bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making the eyes of the state: algorithmic alienation and mundane creativity in Peruvian street-level bureaucrats
Authors: Cerna-Aragon Diego , García Luis
Published: February 2025

The production of state legibility has been a prolific subject of study. However, most works have not paid much attention to the quotidian labor of the street-level bureaucrats that implement legibility projects at a local level. The aim of this article is to explore the implementation of a social registry system at a local level to understand how frontline workers make the population legible. Instead of taking legibility as an object of evaluation or critique, we pay close attention to the inner workings of bureaucracies at the instances in which the sociomaterial conditions of the population are translated into data. Drawing from qualitative research in Peruvian municipalities, we describe the operations of an algorithmic system that classifies the population for the distribution of welfare. We observed how under-resourced bureaucrats were constrained by regulations and technologies of the system. Paradoxically, to make the system work for their local realities, the bureaucrats had to bend the rules and find workarounds. From this perspective, the making of legibility looks less like a top-down exercise of bureaucratic compliance or a story of domination over the population. Instead, we find actors attempting to maintain a delicate balance between inadequate legal rules, scarce resources, and sociopolitical demands.
In vitro domestication of halophyte microbiota for future SynCom application
Authors: Moner Nada A. , Elsayed Tarek R. , Amer Wafaa M. , Hamza Mervat A. , Youssef Hanan H. , Abdel-Fatah Randa M. , Abdelwahab Mahmoud S. , Shahat Omar M. , Youssef Gehan H. , El-Tahan Mahmoud , Fayez Mohamed , Fricke Florian , Ruppel Silke , Hegazi Nabil A.
Published: February 2025

Background and aims

Microbiome-mediated strategies for future stressed-agriculture entail exploration of repertoires of halophyte microbiota. Culturomics strategies are advanced to improve culturability and extend diversity of microbiota of Salicornia europaea L.

Methods

The plant broth-based-seawater-culture medium (PBSW) was advanced for in vitro domestication of microbiota of endo-rhizosphere/endo-phyllosphere of S. europaea. Populations (Colony Forming Units, CFUs) and biomass production (Optical Density, OD) were monitored throughout successive steps of in vitro cultivation/domestication in liquid batch cultures. Culture-dependent methods were applied to cultivate and identify (16S rRNA gene sequencing) representative isolates; and culture-independent analyses (DGGE/qPCR) for community composition.

Results

PBSW supported higher CFUs counts; and related to 16S rRNA gene copy numbers (qPCR), increased (> 40 fold) culturability compared to NaCl-salted-standard culture medium. Successive in vitro domestication/batch cultures boosted bacterial growth, diminished differences among tested culture media and shortened doubling times (DT). PCR-DGGE showed divergence in culturable community composition primarily attributed to culture media. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of representative isolates indicated: a) greater diversity in endo-phyllosphere than endo-rhizosphere; b) abundant phyla were Pseudomonadota/Bacillota /Actinomycetota; c) dominance of Halomonas among 15 genera identified; d) Gracilibacillus, Metabacillus, Mixta, Salinicoccus, Zhihengliuella, Marinobacter, Marinimicrobium and Planomicrobium were first reported/cultivated for S. europaea. In vitro domestication resulted in dominance of genera of Pseudomonadota/Bacillota for endo-phyllosphere and Halomonas sp. of Pseudomonadota for endo-rhizosphere.

Conclusion

PBSW created in situ similis milieu for cultivation of halophyte bacteria, and enabled in vitro domestication for propagating microbiota, instead of laborious construction of consortia of single isolates, for future SynCom applications.

Graphical Abstract
Entrepreneurial finance and the survival of equity-funded firms in crisis periods: the case of COVID-19
Authors: Kacer Marek , Wilson Nicholas , Zouari Sana , Cowling Marc
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the resilience of 13,786 UK entrepreneurial firms that received equity financing before COVID-19, with 653 becoming insolvent and 6254 securing guaranteed loans during the pandemic. Utilising the resource-based view (RBV) and signalling theories, we hypothesise that equity-backed firms have sufficient resources to withstand crises, varying by investor type and involvement. We compare the bankruptcy risk of these firms during COVID-19 to the pre-COVID period, considering investor type, deal history and financial and non-financial factors. Results show similar insolvency rates during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID, but firms backed by active investors are less likely to become insolvent during crises. We examine the characteristics of loan recipients, financing combinations and insolvency risk, finding that companies using COVID loans were generally more prone to insolvency, except those backed by active investor types. Our findings offer insights into the role of equity financing across various investor types in venture survival during crises, with policy implications.
Logics at play: How logics shape interactions across entrepreneurial ecosystems
Authors: Leendertse Jip , Baggen Yvette , Mahdad Maral , Dolmans Sharon
Published: February 2025

