bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kant's Ideas of Reason
Authors: Kraus Katharina T.
Published: February 2025

This Element introduces Kant's ideas of reason, focussing on the ideas of theoretical reason in the study of nature. It offers a novel interpretation that shows how such ideas as the soul, the world-whole, and God provide a regulative orientation for coping with human perspectival situatedness in the world. This perspectivalist interpretation reconciles two interpretive tendencies: a realist reading, according to which ideas refer to real things independent of the human mind, and a fictionalist reading, according to which ideas are heuristic fictions without reference to anything real. The perspectivalist interpretation recognizes two functions of ideas: first, ideas outline domains of possible objects, thus presenting the human mind with contexts of intelligibility in which the cognition of objects can be meaningful at all. Second, ideas project an ultimate reality as a focus imaginarius, which serves as a normative ideal for evaluating the success of human inquiries into nature.
Dignity and Rights
Authors: Zylberman Ariel
Published: February 2025

Dignity and rights are pervasive ideas. But how exactly should we understand them? Although philosophical theories of dignity and of rights typically proceed independently of each other, this Element treats them together. One advantage of doing so is that we can see a deeper unity underlying the familiar difficulties of standard accounts of dignity and rights (Sections 1 and 2). A second advantage is that understanding how many of the difficulties stem from the reductivist structure of the standard accounts lets us envisage a non-reductivist alternative. Drawing from the metaphysics of kinds and dispositions and from social ontology shows that dignity and rights are fundamental and interdependent normative properties. As pre-conventional properties (Section 3), dignity and rights mark a distinct type of value and function dispositionally, directed to actualization through recognition by others. As social properties (Section 4), they specify the normative status and entitlements constitutive of social kinds.
The Form and Theory of Literary Doodling
Authors: Mercurio Jeremiah R. , Gabelman Daniel
Published: February 2025

This Element investigates the phenomenon of literary doodling—the making of playful verbal and visual creations by professional authors while engaged in another activity. The first part focuses on defining the form and structure of doodles, comparing and contrasting them with adjacent genres such as sketches, caricatures, and illustrations. The second part explores the modality of doodling, examining doodles through the lenses of spectrality, liminality, and play. Drawing on a wide range of theories and backed up with numerous close readings, the Element argues that doodles, despite their apparent triviality, provide valuable insights into the creative processes, authorial habits, and finished works of literary doodlers. Ultimately, this study aims to legitimise doodles as worthy of serious critical attention, demonstrating how they trouble the meaning of texts, introduce semantic flexibility into literary works and their reception, and rejuvenate the joy of readerly discovery.
The New Health Educational Method of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience from Wuhan, China
Authors: Wang Wenjing , Ran Li , Chen Xuyu , Tan Xiaodong
Published: February 2025

The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) threatens people’s lives, and they pay more attention to health than ever before. Medical workers and other members of society need to have knowledge of responding to medical emergencies, as does the public. With the improvement of the public’s health literacy, we will have more chances to prevent the development of the pandemic. The fifth-generation Pavilion of Health Emergency Experience (Wuhan, China) provides a new health interactive platform. It introduces advanced technology to present how these events happen, how they evolve, and how they are handled. With a deep understanding of the construction and structure of pavilions in this field both at home and abroad, we will know our limitations and make efforts to innovate. Therefore, we should make full use of the advanced technology of public health to benefit the people. And the fifth-generation pavilion deserves to generalize in other areas.
On local Galois deformation rings: generalised tori
Authors: Paškūnas Vytautas , Quast Julian
Published: February 2025

We study deformation theory of mod p Galois representations of p-adic fields with values in generalised tori, such as L-groups of (possibly non-split) tori. We show that the corresponding deformation rings are formally smooth over a group algebra of a finite abelian p-group. We compute their dimension and the set of irreducible components.
Authentic leadership: 20-Year review editorial
Authors: Lux Andrei A. , Lowe Kevin B.
Published: February 2025

Our field has reached a critical juncture. Authentic leadership, which once promised to illuminate how leaders inspire and influence through genuine actions, has become mired in conceptual ambiguity and ideological bias. Much of the research is based on evaluations of behaviour conflated with antecedents and outcomes, presuming an oversimplified, positive view of authenticity. To advance, we must refocus on what authentic leaders actually do – their discrete behaviours – as signals of leadership. In this editorial, we redefine authentic leadership through signalling theory to address unresolved critiques and provide a platform for meaningful progress. We then summarise and synthesise the articles in this special issue, which systematically review the literature, present dynamic models of authenticity, introduce ‘bounded authenticity’ in leadership roles, advocate for rigorous experimental methods, and offer empirical support. Collectively, these papers advance authentic leadership theory with greater theoretical precision and a conceptual nuance that reflects the modern organisational leadership landscape.
First report of a dactylogyrid, Cichlidogyrus sclerosus Paperna & Thurston, 1969 (Monogenoidea) infecting Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) in the United States, with a review of host and locality records in its invasive range and a phylogenetic analysis
Authors: Brule J.H. , Warren M.B. , Bullard S.A.
Published: February 2025

