors in Findlay MacKenzie’s Planned Society (1937). Many of these socialist thinkers held two main hypotheses. First, industrial concentration was inevitable under capitalism. Second, they argued, government ownership or control of key economic sectors was necessary to protect democracy from industrial consolidation in the capitalist system and to reduce political opposition to complete state ownership or control over the means of production. Despite sharing Hayek’s concern for socialism’s potential erosion of democratic freedoms, these socialist hypotheses have received much less scholarly attention than Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom. We conclude that Hayek formalized socialist scholars’ fears and developed a well-defined hypothesis that central planning could threaten democratic freedoms.
The DBT Coach App as an adjunct to a comprehensive DBT programme for adolescents: an acceptability and feasibility study
Authors: Ramzan N. , Camp J. , Tranah T.
Published: February 2025

Smartphone apps combined with psychological interventions may be beneficial for increasing adherence to treatment tasks and augmenting outcomes. Yet, there is limited research on the acceptability and feasibility of adjunctive smartphone apps with psychological therapies for adolescents engaging in self-harm and suicidal behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of integrating the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Coach app as an adjunct to a comprehensive DBT programme. The study also aimed to explore statistical trends of the potential relationship between the DBT Coach app and symptom reduction, including self-harm, borderline personality disorder symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and DBT skill use, to inform future study design. A mixed-method design was used to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the app and clinician’s portal from the perspective of adolescent and clinician participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Results indicated varied experiences of acceptability and feasibility of the DBT Coach app and portal as an adjunct to DBT. Thematic analysis generated four over-arching themes and ten subthemes. The regression analysis provided statistical trends regarding potential relationships between app use and clinical outcomes, which would be helpful to explore in future research. Findings suggest that the app and portal were acceptable and feasible for the most part, with some barriers and challenges identified. Implications of this study are discussed.

Key learning aims

(1)

To learn about the acceptability and feasibility of using a smartphone application as an adjunct to a DBT skills group within a comprehensive DBT programme for adolescents.

(2)

To explore whether there is a relationship between app use and clinical outcome at the end of the group intervention.

(3)

To learn about the experiences of adolescents and clinicians using the smartphone app as an adjunct to the DBT skills group.
Skill dependencies uncover nested human capital
Authors: Hosseinioun Moh , Neffke Frank , Zhang Letian , Youn Hyejin
Published: February 2025

Modern economies require increasingly diverse and specialized skills, many of which depend on the acquisition of other skills first. Here we analyse US survey data to reveal a nested structure within skill portfolios, where the direction of dependency is inferred from asymmetrical conditional probabilities—occupations require one skill conditional on another. This directional nature suggests that advanced, specific skills and knowledge are often built upon broader, fundamental ones. We examine 70 million job transitions to show that human capital development and career progression follow this structured pathway in which skills more aligned with the nested structure command higher wage premiums, require longer education and are less likely to be automated. These disparities are evident across genders and racial/ethnic groups, explaining long-term wage penalties. Finally, we find that this nested structure has become even more pronounced over the past two decades, indicating increased barriers to upward job mobility.
Twist–torsion coupling in beating axonemes
Authors: Striegler Martin , Diez Stefan , Friedrich Benjamin M. , Geyer Veikko F.
Published: February 2025

Motile cilia and flagella produce regular bending waves that enable single-cell navigation due to non-planar waveforms with characteristic torsion. However, it is not known how torsion, a geometric property of the three-dimensional waveform, relates to mechanical twist deformations of the axoneme, the conserved cytoskeletal core of cilia and flagella. Here we show that axoneme twisting and torsion are coupled and that twist waves propagate along the beating axoneme of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii algae. We resolve the three-dimensional shapes of the axonemal waveform with nanometre precision at millisecond timescales using defocused dark-field microscopy and beat-cycle averaging, observing regular hetero-chiral torsion waves propagating base to tip. To investigate whether the observed torsion results from axonemal twist, we attach gold nanoparticles to axonemes and measure their cross-section rotation during beating. We find that, locally, the axonemal cross-section co-rotates with the bending plane, evidencing twist–torsion coupling. Our results demonstrate the link between shape and mechanical deformation in beating axonemes and can inform models of the dynamics of motor proteins inside the axoneme responsible for shaping the beat of motile cilia.
Mixed polytype/polymorph formation in InSe films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs(111)B
Authors: Hilse Maria , Rodriguez Justin , Gray Jennifer , Yao Jinyuan , Ding Shaoqing , Liu Derrick Shao Heng , Li Mo , Young Joshua , Liu Ying , Engel-Herbert Roman
Published: February 2025

