bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Axial–flexure–shear strength interaction of solid and hollow reinforced concrete rectangular members
Authors: Jaiswal Devesh K. , Murty C. V. R.
Published: February 2025

The paper provides an analytical method to estimate the combined axial force P–shear force V–bending moment M capacity of solid and hollow reinforced concrete sections including effects of confinement. A fiber model is employed to perform the parametric study to understand the effects of section size and amounts of longitudinal and transverse reinforcements on the strength interaction. The confined P–M envelope can be smaller than the unconfined P–M envelope; the reduction is significant if the concrete cover is more than 15% of the member dimension. In hollow sections, the reduction in strength is independent of absolute section size and is majorly influenced by the percentage opening. The maximum shear force capacity occurs at axial load demand lesser than the uniaxial capacity; it varies with increase in bending moment but remains constant at zero axial load. Design recommendations are made along with a design P–V–M interaction surface.
Successful Cryoprotectant‐Free Vitrification of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Drone Sperm With Royal Jelly Supplemented Extender
Authors: Mohammadi Aliakbar , Sabrivand Adel , Hajarian Hadi
Published: February 2025

In trying to protect honey bee species and maintain genetic diversity, employing effective approaches for drone sperm conservation is crucial. Based on literature, drone sperm cryopreservation extenders and methods have not been fully optimized. Our research aim was to enhance drone bee sperm preservation by incorporating royal jelly (RJ) in the extender of the cryoprotectant‐free vitrification method. Drone sperm was collected from adult drone bees (36 days old) using the manual inversion method. Different concentrations of RJ (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2.5% and 5%) were added to the extender. Diluted sperm were cryopreserved using a cryoprotectant‐free vitrification technique where 10 µL aliquots of the diluted sperm were directly dropped into the liquid nitrogen and then stored. Data were analysed based on a completely randomized design with ten replications. Sperm quality parameters, including motility, viability and DNA damage, were evaluated in vitro. Queens were artificially inseminated to measure the ability of motile sperm to reach the spermathecae. The results showed that 1% and 2.5% of RJ supplementation significantly enhanced sperm motility and viability and reduced DNA fragmentation compared to control and higher RJ concentrations. Specifically, the 1% RJ group resulted in the highest sperm viability, while both the 1% and 2.5% groups maintained lower DNA fragmentation rates. Queens inseminated with sperm treated with 1% and 2.5% RJ showed a notably higher number of motile sperm in their spermathecae. In conclusion, supplementation of 1% RJ to the cryoprotectant‐free vitrification media may improve drone sperm quality parameters post‐warming. Our findings provide valuable insights into optimizing drone bee sperm preservation, contributing to the conservation of these vital pollinators.
Insight Into the Dynamic Active Sites and Catalytic Mechanism for CO2 Hydrogenation Reaction
Authors: Han You , Hong Qin , Liu Chang‐Jun , Nian Yao
Published: February 2025

The catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to produce valuable fuels and chemicals holds immense importance in addressing energy scarcity and environmental degradation. Given that the real catalytic reaction system is complex and dynamic, the structure of catalysts might experience dynamic evolution under real reaction conditions. It implies that the real active sites might only generated during the reaction process. The induction factor of dynamic evolution of active sites could be reactants, intermediates, products, and other local chemical environments. Utilizing in‐situ/operando characterization techniques allows for the real‐time observation of the dynamic evolution process, further combining multiscale theoretical simulations can effectively reveal the refined structure of real active sites and catalytic mechanisms. Herein, we summarized the latest advancements in understanding the dynamic active sites and catalytic mechanisms during the real reaction process for the CO2 hydrogenation to C1 products (CH3OH, CO, and CH4). The dynamic evolutions of the catalyst in morphology, size, valence state, and interface between active component and support were discussed, respectively. Future research could benefit from more in‐situ characterization and theoretical simulation to explore the microstructure and reaction mechanism, aiming to produce high conversion and selectivity catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation reactions.
Invisible Threads: Emerging Water Governance in the Multi‐Actor Dynamics of the Mira‐Mataje Transboundary River Basin
Authors: Megens Sandra , Warner Jeroen
Published: February 2025

In recent years, scholarly interest has surged in exploring the emergence of new governance regimes that redefine the self‐governing capacities of local communities in water management, navigating security challenges to ensure compliance to central government water laws and regulations. Embracing polycentric governance across various levels of political interaction provides insights into the factors driving the establishment of these regimes, particularly in regions with limited state presence, and where the threat of climate impact has become visible by climate extreme events as drought. This approach emphasizes the importance of decentralized, collaborative systems for effectively and sustainably managing water resources. Such systems promote equitable water use, regional stability, and resilience to drought through innovative, community‐driven solutions aimed at addressing water scarcity challenges. While the former, polycentric governance, involves multiple centers of authority making decisions collaboratively, the latter, decentralized governance, refers to communities independently managing their affairs. To understand evidence related to these dynamics, we focus on actors' interactions around the downstream area of the transboundary Mira River Basin, between Ecuador and Colombia. Employing mixed method approaches such as qualitative interviews, policy analysis, and participatory observation provides comprehensive insights into the complex interactions shaping transboundary water governance and community responses. These methods facilitate a thorough understanding of how institutional arrangements and governance structures evolve and adapt in diverse sociopolitical contexts, offering valuable lessons for sustainable water management strategies on (local) scale or on (cross‐border) collaboration. This is particularly crucial in addressing the challenges posed by drought scenarios, ensuring resilience and adaptability in water governance worldwide.
Expression of a Colletotrichum polyketide synthase gene in Aspergillus nidulans leads to unexpected conjugates with a host metabolite
Authors: Breyer David , Chen Leyao , Zhou Jenny , Li Zhang-Hai , Li Shu-Ming
Published: February 2025

