bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigating food waste and household waste management: The potential for redistributing surplus food in the policy communication of Medan City government
Authors: Khairifa Feni , Kholil Syukur , Syam Abdi Mubarak , Al-Mujahid Naqil Sayyaf
Published: February 2025

This article aims to examine strategies for mitigating food waste and managing household waste in Medan City through the potential redistribution of surplus food within the context of public policy communication. The study adopts a qualitative approach using a case study method, focusing on understanding the phenomenon of surplus food redistribution from the perspective of various stakeholders, including local government, NGOs, food businesses, and local communities. Primary data sources were collected through in-depth interviews and participatory observations, while secondary data were obtained from official documents and activity reports. The research findings indicate that waste reduction policies implemented through Medan Mayor Regulation No. 26 of 2019 have successfully increased public awareness and participation in waste management. This policy includes education and public campaigns, training, and cooperation with local institutions and businesses, as well as incentive programs that encourage active community involvement. Coordination and collaboration between government sectors and the private sector also strengthen the implementation of this policy, ensuring well-coordinated waste management efforts. Surplus food redistribution in Medan has shown effectiveness in reducing food waste and supporting local food security. Initiatives such as the Surplus application and the Food Cycle Indonesia program leverage technology and community cooperation to distribute consumable food to needy groups. This approach not only reduces the volume of waste but also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action. A clear and effective policy communication strategy, supported by cross-sector collaboration, can significantly contribute to reducing food waste and sustainably managing household waste in Medan City. This research provides valuable insights for developing similar policies in other regions.
Growth of trembesi (Samanea saman) seedlings on waste growing media which modified with organic matter
Authors: Ahmad Alfan Gunawan , Sagala William A , Harahap Moehar M
Published: February 2025

Currently, heaps of waste are still found in the former waste dump area in Namo Bintang Village, Pancubatu District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra Province. If left untreated, this pile of waste will cause environmental pollution for residents living around the Namo Bintang landfill. Utilizing waste as a plant growing medium through modifying the addition of organic matters is one way to mitigate the negative impacts of the waste pile. This research aims to analyze the growth of Trembesi (Samanea saman) seedlings planted in waste growing media that has been modified with organic matter. The experimental design chosen to test seedling growth used a Completely Randomized Design with 5 treatments, namely T0= Growing media with a composition of 100% waste (control), T1= Growing media with a composition of 80% waste + 20% top soil, T2= Growing media with a composition of 70% waste + 30% top soil, T3= Growing media with a composition of 80% waste + 20% charcoal, and T4 = Growing media with a composition of 70% waste + 30% charcoal. Each treatment was repeated 5 times. Growth parameters observed included seedling height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves (pieces), biomass (gram) and root-shoot ratio. Observations of growth parameters were carried out every 2 weeks for 3 months. The results of this research indicate that the addition of top soil to the waste media has a better effect on the growth of trembesi (Samanea saman) seedlings than the addition of charcoal. The composition of the growing media that provides the best growth response for Trembesi (Samanea saman) seedlings is waste media + 30% top soil or T2 treatment.
Multistage pectin extraction from lemon (Citrus limon) peel: Effect of nitric acid solvent pH and number of stages
Authors: Michael  , Masytha  , Iriany  , Taslim
Published: February 2025

Substantial lemon (Citrus limon) production in Indonesia generates an abundant amount of lemon peel waste. Lemon peels, comprising 25–44% of the total fruit mass, are typically discarded as a byproduct subsequent to pulp consumption. The valorization of lemon peel pectin content could mitigate waste accumulation. The present study investigated the best nitric acid solvent pH and the number of extraction stages for lemon peel pectin and analyzed the characteristics of pectin obtained from multistage extraction. Pectin was extracted via reflux methods at varying pH (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5) and employing sequential extraction stages ranging from one to three. The reflux extraction at pH 1.0 yielded the best pectin yield of 29.24±0.15% for the two-stage extraction. Statistical analysis using a t-test revealed no significant difference (p>0.05) between the pectin yields obtained from the two-stage and three-stage extractions. The extracted lemon peel pectin exhibited a low methoxyl content and classified as a low ester pectin. The equivalent weight of the extracted pectin spanned from 477.27±32.14 mg to 1000 mg, while the galacturonic acid content ranged from 29.92±2.49% to 70.40%. Notably, the pectin obtained through the two-stage reflux extraction at pH 1.0 exhibited specifications conforming to the International Pectin Producers Association (IPPA) standards. The conditions described demonstrate best performance characteristically. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis confirmed the similarity of functional groups (O-H, C-H, and C=O) and molecular key structures (C-C and R-O-R bonds) between the best extracted pectin and the commercial pectin. The extraction method can serve as a reference for industrial food applications and address the existing methodological gap regarding multistage pectin extraction.
Integrating natural resources and technological innovation for sustainable growth
Authors: Sembiring Nurhayati , Tarigan Dandi Al-Fiqri , Ingrid Emmanuela S , Sitohang Diana Carolina , Humam Fasha Azman Muhammad Ghaisan
Published: February 2025

