bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Methylene Blue Removal From Water via Graphene Oxide‐Based Composite Cryogel Column
Authors: Küçük Melike , Bakhshpour‐Yücel Monireh , Osman Bilgen , Tümay Özer Elif
Published: February 2025

In this study, a composite poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)/graphene oxide (PHEMA‐GO) cryogel column was developed for removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The PHEMA‐GO composite cryogel column was synthesized by adding GO into cryogelation mixture and comprehensive characterization studies were conducted via Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury porosimetry, and swelling study. The total porosity was determined as 66.72%. The pore size was in the range of 4.31–220.6 µm. The MB adsorption capacity of PHEMA‐GO cryogel column was investigated considering different parameters, including GO amount, pH, contact time, ionic strength, temperature, and initial MB concentration. The maximum MB amount adsorbed amount onto the PHEMA‐GO composite cryogel column was determined as 253 mg/g at 298 K (pH:5.3). The adsorption data were obeyed to Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The adsorbed amount of MB was not affected from ionic strength, which is important for the dye removal from the textile wastewater. The composite cryogel column was reused 10 times without a decrease in the MB adsorption capacity. The application potential of the PHEMA‐GO composite cryogel column was demonstrated using a real textile wastewater sample.
Medicinal Chemistry of Khellin and Its Synthetic Derivatives: Progress and Future Potential in Drug Discovery
Authors: Kumar Amit , Chutia Deexa , Ambala Srinivas , Kumar Sanjay , Das Archana Moni
Published: February 2025

Khellin (1) is a natural furanocoumarin found in Ammi visnaga majus, renowned for its abundance of biological activities in various physiological conditions, including tumors, bacterial infections, inflammation, viral fibrosis, obesity, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Based on extensive site‐selective chemical modifications of 1, various new chemical entities (NCEs) with enhanced bioavailability, potency, pharmacokinetics, and druggability have been developed over the years. Furthermore, the mechanisms of action at the molecular and cellular level have been thoroughly investigated in conjunction with preclinical studies. In this article, we present the medicinal chemistry of 1 and its derivatives in diverse drug discovery efforts covering the period from 2015 to the present. We have also elucidated the future perspectives, challenges, and limitations. We posit that this review will elucidate areas where 1 can be more beneficial in identifying hits and leads in drug discovery and enhance knowledge regarding its therapeutic applications.
Competitive overlap as a signal in expert partner choice: Evidence from patent law firm selection
Authors: Borchhardt Geoffrey , Kovács Balázs , Rogan Michelle
Published: February 2025

Research Summary

In market networks, firms regularly seek partners with needed expertise, but these partners often work with the firms' competitors. How such second‐order competitive overlap affects partner selection is unclear. Prior theory assumes firms view networks as “pipes” and emphasizes flows of competitor information via the shared partner as key in partner selection. We propose that firms also view networks as “prisms” and use competitive overlap as a signal of a potential partner's expertise. Hence, firms may prefer partners with competitive overlap. We find support for our claims in the patent law firm selection context. Furthermore, higher competitive overlap leads to slower patent acceptance but results in broader patents, implying that the competitive overlap expertise signal reduces search costs without significant performance loss.

Managerial Summary

When selecting expert partners like law firms or consultants, some companies may consider avoiding firms that also serve their competitor. However, when little is known about potential partners, this “competitive overlap” might be a way to assess their quality. We found that firms are more likely to choose patent law firms who work with their competitors. This occurs because a competitor's choice signals that partner's expertise. Companies rely on this signal most when they lack direct experience with potential partners or when entering new technological domains. While working with partners who serve competitors might slightly increase processing times, it can increase patent protection without compromising overall performance. These findings suggest that avoiding partners based solely on competitive overlap may limit access to valuable expertise.
Electrothermally‐Driven Carbon Nanotube Fiber Artificial Muscle With Endomysium‐Inspired Sheath and Multifilament Core
Authors: Zhu Sufeng , Zhao Zenghui , Di Jiangtao , Dong Xufeng , Qi Min
Published: February 2025

Electrothermally‐driven carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber artificial muscles have attracted considerable interest in the fields of soft robotics, sensors, and intelligent control, owing to their excellent flexibility, abundant guest material sources, lightweight properties, rapid response, and ease of control. Nevertheless, their practical application has been impeded by the limited contractile stroke and contractile stress under high load conditions. Drawing inspiration from the physiological structure of muscle fiber, this study reports an endomysium‐inspired‐sheath artificial muscle (ESM). The ESMs are characterized by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheaths that mimick the endomysium, and multifilament cores made from CNT fibers imitating the myofibrils. The ESMs demonstrate excellent actuation performance, achieving maximum contractile stress of 40.1 MPa, the highest reported value among electrothermally‐driven CNT fiber artificial muscles. The ESMs also demonstrate large contractile stroke and high work capacity under heavy loads. Furthermore, a crawling robot with the capacity of carrying loads, driven by a single ESM, is developed to demonstrate the practical application potential of ESMs.
Innovative Design of a Double‐Layer Gradient Coating for Dendrite‐Free and Ultrastable Zinc Anodes
Authors: Li Wanting , Li Liansheng , Fu Xiangxiang , Hu Yangming , Deng Yuanfu
Published: February 2025