Heterologous expression of the putative 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene synthase gene ChPKS from Colletotrichum higginsianum in Aspergillus nidulans led to the formation of at least eight new compounds. LC-MS analysis proved them as coupling products of 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene with an intermediate of the cichorine biosynthetic pathway. Comprehensive NMR analysis confirmed the structures of the two predominant products higginidulans A and B. Deletion of the backbone gene of the cichorine pathway in host strain Aspergillus nidulans abolished the formation of higginidulans. Heterologous expression of ChPKS in the alternative Penicillium crustosum expression host resulted in the formation of the expected product 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene, which was confirmed by acetylation and structural elucidation. This study provides an additional example of unexpected natural product formation by crosstalk of biosynthetic pathways derived from different species. Moreover, it highlights the importance of using alternative host systems for gene expression.
The importance of the posterior osteoligamentous complex of the lumbar spine: dogma changing biomechanical insights
Authors: Jokeit Moritz , Cornaz Frédéric , Schader Jana F. , Harshbarger Cooper L. , Calek Anna-Katharina , Jecklin Sascha , Snedeker Jess G. , Farshad Mazda , Widmer Jonas
Published: February 2025

Background

During full flexion of the spine, the paraspinal muscles are largely inactive. This suggests that passive structures like the posterior osteoligamentous complex (POLC), consisting of interspinous and supraspinous ligaments and the spinous processes, play a key role in spinal stability and protection of the spinal column. The POLC, however, is often resected or damaged during spinal decompression surgeries, whereas the biomechanical implications of this resection or damage are not yet fully understood.

Methods

A stepwise reduction study was performed on three fresh frozen cadaveric torsi (aged 30–78 years) using a custom setup which only allows sagittal plane motion. After preloading and locking in full flexion, the posterior lumbar structures were gradually resected in the following order: Skin, fascia, musculature, facet joints, ligamentum flavum, posterior ligamentous complex, and posterior longitudinal ligaments. Load cells measured force increase on the fixation frame after each resection step.

Results

The load increased sequentially with each resection, demonstrating load transfer from the passive structures onto the fixation frame. The POLC, including the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments at L2-L5, accounted for 69 − 74% of the measured passive load resistance in full flexion, representing the largest contribution. Facet joints with their capsules contributed 10–18%, while muscular contributions were negligible (< 2%).

Conclusion

The experiment indicates that the POLC is the primary passive stabilizer of the fully flexed lumbar spine. Surgical resection of this structure can redistribute loads and increase stresses on remaining spinal tissues, potentially leading to spinal instability, accelerated degeneration, and poor clinical long-term outcomes.
Opportunistic osteoporosis screening in intraoperative CT can accurately identify patients with low volumetric bone mineral density and osteoporosis during spine surgery
Authors: Rühling Sebastian , Petzsche Moritz R. Hernandez , Löffler Maximilian T. , Sollmann Nico , Baum Thomas , Bodden Jannis , Schwarting Julian , Lange Nicole , Aftahy Kaywan , Wostrack Maria , Zimmer Claus , Kirschke Jan S.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy of opportunistic measurements of volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in intraoperative multi-detector CT (MDCT) scans, using preoperative MDCT as the reference.

Methods

This retrospective, single-center study included 105 patients (mean age: 73 ± 12.6 years, 53 women) who underwent spine surgery for various indications. All patients had preoperative MDCT with/without intravenous contrast and unenhanced intraoperative scans. VBMD of thoracolumbar vertebrae was automatically extracted using a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based framework with asynchronous calibration and contrast-phase correction. Vertebrae affected by artifacts, fractures, or severe degenerations were excluded. Root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) for associations between pair-wise vertebrae from preoperative and intraoperative vBMD values were calculated in linear regression models. Mean bias and 95%-limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated in Bland-Altman plots.

Results

Strong associations between preoperative and intraoperative vBMD values were observed in the thoracic (R2 = 0.94) and lumbar spine (R2 = 0.96). Intraoperative vBMD values showed high accuracy in reference to preoperative measurements with a mean bias of -1.3 mg/cm3 for the thoracic spine (LOA: -18.7 to 16.1 mg/cm3) and − 3.0 mg/cm3 for the lumbar spine (LOA: -17.4 to 11.3 mg/cm3). RMSEs between preoperative and intraoperative vBMD values slightly increased for contrast-enhanced scans (RMSEthoracic: 8.42 vs. 10.1 mg/cm3; RMSElumbar: 7.75 vs. 8.87 mg/cm3).