Most entrepreneurial ecosystem research has focused on the actors and interactions within a focal (often regional) entrepreneurial ecosystem. This entails the often-implicit assumption that entrepreneurs mainly interact with actors within their own entrepreneurial ecosystem. We argue that this assumption limits entrepreneurial ecosystem research and address this limitation by exploring the research question: What influences interactions across the boundaries of entrepreneurial ecosystems? We study how both individual motivations and institutional logics influence interactions across the boundaries of a focal entrepreneurial ecosystem. We find that entrepreneurs interact across entrepreneurial ecosystem boundaries to gain access to resources, particularly finance, knowledge, and customers. Furthermore, we find that the ability of actors to engage in cross-entrepreneurial ecosystem interactions is influenced by two logics. Start-up development logics enable interactions beyond entrepreneurial ecosystem boundaries, as they prompt actors to prioritize the development and growth of start-ups. In contrast, regional development logics often hinder interactions by transforming administrative boundaries into entrepreneurial ecosystem boundaries. Identifying and describing these logics is the primary contribution of this paper.
Formic and propionic acids' effectiveness on laying hens' productivity and egg quality, utilization of nutrients and some blood profiles during the early production phase
Authors: Salem Fayza M. , Abd El-Dayem A. A.
Published: February 2025

The use of organic acids as growth promoters in poultry diets continues to pique the researchers’ curiosity. So, this study aims to investigate the effect of feeding formic acid, propionic acid, or both in their pure form on laying hens' productivity, egg quality, nutrient utilization, and some blood profiles during the early production phase using eighty ISA Brown laying hens aged 28–42 weeks. The hens were randomly assigned into four groups, each consisting of 10 replicates with 2 hens/replicate. The treatments were C (control), F (1 ml formic acid/kg diet), P (1 ml propionic acid/kg), and M (0.5 ml formic acid and 0.5 ml propionic acid/kg). The percentage of egg production, egg mass (P < 0.05), albumen crude protein percent, and estradiol hormone (P < 0.001) were significantly increased upon acids’ mixture treatment, whereas the percentages of albumen fat (P < 0.05) and yolk fat (P = 0.0006) were significantly decreased. Formic acid significantly increased the percentages of shell calcium (P = 0.0001) and yolk (P < 0.01) and decreased albumen percent (P < 0.01). The acids’ mixture produced the lowest plasma cholesterol value (P = 0.0001), which was followed by formic acid treatment. Unlike the control, the experimental treatments significantly increased Haugh unit, albumen index (P < 0.05), crude protein retention percent (P < 0.01), and decreased plasma triglycerides (P = 0.0007). According to the findings, early-phase laying hens' diets supplemented with a pure blend of propionic and formic acids produced more eggs and had higher egg quality.
Habitat surrogates for plant richness as a tool for rapid biodiversity assessment in urban areas
Authors: Hrivnák Richard , Svitková Ivana , Slezák Michal , Májeková Jana , Eliáš Pavol , Vantarová Katarína Hegedüšová , Dudáš Matej , Čejka Tomáš , Čiliak Marek
Published: February 2025

Urban ecosystems represent heterogeneous environments with mosaics of natural, semi-natural and man-made habitats, with plenty of vascular plants including native and alien species. In-depth biodiversity research in urban areas might be time- and personnel-consuming. Therefore, we selected six habitat types within 30 towns in Slovakia (Central Europe) to determine whether any urban habitats could serve as a ‘surrogate habitat’ for the total, alien and Red List vascular plant richness of the towns. We found 1054 vascular plant taxa overall; alien and Red List plants comprised 33.9% and 7.3% of all taxa, respectively. The most species-rich habitat was the cemetery (mean number of taxa = 121), while the town centre hosted the lowest mean number of plant taxa (87). The habitat type that best predicted total species richness in the study towns was the floodplain (RMSE ≈ 20 species, RRMSE = 8.5%). In the case of aliens, the number of species in railways and town centres could be used for the rapid estimation of total alien richness in towns (RMSE ≈ 8 species, RRMSE = 10.8%). For Red List species, none of the habitats (including combinations of two habitats) could be recommended for a rapid estimation, as their prediction errors were exceptionally high (RRMSE = 45–62%).
Spatio-temporal decay estimates for third order parabolic backward in time PDE
Authors: Fernández José R. , Quintanilla Ramón
Published: February 2025

In this work, we study a backward in time version of a third order parabolic partial differential equation. Spatio-temporal decay estimates are obtained assuming some conditions on the coefficients of the equation and by using a technical lemma. Some particular cases where this equation can be found in applied mathematics are shown.
Update on Neuromodulation for Migraine and Other Primary Headache Disorders: Recent Advances and New Indications
Authors: Cocores Alexandra N. , Smirnoff Liza , Greco Guy , Herrera Ricardo , Monteith Teshamae S.
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

Neuromodulation techniques currently available for headache management are reviewed in this article, with a focus on recent advances in non-invasive devices for migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

Recent Findings

The currently available FDA-cleared non-invasive devices for migraine include transcutaneous supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve stimulation, single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (sTMS), external concurrent occipital and trigeminal neurostimulation (eCOT-NS), remote electrical neuromodulation (REN), and non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) with indications for migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Emerging non-invasive techniques being explored for use in migraine include transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), kinetic oscillation stimulation (KOS), and auricular transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (at-VNS). In addition to primary headache, non-invasive neuromodulation is being investigated for comorbid conditions such as depression.

