bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fertility preservation in cancer patients: Data collection, analysis, and continuous improvement of cryostorage
Authors: Mocanu Edgar , Barnea Eytan R.
Published: January 2025

Data collection from all referred patients allows continuous learning and improvement of services. Patient safety and return for cancer therapy takes priority in all oncofertility services. In certain cases, the intervention for female patients is contraindicated and, aside from extensive counseling, alternative methods of preserving fertility should be explored. Long‐term follow‐up of these patients provides answers to many questions that remain unanswered to date. An annual audit should be performed and contact with the oncology services and with patients that attended for cryopreservation must be routine.
Perceptions and Use of Extended‐Duration Exposure Therapy Amongst Psychologists
Authors: Caton Rebecca , Graham Bronwyn M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Extended‐duration exposure therapy, in which treatment is delivered over a single prolonged session or cluster of long‐duration sessions, is a highly efficacious and efficient treatment for anxiety disorders such as specific phobias. Despite this, little is known about the use of extended‐duration exposure therapy in clinical practice.

Methods

In the present study we investigated the perceptions and use of extended‐duration exposure therapy amongst a sample of Australian psychologists via a survey, and the Therapist Beliefs about Exposure Scale. Additionally, we compared theoretical understanding of exposure therapy, and therapy delivery strategies (using a case study vignette), between psychologists who deliver exposure therapy via an extended‐duration mode, versus the more traditional multi‐session mode.

Results

Extended‐duration exposure therapy is widely underutilised, and this is associated with negative beliefs about exposure therapy in general, as well as several practical barriers. There were no differences in the reported theoretical mechanisms of exposure therapy between those who do and do not use extended‐duration exposure therapy. However, psychologists who use extended‐duration exposure therapy reported greater use of strategies with demonstrated efficacy (e.g., more intense delivery) and less use of therapy‐interfering strategies (e.g., distress reduction techniques) relative to those who do not use extended‐duration exposure therapy.

Conclusion

These findings identify potential mechanisms accounting for extended‐duration exposure therapy's efficiency and point to strategies that may increase the uptake of extended‐duration exposure therapy in clinical practice.
Behavioral and demographic response of small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) to experimental population reduction
Authors: Sauvé Caroline C. , Berentsen Are R. , Gilbert Amy T. , Conan Anne , Leighton Patrick A.
Published: January 2025

The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is a non‐native invasive species throughout the Caribbean and the primary terrestrial wildlife rabies reservoir on 4 islands in the region. In the 1970s and 1980s, island‐wide attempts to control and eliminate mongoose rabies through culling or poisoning in Cuba and Grenada proved unsuccessful. On some islands, localized population reduction of mongooses is used to mitigate predation on endangered species or to reduce the nuisance and frequency of interactions with humans. However, the short‐ and medium‐term demographic responses of mongooses to local population reduction and the impacts for infectious disease transmission remain unexplored. We conducted an experimental removal of mongooses across a 0.42‐km2 area of dry forest in St. Kitts. Employing capture‐mark‐recapture techniques, we quantified the demographic and behavioral responses of mongooses within the study area. We collected individual‐level data using an automated radio‐telemetry system, monitoring the daily presence of 19 collared mongooses for 7 months before and up to 7 weeks after experimental removals. The mongoose population density rebounded to pre‐removal levels within 7 weeks of the removal, primarily because of the influx of reproductively active females. The proportion of juveniles increased from 1–3% before removals to 14% at 7 weeks after removals yet returned to baseline levels at 6 months after removals. The local immigration of mongooses to the site was evident through changes in capture per unit effort, observed as early as the first week after removals. Tagged mongooses that frequented the study area during the pre‐removal period increased their daily presence for 5–30 days after removals. Our results indicate that a localized and intensive mongoose removal program targeting a high‐density population has short‐term but not long‐term residual impacts to the population. Further investigation into contact rates among mongooses and space use among resident and immigrating individuals is essential to advance our understanding of the impacts of localized removals on short‐ and long‐term mongoose population disease dynamics.
Hepatitis C virus‐free endoscope procedures project: An in‐hospital elimination approach
Authors: Hsieh Benjamin Lih‐Ren , Kuo Yen‐Ting , Wei Yu‐Ju , Tsai Pei‐Chien , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Chung‐Feng , Dai Chia‐Yen , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Huang Jee‐Fu , Yu Ming‐Lung , Chuang Wan‐Long
Published: January 2025