Conclusion

Opportunistic osteoporosis screening with the presented approach is feasible and demonstrates high accuracy in reference to preoperative MDCT scans. This could enable the identification of patients with low bone mass during surgery, allowing surgeons to take measures (e.g., adapted techniques) that prevent postoperative complications and improve patient outcomes.
Integration der thermischen Grundwassernutzung in die kommunale Wärmeplanung
Authors: Böttcher Fabian , Halilovic Smajil , Günther Maik , Hamacher Thomas , Zosseder Kai
Published: February 2025

Nach dem Wärmeplanungsgesetz müssen Gemeindegebiete in Deutschland eine kommunale Wärmeplanung ausarbeiten. Die thermische Grundwassernutzung kann durch ihre hohe Effizienz in der Dekarbonisierung des Wärme- und Kältesektors eine wichtige Rolle einnehmen. Zur Integration in die Wärmeplanung werden Methoden benötigt, die den potenziellen Ausbau für eine Vielzahl von Nutzungen analysieren können. Diese Studie kombiniert eine Methode zur technischen Potenzialanalyse mit einer Methode zur räumlichen Optimierung von Brunnenstandorten. Ergänzend wird ein Ansatz zur räumlichen Dekomposition des Optimierungsproblems entwickelt, damit die Potenzialbewertung auch großflächig anwendbar ist. Als Fallbeispiel wurde die Methodik in München angewendet und die Inwertsetzung in der kommunalen Wärmeplanung aufgezeigt. Die Ergebnisse werden von der strategischen Ebene über die Quartiersebene bis zur Projektebene in einem breiten Anwendungsspektrum erfolgreich eingesetzt.
Ethologists assemble - macrobehaviour needs you
Authors: Keith Sally A.
Published: February 2025

The emerging field of macrobehaviour explores behavioural variation across large geographic, taxonomic, and temporal scales, and its ecological and evolutionary consequences. This unifying framework merges macroecology with ethology, both enhancing our understanding of how behaviour mediates ecological dynamics at scales above the population level, and offering an approach that can broaden the impact of ethological research. Here, I urge ethologists to engage with the field, outlining what “macro” means, why we must act now, why we need your expertise, how you can get involved, and how this line of research offers reciprocal benefits to both disciplines. Together, we can amplify the impact of ethological research while accelerating insight that could inform solutions to the global biodiversity crisis.
A Brief Biofeedback Training, Integrated with Breathing and Relaxation Exercises, in Treating Tinnitus Disorders within Routine Medical Care
Authors: Buizza Chiara , Franco Elena , Ghilardi Alberto , Cela Herald
Published: February 2025

Tinnitus, a distressing condition, significantly impacts psycho-social functioning. While medical interventions have been the norm for treating tinnitus, few studies have explored the efficacy of psychological treatments and their enduring effects. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief biofeedback training program in alleviating perceived tinnitus handicap severity over a 3-month follow-up period. Engaging 431 tinnitus outpatients from a medical center, the study allocated the control group to treatment as usual, involving monthly visits to an otolaryngologist and specific pharmacological interventions. Concurrently, the experimental group participated in a brief biofeedback training, using Procomp Infinity by Thought Technology Ltd., an eight-channel computer-operated encoder, integrated with breathing and relaxation exercises. No biofeedback booster sessions were provided to the experimental group during the 3-month follow-up period. Changes in tinnitus severity were assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). The analysis, conducted via ANCOVA, demonstrated that biofeedback, integrated with relaxation training and breathing exercises, had a positive impact on both the follow-up THI total score and its three sub-scales (Functional, Emotional, Catastrophic). Notably, the experimental group displayed reduced psycho-physiological parameters in all aspects compared to their baseline measurements at 3-month follow-up. This study’s findings underline the effectiveness of non-pharmacological intervention in treating tinnitus. It had a positive impact on the emotional, functional, and physical dimensions of daily life affected by tinnitus.
Religion and Emotion Regulation: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies
Authors: Brandão Tânia
Published: February 2025

The association between religion/spirituality and emotion regulation has been the subject of growing interest in the last years since studies have suggested that emotion regulation is likely to be shaped by religion/spirituality. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the quantitative empirical studies toward understanding the relationship between religion/spirituality and emotion regulation. Database searches were conducted in different databases from inception to March 2022 using relevant search terms. Quantitative studies exploring the role of religion/spirituality on emotion regulation were included in this review. Of 887 abstracts identified only 15 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. Studies were organized in terms of associations between religion/spirituality and emotion regulation according to religious affiliation, associations between religion/spirituality and emotion regulation regardless of religious affiliation, and emotion regulation as a mediator between religion/spirituality and several psychological-related outcomes. Overall, the findings revealed small to moderate associations between religion and emotion regulation, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.13 to 0.50 for cognitive reappraisal, 0.08 to − 0.72 for expressive suppression, and − 0.09 to 0.56 for other emotion regulation dimensions. Furthermore, most studies highlighted emotion regulation as a key mechanism linking religion/spirituality to psychological outcomes across diverse contexts. Differences in emotion regulation strategies have been examined in a few religious affiliations and most of the studies explored the link between religion/spirituality and emotion regulation regardless of religious affiliation.
Zeros of the Brownian Sheet
Authors: Chen Keming , Woessner Guillaume
Published: February 2025