Non-invasive neuromodulation devices remain a safe, well-tolerated, and effective therapy for patients with primarily migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Ongoing research is needed to determine efficacy in other headache disorders and comorbid conditions.
Potential Ameliorating Effects of Fluvoxamine in a Rat Model of Endotoxin-Induced Neuroinflammation: Molecular Aspects Through SIRT-1/GPX-4 and HMGB-1 Signaling
Authors: Tepebaşı Muhammet Yusuf , Aşcı Halil , Koşar Pınar Aslan , Dinçer Emine Nur , Selçuk Esma , Kolay Öznur , Hüseynov İbrahim
Published: February 2025

Research on the tissue-protective effects of fluvoxamine (FLV), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, rapidly expands. This study explores FLV’s potential to protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation, a key factor in systemic inflammation-related neuronal damage. Four equal groups of thirty-two female Wistar Albino rats were created: FLV, LPS-FLV (50 mg/kg intraperitoneal), LPS (5 mg/kg intraperitoneal), and control. Both drugs were given in one dose on the same day. Tissues from the brain cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus were taken for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and genetic analysis. In the LPS group, histological examinations revealed hyperemia, edema, mild degeneration, neuronal death, and modest gliosis. Additionally, while apelin and total antioxidant status levels were reduced, greater levels of oxidative stress index, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and total oxidant status were noted. FLV treatment reversed all these findings. Genetic analyses revealed that LPS decreased sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX-4) while increasing high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1). FLV treatment reversed all these parameters, and a significant result was obtained only with GPX-4. In this study, FLV treatment was shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects through various mechanisms on the brain cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus tissues in addition to its antidepressant effects.
When Does Electoral Cooperation End? How Relative Changes in Popular Support Undermine Election Alliances in India
Authors: Saunik Dyutiman , Ziegfeld Adam
Published: February 2025

Political parties around the world form election alliances in which they field common candidates or joint party lists. Once such alliances have formed, what prompts them to end? Existing perspectives suggest that alliances end when allied parties diverge ideologically or the alliance no longer provides parties with electoral benefit. We suggest a different rationale: changes in allies’ relative electoral strength. When one ally becomes relatively more electorally popular, it demands a renegotiation of the terms of the alliance. If allies then either misperceive the cost to ending the alliance or willingly discount the short-term costs to reap longer-term gains, then such demands for renegotiation result in the end of electoral cooperation. Empirically, we focus on two puzzling cases of alliance termination in the Indian state of Maharashtra, where changes in allies’ levels of relative support account for the collapse of longstanding election alliances.
From ‘Know thyself!’ to ‘Be your true self’: free will belief as a mediator in the relationship between internal state awareness, appearance consciousness, style consciousness, and social anxiety with authenticity
Authors: Bayram Yunus
Published: February 2025

Authenticity is a crucial concept in psychological well-being, with growing scientific significance and social relevance. One psychological factor associated with authenticity is self-consciousness. However, the literature contains few and inconsistent empirical findings regarding the relationship between different self-consciousness dimensions and authenticity. This study examines how self-consciousness dimensions relate to authenticity among young adults in Turkey, with a focus on the role of free will belief. Using Existential Psychotherapy Theory, the research examined the relationship between self-consciousness and authenticity, and how free will belief relates to it. 446 young adults in Turkey participated in the study via an online survey. Structural equation modeling results showed that internal state awareness and appearance consciousness were positively associated with authenticity, while style consciousness and social anxiety were negatively associated with it. Free will belief was statistically associated with the relationships between internal state awareness-authenticity (partial mediating), appearance consciousness-authenticity (partial mediating), and style consciousness-authenticity (partial mediating). These findings suggest that free will belief may be related to the effect of self-consciousness on authenticity. Higher levels of internal awareness and appearance consciousness, along with stronger free will belief, were associated with higher authenticity scores. Conversely, higher style consciousness, along with lower free will belief, was associated with lower authenticity scores. The results suggest that further investigation into the ways in which internal awareness, expectations about external appearance, and free will belief relate to authenticity, may be useful in clinical practice. These findings are related to the propositions of Existential Psychotherapy Theory and shed light on the role of self-consciousness dimensions and free will belief in understanding authenticity.
Determining the type of a solution to the fully pythagorean fuzzy linear equations system: exact, restricted, or relaxed approximate solution
Authors: Ergenecosar Gizem Temelcan
Published: February 2025

