bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electron scattering at interfaces in Ru(0001)/Co(0001) multilayers
Authors: Shen Poyen , Lavoie Christian , Gall Daniel
Published: January 2025

Electron transport measurements on 60-nm-thick multilayers containing N = 2–58 individual Ru and Co layers are employed to quantify the specific resistance of Ru/Co interfaces. Sputter deposition on Al2O3(0001) at Ts = 400 °C leads to a 0001 preferred orientation with x-ray diffraction (XRD) Ru and Co 0002 peaks that shift closer to each other with increasing N, suggesting interfacial intermixing. The intermixing is quantified by x-ray reflectivity (XRR) and confirmed by an XRD Ru/Co alloy peak that develops during in situ synchrotron annealing as well as for deposition at a higher Ts = 600 °C. The room-temperature resistivity increases from 15.0 to 47.5 μΩ cm with decreasing superlattice period Λ = 60–2 nm. This is attributed to increasing electron scattering at the intermixed metal interfaces. The transport data are well described by a parallel conductor model that treats metal layers and the intermixed alloy as parallel resistors, where the resistivity of the intermixed alloy of 60.4 μΩ cm is determined from a co-deposited Ru/Co sample. Data fitting provides values for the effective thickness of the intermixed interface of 16.8 nm, in good agreement with the XRR value, yielding a Ru/Co contact resistance of 8.5 × 10−15 Ω m2 for interfaces deposited at 400 °C. The overall results show that the Ru/Co contact resistance is dominated by a high-resistivity interfacial alloy and, therefore, is a strong function of the deposition process, particularly the processing temperature.
Prediction of effective thermal conductivity of a suspension of core-shell particles using asymptotic homogenization
Authors: A Karthiban , M K Easwar , Arockiarajan A. , Roy Anubhab
Published: January 2025

This study presents the implementation of the asymptotic homogenization method (AHM) to predict the effective thermal conductivity of suspensions featuring core-shell particles. The AHM leverages the significant difference in scales between macroscopic and microscopic structures, making it possible to model the domain at multiple scales by capturing the influence of microscopic inclusions under macroscopic loading conditions on the domain. The study begins by deriving an analytical formulation for the thermal conductivity problem of core-shell composites, using a multiscale asymptotic expansion, followed by developing a finite element model to solve the unit cell problem. The results for core-shell inclusions are validated against known analytical solutions for different volume fractions. At low inclusion volume fractions, the numerical predictions closely match the effective medium approximations. However, at semi-dilute packing fractions, the AHM shows superior accuracy, aligning more closely with the experimental and analytical results. The study reveals that the effective thermal conductivity of the three-component composite is influenced by the volume fractions of the core and shell, the thermal conductivities of the core, shell, and matrix, as well as the spatial distribution of inclusions. The proposed AHM method coupled with finite element analysis offers a generalized approach to predict effective thermal or electrical conductivity.
Regular wave force on human legs standing on a stepped seawall
Authors: Yin Zegao , Zhang Xuecong , Yin Tianxu , Jiang Xiutao , Li Kesui , Cui Mengyao
Published: January 2025

Stepped seawalls are a common structure for coastal protection, and pedestrians are prone to approaching them for their recreational benefits. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments and a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical model were conducted to investigate the wave force characteristics of human legs standing on a stepped seawall under regular waves. The dimensionless maximum horizontal wave force on two legs was examined with the related parameters, including incident wave steepness and relative standing height. With the increase in incident wave steepness, the dimensionless maximum horizontal wave force generally increased. With the increase in relative standing height, the tops of the two legs tended to emerge from the submerged condition, and the dimensionless maximum horizontal wave force on the two legs first increased and then decreased. In addition, the aforementioned dimensionless parameters are used to derive a formula for predicting the maximum horizontal wave force on the two legs with relatively high accuracy.
Physics-informed neural networks for analyzing size effect and identifying parameters in piezoelectric semiconductor nanowires
Authors: Wang Bingbing , Meng Dequan , Lu Chunsheng , Zhang Qiaoyun , Zhao Minghao , Zhang Jianwei
Published: January 2025

Piezoelectric semiconductors (PSCs) are crucial in micro-electromechanical systems, but analyzing their size effects and accurately determining flexoelectric parameters is challenging due to the complexity of multi-scale and multi-field coupling. Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), which merge physical laws with machine learning, provide a promising approach for solving partial differential equations and parameter inversion. In this paper, we develop a PINN model to solve a system of fourth-order partial differential equations for PSC nanowires, accounting for strain gradient and flexoelectric effects. Predictions by the model closely match results from traditional numerical methods. Additionally, with minimal labeled data, the PINN model can predict both physical solutions and material parameters, such as the flexoelectric coefficient. It is expected that PINNs offer an effective method for analyzing PSC nanowires and inverting key material properties.
Energy dissipation of solid–liquid flow in a centrifugal pump based on an improved four-way coupling method
Authors: Pu Wei , Ji Leilei , Li Wei , Shi Weidong , Tian Fei , Huang Wei , Yang Yang , Xu Xiwei , Agarwal Ramesh , Jiang Sen
Published: January 2025