In this work, we firstly answer to a question raised by Khoshnevisan (Trans Am Math Soc 359:3125–3151, 2007) [Open Problem 4] by proving that almost surely there is no projection of big enough rank changing the Hausdorff dimension of the zeros of the Brownian sheet. Secondly, we prove that almost surely for every projection whose rank is not matching the aforementioned condition, the projection of the zero set is the entirety of the projective space.
The Spine of Two-Particle Fleming–Viot Process in a Bounded Interval
Authors: Burdzy Krzysztof , Engländer János , Marshall Donald E.
Published: February 2025

We show that the spine of the Fleming–Viot process driven by Brownian motion and starting with two particles in a bounded interval has a different law from that of Brownian motion conditioned to stay in the interval forever. Furthermore, we estimate the “extra drift.”
Between-hospital variation in biopsy indication for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma in the Dutch Quality Registry for Neurosurgery
Authors: Viozzi Ilaria , Hannink Gerjon , Ardon Hilko , Balvers Rutger K. , Bosscher Lisette , van Geest Sarita , Ho Vincent K. Y. , Hovinga Koos , Kwee Lesley , Tewarie Rishi Nandoe , Robe Pierre A. , van der Veer Olivier , Wagemakers Michiel , ter Laan Mark , De Witt Hamer Philip C.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This registry-based study aims to examine the variation in biopsy and resection indications for glioblastoma patients across Dutch hospitals and to identify patient- and hospital-related factors associated with the surgical treatment.

Methods

Data from all 7443 adults with first-time glioblastoma surgery at 12 hospitals were obtained from the prospective population-based Quality Registry Neurosurgery in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2021. Patients were stratified by either biopsy or resection. We analyzed variation in American Association of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification, Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), gender and age distribution between the different centers. Between-hospital variation in biopsy percentage was analyzed using a funnel plot. Logistic regression was used to identify associated patient- and hospital-related factors.

Results

In total, 32% of the newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients underwent a biopsy, with wide variations between the different centers (23–56%). Patients-related variables such as higher age or ASA classification and lower KPS were significantly associated with the indication for biopsy. After correction for these factors, between-hospital variation persisted, with two institutes performing more biopsies than expected and one less than expected. Median overall survival was 12.5 months (95% CI 12.2–12.9) in the resection group and 5.6 months (95% CI 5.1–6) in the biopsy group, with wide variations between the different centers.

Conclusion

A substantial between-hospital variation in biopsy percentages was found. Patient factors (age, ASA classification and KPS) but also hospital factors (such as academic setting) impact surgical decisions. Variation persisted also after correction for potential confounders, indicating that other factors play a role in decision-making.
From pituitary cells to prostate gland in health and disease: direct and indirect endocrine connections
Authors: Sarmento-Cabral André , Fuentes-Fayos Antonio C. , Ordoñez Fernando Mata , León-González Antonio J. , Martínez-Fuentes Antonio J. , Gahete Manuel D. , Luque Raúl M.
Published: February 2025

The prostate gland is an endocrine-sensitive organ responding to multiple stimuli. Its development and function are regulated by multiple hormones (i.e. steroids such as androgens, estrogens and glucocorticoids) but also by other key hormonal systems such as those comprised by insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin, which are sourced by different tissues [e.g. testicles/adrenal-gland/adipose-tissue/liver/pancreas, etc.). Particularly important for the endocrine control of prostatic pathophysiology and anatomy are hormones produced and/or secreted by different cell types of the pituitary gland [growth-hormone, luteinizing-hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin, oxytocin, arginine-vasopressin and melanocyte-stimulating hormone], which affect prostate gland function either directly or indirectly under physiological and pathophysiological conditions [e.g. metabolic dysregulation (e.g. obesity), and prostate transformations (e.g. prostate cancer)]. This review summarizes the impact of all pituitary hormone types on prostate gland under these diverse conditions including in vivo and in vitro studies.
The association between implicit culture beliefs and intercultural sensitivity: anticipated intergroup exclusion and stigma as underlying processes
Authors: Wang Iris Yili , Cheung Rebecca Y. M. , Jiang Da , Yum Yen Na
Published: February 2025

