bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Degradation Study of 4‐Chlorophenol Using Magnesium Ferrite Catalysts Prepared by Solution Combustion
Authors: Ashok Aromal , Reesh Ibrahim Abu , Kumar Anand
Published: January 2025

Electrochemical degradation of 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP) was investigated using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) over magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4), iron‐oxide and magnesium‐oxide in presence of 4‐CP in varying concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 mg/L. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of these catalysts in achieving high current densities during the degradation process, and to understand their relation with the structural properties of the catalysts obtained from standard characterization techniques. Our results indicate that the MgO catalyst shows a poor current density for electrocatalytic degradation of 4‐CP. However, when MgO is used in presence of iron oxide, as in MgFe2O4, a high current density for 4‐CP degradation is observed, indicating the synergistic role of MgFe system in improving catalytic activity. On the other hand, iron oxide alone showed the highest current density, however, most of which is expected to be associated with water splitting as opposed to 4‐CP degradation. Our findings highlight the potential of magnesium ferrite based mixed oxide catalysts in environmental applications, and also provide insights into the role of Mg in modulating catalytic performance. Additionally, this work also emphasizes the role of implementing RDE technique in identifying suitable catalysts for studying 4‐CP degradation in wastewater.
Authenticity and Bioactive Markers Search in the Phenolic‐Rich Extracts of Asteraceae Medicinal Plants Through Integrative Computational Chemometrics
Authors: Garcia‐Perez Pascual , Garcia‐Oliveira Paula , Finimundy Tiane C. , Pinela Jose , Calhelha Ricardo C. , Nenadić Marija , Soković Marina , Simal‐Gandara Jesus , Barros Lillian , Prieto Miguel A.
Published: January 2025

The Asteraceae family has been of significant concern for ethnobotanical studies, thanks to its health‐promoting properties linked to a plethora of bioactive compounds, among which phenolic compounds play a critical role. In this work, a workflow based on computational chemometrics was employed to assess the authenticity and biomarker search of five key Asteraceae species commonly employed in traditional medicine. The UHPLC‐DAD‐ESI/MS–MS phenolic profile of Asteraceae extracts was combined with the evaluation of several in vitro biological properties. Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), chicoric acids, and flavonoid glycosides were reported as authenticity markers of Achillea millefolium, Taraxacum officinale, and Arnica montana, respectively. The integration of phenolic profile and in vitro bioactivities provide insights for the identification of trans 3,5‐O‐dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5‐O‐diCQA) and isorhamnetin glycosides as the major antioxidant agents in Asteraceae extracts, whereas several CQAs and caffeoyl‐deoxy‐octulopyranosonic acids have been reported as responsible for their cytotoxic and anti‐inflammatory activities. These results shed light on the authentication and quality evaluation of Asteraceae extracts, along with the characterization of their functional properties, leading to their application in the design of novel plant‐based functional foods.
Salinity Influenced Proximate, Minerals, Anti‐Nutrients and Phytochemical Composition of Trachyandra ciliata Kunth (Wild Cabbage): A Promising Edible Halophyte
Authors: Ngxabi Sihle , Jimoh Muhali Olaide , Sogoni Avela , Laubscher Charles Petrus , Rautenbach Fanie , Kambizi Learnmore
Published: January 2025

Climate change, drought, and soil salinization present huge limitations to global agricultural output, which threatens food security. This necessitates the cultivation and domestication of wild edible halophytes as alternatives to mainstream food crops, especially in arid and semi‐arid regions. Trachyandra ciliata is one of the under‐researched and underutilized edible halophytes native to South Africa. The plant was used as a food source by Khoisan people in the past although its edibility and nutritional capacity are undocumented. Thus, the current study explored the effect of varying salinity concentrations on minerals, proximate, phytochemical, and anti‐nutrient composition of T. ciliata to evaluate its edibility and promote its cultivation among South African households. Plants were subjected to varying salinity treatments from 0, 50, 100,150, and 200 mM prepared by adding sodium chloride (NaCl) to the nutrient solution. Salinity significantly influenced the mineral, proximate, antinutrient, and phytochemical composition of T. ciliata. Control and 50 mM treatments recorded significantly higher macro and micronutrient content in the flower buds and leaves, except for heavy metals such as Zn and Cu, which increased with increasing salinity and significantly higher in the roots. Leaves under low salinity treatments recorded higher moisture and protein content, while leaves also recorded higher ash content under high salinity. On the other hand, flower buds under low salinity recorded significantly high fat and NDF composition. Phytochemicals and antinutrients increased with increasing salinity concentrations. The low antinutrient content and high nutritional, mineral and phenolic contents validate the edibility and suitability of T. ciliata for human consumption.
CD11c‐Expressing Microglia Are Transient, Driven by Interactions With Apoptotic Cells
Authors: Ghena Nathaniel , Anderson Sarah R. , Roberts Jacqueline M. , Irvin Emmalyn , Schwakopf Joon , Bosco Alejandra , Vetter Monica L.
Published: January 2025

