bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect and Gut Microbiota Modulation of Grifola frondosa Antioxidant Peptides in Sodium Dextran Sulfate‐Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mice
Authors: Chen Tong , Hong Linhai , Wang Peng , Teng Qian , Fang Fei , Liu Qinghong
Published: February 2025

Grifola frondosa antioxidant peptides (GFAP) were prepared through trypsin enzymolysis and characterized. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of clinical symptoms, colon pathological injuries, levels of inflammatory factors, expression of inflammation‐related proteins, and alterations in gut microbiota composition in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC). The findings demonstrated that GFAP effectively mitigated UC, alleviated mucosal damage, and reduced inflammatory infiltration. Specifically, GFAP administration resulted in significant reductions in pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α, while enhancing the expression levels of tight junction proteins such as Occludin and ZO‐1. Additionally, GFAP treatment led to decreased levels of Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR‐4), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and TNF‐α. Noteworthy, GFAP also influenced the gut microbiota by decreasing the abundance of Proteobacteria and increasing Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Moreover, specific bacteria like Bacteroides uniformis and Alistipes exhibited elevated abundances following GFAP treatment. In summary, GFAP exhibited preventive and protective effects against UC in mice by effectively alleviating clinical symptoms and modulating gut microbiota composition.
Construction and Characterization of Novel Shuttle Expression Vectors for Actinobacillus succinogenes
Authors: Vallejo‐Giraldo Angélica , Martínez Luz María , Flores Noemí , Hernández‐Chávez Georgina , Cueto Fernanda , Martinez Alfredo , Corona‐González Rosa Isela , Gosset Guillermo
Published: February 2025

Actinobacillus succinogenes is a ruminal microorganism of biotechnological importance due to its capacity to produce succinic acid at high yields. Despite the scientific interest in this organism, molecular vehicles for the transfer and expression of genetic material are limited compared to the existing demand. To facilitate gene cloning and expression in A. succinogenes, we report the generation and characterization of two novel shuttle expression vectors containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (catA) as a selection marker and replication origins from A. succinogenes, other members of the Pasteurellaceae family, and Escherichia coli. Vector pAVPtrc includes the following features from the E. coli expression vector pTrc99A2: lacIq gene, an IPTG‐inducible trc promoter (Ptrc), the lacZ ribosome‐binding site, a multiple cloning site, and the rrnB transcription terminator. The second novel vector pAVPmdh contains 200 bp of the promoter region (Pmdh) from the A. succinogenes malate dehydrogenase (MDH) gene Asuc_1612 (mdh). Gene mdh was cloned in the two novel vectors to generate pAVPtrcmdh and pAVPmdhmdh. Promoter activity in these vectors was determined by measuring transcript levels with RT‐qPCR analysis and MDH specific activity. In cultures with A. succinogenes/pAVPtrcmdh with 2 mM IPTG, a two‐fold increase in MDH specific activity and a 22‐fold increase in mdh transcript level were observed. In the case of pAVPmdhmdh, a four‐fold increase in MDH‐specific activity and a 19‐fold increase in mdh transcript level were observed. Analysis by qPCR showed plasmids pAVPtrc, pAVPtrcmdh, pAVPmdh, and pAVPmdhmdh to be present in a range of seven to nine copies per cell.
Nutzung digitaler Methoden zur Realisierung eines Digitalen Zwillings von Brückenbauwerken
Authors: Köhncke Martin , Hamdan Al‐Hakam , Bartnitzek Jens , Henke Sascha , Keßler Sylvia
Published: February 2025

Zur Bewältigung der Herausforderungen der alternden Infrastruktur und des Fachkräftemangels kann die Digitalisierung durch Effizienzsteigerungen einen wesentlichen Beitrag leisten. Die Zielsetzung ist die Realisierung eines Digitalen Zwillings der Infrastruktur, der das Bauwerksmanagement sowohl auf technischer als auch auf administrativer Ebene effizienter gestaltet. Die Bauwerksüberwachung erfolgt über die Erfassung physischer Veränderungen und deren Übertragung auf das digitale Abbild, das eine Analyse der Ursachen ermöglicht. Zur Erreichung dieser Ziele werden digitale Methoden wie Building Information Modelling (BIM) und Ontologien eingesetzt. Ontologien sind maschineninterpretierbare Modelle, die Bauwerksinformationen sowie das zugrunde liegende Expertenwissen vereinen und somit eine effizientere Administration ermöglichen. BIM ermöglicht die Verknüpfung semantischer, alphanumerischer und geometrischer Informationen. Der bidirektionale Informationsaustausch zwischen realen Brückenbauwerken und digitalem Abbild ist der Kern des Digitalen Zwillings. Dieser Ansatz wird bislang nur in einer begrenzten Anzahl von Projekten teilweise umgesetzt, weshalb ein Blick auf die unterschiedlichen Vorgehensweisen mit ihren Vor‐ und Nachteilen sowie die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen sinnvoll ist. Es wird eine Vorgehensweise für die Erstellung von Teilsystemen Digitaler Zwillinge von Brückenbauwerken auf Basis von Structural Health Monitoring und Ontologien vorgestellt.
Research of Peganum harmala : Phytochemical Content, Mineral Profile, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Anticholinergic Properties and Molecular Docking
Authors: İzol Ebubekir , Turhan Münire , Yapıcı İsmail , Necip Adem , Yılmaz Mustafa Abdullah , Zengin Gökhan
Published: February 2025