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination in the care cascades for patients receiving invasive procedures remains elusive. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HCV‐free Endoscope Procedures Project (CEPP) in the effort toward hospital HCV micro‐elimination in Taiwan. An electronic medical record (EMR)‐based remind system was introduced into gastrointestinal, surgical, urological, and gynecological departments prior to the endoscopy procedures. Anti‐HCV tests were actively ordered on their EMR among those patients who have not been tested in the past 5 years. Those patients with anti‐HCV+ were recruited into the care cascade for HCV treatment, including HCVRNA testing, direct antivirals (DAAs) delivery, and treatment response assessment. We divided the elimination project into two phases: before (2020 Jan to 2020 Dec, phase A) and during (2021 Jan to 2022 Sep, phase B) the remind system. The screening rate of phase B was 64.2% (1857/2893), which was significantly higher than phase A (18.7%, 899/4812) (p < 0.001). The screening rate of Department of Medicine (DOM) significantly increased from 21.1% of phase A to 89.3% of Phase B (p < 0.001). During phase B, the screening rate of non‐DOM was 48.2%, which was significantly higher than 11.8% of Phase A (p < 0.001). During Phase B, 15 (0.8%) out of 1857 screened patients were HCVRNA+. Six HCVRNA+ patients received DAAs treatment, and all achieved viral eradication. The CEPP significantly increased the anti‐HCV screening rate for subsequent care cascades, particularly in patients of DOM.
Clinical SANTI classification of arthrogenic muscle inhibition has an excellent inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability in preoperative and post‐operative anterior cruciate ligament rupture
Authors: Le Guen Alexandre , Bérard Emilie , Ben‐Roummane Hasnae , Lacaze Kévin , Richaud Thomas , Sonnery‐Cottet Bertrand , Cavaignac Etienne
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) is a reflexive shutdown of the quadriceps muscles following a knee injury or surgery that presents with or without hamstring contracture. This complication can be classified according to the SANTI classification, but the reproducibility of this clinical classification has not yet been demonstrated.

Methods

This single‐centre longitudinal observational study included 140 patients who were within 6 weeks of an ACL rupture. The presence of AMI was assessed separately and blindly during the preoperative consultation and at 3 weeks post‐operative by an Orthopaedic Surgeon, an Orthopaedic Resident, a Sports Medicine Physician and a Physiotherapist. AMI was also assessed a second time by the physiotherapist, 10 days after the first assessment, before and after reconstruction surgery, in order to measure intra‐rater reliability. The inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability of the AMI classification was determined by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

Agreement for the AMI classification between different examiners was excellent pre‐operatively (ICC = 0.99 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.99–0.99]) and post‐operatively (ICC = 0.98 [95% CI: 0.98–0.99]). Agreement in the AMI classification, when determined repeatedly by the same assessor (physiotherapist), was excellent pre‐operatively (ICC = 0.92 [95% CI: 0.89–0.94]) and post‐operatively (ICC = 0.98 [95% CI: 0.97–0.99]).

Conclusion

Excellent intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability of the AMI classification system was found in patients with recent ACL rupture and post‐operatively.

Level of Evidence

Level II, diagnostic study prospective cohort study.
Different Responses of Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Microbial Activities to Soil Moisture Changes in Alpine Wetlands and Meadows on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Fan Shiyu , Qin Jihong , Sun Hui , Dan Zhenchu , Li Zhi , Yang Jiyuan
Published: January 2025

Alpine wetlands on the Tibetan Plateau are important carbon pools and are undergoing severe degradation, generally with decreasing vegetation and soil water contents. However, the ecological responses of alpine wetlands to hydrological changes vary greatly among habitats. In this study, topsoil from alpine wetlands and meadows (degraded wetlands) was incubated under 50%, 70%, and 100% saturated water content (SWC) and then characterized based on soil nutrients, enzyme activities, the molecular composition of dissolved organic matter (metabolomes), and microbial communities (metagenomes). Compared with meadow soils, wetland soils had greater nutrient contents and hydrolase activities and more complex compositions of metabolomes and metabolomes. After incubation, wetland soils presented the highest activities of all enzymes under 70% SWC, whereas meadow soils presented the highest activities of β‐glucosidase and acid phosphatase under 50% SWC, both together with the lowest dissolved organic carbon content and the highest dissolved phosphorus content. Drought increased the number of microbial species in wetland soils but decreased that in meadow soils. The Shannon and Pielou indices were highest under 100% SWC (in wetlands) or 70% SWC (in meadows) and lowest under 50% SWC (in both soils) and were significantly positively correlated with acid phosphatase activity in wetland soils. Distance‐based redundancy analysis revealed the important role of peroxidase in alpine wetlands. Procrustes analysis further indicated the different drought‐induced ecological responses in two alpine soils. This study deepens our understanding of the soil‐type‐related ecological responses in alpine ecosystems and provides a valuable reference for the application of emerging multiomics techniques.
Why Do Campaigns Against Unionization Fail?
Authors: Wich Scott
Published: January 2025

Regardless of the amount of preparation that may have gone into union prevention efforts, the receipt of a union demand for recognition or NLRB election petition almost uniformly results in the response. What do we do now? A few employers have preplanned strategies to roll out. Most are starting almost from scratch with little‐to‐no advance thought on how to respond to a request for a union election. This month, we take a few moments to discuss the reasons why campaigns against unionization fail, and what employers can do to help improve their chance in a union election.
Incidental Findings Identified by Prenatal Microarray Analysis and Consensus Reporting Criteria of the Catalan Public Health Network XIGENICS
Authors: Mademont‐Soler Irene , Castells‐Sarret Neus , Cisneros Adela , Foj Laura , Benavent‐Bofill Clara , Xunclà Mar , Viñas‐Jornet Marina , Ros Andrea , Rey Natalia , Blanco Ignacio , López‐Ortega Ricard , Obón María , Plaja Alberto
Published: January 2025

Objective

The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) classified as incidental findings (IFs) in prenatal diagnosis and to develop consensus recommendations for standardizing their reporting across six centers within the Catalan public health system (XIGENICS network).