Microglia, the parenchymal macrophage of the central nervous system, serve crucial remodeling functions throughout development. Microglia are transcriptionally heterogenous, suggesting that distinct microglial states confer discrete roles. Currently, little is known about how dynamic these states are, the cues that promote them, or how they impact microglial function. In the developing retina, we previously found a significant proportion of microglia express CD11c (Integrin αX, Itgax, subunit of complement receptor 4) which has also been reported in other developmental and disease contexts. Here, we sought to understand the regulation and function of CD11c+ microglia. We found that CD11c+ microglia track with prominent waves of neuronal apoptosis in postnatal retina. Using genetic fate mapping, we provide evidence that microglia transition out of the CD11c state to return to homeostasis. We show that CD11c+ microglia have elevated lysosomal content and contribute to the clearance of apoptotic neurons, and found that acquisition of CD11c expression is partially dependent upon the TAM receptor AXL. Using selective ablation, we found CD11c+ microglia are not uniquely critical for phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. Together, our data suggest that CD11c+ microglia are a transient state induced by developmental apoptosis rather than a specialized subset mediating phagocytic elimination.
DLKUNet: A Lightweight and Efficient Network With Depthwise Large Kernel for Medical Image Segmentation
Authors: Zhu Junan , Tang Zhizhe , Ma Ping , Liang Zheng , Wang Chuanjian
Published: January 2025

Accurate multi‐organ segmentation is crucial in computer‐aided diagnosis, surgical navigation, and radiotherapy. Deep learning‐based methods for automated multi‐organ segmentation have made significant progress recently. However, these improvements often increase model complexity, leading to higher computational costs. To address this problem, we propose a lightweight and efficient network with depthwise large kernel, called DLKUNet. Firstly, we utilize a hierarchical architecture with large kernel convolution to effectively capture multi‐scale features. Secondly, we constructed three segmentation models with different layers to meet different speed and accuracy requirements. Additionally, we employ a novel training strategy that works seamlessly with this module to enhance performance. Finally, we conducted extensive experiments on the multi‐organ abdominal segmentation (Synapse) and the Automated Cardiac Diagnosis Challenge (ACDC) dataset. DLKUNet‐L significantly improves the 95% Hausdorff Distance to 13.89 mm with 65% parameters of Swin‐Unet on the Synapse. Furthermore, DLKUNet‐S and DLKUNet‐M use only 4.5% and 16.52% parameters of Swin‐Unet, achieving Dice Similarity Coefficient 91.71% and 91.74% on the ACDC. These results underscore the proposed model's superior performance in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and practical applicability.
Coronavirus Cryptic Landscape and Draft Genome of a Novel CoV Clade Related to MERS From Bats Circulating in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Silvério Bruna Stefanie , Guilardi Mariana Dias , Martins Junior Olímpio , Duro Rodrigo Lopes Sanz , de Sousa Larissa Leão F. , Cabral‐Miranda Gustavo , Janini Luiz Mário Ramos , Poon Leo L. M. , Durães‐Carvalho Ricardo
Published: January 2025

We identified seven distinct coronaviruses (CoVs) in bats from Brazil, classified into 229E‐related (Alpha‐CoV), Nobecovirus, Sarbecovirus, and Merbecovirus (Beta‐CoV), including one closely related to MERS‐like CoV with 82.8% genome coverage. To accomplish this, we screened 423 oral and rectal swabs from 16 different bat species using molecular assays, RNA sequencing, and evolutionary analysis. Notably, gaps in the spike‐encoding gene led us to design new primers and perform Sanger sequencing, which revealed high similarities to MERS‐related (MERSr) CoV strains found in humans and camels. Additionally, we identified key residues in the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, suggesting potential interactions with DPP4, the receptor for MERSr‐CoV. Our analyses also revealed evidence of recombination involving our laboratory‐produced sequences. These findings highlight the extensive genetic diversity of CoVs, the presence of novel viral lineages, and the occurrence of recombination events among bat CoVs circulating in Brazil, underscoring the critical role bats play as reservoirs for emerging viruses and emphasizing the necessity of ongoing surveillance to monitor the public health risks associated with CoV spillover events.
MPXV: Update on Morphological and Morphogenesis Aspects Through Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopies and 3D Reconstruction
Authors: Barreto‐Vieira Debora Ferreira , Miranda Milene Dias , da Silva Marcos Alexandre Nunes , de Almeida Andressa Santos , de Almeida Ana Luisa Teixeira , Bandeira Derick Mendes , Ferreira Vivian Neuza S. , Rosa Alice Santos , Girard‐Dias Wendell , Archanjo Bráulio Soares , Barth Ortrud Monika
Published: January 2025