In engineering and social research, linear systems are commonly used to address real-life problems of various dimensions. Therefore, many studies start by developing linear systems and then finding their solutions. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Pythagorean fuzzy sets in capturing and representing complex forms of uncertainty, particularly when understanding the distinctions between membership and non-membership is crucial. This paper pioneers the finding a solution for a general (square or nonsquare) Fully Pythagorean Fuzzy Linear Equations System (FPFLES) with arbitrary triangular Pythagorean fuzzy numbers and fills a critical gap in the existing literature. Since an FPFLES consists of the sum of the multiplications of each arbitrary parameter and variable, and the fuzzy multiplication operation includes the min and max operators, a nonlinearity situation is observed in each equation. To overcome this situation, a transformation from fuzzy multiplication to inequalities is applied, and thus, a mixed integer programming (MIP) problem is formed. Depending on whether the MIP problems created by changing the constraints have an optimal solution, FPFLES has an exact solution or an approximate solution. The types of solutions are examined using a distance measure definition available in the literature. This paper also defines restricted and relaxed approximate solutions for FPFLES by determining whether the left-hand sides obtained from the substitution of solutions are completely covered by the right-hand sides of the equations. The approach is illustrated with some numerical examples, and the numerical results are analyzed within the distance measure to determine the closeness between the left-hand and right-hand sides of the system.
Nutrient Input from Green Turtle Eggs and Hatchlings in a West Africa Island and Its Nearshore Environment
Authors: Raposo Cheila , Patrício Ana Rita , Catry Paulo , Barbosa Castro , Camará Assana , Regalla Aissa , Rebelo Rui
Published: February 2025

Sea turtle nesting brings marine-derived nutrients into sandy beach ecosystems, potentially influencing their dynamics. We investigated nutrient input from green turtle Chelonia mydas eggs and hatchlings into coastal habitats in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. We assessed two islands within the João Vieira-Poilão Marine National Park (‘JVPMNP’), with contrasting sea turtle nesting density: very low (João Vieira) and very high (Poilão). On each island, we analyzed stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in one pair of plant species (coinvine Dalbergia ecastaphyllum bush/baobab Adansonia digitata tree) and two pairs of predator species (tufted ghost crab Ocypode cursor/African rainbow crab Cardisoma armatum and sea catfish Carlarius spp./crevalle jack Caranx hippos). The first species in each pair is distributed closer to nesting sites, while the second is found further inland or offshore. Stomach content analysis was also conducted for fishes. Results supported nutrient input from turtle clutches benefiting the species living near nesting sites. Shoreline coinvines at Poilão had higher δ15N (5.1 ± 3.2‰) compared to João Vieira (≈0‰), suggesting assimilation of turtle-derived 15N. Shoreline tufted ghost crabs at Poilão had enriched δ15N (15.2 ± 0.7‰ vs. João Vieira’s 12.2 ± 1.1‰) and δ13C (− 13.4 ± 0.7‰ vs. João Vieira’s − 18.7 ± 1.4‰), likely reflecting predation upon eggs and hatchlings. Sea catfishes at Poilão frequently consumed unhatched turtle eggs washed into the sea (17% frequency of occurrence) and hatchlings (up to 27%). This study suggests that nutrient availability from turtle nests influences and supports shoreline plants and consumers at JVPMNP.
TMS-EEG Shows Mindfulness Meditation Is Associated With a Different Excitation/Inhibition Balance in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Humble Gregory , Geddes Harry , Baell Oliver , Payne Jake Elijah , Hill Aron T. , Chung Sung Wook , Emonson Melanie , Osborn Melissa , Caldwell Bridget , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Cash Robin , Bailey Neil W.
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Mindfulness meditation is associated with functional brain changes in regions subserving higher order cognitive processes such as attention. However, no research to date has probed these areas in meditators using combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG). This study aimed to investigate whether cortical reactivity to TMS differs in a community sample of experienced mindfulness meditators when compared to matched controls.

Method

TMS was applied to the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC) of 19 controls and 15 meditators while brain responses were measured using EEG. TMS-evoked potentials (P60 and N100) were compared between the groups using repeated measures ANOVAs and Mann–Whitney U tests where appropriate, and exploratory analyses using the whole EEG scalp field were performed to test whether TMS-evoked global neural response strength or the distribution of neural activity differed between groups.

Results

Meditators were found to have statistically larger P60/N100 ratios in response to both left and right hemisphere DLPFC stimulation compared to controls (both left and right p
FDR < 0.01, BF

10
 > 39). No differences were observed in P60 or N100 amplitudes when examined independently. We also found preliminary evidence for differences in the spatial distribution of neural activity 269–332 ms post stimulation.