We report the growth of InSe films on semi-insulating GaAs(111)B substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Excellent nucleation behavior resulted in the growth of smooth, single-phase InSe films. The dominant polytype was the targeted γ-InSe. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of three bulk polytypes β, γ, and ε-InSe arranged in nanosized domains, which can be interpreted as sequences of stacking faults and rotational twin boundaries of γ-InSe. Additionally, a centrosymmetric Se-In-In-Se layer polymorph with

$$P\bar{3}m$$

P

3

̅

m

symmetry was identified as typically not present in bulk. Sizeable differences in their electronic properties were found, which resulted in sizeable electronic disorder arising from the nanoscale polytype arrangement that dominated the electronic transport properties. While MBE is a viable synthesis route towards stabilization of InSe polytypes not present in the bulk, an improved understanding to form the targeted polymorph is required to ultimately inscribe a layer sequence on demand utilizing bottom-up synthesis approaches.
The cellular and molecular cardiac tissue responses in human inflammatory cardiomyopathies after SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Maatz Henrike , Lindberg Eric L. , Adami Eleonora , López-Anguita Natalia , Perdomo-Sabogal Alvaro , Cocera Ortega Lucía , Patone Giannino , Reichart Daniel , Myronova Anna , Schmidt Sabine , Elsanhoury Ahmed , Klein Oliver , Kühl Uwe , Wyler Emanuel , Landthaler Markus , Yousefian Schayan , Haas Simon , Kurth Florian , Teichmann Sarah A. , Oudit Gavin Y. , Milting Hendrik , Noseda Michela , Seidman Jonathan G. , Seidman Christine E. , Heidecker Bettina , Sander Leif E. , Sawitzki Birgit , Klingel Karin , Doeblin Patrick , Kelle Sebastian , Van Linthout Sophie , Hubner Norbert , Tschöpe Carsten
Published: February 2025

Myocarditis, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, can have multiple etiologies, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or, rarely, mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on left ventricular endomyocardial biopsies from patients with myocarditis unrelated to COVID-19 (Non-COVID-19), after SARS-CoV-2 infection (Post-COVID-19) and after COVID-19 vaccination (Post-Vaccination). We identified distinct cytokine expression patterns, with interferon-γ playing a key role in Post-COVID-19, and upregulated IL16 and IL18 expression serving as a hallmark of Post-Vaccination myocarditis. Although myeloid responses were similar across all groups, the Post-Vaccination group showed a higher proportion of CD4+ T cells, and the Post-COVID-19 group exhibited an expansion of cytotoxic CD8+ T and natural killer cells. Endothelial cells showed gene expression changes indicative of vascular barrier dysfunction in the Post-COVID-19 group and ongoing angiogenesis across all groups. These findings highlight shared and distinct mechanisms driving myocarditis in patients with and without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination.
Recent advances in the electrochemiluminescence detection of small molecule drugs
Authors: Li Jiali , Yao Xinni , Ma Jiateng , Liu Chuang , Hong Wenjun , Wu Haigang , Li Minjie , Guo Liang-Hong
Published: February 2025

Recent progress in the electrochemiluminescene (ECL) detection of small molecule drugs focused on the innovations in ECL luminophores, electrode materials, and recognition materials.
A compact Flow-Batch Analyzer Equipped with Mini Piezoelectric Pumps and Image-Based Volume Control
Authors: Back da Trindade Ester , Gomes da Silva Enny Priscila , de Paula Gonçalves Guilherme José , Fonseca Alexandre
Published: February 2025

Flow-batch analyzers demand meticulous volume control for successful application in quantitative determinations, with the incorporation of high-efficiency pumps and valves recommended for their construction. However, routine recalibrations are frequently needed...
Serum direct SMOS-qPCR: a fast approach for miRNAs detection
Authors: Zhao Guodong , Dai Yanmiao , Xia Chenjing , Xue Ying , Xu Hongwei
Published: February 2025