To investigate the energy dissipation mechanisms within the pump and improve the computational accuracy of the solid–liquid flow numerical simulations, in this study, an improved CFD-DEM (Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method) method has been presented. First, the improved method of CFD-DEM is introduced, which mainly considers the turbulent dissipation of particles in the near-wall region and velocity field reconstruction. Then, the simulation results before and after the method's enhancement are compared. Finally, the analysis of the energy characteristics of the liquid phase flow field in the solid–liquid flow is conducted. Research shows that the modified CFD-DEM method significantly improves the accuracy of the particle distribution predictions, with the numerical results for head and efficiency being much closer to experimental values. In the high-speed regions of the impeller flow field, primarily located behind the pressure side of the blades, the liquid phase flow velocity and pressure fluctuations are less affected by changes in solid phase concentration. In the fluid region of the centrifugal pump, the energy loss caused by entropy production is significantly concentrated in the volute and impeller regions. Specifically, the entropy production dissipation in the volute region accounts for the substantial portion of the total entropy production, approximately 67%–68%, while the entropy production dissipation in the impeller region accounts for about 19.7%–20.4%. As the solid phase concentration increases, the energy dissipation within the pump gradually rises, and the total vorticity at the impeller inlet also increases correspondingly, with the vorticity distribution being related to the number of blades. The findings provide a reference for further exploring solid–liquid flow within centrifugal pumps.
Impact of partitions on droplet transmission in a bus: A numerical study
Authors: Yang Yafeng , Wu Jingbo , Chen Zhixin , Pan Sanfei , Hu Xiangyi , Wang Yongwei
Published: January 2025

The bus cabin is a potential hotspot for virus transmission via aerosols, where social distancing cannot be strictly applied due to its confined space and large number of passengers. Therefore, this makes it important to look into how droplets travel in buses and find ways to lower the chances of catching airborne infections. In this study, we examined how partitions affect the movement of cough droplets in buses using computer simulations, and droplets with different particle sizes and infected persons in different locations were considered in the study. The flow field in the cabin was predicted using numerical computation, and the droplets emitted by the infected person were tracked with the Lagrangian method. Droplet concentrations within the breathing area of each passenger, deposition characteristics, and escape rates of droplets were analyzed. The results of the study show that the installation of partitions between passengers in the bus limits the transport of droplets in the lateral direction, which in turn promotes droplet settlement. Moreover, it can effectively reduce the concentration of droplets in the passenger breathing area, thereby reducing the chance of infection for passengers.
Determination of the thermal conductivity of nanowires based on the metal–insulator transition of VO2
Authors: Ordonez-Miranda Jose , Belliard Laurent
Published: January 2025

We develop the theoretical foundation to determine the thermal conductivity of a single nanowire by using the optical contrast of the metallic and insulating domains of a VO2 nanowire excited with either a temperature difference or a laser beam. Considering the temperature dependence of the VO2 thermal conductivity, the heat flux and the temperature profile along a VO2 nanowire are obtained and used to derive explicit expressions for the position of the metal/insulator domain interface as a function of the thermal excitation. This relation determines the variations of the metallic and insulating domains’ lengths, which can be employed to retrieve the thermal conductivity of a single nanowire bonded to a VO2 one. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of each thermal excitation are discussed along with the appearance of invariants driving the one-dimensional nonlinear heat conduction along VO2 nanowires.
Wave scattering by an infinite trench in the presence of bottom-mounted inverted Π-shaped or floating Π-shaped structure
Authors: Sarkar Biman , De Soumen , Tsai Chia-Cheng , Hsu Tai-Wen
Published: January 2025

This article examines the scattering of surface gravity waves by two types of structures: a bottom-mounted inverted Π-shaped structure or a floating Π-shaped structure, in the presence of an infinite trench. The physical phenomenon is formulated as a boundary value problem governed by the modified Helmholtz equation, which is transformed into a system of Fredholm-type integral equations through the eigenfunction expansion technique. To enhance numerical accuracy and convergence, basis functions (such as Chebyshev and ultraspherical Gegenbauer polynomials) multiplied by appropriate weights are incorporated into a multi-term Galerkin approximation. Thus, the model effectively captures the singular behavior of the horizontal fluid velocity near the sharp lower edges of the Π-shaped structure and the corners of the trench. Validation of the model is achieved by comparing its results with existing solutions from the literature on water wave problems in specific limiting scenarios. Numerical results for reflection and transmission coefficients, mean drift forces, and free surface elevation are presented graphically. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the influence of various non-dimensional wave and structural parameters on these hydrodynamic characteristics. Notably, the floating Π-shaped structure achieves a more significant reduction in free surface elevation in the transmitted region compared to the bottom-mounted inverted Π-shaped structure.
NLP and education
Authors: de Gois Túlio Sousa , Freitas Flávia Oliveira , Tejada Julian , Freitag Raquel Meister Ko.
Published: January 2025

