bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vom Glauben zur Radikalisierung: Eine empirische Analyse des Zusammenspiels von Radikalisierungsanfälligkeit, religiösem Fundamentalismus und der Akzeptanz von Gesetzesverstößen und Gewalt
Authors: Küchler Armin C. D. , Öztürk Cemal , Kurtenbach Sebastian , Pickel Susanne
Published: February 2025

Die Komplexität der Gründe für Radikalisierung und deren Einfluss auf die Neigung zur Rechtsverletzung und Gewaltausübung sind von bedeutender Tragweite für gesellschaftliche Gefüge sowohl in Deutschland, Europa als auch global. Dieser Beitrag analysiert den Einfluss von religiösem Fundamentalismus auf radikale Handlungsabsicht und untersucht dabei die Rolle von drei ausgewählten Risikofaktoren: Diskriminierungserfahrungen, Autoritarismus und Demokratiemisstrauen, die zu einem Index der Anfälligkeit für Radikalisierung zusammengefasst werden. Anhand einer empirischen Auswertung einer Umfrage unter Muslimen in Deutschland wird untersucht, ob eine Korrelation zwischen religiösem Fundamentalismus, der Anfälligkeit für Radikalisierung und radikaler Handlungsabsicht selbst besteht. Die Ergebnisse einer Mediationsanalyse legen nahe, dass Anzeichen für Radikalisierungsanfälligkeit ernst genommen werden sollten, da sie sich sowohl direkt als auch indirekt über eine gesteigerte Empfänglichkeit für religiösen Fundamentalismus auf die Akzeptanz von Rechtsverstößen und Gewalt auswirken können.
Towards Shaping Integrated Circular Economy Approaches in Animal Breeding Supply Chains by Mainstreaming Microalgae Utilization
Authors: Giakoumatos Stephanos D. V. , Tsoulfas Giannis T.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review and analysis of sustainable biomass exploitation strategies, focusing on agro-waste residues and animal excreta. The research explores potential microalgal cultivation and utilization as a promising, low-energy alternative biomass source. While many production pathways are technologically feasible, their commercial viability under current market conditions is limited. The study aims to highlight sustainable water and biomass treatment methods and identify potential obstacles preventing agro-entrepreneurs from adopting integrated, viable algal-derived biomass exploitation. These strategies could contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, aligning with UN targets and EU legislation for a sustainable future. An extensive literature review was carried out over relative algae exploitation issues. A synthesis of techniques, innovative technologies and strategies were recorded so as to aim minimized mass and energy flux towards sustainable pathways. The proposed solutions, including soft water reclamation and novel biomass production, utilize well-established techniques and significant operational parameters for smart circular biomass flows. These approaches are interrelated to agribusiness and contribute to replenishing carbon and nitrogen surface pools, enabling better emission control and overall energy savings. The study emphasizes the potential for synergies in organized activities, such as co-locating cattle farms, greenhouses, and biogas plants to produce sustainable energy and create agri-biomass-based clusters with remarkable operational autonomy. The findings suggest that there are various areas of biomass exploitation which are quite promising in terms of embracing circular economy approaches and mitigating negative impacts in the agribusiness industry.
Effects of physical soil and water conservation structures and slope gradients on selected soil properties in Ijara watershed, Nonno district, West Shewa, Ethiopia
Authors: Debisa Alemayehu , Regasa Tena , Mammo Siraj
Published: February 2025

Effective watershed development and management contribute significantly to the sustainable development goals by promoting sustainable livelihoods, bolstering resilience, and safeguarding natural resources. Implementing watersheds using physical soil and water conservation (PSWC) measures is one of the mechanisms employed to halt soil erosion and associated nutrient loss. However, no empirical study has been conducted to examine the effects of Physical Soil and Water Conservation (PSWC) structures and varying slope gradients on selected soil properties in the Ijara watershed, located in the Nonno district of Oromia, Ethiopia. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the influences of PSWC structure and slope gradients on selected soil physicochemical parameters in the study watershed. The research employed a Randomized Complete Block Design technique to collect soil data. A total of 18 composite soil samples were collected from the top 20 cm of soil depth in farmland with and without PSWC structures across three landscape positions. The General Linear Model(GLM) was applied to test the influence of environmental factors on soil physicochemical properties, using the SPSS computer program software version 25. The results showed that sand particles, clay particles, Moisture, Total Nitrogen(TN), Cation Exchangeable Capacity (CEC), Soil Organic Matter, and Soil Organic Carbon, Exchangeable Calcium and Potassium were significantly varied across various watershed management practices (p < 0.05) due to the conservation practice. Bulk Density(BD), Moisture Content, Electro Conductivity, CEC, TN, and Exchangeable P and M showed a significant (p < 0.05) variation related across slope gradients. Except for sand particles and bulk density (BD), the mean values of all analyzed soil properties increased from the upper to the lower slope. The study results have revealed that implementing PSWC measures in the farmland significantly improved most of the physicochemical parameters of the soil compared to the farmland without PSWC measures. In the study area, the stone bund structures of the watershed reduced soil erosion problems and had desirable effects on soil physicochemical properties, improving the land’s productive capacity. Responsible bodies are expected to provide technical support, training, and follow-ups for farmers in the study area to manage the watershed better.
Macroscopic quantum tunnelling of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a Cubic-Plus-Quadratic Well
Authors: Liu Rui-Bin , Liu Mingyang , Zhang Shizhong
Published: February 2025