An unprecedented global outbreak caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, 2022. Therapeutics and vaccines for MPXV are not widely available, necessitating further studies, particularly in drug repurposing area. To this end, the standardization of in vitro infection systems is essential. The most robust in vitro studies on poxviruses concern the Vaccinia virus, and there are significant gaps in understanding the replicative cycle of MPXV. Herein, we conducted ultrastructural studies using transmission and scanning electron microscopies and 3D reconstruction to describe and elucidate the step‐by‐step morphogenesis of MPXV. Vero cells, derived from the kidney lineage of Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys, were infected with a strain isolated from an oropharyngeal swab of a patient with suspected Mpox, collected during an observational cohort study conducted between June 12 and August 19, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Infected Vero cells exhibited several morphological alterations, including cell lysis plaque formation, nuclei with altered chromatin profiles, thickening of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), presence of myelin figures, disorganization of mitochondrial cristae, and the formation of a granular and fibrous matrix (viral factory) surrounded by mitochondria and RER cisternae in a perinuclear space. Viral entry into cells occurred via endocytosis MPXV particles were observed adhering to cytoskeletal filaments, and viral progeny extrusion occurred through exocytosis. This article presents novel data on the morphogenesis of MPXV that have not been previously documented in the literature.
Behind the lenses: Biases in the contribution of wildlife photography to biodiversity representation
Authors: Ruiz‐Villar Héctor , Morales‐González Ana , Morant Jon
Published: January 2025

Nature‐related visual media has a significant impact on today's society by engaging the public in conservation problems and promoting pro‐environmental behaviours. Although major attention has been paid to how some types of visual media (e.g. documentaries) offer unrealistic portrayals of the natural world, biases on representation by wildlife photography remain unexplored.

In the present study, we assessed biases in wildlife photography at spatial, temporal, taxonomic, conservation status and selection criteria scales, and modelled the factors influencing the probability of portrayed organisms winning a wildlife photography contest by using data on 1333 pictures featured in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, one of the most popular wildlife photography competitions worldwide.

The representation of biomes mostly coincides with their extension on the planet. However, we detected an overrepresentation of temperate (broadleaf and conifer), Mediterranean and tropical forests. We detected a positive change over time in representing historically neglected taxa, such as insects. We also detected an increase in representation of Mangroves, Marine Ecosystems, Tundra and temperate forests and grasslands. Mammals and birds were overrepresented in photographs while insects and plants were underrepresented, and so were species listed as ‘Least Concern’ and ‘Data Deficiency’. The top 10 ranking species included charismatic carnivore species.

Our results showed that the jury's choice offered a more diverse representation of biodiversity than the people's choice, and the winning photographs showcased fewer taxonomic groups than the non‐winning pictures. Realm, domain and colourfulness influenced the probability of an organism's picture being winner, but the variability explained by our model reflects that there are a large number of unexplored determinants (e.g. socio‐economical, technical or emotional).

Our research detected a trend towards a more balanced representation of the natural world in wildlife photography, although biases are yet large, which may influence people's perception of the current status of species and habitats they encompass. Our results highlight a need to evenly represent species and ecosystems to increase public awareness, which requires providing data on species identity and conservation status to increase public knowledge. Finally, we underscore the need to report compliance with ethical guidelines when photographing wildlife.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Fabrication of Antimicrobial Nickel‐Based Polymerized Cellulose Nanofibers: A Highly Flexible, Conductive, and Biocompatible Membrane for Potential Application in Wearable Devices
Authors: Ghanghro Azharuddin , Memon Abdul Wahab , Memon Umaima Saleem , Memon Ayaz Ali , Mehdi Mujahid , Ali Ayaz , Hyder Ali , Ali Naeem , Khatri Zeeshan , Kazi Mohsin , Thebo Khalid Hussain
Published: January 2025

Recently, nanotechnology contributes in advancement of membrane technology for daily life to prepare different polymerized nanofibers (PNFs) membrane. One of the contribution of these membranes is to prepare highly stable, flexible, conductive, and futuristic biocompatible membranes for wearable devices. For this concern, we reported first time fabricated robust and highly conductive nickel‐based polymerized cellulose nanofibers for innovative application in wearable devices. The cellulose‐based nanofibers (CNFs) membrane was prepared through electrospinning technique. The surface of CNFs membrane was modified by various steps, that is, deacylation, salinization, polymerization, and ionization to prepare a polymerized cellulose nanofibers (PSCNFs) membrane. For achieving highly conductive Ni‐coated polymerized cellulose nanofibers (Ni‐PSCNFs) membrane, several parameters, including volume (50 mL), time (30 min), temperature (60°C), and pH (8), were optimized. The high conductivity of Ni‐PSCNFs membrane was calculated as 111 S/cm by using a multimeter device. The novel electroless deposition (ELD) method was applied for Ni deposition on the surface prepared PSCNFs membrane. Ni‐PSCNFs membranes were characterized by SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, WCA, and electrical conductivity. The fabricated Ni‐PSCNFs membrane was used for antibacterial activity against two selected bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (gram‐positive) and Pseudomonas (gram‐negative). The disc diffusion method was used to determine the maximum zone of inhibition against each bacterium, that is, 21 mm for Pseudomonas and 22 mm for B. subtilis. Moreover, Ni‐PSCNFs membrane exhibit great performance as conductive layers with antibacterial activity and can be used as futuristic biocompatible membrane in wearable devices.
Oronasal mucosal melanoma is defined by two transcriptional subtypes in humans and dogs with implications for diagnosis and therapy
Authors: Blacklock Kelly L Bowlt , Donnelly Kevin , Lu Yuting , Pozo Jorge del , Glendinning Laura , Polton Gerry , Selmic Laura , Tanis Jean‐Benoit , Killick David , Parys Maciej , Morris Joanna S , Breathnach Inge , Zago Stefano , Gould Sara M , Shaw Darren J , Tivers Michael S , Malucelli Davide , Marques Ana , Purzycka Katarzyna , Cantatore Matteo , Mathers Marie E , Stares Mark , Meynert Alison , Patton E Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