Method

A retrospective review of 4219 consecutive prenatal microarrays performed within the network from 2018 to 2023 was conducted, including all referral reasons. To develop consensus recommendations, several discussion meetings were held along with an extensive review of the existing literature.

Results

A total of 69 IFs were identified in 68 samples, revealing a detection rate of 1.6%. They included: 5 CNVs associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or congenital defects with complete penetrance, 41 CNVs for neurodevelopmental disorders and/or congenital defects with incomplete penetrance, 4 disorders that can potentially be prevented or treated, 5 non‐childhood onset neurological disorders, 13 X‐linked disorders (mainly STS and DMD deletions), and 1 deletion of the SHOX gene. Long‐term follow‐up revealed that newborns with high penetrance neurosusceptibility CNVs exhibited clinical manifestations more frequently than those with low penetrance CNVs. At the time of reporting, 52 IFs were disclosed, while 17 were not. According to the new consensus criteria, 43 IFs would now be reported, 17 would not, and 9 would depend on parental decision. CNVs consistent with the referral reason were identified in 4% of cases.

Conclusion

This study represents the largest series rigorously documenting all identified IFs in consecutive pregnancies evaluated by microarray, including both reported and unreported findings. IFs were found at a higher frequency than previously recognized, underscoring the need for specific clinical attention. Comprehensive consensus reporting recommendations were developed to ensure uniformity of criteria, and an ad hoc committee was established to manage complex cases.
Breast Cancer Patients' Experiences of Coping With Financial Toxicity: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Meta‐Synthesis
Authors: Jiahui Liu , Xingfeng Li , Lijie Wang , Xuying Li , Jinhua Li , Yunxia Fang , Jiejun Chen
Published: January 2025

Objective

Breast cancer patients often face a significant financial burden, leading to financial toxicity due to the necessity for long‐term care, costly treatment, and follow‐up measures. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the available qualitative evidence on how breast cancer patients cope with financial toxicity and their unmet need to promote the implementation of effective intervention strategies.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, CNKI, Wan Fang Data, and VIP databases were systematically searched for literature related to the study topic. This study was conducted according to the PRIMSA guidelines. Thematic synthesis methods were used to analyze the data and construct themes. The review was pre‐registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024502030).

Results

The search yielded 1164 results; 23 articles met the inclusion criteria and reported on a total of 1098 breast cancer patients. The thematic analysis identified three themes and 15 sub‐themes: coping emotions (shrouded in negative emotions and adopting a positive attitude); coping behaviors (increasing income sources, adjusting personal or family finances, seeking and accepting support, coping independently, avoidance, constrained decision, financial planning, and proactive negotiation); and coping needs (health insurance policy support, medical institutional support, non‐medical institutional resources support, financial information needs, financial management needs).

Conclusion

Breast cancer patients exhibit a variety of emotional reactions and coping behaviors with financial toxicity alongside several unmet needs. This indicates the necessity of maintaining focus on financial toxicity in breast cancer patients and the implementation of appropriate management strategies to address their needs while optimizing the detection and mitigation of expenditures that jeopardize their health and quality of life.
Exploration of Body Image in Postoperative Patients With Oral Cancer: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Lin Chunni , Zhou Jiajing , Cao Yanyi , Chen Yiqiong , Hu Xiang , Qiu Jie , Cong Li
Published: January 2025

Background

Postoperative patients with oral cancer are deeply distressed about their body image. However, their true inner feelings and the factors influencing body image remain unclear.

Aims

This study aims to investigate the experience of body image disturbance in patients 3 months after oral cancer surgery and analyze the influencing factors.

Methods

This study process was divided into three steps: (1) semi‐structured interviews, based on the Society Ecosystems Theory, of patients with body image disorders 3 months after oral cancer surgery, followed by theme summaries; (2) appropriate selection of scales according to the qualitative results; and (3) a cross‐sectional survey to explore the factors and pathways affecting the body image of the patients.

Results

Qualitative research summarized nine themes from the individual, family/employment, and societal/institutional levels, with the individual level being most commonly mentioned. Further investigation into the individual factors influencing the body image of the patients revealed that self‐esteem and social alienation have a chain mediating effect on the relationship between speech handicap and body image.