The parasites of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) are poorly documented in the United States despite the economic importance and global introduction of this African fish. Only one metazoan parasite (Gyrodactylus cichlidarum Paperna, 1968; Gyrodactylidae) reportedly infects Nile tilapia in the United States. Examining Nile tilapia from a flow-through aquaculture system hydrologically linked to Sougahatchee Creek (Tallapoosa River, Auburn, Alabama), we observed a gill infection by Cichlidogyrus sclerosus Paperna & Thurston, 1969 (Dactylogyridae). This monogenoid was originally described from the gill of Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) from Lake Victoria, Uganda. Specimens of C. sclerosus were studied for morphology and phylogenetic analyses using the 28S and ITS1. We identified our specimens as C. sclerosus because they had the following combination of morphological features: marginal hooks shorter than dorsal anchor length; anchor roots reduced; dorsal anchor point bent; dorsal bar pyriform projections approximately half as long as dorsal bar width; penis short (<100 μm), not coiled, tubular, lacking swelling, having irregularly surfaced heel; and accessory piece straight and bifid. Our 28S and ITS1 phylogenies recovered our C. sclerosus sequences in a clade with conspecific sequences and showed no obvious biogeographic pattern. Cichlidogyrus sclerosus reportedly infects 21 fishes of 11 genera and 3 families from 36 countries in Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Europe. The study of Nile tilapia parasites, especially those exhibiting direct life cycles and low host specificity, is important because they comprise potential invasive species.
Europe's Long 1989
Authors: Bickerton Christopher
Published: February 2025

This article introduces the notion of Europe's ‘long 1989’. It does so in order to connect the remarkable events in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989 to a wider set of transformations that have reshaped Europe as a whole. The article focuses on three sets of transformation. Firstly, the dismantling of political systems forged in the earlier era of ideological polarisation. Secondly, the ‘modernisation’ of national economies that entailed the disappearance of the institutional expressions of class compromise after 1945 (in the Stalinist and social democratic forms). Thirdly, the unravelling of those collective identities – class, religion, gender and sexuality – that had come to shape individual experiences so forcefully across the twentieth century. The article explores the liberating effects of these transformations whilst arguing that the principle dynamic has been that of implosion. The resulting sense of loss has shaped contemporary Europe in multiple ways.
Anthony Comstock, Abortion, and the Arrest of Madame Restell
Authors: Syrett Nicholas L.
Published: February 2025

Anthony Comstock arrested many people, but perhaps none was so famous as Madame Restell, whom he arrested on February 11, 1878, for selling contraceptives and abortifacients. While Comstock’s actions had led to the arrest of other celebrated personae in the past – including Victoria Woodhull, her second husband James Blood, and her sister, Tennessee Claflin in 1872 – Restell’s arrest and looming trial led her to commit suicide by slitting her throat on April 1, 1878, which leant even further notoriety to the arrest.1 Because Restell remains best known as an abortion provider, and because Comstock succeeded in passing a federal statute that bears his name, one might assume that abortion occupied a central place in his campaign, or that Restell was arrested for performing an abortion. Neither is completely accurate. Indeed, Restell was not even arrested under the aegis of the federal statute, but instead under New York State law, though certainly at the instigation of Comstock and by him personally. By taking the arrest of Restell as a case study, this essay considers the various legal modes by which Comstock did his work, and the way he understood abortion as related to his greater campaign against obscenity and sexual license.
The paper famine: Newsprint, development, and the materialities of Third World media in the time of decolonisation
Authors: Roberts George
Published: February 2025

This article explores the global political economy of paper—particularly newsprint—during the era of decolonisation. It shows how Third World countries, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) understood newsprint as an infrastructural tool for accelerating development. However, a ‘paper famine’ in the mid-1970s exposed the major structural inequalities in the global newsprint trade, catalysing experiments to develop local paper manufacturing capacity in the Third World. The article demonstrates how debates about access to newsprint were tightly bound up with arguments about global information flows and the role of the press in the developing world. In so doing, the article argues that bringing global histories of commodities and communications into conversation enriches our understanding of the media by drawing attention to the material substance by which information circulates.
Cancer insurance pricing under different scenarios associated with diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Arık Ayşe , Cairns Andrew J. G. , Dodd Erengul , Macdonald Angus S. , Shao Adam , Streftaris George
Published: February 2025

We consider pricing of a specialised critical illness and life insurance contract for breast cancer (BC) risk. We compare (a) an industry-based Markov model with (b) a recently developed semi-Markov model, which accounts for unobserved BC cases and progression through clinical stages of BC, and (c) an alternative Markov model derived from (b). All models are calibrated using population data in England and data from the medical literature. We show that the semi-Markov model aligns best with empirical evidence. We then consider net premiums of specialized life insurance products under various scenarios of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The results show strong dependence on the time spent with diagnosed or undiagnosed pre-metastatic BC. This proves to be significant for refining cancer survival estimates and accurately estimating related age dependence by cancer stage. In contrast, the industry-based model, by overlooking this critical factor, is more sensitive to the model assumptions, underscoring its limitations in cancer estimates.
Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Problematic Video Gaming During Adolescence
Authors: Goagoses Naska , Schüürmann Alissa , Pöchmüller Viktoria , Hillenbrand Clemens
Published: February 2025

