bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Waveguide-based optical parametric oscillator for coherent Raman scattering applications
Authors: Wallmeier Kristin , Gao Ming , Lemberger Nick S. , Fallnich Carsten
Published: February 2025

A waveguide-based optical parametric oscillator for coherent Raman scattering applications is presented, exploiting four-wave mixing in a silicon nitride waveguide. Benefiting from its long propagation length of 20 mm in combination with a narrowband pump laser, idler pulses with an energy of up to 210 pJ and a spectral bandwidth down to 11.2 

$$\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$

cm

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1

were obtained. By combining these narrowband idler pulses and the residual pump pulses, coherent Raman spectroscopy and microscopy were possible with a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 13.4. Thus, the presented compact and stable waveguide-based light source paves the way towards integrated lab-on-a-chip coherent Raman applications.
The effects of prognostic nutritional index, systemic immune inflammation index and HALP score on fistula formation, recurrence and mortality in laryngeal cancer patients
Authors: Büyük B. B. , Toprak F. , Kılıç Caner , Tunçcan T. , Öztop Ceren
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prognostic nutritional index (PNI), systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet (HALP) score on fistula formation, recurrence and mortality in patients with laryngeal cancer.

Method

The study included 77 patients who underwent total laryngectomy operation between 2018 and 2021. 66 (85.7%) patients underwent primary and 11 (14.3%) patients underwent salvage total laryngectomy. PNI, SII and HALP scores and cutt-off values of all patients were determined and the relationships between pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) formation, recurrence and mortality were statistically analysed. The patients with a score less than the cut-off value were divided into two groups as Group 1, and the patients with a score equal to or greater than the cut-off value were divided into two groups as Group 2.

Results

The effect of PNI, SII and HALP on the development of FKF was not significant (P = 0.110, P = 0.135, P = 0.358). The effect of high SII and low HALP score on the development of recurrence was statistically significant (P = 0.001, P = 0.012). Low PNI increased the development of recurrence, but this increase was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). Overall survival rate was 68.8%. The effect of low PNI and HALP on survival was statistically significant (P = 0.011, P = 0.021). The effect of high SII on survival was not significant (P = 0.533).

Conclusion

Low PNI index and HALP score and high SII index are cost-effective simple prognostic biomarkers that are significant in the development of FCF, as well as in the evaluation of recurrence and overall survival in the long-term follow-up of these patients.
Colchicin – Phönix aus der Asche
Authors: Lunzer Raimund , Delle-Karth Georg , Zeitlinger Markus , Prager Marlene , Pracher Lena Maria
Published: February 2025

Colchicin ist ein entzündungshemmender pflanzlicher Arzneistoff mit einer jahrtausendealten Geschichte. Es wird seit jeher erfolgreich in der Akuttherapie und Prophylaxe der Gicht eingesetzt und konnte sich einen festen Platz im pharmakologischen Standardrepertoire bei familiärem Mittelmeerfieber, Perikarditis, neutrophilen Dermatosen, Morbus Behçet und oralen therapierefraktären schweren Aphthosen sichern. Rezent hat die US-amerikanische Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Colchicin zugelassen, um das Risiko von Myokardinfarkt, Schlaganfall, koronarer Revaskularisation und kardiovaskulärem Tod bei erwachsenen Patienten mit bestehender atherosklerotischer Erkrankung oder mit mehreren Risikofaktoren für eine kardiovaskuläre Erkrankung zu verringern. Der Empfehlungsgrad zur kardiovaskulären Prophylaxe wurde in den aktuellen ESC-Leitlinien von 2024 von IIb auf IIa angehoben. Klinische Studien der vergangenen Jahre belegen ferner einen Effekt beim akuten Koronarsyndrom und Vorhofflimmern. Diese Übersichtsarbeit beleuchtet das Wirksamkeits- und Sicherheitsprofil von Colchicin und bietet einen Einblick in rezente und mögliche zukünftige evidenzbasierte Anwendungsgebiete.
A comparative study of VR and AR heritage applications on visitor emotional experiences: a case study from a peripheral Spanish destination
Authors: Pinto Irene , Huertas Assumpció
Published: February 2025

VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) applications are increasingly being implemented in the heritage and cultural tourism sector, generating immersive and engaging visitor experiences. Taking into account the gaps in the literature concerning the topic, the objective of this study is to compare the emotional impacts of VR and AR applications on the visitor experience in two heritage sites in the peripheral town of Ulldecona (Catalonia, Spain). Through a qualitative real-world study, combining participants’ self-reports and participant observation, the analysis will be conducted by examining visitors’ reactions across five dimensions of emotions identified in the literature (Soon et al. in Psychol Mark 40(11):2387–2412, 2023) and adapted to this context: the cognitive, affective, physiological, motivational and expressive dimensions. Both positive and negative effects are explored to provide a comprehensive understanding of the visitor experience. Results reveal that what visitors express does not always match their sensorial and physical behaviour during the experience. Additionally, VR and AR applications elicit different reactions among visitors due to their varying degree of immersivity. This research provides valuable insights to the literature on VR, AR and heritage tourism, emphasising the need for a mixed-method approach to further explore advanced technologies’ impacts on visitors at heritage sites.
Low prevalence of methotrexate intolerance in rheumatoid arthritis: a South African study
Authors: Qwabe Namuhla , Paruk Farhanah , Mody Girish Mahasukhlal
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Methotrexate (MTX) is the first line therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and despite its widespread use, there is very little information about MTX intolerance in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MTX intolerance and other reasons for stopping MTX in RA in South Africa.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of all RA patients seen at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban from 2009 to 2019 was undertaken. We included patients who received MTX for at least three months. All patients received folic acid supplements. Patients who discontinued MTX were categorized as having either MTX related toxicity or other reasons.