We study the macroscopic quantum tunnelling of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate in a cubic-plus-quadratic well that was approximately realized in recent experiment. We utilise the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method to investigate the effect of the inter-atomic interactions on the tunnelling rate of a quasi-bound condensate. We find that the existence of repulsive interaction enhances the quantum tunnelling of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate.
Climate change projections and hydrological modelling to predict the streamflow in Berach-Banas catchment, Rajasthan
Authors: Pareta Kuldeep , Dashora Yogita
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the impact of climate change on streamflow dynamics in the Berach-Banas catchment of Rajasthan through climate projections and hydrological modeling. This study employs the MIKE Hydro River and NAM (Nedbor-Afstromings Model) Rainfall-Runoff modules, integrating data from 14-meteorological stations and two streamflow stations (Chittorgarh and Bigod) for period 2000–2022. Climate projections are derived from the CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6) under the SSP2-4.5 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways) scenario for the period 1951–2100. Sixteen downscaled Global Climate Models (GCMs) from various institutes are utilized to simulate future conditions for 2030, 2050, and 2090. The hydrological model incorporates ten water storage structures and delineates the catchments into 13 sub-catchments. The calibration period (2011–2015) demonstrated strong model performance at Chittorgarh (R2 = 0.92 with a water balance error (WBL) of 1.41%) and Bigod (R2 = 0.95, WBL of 0.99%). Similarly, the validation period (2017–2022) exhibited good performance at Chittorgarh (R2 = 0.91, WBL = 1.64%) and Bigod (R2 = 0.94, WBL = 1.13%). Sensitivity analysis identified CQOF (overland flow runoff coefficient), CK1,2 (time constants for routing overland flow), and Lmax (maximum water content in root zone storage) as critical parameters, consistent with findings from previous studies on Indian river basins. The climate change impact analysis indicated a consistent increase in streamflow rates for 2030, 2050, and 2090 compared to 2022, likely driven by rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns. The projected increase in streamflow rates underscore potential future challenges for water management, highlighting the need for effective adaptation strategies. The novelty of the study lies in its comprehensive integration of future climate scenarios with hydrological modeling, offering valuable insights for sustainable water resource planning in the region. The results highlight the substantial hydrological changes anticipated in the coming decades, enhancing the overall understanding of climate change impacts on water systems.
“Flying Sikhs” in Africa: Global Automobility and the Safari Rally
Authors: Petersson Niels P.
Published: February 2025

This article explores the development of the Safari Rally in the context of intertwined trends in mobility, sports, and consumerism at local, global and intermediate levels. The first section briefly presents the Safari Rally. The second section discusses the significance and development of the sport of rallying in the context of global automobility and changes in the motor industry, highlighting in particular the professionalisation of sport and the forces driving it. The third section analyses why the Safari became relevant to so many stakeholders in Africa and across the globe, and how these shaped its development from its colonial origins through decolonisation and beyond. Highlighting the factors accounting for the rise, and decline, of the Safari as a sporting event of global significance contributes to understanding how mobility, sports, and consumerism were interlinked across continents in the second half of the 20th century.
Predictive authoring for Brazilian Portuguese augmentative and alternative communication
Authors: Pereira Jayr , Nogueira Rodrigo , Zanchettin Cleber , Fidalgo Robson
Published: February 2025

Individuals with complex communication needs often rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems to have conversations and communicate their wants. Such systems allow message authoring by arranging pictograms in sequence. However, the difficulty of finding the desired item to complete a sentence can increase as the user’s vocabulary increases. This paper proposes using BERTimbau, a Brazilian Portuguese version of Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), for pictogram prediction in AAC systems. To fine-tune BERTimbau, we constructed an AAC corpus for Brazilian Portuguese to use as a training corpus. We tested different approaches to representing a pictogram for prediction: as a word (using pictogram captions), as a concept (using a dictionary definition), and as a set of synonyms (using related terms). We also evaluated the usage of images for pictogram prediction. The results demonstrate that using embeddings computed from the pictograms’ caption, synonyms, or definitions have a similar performance. Using synonyms leads to lower perplexity, but using captions leads to the highest accuracies. This paper provides insight into how to represent a pictogram for prediction using a BERT-like model and the potential of using images for pictogram prediction.
Willi Steiner Memorial Lecture 2024
Authors: Wills David
Published: February 2025