South Asians and Chinese mainlanders are two distinct cultural minority groups in the Hong Kong context. Grounded in theories and findings on implicit beliefs, this study examined the mediating roles of anticipated intergroup exclusion and stigma toward these cultural minority groups in the link between implicit culture beliefs and intercultural sensitivity. A total of 192 university students aged between 18 and 26 years old (M = 21.18; SD = 1.82) residing in Hong Kong participated in this study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed fixed versus malleable beliefs about cultural attributes, anticipated intergroup exclusion towards South Asians and Chinese mainlanders, stigma towards South Asians and Chinese mainlanders, and intercultural sensitivity. Path analysis and bootstrapping were applied to test the mediation model. Results showed that fixed implicit beliefs about cultural attributes were related to anticipated intergroup exclusion, greater stigma towards cultural minority groups, and lower intercultural sensitivity. However, only greater stigma towards South Asians, but not towards Chinese mainlanders, was then significantly associated with lower intercultural sensitivity. Taken together, the present study revealed the partial mediating roles of anticipated intergroup exclusion and stigma towards cultural minorities (i.e., South Asians and Chinese mainlanders) between implicit culture beliefs and intercultural sensitivity in the context of Hong Kong. In addition, the strengths of associations among anticipated intergroup exclusion, stigma, and intercultural sensitivity differed as a function of cultural groups.
Biosynthesis of unique natural product scaffolds by Fe(II)/αKG-dependent oxygenases
Authors: Awakawa Takayoshi
Published: February 2025

Fe(II)/αKG-dependent oxygenases are multifunctional oxidases responsible for the formation of unique natural product skeletons. Studies of these enzymes are important because the knowledge of their catalytic functions, enzyme structures, and reaction mechanisms can be used to create non-natural enzymes through mutation and synthesize non-natural compounds. In this review, I will introduce the research we have conducted on two fungal Fe(II)/αKG-dependent oxygenases, TlxI-J and TqaL. TlxI-J is the first Fe(II)/αKG-dependent oxygenase type enzyme heterodimer that catalyzes consecutive oxidation reactions, hydroxylation followed by retro-aldol or ketal formation, to form the complex skeletons of meroterpenoids. TqaL is the first naturally occurring aziridine synthase, and I will discuss the mechanism of its unique C–N bond formation in nonproteinogenic amino acid biosynthesis. This review will advance research on the discovery of new enzymes and the analysis of their functions by reviewing the structures and functions of these extraordinary Fe(II)/αKG-dependent oxygenases, and promote their use in the synthesis of new natural medicines.

Graphical Abstract
Development of Gallium Nitride Coating via Aerosol Deposition
Authors: Zhou Shaoyun , Elsenberg Andreas , Huang Chunjie , Schulze Camilla , Gaertner Frank , Ogawa Kazuhiro , Klassen Thomas
Published: February 2025

This study primarily demonstrates the feasibility of using aerosol deposition to produce thin GaN coatings through systematic investigation. To date, the roles of particle size and powder morphology in the consolidation of ceramic particles during aerosol deposition remain unclear. To enhance understanding of this process, two GaN powders, one coarse agglomerated and the other a fine monolithic powder, were deposited under various process conditions. The findings revealed that fine GaN powder is more effective in forming denser coating layers as compared to agglomerated GaN powder. Furthermore, the use of helium gas at higher pressures was observed to enhance coating formation in comparison with nitrogen gas. This study not only validates the potential of aerosol deposition for forming thin GaN coatings but also contributes to our understanding of the critical role that particle sizes play in the aerosol deposition process.
A transaction-cost model of chronic specie scarcity and the evolution of monetary structures in constrained colonial economies
Authors: Grubb Farley
Published: February 2025

A transaction-cost model of monetary choice is used to justify colonists’ claims that specie money for executing within-colony trades and paying local taxes was chronically scarce in Britain’s pre-nineteenth century North American colonies. This scarcity is shown to be the result of individual rational maximizing choice behavior given the constraints imposed on the colonies by their mother country. By contrast, the conventional quantity-theory-of-money, specie-flow model indicates that a chronic specie scarcity equilibrium is impossible. Implicit assumptions in the quantity-theory-of-money model are shown to not apply to these colonial economies. The transaction-cost model developed here builds on the Walrasian–Arrow–Debreu general equilibrium model by incorporating transaction costs and media-of-exchange structures into the market clearing mechanism. Specie (outside money) and non-specie-money media-of-exchange structures (inside monies), which have differing transaction costs, are added to the model. Those additions, along with import substitution and trade-control constraints, identify the plausible circumstances that yield a chronic specie scarcity outcome in a colony. Whether the individual rational maximizing monetary choices that produce chronic specie scarcity in a colony lead to sub-optimal or to optimal social welfare outcomes in that colony depends on what non-specie media-of-exchange structures emerge as the inside money in that colony.
The Effect of Laser Structuring on Hot-Press Joined Metal-Polymer Cross Tension Joints
Authors: Chey Suk Young , Hong Sungjin , Kim Do Hoi , Ahn Sung-Hoon
Published: February 2025

