bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elements of Social Capital and Counterspace Processes Contribute to Undergraduate STEM Student Development of a Sense of Belonging
Authors: Gray MacKenzie J. , Yacobian Jasmine N. , Shortlidge Erin E.
Published: January 2025

Having a sense of belonging can promote persistence in the STEM fields, but less is known about what it means to develop that sense of belonging. To investigate this phenomenon, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with a cohort of STEM students (n = 10) nearing graduation at an urban university regarding their sense of belonging and qualitatively coded the interviews using thematic analysis. Results revealed that all interviewed students clearly articulated feelings of belonging, making them an ideal population from which to learn more. We applied two frameworks to guide our understanding of what factors promoted the development of a sense of belonging for these students: the Network Theory of Social Capital and the Counterspaces Framework. The students described their experiences in relation to elements of social capital and counterspace processes as they reflected on the development of feelings of belonging. One element of social capital, “reinforcement,” or assurance and recognition of one's worthiness as a member of a group, was the most prevalent element of social capital influencing the participants' development of a sense of belonging. “Direct relational transactions,” or the exchange of resources within a community, was the most prevalent counterspace process discussed by the participants. Our findings expand the utility and add to the theoretical underpinnings of the two frameworks, indicating that gaining social capital and experiencing counterspaces can contribute to undergraduate STEM student development of a sense of belonging.
ENT‐1‐Targeted Polymersomes to Enhance the Efficacy of Methotrexate in Choriocarcinoma Treatment
Authors: Mamnoon Babak , Mesquita Souza Ana Paula , Korzun Tetiana , Baldwin Maureen K. , Sharma K. Shitaljit , Taratula Oleh , Goo Yoon Tae , Singh Prem , Grigoriev Vladislav , Lakhanpal Aryan , Taratula Olena R.
Published: January 2025

Gestational choriocarcinoma (CC) is a rare and highly malignant cancer originating from the trophoblastic layers of the placenta. Currently, methotrexate (MTX) is the first‐line treatment for CC; however, due to the aggressive and metastatic nature of CC, multiple doses are often required, leading to severe side effects from the lack of tumor specificity. The first targeted MTX‐loaded polymersomes (Ps) designed for efficient drug delivery to CC tumors are introduced. The modification of these Ps nanoplatforms with guanosine (Gn), which targets the ENT‐1 transporter overexpressed in CC cells, significantly enhances tumor uptake. Upon internalization by CC cells, the disulfide bonds in the Ps are reduced by high intracellular glutathione levels, causing Ps disintegration and efficient drug release. Biodistribution studies also reveal significant accumulation in subcutaneous CC tumors with minimal distribution in major organs. The ENT‐1‐targetedpolymersomes show twice the tumor accumulation compared to the nontargeted ones based on in‐vivo fluorescence imaging. ENT‐1‐targeted MTX‐loaded polymersomes (Gn‐MTX@SS‐Ps) achieve significantly greater tumor shrinkage in mice, reducing tumors by 30% more than nontargeted MTX@SS‐Ps and 75% more than free MTX at the same dosage regimen. Consequently, developed CC‐targeted MTX‐loaded polymer‐based delivery system holds the potential to significantly enhance the treatment of CC.
Biodegradable Piezoelectric Micro‐ and Nanomaterials for Regenerative Medicine, Targeted Therapy, and Microrobotics
Authors: Vannozzi Lorenzo , Pucci Carlotta , Trucco Diego , Turini Claudia , Sevim Semih , Pané Salvador , Ricotti Leonardo
Published: January 2025

Piezoelectric micro‐ and nanomaterials can generate local electrical signals when subjected to mechanical stress, a phenomenon that can be exploited to trigger beneficial effects at the cell and tissue level. In recent years, research on biodegradable piezoelectric material has gained momentum, as these materials can degrade after fulfilling their function. Thus, they promise to considerably impact regenerative medicine, targeted therapy, and microrobotics, with better chances to match regulatory requirements with respect to their nondegradable counterparts. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in biodegradable piezoelectric micro‐ and nanomaterials, focusing on their piezoelectric mechanisms, material types, and methods to enhance their properties. Current characterization techniques, emphasizing both piezoelectricity and biodegradability at the micro/nano scale, are also discussed. Furthermore, it is discussed how to use these materials in intelligent platforms for regenerative medicine and responsive drug delivery systems. The application of piezoelectric micro‐ and nanomaterials in microrobotics is also examined, particularly their potential for minimally invasive procedures. Finally, challenges and future directions are highlighted, underscoring the importance of biodegradable piezoelectric materials as versatile platforms for advancing biomedical technologies.
Thermal Simulation of MnS Evolution in Solidification of a Low‐Carbon Alloy Steel Bloom
Authors: Yuan Huazhi , Song Saihao , Xie Xin , Fang Mengting , Chen Xiangru , Li Lijuan , Zhong Honggang , Zhai Qijie
Published: January 2025