This study examines the applicability of the Cloze test, a widely used tool for assessing text comprehension
proficiency, while highlighting its challenges in large-scale implementation. To address these limitations, an automated
correction approach was proposed, utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, particularly word embeddings (WE)
models, to assess semantic similarity between expected and provided answers. Using data from Cloze tests administered to students
in Brazil, WE models for Brazilian Portuguese (PT-BR) were employed to measure the semantic similarity of the responses. The
results were validated through an experimental setup involving twelve judges who classified the students’ answers. A comparative
analysis between the WE models’ scores and the judges’ evaluations revealed that GloVe was the most effective model, demonstrating
the highest correlation with the judges’ assessments. This study underscores the utility of WE models in evaluating semantic
similarity and their potential to enhance large-scale Cloze test assessments. Furthermore, it contributes to educational
assessment methodologies by offering a more efficient approach to evaluating reading proficiency.
Exploring soil-buoyancy interactions: experimental designs and educational implications for enhancing students’ scientific inquiry skills
Authors: Gu Zijian , Yang Jianwen
Published: January 2025

Buoyancy is a key concept in secondary school physics, but students encounter many difficulties in this content, among which ‘whether the object on the soil receive buoyancy’ is an important question. In order to solve this problem, we designed and carried out an experiment to suss out how soil impacts an object’s buoyancy. We did this by gauging the actual buoyancy versus the theoretical buoyancy of the object through two separate methods, and then we dug into the discrepancies between those two readings. The following conclusions were obtained: Objects on soil experience buoyancy, which varies with different types of soil. After demonstrating this experiment in teaching practice, the majority of students were able to gain a better understanding of buoyancy in daily life. This indicates that the experiment has a significant promotional effect on middle school students’ learning of the buoyancy chapter and using it to recognize buoyancy in daily life, and it can be used as one of the supplementary inquiry experiments in the education of middle school buoyancy courses.
Experiments with a magnetic cannon
Authors: Cross Rod
Published: January 2025

Video data are presented concerning the operation of a magnetic cannon. Several different experiments were conducted to help explain energy losses that are often observed, even though momentum is conserved to a good approximation. The experiments would be suitable as part of a student project to investigate the operation of a magnetic cannon.
Newton’s laws and static equilibrium: measuring deltoid force in an arm lifting a load while wearing a heavy suit
Authors: Mohottala Hashini , Lothamer Joseph
Published: January 2025

We present our findings on the motion of the human arm in the context of physics education, focusing on measuring and calculating the deltoid force exerted by an arm when wearing a heavy suit, such as NASA’s spacesuit. Leveraging our understanding of human body mechanics and motion, we investigated this force using a 3D-printed arm model. The first goal of our research was to comprehend the mechanical impact of spacesuits on the human body, particularly the force required by the deltoid muscle to perform movements under increased weight and resistance. Simultaneously, we explored the use of a 3D printed arm model as an educational tool to enhance students’ understanding of torque and equilibrium. Our research has significantly impacted student learning by addressing a gap in demonstrations within human body-focused courses, leading to improved comprehension, increased classroom retention, and notable grade improvements, inspiring new educational tools and methods.
Environmental cosmic acceleration from a phase transition in the dark sector
Authors: Christiansen Ø. , Hassani F. , Mota D.F.
Published: January 2025

A new degravitation mechanism within the framework of scalar tensor gravity
is postulated and included by prescription. The mechanism eliminates
all constant contributions from the potential to the Friedmann equation,
leaving only the kinematic and the dynamic terms of the potential to
drive cosmic acceleration. We explore a scenario involving a density-triggered
phase transition in the late-time universe, and argue that the resulting
effective energy density and equation of state parameter can explain
late-time cosmology when extrapolated to a region of the parameter space.
Cosmological roles of dark photons in axion-induced electroweak baryogenesis
Authors: Jeong Kwang Sik , Kang Ju Hyeong , Nakagawa Shota
Published: January 2025

By coupling to both the Higgs and electroweak gauge sectors,
an axion can generate the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe via
electroweak baryogenesis
when the axion decay constant lies within the range of approximately 105 and 107 GeV,
corresponding to axion masses between the MeV and GeV scales.
In this work, we explore the intriguing possibility that the axion interacts with a dark sector,
particularly with dark photons through anomalous couplings.
Notably,
axion-coupled dark photons can play multiple roles, including
(i) suppressing the branching ratio of axion decay to Standard Model (SM) particles,
which would otherwise conflict with the constraints from supernovae explosions, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, and neutron star merger events,
(ii)
serving as a candidate for cold dark matter if they are massive and stable,
and (iii) contributing to dark radiation if they are ultralight.
The axion decouples from the SM thermal bath when it becomes non-relativistic,
facilitating the production of dark matter dark photons through the freeze-in mechanism,
while dark radiation dark photons are thermally generated prior to the electroweak phase transition.
Primordial black hole formation in a dust bouncing model
Authors: Barroso E.J. , Demétrio L.F. , Vitenti S.D.P. , Ye Xuan
Published: January 2025