Conclusions

The body image of postoperative patients with oral cancer is influenced by personal, family, and societal aspects. These study results lay the groundwork for formulating interventions to alleviate body image concerns.
Process Monitoring Using Robust Regression Control Charts
Authors: Neto Eufrásio de Andrade Lima , Rauber Cristine , Borges Hozana Francielle do Nascimento , Lima‐Filho Luiz Medeiros Araujo
Published: January 2025

Control charts are statistical process control tools that aim to analyse and monitor a certain quality characteristic. In some situations, the quality characteristic to be monitored is correlated with one or more control variables, which suggests the use of a regression control chart (RCC). However, outliers are commonly seen in practice, and they can affect the coefficient estimates and control limits of traditional RCCs. For this reason, robust RCCs are strongly recommended, such that outlier observations do not affect model parameter estimates and control limits. This paper considers new robust regression Shewhart‐type control charts based on the exponential‐type kernel and mean absolute deviation estimators. To evaluate the performance of the proposed control charts, we conduct an extensive Monte Carlo simulation study where we discuss the ability of the control charts to detect changes in the process, both in in‐control and out‐of‐control settings, taking into account different percentages of outliers and sample sizes. The numerical results indicate that the proposed robust RCCs performed well compared to their competitors. Finally, to demonstrate the applicability of the control charts proposed in this paper, we present and discuss an empirical application to temperature monitoring data in Sydney, Australia.
Peanut Yield and Grade Response to Multiple Simulated Rainfall Events Following Inverting
Authors: Bucior Erika R. , Sorensen Ronald B. , Lamb Marshall C. , Butts Christopher L. , Abbas Hamed K.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Peanut harvesting often coincides with fluctuating weather conditions, including sudden rainfall, which can affect pods left in windrows to dry. This study aims to quantify the effects of rainfall on peanut yield, quality and aflatoxin contamination. It is the first multi‐year, quantitative assessment of these impacts, providing insights for better post‐harvest management and extension recommendations.

Materials and Methods

Field trials were conducted over 3 years (2021–2023) at Shellman Multi‐crop Irrigated Research Farm in Georgia. Peanuts were inverted at optimal maturity and exposed to simulated rainfall (0–100 mm) weekly for 3–4 weeks. Yield, quality metrics (e.g., loose‐shelled kernels, splits, total sound mature kernels) and aflatoxin levels were analysed using ANOVA to assess treatment effects.

Results

Increased cumulative rainfall correlated with yield loss (110 kg/ha per 10 mm of rainfall), higher percentages of loose‐shelled kernels (0.45% per 10 mm), and splits (0.52% per 10 mm). Aflatoxin contamination did not significantly increase due to cooler temperatures and higher soil moisture. Results varied by year, with yield reductions ranging from 4650 kg/ha in 2021 to 2723 kg/ha in 2023 under maximum rainfall exposure.

Conclusion

Prolonged rainfall and exposure in windrows have a potential to adversely affect peanut yield and quality, though aflatoxin contamination remains stable under certain conditions. These findings highlight the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate risks associated with unpredictable rainfall during harvest seasons, ensuring sustainable peanut production in the southeastern United States.
Learn how to give feedback using ‘Speedback’
Authors: Freebairn‐Smith Laura
Published: January 2025

In this column, we’re going to look at giving and receiving feedback, and one innovative and supportive way to engage your team in giving feedback to one another.
Preparing to accept, lead change on campus can change perspectives, boost success
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: January 2025

The challenge of dealing with the unexpected eventually becomes familiar territory for student affairs professionals. For Krissy Surface, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and the Student Experience at Purdue University Fort Wayne, the unexpected came in the form of the death of a beloved student leader on campus, a global pandemic eight months into her first stint as a VP/VC, and a total revamping of her university's name, colors, and identity, just to name a few examples.
Unveiling the Origin of the Scale‐Dependent Conductivity of Ni3(HITP)2 Metal–Organic Framework Thin Films
Authors: Osuna Eva , Ares Pablo , Gómez‐Herrero Julio , Llauradó‐Capdevila Gemma , Rodríguez‐San‐Miguel David , Pané Salvador , Puigmartí‐Luis Josep , Gómez‐Navarro Cristina
Published: January 2025

Conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline, intrinsically porous materials that combine remarkable electrical conductivity with exceptional structural and chemical versatility. This rare combination makes these materials highly suitable for a wide range of energy‐related applications. However, the electrical conductivity in MOF‐based devices is often limited by the presence of different types of structural disorder. Here, the electrical transport characteristics of high quality Ni3(HITP)2 nanometer‐thin films are reported. These findings reveal a tenfold difference in conductivity between the micro‐ and nano‐scale, attributed to poor electrical connection among a limited number of crystalline grains. Average in‐plane conductivity values at the micro‐ (σIP,micro = 0.7 ± 0.3 S cm−1) and nano‐ (σIP,nano = 6 ± 3 S cm−1) scales is determined, and the value of the inter‐grain resistance, Rinter‐grain = 40 kΩ is found. Using a 2D resistor network model with a 40 kΩ base resistance and scattered higher resistances, surface potential maps of in‐operando MOF‐based electrical devices are successfully reproduced. Additionally, a structure–property relationship that links the density and spatial distribution of electrical failures in inter‐grain connections to the observed micro‐scale conductivity in MOF thin films is established.
Modulating Built‐In Electric Field Via N‐Doped Carbon Dots for Robust Oxygen Evolution at Large Current Density
Authors: Yang Huimin , Dong Jianguo , Gao Xuena , Ni Chunmei , Li Zhao , Liu Yuanyuan , Li Jing , He Xiaoyan , Tan Wenyi , Feng Ligang , Tian Lin
Published: January 2025