The 9th Willi Steiner Memorial Lecture took place during the BIALL Annual Conference at the Queens Hotel, Leeds on Thursday 13 June 2024. David Wills delivered the lecture and looked back over the last three decades and reflected on the many changes and challenges, especially with regard to technological developments, that have impacted on the law library and legal information world. His focus then shifted to more recent times and developments in law at a global level and the associated challenges of curating resources and collections to match the wide variety of interests across legal scholarship. The lecture touched on the demands in legal education, changes to publishing models, the financial challenges facing higher education and, most recently, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that altered research and study patterns, and which accelerated the demand for digital resources. Finally, the lecture looked to the next 30 years and the unstoppable rise of artificial intelligence (AI), in order to determine what AI would mean for the future of law librarianship. The lecture identified the part law librarians and legal information professionals could play concerning AI and how they could help to protect academic integrity.
Daratumumab/lenalidomide/dexamethasone in transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed myeloma: MAIA long-term outcomes
Authors: Facon Thierry , Moreau Philippe , Weisel Katja , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Usmani Saad Z. , Chari Ajai , Plesner Torben , Orlowski Robert Z. , Bahlis Nizar , Basu Supratik , Hulin Cyrille , Quach Hang , O’Dwyer Michael , Perrot Aurore , Jacquet Caroline , Venner Christopher P. , Raje Noopur , Tiab Mourad , Macro Margaret , Frenzel Laurent , Leleu Xavier , Cook Gordon , Wang George , Pei Huiling , Krevvata Maria , Carson Robin , Borgsten Fredrik , Kumar Shaji K.
Published: February 2025

In the MAIA study, daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd) improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) alone in transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). We report updated efficacy and safety from MAIA (median follow-up, 64.5 months), including a subgroup analysis by patient age (<70, ≥70 to <75, ≥75, and ≥80 years). Overall, 737 transplant-ineligible patients with NDMM were randomized 1:1 to D-Rd or Rd. The primary endpoint, PFS, was improved with D-Rd versus Rd (median, 61.9 vs 34.4 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45–0.67; P < 0.0001). Median OS was not reached in the D-Rd group versus 65.5 months in the Rd group (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53–0.83; P = 0.0003); estimated 60-month OS rates were 66.6% and 53.6%, respectively. D-Rd achieved higher rates of complete response or better (≥CR; 51.1% vs 30.1%), minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity (32.1% vs 11.1%), and sustained MRD negativity (≥18 months: 16.8% vs 3.3%) versus Rd (all P < 0.0001). D-Rd demonstrated clinically meaningful efficacy benefits across age groups. No new safety concerns were observed. Updated results (median follow-up, >5 years) continue to support frontline use of D-Rd in transplant-ineligible patients with NDMM.
Rethinking healthcare’s approach to ACEs treatment and the role of social health programming
Authors: Drakowski Rebecca A. , Anderson-Berry Ann L.
Published: February 2025

Impact

This correspondence adds to the existing literature by highlighting the importance of community partnerships and social health programming as a necessary component of medical care for adverse childhood experiences.
FGF21, a modulator of astrocyte reactivity, protects against ischemic brain injury through anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic pathways
Authors: Wang Dong-xue , Huang Wen-ting , Shi Jun-feng , Liu Fei , Jiang Wen-yi , Chen Ke-yang , Zhang Shu-yang , Li Xiao-kun , Lin Li
Published: February 2025

Ischemic stroke is a frequent cause of mortality and disability, and astrocyte reactivity is closely associated with injury outcomes. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an endogenous regulator, has been shown to perform pleiotropic functions in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, studies on neurological diseases have paid little attention to the effects and detailed mechanisms of FGF21 in astrocytes. Here, we found elevated serum levels of FGF21 in stroke patients and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mice. In the peri-infarct cortex, microglia and astrocytes serve as sources of FGF21 in addition to neurons. MRI and neurobehavioral assessments of wild-type (WT) and FGF21−/− tMCAO model mice revealed a deteriorated consequence of the loss of FGF21, with exacerbated brain infarction and neurological deficits. Additionally, combined with the pharmacological treatment of WT mice with recombinant human FGF21 (rhFGF21) after tMCAO, FGF21 was identified to suppress astrocytic activation and astrocyte-mediated inflammatory responses after brain ischemia and participated in controlling the infiltration of peripheral inflammatory cells (including macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, and T cells) by modulating chemokines expression (such as Ccl3, Cxcl1, and Cxcl2) in astrocytes. Furthermore, rhFGF21 was shown to boost the production of neurotrophic factors (BDNF and NGF) in astrocytes, and by which rescued neuronal survival and promoted synaptic protein expression (postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1), and synaptophysin) in neurons after ischemic injury. Overall, our findings implicate that FGF21 acts as a suppressor of astrocyte activation, and exerts anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects after ischemic brain injury through its action on astrocytes, offering an alternative therapeutic target.
Melphalan-based conditioning with post-transplant cyclophosphamide for peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: donor effect
Authors: Koller Paul B. , Othman Tamer , Yang Dongyun , Mokhtari Sally , Samara Yazeed , Blackmon Amanda , Agrawal Vaibhav , Pourhassan Hoda , Ball Brian J. , Amanam Idoroenyi , Arslan Shukaib , Otoukesh Salman , Sandhu Karamjeet S. , Aldoss Ibrahim , Ali Haris , Salhotra Amandeep , Aribi Ahmed , Artz Andrew , Becker Pamela S. , Pullarkat Vinod , Stewart Forest Marc , Smith Eileen P. , Stein Anthony , Marcucci Guido , Forman Stephen J. , Nakamura Ryotaro , Al Malki Monzr M.
Published: February 2025