Mucosal melanoma is a rare melanoma subtype associated with a poor prognosis and limited existing therapeutic interventions, in part due to a lack of actionable targets and translational animal models for preclinical trials. Comprehensive data on this tumour type are scarce, and existing data often overlooks the importance of the anatomical site of origin. We evaluated human and canine oronasal mucosal melanoma (OMM) to determine whether the common canine disease could inform the rare human equivalent. Using a human and canine primary OMM cohort of treatment‐naive archival tissue, alongside clinicopathological data, we obtained transcriptomic, immunohistochemical, and microbiome data from both species. We defined the transcriptomic landscape in both species and linked our findings to immunohistochemical, microbiome, and clinical data. Human and dog OMM stratified into two distinctive transcriptional groups, which we defined using a species‐independent 41‐gene signature. These two subgroups are termed CTLA4‐high and MET‐high and indicate actionable targets for OMM patients. To guide clinical decision‐making, we developed immunohistochemical diagnostic tools that distinguish between transcriptomic subgroups. We found that OMM had conserved transcriptomic subtypes and biological similarity between human and canine OMM, with significant implications for patient classification, treatment, and clinical trial design. © 2025 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Improved Bounds for the Erdős–Rogers (s,s+2)‐Problem
Authors: Janzer Oliver , Sudakov Benny
Published: January 2025

For , the Erdős–Rogers function measures how large a ‐free induced subgraph there must be in a ‐free graph on vertices. There has been an extensive amount of work towards estimating this function, but until very recently only the case was well understood. A recent breakthrough of Mattheus and Verstraëte on the Ramsey number states that , which matches the known lower bound up to the term. In this paper we build on their approach and generalize this result by proving that holds for every . This comes close to the best known lower bound, improves a substantial body of work, and is the best that any construction of a similar kind can give.
Investigation on thermoelastic wave propagation of FG multilayer hybrid nanocomposite microbeam reinforced by CNTs and GPLs under nonlocal strain gradient theory and G–N theory
Authors: Zhang Xinfei , Meng Ji , Gu Bingdong , Peng Wei , He Tianhu
Published: January 2025

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene platelets (GPLs) are ideal fillers to synthetize advanced nanomaterial composites due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties. At present, there lacks of investigations on the transient coupling thermoelastic problems of the micro/nanostructures made of composites reinforced by CNTs or GPLs. To fill this gap, the thermoelastic wave propagation of a nanocomposite microbeam reinforced by both CNTs and GPLs is studied in the context of nonlocal strain gradient (NSG) elasticity and Green and Naghdi's (G–N) generalized thermoelastic theory for the first time. The Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model is employed to determine the effective elastic modulus of the composite microbeam. By assuming the wave‐type solutions, the equations are solved and the dispersion relation between frequency and wave number and the relation between phase velocity and wave number are determined respectively. In calculation, the above two relations are fully investigated and comparisons on them under different parameters, besides unidirectional pattern for CNTs and GPLs, three different functionally graded (FG) distribution patterns, that is, FG‐A type, FG‐X type, and FG‐O type, are considered. Concurrently, the study evaluates the impacts of the key factors such as the non‐dimensional gradient coefficient, the non‐dimensional nonlocal parameter, and the mass fractions of GPLs on the frequencies and phase velocity. The results show that among the three patterns the frequency is significantly influenced by FG‐A type. The non‐dimensional nonlocal parameter is negatively correlated with the frequency and phase velocity. The non‐dimensional gradient coefficient and the mass fraction of GPLs are positively correlated with the frequency and phase velocity.
Constrained Bayesian optimization for engineering bridge design
Authors: Røstum Heine , Gros Sebastien , Aas-Jakobsen Ketil
Published: January 2025