Results

A total of 695 patients were identified with a female to male ratio of 7:1. The mean age was 57.9 (± 13.3) years, and median duration of MTX use was 67.0 (39.0—106.0) months. Most of the patients were African Blacks (61.2%), and Indians (32.8%). There were 83 (11.9%) patients who stopped MTX, and it was successfully reintroduced in 25 of them. Thus, 58 (8.3%) patients discontinued therapy, 33 (4.7%) due to intolerance and 25 (3.6%) due to factors other than adverse effects. The commonest causes of MTX intolerance were respiratory, gastrointestinal and haematological. The other reasons for discontinuation included co-morbidities and pregnancy related concerns.

Conclusions

The low prevalence of MTX intolerance in a multiethnic population in this single centre study, confirms the value of MTX as anchor therapy, especially in resource constrained settings.

Key Points• We report a low and similar prevalence of methotrexate intolerance in a large population of African Blacks and Indians with RA in sub-Saharan Africa.• Even though there was heterogeneity among other studies, our review indicates that MTX was tolerated better in our patients compared to patients in Europe and the United States of America.
A new era of learning: exploring science teachers’ perceptions of virtual lab in rural schools
Authors: Shambare Brian , Jita Thuthukile
Published: February 2025

Virtual learning technologies have become integral in education globally, with developed countries leading in implementation. In contrast, Global South countries like South Africa are only beginning to conceptualise Virtual Laboratory (VL) integration, with limited practical implementation. This study underscores the importance of understanding teachers’ perceptions of VL before deployment to minimise the risk of underuse or abandonment. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model Davis (MIS Quarterly 13(3):319–340, 1989), this research employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach. In Phase 1, 186 Life Sciences teachers from South Africa’s Eastern Cape province participated in a survey and semi-structured interviews with four teachers in Phase 2. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings reveal that teachers perceive VL positively and see potential benefits for rural education. The study also signals that intent alone may not lead to full adoption. This study contributes unique insights from rural teachers often absent in the broader technology adoption dialogue.
High-frequency diatom dynamics seen in an ice- and snow-covered temperate lake using an imaging-in-flow cytometer
Authors: Tapics Tara , Gregory-Eaves Irene , Huot Yannick
Published: February 2025

The study of winter in temperate, ice-covered lakes has largely been neglected, creating a major gap in our understanding of annual phytoplankton cycles. We assessed patterns in biovolumes of Asterionella, cf. Synedra, Urosolenia, and total phytoplankton at three depths during the winter of 2014/2015 as estimated using images from an Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) moored in Lac (Lake) Montjoie, Quebec (Canada). Even though the use of the IFCB under-ice presented challenges, these were outstripped by its advantages. The IFCB provided unprecedented high temporal and spatial resolution phytoplankton count and biovolume data that allowed patterns of abundance to be observed in detail. Interestingly, the IFCB captured an abundance of Urosolenia, which may be dissolved in standard Lugol’s-preserved grab samples. We found Asterionella grew until mid-December and then slowly decreased towards the spring, whereas cf. Synedra diatoms decreased from early December and then rebounded towards late December as light increased before falling again towards the spring. Urosolenia peaked in late December as cf. Synedra diatoms rebounded and then began to decline towards the spring. Total phytoplankton declined towards late December, increased in the beginning of January and then declined towards the spring. The studied diatoms maintained considerable under-ice seed populations and grew when light was sufficient.
A Review on Meditation: History, Transcendental Dimensions and Application in Psychology and Psychotherapy
Authors: Christopoulou Efthymia , Pavlopoulos Vassilis
Published: February 2025

Meditation is a widely used and long-researched psychological tool worldwide. Despite numerous descriptions, the necessary and sufficient criteria for defining and understanding it have not been adequately established. Instead, we are witnessing an alternative use of meditation and mindfulness, along with ambiguity regarding its history and origins. While meditation is often linked to Buddhist origin, it actually has prehistoric roots and historical continuity. It originates in Indian philosophy, traverses various philosophical and religious systems worldwide, and has acquired a completely secular dimension, particularly in psychology and psychotherapy. This intersection of scientificity and transcedence opens a holistic perspective. The main purpose of this article is to critically reflect on the study and application of meditation in psychology and psychotherapy.
Work Ability during the Return to Work Process: Results from a Mixed Methods Follow-Up Study Among Employees with Common Mental Disorders
Authors: Sikora Alexandra , Stegmann Ralf , Schröder Ute B. , Schulz Inga L. , Wegewitz Uta , Bültmann Ute
Published: February 2025

Purpose

A main goal during the return to work (RTW) process after a long-term sickness absence due to common mental disorders (CMDs), is to restore and maintain employees’ work ability to enable their sustained work participation. This study jointly examined employees’ work ability ratings and experiences during their RTW process with CMDs.