Constructing a built‐in electric field (BIEF) within heterostructures has emerged as a compelling strategy for advancing electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Herein, the p‐n type nanosheet array heterojunction Ni2P‐NCDs‐Co(OH)2‐NF are successfully prepared. The variation in interaction affinity between nitrogen within N‐doped carbon dots (NCDs) and Ni/Co induces charge redistribution between Co and Ni in the Ni2P‐NCDs‐Co(OH)2‐NF‐3 heterostructure, thereby enhancing the intensity of the BIEF, facilitating electron transfer, and markedly improving OER activity. The optimized electrocatalyst, Ni2P‐NCDs‐Co(OH)2‐NF‐3, demonstrates a remarkably low overpotential of 389 mV at 500 mA cm−2, alongsides a small Tafel slope of 65 mV dec−1, expansive electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), low impedance, outstanding stability exceeding 425 h at 500 mA cm−2, and a Faradaic efficiency of up to 96%. In situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations elucidate the OER mechanism, revealing that the enhanced BIEF optimizes the adsorption energy of Co3+ to OH− and weakened the desorption energy of oxygen during the reaction. The work ponieeringly employed the NCDs as a regulator of the BIEF, effectively tuning field intensity and achieving superior electrocatalytic OER performance under large current density, thus charting new pathways for the development of high‐efficiency oxygen evolution electrocatalysts.
Chemo‐optogenetic Dimerization Dissects Complex Biological Processes
Authors: Wu Donglian , Sun Xiaofeng , Chen Xi
Published: January 2025

Light offers superior control in terms of high temporal precision, high spatial precision, and non‐invasiveness for the regulation of cellular functions. In recent years, chemical biologists have adopted chemo‐optogenetic dimerization approaches, such as photo‐triggered chemical inducers of dimerization (pCIDs), as a general tool for spatiotemporal regulation of cellular functions. Traditional chemo‐optogenetic dimerization triggers either a single ON or a single OFF of cellular activity. However, more sophisticated approaches are introduced in recent years. These include the ability to turn ON and OFF using different wavelengths of light, tools enabling multi‐layer control of cellular activities, and nanobody‐tethered photodimerizers. These advancements not only shed light on the study of ubiquitously existing multi‐functional proteins but also create new opportunities for investigating complex cellular activity networks.
Dome‐Structure Array from Pre‐Strained Extendable Mesh for Tactile Sensing Without Crosstalk and Lateral Strain Interference
Authors: Bae Kyubin , Kim Minhyeong , Sim Sangjun , Kang Yunsung , Kim Jongbaeg
Published: January 2025

Flexible tactile sensors have received significant attention for use in wearable applications such as robotics, human‐machine interfaces, and health monitoring. However, conventional tactile sensors face challenges in accurately measuring pressure because vertical deformation is induced by Poisson's ratio in situations where lateral strain is applied. This study shows a strain‐insensitive flexible tactile sensor array without the crosstalk effect using a highly stretchable mesh. This sensor is fabricated by assembling a sensing layer in which sensing cells form in each hole of an elastomer mesh and liquid‐metal‐based stretchable electrode layers. Stretching deforms the soft mesh layer with little effect on the rigid sensing cell array, which results in the sensor being insensitive to uniaxial strain. In addition, each sensing cell is formed in a dome shape, which resulted in a sensor exhibiting high sensitivity (7.80 kPa−1) over a wide sensing range (<160 kPa). The proposed design also allows each sensing cell to be electrically separated, enabling the pressure measurements without cell‐to‐cell crosstalk. Based on these characteristics, strain‐insensitive pressure monitoring is demonstrated to prevent carpal/cubital tunnel syndrome by attaching the device to the joints, which suggests its potential application in healthcare.
Recent Advancement on Selectfluor Mediated Synthesis of Heterocyclic Molecules
Authors: Das Sukanya , Das Risika , Ghosh Tapas , Kumar Nandi Raj
Published: January 2025

Selectfluor, [1‐chloromethyl‐4‐fluoro‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate)], is a highly valuable reagent in contemporary chemistry, serving not only as an electrophilic fluorinating agent but also as an effective catalyst in the synthesis of various pharmaceutically relevant heterocycles. This review article seeks to present a comprehensive overview of the significant heterocyclic ring formations facilitated by selectfluor. Both metal‐free and metal‐catalyzed recent advancement on selectfluor mediated cyclisation processes are discussed in this review mainly over last eight years (2017‐April 2024).
Effects of Intrauterine Isoproterenol Administration on Ovarian Follicular Development in Cows
Authors: Tohumcu Vefa , Cengiz Mehmet , Hayirli A. , Altinkaynak K. , Arslanbas Emre , Ciplak Alper Yasin , Aydın S. , Alat Omercan
Published: January 2025

Background

Isoproterenol (ISO) is a nonselective beta‐adrenergic receptor agonist known for its vasodilatory effects. This experiment aims to investigate whether intrauterine ISO administration could alter vascular indices and follicular development in postpartum Holstein cows.

Objectives

The objectives are to evaluate the effects of intrauterine ISO administration on vascular changes and its impact on follicular development compared to placebo groups.

Study Design

This randomized controlled study was conducted on 36 Holstein cows selected based on their health status, including only those free from reproductive, metabolic and infectious disorders.