Fludarabine and melphalan (FM) conditioning offers effective disease control with an acceptable toxicity profile. Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis has improved transplant outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed patients receiving FM-based transplants with PTCy at City of Hope. Of 248 patients included, 89 (35.9%) received hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) from a matched related/unrelated donor (MRD/MUD), 118 (47.6%) from a haploidentical (HID) donor, and 49 (19.8%) from a mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD). There were no differences in acute and chronic GVHD based on donor type. The 2-year overall survival (OS) for patients receiving HID, MMUD, and MRD/MUD was 58%, 55%, and 70%; disease-free survival (DFS) was 52%, 48%, and 66%; and graft-versus-host/relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 48%, 40%, and 59%, respectively. OS, DFS, and GRFS were similar regardless of donor type on multivariable analysis. However, donor age ≥35 years was associated with lower OS and GRFS and higher 2-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) on multivariable analysis across all patients, regardless of donor type. FM with PTCy appears to produce similar outcomes between MRD/MUD, MMUD, and HID when adjusting for donors <35 years, and donor age seems to be the most important factor when selecting a donor with this regimen.
Magnetically reshapable 3D multi-electrode arrays of liquid metals for electrophysiological analysis of brain organoids
Authors: Kim Enji , Jeong Eunseon , Hong Yeon-Mi , Jeong Inhea , Kim Junghoon , Kwon Yong Won , Park Young-Geun , Lee Jiin , Choi Suah , Kim Ju-Young , Lee Jae-Hyun , Cho Seung-Woo , Park Jang-Ung
Published: February 2025

To comprehend the volumetric neural connectivity of a brain organoid, it is crucial to monitor the spatiotemporal electrophysiological signals within the organoid, known as intra-organoid signals. However, previous methods risked damaging the three-dimensional (3D) cytoarchitecture of organoids, either through sectioning or inserting rigid needle-like electrodes. Also, the limited numbers of electrodes in fixed positions with non-adjustable electrode shapes were insufficient for examining the complex neural activity throughout the organoid. Herein, we present a magnetically reshapable 3D multi-electrode array (MEA) using direct printing of liquid metals for electrophysiological analysis of brain organoids. The adaptable distribution and the softness of these printed electrodes facilitate the spatiotemporal recording of intra-organoid signals. Furthermore, the unique capability to reshape these soft electrodes within the organoid using magnetic fields allows a single electrode in the MEA to record from multiple points, effectively increasing the recording site density without the need for additional electrodes.
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling determines neuroblastoma cell fate and sensitivity to retinoic acid
Authors: Pan Min , Zhang Yinwen , Wright William C. , Liu Xueying , Passaia Barbara , Currier Duane , Low Jonathan , Chapple Richard H. , Steele Jacob A. , Connelly Jon P. , Ju Bensheng , Plyler Emily , Lu Meifen , Loughran Allister J. , Yang Lei , Abraham Brian J. , Pruett-Miller Shondra M. , Freeman Burgess , Campbell George E. , Dyer Michael A. , Chen Taosheng , Stewart Elizabeth , Koo Selene , Sheppard Heather , Easton John , Geeleher Paul
Published: February 2025

Retinoic acid (RA) is a standard-of-care neuroblastoma drug thought to be effective by inducing differentiation. Curiously, RA has little effect on primary human tumors during upfront treatment but can eliminate neuroblastoma cells from the bone marrow during post-chemo maintenance therapy—a discrepancy that has never been explained. To investigate this, we treat a large cohort of neuroblastoma cell lines with RA and observe that the most RA-sensitive cells predominantly undergo apoptosis or senescence, rather than differentiation. We conduct genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens under RA treatment, which identify bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling as controlling the apoptosis/senescence vs differentiation cell fate decision and determining RA’s overall potency. We then discover that BMP signaling activity is markedly higher in neuroblastoma patient samples at bone marrow metastatic sites, providing a plausible explanation for RA’s ability to clear neuroblastoma cells specifically from the bone marrow, by seemingly mimicking interactions between BMP and RA during normal development.
Structure-based discovery of hydrocarbon-stapled paxillin peptides that block FAK scaffolding in cancer
Authors: Reyes Lauren , Naser Lena , Weiner Warren S. , Thifault Darren , Stahl Erik , McCreary Liam , Nott Rohini , Quick Colton , Buchberger Alex , Alvarado Carlos , Rivera Andrew , Miller Joseph A. , Khatiwala Ruchi , Cherry Brian R. , Nelson Ronald , Martin-Garcia Jose M. , Stephanopoulos Nicholas , Fromme Raimund , Fromme Petra , Cance William , Marlowe Timothy
Published: February 2025

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) scaffold provides FAK-targeted cancer therapeutics with greater efficacy and specificity than traditional kinase inhibitors. The FAK scaffold function largely involves the interaction between FAK’s focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain and paxillin, ultimately regulating many hallmarks of cancer. We report the design of paxillin LD-motif mimetics that successfully inhibit the FAT-paxillin interaction. Chemical and biochemical screening identifies stapled peptide 1907, a high affinity binder of the FAT four-helix bundle with ~100-fold greater binding affinity than the native LD2-sequence. The X-ray co-crystal structure of the FAT-1907 complex is solved. Myristoylated 1907-analog, peptide 2012, delocalizes FAK from focal adhesions, induces cancer cell apoptosis, reduces in vitro viability and invasion, and decreases tumor burden in B16F10 melanoma female mice. Enzymatic FAK inhibition produces no comparable effects. Herein, we describe a biologically potent therapeutic strategy to target the FAK-paxillin complex, a previously deemed undruggable protein-protein interaction.
Ligand efficacy shifts a nuclear receptor conformational ensemble between transcriptionally active and repressive states
Authors: MacTavish Brian S. , Zhu Di , Shang Jinsai , Shao Qianzhen , He Yuanjun , Yang Zhongyue J. , Kamenecka Theodore M. , Kojetin Douglas J.
Published: February 2025