Methods

In a mixed methods follow-up study of N = 286 participants, work ability was quantitatively assessed with the Work Ability Score (WAS, range 0–10) at baseline (week before clinical discharge) and after 6, 12, 18, and 30 months. In a sub-sample, the qualitative work ability experiences of N = 32 participants were analysed at 6 and 12 months, and were jointly evaluated with the quantitative data.

Results

The mean WAS increased during the first 18 months of follow-up. Three groups of qualitative work ability experiences emerged: Employees with (1) poor work ability (WAS 0–3), who did not RTW yet and described great difficulties in coping with everyday life, (2) moderate work ability (WAS 4–6), who mainly did RTW, but still showed a certain level of fragility, and (3) good to very good work ability (WAS 7–10), who mainly returned to work and reported many individual and work accommodations to maintain their work ability.

Conclusion

The present study provides new insights into different aspects of work ability experiences, especially during the later RTW phases, where restoring and maintaining work ability is essential for a sustained work participation. This knowledge may help RTW stakeholders to better tailor support during the RTW process.
On the Cheeger Inequality in Carnot-Carathéodory Spaces
Authors: Kluitenberg Martijn
Published: February 2025

We generalize the Cheeger inequality, a lower bound on the first nontrivial eigenvalue of a Laplacian, to the case of geometric sub-Laplacians on rank-varying Carnot-Carathéodory spaces and we describe a concrete method to lower bound the Cheeger constant. The proof is geometric, and works for Dirichlet, Neumann and mixed boundary conditions. One of the main technical tools in the proof is a generalization of Courant’s nodal domain theorem, which is proven from scratch for Neumann and mixed boundary conditions. Carnot groups and the Baouendi-Grushin cylinder are treated as examples.
Farm resilience to climatic risk. A review
Authors: Pret Valentin , Falconnier Gatien N. , Affholder François , Corbeels Marc , Chikowo Regis , Descheemaeker Katrien
Published: February 2025

Increasing our understanding of farm resilience drivers to climate-related risks is critical for designing innovative farm systems, especially for smallholders that are highly vulnerable to climatic hazards and expected to follow a pathway toward sustainable development. However, the literature is fragmented on the concepts and methods to measure farm resilience. Moreover, quantitative assessments of options to enhance farm resilience to climate risks are scarce. Resilience can be defined as the ability of a system to recover, reorganize and evolve following external stresses and disturbances. Such definition can be applied to farm systems. In this study, we systematically reviewed how changes in resilience-enhancing attributes (reserves, openness, modularity, tightness of feedbacks and diversity) impacted farm performance and resilience to climate-related risks, with a specific attention to smallholder farms. Our analysis showed that reviewed studies assessed farm resilience using the agricultural and economic dimensions of performance, often excluding the socio-environmental dimensions. To assess performance, the average value of indicators was most commonly employed, sometimes combined with variability metrics or the probability of exceeding a critical threshold. Improving one resilience attribute increased one dimension of farm performance for a given metric in most of the studies, but some studies showed the opposite effect. The lack of comprehensive assessments exploring different attributes and their impact on several dimensions of performance using diverse metrics prevents a robust conclusion on how to improve farm resilience to climate-related risks. Therefore, we recommend to pay more attention to quantitative assessments of farm resilience, including a systematic investigation of the temporal variability of performance and the socio-environmental dimensions of performance. Finally, we emphasize the need to focus on the recovery of smallholder farms after a disturbance, with the goal of achieving growth in farm performance rather than simply reverting to their current state of food insecurity and poverty.
Understanding Zinc-Containing Species in BOS Dust
Authors: Longbottom Raymond J. , Pinson David J. , Chew Sheng J. , Monaghan Brian J.
Published: February 2025

Dust from basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) can be recycled back to the BOS vessel as iron units and to aid slag formation. The major limitations for its recycling are zinc and the uncertainty in zinc speciation of the dust, which affects the amount recycled. BOS dust in stockpiles can undergo self-sintering reactions that oxidize the iron-bearing components. As this occurs, zinc (or oxide) may combine with iron oxides to form a zinc-iron spinel solid solution phase. Knowing which zinc-bearing species are present in the BOS dust is a key aspect in understanding and developing an efficient recycling process for the dust. High end characterization tools, TEM and Mössbauer spectroscopy, were used to overcome difficulties associated with phase identification in the BOS dust, particularly the magnetite-zinc ferrite spinel solid solution. Such an approach allowed improved phase identification of key zinc- and iron-bearing phases that were not previously resolvable. The zinc in fresh BOS dust was mostly present as extremely fine separate particles of zinc oxide, attached to the iron particles. These extremely fine particles were < 10 nm in size. Additionally, a small amount of zinc ferrite was also identified within the sample (most likely contained within a magnetite-zinc ferrite spinel solid solution). However, the zinc in the self-sintered BOS dust was found to be present entirely in a magnetite-zinc ferrite spinel solid solution using Mössbauer spectroscopy. While this spinel phase had been previously identified by XRD, it had not been clear if it contained zinc.