This study examines the effects of laser surface structuring on the cross-tension strength of metal-polymer hybrid joints, focusing on ASTM A1008 steel and two polymers: high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyamide with 50% glass fiber (PAGF50%). By varying laser parameters—such as power, scan speed, repetition count, hatch distance, groove patterns, and polymer thickness—the results show that optimal joining strength for steel-HDPE cross-tension specimens is achieved when the hatch distance is smaller than the effective groove width, which includes the recast structures, with minimal influence from repetition count and pattern. Notably, thicker HDPE specimens (5 mm) exhibited up to 54% greater joining strength than thinner ones (3 mm), attributed to enhanced resistance to deformation. Maximum strength for PAGF50% was achieved with a single repetition and a transverse groove pattern, leveraging recast structures that promote chemical bonding. Analysis indicates that cross-tension specimen strength is generally lower than that of T-joints due to edge-initiated fractures, underscoring the importance of specimen dimensions. These findings provide practical guidelines for optimizing laser structuring parameters to enhance joint performance in high-strength, lightweight metal-polymer applications.
Microneedle-Based Approaches for Skin Disease Treatment
Authors: Han Yanhua , Qin Xiaoyu , Lin Weisen , Wang Chen , Yin Xuanying , Wu Jiaxin , Chen Yang , Chen Xiaojia , Chen Tongkai
Published: February 2025

The use of microneedles (MNs) has been established as an effective transdermal drug delivery strategy that has been extensively deployed for treating various diseases, including skin diseases. MNs can surpass the constraints of conventional drug delivery methods by their superior safety and efficacy through precise targeting, while simultaneously enabling painless delivery. Currently, MNs are increasingly used as carriers for drug delivery, with the loading of insoluble drugs to improve their treatment efficiency or combining with bioactive substances for the construction of an efficient drug delivery system to maximize the effects of bioactive substances. The methods used for preparation MNs are diverse, enabling them to meet the requirements of most applications. The emergence of MNs has addressed the shortcomings associated with insoluble drugs, expanded the applications of bioactive substances, and improved their use in clinical practice. This review summarizes current information on the application of MNs in a variety of skin diseases, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia, hypertrophic scarring, atopic dermatitis, melanoma, acne, and skin infections. The current clinical applications and future opportunities for MNs in the treatment of skin diseases are also discussed. Despite substantial progress in the clinical application of MNs as delivery vectors, issues such as low drug loading and poor mechanical strength during MNs preparation remain the main challenges. Therefore, clinical implementation of MNs-based therapies remains limited, highlighting key opportunities for future research.
Additional Investigations of UV-C Irradiation Schemes for Viral Decontamination of FFP2 Masks
Authors: Vaupel Franziska , Kupke Katja , Mutters Nico T. , Scheid Patrick L. , Weppler Ruth , Döhla Manuel
Published: February 2025

The reprocessing of personal protective equipment that is only intended for single use has been brought into focus by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, especially regarding respiratory masks.1–4
Local Narratives and Political Aspirations of Puyang Literati from the Late Tang to the Early Song
Authors: Weiling Chang
Published: February 2025

Established studies show that after the fall of the capital-based elites during the end of the Tang dynasty, the Northern Song literati became active in serving the central government. However, after the century-long Interregnum (878–978), during which literati from the South remained beyond the rule of the Central Plains dynasties, how did they establish a cooperative relationship with the emerging Song court? Taking Puyang in Fujian as an example, this article analyzes the writings of Puyang literati to illustrate how their narratives shaped political relationships between the center and periphery. It demonstrates how literati responded variously to specific political contexts, sometimes showcasing their own local identity and at other times extolling the rule of the Central Plains. The case of Puyang reveals that the challenging political environment of the Interregnum actually stimulated and accelerated cooperation between the Central Plains and the local literati through civil service examinations.
Temporal large-scale intermittency and its impact on the statistics of turbulence
Authors: Bentkamp Lukas , Wilczek Michael
Published: February 2025

Turbulent flows in three dimensions are characterized by the transport of energy from large to small scales through the energy cascade. Since the small scales are the result of the nonlinear dynamics across the scales, they are often thought of as universal and independent of the large scales. However, as famously remarked by Landau, sufficiently slow variations of the large scales should nonetheless be expected to impact small-scale statistics. Such variations, often termed large-scale intermittency, are pervasive in experiments and even in simulations, while differing from flow to flow. Here, we evaluate the impact of temporal large-scale fluctuations on velocity, vorticity and acceleration statistics by introducing controlled sinusoidal variations of the energy injection rate into direct numerical simulations of turbulence. We find that slow variations can have a strong impact on flow statistics, raising the flatness of the considered quantities. We discern three contributions to the increased flatness, which we model by superpositions of statistically stationary flows. Overall, our work demonstrates how large-scale intermittency needs to be taken into account in order to ensure comparability of statistical results in turbulence.
Hijra from the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union: Middle East Routes of Muslim Displacement
Authors: Hamed-Troyansky Vladimir
Published: February 2025