Designing a bridge is a complex endeavour, involving multiple variables, limitations and requirements. The design process often includes high-fidelity analyses that are computationally expensive, and the internal working tools of the analysis software are often unknown. This limits the applicability of conventional numerical optimization, especially due to time constraints. As a mean to reduce the computational burden, surrogate modelling may be applied. Surrogate models are constructed on the basis of observed results from the computationally expensive high-fidelity analyses, and serves as a fast approximation of unobserved regions in the design space. If probabilistic surrogates are applied, the probabilistic element may be exploited in the optimization phase, resulting in a scheme known as Bayesian optimization. In this article, it is described how to derive a constrained Bayesian optimization scheme in the process of bridge design, where both the goal and constraints are approximated using probabilistic surrogates. The article also presents a case study where constrained Bayesian optimization is applied to a three-span post-tensioned concrete girder and the results are compared to conventional surrogate-based optimization. The results from the case study show that the Bayesian optimization schemes converge after about six iterations, significantly faster than the conventional surrogate optimization scheme, with a consistently higher relative improvement—providing a faster and more confident process for surrogate-based optimization.
Validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Visual CARE Measure for assessing children’s perceptions of nurses’ empathy
Authors: Wiljén Angelica , Chaplin John , Nilsson Stefan , Karlsson Katarina , Öhlén Joakim , Schwarz Anneli
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this study was to translate and validate a questionnaire to be used by children with chronic diseases during procedures. Specific research questions were as follows: Is the translated versions reliable? Is there a correlation between VCM and another questionnaire measuring discomfort to enhance the validity of VCM? The three versions of Visual CARE measure (VCM) were translated following the principles of good practice for translation and cultural adaptation of patient-reported outcome measures, according to the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Cognitive debriefing interviews with children, parents, and healthcare professionals were carried out. The correlation between empathy and discomfort was evaluated using DISCO-RC. The final versions of VCM were administered to children and their parents after a needle procedure or a nasal tube insertion. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.89 for the 5Q version, 0.93 for the 10Q version, and 0.96 for the 10Q-Parent version, which implies high internal consistency. The intra-class correlation was 0.623 for VCM 5Q, with a mean difference of 1.35 and an ICC of 0.767 for VCM 10Q, with a mean difference of 1.17. This is considered a good agreement between children’s and their parents’ assessments. A significant difference in the children’s reports could be seen when experiencing high discomfort as opposed to low discomfort.

Conclusion: VCM is a useful Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM) that can help enhance the quality of care for children in a paediatric setting by capturing their perception of the empathy shown.

What is known:
• Parents’ by-proxy reports are not always aligned with children’s self-reports. In healthcare situations, children can be hurt when they are ignored.
• Research shows that empathic encounters relieve distress, improve the relationship between the patient (who could be a child) and carer, and create an open, trusting relationship.
What is new:
• This study shows that all three versions of the Visual CARE Measure are valid for assessing children’s experience of empathy shown by nurses during a procedure..
• This is one of the first studies that confirms the correlation between children’s experience of nurses’ levels of empathy and the child’s discomfort.
• This study shows that the Visual CARE Measure can support the evaluation of children’s rights with regards to communication in a clinical context.
Prediction model for severe vesicoureteral reflux in children with urinary tract infection and/or hydronephrosis
Authors: Laleoğlu Pelin , Yildiz Gizem , Bayram Meral Torun , Uçar Handan Güleryüz , Kavukcu Salih , Soylu Alper
Published: January 2025

Background

As voiding cystourethrography is invasive and exposes to radiation and urinary tract infection (UTI), identifying only high-grade reflux is important. We aimed to identify clinical, laboratory and imaging variables associated with high-grade primary reflux in children presenting with UTIs and/or urinary tract dilatation and develop a prediction model for severe reflux.

Methods

Data of children who underwent voiding cystourethrography due to UTI and/or urinary tract dilatation were retrospectively analyzed for demographic, clinical and imaging findings. Patients with severe (grades 4–5) reflux were compared with the rest for these parameters and a prediction model was developed for severe reflux.

Results

The study included 1044 patients (574 female). Severe reflux was present in 86 (8.2%) patients. Age < 2 years, male sex, non-E. coli uropathogens, UTD-P3 dilatation and multiple kidney scars on DMSA scintigraphy were associated with severe reflux. Using these variables a prediction model for severe reflux with a score ranging from 0–7 and accuracy rate of 93.4% was developed. A score ≥ 5 had sensitivity 44.2%, specificity 97.4%, PPV 60.3%, NPV 95.1% and OR 29.5 for severe reflux. Scores ≥ 5 and ≥ 4 catch 44% and 73% of severe reflux, while prevent invasive voiding cystourethrography in 94.0% and 83.6% of patients, respectively.

Conclusion

Age < 2 years, male sex, non-E. coli uropathogen growth, presence of UTD-P3 dilatation on ultrasonography and multiple scars on DMSA scintigraphy are risk factors for severe reflux. A scoring system based on these variables appears to be effective in predicting the presence of severe reflux and eliminating unnecessary voiding cystourethrography.

Graphical abstract
Thanatosis in juvenile notolabrus celidotus, the New Zealand spotty wrasse
Authors: Resende Anna Carolina , Streatfield Jay , Rogers Alice
Published: January 2025

The present study reports a decrease in activity and sudden immobile state, known as thanatosis, in the New Zealand endemic wrasse, Notolabrus celidotus. We observed tonic immobility immediately after wrasse collection in field studies. Escape is the primary defence of juvenile N. celidotus and our observation suggests that thanatosis can be a secondary strategy when the first has failed. The response occurred after N. celidotus was manipulated by being removed from a fishnet and placed into buckets, allowing for the conclusion that N. celidotus may use thanatosis as a secondary defence strategy following physical restraint events.
Assessing the clinical utility of pre-operative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of clinicopathological parameters in patients being treated for primary breast cancer
Authors: Isik Burce , Davey Matthew G. , Jaffer Alisha A. , Buckley Juliette , Baban Chwanrow , Merrigan Bridget Anne , Tormey Shona
Published: January 2025

Background

There is a paucity of data supporting the role of neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios (NLR) to determine clinicopathological parameters in patients being treated for primary breast cancer.