Graphical Abstract
The Effect of Endometrial Polyp and Myoma Uteri on Fertility-Related Genes in the Endometrium
Authors: Özbey Gürkan , Tuncay Görkem , Düz Senem Arda , Çiğremiş Yılmaz , Karaer Abdullah
Published: February 2025

Endometrial polyps are hyperplastic overgrowths of the endometrium that contain both glands and stroma. Myoma uteri is the most common benign tumor of the female pelvis and uterus. HOXA10, which is involved during the organogenesis of the uterus in the embryonic period. The aim of this study was to compare the expression levels of infertility-related genes in endometrial tissue obtained from patients with endometrial polyp and myoma uteri and from healthy controls. A total of 36 patients, including 15 women with endometrial polyp and 21 women with myoma uteri, and 23 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All patients were evaluated using transvaginal ultrasonography. Endometrial tissue samples were collected from the patient and control groups between the 19th and 21st days of the menstrual cycle. Expression levels of the receptivity markers PROK1, PROKR1, PROK2, PROKR2 and HOXA10 genes were determined by RT- PCR. When the patients diagnosed with endometrial polyp and the healthy controls were compared, it was observed statistically significantly that the expression of PROKR1 increased in endometrium tissue of patients with endometrial polyp (p < 0.05). In patients diagnosed with myoma uteri, gene expression levels of endometrial PROKR1 was statistically significant increased and gene expression levels of PROK1, PROKR2, HOXA10 were found to be statistically significantly decreased compared to the controls (p < 0.05). Changes in the endometrial expression of the HOXA10 and prokineticin gene family in patients with myoma uteri and endometrial polyps may explain certain aspects of infertility in these patients.
Soviet– and Russian–Arab Linkages: A Dimension of Global Middle East Studies
Authors: Kirasirova Masha , Litvin Margaret
Published: February 2025

The roots of the Arab world’s current Russian entanglements reach deep into the tsarist and Soviet periods. However, this shared history has fallen through the cracks of academic structures that approach the two regions separately. This roundtable, part of a growing scholarly effort to heal the area studies divide, expands and reflects on the recently published book Russian-Arab Worlds: A Documentary History, which we co-edited with historian Eileen Kane.1
Algeria’s Ties with the Soviet Union and State Socialism in the Maghreb
Authors: Katsakioris Constantin
Published: February 2025

On May 15, 1972, the Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Algeria’s President Houari Boumedienne arrived in the workers’ town of El Hadjar, near Annaba, to celebrate what appeared to be postcolonial Algeria’s most important economic achievement. In a festive atmosphere, Castro cut the ribbon inaugurating a powerful blast furnace constructed by the Soviet Union and a rolling mill made by the Italian firm Innocenti in the steel plant of El Hadjar.1 Promised by the French colonial state, but built step by step after Algeria’s independence by the government of the Algerian Liberation Front (Front de Libération Nationale; FLN), the El Hadjar steel plant was the heavy industry the country hoped would spur its industrialization, much like the heavy industry that once constituted the cornerstone of industrialization in Stalin’s Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a major source of inspiration for Algeria; it also was a key provider of technology, training, and further technical assistance. Reporting on El Hadjar’s opening ceremony, the French newspaper, Le Monde, did not fail to observe that, “The Algerian government entrusted the USSR to expand the plant, increasing its production capacity [from 400,000] to nearly 1.5 million tons [per year] in 1977.”2
Pragmatic Clinical Research, Informed Consent, and Clinical Equipoise
Authors: Jansen Lynn A.
Published: February 2025

There is a growing movement within contemporary medical ethics to blur the boundaries between clinical medicine and clinical research. Some writers now argue that the research-practice distinction is outdated and the importance of distinguishing between research and medicine is no longer as pressing as it once was or seemed to be. Instead, we are now urged to view the health-care system as a dynamic “learning health-care system” in which research components are embedded within standard clinical care. This essay defends the ethical significance of the research-practice distinction while acknowledging the reality and usefulness of integrated health care. A key claim that this essay advances is that the principle of clinical equipoise, which has largely been rejected by research ethicists, can be reinterpreted and repurposed to help distinguish medical practices that call for more demanding forms of informed consent from those that do not.
Informed Consent, Autonomy, False Beliefs, and Ignorance
Authors: Taylor James Stacey
Published: February 2025

It is widely believed that health policy should take care to ensure that persons are informed about the expected risks as well as the anticipated advantages of medical procedures. This is often justified by a concern for the moral value of personal autonomy, as it is widely believed that to the extent that a person makes decisions on the basis of false beliefs or ignorance her autonomy with respect to them is compromised. This essay argues against this widespread claim. A person’s autonomy with respect to her decisions will not be compromised by either ignorance or false beliefs. However, it does not follow that there is no reason to provide persons with the opportunity to have access to the available information relevant to their decisions concerning their medical treatment. The epistemic requirements for a person to give her consent to her treatment are more stringent than those that must be met for her to be autonomous with respect to her consent. Consent, not autonomy, can be undermined by ignorance or false belief. It is a concern for consent, not a concern for autonomy, that justifies providing people with information about their prospective medical procedures.
Rethinking Assisted Dying
Authors: Schüklenk Udo
Published: February 2025