Peganum harmala is a significant medicinal aromatic plant used in traditional medicine and the subject of many studies. In this study, the phytochemical compound and mineral profile of the ethanol extract of the plant were identified quantitatively. Antioxidant properties were determined by total phenolic and flavonoid content, FRAP, DPPH, CUPRAC, ABTS, metal chelating, and phosphomolybdenum assays. Antidiabetic, anticholinergic, and skin care properties were specified by the inhibition of tyrosinase, α‐glucosidase, α‐amylase, BChE, AChE enzymes, respectively. In addition, binding interactions of major phytochemicals with all enzymes were investigated by molecular docking studies. The phytochemical compound of the extract contained significant bioactive components such as acacetin, gentisic acid, p‐coumaric acid, quinic acid, rutin, apigenin, chrysin, while the mineral profile was rich in salt elements. AChE, BChE, tyrosinase, α‐amylase, and α‐glycosidase enzyme inhibitor results were determined as 2.99 mg GALAE/g, 4.14 mg GALAE/g, 35.8 mg KAE/g, 2.76 mmol ACAE/g, and 1.20 mmol ACAE/g, respectively. As a result, it was identified that it had antioxidant properties and strongly inhibited all enzymes except tyrosinase. The docking scores of major bioactive phytochemicals were found to be high. Thus, it was revealed that P. harmala has an important potential in drug research and treatment of some diseases.
Fast Release of Carboxylic Acid inside Cells
Authors: Moser Pascal , Zelli Renaud , dos Santos Leandro J. , Henry Mickaël , Sanchez‐Garcia Kevin , Caspar Yvan , Marro Florian C. , Chovelon Benoit , Saez Cabodevilla Jaione , de Choudens Sandrine Ollagnier , Faudry Eric , Wong Yung‐Sing
Published: February 2025

Delivering carboxylic acid functions into cells is challenging due to their poor permeability across lipophilic membranes at physiological pH, where they are ionized. Masking carboxylic acids as esters improves cell entry, but once inside the cell, its rapid release is essential to maintain spatiotemporal control which can be beneficial for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This study evaluates the 2‐hydroxyethyl‐dithio‐benzyl ester functional group which undergoes selective and rapid cleavage of the disulfide bond by thioredoxin (Trx), triggering rapid self‐immolation of the thio‐benzyl ester releasing the carboxylic acid. Fluorescence‐based assays using the pro‐fluorescent BODIPY structure have demonstrated the rapid intracellular release of carboxylic acids within minutes in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. The approach was tested on antibiotics, and among them, levofloxacin ester prodrug, having the 2‐hydroxyethyl‐dithio‐benzyl ester functional group, showed significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity against resistant and intracellular bacteria compared to its methyl ester analogue.
An Aliasing Distortion Optimal Sampling With Reduced Computation Delay in Digitally Controlled LC‐Type Grid‐Forming Inverter
Authors: Yu Jian , Hou Yifan , Cheng Yingru , Hao Yulong
Published: February 2025

In high‐voltage feedback applications with small LC filter capacitor equivalent series resistance (ESR), the synchronous sampling process will introduce aliasing, produce low‐frequency distortion, and deteriorate power quality. At the same time, there is an inherent 1.5‐beat delay, which limits the control bandwidth, resulting in a small system stability area and insufficient response time. Shifting the sampling instant can reduce the delay. However, aliasing will occur if the sampling instant is improperly selected. Previous studies have not explained the relationship between shifting sampling instant and capacitor voltage sideband aliasing. Therefore, this paper analyzes the side band aliasing law of sampling the capacitor voltage and the mechanism of harmonic cancellation with shifted sampling instance. A low aliasing distortion sampling method is proposed to reduce the calculation delay, which is realized by voltage double‐loop active damping control. The digital lead compensator is used in the inner loop, and the proportional resonance controller is used in the outer loop. The proposed optimal sampling phase results in an improved minimum distortion limit of the system with reduced delays, leading to faster dynamic performance of voltage regulation.
Algorithmic Analysis of Cognitive Multichannel Retrial Network System With Finite‐Source Primary Users and Admission Control for Secondary Users
Authors: Krishna Kumar B. , Sankar R. , Navaneetha Krishnan R. , Rukmani R. , Balaji S.
Published: February 2025