In 1901, Cemaleddin Dağıstani, a newly enrolled student at a madrasa in Bursa, sent a letter to his family in the district of Quba (now in Azerbaijan) in the Russian Empire. He excitedly shared what he had witnessed during his journey to the Ottoman Empire. Upon crossing the Russo–Ottoman border from Batum (now Batumi, Georgia) to Rize, he was met by Ottoman officials who registered him as a muhajir (refugee or immigrant). Alongside other muhajirs from Russia, including Circassians, Dagestanis, Tatars, and Muslim Georgians, he boarded a state ferry to Istanbul. In seven days, he arrived at the Ottoman capital. He recalled meeting Muslim refugees from Bulgaria, Greece, and Habsburg-occupied Bosnia, and Muslim subjects of the British, French, and German colonial empires. The lion’s share of muhajirs, however, like Cemaleddin, were former Russian subjects. In his letter, Cemaleddin marveled that at times of need Muslims from all over the world sought and found refuge in the Ottoman domains.1
Artificial intelligence in mental health care: a systematic review of diagnosis, monitoring, and intervention applications
Authors: Cruz-Gonzalez Pablo , He Aaron Wan-Jia , Lam Elly PoPo , Ng Ingrid Man Ching , Li Mandy Wingman , Hou Rangchun , Chan Jackie Ngai-Man , Sahni Yuvraj , Vinas Guasch Nestor , Miller Tiev , Lau Benson Wui-Man , Sánchez Vidaña Dalinda Isabel
Published: February 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been recently applied to different mental health illnesses and healthcare domains. This systematic review presents the application of AI in mental health in the domains of diagnosis, monitoring, and intervention. A database search (CCTR, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus) was conducted from inception to February 2024, and a total of 85 relevant studies were included according to preestablished inclusion criteria. The AI methods most frequently used were support vector machine and random forest for diagnosis, machine learning for monitoring, and AI chatbot for intervention. AI tools appeared to be accurate in detecting, classifying, and predicting the risk of mental health conditions as well as predicting treatment response and monitoring the ongoing prognosis of mental health disorders. Future directions should focus on developing more diverse and robust datasets and on enhancing the transparency and interpretability of AI models to improve clinical practice.
The Moral of the Story: Contesting Narratives at the Nexus of Science and Policy During COVID-19
Authors: Tuohy Carolyn Hughes
Published: February 2025

Using the case of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in the United Kingdom as illustration, this essay offers a framework for understanding the role of narratives and competition among narratives in mediating the relationships between scientific advisers and policymakers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, competing judgments about scientific independence and democratic accountability, about the risks of action and inaction, and about the appropriate balance of costs and benefits to society as a whole and to subgroups of the population were filtered through the narrative perspectives of different discourse coalitions. This narrativization of the process had both positive and negative effects. On the one hand, it provided common platforms for the integration of disparate types of knowledge relevant to policymaking. On the other hand, narratives provided platforms for rival coalitions in ongoing contests that left unresolved the central normative questions of distributional fairness and democratic accountability.
Health Policy and Innocent Threats: Abortion and Time Limits, Pandemics and Harm Prevention
Authors: Kamm F. M.
Published: February 2025

This essay considers how the fact that some morally innocent person is nevertheless a threat to others can bear on the permissibility of health policies that harm some to protect others. Two types of innocent threats are distinguished. In the case of abortion, it is argued that even if the embryo/fetus were a person, abortion could be permissible to protect a woman’s life, health, or bodily autonomy. Whether there nevertheless should be time limits on abortions and what surprising form such limits might take are also considered. In the case of pandemics, it is suggested that discussions of health policies should, but often do not, distinguish morally between innocent threats and their potential victims as well as between providing benefits to people and preventing harms to them. The essay also examines discussions of pandemics by health professionals that make use of the trolley problem, the doctrine of double effect, and related philosophical distinctions.
Interaction between small-scale fisheries and wintering seabirds in a Mediterranean Sea coastal area
Authors: Salvador Paolo , Fracaros Saverio , Sponza Stefano
Published: February 2025

Bycatch, the incidental capture of non-target species in fishing gear, has been recognised as the most significant global conservation threat affecting seabird species. Geographically, bycatch rates vary widely, depending on local fishing efforts, environmental features, and seabird community composition. Regional and local research is essential due to the complexity of accurately extrapolating general conclusions regarding the impacts of bycatch. Existing European bycatch research predominantly focuses on northern regions, leaving a significant knowledge gap regarding bycatch in the Mediterranean Sea. This work presents findings of wintering diving seabirds as bycatch of small-scale fisheries in a coastal area of the northern Adriatic Sea, based on data collected between 2021 and 2023. Seabird distribution varied along the depth profile. The bathymetric range between 3 m and 5 m was the most exploited by fishermen. Bycatch of seabirds was confirmed in the study area, with five species recorded, i.e. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis, Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata, Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica, Mediterranean Shag Gulosus aristotelis desmarestii, and Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus. Our results suggest that bathymetry likely plays a strong influence on bycatch occurrence. Incidental captures were not widespread but appeared concentrated in the shallowest depths <5 m and the range <2.5 m was identified as particularly susceptible due to the low associated fishing effort and the majority of bycatch events recorded. We estimate that between 46 and 108 birds were incidentally captured during the research period. This study identifies key factors shaping the areas of bycatch vulnerability and risk, proposing a spatial–temporal mitigation framework within Natura 2000 sites and highlighting the value of local stakeholders’ engagement.
Extending Wormald’s differential equation method to one-sided bounds
Authors: Bennett Patrick , MacRury Calum
Published: February 2025