As more jurisdictions permit a medically assisted death (MAiD)—and none of the jurisdictions that introduced MAiD has seen any serious attempts at reversing it—the focus of debate has turned to the question of what is a morally defensible access threshold for MAiD. This permits us to rethink the moral reasons for the legalization or decriminalization of assisted dying. Unlike what is assumed in many legislative frameworks, unbearable suffering caused by terminal illness is not what oftentimes motivates decisionally capable people to request MAiD. This matters when access thresholds are considered. The argument advanced in this essay is that because MAiD is less destructive to people’s relationships and less harmful than medically unsupervised suicide, access to medical assistance in dying should be open to anyone who is legally capacitated and who persistently requests such assistance.
Political Ideology and Public Health
Authors: Flanigan Jessica
Published: February 2025

The ideological nature of public health is a problem for the profession. Ideological uniformity in the field of public health undermines scholars’ and officials’ legitimacy and compromises their ability effectively to prevent death and disease. I first provide some evidence that public health is ideological and then I argue that the ideology of public health is counterproductive. Additionally, public officials are also likely to violate people’s rights in trying to advance their ideology through public health policy. In light of these moral considerations against the ideological nature of public health, there are compelling reasons for people to resist the expanding scope of public health insofar as it consists in the further imposition of this counterproductive and harmful ideology. I therefore conclude that the profession would be more effective and just if public health officials and scholars focused more narrowly on improving health outcomes instead of promoting their broader ideological agenda through public health policy.
Driving policy dialogue on health technology assessment in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: reporting from an initiative of Health Technology Assessment International
Authors: Migliore Antonio , Vicari Nicola , Turk Eva , Sucu Rabia
Published: February 2025

Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) represents a diverse region facing complex healthcare challenges, including resource constraints, fragmented systems, and limited access to evidence-based decision-making tools. Health technology assessment (HTA) offers a critical framework for addressing these issues by informing efficient allocation of healthcare resources. In April 2024, HTA International (HTAi) convened a policy dialogue in Astana, Kazakhstan, bringing together stakeholders from 12 EECA countries and international experts to discuss HTA advancement in the region. The dialogue highlighted systemic barriers, including political instability, capacity shortages, and fragmented data sources while exploring successful HTA implementation models in some countries. Participants emphasized the importance of political commitment, institutional frameworks, and capacity building, alongside fostering stakeholder collaboration. International organizations such as HTAi and WHO were recognized as vital enablers for technical support and knowledge sharing. Key outcomes included actionable recommendations: strengthening political advocacy, developing legal and institutional frameworks, investing in workforce development, and enhancing multistakeholder engagement. The dialogue underscored HTAi’s role in catalyzing regional collaboration, providing platforms for discussion, and offering resources for capacity building. Future initiatives will focus on addressing structural weaknesses, promoting transparency, and embedding HTA into national healthcare systems to ensure equitable and evidence-based decisions. The findings reinforce the potential of HTA to enhance healthcare policy and planning in EECA, fostering resilient systems that better meet population health needs despite ongoing challenges.
Impact of Early Winter Antarctic Sea Ice Reduction on Antarctic Stratospheric Polar Vortex
Authors: Song Jibin , Zhang Jiankai , Du Shihang , Xu Mian , Zhao Siyi
Published: February 2025

The impact of Antarctic sea ice reduction during early austral winter on the austral winter Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex is investigated using reanalysis data set and model simulations. Both reanalysis data set and model simulations show that the reduction of Antarctic sea ice during early austral winter leads to a northward displacement of the tropospheric mid‐latitude jet, resembling the negative phase of the Southern Annular Mode. Meanwhile, the reduction of sea ice induces a weaker Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex during winter, which is accompanied by a weaker polar night jet. Further analysis indicates that the Antarctic sea ice reduction could lead to a greater excitation of Rossby waves and significant positive geopotential height anomalies over the Antarctic continent. The zonal wave 1 and 2 components of geopotential height anomalies are in phase with the climatology, corresponding to enhanced upward propagation of wave activity flux in early austral winter. Meanwhile, the reduction of sea ice in early austral winter could result in a more favorable atmospheric environment for the propagation of planetary waves into the stratosphere. These processes ultimately weaken the Antarctic stratospheric polar vortex and the polar night jet in winter. The reduction of sea ice in the Amundsen Sea sector enhances the upward propagation of planetary wave, while the reduction of sea ice in the Indian Ocean sector has the opposite effect.
Oxidized Nitrogen‐Containing Organic Compounds Formation Enhanced the Light Absorption of PM2.5 Brown Carbon
Authors: Wang Diwei , Shen Zhenxing , Bai Gezi , Zhang Leiming , Huang Shasha , Zheng Honghao , Li Cailan , Sun Jian , Xu Hongmei , Cao Junji
Published: February 2025