Abstract: Given the significant negative consequences of problematic video gaming among adolescents, it is crucial to identify risk and protective factors to inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. The aim of the current study was to examine the associations between adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and both prolonged and problematic video gaming among early-to-mid adolescents in Germany. A total of 626 adolescents in Grades 5 – 10 completed the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, as well as providing details on their prolonged gaming time and symptoms of problematic gaming. Catastrophizing and acceptance were positively associated with prolonged gaming time, while refocus on planning showed a negative association. The maladaptive strategies rumination and blaming others were positively associated with problematic gaming, and the adaptive strategy positive reappraisal showed a negative association. The findings highlight the role of emotion regulation in problematic gaming and pave the way for future studies focusing on developmental mechanisms as well as insights for prevention and intervention measures.
Systematisches Review zum Adaptivitätskonzept im Kontext von Sprachbildung/-förderung in Kitas
Authors: Beckerle Christine , Risse Laura S.
Published: February 2025

Zusammenfassung: Im Kontext von Sprachbildung/-förderung (SBF) in Kitas wird Adaptivität (Passung) in der Interaktion der Trias aus pädagogischer Fachkraft (PFK), Kind und Lernangebot als Gelingensbedingung postuliert, wobei das Konzept in der Bildungsforschung bislang nur vage definiert ist ( Hardy et al., 2019a ). Im Beitrag wird ein systematisches Review vorgestellt, welches das Auftreten und Merkmale des Adaptivitätskonzepts im Kontext von SBF in Kitas untersucht. Hierzu wurde deutschsprachige Fachliteratur (wissenschaftliche sowie Praxispublikationen) ab dem Jahr 2000 (Stichtag der Suche am 02.05.2024) aus dem Fachportal Pädagogik und PubPsych herangezogen, die sich mit der institutionellen SBF im Elementarbereich auseinandersetzt und den Begriff der Adaptivität bzw. Passung verwendet. Die Literaturauswahl und -analyse erfolgte durch zwei Reviewerinnen nach der PRISMA-Leitlinie ( Page et al., 2021 ). In den 43 eingeschlossenen Publikationen zeigt sich, dass Adaptivität häufig ein Nebenthema ist und eher theoretisch als empirisch bearbeitet wird. Während Voraussetzungen und Handlungen von PFK und Kindern vergleichbar häufig beschrieben werden, sind die Beschreibungen bezüglich PFK differenzierter als bei Kindern; das Lernangebot findet am wenigsten Berücksichtigung. Ganz selten wird das Wechselspiel in der Trias fokussiert; auch der förderdiagnostische Prozess wird nur in Teilen ausgeführt. Mithilfe der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse (u.a. entwickeltes Kategoriensystem) soll ein Beitrag zur Theorieentwicklung geleistet werden; zudem werden Forschungs- und Praxisimplikationen hinsichtlich der Bedeutung des Kindes, des Lernangebots und des Wechselspiels in der Trias abgeleitet.
Mapping Global Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration Coupling Strength Based on a Two‐System Method and Multiple Data Sources
Authors: Zhou Jianhong , Yang Kun , Dong Jianzhi , Crow Wade T. , Lu Hui , Zhao Long , Feng Huihui , Tian Jiaxin , Ma Xiaogang , Tian Xin , Jiang Yaozhi
Published: February 2025

Soil moisture (SM) is a key state variable in the climate system through its control on evapotranspiration (ET) and ET‐regulated lower atmospheric processes. The SM‐ET coupling strength (SECS) is thus closely linked with land‐atmosphere interactions and its reliability is crucial for Earth system modeling. However, acquiring global maps of unbiased SECS remains challenging given significant levels of error present in globally available SM and ET products. Triple collocation (TC) provides a possible solution; however, it is difficult to apply globally since it requires access to three independent SM‐ET data pairs—a requirement that is difficult to meet in practice. Here, we generate a global SECS map based on a new two‐system approach that requires only two independent SM‐ET data pairs. This two‐system approach is first validated over local ground sites versus a ground‐inclusive benchmark SECS. Subsequently, it is applied to generate a global map of SECS with input from various independent globally available SM‐ET data pairs (identified using the benchmark SECS). Results suggest that previous TC‐based SECS estimates are generally negatively biased due to cross‐correlated error present between RS products. Instead, our generated new SECS map is shown to provide more robust mapping of global SECS—thus offering an important reference for improving Earth system models.
European Arid Anomaly Explained With Southward Drift of Eurasia During the Late Jurassic Polar Shift
Authors: Muttoni Giovanni , Dallanave Edoardo , Della Porta Giovanna
Published: February 2025

The sedimentary successions of several basins in Europe show evidence of widespread Late Jurassic aridification that is considered a long‐standing conundrum in paleoclimate modeling. The distinctive feature of this event is that it appears concentrated in a discrete time interval between the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) and the Berriasian (Early Cretaceous), and that it extended to eastern and southern‐central Asia for a total of ∼10 Mkm2 in roughly the same time interval. Climate modeling has not provided a convincing explanation for this event. We compiled and reviewed paleomagnetic data from several continents including Adria, the African promontory, showing that this large‐scale aridification was produced by an abrupt and transient southward migration of Eurasia toward arid tropical latitudes, while its demise coincided with a “retromotion” to more humid northern latitudes in the Early Cretaceous. This movement is part of a global plate motion event, most likely due to True Polar Wander, that profoundly affected the depositional environments, the ecosystems, and the architecture of sedimentary basins worldwide.
North‐South Asymmetry of Sq Variations at Geomagnetically Conjugate Area
Authors: Liu Xiaocan , Han Peng , Liu Yangkun , Xu Jiyao , Hattori Katsumi , Chen Huaran , Jiao Liguo , Tu Jiyao
Published: February 2025