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are thought to dynamically alternate between transcriptionally active and repressive conformations, which are stabilized upon ligand binding. Most NR ligand series exhibit limited bias, primarily consisting of transcriptionally active agonists or neutral antagonists, but not repressive inverse agonists—a limitation that restricts understanding of the functional NR conformational ensemble. Here, we report a NR ligand series for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) that spans a pharmacological spectrum from repression (inverse agonism) to activation (agonism) where subtle structural modifications switch compound activity. While crystal structures provide snapshots of the fully repressive state, NMR spectroscopy and conformation-activity relationship analysis reveals that compounds within the series shift the PPARγ conformational ensemble between transcriptionally active and repressive conformations that are natively populated in the apo/ligand-free ensemble. Our findings reveal a molecular framework for minimal chemical modifications that enhance PPARγ inverse agonism and elucidate their influence on the dynamic PPARγ conformational ensemble.
Highly oxidized products from the atmospheric reaction of hydroxyl radicals with isoprene
Authors: Berndt Torsten , Hoffmann Erik H. , Tilgner Andreas , Herrmann Hartmut
Published: February 2025

Isoprene (C5H8) globally accounts for half of the non-methane hydrocarbon flux into Earth´s atmosphere. Its degradation is mainly initiated by the gas-phase reaction with OH radicals yielding a complex system of RO2 radicals. Subsequent product formation is not conclusively understood yet. Here we report the observation of C4- and C5-products from OH + isoprene bearing at least two functional groups. Their production is initiated either by the reaction of initially formed δ-RO2 radicals with NO or by 1,6 H-shift isomerization of Z-δ-RO2 radicals. Both reaction channels also form highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs), which could be important for the generation of secondary organic aerosol. C5H9O8 and C5H9O9 radicals represent the main precursors of closed-shell HOMs. Global simulations revealed that the isoprene-derived HOM-RO2 production is comparable with that of α-pinene, currently regarded as very important HOM source. This study provides a more complete insight into isoprene´s degradation process including the HOM formation.
Molecular dynamics study of grain boundaries as defect sinks under irradiation in LiAlO2 and LiAl5O8
Authors: Roy Ankit , Jiang Weilin , Nandipati Giridhar , Casella Andrew M. , Senor David J. , Soulami Ayoub , Devanathan Ram
Published: February 2025

Lithium aluminate ceramics, LiAlO2 and LiAl5O8, show promise in nuclear environments due to their excellent radiation tolerance. Molecular dynamics simulations investigate grain boundaries (GB) and their role in defect evolution. Results reveal that GBs act as efficient defect sinks, with Li and Al atoms exhibiting distinct behaviors during displacement cascades. Tritium migration in LiAlO2 is also studied, showing rapid diffusion and stable configurations with oxygen, corroborated by ab initio simulations from the literature. The calculated tritium diffusion coefficient of 1.33 × 10−¹⁴ m²/s aligns with the literature, validating the model. LiAl5O8 demonstrates superior defect healing compared to LiAlO2, attributed to enhanced atomic transfer between grains and GBs. These findings reveal key insights into defect dynamics, providing essential insights for their application in tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBARs).
Novel co-culture model of T cells and midbrain organoids for investigating neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Gerasimova Elizaveta , Beenen Amke C. , Kachkin Daniil , Regensburger Martin , Zundler Sebastian , Blumenthal David B. , Lutzny-Geier Gloria , Winner Beate , Prots Iryna
Published: February 2025

Recent studies demonstrate that brain infiltration of peripheral immune cells and their interaction with brain-resident cells contribute to Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, mechanisms of T cell-brain cell communication are not fully elucidated and models allowing investigation of interaction between T cells and brain-resident cells are required. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) model composed of stem cell-derived human midbrain organoids (hMO) and peripheral blood T cells. We demonstrated that organoids consist of multiple midbrain-specific cell types, allowing to study T cell motility and interactions with midbrain tissue in a spatially organized microenvironment. We optimized co-culture conditions and demonstrated that T cells infiltrate hMO tissue, leading to neural cell loss. Our work establishes a novel 3D cell co-culture model as a promising tool to investigate the effect of the adaptive immune system on the midbrain and can be used in future studies to address these processes in the context of PD.
Nellie: automated organelle segmentation, tracking and hierarchical feature extraction in 2D/3D live-cell microscopy
Authors: Lefebvre Austin E. Y. T. , Sturm Gabriel , Lin Ting-Yu , Stoops Emily , López Magdalena Preciado , Kaufmann-Malaga Benjamin , Hake Kayley
Published: February 2025