Brown carbon (BrC) is known to have a great impact on atmospheric radiative forcing, but its absorption characteristics at the molecular level is not well understood. This study investigated the seasonal variations of light absorption characteristics and molecular composition of BrC in Xi'an, China. Results showed that BrC exhibited higher light absorption capacity in cold (autumn and winter) than warm seasons (spring and summer). Nitrogen‐containing organic compounds were identified as important BrC chromophores. Oxidized‐N compounds originated from biomass burning emissions and NOx/NO3− mediated oxidation reactions were predominant in cold seasons, whereas reduced‐N compounds mainly formed from NH3/NH4+ mediated reactions were abundant in warm seasons. These results contribute to a better understanding of formation mechanisms and light absorption characteristics of nitrogen‐containing BrC chromophores in PM2.5.
Widespread Occurrence of Lava Lakes on Io Observed From Juno
Authors: Mura Alessandro , Tosi Federico , Zambon Francesca , Lopes Rosaly M. C. , Mouginis‐Mark Peter J. , Radebaugh Jani , Adriani Alberto , Bolton Scott , Rathbun Julie , Cicchetti Andrea , Grassi Davide , Noschese Raffaella , Piccioni Giuseppe , Plainaki Christina , Sordini Roberto , Sindoni Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

We report recent observations of lava lakes within patera on Io made by the JIRAM (Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper) imager on board the Juno spacecraft, taken during close observations that occurred during the extended mission. At least 40 lava lakes have been identified from JIRAM observations. The majority (>50%) of paterae have elevated thermal signatures when imaged at sufficiently high spatial resolution (a few km/pixel), implying that lava lakes are ubiquitous on Io. The annular width of the spattering region around the margins, a characteristic of lava lakes, is of the order of few meters to tens of meters, while the diameter of the observed lava lakes ranges from 10 to 100 km. The thickness of the crust in the center of some lava lakes is of the order of 5–10 m; we estimate that this crust is a few years old. Also, the bulk of the thermal emission comes from the much larger crust and not from the smaller exposed lava, so the total power output cannot be calculated from the 5‐μm radiance alone. Eight of the proposed lava lakes have never been reported previously as active hotspots.
Sensitivities of Large Eddy Simulations of Aerosol Plume Transport and Cloud Response
Authors: Dhandapani Chandru , Kaul Colleen M. , Pressel Kyle G. , Blossey Peter N. , Wood Robert , Kulkarni Gourihar
Published: February 2025

Cloud responses to surface‐based sources of aerosol perturbation partially depend on how turbulent transport of the aerosol to cloud base affects the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosol. Here, scenarios of plume injection below a marine stratocumulus cloud are modeled using large eddy simulations coupled to a prognostic bulk aerosol and cloud microphysics scheme. Both passive plumes, consisting of an inert tracer, and active plumes are investigated, where the latter are representative of saltwater droplet plumes such as have been proposed for marine cloud brightening. Passive plume scenarios show higher in‐plume cloud brightness (relative to out‐of‐plume) due to the predominant transport of the passive plume tracer from the near‐surface to the cloud layer within updrafts. These updrafts rise into brighter areas within the cloud deck, even in the absence of an aerosol perturbation associated with an active plume. Comparing albedo at in‐plume to out‐of‐plume locations associates the inert plume with the brightest cloud locations, without any causal effect of the plume on the cloud. Numerical sensitivities are first assessed to establish a suitable model configuration. Then sensitivity to particle injection rate is investigated. Trade‐offs are identified between the number of injected particles and the suppressive effect of droplet evaporation on plume loft and spread. Furthermore, as the near‐field in‐plume brightening effect does not depend significantly on injection rate given a suitable definition of perturbed versus unperturbed regions of the flow, plume area is a key controlling factor on the overall cloud brightening effect of an aerosol perturbation.
Upper Ocean Instability in the Subpolar North Atlantic and Its Implications for Deep Water Formation During Interglacials
Authors: Thibodeau Benoit , Doherty John M. , Alonso‐García Montserrat , Band Shraddha , González‐Lanchas Alba , Not Christelle , Ren Haojia
Published: February 2025

In this multiproxy study, we used new isotopic data on planktonic foraminifera to highlight the strong instability that characterized surface conditions in the Iceland Basin during Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11). We produced new oxygen isotope data on the planktonic species Neogloboquadrina incompta and Turborotalita quinqueloba, foraminifera‐bound nitrogen isotope data on N. incompta, and calcareous nannofossil data at coring site IODP Site U1314. The multiproxy record displays two distinct upper ocean regimes: a relatively stable pre‐climate optimum and an unstable post‐climate optimum with high amplitude variations in nutrient utilization and seasonality proxies, and strong enrichment in oxygen isotopes suggesting colder and/or saltier upper waters. The latter regime was concomitant with a resurgence in ice‐rafted debris. Interestingly, this surface instability is not observed in cores from sites affected by the North Atlantic Current. Moreover, deep water ventilation is reconstructed to decrease throughout the eastern North Atlantic, while remaining rather constant in the Labrador Sea. The evidence presented here indicates that deep‐water formation was unstable throughout MIS 11, and that peak periods of deep‐water formation varied across high latitude North Atlantic basins, depending on the prevailing surface conditions in each region. These findings suggest that reconstructing deep‐water formation and ventilation require a comprehensive approach that accounts for the interconnectivity between different components of the overturning circulation system.
Integrating K–12 Teachers into Climate Education
Authors: Hamburger Michael , Scribner J.
Published: February 2025