Asymmetry in the northern and southern hemispheres of Sq variations at the middle and low latitudes (within ±50°) is examined by analyzing observations from five pairs of geomagnetically conjugate stations of SuperMAG during quiet days. The results indicate that the asymmetries of the horizontal components of Sq variations (ASYM‐X/Y) significantly vary with season and depend on latitude. First, ASYM‐X of the three pairs of conjugate stations on the polar‐side (44°) of and near (33° and 25°) the Sq focus are stronger from May through October than in the other seasons. ASYM‐X of the two pairs of conjugate stations on the equatorial‐side of focus (14° and 8°) is weak even in the June solstice. The intensity of ASYM‐X on the polar‐side is as strong as that of near focus from May through September and becomes as weak as that of the equatorial‐side in other seasons. Second, the pattern of ASYM‐Y on the polar‐side is different from that at other latitudes, which basically consists of two parts. At other latitudes, ASYM‐Y from April to October has a three‐part pattern. The intensities of ASYM‐Y in 06–10 LT and 14–18 LT decrease with increasing latitude from April to September. Finally, the north‐south hemisphere asymmetry of the Sq variations is mainly caused by the asymmetry of the neutral winds. The seasonal and latitudinal variations of the asymmetry of the migrating tides, especially the zonal component, are essentially consistent with those of the Sq variations.
Nelarabine in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: intracellular metabolism and molecular mode-of-action
Authors: Hormann Femke M. , Rudd Sean G.
Published: February 2025

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients often have a poor 5-year event-free survival. The only T-ALL specific drug in clinical practice is nelarabine. A prodrug of the deoxyguanosine analog ara-G, nelarabine is a rationally designed agent selective for the treatment of T-cell malignancies. Originally approved for relapsed/refractory T-ALL, it is increasingly used in T-ALL therapy and is currently being evaluated in upfront treatment. Whilst the clinical use of nelarabine has been the topic of multiple review articles, a thorough overview of the preclinical data detailing the molecular underpinnings of its anti-leukemic activity is lacking, which is critical to inform mechanism-based use. Thus, in the present article we conducted a semi-systematic review of the literature and critically evaluated the preclinical knowledge on the molecular pharmacology of nelarabine. Whilst early studies identified ara-G triphosphate to be the principal active metabolite and nuclear DNA synthesis to be a key target, many fundamental questions remain that could inform upon future use of this therapy. These include the nature of nelarabine-induced DNA lesions and their repair, together with additional cellular targets of ara-G metabolites and their role in efficacy and toxicity. A critical avenue of research in need of development is investigation of nelarabine combination therapies, both in the context of current T-ALL chemotherapy regimens and with emerging anti-leukemic agents, and we highlight some areas to pursue. Altogether, we discuss what we can learn from the preclinical literature as a whole and present our view for future research regarding nelarabine treatment in T-ALL.
Breast cancer: pathogenesis and treatments
Authors: Xiong Xin , Zheng Le-Wei , Ding Yu , Chen Yu-Fei , Cai Yu-Wen , Wang Lei-Ping , Huang Liang , Liu Cui-Cui , Shao Zhi-Ming , Yu Ke-Da
Published: February 2025

Breast cancer, characterized by unique epidemiological patterns and significant heterogeneity, remains one of the leading causes of malignancy-related deaths in women. The increasingly nuanced molecular subtypes of breast cancer have enhanced the comprehension and precision treatment of this disease. The mechanisms of tumorigenesis and progression of breast cancer have been central to scientific research, with investigations spanning various perspectives such as tumor stemness, intra-tumoral microbiota, and circadian rhythms. Technological advancements, particularly those integrated with artificial intelligence, have significantly improved the accuracy of breast cancer detection and diagnosis. The emergence of novel therapeutic concepts and drugs represents a paradigm shift towards personalized medicine. Evidence suggests that optimal diagnosis and treatment models tailored to individual patient risk and expected subtypes are crucial, supporting the era of precision oncology for breast cancer. Despite the rapid advancements in oncology and the increasing emphasis on the clinical precision treatment of breast cancer, a comprehensive update and summary of the panoramic knowledge related to this disease are needed. In this review, we provide a thorough overview of the global status of breast cancer, including its epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and molecular subtyping. Additionally, we elaborate on the latest research into mechanisms contributing to breast cancer progression, emerging treatment strategies, and long-term patient management. This review offers valuable insights into the latest advancements in Breast Cancer Research, thereby facilitating future progress in both basic research and clinical application.
Population-level analyses identify host and environmental variables influencing the vaginal microbiome
Authors: Qin Lang , Sun Tianyong , Li Xiao , Zhao Shigang , Liu Zheng , Zhang Changlong , Jin Congcong , Xu Yanqi , Gao Xuan , Cao Yongzhi , Wang Jiaojiao , Han Ting , Yan Lei , Song Jialun , Zhang Fangfang , Liu Feifei , Zhang Yousheng , Huang Yuzhen , Song Yuping , Liu Yanjun , Zhang Jing , Zhang Xiuqing , Yao Zhina , Chen Honglei , Zhang Zhenzhen , Zhao Shengrui , Feng Yuhan , Zhang Ya-nan , Yu Qian , Cao Fang , Zhao Lijuan , Xie Lei , Geng Ling , Feng Qiang , Zhao Han , Chen Zi-Jiang
Published: February 2025