Aims

To evaluate the association between pre-operative NLR and clinicopathological parameters in patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed. This included consecutive patients indicated to undergo surgery for primary breast cancer at University Hospital Limerick between January 2010 and June 2017. NLR was expressed as a continuous variable. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to determine the correlation between NLR and clinicopathological data. Data analytics was performed using SPSS v29.0.

Results

673 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the median preoperative NLR is 2.63 (standard deviation: 1.42). At univariable analysis, patient age (beta coefficient: 0.009, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.001–0.017, P = 0.027), tumour size (beta coefficient: 0.013, 95% CI 0.005–0.021, P = 0.001), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status (beta coefficient: − 0.370, 95% CI − 0.676–0.065, P = 0.017) were all predicted using NLR. However, at multivariable analysis, tumour size was the sole parameter predictable by NLR (beta coefficient: 0.011, 95% CI 0.002–0.019, P = 0.013).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that pre-operative NLR may serve as an independent predictor of tumour size in patients being treated with primary breast cancer. Ratification of these preliminary findings is warranted before robustly adopted into clinical practice.
Ethanol-Based Transesterification of Rapeseed Oil with CaO Catalyst: Process Optimization and Validation Using Microalgal Lipids
Authors: Ferreira Gabriela F. , Pinto Luisa F. Ríos , Filho Rubens Maciel , Fregolente Leonardo V. , Hayward James , Bartley Jonathan K.
Published: January 2025

Microalgal oil has been increasingly studied as a feedstock for biodiesel production through transesterification reactions using heterogeneous catalysts. This route offers several benefits, including catalyst reuse, ease of separation, and improved safety, while addressing environmental and technical issues associated with using homogeneous acids and bases. Most studies use methanol for the transesterification, and few studies have investigated the transesterification of microalgal oil using ethanol. Beyond the environmental benefits of microalgae compared to plant-based biomass, replacing methanol with bioethanol is advantageous due to its lower cost and reduced toxicity. If the emulsion issue between the produced biodiesel and ethanol is resolved, ethanol could be a more environmentally friendly alternative for green fuel production. This study evaluated various metal oxides as catalysts for the transesterification of rapeseed oil using ethanol as both reagent and solvent to improve miscibility. From catalyst screening, CaO showed the highest fatty acid ethyl esters yield and this catalyst was then tested at different reaction times in two systems (round-bottom flask and autoclave reactor) for the transesterification of both rapeseed and microalgal (Scenedesmus sp.) oil. The highest reaction yield was 86.0% for rapeseed oil and 81.3% for microalgal oil using 114:1 ethanol: oil molar ratio with CaO in an autoclave reactor. This work addresses the limited studies on ethanol in microalgal oil transesterification, demonstrating the effectiveness of CaO as a catalyst. It highlights the potential of ethanol as a greener, cost-effective alternative to methanol for biodiesel production.

Graphical Abstract
Spatiotemporal analysis of agricultural drought variability in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Mzimela Jabulile Happyness , Moyo Inocent , Tshabalala Thulani
Published: January 2025

Exploring drought dynamics has become urgent due to unprecedented climate change. Projections indicate that drought events will become increasingly widespread globally, posing a significant threat to the sustainability of the agricultural sector. This growing challenge has resulted in heightened interest in understanding drought dynamics and their impacts on agriculture. uMkhanyakude District Municipality (UKDM) has experienced substantial drought occurrences, and 95% of rural dwellers within the district depend on small-scale agriculture, social security grants, and remittances for their livelihoods. Hence, there is a critical need for spatiotemporal assessments of drought within the district to fully comprehend the severity and spatial distribution of these events. This study addressed this need by assessing vegetation variability and agricultural drought occurrences across the UKDM from 2002 to 2023, by leveraging key vegetation health indices—namely, the Vegetation Condition Index, Temperature Condition Index, and Vegetation Health Index (VHI). The results identified major historical droughts, including episodes in 2002–2004 and 2015–2016 linked to El Niño events. Moreover, the findings revealed localised vulnerability to drought, although severe drought was limited at the district level. Moderate drought conditions characterised most months across Mtubatuba, Umhlabuyalingana, Jozini, and Big 5 Hlabisa local municipalities, ranging from 40.34% in Jozini to 59.75% in Umhlabuyalingana. No drought conditions occur less frequently across the district, ranging from 0.89% in Jozini to 7.33% in Mtubatuba, indicating limited periods of optimal vegetation health. This pattern suggests that certain areas within the district are particularly susceptible to drought, potentially threatening agricultural productivity and food security. The study highlights the efficacy of vegetation indices in capturing known drought events, underscoring their utility, especially in regions where ground-based data may be scarce. This spatiotemporal assessment provides an enhanced understanding of agricultural drought patterns to inform drought-related decision-making and adaptation in the agricultural sector. Given the consistent vulnerability identified, government support should be directed toward drought-prone areas, particularly through enhanced water resource management and infrastructure investment. Targeted measures are particularly recommended for areas with persistently low VHI values, such as the inland western regions of Jozini. Such efforts will strengthen resilience and sustainability in agricultural practices, safeguarding livelihoods and food security.
Preparation and Properties of Bionanocomposites Based on Aminated Sucrose-Cured Epoxy Resins and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Nanofibers
Authors: Watanabe Jun , Sugane Kaito , Shibata Mitsuhiro
Published: January 2025