Conclusions

These differences in the distribution of neural activity around 300 ms after stimulation suggest that meditators may have differences in connectivity between cortical and subcortical brain regions, potentially reflecting greater inhibitory activity in frontal regions. This research contributes to our current understanding of the neurophysiology of mindfulness and highlights opportunities for further exploration into the mechanisms underpinning the benefits of mindfulness meditation.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.
The Relationship Between Maternal Attachment and Sexual Self-Confidence in Breastfeeding Women
Authors: Dudukcu Figen Turk , Bayır Berna , Yokuş Duygu
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Maternal attachment and sexuality are sensitive issues affected by many factors, especially in breastfeeding women. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal attachment and sexual self-confidence in breastfeeding women.

Methods

The research was conducted as a descriptive relationship-seeking study. The data of the study was collected from 315 women between March 2022 and August 2022. The study data were collected through social media by transforming the personal information form, the sexual self-confidence scale, and the maternal attachment scale into an online questionnaire.

Results

Maternal attachment was found to be quite high with a score of 94.89 ± 3.02, and the total mean score of the sexual self-confidence scale was found to be 30.61 ± 6.37. It was seen that primiparous women had the highest mean of 96.87 ± 2.46 according to maternal attachment mean. It was observed that the highest value in the sexual self-confidence scale was found in women who graduated from primary school with an average of 32.06 ± 8.49. It was determined that there was a weak negative relationship between maternal attachment and sexual self-confidence.

Conclusions

It was observed that the demographic characteristics of breastfeeding women did not make a difference in maternal attachment or sexual self-confidence, and there was no significant relationship between maternal attachment and women’s sexual self-confidence.

Policy Implications

A better understanding of maternal attachment and sexual expectations in breastfeeding women has social and research implications. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, should evaluate maternal attachment and sexual expectations in breastfeeding women and include them in their practices.
Should we Trust Social Robots? Trust without Trustworthiness in Human-Robot Interaction
Authors: Massaguer Gómez Germán
Published: February 2025

This paper asks three fundamental questions on the nature of trust: What is trust? What is trustworthiness? When is trust warranted? These discussions are then applied to the context of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), asking whether we can trust social robots, whether they can be trustworthy, and, lastly, whether we should trust them. After revising the literature on the nature of trust and reliance on one hand, and on trust in social robots, considering both properties-based and non-properties-based views, on the other hand, this paper defends that, given the current state of technology, we can be subjects of a paradoxical scenario in which there is trust without trustworthiness, i.e., human users that interact with social robots can develop something resembling interpersonal trust towards an artificial entity which cannot be trustworthy. This occurs because we perceive and treat social robots as trustworthy entities, while they seem to lack certain properties that would make them capable of being trustworthy (as well as untrustworthy). Understanding our psychology in HRI and trying to discern what social robots are (and are not) is capital when confronted with ethical issues. Some of the ethical issues that arise in the context of trust without trustworthiness will be considered to address the debate about if we should trust social robots. This paper concludes that we should, at least for now, not trust social robots, given the potential harms that can be done and the responsibility gaps that might appear when these harms are to be repaired.
Enhanced hydrogen production from food waste via bioaugmentation with Clostridium and Lactobacillus
Authors: Díez M. P. , Villanueva-Galindo E. , Moreno-Andrade I. , Díaz E. , de la Rubia M. A. , Mohedano A. F. , Perez-Rangel M.
Published: February 2025

Dark fermentation (DF) of food waste (FW) is a promising and sustainable alternative for valorization, where a carbohydrate-rich substrate is converted into value-added products such as hydrogen (H2) and volatile fatty acids (VFA). In this work, several combinations of hydrogen-producing bacteria (Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium beijerinckii) along with lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus pentosus) were evaluated for H2 production using sterile FW as a substrate in DF batch tests as follows: 10%v/v inoculum ratio, 10 gVS L−1 of FW, phosphate buffer pH 7.4 (0.005 M), 37 °C, and 150 rpm. The highest H2 production of 46.0 ± 0.7 mL H2 gVS
−1 was obtained by the combination of C. butyricum (61%), C. beijerinckii (13%), L. plantarum (13%), and L. pentosus (13%), showing a synergistic activity between those strains. Subsequently, this combination was tested to carry on a bioaugmentation strategy using sterile and non-sterile FW as substrate, achieving an H2 production of 89.6 ± 1.0 mL H2 gVS
–1 and 76.7 ± 2.6 mL H2 gVS
–1 with sterile and non-sterile FW, respectively. According to the microbial analysis, Lactobacillus species were displaced in the microbial community, and Clostridium sensu stricto 1_butyricum led the H2 production in both sterile and non-sterile FW tests. The results suggest that a negative interaction was established between C. butyricum and Enterobacter, generating low H2 production during fermentation with non-sterile FW. This study confirms that bioaugmentation with hydrogen-producing microorganisms is a promising alternative for valorizing feedstocks, such as FW, which tend to be predominated by lactic acid bacteria.
Coexistence of plasmablastic lymphoma and adenocarcinoma in the stomach: a case report and literature review
Authors: Maeda Takato , Takahata Takenori , Goto Shintaro , Oyama Takao , Nakagawa Satoru , Murai Yasuhisa , Machida Ryuma , Ishidoya Nao , Sakamoto Juichi , Iwamura Hideki , Sakuraba Hirotake
Published: February 2025