The vaginal microbiome is critical for the reproductive health of women, yet the differential impacts exerted by the host and by ambient environmental variables on the vaginal microbiome remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted a comprehensive cross-sectional study of the relationships between the vaginal microbiome and 81 matched host and environmental variables across 6755 Chinese women. By 16S rRNA sequencing, we identified four core vaginal microbiota with a prevalence of over 90% and a total median abundance of 98.8%. Twenty-four variables, including physiology, lifestyle behaviors, gynecologic history, social and environmental information, were found associated with the microbiome composition, of which bacterial vaginosis (BV) showed the largest effect size. Age was among the strongest explanatory variables and the vaginal microbiome dynamically succeeded with increasing age, especially with a composition turning point at the age of 45. Our mediation analyses indicated that the effects of age on the microbiome could be mediated by variables such as parity number and lifestyles. We further classified the vaginal microbiomes of the population into 13 “Vagitypes”. Women with Lactobacillus iners- and Lactobacillus jensenii-dominated Vagitypes had significantly higher live birth rate than those with Vagitype dominated by Fannyhessea vaginae (53.40%, 59.09% vs 21.43%; OR [95% CI]: 3.62 [1.12–14.87], 5.39 [1.27–27.36]; P = 0.031, P = 0.021). This study provides a comprehensive overview of the associations between identified variables and the vaginal microbiome, representing an important step toward understanding of environment-microbe-host interactions.
Syk inhibitor attenuates lupus in FcγRIIb−/− mice through the Inhibition of DNA extracellular traps from macrophages and neutrophils via p38MAPK-dependent pathway
Authors: Sae-khow Kritsanawan , Charoensappakit Awirut , Udompornpitak Kanyarat , Saisorn Wilasinee , Issara-Amphorn Jiraphorn , Palaga Tanapat , Leelahavanichkul Asada
Published: February 2025

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), an important hub of immune signaling, is activated by several signalings in active lupus which could be interfered by Syk inhibitor but is still not completely evaluated in innate immune cells associated with lupus activity. Hence, a Syk inhibitor (fostamatinib; R788) was tested in vivo using Fc gamma receptor-deficient (FcγRIIb−/−) lupus mice and in vitro (macrophages and neutrophils). After 4 weeks of oral Syk inhibitor, 40 week-old FcγRIIb−/− mice (a full-blown lupus model) demonstrated less prominent lupus parameters (serum anti-dsDNA, proteinuria, and glomerulonephritis), systemic inflammation, as evaluated by serum TNFa, IL-6, and citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), gut permeability defect, as indicated by serum FITC dextran assay, serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and serum (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan (BG), extracellular traps (ETs) and immune complex deposition in spleens and kidneys (immunofluorescent staining of CitH3 and immunoglobulin G) than FcγRIIb−/− mice with placebo. Due to the spontaneous elevation of LPS and BG in serum, LPS plus BG (LPS + BG) was used to activate macrophages and neutrophils. After LPS + BG stimulation, FcγRIIb−/− macrophages and neutrophils demonstrated predominant abundance of phosphorylated Syk (Western blotting), and the pro-inflammatory responses (CD86 flow cytometry analysis, supernatant cytokines, ETs immunofluorescent, and flow cytometry-based apoptosis). With RNA sequencing analysis and western blotting, the Syk-p38MAPK-dependent pathway was suggested as downregulating several inflammatory pathways in LPS + BG-activated FcγRIIb−/− macrophages and neutrophils. Although both inhibitors against Syk and p38MAPK attenuated macrophage and neutrophil inflammatory responses against LPS + WGP, the apoptosis inhibition by p38MAPK inhibitor was not observed. These results suggested that Syk inhibitor (fostamatinib) improved the severity of lupus caused by FcγRIIb defect partly through Syk-p38MAPK anti-inflammation that inhibited both ET formation and cytokine production from innate immune cells.
Blue benzoquinone from scorpion venom shows bactericidal activity against drug-resistant strains of the priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Gallegos-Monterrosa Ramses , Cid-Uribe Jimena I. , Delgado-Prudencio Gustavo , Pérez-Morales Deyanira , Banda María M. , Téllez-Galván Alexis , Carcamo-Noriega Edson N. , Garza-Ramos Ulises , Zare Richard N. , Possani Lourival D. , Bustamante Víctor H.
Published: February 2025