This research article explores a novel category of multichannel cognitive radio (CR) wireless retrial queueing network. The channels (radio spectrums) are shared between secondary users (SUs) and primary users (PUs), with PUs enjoying preemptive priority. The PUs are originated from a finite number, , of identical sources. In addition to PUs holding absolute priority over SUs, the impact of repeated attempts of PUs has been implemented. To optimize radio spectrum utilization and improve transmission quality, a waiting line buffer for SUs is deployed. For this intricate system, the ergodic condition and joint stationary probability distribution of SUs and PUs are derived using matrix‐geometric methods. Various essential performance metrics of the system have been evaluated. Additionally, vital probabilistic descriptors, including successful, vain, and ideal retrials, are thoroughly examined in the context of the CR wireless network. By exploring the first‐step principle, the first‐passage time to attain a specific critical level in the waiting line buffer of SUs and associated average measures are discussed. Finally, comprehensive numerical results and graphical analyses are presented to provide insights into the proposed scheme.
Metamaterial‐Based AMC Antenna With Reduced RCS and Increased Bandwidth for Wireless X‐Band Applications
Authors: Dhabal Barun , Kumar Akhilesh , Nandi Arnab , Basu Banani
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a method to enhance antenna bandwidth, reduce radar cross section (RCS), and increase antenna gain by using a metamaterial‐based artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) structure for the applications of X‐band. In the suggested antenna, we provide a coaxial probe‐fed with 50 impedance matching circuit. Furthermore, in the presented work, two AMC unit cells are designed to achieve a 180° reflection phase difference across a wide frequency range, and these unit cells are employed to construct a chessboard‐like metamaterial surface (CLMS) for low RCS. The AMC structures provide an adequate bandwidth in the desired frequency by adjusting the phase. A 3  3 periodic AMC structure with a defected ground structure (DGS) configuration is proposed and experimentally demonstrated to enhance antenna bandwidth and gain. The antenna's overall size is significantly reduced to (1.35  1.35) with a thickness of (0.025); here, is free space wavelength at 9.8 GHz operating frequency, with an AMC structure. The proposed antenna with the DGS ground structure has been constructed and tested. The results of the simulations and measurements demonstrate an excellent gain performance and improved bandwidth.
An Energy‐Efficient Information Aggregation Protocol With Optimized Trilevel K‐Means Clustering for IoT‐Based WSN Framework: A Case Study on Smart Agriculture
Authors: Nandal Vijay , Dahiya Sunita
Published: February 2025

In agriculture production, Internet of Things–based wireless sensor network (IoT‐based WSN) technology is used to observe yield conditions and automatic precision agriculture through different sensors. As a part of intelligent farming decisions, sensors are used in the agricultural field to collect information regarding plants, crops, measurements, temperature, humidity, and irrigation systems. IoT‐based WSNs are proposed for smart agriculture that have different levels of design. Initially, significant information is captured by agricultural sensors. Then, an optimized trilevel K‐means clustering (KMA) is introduced to cluster the agriculture data. The trilevel KMA is effectively used to extract knowledge in the agriculture field. After that, the cluster head is selected using the arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) by considering the general factors, including energy, delay, and distance, improving the lifetime of the nodes. This method proposes a new chain‐based routing method for optimizing information transmission in IoT‐based WSN frameworks. A comparison between the proposed and existing methods is performed to prove their effectiveness. The experimental results show that the proposed protocol outperforms the other existing methods in terms of throughput (96 kbps), packet delivery ratio (37%), network latency (0.028 ms), and average energy consumption (0.52 J).
Efficient Data Communication in SIoT: Hybrid Channel Attention Recurrent Transformer‐Based Adaptive Marine Predator Algorithm for Reduced Energy Consumption
Authors: Sellappan Sekar , Sethuraman Ravikumar , Subbaraj Surendran , Shunmugiah Jeyalakshmi
Published: February 2025

The rapid development of technologies has attracted significant attention, with the social web and big data becoming key drivers of modern innovation. Although big data in the Social Internet of Things presents various energy‐saving merits, problems such as network congestion and data communication reliability occur. In this article, a hybrid channel attention recurrent transformer‐based adaptive marine predator algorithm is introduced to solve these problems. The main purpose of this approach is to improve the robustness and performance of SIoT systems. The hybrid channel attention recurrent transformer‐based adaptive marine predator algorithm combines a hybrid recurrent neural network, a channel attention mechanism, and a transformer classifier. In this work, four datasets, including the water treatment plant, GPS trajectories, hepatitis dataset, and Twitter for sentiment analysis in Arabic are employed in validating the performance of a proposed model. The Savitzky–Golay filter is applied to reduce noise and eliminate unnecessary or irrelevant data. After data pre‐processing, the hybrid channel attention recurrent transformer‐based adaptive marine predator was introduced for classification, and this model is fine‐tuned by the adaptive marine predator algorithm. In addition, the proposed model demonstrates strong scalability and applicability in real‐world applications, making it an ideal solution for future Social Internet of Things systems.
What Language Should We Use When Talking About Children With Specific Learning Disorders? A Study Exploring the Preference of Australian Parents, Professionals and Adults Who Have a Specific Learning Disorder
Authors: Anthony Hayley , McLean Louise , Rabba Aspasia Stacey , Reupert Andrea
Published: February 2025