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare B-cell lymphoma. Reports on primary gastric PBL are limited, and its endoscopic features remain poorly understood. We report a case of gastric PBL with multiple polypoid lesions in an immunocompetent individual. A 72-year-old man presented with upper abdominal discomfort. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed multiple raised lesions of variable sizes in the stomach, prompting a tumor biopsy. Based on histopathological findings, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was suspected. Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy was administered. After six cycles of R-CHOP therapy, EGD showed a partial reduction of the gastric tumor, and a biopsy was performed on the remaining tumor. Histopathology was re-examined, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumor cells were plasmablastic and strongly positive for both CD38 and CD138. The cells showed cytoplasmic immunoglobulin lambda light-chain restriction, indicating PBL. Furthermore, gastric differentiated adenocarcinoma was incidentally detected in some biopsy samples. Finally, a total gastrectomy was performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful. The patient is currently alive, 15 months after the initial diagnosis. This case reveals an endoscopic feature of gastric PBL and suggests the rare possibility that gastric PBL may coexist with adenocarcinoma.
Emotions as a (dis)entangling factor in co-creating gendered decisions and practices among small-scale fisher couples in Ghana: towards new theoretical insights
Authors: Adjei Moses , Amoah Padmore Adusei
Published: February 2025

Women experience the brunt of inequality in fishery tasks and decision-making despite their crucial contributions to the industry. This paper examines the micro-processes of gendered fishery decisions and practices based on interviews with 20 female and 18 male fisherfolk in coastal Ghana. The paper draws on a new materialist framing inspired by Deleuzian assemblage theory, which delineates the different tangible and intangible factors that work together (i.e., the assemblage) to shape attitudes, behaviours, and practices among a group of people. Dwelling on this theory, this paper highlights the role of women’s embodied feelings (as physically and emotionally expressed through fear, wobbly voice, and love) as they entangle with discourses of their emotionality and other non-human factors to co-create gendered fishery decisions and practices. The paper: (1) highlights the importance of moving beyond economic and bargaining models towards non-rational and emotional factors in explaining the complexities of couples’ decision-making and practices, (2) moves theoretically from the traditional understanding of emotions as cognitive or socially determined towards what emotions do within relations of socio-material, spatial and discursive contexts and how such assemblages could be untangled to address gender inequality in couple’s fishery decision-making and practices.
Binary Voronoi linear trees for the approximate solution of functional optimization problems
Authors: Cervellera Cristiano , Macciò Danilo
Published: February 2025

The need to find solutions in function form that optimize a given nonlinear cost functional arises routinely in many important areas of operations research and applied mathematics. In most practical cases, problems of this kind require a numerical solution based on some suitable class of approximating architectures. This paper introduces the use of binary Voronoi linear trees (BVLTs) for the approximate solution of a general class of functional optimization problems. The main features of the considered trees are (i) a splitting scheme based on a Voronoi bisection criterion and (ii) linear outputs in the leaves, which make the resulting models more flexible compared to classic trees with cuts parallel to the axes and constant outputs. At the same time, due to the binary recursive structure, BVLTs retain the well-known efficiency of decision tree architectures. Consistently with the typical tree construction framework, we provide a greedy algorithm for the approximate solution of the addressed functional optimization problem. Universal approximation capabilities of the proposed class of models are derived in the theoretical analysis, and the consistency of the solution is discussed as well. In order to improve accuracy and robustness, we also consider the use of BVLTs in ensemble fashion, through an aggregation scheme well suited to optimization purposes. Simulation tests involving various optimization problems are presented, showing how the proposed algorithm can cope well in complex multivariate contexts, especially in ensemble form.
Study Habits in Medical Education: Examining How German Medical Students Study Using a Cross-sectional Mixed-Methods Survey
Authors: Ragaller Sophia Viktoria , Rother Johanna Flora , Aster Alexandra , Raupach Tobias
Published: February 2025