Bionanocomposites composed of bio-based epoxy resins and cellulose nanofibers are attracting extensive attention as sustainable materials contributing to carbon neutrality and reduced dependence on oil resources. In this study, as a water-soluble epoxy resin system, a mixture of bio-based epoxy resin [polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether (PGPE)] and petroleum-based flexible epoxy resin [polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE)] at an epoxy ratio of 2:1 was used. As a bio-based and water-soluble epoxy hardener, 3-[(2-aminoethyl)thio]propyl-etherified sucrose (NSCR) with an amine functionality of ca. 7, which was synthesized by the thiol-ene reaction of cysteamine hydrochloride and allyl-etherified sucrose, was used. A bio-based epoxy network (BEN) was prepared by drying and curing an aqueous solution of PGPE, PEGDGE, and NSCR with an epoxy/NH2 ratio of 1/1. Bionanocomposites of BEN and carboxymethyl cellulose nanofibers (CMCNFs) were successfully prepared by directly mixing PGPE, PEGDGE, NSCR, and CMCNF in water without any solvent-exchange of the cellulosic nanofibers, which is necessary in conventional methods. The BEN/CMCNF bionanocomposites had excellent fiber dispersibility, and the tensile strength and modulus increased with increasing CMCNF content owing to the excellent reinforcement effect of the CMCNFs.
Association Between Persistent Maternal Depression among Japanese New Mothers and their Toddlers’ Behaviors
Authors: Tamura Haruka , Nishitani Naoko
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To determine the association between mothers’ persistent maternal depression and their toddlers’ behavior.

Methods

Online surveys were conducted twice with mothers who gave birth to their first child between March and June 2020. The survey periods were November 2020 and May–June 2022. Measures included baseline characteristics and family environment factors, maternal postpartum depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]), maternal lifestyle and mother-reported toddler behaviors, and Internet/media use. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ² test, trend test, and logistic regression.

Results

Of the 339 participants, 82 (24.1%) were in the “persistent maternal depression” group with high EPDS scores (≥ 9 points) at both time points, and 178 (52.5%) were in the “no maternal depression” group with low EPDS scores (< 9 points) at both time points. Persistent maternal depression was associated with sleep, eating behavior, physical activity, parenting emotions, and abusive behavior of mothers. Furthermore, persistent maternal depression may be related to undesirable toddler behaviors such as smartphone overuse and hyperactivity-like symptoms.

Conclusions for Practice

The persistence of postpartum depression is influenced by factors such as mothers’ parenting emotions. Preventing and supporting maternal depression in mothers can foster favorable behaviors in toddlers. In Japan, enhanced individualized, ongoing support for postpartum mothers, tailored in duration and form, could promote both maternal well-being and positive parenting practices.
Emotion regulation frequency and intensity are differently associated with affective well-being in daily life
Authors: Wenzel Mario , Rowland Zarah
Published: January 2025

Ambulatory assessment research on emotion regulation (ER) must balance the trade-off between capturing the complex ER process without overburdening participants. One way to reduce survey time would be to use binary rather than ordinal- or interval-scaled ER items. However, this would only capture ER frequency, missing potentially important information about ER intensity. Furthermore, it is unclear whether ER frequency and intensity are differentially associated with well-being in daily life. We addressed these two questions by reanalyzing 12 ambulatory assessment datasets (N = 1674 participants, N = 154,982 prompts) and found that ER frequency explained 10 percentage points less of well-being than the standard ER items, which mix ER frequency and intensity. Moreover, while frequent use of adaptive strategies was significantly associated with poorer affective well-being, intense use of these strategies was significantly associated with better affective well-being. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between ER frequency and ER intensity.
Support measures for Austrian households in the energy crisis: an analysis of social effectiveness and implications for energy efficiency
Authors: Kettner Claudia , Wretschitsch Eva
Published: January 2025

During the energy crisis, low- and lower-middle-income households were hit hardest by the surges in energy prices, since they needed to allocate a considerably larger share of their income towards heating fuels and electricity than higher-income households. This short communication summarises the results of a structured analysis of the support measures to reduce the negative impacts of the energy crisis on households implemented in Austria along two criteria derived from the literature: social effectiveness, i.e. the degree to which they are targeted to vulnerable households, and energy efficiency incentives. The support measures implemented in Austria have generally lacked (social) targeting. Broad compensation measures tend to impede price signals that incentivise energy savings and entail higher fiscal costs. In the medium and long run, these measures, like tax reductions, price caps or untargeted lump-sum payments, should therefore be replaced by measures focussing on income support for the most vulnerable households. This would enable a more effective use of resources, improve social effectiveness, and contribute to increasing energy efficiency.
Exploring the Middle Stone Age lithic technology at DGS, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Authors: Solano-Megías Irene , Maíllo-Fernández José Manuel , Marín Juan , Martín-Perea David M. , Gidna Agness , Mabulla Audax Z. P.
Published: January 2025