Scientists and schoolteachers have teamed up to design training and classroom materials that help educators understand and teach the complex topic of climate change to tomorrow’s leaders.
Methylstat sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to PARP-inhibition by targeting the histone demethylases JMJD1B/C
Authors: Schwarz Franziska Maria , Klotz Daniel Martin , Yang Ruming , Brux Melanie , Buchholz Frank , Harb Hani , Link Theresa , Wimberger Pauline , Theis Mirko , Kuhlmann Jan Dominik
Published: February 2025

PARP-inhibitors (PARPi) are an integral part of ovarian cancer treatment. However, overcoming acquired PARPi resistance or increasing the benefit of PARPi in patients without homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) remains an unmet clinical need. We sought to identify genetic modulators of PARPi response, guiding pharmacological PARPi sensitization. CRISPR-Cas9 mediated loss-of-function screen with a focused sgRNA library revealed that DNA-demethylases JMJD1B/JMJD1C, targetable by the small inhibitor methylstat, promote PARPi resistance. Methylstat synergistically interacted with olaparib, and (re-)sensitized ovarian cancer cells to PARPi treatment, surpassing the efficacy of common demethylase inhibitors. Genetic knockout of JMJD1B and/or JMJD1C phenocopied the effect of methylstat in an additive manner. Validation studies revealed methylstat to be a universal PARPi-sensitizing drug, effective, regardless of PARPi resistance status or BRCA1 mutational background. Methylstat modulated clonal cancer dynamics by mitigating positive selection of PARPi-resistant or BRCA1-proficient cells under olaparib treatment. Using a model of PARPi-induced cellular toxicity, we showed that methylstat impairs cellular DNA repair, indicated by an increased susceptibility of ovarian cancer cells to olaparib-induced DNA double strand breaks after methylstat exposure. This study proposes the histone demethylase inhibitor methylstat as an epigenetic drug for overcoming PARPi-resistance or for increasing efficacy of PARPi beyond HRD in ovarian cancer patients.
Anatomy of the infraorbital artery and its orbital branch
Authors: Tong Jessica Y. , Sung Jeffrey , Chan WengOnn , Psaltis Alkis J. , Selva Dinesh
Published: February 2025

Background/objectives

To characterise the infraorbital artery (IOA) and its orbital branch, which are key structures encountered during inferior orbital explorations, with potential for orbital haemorrhage and vision loss if inappropriately handled.

Methods

Thirteen embalmed heads (26 orbits) were dissected. The following parameters were measured: orientation of the IOA in relation to the infraorbital nerve (ION); presence or absence of the orbital branch of the IOA; and the distance between the orbital branch of the IOA to the inferior orbital rim.

Results

In the pterygopalatine fossa, the orientation of the IOA relative to V2 was medial (n = 9, 34.6%), inferior (n = 4, 15.4%), lateral (n = 4, 15.4%), inferolateral (n = 3, 11.5%), superolateral (n = 3, 11.5%), inferomedial (n = 2, 7.7%) and superior (n = 1, 3.8%). In the infraorbital canal, the IOA in relation to the ION was as follows: superomedial (n = 12, 46.2%), medial (n = 9, 34.6%), superior (n = 2, 7.7%), inferomedial (n = 2, 7.7%) and superolateral (n = 1, 3.8%). An orbital branch of the IOA was identified in 21/26 orbits (80.8%). The mean distance of the orbital branch to the inferior orbital rim was 13.0 ± 4.8 mm (range 2.0-23.0 mm).

Conclusions

The IOA is an important vascular structure to recognise during inferior orbitotomies. The most common configuration is an IOA that runs medially to V2 in the pterygopalatine fossa, then superomedially to the ION within the infraorbital canal. The orbital branch of the IOA emerges 13 mm posterior to the inferior orbital rim. Recognition of these arterial branches and appropriate cauterization are paramount for avoiding significant operative complications.
How energy determines spatial localisation and copy number of molecules in neurons
Authors: Bergmann Cornelius , Mousaei Kanaan , Rizzoli Silvio O. , Tchumatchenko Tatjana
Published: February 2025

In neurons, the quantities of mRNAs and proteins are traditionally assumed to be determined by functional, electrical or genetic factors. Yet, there may also be global, currently unknown computational rules that are valid across different molecular species inside a cell. Surprisingly, our results show that the energy for molecular turnover is a significant cellular expense, en par with spiking cost, and which requires energy-saving strategies. We show that the drive to save energy determines transcript quantities and their location while acting differently on each molecular species depending on the length, longevity and other features of the respective molecule. We combined our own data and experimental reports from five other large-scale mRNA and proteomics screens, comprising more than ten thousand molecular species to reveal the underlying computational principles of molecular localisation. We found that energy minimisation principles explain experimentally-reported exponential rank distributions of mRNA and protein copy numbers. Our results further reveal robust energy benefits when certain mRNA classes are moved into dendrites, for example mRNAs of proteins with long amino acid chains or mRNAs with large non-coding regions and long half-lives proving surprising insights at the level of molecular populations.
A knowledge graph for crop diseases and pests in China
Authors: Yan Rongen , An Ping , Meng Xianghao , Li Yakun , Li Dongmei , Xu Fu , Dang Depeng
Published: February 2025