The continuous casting process of a newly developed low‐carbon alloy steel is simulated using a thermal simulation method to investigate the evolution of MnS inclusion. The results indicate that MnS mainly appears as aggregated small‐sized spherical shapes (type I MnS) in the chill zone of the bloom, while in columnar zone, it tends to form strip‐like or irregular morphologies (type II MnS), and no type III MnS is observed. The size of MnS increases from the surface to the center of the samples, with the maximum equivalent diameter increasing from 1.2 to 6.0 μm. A model, considering the effects of solute redistribution and cooling rate, is established to calculate the precipitation and growth of MnS in continuous casting bloom, which is achieved by coupling theoretical calculations with the discrete solidification units. The calculated results demonstrate that sulfur segregation is the controlling factor for the precipitation and growth of MnS, which are well consistent with experiments. This work suggests that enhancing the cooling rate in the secondary cooling zone or improving homogenization of this new low‐carbon alloy steel bloom can effectively reduce the growth rate of MnS and mitigate the formation of type II MnS.
Enantioselective Catalytic Synthesis of Inherently Chiral Calixarenes
Authors: Qin Wenling , Cera Gianpiero
Published: January 2025

Since the introduction of the concept of inherent chirality by Böhmer, an important part of research focused on the asymmetric synthesis of calixarene macrocycles. However, long synthetic procedures and tedious separation strategies hampered the application of this technology in many topics of organic chemistry, including enantioselective molecular recognition and catalysis. Very recently, a new generation of enantioselective catalytic methodologies has been reported, able to provide highly functionalized, inherently chiral calixarenes in a straightforward manner. In this review, we will discuss these new catalytic methods and the versatile properties of such macrocycles that call for potential applications in many areas of science.
The Role of Environmental Factors Prior to Diagnosis on the Activity and Severity of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases—Results From the Prospective Population‐Based Copenhagen Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inception Cohort
Authors: Attauabi Mohamed , Madsen Gorm Roager , Bendtsen Flemming , Burisch Johan , Seidelin Jakob Benedict
Published: January 2025

Background

The influence of environmental factors on the severity of early inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of environmental factors in the initial phenotype, activity, and severity of IBD.

Methods

Copenhagen IBD Inception Cohort is a prospective population‐based cohort of patients with newly diagnosed IBD between May 2021 and May 2023. Data on environmental factors were captured at IBD diagnosis using International Organisation of IBD (IOIBD) and HeartDiet questionnaires. Environmental factors' influence on outcome was analyzed and odds ratios (aOR) were adjusted for age, gender, and disease characteristics (adjusted OR, aOR [95% confidence interval]).

Results

In total, 208 and 128 patients with incident UC and CD, respectively, were included. Active smoking was associated with increased risk of CD‐related hospitalization (aOR = 2.84 [1.03; 7.88]) and stricturing phenotype (aOR = 5.28 [1.76; 15.85]) but lower risk of severe UC course (aOR = 0.28 [0.08; 0.95]). Further, previous smoking was not associated with negative effects in patients with CD in terms of early need for biologics, surgery, or hospitalization. In terms of diets, daily consumption of fruits (aOR = 0.27 [0.07; 0.99]) or vegetables (aOR = 0.27 [0.09; 0.80]) was inversely associated with stricturing CD, whereas whole meal bread was associated with reduced risk of severe CD activity (aOR = 0.40 [0.16; 0.98]).

Conclusions

This prospective population‐based study highlighted several environmental factors associated with the initial severity and activity of IBD, emphasizing their pivotal role in the initial disease burden and giving guidance to personalized patient counseling.
Inadequate Therapy Response on Advanced Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis Adult Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of German Health Claims Data
Authors: Dignass Axel , Blumenstein Irina , Schwedhelm Carolina , Strassen Katrin , Kunk Leonie , Marquardt Sophie , Seiffert Anna , Kulchytska Nataliia , Hänsel Ivonne , Benson Alexa , Kisser Agnes
Published: January 2025

Background

The treatment landscape for active ulcerative colitis is rapidly evolving and current real‐world evidence on response to advanced therapy is limited. This study aimed to determine indicators of inadequate therapeutic response among patients with ulcerative colitis in Germany initiating advanced therapy.

Methods

This retrospective analysis used German claims data (2015–2022) from adult patients (≥ 18 years). The prevalence and incidence of ulcerative colitis (ICD‐10‐GM: K51.X) were estimated. Inadequate response to therapy was evaluated in patients initiating advanced therapy based on eight predefined indicators observed for 12 months following dispensation of index treatment.

Results

Mean ulcerative colitis patient age in 2016–2022 ranged from 49.6 to 51.5 years, 47.6%–48.3% were female. Administrative prevalence ranged from 0.45% in 2016 to 0.53% in 2022. The number of patients initiating advanced treatment ranged from 157 to 347 across the study years (3.2%–4.9% of overall treated study population). On average from 2016–2021, 78.8% had inadequate response in the 12 months following index treatment. Common indicators included prolonged use of corticosteroids (46.2%) and augmentation with conventional therapies (43.9%).