Linear scalar cosmological perturbations have increasing spectra in the
contracting phase of bouncing models. We study the conditions for which these
perturbations may collapse into primordial black holes and the hypothesis that these
objects constitute a fraction of dark matter. We compute the critical density
contrast that describes the collapse of matter perturbations in the flat-dust bounce
model with a parametric solution, obtained from the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi metric
that represents the spherical collapse. We discuss the inability of the Newtonian
gauge to describe perturbations in contracting models as the perturbative hypothesis
does not hold in such cases. We carry the calculations for a different Gauge choice
and compute the perturbations' power spectra numerically. Finally, assuming a
Gaussian distribution, we compute the primordial black hole abundance with the
Press-Schechter formalism and compare it with observational constraints. From our
analysis, we conclude that the primordial black hole formation in a dust-dominated
contracting phase does not lead to a significant mass fraction of primordial black
holes in dark matter today.
Development and benchmarking of a thermal lumped model for the magnetron injection gun of the MW-power ITER European gyrotron
Authors: Antonione A. , Bertazzoni R. , Carannante G. , Cindric K. , Ferrari M. , Leggieri A. , Sanchez F. , De Tommasi G.
Published: January 2025

With ITER’s re-baseline, the Electron Cyclotron Heating system has become of even higher importance with the multiple purposes of plasma heating, current drive, and instability suppression. ITER’s Electron Cyclotron Heating system is based on several gyrotrons, such as radio-frequency sources supposed to provide on-demand power in the order of megawatts in the millimeter-wave domain. Due to the non-linear dynamics involved in the gyrotron operation and the structure of the machine itself, controlling a gyrotron and preparing it in the shortest time possible to provide radiofrequency power represents a challenging task for the tokamak operations. Reliable models of the power source are essential to design effective control strategies. To this aim, we further developed a semi-physical thermal lumped model of the ITER European Gyrotron’s Magnetron Injection Gun available in literature. The model has been re-implemented in C++ for better computational performances and therefore making it particularly suitable to be exploited by data-driven model identification algorithms and real-time control codes. In this paper the model parameters are identified by using a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm on experimental data and the model validation is finally carried out on a dedicated dataset, aiming at providing a tool to design and to be integrated into the control system of the machine.
Design and evaluation of UKRI-MPW1: a monolithic HV-CMOS pixel sensor with high radiation tolerance
Authors: Zhang C. , Hammerich J. , Powell S. , Vilella E. , Wade B.
Published: January 2025

A monolithic High Voltage CMOS (HV-CMOS) prototype, UKRI-MPW1, has been developed to further improve the radiation tolerance of this technology, which is a promising candidate for future high-energy physics experiments. UKRI-MPW1 addresses the issues of high leakage current and parasitic channels identified in its predecessor, UKRI-MPW0, by incorporating an improved chip ring structure and a custom p-shield layer. Additionally, a new pixel flavour with an NMOS-only trimming Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) further improves pixel performance. This chip has demonstrated a radiation tolerance of up to 3 × 1015 neq/cm2.
Protracted vegetation recovery after compound drought and hot extreme compared to general drought
Authors: Huang Mengtian , Zhai Panmao
Published: January 2025

Recovery time is critical for accurate assessment of drought impacts on vegetation growth and terrestrial carbon dynamics. However, the dominant factors driving the spatiotemporal variation of recovery time are still poorly understood; hardly any research has focused on the comparison of recovery time between general drought and compound dry-hot events. This study examined recovery time of vegetation greenness post different drought types during 1982–2016 and attempted to identify the predominant factors determining vegetation recovery time over the globe. Our findings demonstrated protracted recovery of vegetation greenness after compound drought and hot extreme (CDHE) event compared to general drought in 68% of global vegetated area. Deciduous broadleaved forest exhibited the most remarkable difference between recovery time post CDHE (13.8 ± 5.6 months) and post general drought (9.3 ± 4.7 months). We also revealed that post-event moisture condition and long-term precipitation were the chief impact factors of drought recovery time.
Various Solvents’ Effect on the Performance of P3HT:ZnONPs:PC70BM Solar Cell
Authors: Hussein Abdullah. A. , Ibrahim Naeemah A. , Saki Tahssen A.
Published: January 2025

Hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) have garnered extensive focus as alternate to all-organic photovoltaics due to their remarkable benefits in integrating organic materials’ solution-processability and flexibility with the environmental stability of inorganic semiconductors and high charge mobility. This study describes the development of efficient and air-stable hybrid organic-inorganic BHJ solar cells with broad-spectrum sensitivity supported by mixtures of phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) and poly 3-hexylthiophene with zinc oxide (P3HT: ZnONPs). The solvents (chlorobenzene, chlorobenzene, and chloroform and mixed CF/CB, CF/DCB) used to deposit the hybrid P3HT: ZnONPs BHJ active layer has a significant effect on the film shape and, therefore, on the photovoltaic performance of the solar cells generated as a result. The characterization techniques used for the film morphology, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging, and external quantum efficiency (EQE) studies on the devices. It is interesting to note that the efficiency of the devices significantly improves when a specific solvent combination of (CB:CF) is utilized. This suggests the importance of solvent selection in optimizing the performance of the devices. The best property was obtained in the active layer by using chlorobenzene (CB) for the P3HT and dichlorobenzene (DCB) for the PCBM. The improvement in the efficiency with regard to a device with CB:CF was more considerable compared to CF, CB and CB: DCB. With different solvent, a solar cell upon (CB:CF) provides PCE (i.e., Power Conversion Efficiency) of 4.1%, dissimilar to 3.92% for (CB: DCB), 3.9% for (CB) and 3:6% for (CB) devices.
Contribution of Southern Baghdad Power Plants on Soil Contamination by Pb, Zn, Co, and Cr: Spatial Analysis and Pollution Indices
Authors: Putros Masarra D. , Khadim Hussein J.
Published: January 2025