In this note, we formulate a ‘one-sided’ version of Wormald’s differential equation method. In the standard ‘two-sided’ method, one is given a family of random variables that evolve over time and which satisfy some conditions, including a tight estimate of the expected change in each variable over one-time step. These estimates for the expected one-step changes suggest that the variables ought to be close to the solution of a certain system of differential equations, and the standard method concludes that this is indeed the case. We give a result for the case where instead of a tight estimate for each variable’s expected one-step change, we have only an upper bound. Our proof is very simple and is flexible enough that if we instead assume tight estimates on the variables, then we recover the conclusion of the standard differential equation method.
R.J. Morris and public history
Authors: Warwick Tosh
Published: February 2025

R.J. (Bob) Morris’ contribution to debates around the history of class, associational culture and urban governance have underpinned numerous publications across the decades. This article extends the appreciation of Bob’s work to reflect on how his approach to documenting, demystifying and disseminating the history and heritage of cities and industrial places – including through his use of photography – made a notable impact at the interface between urban and public history and has had a lasting impact on future generations of urban historians’ approach to understanding the historic built environment.
Urine biomarkers, acute kidney injury, and fluid overload in neonatal cardiac surgery
Authors: Sullenger Rebecca D. , Kilborn Alison G. , Chamberlain Reid C. , Hill Kevin D. , Gbadegesin Rasheed A. , Hornik Christoph P. , Thompson Elizabeth J.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) and fluid overload (FO) are common among neonates who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass, and increase mortality risk. Current diagnostic criteria may delay diagnosis. Thus, there is a need to identify urine biomarkers that permit earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

Methods:

This single-centre ancillary prospective cohort study describes age- and disease-specific ranges of 14 urine biomarkers at perioperative time points and explores associations with CS-AKI and FO. Neonates (≤28 days) undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Preterm neonates or those who had pre-operative acute kidney injury were excluded. Urine biomarkers were measured pre-operatively, at 0 to < 8 hours after surgery, and at 8 to 24 hours after surgery. Exploratory outcomes included CS-AKI, defined by the modified Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria, and>10% FO, both measured at 48 hours after surgery.

Results:

Overall, α-glutathione S-transferase, β-2 microglobulin, albumin, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, osteopontin, uromodulin, clusterin, and vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations peaked in the early post-operative period; over the sampling period, kidney injury molecule-1 increased and trefoil factor-3 decreased. In the early post-operative period, β-2 microglobulin and α-glutathione S-transferase were higher in neonates who developed CS-AKI; and clusterin, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, osteopontin, and α-glutathione S-transferase were higher in neonates who developed FO.

Conclusion:

In a small, single-centre cohort, age- and disease-specific urine biomarker concentrations are described. These data identify typical trends and will inform future studies.
Ka-band single-pole double-throw switch in GaN MMIC technology
Authors: Ghozati Seyed Urman , Quaglia Roberto
Published: February 2025

This work describes the design process of a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) microwave switch operating at Ka-band. It is tailored to a tunable reflective termination design that can be used in tunable power amplifier configurations. A high electron mobility transistor and a resonating network are employed in shunt configuration to enhance the performance in the output port’s active and inactive conditions. The small and large signal measurements showcase a 2 GHz bandwidth with an insertion loss and isolation better than −1.8 dB and −25 dB, respectively, and handling power levels of up to 3 W at 30.5 GHz. The load-pull measurements across the entire Smith chart offer comprehensive insights into the behavior of the SPDT when operating with complex and reactive loads, fulfilling the purpose of tunable reactive termination.
Anleitungen in der Praxis generalistisch denken
Authors: Lutter Verena , Schomacher Elisabeth
Published: February 2025

Zusammenfassung: In der Uniklinik RWTH Aachen (UKA) hat das Team der zentralen Praxisanleitung generalistisch ausgerichtete Gruppenanleitungen für die Ausbildung in der Pflege konzipiert. In diesen Gruppenanleitungen können somatische, pädiatrische und psychiatrische Sichtweisen auf ein Thema in praktischen Übungen umgesetzt werden. Die Zusammensetzung des Teams der zentralen Praxisanleitung machte dies möglich.
Die Lehrpersonen in der Praxis
Authors: Gärtner Bettina
Published: February 2025

Zusammenfassung: Der Lernort Praxis nimmt in der Pflegeausbildung eine Schlüsselrolle ein. Die Praxisanleitung muss handlungsorientiert, prozessorientiert und kompetenzorientiert erfolgen. Aus diesem Grund wurden die formalen Anforderungen an Praxisanleitende angehoben. Aber ist dies ausreichend? Was bedeutet professionelle Praxisanleitung, und was ist dafür notwendig?
Pflegeprozessbezogene Kompetenzen in der Praxis anbahnen!?
Authors: Bohrer Annerose , Lüttge Felix
Published: February 2025

Zusammenfassung: Praxisanleitende fühlen sich mitunter unsicher, wie sie pflegeprozessbezogene Kompetenzen anbahnen können. Worin liegt diese Unsicherheit, wo es doch um das pflegerische „Kerngeschäft“ geht? Dieser Frage möchten wir nachgehen und zeigen, wie anleitende Personen pflegeprozessbezogene Kompetenzen in der Anleitung fördern.