Conclusions

Adult ulcerative colitis patients showed a high prevalence of inadequate response to advanced therapies. Our findings reveal a need for improved UC advanced therapy options, providing insight into inadequate response patterns. This may help identify patients who could benefit from a change in therapy to improve long‐term outcomes.
Sterile pyogranulomatous pericarditis in a dog
Authors: Reguera Burgos Pablo , Mesa Sánchez Ignacio , Martínez Gil Carlos
Published: January 2025

A 4‐year‐old, neutered, female crossbreed dog was presented with a chronic history of weakness and hyperthermia. Echocardiography showed mild pericardial effusion. Fluid analysis revealed a marked non‐septic neutrophilic‐macrophagic exudate. Pericardial fluid and blood culture were negative. Leishmania spp., Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Mycoplasma spp. and Hepatozoon spp. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests were also negative. Initially, a good response to pericardiocentesis, empirical antibiotic therapy and prednisone was observed. However, pericardial effusion recurred and a subtotal pericardiectomy was performed. Histopathology of the pericardial tissue showed a severe pyogranulomatous inflammatory process. Periodic acid–Schiff and Ziehl–Neelsen stains, pericardial tissue culture and fluorescence in situ hybridisation were negative. Clinical signs recurred, and prednisone was prescribed again. Twenty‐two months after prednisone withdrawal, the dog remains asymptomatic. This is the second report of idiopathic sterile pyogranulomatous pericarditis in a dog, and the first report using fluorescence in situ hybridisation to evaluate the presence of bacterial pericarditis.
Epicardial Pacemaker Lead Related Cardiac Strangulation: The Importance of Early Recognition
Authors: Kendall Scott , Agouba Rihab , Murray Jane , Morrison Margaret Louise , McCrossan Brian , Grant Brian , Sands Andrew , Casey Frank , Nolke Lars
Published: January 2025

Lead strangulation is a dangerous complication of epicardial pacemaker insertion. This complication has been increasingly highlighted lately. Our institution has recently identified four cases over the past five years. This study’s aim was to 1) identify risk factors for strangulation and 2) prospectively screen existing epicardial pacemaker patients for unrecognized strangulation or features that would prompt closer review. Patients known to the pacemaker clinic with epicardial pacemakers inserted from 2005 to 2023 were included. Electronic health records were used to locate all subjects and gather data. Risk factors were identified using Firth’s penalized method of logistic regression. Forty-five patients were included, of which four (8.8%) had evidence of strangulation. Posterior–anterior (PA) chest radiographs all demonstrated characteristic looping patterns of the pacing leads, with confirmation on CT angiography. All affected patients underwent revision surgery. Implantation at a weight of less than 6.5 kg was associated with a significantly increased incidence of strangulation (OR 25, P 0.044). Other factors including lead length, presence of structural cardiac disease, and dual-chamber insertion were not statistically significant. No patients who were prospectively screened were found to have strangulation. Children undergoing insertion of a pacemaker early in infancy are at particularly high risk of strangulation and should be closely monitored following surgery. Regular chest radiography (every three years) to screen for this complication is advised. Larger multi-center studies to pool data for this relatively rare complication may help identify other risk factors for strangulation.
Eco-friendly zinc oxide nanoparticle biosynthesis powered by probiotic bacteria
Authors: AL-Tameemi Ahmed Issa , Masarudin Mas Jaffri , Rahim Raha Abdul , Mizzi Rachel , Timms Verlaine J. , Isa Nurulfiza mat , Neilan Brett A.
Published: January 2025

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology, particularly in the realm of pharmaceutical sciences, has significantly transformed the potential for treating life-threatening diseases. A pivotal aspect of this evolution is the emergence of “green nanotechnology,” which emphasizes the environmentally sustainable synthesis of raw materials through biological processes. This review focuses on the biological synthesis and application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) from probiotic bacteria, particularly those sourced from wastewater. Microorganisms from wastewater tolerate harmful elements and enzymatically convert toxic heavy metals into eco-friendly materials. These probiotic bacteria are instrumental in the synthesis of ZnO NPs and exhibit remarkable antimicrobial properties with diverse industrial applications. As the challenge of drug-resistant pathogens escalates, innovative strategies for combating microbial infections are essential. This review explores the intersection of nanotechnology, microbiology, and antibacterial resistance, highlighting the importance of selecting suitable probiotic bacteria for synthesizing ZnO NPs with potent antibacterial activity. Additionally, the review addresses the biofunctionalization of NPs and their applications in environmental remediation and therapeutic innovations, including wound healing, antibacterial, and anticancer treatments. Eco-friendly NP synthesis relies on the identification of these suitable microbial “nano-factories.” Targeting probiotic bacteria from wastewater can uncover new microbial NP synthesis capabilities, advancing environmentally friendly NP production methods.

Key points

• Innovative strategies are needed to combat drug-resistant pathogens like MRSA.

• Wastewater-derived probiotic bacteria are an eco-friendly method for ZnO synthesis.