The combustion of low-quality fossil fuels in power plants in southern Baghdad causes soil pollution with heavy metals. The results showed a significant increase in heavy metal concentrations, with lead (1391.9 ppm), zinc (140.28 ppm), cobalt (46.28 ppm), and chromium (137.55 ppm). The results of the study, using the Geo-accumulation index and Contamination factor pollution indices, showed severe lead pollution in the studied soil, reaching 95%, while chromium, copper, and zinc were classified as moderately to highly polluted. The results of the spatial analysis using the QGIS program revealed a major environmental hazard in the Southern Baghdad Power Plants area, which is responsible for soil pollution with heavy metals and poses a major threat to public health and the environment. The results call for the need to take preventive measures to reduce this pollution.
Do as We Say, Not as We Do: MINUSTAH in Haiti
Authors: von Billerbeck Sarah , Gippert Birte Julia , Oksamytna Kseniya , Tansey Oisín
Published: January 2025

In Chapter 5, we turn to Mission des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Haïti / United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the first United Nations (UN) mission to have ‘stabilization’ in its name and the one case study which saw the deployment of a peacekeeping mission without having experienced a civil war. The chapter first introduces Haiti’s complex history leading up to the deployment of MINUSTAH in 2004, amid large-scale violence and political turmoil. The volatile situation, which was characterized by politicization and urban gang violence, resulted in a focus on security through police reform and political stability through elections. The dilemma between security and democracy, the need to respect the sovereignty of the world’s first black republic, and clashing priorities between the UN and key bilateral partners such as the United States (US), all contributed to authoritarian enabling. More specifically, we show how the overarching security focus led to the deprioritization of democratization, signaling to host state officials that the mission would accept fraudulent elections as long as polling could be concluded and results declared. We also illustrate how the mission’s security focus prioritized capacity-building of the Haitian National Police (HNP) to the detriment of internal and external oversight mechanisms, further entrenching corruption and political influence within the HNP.
Forgotten Women
Authors: Hasday Jill Elaine
Published: January 2025

Although women’s rights and opportunities have unquestionably expanded over the past century, progress has not been nearly fast or far-reaching enough. Sometimes courts and legislatures have dragged women backward, taking away earlier victories. The urgent questions are about why women’s inequality persists and what we can do about it. This book adds another dimension to that crucial conversation by focusing on new answers. In a nation whose Constitution purports to speak for “We the People,” too many of the stories that powerful Americans tell about law and society include only We the Men. America’s dominant modes of forgetting about women help perpetuate women’s inequality, rationalizing the status quo, promoting complacency, and undercutting reform. This book argues that remembering women’s stories more often and more accurately can help the nation advance toward sex equality.
Building on the Past to Create a More Equal Future
Authors: Hasday Jill Elaine
Published: January 2025

Building on the Past to Create a More Equal Future argues for more conflict over women’s status rather than less. America needs reforms that span teaching, commemoration, political representation, legislation, litigation, and everyday life. Conflict can generate change. Patiently awaiting men’s spontaneous enlightenment will not. Incorporating a richer and truer history of women’s struggles for equality into the nation’s collective memory can reorient our understanding of how women’s progress takes place, focus our attention on the battles that are still unwon, and fortify our determination to push for a more equal future as we shape the next chapters in this American story.
Pollination effectiveness affects the level of generalisation of a plant species with phenotypically plastic flowers
Authors: Gómez José M , Navarro Luis , González-Megías Adela , Armas Cristina , Perfectti Francisco , Caravantes Ángel , Sánchez Raquel
Published: January 2025