A standardized representation and sharing of crop disease and pest data is crucial for enhancing crop yields, especially in China, which features vast cultivation areas and complex agricultural ecosystems. A knowledge graph for crop diseases and pests, acting as a repository of entities and relationships, is crucial conceptually for achieving unified data management. However, there is currently a lack of knowledge graphs specifically designed for this field. In this paper, we propose CropDP-KG, a knowledge graph for crop diseases and pests in China, which leverages natural language processing techniques to analyze data from the Chinese crop diseases and pests image-text database. CropDP-KG covers relevant information on crop diseases and pests in China, featuring 8 primary entities such as diseases, symptoms, and crops, and is organized into 7 relationships such as primary occurrence locations, affected parts and suitable temperature. In total, it includes 13,840 entities and 21,961 relationships. In the case studies presented in this research, we also show a versatile application of CropDP, namely a knowledge service system, and have released its codebase under an open-source license. The content of this paper provides a guide for users to build their own knowledge graphs, aiming to help them effectively reuse and extend the knowledge graphs they create.
MCU expression in hippocampal CA2 neurons modulates dendritic mitochondrial morphology and synaptic plasticity
Authors: Pannoni Katy E. , Fischer Quentin S. , Tarannum Renesa , Cawley Mikel L. , Alsalman Mayd M. , Acosta Nicole , Ezigbo Chisom , Gil Daniela V. , Campbell Logan A. , Farris Shannon
Published: February 2025

Neuronal mitochondria are diverse across cell types and subcellular compartments in order to meet unique energy demands. While mitochondria are essential for synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity, the mechanisms regulating mitochondria to support normal synapse function are incompletely understood. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is proposed to couple neuronal activity to mitochondrial ATP production, which would allow neurons to rapidly adapt to changing energy demands. MCU is uniquely enriched in hippocampal CA2 distal dendrites compared to proximal dendrites, however, the functional significance of this layer-specific enrichment is not clear. Synapses onto CA2 distal dendrites readily express plasticity, unlike the plasticity-resistant synapses onto CA2 proximal dendrites, but the mechanisms underlying these different plasticity profiles are unknown. Using a CA2-specific MCU knockout (cKO) mouse, we found that MCU deletion impairs plasticity at distal dendrite synapses. However, mitochondria were more fragmented and spine head area was diminished throughout the dendritic layers of MCU cKO mice versus control mice. Fragmented mitochondria might have functional changes, such as altered ATP production, that could explain the structural and functional deficits at cKO synapses. Differences in MCU expression across cell types and circuits might be a general mechanism to tune mitochondrial function to meet distinct synaptic demands.
Facile synthesis of novel Ni-BDC-NH2/Au NPs SERS substrates with synergistic enhancement effects for high-performance detection
Authors: Jiang Xinxing , Fu Jihong , Ren Shuxian , Xue WenXia
Published: February 2025

Substrate materials with high sensitivity and good reproducibility are highly desirable for the practical applications of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques. In this study, a novel Ni-based metal-organic frameworks loaded...
Low-cost and portable 3D-printed sensor for the determination of secnidazole in pharmaceutical and seized drug samples
Authors: Silva Isabella C. O. F. , Rocha Raquel G. , Oliveira Thiago C. , Marra Mariana C. , Arantes Luciano C. , dos Santos Wallans T. P. , Muñoz Rodrigo A. A. , Richter Eduardo M.
Published: February 2025

Additive manufacturing (3D printing), particularly fused deposition modeling (FDM), has rapidly advanced, offering customized designs, reduced waste, lower costs, and fast prototyping for electroanalytical applications.
Facile synthesis of hydrangea-like copper–tannic acid networks for separation and purification of His-rich proteins with exceptional performance
Authors: Zhang Yaqian , Chen Shenglan , Ye Xionglong , Kong Weimin , Chen Yang , He Yanting
Published: February 2025

Hydrangea-like Cu–tannic acid networks were fabricated via a simple, fast and cost-effective method, and could be used as a superior adsorbent for highly efficient separation and purification of His-rich proteins from complex biological samples.
Energy transfer and charge compensation of Ba2ZnGe2O7:Tb3+,Eu3+ phosphors for white LEDs
Authors: Ren Jiejun , Zhou Shihui , Hu Pu , Meng Peng , Zhang Zhanhui
Published: February 2025

The Tb3+/Eu3+ co-doped Ba2ZnGe2O7 phosphors exhibit intense green Tb3+ emission and red Eu3+ emission. The charge compensation strategy leads to a significant enhancement in PL.
Chiral single-atom-bridged diphosphorus ligands: synthesis, complexation and catalysis
Authors: Eusamio Javier , Grabulosa Arnald
Published: February 2025

The synthesis, complexation and catalysis with enantiopure single-atom-bridged diphosphorus ligands is reviewed, with 161 references.
Synthetic strategies and medicinal chemistry perspectives of dual acting carbonic anhydrase modulators with monoamine oxidase and cholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Bindra Sandeep , Mostafa Ehab M. , Abdelgawad Mohamed A. , Selim Samy , Kumar Sunil , Mathew Bijo
Published: February 2025

Dual acting carbonic anhydrase modulators with monoamine oxidase and cholinesterase inhibitors.