• ZnO NPs show significant antimicrobial activity against various pathogens.
Prognostic scores for predicting overall survival in patients with metastatic renal and urothelial cancer undergoing immunotherapy - which one to use?
Authors: Walach Margarete Teresa , Burger Ralph , Brumm Felix , Nitschke Katja , Wessels Frederik , Nuhn Philipp , Worst Thomas Stephan , von Hardenberg Jost , Grüne Britta , Jarczyk Jonas
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Evaluation of the prognostic significance of four different scoring systems in a real-world cohort of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) or renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing immunotherapy (IO).

Methods

For 120 patients with mUC (n = 67) and mRCC (n = 53) who received IO between July 2016 and December 2020 at the tertiary Urological University Medical Centre Mannheim, the following scores were recorded at pre-treatment baseline: modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER). Overall survival (time between the beginning of IO until the patients’ death or last contact) was determined for every patient.

Results

Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that high baseline mGPS, SII (> 979) and NLR (> 3) were associated with poor overall survival (OS) (p < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed that baseline mGPS and NLR had a significant independent prognostic influence on OS (p < 0.05), of which mGPS had a greater significance (p < 0.001, mGPS Score 2 vs. Score 0: HR 4.1, 95% CI 1.9–8.8). Although a high baseline NER (63.9) was associated with poor OS, it did not reach statistical significance. Baseline NER was also not identified as a significant score in the regression analyses.

Conclusion

mGPS, SII and NLR are scoring systems that are easy to record in routine clinical practice. As they provide good prediction of OS in patients with mUC and mRCC under IO, they may allow identification of patients at high-risk and monitor them more cautiously in addition to imaging.
Analytical free vibration solution of orthotropic thin plates with three edges rotationally restrained and one edge free
Authors: Zhang Jinghui , Gao Pin , Diao Xingjian , Ullah Salamat , Qi Wenyue , Almujibah Hamad , Civalek Ömer
Published: January 2025

Orthotropic thin plates are essential in aerospace applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, which is critical for efficient structural performance. The mechanical properties of these structures are influenced by numerous factors, with free vibration characteristics being particularly significant. However, analytical solutions for free vibration are often limited to plates with simple boundary conditions (BCs). Few exact analytical solutions exist for plates with complex non-Lévy-type or rotationally restrained BCs. This study aims to analyze the free vibration behavior of orthotropic thin plates featuring three rotationally restrained edges and one free edge, employing the finite integral transform (FIT) method. A key advantage of this method is its simplicity and versatility, as it does not require the predefinition of a deflection function. By setting different values of the rotating fixed coefficient, the study offers analytical free vibration solutions for plates with various combinations of rotationally restrained, simply supported, clamped, and free BCs without additional derivations. The solutions derived using the FIT method are validated by comparison with numerical results obtained from ABAQUS software and available analytical solutions, confirming the method’s accuracy and reliability. Parameter analyses are conducted to examine the effects of aspect ratio, BCs, material properties, and rotating fixed coefficient on non-dimensional frequency parameters and corresponding vibration modes. The results reveal that these parameters significantly influence the frequency characteristics of orthotropic thin plates. The results can be used as a benchmark for validating other analytical and numerical methods.
Comparison of the incidence of proteinuria and changes in eGFR among febuxostat and topiroxostat users
Authors: Nakayama Shingo , Satoh Michihiro , Toyama Maya , Hashimoto Hideaki , Murakami Takahisa , Hirose Takuo , Obara Taku , Mori Takefumi , Metoki Hirohito
Published: January 2025

Background

Febuxostat and topiroxostat are non-purine selective xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitors commonly used for hyperuricaemia treatment in Japan. However, comparative data on the effects of febuxostat and topiroxostat on renal function and proteinuria are limited. This study compared proteinuria incidence and changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among prevalent febuxostat and topiroxostat users.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using databases provided by DeSC Healthcare, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). We identified 17,446 individuals (11.8% women; mean age 67.4 years) with eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and no history of cardiovascular disease or proteinuria at baseline. Separate analyses were performed for individuals with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and those with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for proteinuria incidence in topiroxostat users compared with febuxostat users was assessed using the Cox model. Changes in eGFR were compared between the two groups using multiple regression analysis.