The shift to digital teaching and learning during the pandemic has had a lasting impact on how students study medicine. Understanding how medical students learn and which resources they use is essential for successfully implementing teaching innovations. In this cross-sectional survey at a German medical school, 340 students completed the LIST-K questionnaire to assess cognitive, metacognitive, and resource management learning strategies. Additionally, students provided information on their preferences regarding educational media and tools used during their study process. Data were analysed with a specific focus on differences between preclinical and clinical years of medical education. Students primarily used resource management strategies, such as effort and external sources of information, while cognitive strategies such as organisation and critical review were employed less frequently. There was a strong emphasis on using local exam questions and a commercial product providing past exam questions and supplemental content. When examining media and tool use in different phases of medical education, the most significant difference related to a less frequent use of textbooks and other literature in clinical compared to preclinical years. Our results highlight students’ focus on assessment-oriented learning, particularly the use of past exam questions, suggesting a performance goal orientation rather than a mastery approach. However, due to its cross-sectional design, the study does not allow causal conclusions to be drawn. The heavy reliance on a commercial product not aligning with the local curriculum is concerning, and future studies should explore underlying reasons and potential interventions to address this unbalance.
Correlation of Physician Assistant Prerequisite Coursework and Student Success
Authors: Neguse Sarah , Solanyk Darcy , Hellier Jennifer L. , Holmerud David , Massey Scott , Ruff Cathy
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the impact of prerequisite science courses on student outcomes in a physician assistant (PA) training program. Given the conflicting literature on the necessity of such coursework and the variation in required courses across PA programs, this study aimed to assess whether prerequisite courses are essential for success. One PA program eliminated prerequisite coursework, allowing analysis of impacts on student outcomes. Data from 2018–2021 Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) records and student performance metrics were analyzed. Stratification analysis and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between the number of science credit hours and clinical year variables. Results indicate no consistent correlation between completed prerequisite credit hours and student performance on various assessments. Even applicants with minimal (0–1) credit hours performed similarly to those with extensive (> 15) credit hours. There was no statistically significant correlation between prerequisite courses and Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) scores. Additionally, the study found no significant relationship between the nationally benchmarked Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (patterned off the PANCE) scores and the number of physiology credit hours, but a notable inverse relationship between genetics credit hours and a nationally benchmarked summative examination (End of Curriculum Exam (ECOE)) performance. The analysis revealed that variations in prerequisite coursework did not consistently correlate with student performance across assessments, casting doubt on the necessity of specific science courses for PA program success. However, limitations including fewer candidates with prerequisite coursework requirements, and variability in assessment tools, may influence the generalizability of these results.
Defining Disease Activity in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Ross Laura , Baron Murray , Nikpour Mandana
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterised by the presence of fibrosis, microvasculopathy and inflammation. The complex pathogenesis and widespread organ involvement have made assessment and quantification of overall disease activity challenging. In this review, we present an update of the assessment of disease activity in SSc.

Recent Findings

There has been increasing interest in the use of composite outcome measures to assess the totality of SSc and measure multidimensional disease constructs such as activity and damage. Recently, the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium (SCTC) published a new SSc Activity Index (SCTC-AI) to quantify disease activity across nine domains of disease. In this article, we discuss both the challenges of measuring disease activity in SSc and the rationale and clinical importance of accurate quantification of disease activity.

Heterogeneity in clinical presentation, variation in the tempo of disease and variable responsiveness to treatment at different disease stages has resulted in significant challenges in classification and assessment of SSc patients. However, two SSc-specific activity indices now exist to quantify states of high disease activity. Further work is required to establish whether composite outcome measures offer superior measures of treatment response in SSc clinical trials and what the role of the assessment of disease activity is in the recruitment and assessment of participants in trials of novel therapies.
Effects of discrete fracture networks on simulating hydraulic fracturing, induced seismicity and trending transition of relative modulus in coal seams
Authors: Zhang Xin , Si Guangyao , Bai Qingsheng , Oh Joung , Jiao Biao , Cai Wu
Published: February 2025

Discrete fracture network (DFN) commonly existing in natural rock masses plays an important role in geological complexity which can influence rock fracturing behaviour during fluid injection. This paper simulated the hydraulic fracturing process in lab-scale coal samples with DFNs and the induced seismic activities by the discrete element method (DEM). The effects of DFNs on hydraulic fracturing, induced seismicity and elastic property changes have been concluded. Denser DFNs can comprehensively decrease the peak injection pressure and injection duration. The proportion of strong seismic events increases first and then decreases with increasing DFN density. In addition, the relative modulus of the rock mass is derived innovatively from breakdown pressure, breakdown fracture length and the related initiation time. Increasing DFN densities among large (35–60 degrees) and small (0–30 degrees) fracture dip angles show opposite evolution trends in relative modulus. The transitional point (dip angle) for the opposite trends is also proportionally affected by the friction angle of the rock mass. The modelling results have much practical meaning to infer the density and geometry of pre-existing fractures and the elastic property of rock mass in the field, simply based on the hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity monitoring data.
Pulmonary Embolism in a Young Patient with Nephrotic Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Dulcetti A. , Bruscia C. , Malena D. M. , Murante G. , Angelino A. , March M. Rocchietti , Mariani B. , Alfei B. , Martocchia A. , Sesti G.
Published: February 2025