The rampant “top‐growth” dendrites, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and zinc (Zn) self‐corrosion severely impede the further development of rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries. To address these challenges, a novel double‐layer gradient coating consisting of a zincophilic Sn inner layer and an organic polymer outer layer (OSA/PAM@Sn) is constructed on the surface of the Zn anode. The organic outer layer, composed of cross‐linked oxidized sodium alginate and polyacrylamide (OSA/PAM), not only serves as a physical barrier to isolate active water but also accelerates Zn2+ diffusion by facilitating the desolvation process of [Zn(H2O)6]2+ due to its plentiful polar functional groups, thereby effectively suppressing the detrimental HER and Zn self‐corrosion. Simultaneously, the loose Sn inner layer can offer abundant nucleation sites to induce uniform “bottom‐to‐top” Zn deposition with low overpotential. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the designed double‐layer gradient coating, the OSA/PAM@Sn‐Zn anode exhibits remarkable reversibility, with lifespans of over 5000 and 1200 h at 1 mA cm−2–1 mAh cm−2 and 5 mA cm−2–5 mAh cm−2 in symmetric cells, respectively. Additionally, the MnO2||OSA/PAM@Sn‐Zn full battery also displays an improved rate performance and cycle stability. This work emphasizes the importance of synergistic effects in interface design to achieve side reaction‐free and dendrite‐free Zn anodes.
Selective A‐Site Exsolution and Phase Transition in Perovskite Electrode for Efficient Flexible Znic‐Air Batteries
Authors: Zhang Wenyu , Zhang Nan , Zhu Wenhui , Zhao Ling , Gong Yansheng , Jin Jun , Wang Rui , Wang Huanwen , He Beibei
Published: February 2025

Zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) are highly promising for flexible electronics due to their high energy density and cost‐effective. However, their practical application is impeded by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions (OER/ORR). This study presents a novel design featuring BaO nanoparticles anchored on layered perovskite PrBaMn1.5Co0.5O6‐δ (PBMC) nanofibers, fabricated through a plasma method. Notably, the plasma treatment induces the selective exsolution of A‐site Ba onto the perovskite surface, while simultaneously driving the transformation of PBMC from a simple perovskite to a layered perovskite, resulting in a unique BaO/PBMC heterostructure. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the construction of the BaO/PBMC heterojunction regulates interfacial electronic redistribution, thereby lowering energy barriers for both OER and ORR. Consequently, the BaO/PBMC air electrode exhibits superior peak power density and enhanced stability in flexible solid‐state ZABs, compared to the pristine PBMC cathode. Selective A‐site exsolution coupled with phase transition, featuring a unique alkaline‐earth metal oxide/perovskite heterostructure, may offer new insights for energy conversion technologies.
DNA‐Enabled Self‐Resetting Electrochemical Sensor for microRNA Detection
Authors: Yang Xu , Yu Chenhong , Yang Bei , Jiang Chu , Gao Rui , Li Weiying , Wang Jianbang , Zhang Tao , Liu Huajie , Liu Dongsheng
Published: February 2025

Nucleic acids, such as microRNA and circulating tumor DNA, are widely utilized potential biomarkers for early disease diagnosis. Electrochemical sensors with high sensitivity play a significant role in quantitative bioanalysis, however, target molecules during detection usually bind to probes and limit their reusability. Powered by DNA/RNA fuel and enzyme‐based fuel consumption unit, dissipative DNA systems can perform periodic tasks in a self‐resettable manner. Here, a self‐resetting electrochemical sensor is reported for miRNA detection based on dissipative DNA networks. The target microRNA‐21 (miRNA‐21) invades the incumbent strand and activates the strand displacement process. Released ferrocene‐modified strands bind to the probe on the electrode surface for accurate detection. The miRNA within RNA/DNA heteroduplex will then be digested by RNase H to free the incumbent strand which replaces the ferrocene strand and restores the probe to the initial state. It is found that the detection limit of this self‐resetting electrochemical sensor is 0.35 pM for the third cycle. The self‐resetting electrochemical sensor can not only achieve lower detection limits, and maintain repeatability and stability in complex matrices, but also reduce the detection cost of electrochemical sensors. It is envisioned that many real‐life applications can be initiated such as analyzing various oligonucleotide biomarkers during early cancer diagnosis and bioanalysis.
The Staying Power of Analytical Distance: Lyn Lofland's Contribution to the Sociology of Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Authors: Francis Ara
Published: February 2025