Results

During the mean follow-up period of 1.79 years, 1,433 participants developed proteinuria. In non-diabetic individuals with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, the adjusted HR for proteinuria incidence in topiroxostat users compared with febuxostat users was 0.60 (95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.91; p = 0.016). No significant differences were observed in eGFR changes between the two groups with eGFR < 60 and ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusion

Topiroxostat prevalent users had a lower risk of proteinuria than febuxostat prevalent users in non-diabetic individuals with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Our findings suggest that topiroxostat might be more effective than febuxostat in preventing proteinuria in non-diabetic individuals with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Peeling an architected interface: roles of softness and fractoadhesive length in adhesion toughening
Authors: Usmanova Zumrat , Bai Ruobing
Published: January 2025

Soft adhesion has been rapidly studied and developed for various applications in recent years. Compared to existing toughening mechanisms based on the adherend or adhesive materials themselves, building architectures or patterns in soft adhesion offers an attractive way of enhancing adhesion without modifying the intrinsic material properties. However, despite the recent progress in soft architected adhesion, the fundamental interplay between the geometry and material properties remains largely unexplored. This results in questions about the geometric conditions for effective toughening and the roles of intrinsic material parameters in governing these conditions. Here we explore the geometry-elasticity interplay in toughening a soft architected bilayer with one-dimensional rectangular interfacial pillars. Using finite element simulations on 90-degree peel, we investigate effects of the adherend modulus, pillar aspect ratio, and interfacial contact ratio on the peel strength. We show that compared to a uniform interface, soft interfacial pillars (shear modulus ~ 0.6 MPa) with a high aspect ratio (> 4) can enhance the peel strength to more than 4 times, while stiff pillars (shear modulus ~ 1.5 MPa) only provide a limited enhancement (up to 1.5 times). Such enhancement is further amplified by increasing the interfacial contact ratio, where the best enhancement occurs when pillars are closely packed like a cross-cut surface (100% in contact yet architected). We develop a theory and scaling for the effective adhesion toughness and identify the fractoadhesive length of architected adhesion. We show that the fractoadhesive length provides a lower bound of the architecture feature size for effective toughening, while a large stretch at debonding in pillars further amplifies the toughening. Using an Ashby plot of the relevant architecture feature size and the fractoadhesive length in various architected adhesion systems, we conclude that macroscale architectures are necessary for effective toughening of soft adhesion with large fractoadhesive lengths.
The Longitudinal Effect of Pre-war Investments in Hedonic Capital on Wartime Well-Being
Authors: Lahav Eyal , Sherman Arie , Shavit Tal
Published: January 2025

There is a gap in our understanding of people’s longitudinal emotional reactions before and during an ongoing war. The paper analyzes the impact of the Iron Swords War between Israel and Hamas on measures of Israelis’ subjective well-being, including fear and anxiety. Two questions are probed: (1) How are the affective components—negative and positive emotions—which tend to fluctuate, and the more stable components—global life evaluation and meaning in life—affected by war? (2) What protects people’s subjective well-being in wartime? Unique longitudinal data from 1189 individuals who reported their subjective well-being before and during the war is employed. The participants reported their pre-war investments in hedonic capital, including efforts in six life domains—health, friends, community, active leisure, the value of work per se, and work-life balance—as well as their religiosity level. Both our questions are addressed by the results. First, all subjective well-being components worsened significantly during the war compared to pre-war measures. Evaluation of life decreased by 9.6%; meaning decreased by 2.8%, positive emotions decreased by 25.5%, and negative emotions increased by 85.9%. Second, regression analysis demonstrates that all of the pre-war efforts investigated, except those allocated to improving work-life balance and active leisure, have a longitudinal effect on at least one component of subjective well-being during war. Effort at work significantly affects both meaning (p < 0.01) and positive emotions (p < 0.05). Effort within the community significantly affects negative emotions (p < 0.01). Effort in friendships significantly affects positive emotions (p < 0.01), while effort in health significantly affects meaning (p < 0.05). The results are robust for unmet expectations, socio-demographics and objective war-related control factors. Pre-war religiosity longitudinally affects all war-time subjective well-being components, a result which was also found in a difference-in-difference analysis.
Sinkhole detection via deep learning using DEM images
Authors: Coşkuner Berkant , İnce İsmail , Barstuğan Mücahid
Published: January 2025

Sinkholes, commonly observed in karstic regions, are landforms with unpredictable formation time and location. These landforms are an important natural disaster that threaten human life and country economies. Sinkholes, observed as cover collapse or depressions in nature, may be easily identified with remote sensing methods (digital elevation models, satellite and aerial photographs, etc.). These methods reduce time and labor burdens before field investigations. In this study, the aim was to accurately identify sinkholes by training a deep learning method with hillshade images obtained from DEM data. In line with this aim, the study area was identified as the Karapınar region (Konya, Türkiye), where many sinkholes have formed in recent periods linked to climatological and anthropological factors. In this study, 5 different (nano, small, medium, large and x-large) sinkhole detection models were developed using YOLO v8. The developed models provided high success rates in detecting sinkholes with different diameters and depths.
Fast and accurate poisson solver algorithm in 3D simply and double connected domains with a smooth complex geometry with applications in optics
Authors: El-Gamel Mohamed , Nassar Nader R. , El-Shenawy Atallah
Published: January 2025