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant global health threat, particularly pathogens resistant to last-resort antibiotics, such as those listed as priority pathogens by the World Health Organization. Addressing this challenge requires the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Previously, we identified a blue 1,4-benzoquinone isolated from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Diplocentrus melici as a potent antimicrobial compound effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, we devised a cost-effective synthetic route for its production. In this study, we demonstrate that the blue benzoquinone exhibits antibacterial activity against additional pathogens, including the priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Notably, the compound effectively killed clinical strains of A. baumannii resistant to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenem and colistin. Furthermore, A. baumannii did not develop resistance to the benzoquinone even after multiple growth cycles under sub-inhibitory concentrations, unlike the tested antibiotics. These findings underscore the potential of this blue benzoquinone as a lead compound for the development of a new class of antibiotics targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria.
RNA methyltransferase SPOUT1/CENP-32 links mitotic spindle organization with the neurodevelopmental disorder SpADMiSS
Authors: Dharmadhikari Avinash V. , Abad Maria Alba , Khan Sheraz , Maroofian Reza , Sands Tristan T. , Ullah Farid , Samejima Itaru , Shen Yanwen , Wear Martin A. , Moore Kiara E. , Kondakova Elena , Mitina Natalia , Schaub Theres , Lee Grace K. , Umandap Christine H. , Berger Sara M. , Iglesias Alejandro D. , Popp Bernt , Abou Jamra Rami , Gabriel Heinz , Rentas Stefan , Rippert Alyssa L. , Gray Christopher , Izumi Kosuke , Conlin Laura K. , Koboldt Daniel C. , Mosher Theresa Mihalic , Hickey Scott E. , Albert Dara V. F. , Norwood Haley , Lewanda Amy Feldman , Dai Hongzheng , Liu Pengfei , Mitani Tadahiro , Marafi Dana , Eker Hatice Koçak , Pehlivan Davut , Posey Jennifer E. , Lippa Natalie C. , Vena Natalie , Heinzen Erin L. , Goldstein David B. , Mignot Cyril , de Sainte Agathe Jean-Madeleine , Al-Sannaa Nouriya Abbas , Zamani Mina , Sadeghian Saeid , Azizimalamiri Reza , Seifia Tahere , Zaki Maha S. , Abdel-Salam Ghada M. H. , Abdel-Hamid Mohamed S. , Alabdi Lama , Alkuraya Fowzan Sami , Dawoud Heba , Lofty Aya , Bauer Peter , Zifarelli Giovanni , Afzal Erum , Zafar Faisal , Efthymiou Stephanie , Gossett Daniel , Towne Meghan C. , Yeneabat Raey , Perez-Duenas Belen , Cazurro-Gutierrez Ana , Verdura Edgard , Cantarin-Extremera Veronica , Marques Ana do Vale , Helwak Aleksandra , Tollervey David , Wontakal Sandeep N. , Aggarwal Vimla S. , Rosenfeld Jill A. , Tarabykin Victor , Ohta Shinya , Lupski James R. , Houlden Henry , Earnshaw William C. , Davis Erica E. , Jeyaprakash A. Arockia , Liao Jun
Published: February 2025

SPOUT1/CENP-32 encodes a putative SPOUT RNA methyltransferase previously identified as a mitotic chromosome associated protein. SPOUT1/CENP-32 depletion leads to centrosome detachment from the spindle poles and chromosome misalignment. Aided by gene matching platforms, here we identify 28 individuals with neurodevelopmental delays from 21 families with bi-allelic variants in SPOUT1/CENP-32 detected by exome/genome sequencing. Zebrafish spout1/cenp-32 mutants show reduction in larval head size with concomitant apoptosis likely associated with altered cell cycle progression. In vivo complementation assays in zebrafish indicate that SPOUT1/CENP-32 missense variants identified in humans are pathogenic. Crystal structure analysis of SPOUT1/CENP-32 reveals that most disease-associated missense variants are located within the catalytic domain. Additionally, SPOUT1/CENP-32 recurrent missense variants show reduced methyltransferase activity in vitro and compromised centrosome tethering to the spindle poles in human cells. Thus, SPOUT1/CENP-32 pathogenic variants cause an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder: SpADMiSS (SPOUT1 Associated Development delay Microcephaly Seizures Short stature) underpinned by mitotic spindle organization defects and consequent chromosome segregation errors.
Evaluation of polygenic scores for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the general population and across clinical settings
Authors: Zheng Sean L. , Jurgens Sean J. , McGurk Kathryn A. , Xu Xiao , Grace Chris , Theotokis Pantazis I. , Buchan Rachel J. , Francis Catherine , de Marvao Antonio , Curran Lara , Bai Wenjia , Pua Chee Jian , Tang Hak Chiaw , Jorda Paloma , van Slegtenhorst Marjon A. , Verhagen Judith M. A. , Harper Andrew R. , Ormondroyd Elizabeth , Chin Calvin W. L. ,   HCM GWAS Collaborators, de Marvao Antonio , van Slegtenhorst Marjon A. , Ware James S. , Pantazis Antonis , Baksi John , Halliday Brian P. , Matthews Paul , Pinto Yigal M. , Walsh Roddy , Amin Ahmad S. , Wilde Arthur A. M. , Cook Stuart A. , Prasad Sanjay K. , Barton Paul J. R. , O’Regan Declan P. , Lumbers R. T. , Goel Anuj , Tadros Rafik , Michels Michelle , Watkins Hugh , Bezzina Connie R. , Ware James S.
Published: February 2025

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, with pathogenic variants found in about a third of cases. Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) demonstrate that common genetic variation contributes to HCM risk. Here we derive polygenic scores (PGS) from HCM GWAS and genetically correlated traits and test their performance in the UK Biobank, 100,000 Genomes Project, and clinical cohorts. We show that higher PGS significantly increases the risk of HCM in the general population, particularly among pathogenic variant carriers, where HCM penetrance differs 10-fold between those in the highest and lowest PGS quintiles. Among relatives of HCM probands, PGS stratifies risks of developing HCM and adverse outcomes. Finally, among HCM cases, PGS strongly predicts the risk of adverse outcomes and death. These findings support the broad utility of PGS across clinical settings, enabling tailored screening and surveillance and stratification of risk of adverse outcomes.
The microRNA-6510 as a potential tumor suppressor in head and neck cancer
Authors: Sobecka-Giel Agnieszka , Ostrowska Kamila , Golusinski Wojciech , Suchorska Wiktoria M. , Masternak Michal M. , Golusinski Pawel
Published: February 2025