The pollination specialisation/generalisation continuum is a basic concept in pollination biology, usually defined as the number of species or functional groups of pollinators visiting a plant species. The level of specialisation can be affected by the relative abundance of pollinators on flowers, the among-pollinator variation in per-visit efficiency and the intra-population variation in floral traits. Here, we explore how these components influence the degree of generalisation of a Mediterranean herb, Moricandia arvensis (Brassicaceae). Moricandia arvensis shows a remarkable intra-individual floral polyphenism, with large cross-shaped lilac flowers during spring and small rounded white flowers during summer. We quantified the pollinator assemblages, grouped into functional groups, of six plant populations from SE Spain during spring and summer, experimentally tested their preference for spring and summer floral morphs, their per-visit efficiency, and their effectiveness during each flowering period, estimated as their contribution to plant’s fitness. The level of generalisation differed between floral morphs: spring flowers are visited mainly by large long-tongued bees, while summer flowers are visited by a diverse set including small short-tongued bees, large long-tongued bees, large butterflies and beeflies. The functional groups of pollinators differed in their preferences for floral morphs, with large long-tongued bees, small short-tongued bees and beeflies preferring spring floral morphs, whereas flies and butterflies preferred summer floral morphs. Pollinator per-visit efficiency also varied among functional groups. Bees and butterflies produced many seeds per visit, while beetles, hoverflies and flies produced few or no seeds per visit. By combining floral visits with per-visit efficiency (effectiveness), the spring pollinator assemblage became significantly more specialised and the summer pollinator assemblage significantly more generalised. Our study suggests that, although traditionally neglected in pollination studies, examining pollinator effectiveness is crucial to accurately characterise generalisation-specialisation gradients, rigorously categorising pollination niches and correctly describing the architecture of plant-pollinator interactions.
Combating the Rising Tide of Kidney Diseases in Europe: The Seminal Role of the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA)
Authors: Vanholder Raymond , Bé Alicia , De Barbieri Ilaria , Gallego Daniel , Fontana Monica , Faure Marine , Luyckx Valerie , Oostrom Tom , Scheres Eveline , van Vredendaal Ole , Lameire Norbert
Published: January 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most prevalent and fatal chronic diseases. However, the political attention CKD receives is not proportional to its significant human, economic, and ecological burden. One major reason is the lack of awareness among the general population andpolicymakers. As a result, investment in the therapeutic approaches to CKD have largely remained inadequate, while existing therapies did not change for decades. To respond to the lack of awareness of CKD, several European and international kidney care societies, supported by national and regional organizations, founded the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) in 2007. This Alliance is a Brussels-based advocacy organization representing people with kidney diseases and the kidney care community at the European Union level, and from there, also at the country level. EKHA's aim is to ensure that every candidate for kidney care, irrespective of stage of kidney disease, receives optimal and timely treatment, which is affordable at a societal and individual level. This publication reviews the European political landscape, EKHA's history, points of focus and tools for harnessing available data into advocacy on CKD. Areas discussed include prevention and screening of CKD, its health-economic and environmental impact, and the need to facilitate kidney transplantation and home dialysis. We also examine EKHA's specific approaches to enhance kidney care, its affordability and its sustainability. The EKHA model aims at forestalling the burden of CKD and its underestimated economic and ecologic impact.
Intraoperative aortic dissection in a patient with cervical aortic arch
Authors: Takeuchi Akira , Tsuneyoshi Hiroshi , Katayama Hideyuki , Setozaki Shuji
Published: January 2025

Cervical aortic arch (CAA) is a rare malformation. Herein, we report a 58-year-old female patient diagnosed with left CAA with descending aortic aneurysm. Initially, the descending aorta replacement was planned via left rib-cross thoracotomy. However, because of intraoperative aortic dissection during mobilization, total arch replacement was performed via emergent median sternotomy first. The main body of the synthetic graft was then guided to the left thoracotomy view, and the peripheral anastomosis of the descending aorta was performed. The surgery was successfully completed. The surgical management of CAA remains unstandardized due to its rarity and complex abnormalities. As aortic wall thinning can easily lead to aortic dissection, careful manipulation is required during mobilization.
A proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) modified nutritious biscuit: focus on in vitro digestion, tribological properties, and protein network analysis
Authors: Hu Yue , Tian Zhengzheng , Li Linlin , Lin Shunshun , Tian Xiaoling , Li Mengqin
Published: January 2025

In this study, proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L., PM), which is rich in protein and has a low glycemic index, was used as the primary raw material. Our objectives were to investigate the quality changes in millet when replacing low-gluten flour in the production of biscuits and to explore the feasibility of a new type of millet biscuit. We selected four high-quality varieties of millet to make biscuits: Japonica Red millet (JR), Japonica Yellow millet (JY), Glutinous Red millet (GR), and Glutinous Yellow millet (GY). The characterization and microstructural changes in the biscuits were determined. Finally, the biscuit quality was assessed via protein network analysis, tribological characterization, and in vitro digestion. The results indicated that the GR and GY biscuits had superior protein network connectivity, with 45.12% of the protein network area. However, the porosity of the JR and JY biscuits was approximately 10% higher than that of the GR and GY biscuits; the lowest porosity was 10.33% for the GR biscuits, and the highest porosity was 11.56% for the JY biscuits. Additionally, the friction coefficients of the JR and JY biscuits were consistently higher than those of the GR and GY biscuits; the friction coefficient of the JR biscuits at 60 s reached 0.86. Moreover, the RS content was higher for the JR and JY biscuits, and the highest RS content of 51.21% was observed for the JR biscuits, whereas the RDS content was higher for the GR and GY biscuits, with the highest RDS content reaching 45.64% for the GY biscuits. This study provides a new methodological approach and a theoretical basis for investigating quality changes in biscuits.
Effect of waxy corn starch on the quality of dough and fine dried noodles
Authors: Xue Yibo , Lv Linhua , Meng Lifei , Zhao Tiejun , Chen Ling
Published: January 2025