This paper introduces an innovative approach for addressing the Poisson equation in simply and doubly connected 3D domains with irregular surfaces, which has significant implications in various scientific and engineering fields, such as irregular cross-section optical waveguides and electromagnetic wave propagation. The Poisson equation is extensively utilized across disciplines like physics, engineering, and mathematics, and its solution offers insight into diverse physical phenomena. The solution to the Poisson equation is helpful in constructing potentials crucial for the comprehension and design of optical and electromagnetic systems. The application of Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) collocation method with changeable form parameters presents novel opportunities for precise and efficient resolutions of this significant equation. Our methodology is relevant to both simply and doubly connected three-dimensional domains with irregular surfaces, frequently seen in various practical applications, such as complex waveguide geometries. Seven instances are presented for various complex simply and doubly connected 3D domains, illustrating the efficacy of the suggested Poisson solver in generating potentials to improve the precision and efficiency of the method. The proposed method can be considered as a benchmark solver for such type of problems appearing in optics and electromagnetic wave engineering. keyword: Radial Basis Functions, Simply Connected Domains, Double Connected Domains, Variable shape parameter, Three dimensional Laplace equation, Three dimensional Poisson Equation.
Linear independence of special values of Jacobi-theta constants
Authors: Karmakar Debasish , Kumar Veekesh , Thangadurai R.
Published: January 2025

Let

$$m \ge 2$$

m
≥
2

be any integer and let

$$\beta >1$$

β
>
1

be a real algebraic integer such that all its other Galois conjugates have absolute value less than or equal to 1. Let

$$a_1, a_2, \ldots , a_m$$

a
1

,

a
2

,
…
,

a
m

be distinct positive integers. In this article we prove that the following infinite sums

$$\begin{aligned} 1, \quad \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{1}{\beta ^{a_1 n^2}}, \quad \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{1}{\beta ^{a_2 n^2}}, \ldots , \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{1}{\beta ^{a_m n^2}} \end{aligned}$$

1
,

∑

n
=
1

∞

1

β

a
1

n
2

,

∑

n
=
1

∞

1

β

a
2

n
2

,
…
,

∑

n
=
1

∞

1

β

a
m

n
2

are

$$\mathbb {Q}(\beta )$$

Q
(
β
)

-linearly independent. As a consequence, we prove the linear independence of special values of Jacobi-theta constants.
A bibliometric analysis of research on blackberry micropropagation
Authors: Regni Luca , Cesarini Arianna , Micheli Maurizio , Proietti Primo
Published: January 2025

To date there is a growth in fresh and processed blackberry consumption and consequently in their cultivation. The increase in blackberry cultivation increases the demand for quality nursery material for new grove planting. Among plant propagation methods, micropropagation is gaining increasing interest because it allows to overcome some of the disadvantages associated with traditional agamic propagation methods, mostly cuttings and grafting. Several articles about blackberry micropropagation were published despite a comprehensive bibliometric review of the scientific literature. Therefore, the present article analyzed the papers in the Web of Science and Scopus on “blackberry micropropagation” to deepen the published scientific documents' evolution, trends, and macroareas. Analyzed parameters included subject and category areas, core sources of publication, country of publication, document type, language of publication, publication output, authorship, distribution of author keywords and most-frequently cited article. A total of 78 scientific documents in the field of blackberry micropropagation were found with the research strategy adopted from 1998 to 2024. The principal WoS categories were Horticulture, Agronomy, and Agriculture Multidisciplinary while in Scopus they were Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Veterinary and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Brazil and Romania are the countries with the most publications in both databases and the authors with the highest number of documents are affiliated with Brazilian, Serbian, Canadian, and Romanian institutions. The present bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview on the scientific publications on blackberry micropropagation. The findings of this study highlight the multidisciplinary nature of blackberry micropropagation research, involving contributions from various scientific disciplines.
Towards a method for quantifying health benefits from economic value in social life cycle assessment
Authors: Arvidsson Rickard , Nordelöf Anders
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The economic value generated in processes along product life cycles can satisfy the needs and pleasures of the earners. In this study, we investigate whether that economic value can lead to positive health benefits for workers and other people through subsequent economic exchanges, and whether such benefits can be quantified in the context of social life cycle assessment (SLCA).

Methods

A brief literature review on the connection between the generation of economic value and health is provided. This review identifies two main impact pathways: the materialistic pathway and the psychosocial pathway. Of these, this paper focusses on developing characterization factors for the materialistic pathway. They are derived by multiplying a country-level income health factor (IHF) with a process-level value added (VA). The IHF was derived from a regression analysis of country-level life expectancy and income data. The VA can be calculated for each individual process based on differences in constituent and output prices.

Results and discussion

IHFs are highest for low-income countries, such as Somalia, and lowest for high-income countries, such as Luxembourg. The characterization factors can be multiplied by flows related to the functional unit, yielding results in disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The approach is illustrated with a simple unit process representing artisanal cobalt mining, showing that the magnitude of positive health impacts from economic value can be considerable, which suggests it is important to consider these in SLCA.