In Australia, a broad range of terms are used when discussing children and young people with a specific learning disorder (SLD). However, little is known about how SLD‐related terminology is perceived by adults with an SLD, parents of children with an SLD and the professionals who support them. The purpose of this study was to identify any SLD‐related preferred terms and explore factors which may influence these preferences. Data were collected from 177 participants via an online survey which asked them to rate how much they liked each term from a provided list and why. Results showed that clear language preferences do exist amongst dyslexic adults, parents and professionals, with dyslexia/dysgraphia/dyscalculia, dyslexic/dysgraphic/dyscalculic, person with dyslexia/dysgraphia/ dyscalculia and challenges being the most liked terms whilst learning disability, learning disabled, impairment, deficit, weakness and person with a learning disability were amongst the least liked terms. A narrative synthesis revealed that participants' language preferences are largely dependent on the context and intent of communication, generating six key themes. This research offers clear implications on how society embraces strengths and diversity, including language use, and the impact this can have on individuals with SLDs.
Phylotranscriptomic Analyses Resolve Evolutionary History of Eremopyrum (Triticeae; Poaceae)
Authors: Fan Shu‐Qi , Yan Hao , Zhang Yue , Ma Xiao , Zhao Jun‐Ming , Zhang Hai‐Qin , Zhou Yong‐Hong , Fan Xing , Wen Yong‐Xian , Sha Li‐Na
Published: February 2025

Disentangling the phylogenetic relationship of polyploid species is essential for understanding how such polyploid species evolved following their origin. To investigate the speciation and evolutionary history of Eremopyrum, we analyzed 36 transcriptomes from 9 polyploid accessions of Eremopyrum and 27 diploid taxa representing 12 basic genomes in Triticeae. Phylogenetic reconstruction, divergence time, and introgression event demonstrated that (1) Eremopyrum and Agropyron shared a common ancestor; (2) Eremopyrum has undergone ongoing evolutionary diversification since its origin in Late Miocene; (3) the diploid E. triticeum and E. distans were the genome donors of the tetraploid species of Eremopyrum; (4) both Eremopyrum and Agropyron contribute to the nonmonophyletic origin of tetraploid E. orientale via introgression events. Our results shed new light on our understanding of the diversity and ecological adaptation of the species in Eremopyrum.
Wintering Together: Do Migrants Impact Residents? A Literature Review
Authors: Navarro‐Velez Kimberly C. , Dhondt André A.
Published: February 2025

Year after year, billions of long‐distance migratory birds join year‐round resident tropical birds during the overwintering period (dry season in the northern tropics) marked by harsh environmental conditions. The overlapping habitat use and apparent resource overlap during this time suggest potential interspecific competition between residents and migrants. Previous studies have explored the effects of such competition on migrants, but the impact on residents has been neglected. This review critically evaluates and summarizes the findings in the literature about interactions between migratory and resident birds in tropical ecosystems, using the necessary and sufficient conditions recommended by Dhondt to assess interspecific competition. This review reveals that interspecific territoriality, consistent aggression (interference competition), and alterations in foraging behavior and microhabitat impacted resident birds. High dietary overlap observed in some species pairs suggests potential exploitation competition, although our understanding of year‐round residents' diets and the full scope of these interactions remains limited. The complexity of these relationships underscores the need for comprehensive research to disentangle seasonal effects from competitive pressures and to assess impacts on resident fitness, distribution, and abundance. Inconsistent methodologies and inadequate spatio‐temporal scales have hindered a clear understanding of this phenomenon. We emphasize the importance of long‐term studies, including observations before and after migrant arrival at wintering grounds, to detect shifts in resource availability and foraging niches. Given climate change's influence on migration patterns and food resources, elucidating these biotic interactions is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies for resident tropical avifauna. Particularly, as many resident birds exhibit high levels of endemism, higher sedentarism, and specialized foraging habits, they may be more vulnerable to ecological changes than migrants, who are more flexible, generally occupying broader foraging niches. This review highlights critical knowledge gaps and proposes directions for future research to enhance our understanding of migrant‐resident bird dynamics in tropical ecosystems.
Evaluation of the Low‐Carbon Rationalization of Regional Power Generation Based on an Improved C‐E‐G‐T Model
Authors: Yu Xiaobao , Zhao Wenjing , Song Gan , Jin Jialong
Published: February 2025

Under the background of the “double carbon” goal, the green transformation of energy and power is a focus of current research. To understand the current situation and issues in the development of the power generation structure in different regions of China, an evaluation index system was constructed from four aspects: power‐social system availability, power‐economic system synergy, power‐environmental system sustainability, and power system stability. The low carbon rationality of the power generation structure in different regions was evaluated and comprehensive evaluation scores were calculated based on an improved C‐E‐G‐T model. The results of the study were as follows. (1) The low‐carbon rationality of power generation structure is better in the western region and worse in the central region. In particular, performance was consistently good in Qinghai, Yunnan, Ningxia, and other regions and was poor in Beijing, Shanghai, and other regions. (2) To ensure the reliability of the evaluation results and a high degree of differentiation, the optimal range of values for the α parameter was (0.3, 0.7) in this paper. This research lays a theoretical foundation for the optimization of the power generation structure in all regions of China.
Stimulus Selection Influences Prediction of Individual Phenotypes in Naturalistic Conditions
Authors: Li Xuan , Eickhoff Simon B. , Weis Susanne
Published: February 2025