Lyn Lofland's The Craft of Dying remains integral to the small canon of texts that sociologists have written in death studies. This article uses her work to consider how we approach the politics of knowledge production in our own scholarship today. Lofland wrote at an “analytical distance,” which to say that she resisted adopting the taken‐for‐granted assumptions that underpin everyday meanings. Her refusal to adopt in her work popular understandings of what it means to “die well,” I contend, laid the groundwork for an intersectional feminist critique of the contemporary death positive movement. Despite yielding observations that have remained trenchant more than 40 years after publication, Lofland's analytical distance risked flattening the humanity of the people she wrote about. Here I weigh the dangers and dividends of her approach and, in the end, make an argument for its ongoing utility.
Navigating Omnirelevant Asymmetry: Encouraging Children to Exercise Their Deontic Rights in Videoconferencing Music Lessons
Authors: Gan Yumei , Tam Catherine L. , Jadamba Javzmaa
Published: February 2025

The educational community has long critiqued teacher‐centered instruction, promoting student‐centered learning. Yet, pre‐assumed teacher‐student category relevance may overlook momentary asymmetries and alternative categories in real‐time learning. Drawing on video recordings of videoconferencing music lessons involving a teacher/great aunt, young children/students, and caregivers/teaching assistants during the COVID‐19 pandemic, our data provide a novel opportunity to examine localized familial and educational practices between and within two environments. Informed by ethnomethodology, conversation analysis and the notions of “deontic rights” and “the developmental scheme,” we show how participants orient toward omnirelevant asymmetries to influence a course of action, (re)producing dynamic categorial pairs in situated moments. To enhance children's engagement within the video‐mediated ecology, their rights need to be encouraged, permitted and claimed (but cannot be presupposed) to achieve a convergence of control and affection.
Just how accepting are the public of horse sports?
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: February 2025

Georgina Mills discusses a new report that delves into the social licence of horse sports.
Supervising surgeries on my volunteer experience helped improve my own skills
Authors: Watson Alice
Published: February 2025

A desire to travel and keep learning led Alice Watson to undertake a volunteer opportunity in India where she was teaching students neutering surgery and overseeing anaesthesia, alongside soaking up a new culture.
Successful Management of Refractory Otitis Media Using Allergen‐Specific Immunotherapy in a Dog
Authors: Kim Jihyun , Lee Ji‐Hye , Kim Yeji , Song Yunji , Kim Ha‐Jung
Published: February 2025

Background

Allergen‐specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is a highly effective treatment for atopic dermatitis. In humans, it has been reported to be significantly more effective than medication alone for the treatment of otitis media. ASIT can also be used in dogs, but it is not typically the first‐line treatment for otitis externa and media.

Objectives

This case report describes the successful management of refractory otitis media in a dog with frequent abscess recurrence following total ear canal ablation (TECA) using ASIT.

Methods

A 9‐year‐old spayed female American Cocker Spaniel presented with a head tilt and a recurrent abscess adjacent to the left TECA site. A dermatological examination revealed secondary pyoderma. In open‐mouth view radiography and CT, fluid in the tympanic bullae and lysis of the tympanic bullae wall were observed. The TECA was repeated twice and anti‐inflammatory medication was administered, but the lesions reappeared. As a fundamental treatment, ASIT was included in the therapy.

Results

After ASIT, the symptoms did not reoccur, even though the use of prednisolone was gradually reduced and discontinued over a period of two months. Currently, only ASIT has demonstrated progress in managing the patient's condition, even a year after discontinuing other medications. The patient's symptoms have not recurred and are well managed.

Conclusions

A case of refractory otitis media, induced by atopic dermatitis, was effectively managed with ASIT over a prolonged period in a dog.
Investigation of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Mortality Events Targeting Tilapia Lake Virus Disease (TiLVD) in Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Mst. Sabrina , Punom Nusrat Jahan , Eshik Md. Mostavi Enan , Ahmmed Shawon , Rabbane Md. Golam , Rahman Mohammad Shamsur
Published: February 2025

Background

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is an emerging threat to the global tilapia industry. In early 2017, FAO declared that Bangladesh was in a high‐risk zone of TiLV disease (TiLVD) spread.

Objectives

Considering the current scenario, the present work was designed to investigate the occurrence of TiLV in cultured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) causing TiLVD in Bangladesh.

Methods

In this study, several unusual tilapia mortality incidences were investigated. A total of 102 pooled organ samples of 102 tilapia fish were collected from 34 ponds of 25 farms in the regions of 12 Upazilas in Bangladesh from May to October 2019. As a part of the classical approach, histopathological analysis was performed. For molecular identification, both conventional and real‐time PCR were used as diagnostic tools to identify TiLV in farm‐raised Nile tilapia.

Results

A total of 12 representative organ samples did not show any pathognomonic lesions related to TiLV infection in histopathological analysis. Conventional and real‐time PCR assays yielded negative results for TiLV.