This study investigated the impact of waxy corn starch (WCS) on the quality of dough and fine dried noodles, along with its underlying mechanisms. The results showed that adding WCS (2%–8%) increased the dough's shear-thinning resistance, while adding WCS (4%–8%) alleviated dough retrogradation. Incorporating WCS (4%–6%) enhanced the breaking strength of fine dried noodles, reduced cooking loss, and improved cooking resistance. Water absorption in the noodles peaked with WCS additions of 6%–8%. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a strengthened starch-protein binding and a tighter microstructure. Overall, these findings demonstrate that WCS has potential to improve the textural properties of fine dried noodles, significantly enhancing their edible quality and making them more suitable for patient consumption.
A polysaccharide F2 from Grifola frondosa depicted an excellent prebiotic effect against hyperglycemia by modulation of gut microbiota associated with SCFAs and BSH
Authors: Xie Ting , Huang Longhua , Zhong Wei , Yong Tianqiao , Hu Huiping , Xie Yizhen , Xiao Chun , Wu Qingping
Published: January 2025

Grifola frondosa is an edible and medicinal fungus with various biological activities. Previously, we reported Gaylussacia frondosa polysaccharide F2 can improve insulin resistance in diabetic rats. In the present study, our aim was to identify its prebiotic function. The structure of polysaccharide F2 was obtained from gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and saccharide mapping. Simulated digestion and fecal bacteria fermentation of F2 in vitro was performed to investigate its digestion and fermentation characteristic. Dynamic changes of molecular weight and composition of F2 during digestion and fermentation were monitored by HPLC. The effects of F2 on intestinal microbiota were studied by 16S rDNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The results of simulated digestion in vitro showed that F2 was not digested in saliva, but minor degraded in stomach and intestine. It was worth noting that the content of polysaccharide F2 decreased and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content increased during the fermentation process with fecal. 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that F2 may reshape the structure of gut microbiota, and enrich microbial communities of Bacteriodes spp., Phascolarctobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. and Veillonella spp. Data suggested F2 could be utilized by intestinal bacteria to produce hypoglycemic components, which was a promising prebiotic. The hypoglycemic mechanism of F2 may be associated with enhancement of SCFAs-producing bacteria (Enterococcus spp.) and BSH (Bile salt hydrolase)-producing bacteria (Bacteriodes spp. and Enterococcus spp.), acceleration the bile acids metabolism and SCFAs production.
Selected medium-chain dicarboxylic acid combinations: improving the shelf life and quality of salmon meat during refrigerated storage
Authors: Liao Zhengrui , Parumasivam Thaigarajan , Zhu Xiaotong , Tan Thuan-Chew , Alrosan Mohammad , Alu’ datt Muhammad H
Published: January 2025

Combining preservatives can increase their antimicrobial activities compared to using a single preservative. Three medium-chain dicarboxylic acids with previously validated antimicrobial activity, i.e., azelaic acid (AZA), succinic acid (SUA), and glutaric acid (GLA), were selected for this study to assess the potential for their development as novel combination preservatives. In the checkerboard assay, they exhibited high synergy in two-by-two combinations. However, they showed low antioxidant activity in antioxidant assays. Combining the two-part data (checkerboard and antioxidant synergistic assays), the most effective combinations of bacteriostatic and antioxidant were selected for the following application (i.e., GLA-AZA (2:1), GLA-SUA (1:1) and AZA-SUA (2:1)). Using two salmon models (sliced and minced samples), these combinations, especially AZA-SUA (2:1) at 2,000 μg/mL and 1,456 μg/g, shown synergistic effects on freshness during 12-day refrigerated storage. Expressly, AZA-SUA (2:1) preserved the quality of salmon slices for 9 days and minced salmon for 6 days in the best possible way, keeping the total viable count and Enterobacteriaceae count below the maximum limit, in contrast to the blank control group (3 days). The microbial counts in beef treated with AZA-SUA (2:1) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those in the positive control group on day 12 of refrigerated storage. In addition, the combination of selected medium-chain dicarboxylic acids effectively preserved salmon quality by maintaining colour, pH, and moisture and reducing spoilage indicators like TVB-N and other microbial counts. The findings suggest that these unique combinations have the potential to be alternatives to conventional preservatives for retaining the freshness of fish products during refrigerated storage.
Effects of extrusion parameters on physicochemical properties of mung bean-brown rice extrudate for new product development
Authors: Mathad Girish Ningappa , Gavahian Mohsen , Lin Jenshinn
Published: January 2025