Conclusions

This work takes further steps towards developing a method that relates the generation of economic value to positive health impacts, with explicitly calculated characterization factors and fewer constraints compared to previous attempts at assessing health benefits from economic value in SLCA. Limitations include the need for continuous updates of the characterization factors.
Anxiety Disorders, Anxious Symptomology and Related Behaviors Associated With Migraine: A Narrative Review of Prevalence and Impact
Authors: Raudenská Jaroslava , Macko Tomáš , Vodičková Šárka , Buse Dawn C. , Javůrková Alena
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the relationship between migraine, anxiety and related disorders, anxious symptomology and related behaviors.

Recent Findings

Generalized anxiety, other anxious disorders and migraine are comorbid. In addition, anxious symptomology and behaviors are common in people with migraine even if they do not meet diagnostic criteria or threshold. Anxiety including diagnosed disorders such as generalized anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, as well as behaviors such as catastrophizing, avoidance behaviors, and higher fear of headache/migraine or anxiety sensitivity are comorbid and/or common in migraine. Anxiety is associated with negative outcomes such as migraine progression, medication overuse, stigma and migraine-related disability.

The association between migraine, anxiety, and fear and avoidance behaviors has an extensive empirical basis. Awareness of the high prevalence of comorbidity and symptomology as well as the negative outcomes associated with anxiety and related symptoms and behaviors is important in the comprehensive management of people with migraine. Better understanding the relationship between migraine and anxiety symptoms and behaviors and their effects on outcomes is essential to provide more effective treatment for people with migraine. The review emphasizes the necessity of screening and more comprehensive evaluation in patients with migraine using psychological diagnostic tools. Thus, prevention and management of anxiety, fear, and anxiety-related behaviors in the context of migraine management may be considered an essential treatment goal and strategies may include non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches.
Functional fermented fruit juice production and characterization by using water kefir grains
Authors: Dikmetas Dilara Nur , Acar Emine Gizem , Ceylan Fatma Duygu , İlkadım Furkan , Özer Hayrettin , Karbancioglu-Guler Funda
Published: January 2025

In this study, production and characterization of probiotic beverages using water kefir grains with apple, orange, dragon and kiwifruit juices were aimed. The total phenolic and antioxidant capacity, phenolic profiles and physicochemical properties of the beverages were investigated to determine the impact of fermentation. The results showed that fermentation period significantly affects the lactic acid bacteria and yeast counts, organic acid content and phenolic profile of the produced beverages. The yeast, mesophilic lactic cocci and Lactobacillus count in beverages were changed within the range 5.59–8.57 log CFU/mL, 4.20–7.49 log CFU/mL and 4.36–7.37 log CFU/mL, respectively. The highest Lactobacillus spp. and mesophilic lactic cocci counts were determined in dragon juice (7.78 log CFU/mL) and kiwifruit juice (7.23 log CFU/mL) (48 h), respectively. Up to 21 phenolic compounds were identified in the juice samples. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major phenolic compounds detected in all fruit juices samples. Lactic acid level in all beverages increased during fermentation up to 9.03 g/L in fermented dragon juice. Furthermore, the ethyl alcohol concentration in beverages is within the regulatory limitations for non-alcoholic beverages. According to the finding, dragon, apple, orange and kiwifruit juices can be fermented with water kefir grains to produce non-dairy, functional, and probiotic beverages.

Graphical Abstract
Surgical and oncological implications of the presence of hepatic artery anatomical variations in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single center experience
Authors: Alberici Laura , Ricci Claudio , D’Ambra Vincenzo , Ingaldi Carlo , Minghetti Margherita , Mazzucchelli Carlo , Casadei Riccardo
Published: January 2025

The presence of an aberrant right hepatic artery (a-RHA) could influence the oncological and postoperative outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). A comparative study was conducted, including patients who underwent PD with a-RHA or with normal RHA anatomy. The primary endpoints were R1 resection in all margins (pancreatic, anterior, posterior, superior mesenteric artery, and portal groove), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary endpoints were morbidity, mortality, biliary leak (BL), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), post pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), length of stay (LOS), and operative time (OT). The selection bias was measured using the d-value and limited using entropy balancing analysis. Patients with arterial variants were 84 (37.5%), 39 (17.4%) of whom had a-RHA from SMA. The patients with a-RHA were more frequently symptomatic (d = 0.652), often affected by PDAC (d = 0.369), and judged borderline resectable (d = 0.588). Neoadjuvant therapy was more frequently proposed for patients with a-RHA (d = 0.465). The patients with a-RHA often had the Wirsung dilated compared to those without a-RHA (d = 0.336). After bias correction, the R1 resection rate on the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) margin was higher in the a-RHA group than in patients with normal RHA anatomy (OR 2.3; 1.1–5.2; P = 0.045). OS, DFS, morbidity, mortality, biliary leak (BL), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), post pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), length of stay (LOS), and operative time (OT) were similar in unmatched and matched population. The presence of a-RHA seems to increase the risk of R1 resection in the SMA margin.
Permutation and local permutation polynomials of maximum degree
Authors: Gutierrez Jaime , Jiménez Urroz Jorge
Published: January 2025