Cellular organelles undergo constant morphological changes and dynamic interactions that are fundamental to cell homeostasis, stress responses and disease progression. Despite their importance, quantifying organelle morphology and motility remains challenging due to their complex architectures, rapid movements and the technical limitations of existing analysis tools. Here we introduce Nellie, an automated and unbiased pipeline for segmentation, tracking and feature extraction of diverse intracellular structures. Nellie adapts to image metadata and employs hierarchical segmentation to resolve sub-organellar regions, while its radius-adaptive pattern matching enables precise motion tracking. Through a user-friendly Napari-based interface, Nellie enables comprehensive organelle analysis without coding expertise. We demonstrate Nellie’s versatility by unmixing multiple organelles from single-channel data, quantifying mitochondrial responses to ionomycin via graph autoencoders and characterizing endoplasmic reticulum networks across cell types and time points. This tool addresses a critical need in cell biology by providing accessible, automated analysis of organelle dynamics.
Simulation based scheduling of crew routing with learning and forgetting effects in repetitive projects
Authors: Hegazy Tayseir , Hamdy Khaled , El-Behairy Hatem , Essawy Yasmeen A. S.
Published: February 2025

The Line of Balance (LOB) technique is essential for scheduling repetitive projects, offering benefits over the Critical Path Method (CPM) by ensuring consistent workflow and reducing project duration through the learning rate effect. This effect shortens activity durations when the same crew repeats tasks. Consistent crew assignments for each activity are key to maximizing this benefit, as routing crews between activities can disrupt the learning rate momentum. However, crew routing can be cost-effective by lowering indirect costs. This study explores the balance between maintaining distinct crews for each activity and allowing crew routing. Results indicate that while specific crew assignments optimize duration, they require more crews. In contrast, routing reduces the number of crews but extends project duration. The study proposes a simulation approach to optimize crew numbers and movements. However, the study has limitations, as the simulation model must be customized for each specific project, and crew assignments must comply with the model’s requirements.
Atomization of Water Jet in Crossflow via High-Speed Photography
Authors: Fu Benshuai , Xiao Haiyan , Lu Bingju , Li Guanghua , Qin Liping
Published: February 2025

The interaction between crossflow and liquid jets is common in engineering applications, such as in gas–steam catapult power systems and supersonic ramjets. Studying the atomization process of liquid jets in crossflow has significant engineering value. In this work, high-speed photography was used. The experimental results indicate that factors such as airflow velocity, temperature, jet velocity, temperature, and nozzle diameter can affect the depth of jet penetration. Considering the influence of various factors, an empirical formula for calculating jet penetration is obtained. The results can support the design of gas–steam catapult propulsion systems and be extended to other applications, such as supersonic ramjets.
Quantitative assessment of Ni+ and He+ ion irradiation damage in a tungsten heavy alloy under the simulated nuclear fusion environment
Authors: Haag James V. , Fu Yucheng , Jiang Weilin , Matthews Bethany E. , Olszta Matthew J. , Edwards Danny J. , Setyawan Wahyu
Published: February 2025

A 90W-7Ni-3Fe (wt.%) tungsten heavy alloy has been sequentially Ni+ and He+ ion irradiated at 700 °C to simulate the high temperature irradiation environment of a fusion reactor interior. W/Ni–Fe-W dual-phase alloys have been proposed to serve as plasma facing materials and require detailed investigation of their behavior under fusion relevant conditions to assess their overall applicability. To evaluate material performance under five years of simulated fusion reactor service, microstructural characterization of the nanoscale defect distribution has been performed on both constituent phases, revealing peak swelling in the W phase of approximately 0.03%. The γ-phase (Ni–Fe-W) is found to swell approximately 0.68% under the same irradiation conditions, indicating significant cavity formation and growth. Additionally, a novel multi-projection imaging approach has been applied to determine the extent of damage segregation along the dual-phase W-to-γ interface and exposes that these interfaces act as sink sites for the accumulation of cavities. Interphase boundaries are noted to possess an 11.8% areal coverage of defects along the boundary plane, primarily on the γ-phase side of the boundary. The accumulation of cavities at these interphase boundaries is anticipated to adversely affect overall material toughness, and this work reveals a pressing need for mechanical property testing of irradiated W–Ni-Fe dual-phase alloys.
Fabrication of biosynthesized nickel ferrites nanoparticles and evaluation of their insecticidal efficacy on beetles (Blaps polychresta) testicular integrity
Authors: Arafat Esraa A. , Eltaweil Abdelazeem S. , Abd El-Monaem Eman M. , Elhenawy Hanan I. , Hussein Hussein K. , El-Samad Lamia M. , Hassan Mohamed A.
Published: February 2025

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has emerged as a significant strategy to develop effective and eco-friendly insecticide agents to combat insecticide resistance and preserve environmental integrity and biodiversity. This study was thus designed to fabricate novel green synthesized NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NiFe NPs) and investigate their potential insecticidal effects for the first time using Blaps polychresta beetle as an agricultural coleopteran pest model. Therefore, we prepared NiFe NPs following the hydrothermal synthesis procedure in the presence of lemon juice. The physiochemical characteristics of NiFe NPs were investigated employing SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, VSM, and UV-Vis analysis. The lowest and most effective dose of NiFe NPs against male beetles was ascertained at a concentration of 0.03 mg/g body weight, reporting 67% mortality after 48 h. To study the insecticidal impact of NiFe NPs, EDX analysis demonstrated the bioaccumulation of NiFe NPs in testicular tissues of beetles, leading to pathophysiological consequences. Precisely, the oxidative stress incited by NiFe NPs led to disturbance of the antioxidant defense system, which was defined by augmentation of lipid peroxidation and suppression of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the comet assay exhibited remarkable DNA impairment, while flow cytometry analysis showed substantial cellular necrosis and apoptosis in NiFe NPs-treated beetles compared to control insects. In correlation with these findings, several aberrations in the histological and ultrastructure attributes of testicular tissues were perceived, including impaired follicular and cyst walls, deteriorated parietal cells, necrosis, and vacuolations. These results implied that NiFe NPs triggered oxidative injury in the testes, resulting in male reproductive system dysfunction. Altogether, our findings accentuate the potential application of NiFe NPs as nanopesticides, paving the way for the sustainable and cost-effective management of insect pests in agriculture.
Carbon dioxide removal from triethanolamine solution using living microalgae-loofah biocomposites
Authors: Komkhum Tanakit , Sema Teerawat , Rehman Zia Ur , In-na Pichaya
Published: February 2025