While the use of naturalistic stimuli such as movie clips for understanding individual differences and brain–behaviour relationships attracts increasing interest, the influence of stimulus selection remains largely unclear. By using machine learning to predict individual traits (phenotypes) from brain activity evoked during various movie clips, we show that different movie stimuli can result in distinct prediction performances. In brain regions related to lower‐level processing of the stimulus, prediction to a certain degree benefits from stronger synchronisation of brain activity across subjects. By contrast, better predictions in frontoparietal brain regions are mainly associated with larger inter‐subject variability. Furthermore, we demonstrate that while movie clips with rich social content in general achieve better predictions, the importance of specific movie features for prediction highly depends on the phenotype under investigation. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of careful stimulus selection and provide novel insights into stimulus selection for phenotype prediction in naturalistic conditions, opening new avenues for future research.
A Digital–Conventional Integrated Teaching Method Used in Preclinical Full Crown Preparation Courses: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ge Yanjun , Zhang Yi , An Na , Jiang Yong
Published: February 2025

Purpose/Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the digital–conventional integrated teaching method on prosthetics preclinically in full crown preparation courses.

Methods

Fifty‐eight undergraduate dental students were randomly divided into a conventional group (CG) and a digital–conventional integrated group (DG). The preclinical course was composed of two phases. In the first phase, students from both groups were trained in full crown preparation with the conventional teaching method. In the second phase, the students in the CG group were still trained with the conventional teaching method, whereas the students in the DG group practiced with a digital real‐time training and evaluation system. The crown preparation test was conducted after training. The reduction amount, margin, taper, undercuts, finishing status and protection of the adjacent tooth and gingiva were evaluated by senior experts. Crown preparations were also graded by a digital assessment system. Students’ opinions were investigated with questionnaires.

Results

The differences between the scores for the CG and DG groups were not significant, as evaluated by experts (p = 0.398) and a digital assessment system (p = 0.075). The questionnaires response rate was 100%. The digital–conventional integrated teaching method had a significantly higher score for the preparation sequence (p = 0.002), according to the questionnaires. The conventional teaching method had significantly higher scores for efficiency (p < 0.001), posture (p = 0.010) and preference (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The digital–conventional integrated teaching method can achieve the same effect as the conventional teaching method in crown preparation training. It is beneficial for students to master the preparation sequence and is likely to be promising in preclinical full crown preparation courses.
Real‐time symptom monitoring using electronic patient‐reported outcomes: A prospective study protocol to improve safety during care transitions for patients with multiple chronic conditions
Authors: Plombon Savanna , Rudin Robert S. , Rodriguez Jorge , Garabedian Pamela , Lipsitz Stuart , Edelen Maria , Leeson Marie , Smith Madeline , Konieczny Kaitlyn , Dalal Anuj K.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Adverse events (AEs) during transitions from hospitals to ambulatory settings occur in 19%–28% of cases, posing a significant threat to patient safety. Early screening for worrisome symptoms and deterioration in overall health is critical for older adult patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). Clinically integrated apps that remotely monitor symptoms and collect patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) can predict AEs when combined with electronic health record (EHR) data. This innovative intervention may enable more timely detection, escalation, and mitigation of harm from AEs for patients with MCCs during transitions.

Methods

This remote monitoring intervention leverages evidence‐based frameworks for care transitions and health technologies. We will develop and validate a prediction model of postdischarge AEs using validated symptoms, PRO questionnaires, and EHR data. Existing digital infrastructure will be adapted to facilitate remote monitoring. We will employ a user‐centered approach to identify patient and clinician requirements to guide the design and development of our intervention. Interoperable data exchange standards and application programming interfaces will be utilized to integrate the intervention with vendor EHRs and patient portals. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to compare the effect of our intervention versus usual care on postdischarge AEs in MCC patients transitioning from the hospital. A mixed‐methods evaluation will be performed to generate best practices for disseminating this intervention at institutions with different EHRs.

Discussion

A patient‐centric, digitally enabled surveillance strategy that monitors symptoms and electronic PROs, educates patients about risks, and ensures communication with clinicians has the potential to transform care for patients with MCCs during transitions.
Preferences for HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis formulations and delivery among young African women: results of a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Dlamini Wendy W. , Mirembe Brenda G. , Krows Meighan L. , Peacock Sue , Kotze Philip L. , Selepe Pearl , Smit Jenni , Mandona Nelly , Louw Cheryl , Nuwagaba‐Biribonwoha Harriet , Omollo Victor O. , Zwane Zinhle , Panchia Ravindre , Mwelase Noluthando , Senne Melissa , Naidoo Logashvari , Chihana Rachel , Delany‐Moretlwe Sinead , Gill Katherine , MacDonald Pippa , van Heerden Alastair , Bosman Shannon , Peters Remco P. H. , du Preez Philip , Ward Amy , Celum Connie , Heffron Renee , Velloza Jennifer ,   for the INSIGHT Study Team
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Oral HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective, but adherence is challenging for young women. Products centred around women's preferences could address adherence barriers. Using a longitudinal discrete choice experiment (DCE), we examined young African women's preferences around PrEP product formulation and delivery attributes before and after initiating oral PrEP.