Methods

The cows (n = 36) were divided into two groups as control received distilled water alone (CON, n = 18) and experiment received 4 mg ISO in 40 mL distilled water (ISO, n = 18) and four subgroups as CON‐I (n = 9), CON‐II (n = 9), ISO‐I (n = 9) and ISO‐II (n = 9) according to days of intrauterine administration (I or II represents to 1 or 2 days after ovulation, respectively). Uterine and ovarian artery blood flows were assessed before and after administration by Doppler ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected both before and after administration (on Day 1 or 2) and on Days 3, 6 and 9 post‐ovulation for hormonal analysis. Antral follicle count (AFC) was recorded on the blood sampling days. Data were analysed via mixed model ANOVA.

Results

Intrauterine ISO administration significantly increased the pulse rate (PR) in the ovaries (89.4 vs. 65.5 bpm, p < 0.0001) and uterus (90.6 vs. 64.2 bpm, p < 0.0001). Early AFC (1–2.9 mm) decreased, whereas small AFC (3–4.9 mm) increased in the ISO groups. The weighted average antral follicle size (WAAFS) significantly increased in the ISO group but remained unchanged in the controls. Hormonal analysis revealed elevated levels of FSH (626 vs. 468 mIU/mL), AMH (61.3 vs. 46.4 ng/L), E2 (138 vs. 122 ng/L), P4 (15.3 vs. 10.6 ng/mL), IGF‐1 (62.6 vs. 25.1 ng/mL) and IGFBP‐3 (28.4 vs. 16.5 ng/mL) in the ISO groups (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The findings indicate that intrauterine administration of ISO on Day 1 post‐ovulation could be a promising ‘adjunct technique’ for future research focussed on minimizing dependence on exogenous hormones or improving the sensitivity of follicles to endogenous hormonal signals, thereby potentially enhancing oocyte yield.
Meat Quality, Intestinal Microbiology and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Broilers Fed Different Levels of Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Mulberry (Morus alba) Leaves Powder
Authors: Aziz‐Aliabadi Fatemeh , Noruzi Hadi , Hassanabadi Ahmad
Published: January 2025

Background

Today, customers pay more attention to the feed composition and carcasses of poultry, and the interest in using natural and safe compounds such as medicinal plants and their extracts in animal feed is increasing.

Objectives

The present experiment was conducted to assess the effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) and mulberry (Morus alba) leaves powder on the meat quality, intestinal microbiology and serum biochemical parameters in broilers.

Methods

The experiment was conducted with 648 one‐day‐old Ross 308 broiler male chicks with a factorial arrangement including three levels of green tea powder (GTP) and three levels of mulberry leaf powder (MLP), with nine treatments and six replications in a completely randomized design for 42 days. Treatments included: (1) no GTP + no MLP (control), (2) 1% GTP + no MLP, (3) 2% GTP + no MLP, (4) no GTP + 1% MLP, (5) 1% GTP + 1% MLP, (6) 2% GTP + 1% MLP, (7) no GTP + 2% MLP, (8) 1% GTP + 2% MLP and (9) 2% GTP + 2% MLP.

Results

The results showed that the lowest lightness (L*), drip loss and total cholesterol levels, and the highest Lactobacillus population were observed in treatments: 1% GTP + no MLP, 2% GTP + no MLP, 1% GTP + 1% MLP, 2% GTP + 1% MLP, no GTP + 2% MLP, 1% GTP + 2% MLP and 2% GTP + 2% MLP (p < 0.05). The groups receiving 1% GTP + 1% MLP, 2% GTP + 1% MLP, no GTP + 2% MLP, 1% GTP + 2% MLP and 2% GTP + 2% MLP had the highest pH 24 h (p < 0.05). The chickens fed with 1% and 2% GTP showed lower low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and malondialdehyde (MAD) levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results showed that using the GTP and MLP in the diet of broilers could improve meat quality traits and beneficial ileal bacteria populations and reduce serum lipid and MDA levels.
Knowledge Cartography
Authors: Okada Alexandra
Published: January 2025

This first chapter outlines three key learning objectives:

Understand the concept of knowledge cartography.

Recognise the importance of knowledge mapping in historical and contemporary educational contexts.

Identify key methods and tools for mapping knowledge in education including AI apps used.
What Are Maps?
Authors: Okada Alexandra
Published: January 2025

This second chapter presents three learning objectives:

Understand the historical significance of maps, noting that they predate both writing and the number system.

Identify and categorise the various formats of knowledge maps based on content, structure, and shape.

Explore the diverse applications of knowledge maps across different fields.
CARE-KNOW-DO to Map Knowledge in Education
Authors: Okada Alexandra
Published: January 2025

This fourth chapter presents three learning objectives:

Examine the six principles of the CARE-KNOW-DO framework: social-emotional learning, meaningful learning, mastery learning, critical socioconstructivism, inquiry-based learning, and experiential learning.

Identify and describe pedagogical strategies for leveraging the CARE-KNOW-DO framework in teaching and learning processes.

Understand principles in action and explore the relationships between theory, practice, and application.
Techniques and Application of Knowledge Mapping
Authors: Okada Alexandra
Published: January 2025

This fifth chapter presents three learning objectives:

Explore examples about how knowledge maps can promote critical, systemic, and creative thinking in teaching, research, and learning environments.