Nowadays, the climate change crisis is an urgent matter in which carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Amine solvents are commonly used for CO2 capture with high efficiency and absorption rates. However, solvent regeneration consumes an extensive amount of energy. One of alternative approaches is amine regeneration through microalgae. Recently, living biocomposites, intensifying traditional suspended cultivation, have been developed. With this technology, immobilizing microalgae on biocompatible materials with binder outperformed the suspended system in terms of CO2 capture rates. In this study, living microalgae-loofah biocomposites with immobilized Scenedesmus acuminatus TISTR 8457 using 5%v/v acrylic medium were tested to remove CO2 from CO2-rich triethanolamine (TEA) solutions. The test using 1 M TEA at various CO2 loading ratios (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mol CO2/mol TEA) demonstrated that the biocomposites achieved CO2 removal rates 3 to 5 times higher than the suspended cell system over 28 days, with the highest removal observed at the 1 M with 0.4 mol CO2/mol TEA (4.34 ± 0.20 gCO2/gbiomass). This study triggers a new exploration of integration between biological and chemical processes that could elevate the traditional amine-based CO2 capture capabilities. Nevertheless, pilot-scale investigations are necessary to confirm the biocomposites’s efficiency.
Fighting Zoom fatigue: Evidence-based approaches in university online education
Authors: Basch Johannes M. , Albus Patrick , Seufert Tina
Published: February 2025

As the world has rapidly transitioned to virtual platforms for education due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a new phenomenon known as “Zoom fatigue” has emerged. This term refers to the exhaustion associated with the extensive use of virtual communication platforms. In this context, the present study investigates the effects of different virtual class settings on cognitive load and fatigue. Four interventions were examined: self-view on vs. self-view off, focus-view function vs. grid-view function, activating a virtual background vs. natural background, and active participation vs. no active participation. The results suggest that turning off self-view can significantly reduce both cognitive load and fatigue. However, the effects of focus-view function vs. grid-view function did not reach significance for either cognitive load or fatigue. Similarly, using a virtual background vs. a natural background did not significantly affect fatigue, but it did influence cognitive load, with higher values for virtual backgrounds. Lastly, active participation in classes was associated with decreased fatigue and lower extraneous cognitive load compared to no active participation. The findings highlight the importance of considering both technological aspects (e.g., self-view, background settings) and pedagogical approaches (e.g., active participation) in online teaching to promote a more engaging and less fatiguing learning environment.
Involvement of propionate, citrulline, homoserine, and succinate in oral microbiome metabolite-driven periodontal disease progression
Authors: Ishihara Chikako , Sako Misato , Tsutsumi Kota , Fujii Narumi , Hashimoto Daiki , Sato Atsushi , Ichiba Yuko , Chikazawa Takashi , Kakizawa Yasushi , Nishinaga Eiji , Uchiyama Akira
Published: February 2025

Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome has been implicated in the onset and progression of periodontal diseases. An altered oral microbiome can significantly affect the concentration and composition ratio of bacterial-derived metabolites, thereby contributing to disease development. However, there is limited research on the role of metabolites derived from the oral microbiota. This study aimed to identify specific bacteria-derived metabolites and their contributions to pathogenicity. Mouth-rinsed water was collected from 24 patients with periodontal disease and 22 healthy individuals. We conducted a correlation analysis between periodontal disease-associated bacteria and metabolites present in mouth-rinsed water. We evaluated the effects of these metabolites on human gingival epithelial cells analysis of oral bacteria culture supernatants confirmed the origin of these metabolites. We identified 20 metabolites associated with bacteria that are significantly more prevalent in periodontal disease. Notably, propionate, succinate, citrulline, and homoserine—metabolites derived from the oral microbiome—were identified as being associated with periodontal disease. These results suggested that metabolites derived from the oral microbiota are involved in periodontal disease.
PTPRO represses breast cancer lung metastasis by inhibiting the JAK2-YAP axis
Authors: Xiong Xiao , Liu Jingfang , Wu Xiaotong , Yao Zhimeng , Meng Yuhua , Liu Shuang , Chen Yexi , Ren Hongzheng , Gao Shegan , Qiu Xiaofu , Zhang Hao
Published: February 2025