Conclusions

In our investigation, no trace of TiLV was detected in the studied samples. A large‐scale study involving a broader range of samples collected across Bangladesh, along with the application of a viral metagenomics approach, could provide valuable insights into the unusual mortalities of tilapia in the country.
Farmers' tolerance for crop damage caused by wildlife: the role of compensation
Authors: Hemminger Karoline , Eriksson Louise , Nilsson Lovisa , Månsson Johan , König Hannes , Bellingrath-Kimura Sonoko Dorothea , Hallengren Anders , Ostermann-Myashita Emu-Felicitas , Kiffner Christian
Published: February 2025

Compensation is a common strategy to alleviate financial losses caused by wildlife, but its effects on farmers' tolerance towards damage to crops caused by wildlife are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted semi‐structured interviews in three areas in and around biosphere reserves in Sweden and Germany to examine farmers' appraisals of wildlife‐related crop damage and their evaluation of financial compensation in relation to crop damage prevention measures. We found that tolerated yield loss was higher and more variable with compensation compared to a scenario without compensation. Yet, also under a scenario of full financial compensation, farmers tolerated a median of less than 10% yield loss. Using an environmental stress model, our analysis revealed that farmers' perception of crop damage risk was influenced by their experience with wildlife and crop damage, their coping appraisals (e.g. accessibility of prevention measures and compensation), and individual motivations. Our results indicate that while compensation can be effective, its success to increase tolerance to crop damage varies most likely based on farmers' values and how they perceive administrative challenges. Effective management of wildlife‐related crop damage near and within protected areas should thus combine compensation schemes with tailored communication and crop damage prevention strategies involving governmental authorities, farmers, and other stakeholders.
Imaginary part of timelike entanglement entropy
Authors: Xu Jin , Guo Wu-zhong
Published: February 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the imaginary part of the timelike entanglement entropy. In the context of field theory, it is more appropriate to obtain the timelike entanglement entropy through the Wick rotation of the twist operators. It is found that, in certain special cases, the imaginary part of the timelike entanglement entropy is related to the commutator of the twist operator and its first-order temporal derivative. To evaluate these commutators, we employ the operator product expansion of the twist operators, revealing that the commutator is generally universal across most scenarios. However, in more general cases, the imaginary part of the timelike entanglement entropy proves to be more complex. We compute the commutator of the twist operators along with its higher-order temporal derivatives. Utilizing these results, we derive a modified formula for the imaginary part of the timelike entanglement entropy. Furthermore, we extend this formula to the case of strip subregion in higher dimensions. Our analysis shows that for the strip geometry, the imaginary part of the timelike entanglement entropy is solely related to the commutators of the twist operator and its first-order temporal derivative. The findings presented in this paper provide valuable insights into the imaginary part of timelike entanglement entropy and its physical significance.
Variational modeling of multilayer films with coherent and incoherent interlayer interfaces
Authors: Llerena Randy , Piovano Paolo
Published: February 2025

A novel variational model is proposed to address design control for composite multilayered metamaterials self-assembled via vapor deposition. The model is formulated within the framework of continuum mechanics, with the reference configuration corresponding to the equilibrium lattice of the substrate material. To account for the potential mismatch with the free-standing equilibrium lattices of each layer’s material, following the literature on Stress-Driven Rearrangement Instabilities, a nonzero mismatch strain varying across layers is considered. Moreover, building on the results of [47], the model allows for the treatment of the interplay between coherent and incoherent regions, which can coexist at each interlayer interface, as both elastic and surface effects—and their competition—are taken into account. The surface of each film layer is assumed to satisfy the“exterior graph condition” introduced in [47], which allows bulk cracks to be of non-graph type. By applying the direct method of calculus of variations under a constraint on the number of connected components of the cracks that are not connected to the surface of the film layers, the existence of energy minimizers is established in two dimensions. As a byproduct of the analysis, advancements are also made in the state of the art in the variational modeling of single-layered films by allowing the substrate surface to be free and including the possibility of delamination from the substrate.
Response to Letter to the Editor from Sunaina and Mayilvaganan: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathways for Aesthetic Breast Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study on Patient-Reported Outcomes
Authors: Stahl Stéphane , Santos Stahl Adelana , Seabra Robalo Gomes Jorge Ana Cristina
Published: February 2025

Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Material and surface texture-dependent fluorescence behavior of liquid coolant wall films
Authors: Koegl Matthias , Breitenbach Leon
Published: February 2025