Methods

We enrolled HIV‐negative women from six African countries in a prospective cohort from August 2022 to June 2023. Women completed two DCEs on PrEP products and PrEP delivery. At enrolment and month 1, participants completed the DCE about PrEP products with 16 randomly assorted choice sets assessing product form and dosing, dose forgiveness, drug reversibility, weight change and antiretroviral or immune‐based mechanism attributes. At month 3, participants completed the DCE about PrEP delivery evaluating preferences related to location to collect doses, packaging, product storage, type of HIV test and costs. Preference weights (PW) were estimated with a hierarchical Bayesian model; higher positive numbers indicate greater preference for an attribute. Importance scores compare relative importance across the five attributes; higher scores indicate greater importance.

Results

Two thousand eight hundred and forty‐seven women completed enrolment and month 1 DCEs; the median age was 24 years (range: 16–30) and 92.8% initiated daily oral PrEP. Product form and dosing was the most important attribute at enrolment and month 1. At enrolment, women preferred small oral pills taken monthly (preference weight [PW]: 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58−0.77), and at month 1, they preferred a 6‐monthly injection (PW: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.46−0.65). In the month 3 DCE, location was the most important PrEP delivery attribute with a strong preference for a youth‐friendly or non‐governmental organization (PW: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.19−0.30) or health facility (PW: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.17−0.25); mobile clinic or van was least preferred. The cost of the product was the second most important product delivery attribute.

Conclusions

Young African women preferred discreet, less frequently administered PrEP formulations, particularly after 1 month of taking daily oral PrEP. Long‐acting formulations are needed to meet women's preferences. Coupled with the preferred PrEP delivery location and cost, the highlighted PrEP product characteristics have the potential to increase PrEP uptake.
Trends and Variability of Temperatures in the Eastern Province of Rwanda
Authors: Rwema Michel , Safari Bonfils , Laine Marko , Sylla Mouhamadou Bamba , Roininen Lassi
Published: February 2025

This study investigates air temperature trends and variability over the Eastern Province of Rwanda and its derived near‐homogeneous zones for 1983–2021. Near‐homogeneous zones are obtained using the K‐means clustering method to classify annual long‐term means of rainfall and minimum, maximum and mean temperatures from 570 grid cells in the Eastern Province. Changes in monthly, seasonal and annual minimum, maximum, and mean temperatures are computed with a 95% confidence interval using a dynamic linear state‐space model. This model effectively captures temporal patterns by linking hidden states that evolve over time to observed measurements while accounting for random fluctuations. Additionally, temporal variability is assessed using standard deviation. In Eastern Rwanda, annual minimum and mean temperatures have risen to 2.95°C (confidence interval: [1.64–4.45]) and 1.87°C (confidence interval: [0.61–3.19]), respectively. A significant increase in seasonal minimum temperature is observed in all seasons, the June–July–August season presenting the highest value of 3.37 [1.75–4.81]°C. The seasonal mean and the annual maximum temperature have not significantly changed. Minimum temperature displays notable nonlinearity in its time‐varying trends, remaining relatively stable during 1990–2010 before experiencing a pronounced warming trend thereafter. Over the three identified zones (1. Northwestern, 2. Central and 3. Southeastern), a significant increase in seasonal and annual minimum temperature is observed in the Northwestern and Southeastern zones. The highest increases are in the Northwestern zone, June–July–August season having 4.07 [2.26–6.08]°C. The seasonal and annual minimum, maximum and mean temperatures vary relatively little, with a standard deviation of less than 1°C in all zones. The seasonal and annual minimum and mean temperature increase over the Northwestern zone is dominant over the Eastern Province. This study identifies climate change vulnerable areas in Eastern Rwanda, offering vital insights to guide policy and decision‐makers in supporting affected communities while enhancing resilience and informing future climate research.
Anuran carcass persistence on roads: causes and implications for conservation
Authors: Boyle Sean P. , Balsdon Mary , Newediuk Levi , Litzgus Jacqueline D. , Lesbarrères David
Published: February 2025

Roads are pervasive and ubiquitous landscape features that have substantial and predominantly negative effects on wildlife. Conducting road surveys to count animals that have been struck and killed by vehicles is a common method for estimating the impact of roads on wildlife, especially for species at risk and animals with low road avoidance (i.e., herpetofauna). For road surveys to provide accurate animal mortality data, information about carcass persistence in different environmental contexts and in relation to survey frequency is necessary, but few studies have implemented these data into evaluations of road effects. Using road survey data collected in Ontario, Canada, in 2015 and survival analysis, we quantified anuran carcass (n = 91) persistence and determined the effects of carcass characteristics (size, species, condition), road characteristics (lane position, traffic volume), and environmental characteristics (precipitation, temperature) on carcass persistence on the road. Contrary to previous findings, we found that anuran carcasses persisted on roads longer than expected (5.5 ± 4.4 days, mean ± SD), with some carcasses persisting for up to 30 days. Temperature and precipitation had the greatest influence on the duration of anuran carcass persistence. Carcass condition, (i.e., intact versus partially intact carcasses), species, location on the road, and traffic volume had little to no effect on persistence. We recommend incorporating carcass persistence into road ecology studies, especially in the context of evaluating population‐level impacts of road mortality. Failure to do so could alter estimates of population viability and misinform management decisions.
Getting the Feeling? The Salience of Music Emotion with a Cochlear Implant
Authors: Friedmann David R. , Spitzer Emily , Horton Joshua , Jethanamest Daniel , Landsberger David
Published: February 2025

Objective

Music, like all forms of art, seeks to communicate emotional content to its audience. The signal provided by cochlear implants (CI) does not faithfully represent the psychophysical relationships inherent in music; however, it is unknown whether targeted musical emotions are conveyed through electric only stimulation with a cochlear implant.