Lung metastasis is the primary cause of breast cancer-related mortality. Protein tyrosine phosphatases such as PTPRO are important in cancer progression. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of PTPRO in breast cancer lung metastasis are largely unknown. The function of PTPRO in breast cancer metastasis was examined in mice with ptpro deficiency driven by the PyMT promoter. The regulatory role of PTPRO in JAK2–YAP activation was tested in cell-based knockdown, overexpression and catalytic-dead mutation assays. Bioinformatics analyses and assays of human cancer specimens and mouse tumour samples were performed to investigate PTPRO-regulated pathways and functions. Ptpro deletion in MMTV-PyMT transgenic mice led to increased lung metastasis. Bioinformatics analyses and subsequent assays of human breast cancer specimens revealed a reverse correlation between PTPRO expression and JAK2–YAP pathway activity. Both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that PTPRO inactivates the JAK2–YAP pathway and diminishes the metastatic ability of breast cancer. Analysis of catalytic-dead PTPRO mutant breast cancer cells confirmed that functional PTPRO is a determinant of the activation of the JAK2–YAP pathway and the suppression of breast cancer metastasis. Data from patient, animal and cell-based models collectively demonstrated that PTPRO suppresses breast cancer lung metastasis by inhibiting JAK2–YAP dephosphorylation. Therefore, strengthening PTPRO or targeting PTPRO-mediated pathways could be potential strategies for inhibiting breast cancer lung metastasis.
A Stable and Dependable Visual Technique for On-Site Nipah Virus Nucleic Acids Detection
Authors: Chen Wencong , Cai Li , Ye Danni , Chen Jiahao , Ai Xueyan , Tang Xuehua , Deng Anqi , Gao Zihan , Xiang Meihua , Yu Mingen , Zhu Kun , Wang Maopeng
Published: February 2025

The Nipah Virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen with the mortality rate of up to 75%, recurring in Asia over the past two decades. Due to increasing the risk of human transmission mediated by various intermediate hosts such as pigs and bats, it is necessary to produce an accurate and reliable point-of-care molecular detection method for NiV field diagnosis. In this study, we designed two pairs of primers targeting the conserved G and P genes and developed a point-of-care nucleic acid detection (POC-NAD) system by integrating one-step RT-PCR, lateral flow immunoassay, and microfluidic technologies. The POC-NAD system shows high specificity and sensitivity, with a Limit of Detection (LoD) of 199.1 copies/rxn. The primers aiming to the conserved sequences enables simultaneous detection of both NiV-M and NiV-B strains. Continuous evaluation of 21 simulated clinical samples demonstrated 100% concordance with RT-PCR results. Lateral flow-based visualization improves the display time and legibility of RT-PCR results. Additionally, microfluidic chips or chambers offer disposable reagent containers and consistent PCR amplification results across various field conditions. Therefore, the diagnostic tool is suitable for real-time nucleic acid testing and NiV surveillance in resource-limited field environments.
MiR-365-3p inhibits lung cancer proliferation and migration via CPT1A-mediated fatty acid oxidation
Authors: Xu Dan , Liu Bohong , Wang Lingling
Published: February 2025

The relationship between abnormal lipid acid metabolism and the progression of lung cancer is increasingly evident. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid oxidation, has been implicated in the advancement of various cancers. However, the role of CPT1A in lung cancer and the regulatory mechanisms of microRNAs on CPT1A-mediated fatty acid oxidation remain largely unknown. In our study, we demonstrate that miR-365-3p inhibits CPT1A expression by targeting its 3’-untranslated region in lung cancer cells. The inhibition of CPT1A by miR-365-3p leads to increased lipid droplet accumulation, diminished ATP production, and a decrease in fatty acid oxidation levels. Furthermore, the disruption of fatty acid oxidation attenuates the ability of the miR-365-3p/CPT1A axis to modulate lung cancer cell proliferation and migration both in vitro and in vivo. Clinical data reveal that CPT1A expression is significantly upregulated while miR-365-3p is markedly downregulated. Additionally, there exists a negative correlation between miR-365-3p and CPT1A expression, and both are predictive of clinical outcome in lung cancer patients. Collectively, our findings shed light on the function and mechanistic pathway of the miR-365-3p/CPT1A axis in lung cancer, which might provide a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.
A novel voice in head actor critic reinforcement learning with human feedback framework for enhanced robot navigation
Authors: Sharma Alabhya , Balasundaram Ananthakrishnan , Shaik Ayesha , Vaithilingam Chockalingam Aravind
Published: February 2025

This work presents a novel Voice in Head (ViH) framework, that integrates Large Language Models (LLMs) and the power of semantic understanding to enhance robotic navigation and interaction within complex environments. Our system strategically combines GPT and Gemini powered LLMs as Actor and Critic components within a reinforcement learning (RL) loop for continuous learning and adaptation. ViH employs a sophisticated semantic search mechanism powered by Azure AI Search, allowing users to interact with the system through natural language queries. To ensure safety and address potential LLM limitations, the system incorporates a Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF) component, triggered only when necessary. This hybrid approach delivers impressive results, achieving success rates of up to 94.54%, surpassing established benchmarks. Most importantly, the ViH framework offers a modular and scalable architecture. By simply modifying the environment, the system demonstrates the potential to adapt to diverse application domains. This research provides a significant advancement in the field of cognitive robotics, paving the way for intelligent autonomous systems capable of sophisticated reasoning and decision-making in real-world scenarios bringing us one step closer to achieving Artificial General Intelligence.