The study investigates the liquid film thickness-dependent laser-induced fluorescence of a dye in a heat transfer oil affected by wall reflections at different solid surface materials (aluminum, copper, steel) and surface textures (polished and sandblasted). A specially designed fluorescence cell allows a precise adjustment of the film thickness at a fixed temperature and allows the investigation of various substrate materials and textures. Photo-dissociation free measurements are ensured due to a closed-loop circuit, driven by a pump. The LIF signal was generated by admixture of the fluorescent dye Nile red to the heat transfer oil Marlotherm LH. A CW laser at 532 nm was applied for excitation, and emissions were recorded by using a spectrometer. The use of a relatively low dye concentration (0.59 mg/l) ensures negligible reabsorption of the fluorescence and thus minimal spectral changes due to a variation in film thickness, which is indispensable for precise temperature measurements. A comparison of the dye fluorescence affected by reflections at different solid materials and surface treatments for a 1-mm film thickness reveals a similar trend for all investigated materials, except for copper. Copper leads to a surface texture-dependent spectral shift of the peak emission (polished: 3.8 nm, sandblasted: 4.3 nm) toward larger wavelengths in comparison with the remaining materials (peak always at 586.4 nm). This is attributed to the more distinct wavelength-dependent reflection behavior of copper evaluated in a theoretical study. Since the fluorescence signal experiences a stronger reflection in comparison with the incident laser beam, this leads to a spectral shift of the emission spectra toward larger wavelengths. A model approach is developed describing effects of direct and non-direct reflection of fluorescence for different materials and textures. A diffusive reflection leads to an overall decrease of reabsorption. This is caused by the reduced direct reflection of laser light, which passes through the liquid film a second time (or multiple times) and consequently less emission signal. Temperature-dependent measurements in combination with a two-color measurement approach showed the significant influence of wavelength-dependent reflection behavior on the temperature determination on liquid films.
Efficacy and prognostic factors for successful treatment of port-wine stains by 577-nm yellow laser: a cohort study on 42 patients
Authors: Mohamed Essamelden M. , Abdel-Aleem Hazem L. , Mansour Mofreh , Rageh Mahmoud A.
Published: February 2025

A port-wine stain (PWS) is a congenital capillary abnormality with an incidence of 0.3–0.5%. Although several other types of lasers have been used to treat PWSs, few studies have focused on the factors that affect the outcome of 577-nm yellow lasers. We aimed to assess the efficacy and prognostic factors affecting the PWS treatment by 577-nm yellow laser. This study was carried out on 42 patients with PWS. Each patient received 6–10 treatment sessions with a 577-nm yellow laser at 4-week intervals. Treatment efficacy was considered adequate when improvement of ≥ 80% of the lesion occurred. After treatment, marked improvement occurred in 7 (16.7%) patients, moderate improvement in 17 (40.5%) patients, mild improvement in 10 (23.8%) and 8 (19%) patients showed poor improvement. There was a significant association between improvement and gender of the patients and site of lesion (p = 0.028, p = 0.001, respectively). However, linear regression analysis showed that the site of the lesion can significantly predict the improvement (p < 0.001), while other baseline characteristics were not associated and cannot act as predictors for improvement. Yellow laser is a successful therapy choice for PWS, with a statistically significant improvement and minimal adverse effects. No significant association was found between improvement following laser therapy and baseline parameters, except for the location of PWS.
Farmers’ use and preferences of agroforestry trees in Bauchi State, Nigeria
Authors: Tama Abubakar Yahaya , Madaki Mustapha Yakubu , Manourova Anna , Mohammad Ragheb Kamal , Lojka Bohdan
Published: February 2025

Most of the Bauchi State's inhabitants face environmental and socio-economic challenges. Agroforestry trees can help these people by providing valuable environmental benefits such as windbreaks, soil improvement, shade, or additional income through fruits and medicine (services and products). The study aimed to identify the most important use of tree species by the farmers and their tree preferences, examine agroforestry practices on their farms, and spot the most preferred locations of trees on their farms. The fieldwork was conducted in both lowlands and highlands of Bauchi state. In total, 83 farmers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The results showed that farmers mostly use and prefer fruit trees (74 and 87%), followed by medicinal trees (66 and 18%) in lowlands and highlands, respectively. They also use trees for fencing and shading. Adansonia digitata was the most preferred species in the lowlands, while Parkia biglobosa was in the highlands. Scattered trees were the most used agroforestry practice (79 and 84%) in both the lowlands and the highlands. The bush field and the village field (47 and 37%) were the most preferred locations of trees on farms. In the future, we suggest that policymakers and extensionists should support research and improvement of varieties of the most preferred fruit/food tree species and develop and introduce improved disease-resistant and pest-tolerant native varieties.
AI-based bridge maintenance management: a comprehensive review
Authors: Shahrivar Farham , Sidiq Amir , Mahmoodian Mojtaba , Jayasinghe Sanduni , Sun Zhiyan , Setunge Sujeeva
Published: February 2025