Methods

Twenty musical excerpts for which there was concordance among normal hearing (NH) listeners as to the emotion conveyed: (1) happy, (2) sad, (3) scary, or (4) peaceful were presented to cochlear implant (CI) subjects (n = 20) and age‐matched NH controls (n = 8) through a specifically designed iPad application. The musical clips were original recordings of western music from various musical genres but not widely familiar to participants. Subjects also completed a music background questionnaire.

Results

CI users identified the target emotion in only 57% of excerpts compared with NH listeners who correctly identified the target emotion in 76.9% of excerpts. Musical excerpts with the target emotion of happy were recognized in 84% of cases by CI users compared with 75% among NH controls while the remaining target emotions were much more difficult for CI users compared with NH raters. Length of CI experience, speech perception scores, and musical training or listening habits did not correlate with performance on this task.

Conclusions

Current CI technology and processing strategies do not convey the range of emotions conveyed in music as recognized by normal hearing subjects. This difficulty may explain the reported lack of interest many patients have in music after CI despite a passion for music before onset of hearing loss.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 2025
On a conjecture on aCM and Ulrich sheaves on degeneracy loci
Authors: Benedetti Vladimiro , Tanturri Fabio
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we address a conjecture by Kleppe and Miró‐Roig stating that suitable twists by line bundles (on the smooth locus) of the exterior powers of the normal sheaf of a standard determinantal locus are arithmetically Cohen–Macaulay, and even Ulrich when the locus is linear determinantal. We do so by providing a very simple locally free resolution of such sheaves obtained through the so‐called Weyman's Geometric Method.
Thermo‐Physical Analyses of Palm Oil Based Polyurethane Coating
Authors: Mustapha Siti Noor Hidayah , Zamri Hannan , Roslan Rasidi , Zakaria Shamsul , Mustapha Rohani
Published: February 2025

This research investigates the thermo‐physical properties of thiol‐ene UV curable palm oil urethane acrylate coating. Palm oil‐based polyurethane (EPOUA) oligomer is synthesized from epoxidized palm oil by acrylation and isocyanation process. Then, the oligomer is mixed with 1,2‐ethanedithiol (EDT) monomer and followed by di and tri‐acrylate monomers to initiate thiol‐ene reaction under UV radiation. The effect of different concentrations of EDT on the thermo‐physical performances of palm oil polyurethane coating is studied. The sample is characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotoscopy (FTIR) to confirm the chemical interaction of EDT with the EPOUA and other monomers. The sample is further analyzed on its microstructure, thermal and physical properties using X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), gel content, and water contact angle. The XRD results proved that the addition of higher EDT provides higher d‐spacing and peak intensity reflected to higher molar mass and higher crosslinking density is taking place. This finding is also in line with the DSC results as higher curing peak and total heat (J g−1) for curing observed at higher EDT concentration. The gel content and water contact angle also improve at higher amount of EDT resulting to a better crosslinking density and surface tension to the coating samples. The highest curing heat energy and gel content is at 2% thiol (0.42 J g−1 and 85% respectively), while 4% EDT shows the highest contact angle (101.3°).
Development of Bioactive Patches From Aloe Vera and Nata De Coco for Wound Dressing Applications
Authors: Kabeb Siti Maznah binti , Abu Samah Nurlin binti , Salim Nurjannah binti , Zulkifli Farah Hanani
Published: February 2025

This study focuses on the development and characterization of bioactive patches derived from Aloe Vera (AV) and Nata De Coco (NDC) for advanced wound dressing applications. Utilizing the solution casting method, biocomposite films are developed using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with varied bio‐filler content (2%−10%) w/w. Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirms the miscibility and compatibility of PVA and bio‐fillers via intermolecular hydrogen bonding. PVA/NDC10 demonstrates the highest water‐holding capacity (WHC), exhibiting an increase from 157.17% (neat PVA) to 286.01%, resulting in an 82.0% enhancement. Conversely, increasing NDC content leads to a gradual decrease in tensile strength. Notably, the hybrid biocomposite film (PVA/AV/NDC) shows a significant 20.82% improvement in tensile strength, reaching 30.79 MPa. The study underscores the promise of AV and NDC bioactive patches for advanced wound dressing. Additionally, the hybrid approach shows synergistic improvements in water retention and mechanical strength, offering a comprehensive solution for effective wound management.
Removal of Fluorotelomer Olefin from Aqueous Solution by Ion Exchange Resin
Authors: Wan Zamri Wan Nursyafiqah , Ong Keat Khim , Kasim Norherdawati , Syed Ahmad Syed Mohd Shafiq , Jamari Nor Laili‐Azua
Published: February 2025