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by the presence of proteinuria of ≥ 3,5 g/24 h, hypoalbuminemia < 2.5 g/dl, peripheral edema, and severe hyperlipidaemia. NS is associated with increased risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and, consequently, pulmonary embolism (PE). We report a case of a severe PE in a young patient with NS, admitted to the Emergency Medicine Department of the University Hospital Sant’Andrea of Rome. The aim of this report is to allow a more comprehensive knowledge of the NS and its related PE highlighting both the risk of underdiagnosis and the need of a multidisciplinary approach by a team of different specialists. We also reviewed pathophysiology of hypercoagulability in NS characterized by the imbalance of prothrombotic and antithrombotic factors, and by impaired thrombolytic activities. A more complete knowledge of the clinical and laboratory features of NS and its related PE appears to be crucial for the early diagnosis and treatment.
Vibration and aeroacoustic analysis of defective cooling fans: effects of blade faults on noise, turbulence, and performance efficiency
Authors: Alhazmi Mohammed W. , Alsoufi Mohammad S. , Bawazeer Saleh A. , Hijji Hasan H. , Alhazmi Hani , Alqurashi Hazzaa F.
Published: February 2025

Studying cooling fans’ vibration, noise, and airflow characteristics is crucial for several practical and performance-related reasons, particularly in electronics, automotive, HVAC, and manufacturing industries. Therefore, the present study examines a cooling fan’s vibration, noise, and airflow characteristics subjected to artificial defects that usually might occur in practice, including holes, vertical, and horizontal cracks. Frequency-domain and time-domain analyses identified horizontal cracks as the most disruptive, producing a peak vibration amplitude of 0.136 ± 0.003 m/s2 at

$$3\times BPF$$

3
×
B
P
F

(675 Hz) and a 74.2 ± 1 dB noise level. Vertical cracks resulted in 0.0333 ± 0.002 m/s2 and 73.8 ± 1 dB, while artificial holes generated 0.08791 ± 0.002 m/s2 and 67.3 ± 1 dB. Airflow velocity decreased significantly across all defect types, with horizontal cracks reducing it from 2.55 ± 0.05 m/s to 2.1 ± 0.05 m/s. These findings demonstrate the critical impact of defect type and severity on system performance. The study underscores the importance of incorporating uncertainty analysis into vibration and noise diagnostics to ensure accurate fault detection and efficient cooling system maintenance.
Nonlinear Interaction of the Lunar Tide M2 and the Diurnal Variation of Electron Density in the Ionosphere
Authors: Hocke Klemens , Pedatella Nicholas M. , Yamazaki Yosuke
Published: February 2025

Ground‐based observations of time series of ionospheric electron density indicated the existence of spectral components at the periods of the lunar tidal constituents (25.82 hr) and (8.18 hr). It was unclear whether these variations are excited by and tides propagating from the surface into the ionosphere or if the variations are due to a nonlinear interaction of the semidiurnal lunar tide with the diurnal variation of ionization (). A simulation was performed with the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research thermosphere‐ionosphere‐mesosphere electrodynamics general circulation model (TIME‐GCM). In the stratosphere at the lower boundary of TIME‐GCM, the signal of the atmospheric semidiurnal lunar tide is introduced. The TIME‐GCM simulation of January–February 2009 shows that the electron density variation in the equatorial region contains not only a spectral component of the period but also spectral components of the and periods fulfilling the nonlinear interaction resonance condition for the frequencies of the wave triads ( +  = ) and ( −  = ). The nonlinear interaction resonance condition of the zonal wavenumbers of these wave triads is also fulfilled. Moreover, the relevance of nonlinear interaction of and is supported by observations of total electron content (TEC). The amplitude spectrum of the long‐term time series of TEC shows that the quasi‐diurnal and terdiurnal lunar spectral lines precisely occur at the frequencies of − and  + .
Frequency‐Drifting Plasmaspheric Hiss Events Triggered by Three Consecutive Substorms in the Earth's Magnetosphere
Authors: Yi Siyang , Liu Nigang , Yu Jiang , Li Kun , Cui Jun
Published: February 2025

Whistler‐mode waves are frequently observed electromagnetic emissions in planetary space. In the Earth's magnetosphere, the generation processes of whistler‐mode waves within the high‐density plasmasphere, referred to as plasmaspheric hiss, remain an open question. Here, based on the Van Allen Probes data, we report plasmaspheric hiss events triggered by three consecutive substorms within an interval of 10 hr. These plasmaspheric hiss waves span a wide spatial region from post‐midnight to prenoon (MLT), with varying intensity, frequency coverage, and propagation characteristics, yet share a similar frequency‐drifting feature characterized by an increasing lower cutoff frequency over timescales exceeding 1 hr. Our analyses indicate that energy‐dispersive injected electrons associated with the three substorms excite frequency‐drifting whistler‐mode waves in the outer plasmasphere around dawn, which subsequently propagate through the plasmasphere with the frequency‐drifting feature retained. These events elucidate the direct link between substorm injection and plasmaspheric hiss, providing observational evidence for the excitation of hiss waves inside the plasmasphere by substorm injections.
Trees Can Cool Cities, But Only with a Little Help
Authors: Sidik Saima
Published: February 2025

To get the benefits of trees, city managers must give greenery what it needs to thrive, says new research.