A novel serum direct SMOS-qPCR method enables direct amplification of multiple miRNAs from serum samples without requiring separate extraction and purification steps.
Diacylthioureas – an overlooked class of ligands; the coordination chemistry of diacylated thiourea with platinum(ii), palladium(ii) and gold(iii)
Authors: Risi Matthew C. , Atiga Simeon , Christopher Timothy D. , Henderson William , Saunders Graham C.
Published: February 2025

Diacylated thiourea ligands with platinum group metals in a square planar geometry show exclusive S,N coordination which is theorised to be a result of intramolecular chalcogen and hydrogen non-covalent interactions.
Metal-based complexes with antiplatelet properties. Αntagonists of the Platelet-Activating Factor receptor (PAFR) and other aggregating agents
Authors: Philippopoulos athanassios , Demopoulos C. A.
Published: February 2025

Metal complexes displaying anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties is a promising research area. Development of new and effective anti-inflammatory and antitrombotic agents is necessary to prevent inflammatory assisted diseases, thromboembolc diseases...
Ecological properties uniquely dictate molecular-level soil organic matter composition in a temperate forest in Central Europe with variation in litter deposition
Authors: Wrightson Isla , Tabatabaei Anaraki Maryam , Fekete István , Kotroczó Zsolt , Lajtha Kate , Simpson Myrna J.
Published: February 2025

An integrative analytical approach was used to assess the unique molecular-level soil organic matter (SOM) responses to detrital manipulation, which were dictated by the ecological properties of a temperate forest in Central Europe.
Arginine-functionalised hydrogels as a novel atmospheric water-harvesting material
Authors: Thanusing Moki K. , Pollard Brett L. , Connal Luke A.
Published: February 2025

L-arginine-functionalised polymers were synthesised as a novel atmospheric water-harvesting material, with rapid water-harvesting cycling capabilities and an additive-free single-network polymer structure.
Enhanced removal of methylene blue using KMnO4-modified kitchen waste-derived lignin
Authors: Hu Hao , Li Kui , Liu Yan-Jun , Li Zheng-Hao , Liu Yan-Kun , Dong Lian-Kun , Ding Kun
Published: February 2025

Adsorption is considered a simple and efficient method for treating dye wastewater.
Are activation barriers of 50–70 kcal mol−1 accessible for transformations in organic synthesis in solution?
Authors: Shaydullin Ruslan R. , Galushko Alexey S. , Ilyushenkova Valentina V. , Vlasova Yulia S. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: February 2025

High-temperature organic chemistry represents a transformative approach for accessing reaction pathways previously deemed unattainable under conventional conditions.
Micropores can enhance the intrinsic fracture energy of hydrogels
Authors: Cao Puyu , Chen Bin , Cao Yi , Gao Huajian
Published: February 2025

Hydrogels, a class of soft materials composed of a polymer chain network, are widely known to be prone to fatigue failure. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we simulate polymer scission...
Disentangling the structure, optical properties, and photoluminescence emissions of NiW1−xMoxO4 (x = 25, 50, and 75%) solid solutions: experimental and DFT studies
Authors: Gouveia Amanda Fernandes , Assis Marcelo , Ribeiro Lara Kelly , Gomes Eduardo de Oliveira , Teodoro Marcio Daldin , Longo Elson , Andrés Juan
Published: February 2025

Fine-tuning the photoluminescence emissions of NiW1−xMoxO4 (x = 25, 50, and 75%) solid solutions.
Hybrid films of novel fluorinated polyimides and hyperbranched cyclotriphosphazene polymer for enhanced flame retardancy, thermomechanical properties, and reduced dielectric constant†
Authors: Nagella Sivagangi Reddy , Ha Chang-Sik
Published: February 2025

This study synthesizes novel polyimide (B2FO PI) films using 4,4'-(1,4-phenyleneisopropylidene) diphenoxy bis(2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-aminobenzene) (B2FDA) and 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), as well as polyimide (PI) hybrid films incorporating a hyperbranched fluorinated cyclotriphosphazene polymer....
Correction: HfO2-based ferroelectric synaptic devices: challenges and engineering solutions
Authors: Kwon Taegyu , Choi Hyeong Seok , Lee Dong Hyun , Han Dong Hee , Cho Yong Hyeon , Jeon Intak , Jung Chang Hwa , Lim Hanjin , Moon Taehwan , Park Min Hyuk
Published: February 2025