Mung beans are excellent protein sources, along with a brown rice provide valuable nutritional components. This study aimed to develop a wholesome extruded snack by combining mung bean and brown rice and evaluating the effects of extrusion conditions on the extrudates’ key quality properties. For this purpose, 9 extrudate samples were formulated using mung bean and brown rice ratios of 60:40 and 70:30 under die temperatures of 100 and 110 °C and screw speeds of 300 and 350 rpm. The colour values, absorption index (WAI), expansion ratio (ER), textural properties, bulk density (BD), water-soluble index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), and antioxidant properties of samples were then analyzed. The results showed that changes in die temperature and screw speed significantly (P < 0.05) increased physicochemical properties such as protein (15.63–17.61%), ash (1.84–2.50%), crude fat (0.84–1.16%,) colour characteristics (e.g., ∆E: of 28.56–30.72), ER (2.48–3.36), WSI (21.28–35.37%) hardness (15.46–24.02 N), and DPPH free radical scavenging activity (65.23–72.95%), total phenolic content of the extrudates (60.7–99.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g) improved significantly. In contrast, BD, OAC, and WAI decreased with an increase in die temperature and Mung bean ratio (0.22–0.12 g/cm3, 0.99–0.79 g/g, 5.46 g/g–4.72 g/g, respectively). Results indicated that Mung bean and brown rice flour combinations produce new nutritious extrudate snacks, contributing to food nutrition improvement and diversification.
Bioactive compounds in chili peppers: a study on chicken meat quality
Authors: Ivane Ngouana Moffo Auriol , Romeo Fopa
Published: January 2025

The chili pepper pericarp contains valuable alkylamides and phenols, offering a potential source of antioxidant compounds. While recognized as key antioxidants in chili peppers, their practical application in food systems remains relatively unexplored. This research focuses on isolating and utilizing polyphenol and alkylamide fractions from chili extracts in chicken breast meat. Analysis using MS/MS revealed 15 bioactive compounds in chili, with 3 identified as alkylamides and 12 as polyphenols. Evaluation of chicken breast meat quality, including colour, TVB-N, TBARS, carbonyl content, and microbiological aspects, showed that samples treated with the polyphenol fraction (PF 6 mg/mL) exhibited significant reductions in TBARS, TVB-N, and carbonyl content compared to the alkylamide fraction (AF 30 mg/mL), polyphenol fraction (PF 1.5 mg/mL), and control samples after storage. Additionally, these samples-maintained pH levels, improved meat color stability, and inhibited microbial growth of lactic acid bacteria, molds, and yeasts, psychrotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp. Therefore, utilizing chili pepper component as natural preservatives in poultry products, such as chicken breast meat, represents a promising avenue for research to enhance product safety and quality.
‘Trend analysis of sustainability claims in meat and dairy product launches (2004–2023): a case study of UK, USA, and China’
Authors: Hutchings Scott C , Realini Carolina E , Noble Alasdair , Triadis Dimetre , Jones Richard T , Turner James A
Published: January 2025

The sustainability of pastoral farming must rapidly improve to protect land, water, and climate. However, producers of meat and dairy products also need economically viable pathways for this transition. One approach is accessing markets that prioritize sustainability attributes. This study investigated trends in new meat and dairy products launched with sustainability claims in the USA, China, and the UK from 2004 to 2023. Using data from the Mintel GNPD database and trend regression analysis, the number, share, and location quotient of such product launches were determined. Results showed significant growth in sustainability claims across all markets, with the UK experiencing faster growth for meat products, while the USA and China showed faster growth for dairy products. In both categories, the strongest growth was observed for claims related to Environmentally Friendly Packaging and Recyclable materials. For dairy products, Sustainable (Habitat/Resources) claims followed, while meat products showed growth in Animal Welfare claims. Differences across markets suggest producers should adopt a targeted, market-specific approach to capitalize on trends in sustainability-focused meat and dairy products.
Quality and safety of natto fermented with Bacillus subtilis BJ3-2 using kidney beans from Guizhou
Authors: Fu Jingyi , Wu Yongjun , Yang Yi , Zhang Wen , Zhang Shilong , Ge Pingzhen , Wen Anyan , Wu Qifeng , Zengx Haiying , Qin Likang
Published: January 2025

With the continued development of the kidney bean industry and increased kidney bean production, processing methods need to be developed and optimized for kidney beans. This study focused on the nutritional qualities of seven varieties of raw materials of Guizhou kidney bean and the characteristic and safety factors of kidney bean natto (KBN), including amino acid nitrogen, mucus yield, NK activity, and biogenic amines. The kidney beans demonstrated good adaptability to natto processing. After fermentation, the average protein content of the seven kidney beans increased by about 3.37 g/100. Among the varieties, YuQiuDou (YQD, P520522025) demonstrated the best adaptability to fermentation. The nutritional composition of YQD kidney beans was as follows: total starch (53.55 g/100 g), protein (23.84 g/100 g), resistant starch (27.00 g/100 g), and α-AI (6.39 U/g). The mucilage yield of YQD natto was determined to be 20.57%, while the NK activity exhibited by YQD natto was measured at 0.2992 ± 0.002 TAME. The biogenic amines detected in KBNs were 7.62–33.92 mg/kg (lower than the US FDA limit of ≤ 50 mg/kg), and spermine was predominant. This study provides guidance and a reference for the future development of kidney bean products and the selection of raw materials.