Examine 19 mapping techniques that facilitate the development of these key skills and understand how they can be integrated into the knowledge construction process.

Consider new scenarios to apply knowledge mapping techniques and AI tools drawing on real-world examples.
Case Studies of Knowledge Maps
Authors: Okada Alexandra
Published: January 2025

The chapter six presents three learning objectives:

Understand how mapping techniques can be combined and applied in open schooling contexts, especially in addressing real-life sustainability issues supported by the CARE-KNOW-DO principles.

Explore the various activities and mapping techniques, including the use of AI tools and AI assistant apps, utilised by teachers, students, and community members in these case studies.

Evaluate feedback from participants to discern the benefits and challenges of these approaches, and discuss how they can transform teaching, research, and learning practices.
U.S. Interests in the South China Sea: Defending Norms, not Territory
Authors: Jannuzi Frank
Published: January 2025

The South China Sea is a region of growing significance where great power rivalries—principally the contest between China and the United States for hegemony in East Asia—threaten to undermine peace and stability to the detriment of all the parties involved. In addition to its economic importance, the South China Sea holds geo-strategic value not only as a “choke point” for the flow of energy from the Middle East to energy-hungry East Asian oil importers but also as the potential passageway for naval forces responding to any contingency in the Taiwan Strait. Given these realities, it is no wonder that many nations—not only China and those ASEAN states in the immediate vicinity who claim territory in the South China Sea but also the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, England, and the countries that comprise the European Union—are all monitoring the situation closely. After all, all of them have a stake—whether direct or indirect—in how overlapping claims to territory and resources are ultimately resolved.
ASEAN Centrality Amidst Indo-Pacific's Geostrategic Environment
Authors: Sothirak Pou
Published: January 2025

At the outset, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Pham Lan Dung, Acting President, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, for her kind invitation extended to me to attend the 14th South China Sea International Conference under the theme of “Peaceful Sea—Solid Recovery,” from 16 to 17 November, 2022, in the beautiful city of Da Nang, Vietnam.
India’s Reformed Approach Towards the South China Sea Dispute: Is There Scope to Do More?
Authors: Saha Premesha
Published: January 2025

The territorial and maritime disputes along the South China Sea (SCS) remain unresolved and continue to impede the path to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. Extra-regional countries like India and the United States also have stakes in securing the SCS.
Hook, Line and Cooperate: A Three-Staged Approach to Regional Fishery Cooperation
Authors: Kembara Gilang
Published: January 2025

Fishery constitutes an important living resource that often straddles between political maritime boundaries, including in disputed maritime areas. This has become a contentious issue between states seeking to establish maritime cooperation, as they would debate their respective rights to fish these resources. To bridge the differences, a three-stage approach is proposed to enable countries to better organize fishery cooperation between parties. First, parties must assess their level of trust between each other, and manage any trust deficit to allow further maritime cooperation to proceed without prejudice. Second, a thorough assessment of the fish stock level in the area is to be carried out through a joint maritime research and surveillance. By having the data of the resources could parties then advance to the final stage by establishing a framework to manage the living resources of the area, and to develop a fishery mechanism to ensure that parties adhere to the maximum sustainable yield of the resources catch to allow for replenishment of the resources.
ASEAN: Important Broker for Marine Scientific Research Cooperation in the South China Sea
Authors: Dang Vu Hai
Published: January 2025

The South China Sea is well-known in the world media for being a hotspot for territorial and maritime disputes between China, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Trisections of PL 4-Manifolds Arising from Colored Triangulations
Authors: Casali Maria Rita , Cristofori Paola
Published: January 2025

The purpose of the present paper is twofold: first to extend to non-orientable compact 4-manifolds the notion of gem-induced trisection, directly obtained from colored triangulations (or, equivalently, from colored graphs encoding them, called gems); second to prove that, both in the orientable and non-orientable case, if the boundary is homeomorphic to a connected sum of sphere bundles over

$$\mathbb {S}^1$$

S

1

, gem-induced trisections naturally give rise to trisections of the corresponding closed 4-manifold. As a consequence, an estimation of the trisection genus of any closed orientable 4-manifold is obtained via colored triangulations, in terms of the combinatorial properties of a Kirby diagram representing it.
Medikamentöse Therapien des steifen Kniegelenks
Authors: Kustos-Tóth Eszter , Mengis Natalie , Ammann Elias , Koch Matthias , Hirschmann Michael T. , Tóth László
Published: January 2025

Einleitung

Die multimodale Therapie der Arthrofibrose umfasst sowohl nichtchirurgische als auch chirurgische Ansätze. Die medikamentöse Behandlung wird kontrovers diskutiert, da bislang keine standardisierte Therapie etabliert wurde.