Correction for ‘HfO2-based ferroelectric synaptic devices: challenges and engineering solutions’ by Taegyu Kwon et al., Chem. Commun., 2025, 61, 3061–3080, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4cc05293e.
Correction: Acoustic modulation and non-contact atomization of droplets based on the Fabry–Pérot resonator
Authors: Li Jingjun , Wang Xiukun , Yang Fan , Sun Yadong , Zhang Lei
Published: February 2025

Correction for ‘Acoustic modulation and non-contact atomization of droplets based on the Fabry–Pérot resonator’ by Jingjun Li et al., Lab Chip, 2024, 24, 2418–2427, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00071D.
A Medium Bandgap Dimeric Acceptor with High Open-Circuit Voltage for Efficient Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Lan Baofa , Yuan Shaohui , Zhong Yanyi , Wang Jia , Shi Wendi , Long Guankui , Rakitin Oleg Alekseevich , Zhang Jiangbin , Zhao Wenkai , Han Kai , Kan Bin , Chen Yongsheng
Published: February 2025

Dimeric acceptors (DMAs) exhibit significant potential for optimizing both the efficiency and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, medium band-gap DMAs with high open-circuit voltage (Voc) for efficient OSCs...
Honeycomb-like MnO/C hybrids with strong interfacial interactions for aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Li Lin , Zhang Zhongcai , Ge Yuan , Zhao Ya , Wu Wenru , Meng Xianliang , Fan Jiaxin
Published: February 2025

Honeycomb-like MnO/C hybrids for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries.
Correction: Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates high-fat diet induced testicular toxicity in rats
Authors: Wang Er Hui , Yu Zeng Li , Bu Yong Jun , Xu Peng Wei , Xi Jin Yan , Liang Hai Yan
Published: February 2025

Correction for ‘Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates high-fat diet induced testicular toxicity in rats’ by Er Hui Wang et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 11842–11850, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA01017C.
Multifunctional oxadiazole-based ultraviolet-emitting materials used as hosts for multicolor phosphorescence
Authors: Chu Lizhi , Ma Chenglin , Zhang Li , Zhou Yannan , Song Jingru , Sun Qikun , Zhang Shi-Tong , Yang Wenjun , Xue Shanfeng
Published: February 2025

Novel ultraviolet to deep-blue emissions are achieved in three donor–acceptor materials with weak donors and regulated stacking. High efficiency, low roll-off and long operational lifetimes are obtained in green, yellow and red emissive PhOLEDs.
Tracking solvent-induced conformational collapse of periodically grafted amphiphilic polymers using PFG NMR diffusometry
Authors: Ramakrishnan S. , Sardana Harshita , Phani Kumar Bandaru V. N.
Published: February 2025

Periodically grafted amphiphilic polymers (PGAPs) belong to an interesting class of amphiphilic polymers that carry long hydrophobic alkylene segments along the backbone and periodically located hydrophilic pendant segments, such as...
Listener Discrimination and Effort in Different Levels of Background Noise for Clear Speech Produced by Speakers With Parkinson Disease
Authors: Morse Kenneth V. , Coy Anna Gravelin
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of clear speech on listener discrimination and listener effort.

Method:

Seventeen normal-hearing young adults listened to recorded sentences spoken by individuals with Parkinson disease and hypokinetic dysarthria pre– and post–clear speech instruction. Sentences were presented in the background noise at four different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). We quantified listener discrimination by the number of correct words the participant repeated back and the SNR at which the participant achieved 50% correct word recognition (SNR-50). We quantified listener effort subjectively and with pupillometry. Mixed-model analyses of variance were used to determine the main effect of speech condition (habitual, clear), the main effect of dB SNR (+10, +5, 0, and −5), and the interaction between speech condition and dB SNR for (a) number of correct words, (b) subjective listening effort, and (c) mean pupil diameter. A paired-samples
t
test was used to determine the difference in SNR-50 between habitual and clear speech conditions.

Results:

Better discrimination in the clear condition was indicated by significantly more correct words repeated back and a significantly lower SNR-50. Reduced listening effort in the clear condition was indicated by significantly lower subjectively reported listening effort and smaller mean pupil diameter. The greatest difference between the clear and habitual condition was at 0 dB SNR.