Over recent decades, the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various industrial fields from automation to cybersecurity has been transformative. Whilst the implementations of linking AI and data sciences remain complex and thus limited, they both aim to harness data for actionable insights and future predictions. A research focal point in the application of AI in maintenance is crucial for the sustainability and efficiency of assets. Typically, in the civil infrastructure, there are significant benefits to be gained from AI-driven applications. This study reviews the implementation of the AI in bridge maintenance decision-making by conducting a review of literature on major works undertaken by researchers and analysing 102 scientific articles published from 2010 to 2023. Our literature review revealed an emerging trend in recent studies, focusing on the exploration of defect prognosis in bridge maintenance. However, upon further analysis, it becomes evident that there is a notable gap in the existing literature, in the studies related to performance-based prognostic maintenance strategies for bridges. This gap presents an opportunity for future research, one that could yield valuable insights in the field of bridge maintenance and asset management. The review also reveals the focus of the existing literature on defect identification by using the bridge imagery processing. While the AI’s potential in damage detection using bridge imagery is evident, challenges persist including the computational processing and data availability. This review of the literature includes a comprehensive overview of the current implementation of AI in bridge maintenance, highlighting limitations, challenges, and prospective directions.
The Relationship Between Interoception, Alexithymia, Autistic Traits and Eating Pathology in Autistic Adults
Authors: Westwood Heather , Mandy Will , Brewer Rebecca
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the mechanisms underlying disordered eating of autistic adults, by investigating associations between eating disorder (ED) symptoms and autistic traits; autism-specific atypical eating; alexithymia; interoception; and body image in autistic and non-autistic participants. Autistic adults (n = 196) and non-autistic adults (n = 206) completed online self-report measures assessing ED pathology, atypical eating, body image dissatisfaction, interoception, alexithymia, and autistic traits. Structural Equation Modelling tested a theoretical model of the relationships between these variables, and whether these relationships were moderated by autism diagnosis. Autistic adults self-reported higher ED pathology than non-autistic adults. The proposed model and the strength of the relationship between body image and ED pathology did not differ between the autistic and non-autistic groups. Atypical eating (not related to over-evaluation of weight/shape), however, was only associated with ED pathology in the autistic group. Both traditional and additional factors, including eating disturbances not driven by weight/shape concern, appear to contribute to ED pathology in autism.
The Effectiveness of the Best-Possible-Self Intervention in College Students from China and the Netherlands: A Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Wu Liyang , Hanssen Marjolein M. , Peters Madelon L.
Published: February 2025

The effectiveness of the best-possible-self (BPS) intervention has been well established in Western people but is still under exploration in Eastern samples. A direct comparison of its effectiveness between Western and Eastern people is currently lacking, yet it is essential to comprehend the cultural sensitivity of the BPS. In this study, we compared immediate and short-term effects of the BPS between an Eastern (Chinese) and a Western (Dutch) sample using a three-time online intervention delivered within 1 week. We also investigated its effectiveness in both samples separately as well as the underlying mechanism. Participants (61 Chinese, 48 Dutch) were randomly assigned to the BPS or a control condition. We found that Dutch participants reported more benefits than the Chinese in terms of positive affect (immediate effect) and trait optimism as well as satisfaction with life (short-term effect). Chinese participants reported changes mostly in negative outcomes and only after multiple sessions. Moreover, the within-sample analysis showed that effect sizes were generally larger in the Dutch sample. The results replicate previous findings and add evidence supporting the effectiveness of the BPS in Dutch and Chinese people. This study indicates that BPS may be more effective in the Dutch sample for positive outcomes but can also be effective in the Chinese sample for certain negative outcomes with multiple sessions. Future studies may investigate underlying cultural sensitivity and adapt the BPS to a culture-compatible version based on specific cultural backgrounds.
Effectiveness of a comprehensive game-based intervention for writing skills
Authors: Carmona María , De los Santos-Roig Macarena , Mata Sara , Serrano Francisca
Published: February 2025

This study explores the effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention program for improving writing skills in Spanish. Participants were 167 Spanish children (3rd to 6th Grades) with reading and writing difficulties and typical development. Children exhibited problems in writing, reading, and related skills, like phonological and prosodic skills. The intervention targeted the reinforcement of orthographic patterns, decoding activities based on meta-analytical strategies; meta-phonological, morphological, and prosodic activities; visual vocabulary; sentence building, and reading, considering the reciprocity between both skills in literacy development. It was a paper-and-pencil program, considering the main approaches of writing intervention (cognitive and multisensorial), the relevance of frequent and direct feedback, the use of explicit instructions, the recommended levels of intervention (sub-lexical, lexical, and sentence levels), and the use of motivating activities through a game-based design. Sixteen individualized sessions of direct, systematic, and explicit training were conducted with the support of a trainer who provided immediate and continuous feedback. A quasi-experimental non-equivalent waiting control group pre-post intervention design, with three groups (intervention group; waiting-control group; and typical development group), was applied. Results showed that the intervention had a positive impact on writing-related skills. Specifically, children who received the intervention performed close to peers without difficulties in several tasks after the intervention program, especially those involving phonological and prosodic processing. These findings support that phonological and prosodic training is related to writing performance and its development. Furthermore, this study presents psychoeducational implications because it supports that explicit and supplemental meta-phonological strategies could play an important role in teaching writing to children with reading and writing difficulties.
Energy consumption, CO2 emissions and economic growth in selected ASEAN countries
Authors: Ghoshray Atanu , Lorusso Marco
Published: February 2025