Fluorotelomers (FT) are a class of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have a variety of applications due to their unique chemical properties. However, fluorotelomers and some of their breakdown products have raised environmental and health concerns due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. Hence, its removal from industrial waste is essential. In this study, anion exchange resin as an adsorbent is investigated for fluorotelomer olefin (FTO) removal. Three different parameters are investigated: adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial concentration of FTO. The effects of other compounds on FTO removal are also investigated. The surface morphology and surface area of anion exchange resin are also conducted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), respectively. The surface of anion exchange shows smooth and fractured structure with 2.0381 mg2 g−1 surface area. The results show fast and high removal of FTO up to 80% using optimum sorption condition (1.25 mg, 5 h, and 400 mg L−1). In addition, the removal efficiency of FTO is not affected by the presence of other interference compounds. The understanding of FTO removal through anion exchange resin offered by this work should lead to more effective applications for fluorotelomers removal from the environment.
Development and Characterization of Polypropylene‐Carbon Nanotubes (PP‐CNT) Composites: An Overview Toward Hurdles and Achievements
Authors: Kumar Rajeev , Srivastava Pulkit , Agrawal Anant Prakash , Kumar Sanjeev , Kumar Vijay
Published: February 2025

A variety of engineering applications involves use of polypropylene (PP) for the production of components used in automobiles, bio‐medicals, electronic packaging, machine parts and electric vehicles and so on. However, high flammability, low melting‐point, low heat‐resistance and incompatibility of filler materials like CNT in the matrix of polypropylene imposed challenges in the development of polypropylene and carbon nanotubes (PP‐CNT) composites that has drew attention of researchers toward the development and characterization of PP‐CNT composites now a days. The past research work has shown that the improved properties of PP‐CNT composites are due to the good properties of PP mixed with fillers of CNT that too possesses excellent properties like high thermal conductivity, good electron mobility, and strength along with formation of conductivity networks in composite matrix. The development of PP‐CNT composites faces challenges of good dispersion of CNTs in the matrix of polypropylene and the selection of best fabrication method to develop it. Therefore, the objective of this review paper is to focus on the various contributions of CNTs on the mechanical properties of advanced PP‐CNT composites. The results drawn from the various research work done has been summarized for future reference and for both academic and industrial applications. This paper discussed about the present challenges faced in the development of PP‐CNT composites and future directions with their application.
Machine Learning in Polymer Science: Emerging Trends and Future Directions
Authors: Sarangi Pradeepta Kumar , Goel Nidhi , Sahoo Ashok Kumar , Rani Lekha
Published: February 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have advanced tremendously in the previous 5 years regarding polymer science. Polymers are materials with enormous versatility that are now widely used. Polymers have found extensive applications in several fields such as energy storage, construction, medical, aerospace, and other industries. This study is presently in the era of the 4.0 industry, a transformative period that is profoundly reshaping both business and society in an unprecedented manner specifically in developing countries. Data‐driven strategies for process analysis and control are crucial in expediting the creation of polymer production processes while maintaining product quality and avoiding a rise in production cost. More and more scientists are utilizing polymer informatics and data science to create new materials and understand the connections between their molecular structure and characteristics. The field of polymer informatics is relatively new. Even though there are a lot of helpful databases and tools accessible, not many are used frequently. The application of AI is starting to have an influence on several aspects of human existence, including fields such as science and technology. Polymer informatics is a field that utilizes AI and ML techniques to enhance the process of developing, designing, and discovering polymers. Based on these ideas, it examines the burgeoning fields of ML‐assisted polymer informatics in this research. It also looks at these new developments in the polymeric informatics ecosystem and talks about upcoming potential and problems for applications.
Analysis of Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Surinsar Lake in UT of Jammu & Kashmir, India
Authors: Yadav Arvind Kumar , Mahajan Arushi , Sharma Tania , Bhushan Indu , Noor Ikhwan Syafiq Mohd , Yahya Muhd Zu Azhan
Published: February 2025

Water in biological systems is not just a passive solvent but also plays a crucial role in the structure of proteins and nucleic acids, ensuring stability and flexibility. Macromolecules affect the state of water contacting them, affecting its order. Surinsar lake, a twin of Mansar Lake in Jammu, is experiencing deteriorating water quality due to human interference. A study examining ten locations found mean values for temperature, pH, conductivity, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD5, COD, total hardness, total alkalinity, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, oil and grease, turbidity, and faecal coliform. The findings call for new conservation policies.
Anti‐bacterial Role of Zinc Oxide Synthesized Using Naturally Abundant Material
Authors: Mansi  , Shivank  , Bhattacharya Bhaskar , Majumder Shahana , Kashyap Jahanvi , Chauhan Yatishwar
Published: February 2025

The large‐scale chemical synthesis of nanoparticles has a very detrimental effect on the environment. Therefore, w e explored a green route for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using plant extract. W e report the synthesize of ZnO nanoparticles via both green and chemical routes for comparison. Both samples are characterized using a UV‐visible spectrophotometer, X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and a photo‐illuminator. Their properties are compared, and then their antimicrobial activity is tested. Notably, the green synthesis method is cost‐effective and eco‐friendly compared to chemical synthesis.