Let

$$\mathbb {F}_q$$

F
q

be the finite field with q elements and

$$\mathbb {F}_q[x_1,\ldots , x_n]$$

F
q

[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

the ring of polynomials in n variables over

$$\mathbb {F}_q$$

F
q

. In this paper we consider permutation polynomials and local permutation polynomials over

$$\mathbb {F}_q[x_1,\ldots , x_n]$$

F
q

[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

, which define interesting generalizations of permutations over finite fields. We are able to construct permutation polynomials in

$$\mathbb {F}_q[x_1,\ldots , x_n]$$

F
q

[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

of maximum degree

$$n(q-1)-1$$

n
(
q
-
1
)
-
1

and local permutation polynomials in

$$\mathbb {F}_q[x_1,\ldots , x_n]$$

F
q

[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

of maximum degree

$$n(q-2)$$

n
(
q
-
2
)

when

$$q>3$$

q
>
3

, extending previous results.
Establishment of a human ovarian endometrioid carcinoma cell line by constitutive expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4, cyclin D1 and telomerase reverse transcriptase
Authors: Hoshino Hitomi , Akama Tomoya O. , Inoue Daisuke , Moritani Suzuko , Shigeto Shohei , Matsuda Kazuyuki , Yoshida Hisato , Yonemoto Natsumi , Fukushima Mana , Yoshida Yoshio , Kobayashi Motohiro
Published: January 2025

Only a few human ovarian endometrioid carcinoma cell lines are currently available, partly due to the difficulty of establishing cell lines from low-grade cancers. Here, using a cell immortalization strategy consisting of i) inactivation of the p16INK4a-pRb pathway by constitutive expression of mutant cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (R24C) (CDK4R24C) and cyclin D1, and ii) acquisition of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activity, we established a human ovarian endometrioid carcinoma cell line from a 46-year-old Japanese woman. That line, designated JFE-21, has proliferated continuously for over 6 months with a doubling time of ~ 55 h. JFE-21 cells exhibit polygonal shapes and proliferate without contact inhibition to form a monolayer in a jigsaw puzzle-like arrangement. Ultrastructurally, JFE-21 cells exhibit well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes in the cytoplasm, with cells contacting each other via desmosomes. G-band karyotype analysis indicated that cells had a near-tetraploid karyotype. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the expression profile of a series of ovarian carcinoma markers in JFE-21 cells was consistent with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma. Moreover, Sanger sequencing of DNA polymerase ε (POLE) gene and immunohistochemical analysis of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins revealed that JFE-21 cells were classified as the no specific molecular profile (NSMP) subtype. In addition, JFE-21 cells were sensitive to paclitaxel and carboplatin administered to the donor as therapy. These findings indicate that constitutive expression of CDK4R24C, cyclin D1 and TERT genes may be an option to establish cell lines from low-grade cancers, including ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.
The Role of Selected Adjuncts in the Management of the Bleeding Trauma Patient: Calcium and Vasopressin
Authors: Leon David , Levy Matt , Sikorski Robert
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

This review summarizes emerging literature on calcium and vasopressin as pharmacological adjuncts in management of hemorrhage in trauma patient resuscitation, and how they may prove useful in promoting hemostasis, reduce blood product usage and improve mortality in trauma patients with hemorrhage.

Recent Findings

Hypocalcemia has correlation with mortality and increased blood product usage in trauma patients. Calcium’s role in coagulation cascade may indicate use as early supplementation before transfusion in addition to repletion in hemorrhagic shock and MTP scenarios.

Vasopressin has roles in vascular tone and coagulation, and early studies show a reduction in overall blood product usage without significant adverse events when used in hemorrhaging trauma patients, though effect on overall mortality requires further investigation.

Calcium and vasopressin are promising pharmacologic adjuncts to transfusion in bleeding trauma patients. Additional research is needed for safety and efficacy in both therapies and for other potential pharmacologic options in their role for promoting hemostasis and reducing hemorrhage severity in bleeding trauma patients.
Food, power and agency: revealing local post-harvest fisheries practices to improve food access from small-scale fisheries in coastal Kenya
Authors: Allegretti Antonio , Omukoto Johnstone O. , Hicks Christina C.
Published: January 2025

This article proposes the case of Kenyan coastal fisheries as a potentially crucial reservoir of food-related benefits for the marginalised and those living in poverty, but where a food-centred lens or approach is seldom mainstreamed in local and national governance. Borrowing insights from post-structuralist marine social sciences, this article presents an ethnographic account of grassroots practices in-the-making such as handling, sorting, and allocating fish once caught, and how these practices lead to local categorisations and classifications of fish. This sort of evidence and knowledge around local categorisations and classifications of fish spotlights the importance of considering the post-harvest sector (as opposed to the activity of fishing alone), that is, how the use of catch determines access through micro relations of power and agency. Through the analysis of two different locations of Watamu and Shimoni in terms of the fisheries economy and overall development, the analysis of these categories and classifications highlights the necessity to account for a fairer access and distribution rather than solely production (of fish) that is overly market-oriented.