This study analyses the link between economic growth, CO2 emissions and energy consumption in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore, grouped together as ASEAN-4. Our contribution is novel in two ways. Firstly, we employ patent applications in our study which acts as a proxy for technological progress. This allows us to test whether patents form a part of a possible long run equilibrium relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions, or whether patents respond to any disequilibrium in the postulated long run relation. Secondly, since we focus on the long run, we compile a unique dataset that is long enough that can lend itself to use time series methods to identify the plausible long run equilibrium relationships for individual countries, obviating the complexities that the heterogenous set of countries may bring when considered together. Our empirical findings identify GDP to be positively associated with non-renewable energy consumption as well as CO2 emissions. In addition, we find that technological advances positively affect real GDP in the short run.
Spannungsfelder der Sportpädagogik zur Diskussion in der Sportwissenschaft
Authors: Wibowo Jonas , Balz Eckart
Published: February 2025

Dieser Beitrag bündelt Überlegungen, zu denen die Autoren anlässlich einer Einladung zum Hauptvortrag auf der 36. Jahrestagung der dvs-Sektion Sportpädagogik 2023 mit dem Tagungsthema „Sportpädagogik – der Sitzplatz zwischen den Stühlen?!“ angeregt wurden. Hier werden inhaltliche Strukturen als sogenannte Spannungsfelder und Praktiken als mögliche Umgangsweisen mit diesen Spannungsfeldern rekonstruiert. Die Autoren gehen davon aus, dass die Heuristik der Spannungsfelder auch in anderen sportwissenschaftlichen Teildisziplinen Relevanz hat und die identifizierten Umgangsformen dazu beitragen können, solche Diskurse analytisch in den Blick zu nehmen. Der wissenschaftliche Diskurs der selbstbezüglichen Analyse in der sportwissenschaftlichen Teildisziplin Sportpädagogik fokussierte bislang die Vertiefung einzelner Spannungsfelder, die entwicklungsrelevante Spielräume heterogener wissenschaftlicher Orientierungen darstellen. Verschiedene Handlungsmöglichkeiten haben wir als Polarisierung, Separierung, Integration, Negierung und Dialektik herausgearbeitet.
A bottom-up optimization model for solar organic Rankine cycle in the context of transactive energy trading
Authors: Cordieri Silvia Anna , Bordin Chiara , Mishra Sambeet
Published: February 2025

Solar Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) based power production plants utilize solar irradiation for thermal power generation. Given the significant compatibility between the operating temperatures of solar irradiation-based technologies and the temperature needs of the cycle, they can be a promising renewable technology. Moreover, their higher performance compared to steam Rankine cycles in small-size applications makes them interesting within the smart grid context and microgrid communities. In this study, we inspect the impact that this technology can have on the peer-to-peer trading application in renewable-based community microgrids. Here the consumer becomes a prosumer (functioning both as energy producer and consumer), and engages actively in virtual trading with other prosumers at the distribution system level. Specifically, we concentrate on a microgrid where the solar ORC is combined with a storage system, to fulfill the final consumer’s demand. In fact, the combination of these plants with storage systems is fundamental to increasing their predictability and competitiveness with conventional plants, but it is quite challenging from a management perspective. Thus, a methodology based on operations research techniques has been developed to use this system at its optimal point. Moreover, we investigate how different technological parameters of the solar ORC may affect the final solution. Finally, the value of the solar ORC in the transactive energy trading context is studied under different configurations and scenarios. The results highlight an overall gain in the implementation of a predictable and manageable system as the one presented in this paper for a P2P transactive energy trading context, on average 16% in terms of operational costs.
Improving access to chimeric antigen receptor T-cells for refractory or relapsing diffuse large B cell lymphoma therapy in Asia
Authors: Tan Ya Hwee , Yoon Dok Hyun , Davies Andrew J. , Buske Christian , Boo Yang Liang , Somasundaram Nagavalli , Lim Francesca , Ong Shin Yeu , Jeyasekharan Anand , Izutsu Koji , Kim Won Seog , Chan Jason Yongsheng
Published: February 2025

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T)-mediated therapies have shown promising clinical benefit in patients with refractory or relapsing (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, CAR-T treatment presents challenges such as lack of drug accessibility, financial barriers, variable physician preference or experience, and risk assessment based on patient-specific characteristics. This article thus aims to provide an overview of the CAR-T landscape for R/R DLBCL in Asia, with a focus on identifying barriers to access, from the perspective of Asian and international lymphoma experts. Presently, existing clinical data indicate that CAR-T therapy is a potentially curative strategy for R/R DLBCL in addition to stem cell transplantation, provided the patient’s disease profile and treatment history have been thoroughly considered. However, longer-term follow-up data from large-scale studies are needed to confirm curative potential and define optimal sequencing of CAR-T in the context of novel emerging treatments, such as bi-specific antibodies, in the management of R/R DLBCL. Consequently, further research into CAR-T would benefit from collaboration between institutions. Furthermore, there is a wide disparity in CAR-T accessibility across regions due to complicated logistics and cost, which represent a significant barrier to patients in Asia. Hence, there is a need to increase representation and engagement across different stakeholders such as policymakers, payers, and the industry to arrive at a consensus on patient selection, establish clear guidelines, and develop strategies to lower CAR-T costs. Ultimately, data can support a multi-stakeholder approach when devising strategies to make CAR-T feasible and sustainable for patients.
Forming Wrinkle-Free Curved C Channel with Unidirectional Fiber Reinforced Composites
Authors: Chey Suk Young , Ahn Sung-Hoon
Published: February 2025