Olduvai Gorge, nestled between the East African Rift Valley and the Mozambique Belt, is key to understanding human evolution. Even though extensive archaeological and palaeoanthropological findings have been unearthed here since the 1930s, the Middle Stone Age in this area has nonetheless received less attention than the Oldowan or the Acheulean. This paper presents the lithic technology analysis of Dorothy Garrod Site (DGS), a newly-documented MSA site located at the junction of the main gorge and the side gorge at Olduvai. DGS provides valuable additional knowledge to our understanding of the MSA groups that inhabited the region, offering insights into the mobility and settlement patterns of human groups in East Africa during MIS 4. This study focuses on the techno-typological characterization of the DGS lithic assemblage through an analysis of the raw material management strategies and knapping methods employed. The presence of discoid and Levallois methods, as well as single platform methods shows DGS to be a ‘typical’ MSA archaeological site, together with its associated fauna. The retouched pieces are scarce and characterized by a high presence of denticulates, retouched flakes and notches, as well as by the low presence of heavy-duty tools and total absence of points. All of these features make of DGS an exceptional MSA site at the heart of Olduvai.
Modelling age at death reveals Nordic Corded Ware paleodemography
Authors: Tornberg Anna , Vandkilde Helle
Published: January 2025

Drawing on modelling of age at death in skeletal remains, this article unveils hitherto unrecognized demographic patterns in the Nordic Corded Ware complex. This population formed part of the European Corded Ware complex that has been linked to disruption observed in the archaeological and genetic record. The newly developed methods of transition analysis 3 (TA3) and death rate ratio (DRR) were used to process skeletal data from 67 individuals deriving from single, double, and multiple graves in Scandinavia. The results disclose a high proportion of immature individuals aged less than twenty years. Attrition, however, complies with a demography with high age-nonspecific mortality, and this may connect to stressors such as epidemic diseases and endemic warfare. Compared to the partly contemporaneous Pitted Ware complex and the succeeding Late Neolithic–earliest Bronze Age period, the Nordic Corded Ware burials overall point to robust population growth, especially in the later period. This in turn aligns with a sedentary lifestyle rather than a mobile pastoral economy. Short-distance seasonal movements could fit in but cannot yet be measured. Recent genetics have demonstrated biological input in the female line from populations such as Funnel Beaker, Pitted Ware, and herders of the steppe forest zone: the remarkable tallness of Nordic Corded Ware individuals may well be an effect of such admixture. The burials moreover evidence a distinct adult male sex bias, which diminishes over time along with the growth in the number of buried females and young individuals. Judging from investment in graves and grave goods, immatures were highly valued. The scale of social status operates independently of age. Alongside the revealed Nordic Corded Ware demography and the burial and material record more broadly, this could indicate social inequality based on kinship and warrior values.
A generalized ordinal quasi-symmetry model and its separability for analyzing multi-way tables
Authors: Okahara Hisaya , Tahata Kouji
Published: January 2025

This paper addresses the challenge of modeling multi-way contingency tables for matched set data with ordinal categories. Although the complete symmetry and marginal homogeneity models are well established, they may not always provide a satisfactory fit to the data. To address this issue, we propose a generalized ordinal quasi-symmetry model that offers increased flexibility when the complete symmetry model fails to capture the underlying structure. We investigate the properties of this new model and provide an information-theoretic interpretation, elucidating its relationship to the ordinal quasi-symmetry model. Moreover, we revisit Agresti’s findings and present a new necessary and sufficient condition for the complete symmetry model, proving that the proposed model and the marginal moment equality model are separable hypotheses. We demonstrate the practical application of our model through empirical studies on medical and public opinion datasets. Comprehensive simulation studies evaluate the proposed model under various scenarios, including model’s performance for multivariate normal data and asymptotic behavior. It enables researchers to examine the symmetry structure in the data with greater precision, providing a more thorough understanding of the underlying patterns. This powerful framework equips researchers with the necessary tools to explore the complexities of ordinal variable relationships in matched data sets, paving the way for new discoveries and insights.
Jesus and the Visibility of God
Authors: Irwin Luke
Published: January 2025

Although scholars have debated the link between empirical senses and belief in the Gospel of John, few have queried their own presuppositions about the invisibility of God. In this study, Luke Irwin establishes the value of God's physical incarnation for belief, arguing that the theological nature of belief derives from a God who makes himself physically visible in the world. Irwin builds on recent work on divine embodiment in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament and illuminates the Jewish context for John's Gospel. He also explains John's understanding of 'seeing' as a positive component of belief-formation and resolves the Johannine relationship between 'seeing' and 'believing'. Showing how God is the ultimate target of belief, Irwin argues that unless God becomes physically visible in Jesus, belief cannot be attained.