Conclusions:

Clear speech instruction improved listener discrimination and reduced effort indicated by subjective, behavioral, and physiological measurements. The greatest improvement was seen in adverse listening conditions with background noise, but when the background noise was too loud to overcome, there was no benefit to hearing clear versus habitual speech.
Discriminating between cosmological models using data-driven methods
Authors: Vilardi S. , Capozziello S. , Brescia M.
Published: February 2025

This study examines the Pantheon+SH0ES dataset using the standard Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model as a prior and applies machine learning to assess deviations. Rather than assuming discrepancies, we tested the models’ goodness of fit and explored whether the data allow alternative cosmological features. The central goal is to evaluate the robustness of the ΛCDM model compared with other dark energy models, and to investigate whether there are deviations that might provide new cosmological insights. This study takes a data-driven approach, using traditional statistical methods and machine learning techniques. Initially, we evaluated six dark energy models using traditional statistical methods such as Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) and static or dynamic nested sampling to infer cosmological parameters. We then adopted a machine learning approach, developing a regression model to compute the distance modulus for each supernova and expanding the feature set to 74 statistical features. We used an ensemble of four models: multi-layer perceptron, k-nearest neighbours, random forest regressor, and gradient boosting. Cosmological parameters were estimated in four scenarios using MCMC and nested sampling, while feature selection techniques (random forest, Boruta, and the Shapley additive explanation) were applied in three. Traditional statistical analysis confirms that the ΛCDM model is robust, yielding expected parameter values. Other models show deviations, with the generalised and modified Chaplygin gas models performing poorly. In the machine learning analysis, feature selection techniques, particularly Boruta, significantly improve model performance. In particular, models initially considered weak (generalised or modified Chaplygin gas) show significant improvement after feature selection. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a data-driven approach to cosmological model evaluation. The ΛCDM model remains robust, while machine learning techniques, in particular feature selection, reveal potential improvements to alternative models that could be relevant for new observational campaigns, such as the recent Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey.
Utilisation des instruments économiques pour réduire l’épuisement des eaux souterraines dans le contexte du changement climatique : cas de l’aquifère de Mahdia-Ksour Essef en Tunisie
Authors: Soula Rania , Chebil Ali , Majdoub Rajouene , Kahil Taher , Albiac José
Published: February 2025

La gestion durable des aquifères dans les régions arides et semi-arides est cruciale pour assurer la durabilité socio-environnementale. La régulation des prélèvements d’eau souterraine peut être réalisée à travers plusieurs instruments. La modélisation hydro-économique fournit des perspectives pour l’analyse de l’efficacité de ces instruments en vue d’une gestion efficace des ressources en eau. En effet, ces modèles offrent aux décideurs des informations importantes qui peuvent les aider à optimiser leurs décisions en matière d’allocation de l’eau. Cette étude évalue l’impact des instruments économiques tels que les quotas, la taxe environnementale et le système quota-taxe, sur la durabilité de l’aquifère Mahdia-Ksour Essef ainsi que sur l’économie locale, tout en intégrant les projections climatiques futures grâce à la modélisation hydro-économique. En explorant divers scénarios de gestion de l’eau, l’étude fournit des recommandations pour améliorer l’allocation des ressources. Les politiques de quotas, ajustés en fonction de la recharge naturelle, ainsi que les taxes et le système quota-taxe sont examinés et comparés au scénario de statu quo. Les résultats montrent que les politiques basées sur les quotas permettent une reconstitution plus rapide de l’aquifère et génèrent des revenus totaux après taxes supérieurs à ceux avant taxes. Par exemple, sous le scénario de changement climatique le plus pessimiste, le quota de préservation de la ressource en eau pour les générations futures pourrait augmenter le niveau de l’aquifère à la fin de la période de simulation de 1,69 m. Ces politiques pourraient influencer les revenus agricoles, en favorisant des cultures plus rentables et résilientes à la sécheresse, telles que les olives et les amandes. Cette étude souligne l’efficacité des modèles hydro-économiques en tant qu’approches pour évaluer la gestion des eaux souterraines. Ainsi, elle oriente les décideurs vers des choix stratégiques favorisant la durabilité et l’efficacité, particulièrement dans un contexte de changement climatique et de surexploitation des ressources en eau.