With the rise in popularity of high-performance composites, the need to fabricate these materials with minimal defects has become crucial for both environmental and economic reasons. One of the most critical defects in composite forming is wrinkling, which often occurs when prepregs are used to produce doubly curved parts. This defect can lead to material waste and increased energy consumption during production. In this work, a novel forming method is introduced to form composite laminates directly on the tool surface, enabling the buildup of multiple thin laminates to the desired thickness while minimizing the occurrence of wrinkles and, consequently, reducing potential material waste. The method modifies the double-diaphragm forming process by replacing one of the diaphragms with an easily removable inflatable tube placed adjacent to the composite part, covering the area prone to wrinkling. This setup provides pressure on both sides of the laminate, effectively preventing wrinkle formation. The results showed minimal thickness variation, with an average thickness of 2.15 mm and a standard deviation of 0.08 mm. Additionally, the lightweight nature of the composite parts produced by this method holds significant potential for fuel savings in the aerospace and automotive industries, where weight reduction is directly linked to improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
Pore-scale flow mechanism of immiscible gas-assisted gravity drainage in strongly heterogeneous glutenite reservoirs
Authors: Yang Liu , Liu Yan , Wang Wendong , Li Mingjun , Wang Suling , Xu Benchao , Shi Yongmin , Chen Hao
Published: February 2025

Tight glutenite reservoirs are known for strong heterogeneity, complex wettability, and challenging development. Gas-Assisted Gravity Drainage (GAGD) technology has the potential to significantly improve recovery efficiency in glutenite reservoir. However, there is currently limited research on GAGD processes specifically designed for glutenite reservoirs, and there is a lack of relevant dimensionless numbers for predicting recovery efficiency. In this study, we developed a theoretical model based on the characteristics of glutenite reservoirs and used phase-field method to track the oil–gas interface for numerical simulations of dynamic GAGD processes. To explore the factors influencing gas-driven recovery, we simulated the effects of strong heterogeneity and dynamic wettability on the construction process under gravity assistance. Additionally, we introduced multiple dimensionless numbers (including capillary number, viscosity ratio, and Bond number) and conducted a series of numerical simulations. The results demonstrate that gravity enhances the stability of the oil–gas interface but causes unstable pressure fluctuations when passing through different-sized throat regions, particularly leading to front advancement in smaller throats. Although strong heterogeneity has negative impacts on GAGD, they can be mitigated by reducing injection velocity. Increasing oil-wettability promotes oil displacement by overcoming capillary forces, particularly in narrower pores, allowing residual oils to be expelled. Among the dimensionless numbers, the recovery efficiency is directly proportional to the Bond number and inversely proportional to the capillary number and viscosity ratio. Through sensitivity analysis of the dimensionless numbers’ impact on the recovery efficiency, a new dimensionless NGlu considering heterogeneity is proposed to accurately predict GAGD recovery of tight glutenite reservoirs.
Metaphysical Rationalism Requires Grounding Indeterminism
Authors: PEARCE KENNETH L.
Published: February 2025

Metaphysical rationalism is the view that, necessarily, every fact that stands in need of a metaphysical (grounding) explanation has one. Varieties of metaphysical rationalism include classical theism, Spinozism, spacetime priority monism, and axiarchism. Grounding indeterminism is the view that the same ground, in precisely the same circumstances, might not have grounded what it in fact grounds. I argue that a plausible defense of any form of metaphysical rationalism requires a commitment to grounding indeterminism.
Problem indicators and territorial restructuring: do institutional decision rules matter?
Authors: Askim Jostein , Gendźwiłł Adam , Klausen Jan Erling
Published: February 2025

Territorial restructuring through amalgamating local authorities has figured prominently on the agendas of European governments for many decades. Precisely where and when restructuring occurs is poorly understood, although it is broadly assumed to be initiated in response to fiscal stress, urbanization, and functional decentralization. Using a large-N approach with a 30-year time series for 39 European countries, this article demonstrates that associations between these problems and territorial restructuring depend on institutional decision rules, specifically whether the power to decide on local government amalgamations is centralized or dispersed. The findings indicate that policymakers at the local level are particularly attentive to demographic problems, whereas policymakers at the central level pay more attention to problems related to policy delivery. We outline theoretical and practical implications.