Material und Methoden

Dieser Artikel gibt eine Übersicht über potenzielle Arzneimittel, die in der adjuvanten Therapie der Arthrofibrose Anwendung finden. Verschiedene Substanzgruppen für die adjuvante medikamentöse Behandlung der Arthrofibrose werden vorgestellt. Eine angemessene Schmerztherapie, vorzugsweise mit nichtsteroidalen Antirheumatika (NSAR), bildet die Basis der Behandlung. Antioxidanzien und Vitamine können oxidative Stressbelastungen bei einem geringen Nebenwirkungsprofil reduzieren. Am häufigsten werden die antifibrotischen Eigenschaften von Kortikosteroiden und Propranolol genutzt; diese Substanzen können jedoch ausschließlich im „off-label use“ angewendet werden.

Schlussfolgerung

Der Einsatz verschiedener Substanzen sollte individuell geprüft und stadiengerecht als adjuvante Maßnahme zusätzlich zu anderen Therapieformen angewendet werden.
Comparison of different characterization approaches for monoelemental calibration solutions at two national metrology institutes
Authors: Tunç Murat , Paredes Cristhian , Coşkun F. Gonca , Serna Juliana , Caner Merve
Published: January 2025

Monoelemental calibration solutions are the most common reference in elemental analysis, linking measurement results to the International System of Units (SI). National Metrology Institutes (NMI) prepare these solutions as certified reference materials (CRM) and determine their elemental mass fraction with high accuracy. Characterization with high accuracy is one of the most critical steps in CRM production. This report compares the approaches taken by the NMIs of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK-UME) and Colombia (INM(CO)) in preparing and characterizing cadmium calibration solutions with a nominal value of 1 g kg−1. Each NMI produced CRMs using an independent batch of cadmium calibration solution and assigned mass fraction values to both their own solutions and those of the other NMIs. TÜBİTAK-UME employed a primary difference method (PDM) to assess the purity of a cadmium metal standard, quantifying all possible impurities using a combination of instrumental analytical techniques. The defined purity standard was used for both the gravimetric preparation of the CRM and the calibration of high-performance inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurements. On the other hand, INM(CO) used gravimetric titration with EDTA to assay cadmium in the CRM solutions. The EDTA salt was previously characterized by titrimetry. Despite the fundamentally different measurement methods and independent metrological traceability paths to the SI, the measurement results exhibited excellent agreement within the stated uncertainties. This comparative analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of varied characterization approaches and underscores the reliability of the cadmium calibration solutions prepared by TÜBİTAK-UME and INM(CO). This collaborative effort highlights the reliability and adaptability of various measurement techniques in fulfilling rigorous metrological standards for elemental calibration solutions. Furthermore, this approach enhances the robustness of the measurements in the field of elemental analysis and contributes traceability to the SI.

Graphical Abstract
Quantum Broadcast Channel Simulation via Multipartite Convex Splitting
Authors: Berta Mario , Cheng Hao-Chung , Gao Li
Published: January 2025

We show that the communication cost of quantum broadcast channel simulation under free entanglement assistance between the sender and the receivers is asymptotically characterized by an efficiently computable single-letter formula in terms of the channel’s multipartite mutual information. Our core contribution is a new one-shot achievability result for multipartite quantum state splitting via multipartite convex splitting. As part of this, we face a general instance of the quantum joint typicality problem with arbitrarily overlapping marginals. The crucial technical ingredient to sidestep this difficulty is a conceptually novel multipartite mean-zero decomposition lemma, together with employing recently introduced complex interpolation techniques for sandwiched Rényi divergences. Moreover, we establish an exponential convergence of the simulation error when the communication costs are within the interior of the capacity region. As the costs approach the boundary of the capacity region moderately quickly, we show that the error still vanishes asymptotically.
Prokaryotic Diversity and Community Distribution in the Complex Hydrogeological System of the Añana Continental Saltern
Authors: Azpiazu-Muniozguren Maia , García-Martínez Minerva , Zabaleta Ane , Antiguedad Iñaki , Garaizar Javier , Laorden Lorena , Martinez-Malaxetxebarria Irati , Martinez-Ballesteros Ilargi
Published: January 2025

The Añana Salt Valley (northern Spain) is a continental saltern consisting of a series of natural springs that have been used for salt production for at least 7000 years. This habitat has been relatively understudied; therefore, prokaryotic diversity was investigated through Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine if the waters within the valley exhibit distinctive microbiological characteristics. Two main types of water were found in the valley: salty (approximately 200 g/L salinity) from the diapiric structure and brackish (≤ 20 g/L salinity) from shallow streams. The beta diversity indices showed that salinity was the primary factor influencing the prokaryotic distribution. However, a niche-specific influence was observed between waters of the same origin, with significant differences in the relative abundance of the ASVs. The microbiome of the saltern revealed that the archaeal domain was mainly restricted to salty waters, while the bacterial domain was ubiquitous throughout the saltern, with a notable prevalence in brackish waters. The main bacterial and archaeal phyla identified were Pseudomonadota and Halobacterota, respectively. The genus Halorubrum was abundant and widespread in salty waters, while Pseudomonas was a significant part of the prokaryote community, mainly in brackish waters. The relative abundance of the genera Haloplanus and Salinibacter increased in the salt ponds used for salt production. The taxa involved in chemoheterotrophy and fermentation were widespread, sharing the same niche. Overall, the location of this saltern on a diapiric structure favors the occurrence of waters with different origins that affect the prokaryotic distribution beyond the niche location in the valley.