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with approximately 830,000 new cases and 430,000 deaths reported annually. Due to their heterogeneity, these neoplasms differ in their clinical course and response to the therapy. Therefore, it has become imperative to identify specific biological molecules that can potentially establish novel prognostic markers or targets for molecular therapy of HNSCC. MicroRNAs are a class of short, non-coding RNAs that function as post-transcriptional regulators of genes expression. They have been shown to be directly involved in oncogenesis, acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Our previous study demonstrated that miRNA hsa-miR-6510-3p is significantly downregulated in tumor tissue compared to histologically normal tissue from HNSCC patients. Its significant downregulation in tumor tissue is associated with lower chances for recovery and patient’s survival. This study aimed to determine the biological role of miR-6510-3p in HNSCC pathogenesis and its impact on biological processes occurring in cancer cells such as cell cycle, cell proliferation, migration or induction of cell death. We have also examined the impact of the miR-6510-3p on expression of cancer stem cell phenotype markers as well as on sensitivity of HNSCC cells to ionizing radiation. We observed that transfection of HNSCC cells with hsa-miR-6510-3p causes the cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and is associated with a decrease of cell proliferation, migration and colony-forming ability of cancer cells. We have also demonstrated that hsa-miR-6510-3p induces cell death, increases the sensitivity of HNSCC cells to ionizing radiation and causes a loss of the stemness properties responsible for the occurrence of metastases and relapses of the disease. These results indicated the importance of miR-6510-3p as a marker and a driver of HNSCC disease.
The effects of an unfamiliar experimenter on proactive and reactive control in children
Authors: Frick Aurélien , Belletier Clément , Tan Wenjia , Meng Ning , Zhou Qiang , Christie Stella , Camos Valérie
Published: February 2025

Cognitive control development across childhood is critical for later academic achievement. Despite recent advances in the comprehension of how the context influences cognitive control development, no study has ever addressed whether one of the most frequent contextual features of children’s lives (i.e., the presence of another person) impacts control engagement. Here, 123 Chinese children aged 5 and 9 years-old performed, either in the presence of an experimenter or alone, an AX-CPT, a task assessing reactive and proactive control. We found that children were overall negatively affected by the experimenter presence in terms of latencies but not of accuracy. Further, when analysing the trial types separately, we observed that this effect mainly concerned trials requiring children to engage more proactive control and was greater for younger than older children. These results indicate that direct social factors such as the presence of an unfamiliar experimenter seem to modulate cognitive control performance. Future research should continue to examine these effects in the light of the numerous existing social presence theories in order to unravel what are the cognitive mechanisms affected by social presence in childhood.
4D sensor perception in relativistic image processing
Authors: Müller Simone , Kranzlmüller Dieter
Published: February 2025

This article introduces the 4D sensor perception in relativistic image processing as a novel way of position and depth estimation. Relativistic image processing extends conventional image processing in computer vision to include the theory of relativity and combines temporal sensor and image data. In consideration of these temporal and relativistic aspects, we process diverse types of information in a novel model of 4D space through 10 different degrees of freedom consisting of 4 translations and 6 rotations. In this way, sensor and image data can be related and processed as a causal tensor field. This enables the temporal prediction of a user’s own position and environmental changes as well as the extraction of depth and sensor maps by related sensors and images. The dynamic influences and cross-sensor dependencies are incorporated into the metric calculation of spatial distances and positions, opening up new perspectives on numerous fields of application in mobility, measurement technology, robotics, and medicine.
Applying deep learning and the ecological home range concept to document the spatial distribution of Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar L.) in experimental tanks
Authors: Kumaran Santhosh K. , Solberg Lars E. , Izquierdo-Gomez David , Cañon-Jones Hernan A. , Mage Ingrid , Noble Chris
Published: February 2025

Measuring and monitoring fish welfare in aquaculture research relies on the use of outcome- (biotic) and input-based (e.g., abiotic) welfare indicators (WIs). Incorporating behavioural auditing into this toolbox can sometimes be challenging because sourcing quantitative data is often labour intensive and it can be a time-consuming process. Digitalization of this process via the use of computer vision and artificial intelligence can help automate and streamline the procedure, help gather continuous quantitative data and help process optimisation and assist in decision-making. The tool introduced in this study (1) adapts the DeepLabCut framework, based on computer vision and machine learning, to obtain pose estimation of Atlantic salmon parr under replicated experimental conditions, (2) quantifies the spatial distribution of the fish through a toolbox of metrics inspired by the ecological concepts home range and core area, and (3) applies it to inspect behavioural variability in and around feeding. This proof of concept study demonstrates the potential of our methodology for automating the analysis of fish behaviour in relation to home range and core area, including fish detection, spatial distribution and the variations within and between tanks. The impact of feeding on these patterns is also briefly outlined, using 5 days of experimental data as a demonstrative case study. This approach can provide stakeholders with valuable information on how the fish use their rearing environment in small-scale experimental settings and can be used for the further development of technologies for measuring and monitoring the behaviour of fish in research settings in future studies.
Progressively smaller glacier lake outburst floods despite worldwide growth in lake area
Authors: Veh Georg , Wang Björn G. , Zirzow Anika , Schmidt Christoph , Lützow Natalie , Steppat Frederic , Zhang Guoqing , Vogel Kristin , Geertsema Marten , Clague John J. , Korup Oliver
Published: February 2025

Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) may originate from larger lakes as these continue to grow with ongoing glacier retreat; however, this perception remains poorly supported in available GLOF databases. Here we mapped the areas of 1,686 glacier lakes, just before they drained, across 13 glaciated mountain regions outside polar regions and examined the trends in pre-GLOF lake areas between 1990 and 2023. We found that pre-GLOF lake areas barely changed, or even decreased, regionally through time, even as the total lake area, and thus hazard potential, grew overall. This counterintuitive finding reflects limits to growing GLOF magnitudes, such as the decoupling of lakes and parent glaciers, the development of wide, low-gradient outlets or human management. Across all regions, pre-GLOF lake areas depend on a few ice-dammed lakes, which have produced ten times more reported outbursts and ten times larger outbursts than moraine- and bedrock-dammed lakes. The latter two dam types will continue to impound growing amounts of meltwater, thereby accounting for most of the overall GLOF hazard potential, while ice-dammed lakes will shrink with deglaciation. As these lake types will evolve differently in the twenty-first century, we call for customized simulations of GLOF outflows and impacts, given the growing exposure of critical infrastructure.
The MAST kinase KIN-4 carries out mitotic entry functions of Greatwall in C. elegans
Authors: Roumbo Ludivine , Ossareh-Nazari Batool , Vigneron Suzanne , Stefani Ioanna , Van Hove Lucie , Legros Véronique , Chevreux Guillaume , Lacroix Benjamin , Castro Anna , Joly Nicolas , Lorca Thierry , Pintard Lionel
Published: February 2025

MAST-like, or Greatwall (Gwl), an atypical protein kinase related to the evolutionarily conserved MAST kinase family, is crucial for cell cycle control during mitotic entry. Mechanistically, Greatwall is activated by Cyclin B-Cdk1 phosphorylation of a 550 amino acids-long insertion in its atypical activation segment. Subsequently, Gwl phosphorylates Endosulfine and Arpp19 to convert them into inhibitors of PP2A-B55 phosphatase, thereby preventing early dephosphorylation of M-phase targets of Cyclin B-Cdk1. Here, searching for an elusive Gwl-like activity in C. elegans, we show that the single worm MAST kinase, KIN-4, fulfills this function in worms and can functionally replace Greatwall in the heterologous Xenopus system. Compared to Greatwall, the short activation segment of KIN-4 lacks a phosphorylation site, and KIN-4 is active even when produced in E. coli. We also show that a balance between Cyclin B-Cdk1 and PP2A-B55 activity, regulated by KIN-4, is essential to ensure asynchronous cell divisions in the early worm embryo. These findings resolve a long-standing puzzle related to the supposed absence of a Greatwall pathway in C. elegans, and highlight a novel aspect of PP2A-B55 regulation by MAST kinases.
Sample preparation methods for elemental analysis in electronic cigarette aerosols: a critical review
Authors: Dill Maarten , Barhdadi Sophia , Vanhee Celine , Deconinck Eric
Published: February 2025

This critical review summarizes and discusses e-cigarette aerosol sampling methods for the quantification of metals and metalloids.
Silyl- and germyl-bridged neutral square-planar Ag4 clusters with short Ag–Ag distances exhibiting red emission
Authors: Ishii Reon , Wada Yoshimasa , Sunada Yusuke
Published: February 2025

We report silyl- and germyl-bridged Ag4 clusters with short Ag–Ag distances (approximately 2.70 Å), exhibiting attractive intermetallic interactions and red emission reaching 700 nm.
Surface chemistry-engineered perovskite quantum dot photovoltaics
Authors: Zhang Xuliang , Huang Hehe , Zhao Chenyu , Yuan Jianyu
Published: February 2025

This review summarizes the progress and provides perspectives on perovskite quantum dot photovoltaics, with a focus on surface chemistry engineering, paving a new direction for large-area and low-cost PV technology to address major energy challenges.
Dissecting errors in machine learning for retrosynthesis: a granular metric framework and a transformer-based model for more informative predictions
Authors: Tadanki Arihanth Srikar , Surya Prakash Rao H. , Priyakumar U. Deva
Published: February 2025

Introducing novel evaluation metrics for retrosynthesis that address dataset imperfections using custom scoring metrics and presenting SynFormer, a transformer-based model that achieves state-of-the-art accuracy efficiently without pre-training.
Neuromorphic devices for electronic skin applications
Authors: Patil Chandrashekhar S. , Ghode Sourabh B. , Kim Jungmin , Kamble Girish U. , Kundale Somnath S. , Mannan Abdul , Ko Youngbin , Noman Muhammad , Saqib Qazi Muhammad , Patil Swapnil R. , Bae Seo Yeong , Kim Jin Hyeok , Park Jun Hong , Bae Jinho
Published: February 2025

This paper illustrates future research directions for neuromorphic e-skin devices and their applications.
A potential UV nonlinear-optical crystal with a strong second-harmonic response: RbNa2Eu2(BO3)3
Authors: Li Dan , Shang Jingyu , Gao Ming , Fan Jiangtao , Hu Zhanggui , Peng Ping , Wu Yicheng
Published: February 2025

Ultraviolet (UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals with a second-harmonic generation (SHG) response can efficiently output UV coherent light, and have important applications in UV solid-state lasers.