The integration of natural resources and technological innovation is essential for achieving sustainable growth in the face of increasing resource scarcity and environmental degradation. This study explores the multifaceted approach of combining advanced technologies with sustainable resource management practices to address these challenges. By leveraging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and automation, industries can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of resource use, leading to significant economic and environmental benefits. This research highlights the importance of collaborative innovation involving multiple stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and civil society, to co-create solutions that address complex sustainability issues. Case studies across various sectors, including mining, tourism, and agriculture, demonstrate the practical applications and benefits of integrating technological innovations with natural resource management. The study also identifies key challenges, such as technological barriers, regulatory constraints, and economic factors, and provides recommendations for overcoming these obstacles. The findings underscore the potential of green technologies to drive economic growth and create new market opportunities while promoting environmental sustainability. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable development by offering practical insights and strategies for achieving long-term sustainability goals through the integration of natural resources and technological innovation.
Estimating the shelf life of instant turmeric rice seasonings with various turmeric concentrations through Accelerated Shelf Life Testing (ASLT)
Authors: Jason Emmanuel , Romulo Andreas
Published: February 2025

The utilization of spices has become one of the special features of Indonesian cuisine. The combination of spices used in the cuisine in the diverse community makes the complexity of Indonesian cuisine heritage. Turmeric rice or yellow rice is an Indonesian rice cuisine often consumed daily or in special festivities. The process and abundant material used for making this cuisine are quite complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, many food industries try to create ready-to-use yellow rice instant seasonings in form of paste or powder. From a commercial perspective, the shelf life of the product is very important. The shelf life of the product could be influenced by the number of ingredients used. In this research, the shelf life of instant turmeric rice seasoning with different turmeric concentrations was determined using Accelerated Shelf Life Testing (ASLT) method. ASLT was conducted at temperatures of 25 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C. The quality parameters (water content and organoleptic) were regularly checked for 28 days. The results showed that the shortest shelf life was observed in the sample with 6% turmeric (29.33 days) and the longest shelf life was the sample with 12% turmeric (34.72 days) at a temperature of 25 °C.
Utilization of soil ameliorant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve the growth of Lagerstroemia speciosa pers. in subsoil media
Authors: Arty Budi , Millang Syamsuddin , Dicky  , Chaerani Nurul , Handayani Triaty
Published: February 2025

Planting media in nurseries still utilizes topsoil because it contains high nutrients and organic matter. However, the availability of topsoil in nature is limited due to mining activities or infrastructure construction. The topsoil alternative is subsoil, which is abundant in nature but less fertile. Subsoil fertility can be improved by adding soil ameliorants such as eggshell waste (ESW) with compost and inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). This research aims to analyze the growth response of Lagerstroemia speciosa with the combination of soil ameliorant and AMF in subsoil media. This research used a completely randomized design with a factorial pattern with two treatment factors: soil ameliorant and inoculation of AMF. The parameters observed were height, diameter, leaf greenness Index SPAD, biomass, shoot root ratio, and seed quality index of seedlings. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and if there was a significant effect, it was continued with the Duncan Multiple Range Test at a 5% level. The research showed poor results in the growth of L. speciosa in subsoil media without treatment. The best treatment to increase the growth of L. speciosa is a combination of 10 g ESW, 20 g compost, and inoculation of AMF.
Growth response of Parapat mango growing in critical land catchment area of Lake Toba with input of compost briquettes and additional NPK fertiliser
Authors: Utomo Budi , Malau Kevin Marihot , Wahyudi Rizky , Dalimunthe Afifuddin
Published: February 2025

The catchment area of Lake Toba in Samosir Regency is dominated by steep, rugged, rocky topography with shallow solum. The low organic matter content in this area needs attention to increasing the ability to retain water in the soil so that the soil is not easily washed. Likewise, the addition of nutrients is very necessary to support plant growth. Not all plants can grow in this area, therefore the selection of Parapat mango plant types is important to increase the percentage of growth in this area. The aim of this research is to determine the use of a good dose of NPK fertiliser for the growth of mango seedlings, as well as the rehabilitation of areas on the outskirts of Lake Toba. In this study, a non-factorial randomised block design (RAK) was used with 6 treatments and 1 control, namely P0 without NPK fertiliser, P1 using a 50 gr NPK dose, P2 using a 100 gr NPK dose, P3 using a 150 gr NPK fertiliser dose, P4 using a 200 gr NPK dose, P5 using a 250 gr NPK dose, P6 using a 300 gr NPK dose, and in each treatment there were 5 repetitions. The results of using NPK fertiliser on mango plants (Mangifera indica L.) produced a significant effect on the number of leaves, leaf area, canopy area. When using a dose of 150 gr NPK fertiliser (P3) on media given organic compost fertiliser briquettes, the growth of mango (M. indica) showed the best results.
Dynamics of carbon stocks in mangrove ecosystems in the coastal area of Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
Authors: Slamet Bejo , Rahmania Rini , Rahmila Yulizar Ihrami , Yulianti Mira , Suyadi
Published: February 2025

Efficient monitoring and management of carbon stores in mangrove forests are crucial for worldwide carbon sequestration endeavors. This study aims to analyze the carbon stock dynamics in the coastal mangrove forests of Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, utilizing remote sensing technologies. The assessment of mangrove carbon dynamics from 2013 to 2023 utilized satellite images from the Landsat 8 OLI. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform was employed to generate composite imagery and compute the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data. Subsequently, these values were utilized to approximate the amount of biomass present above the ground’s surface. The research revealed significant fluctuations in carbon stock levels during the decade. The largest measured increase in carbon stock was 69.0772 tonnes per hectare, whereas the largest reduction was -73.8755 tonnes per hectare. Although there were intermittent periods of carbon stock rise, the general trend from 2013 to 2023 indicated a net decline of -2,170.321 tonnes. The results emphasize the necessity of employing sophisticated remote sensing technology to efficiently monitor and control carbon inventories. Despite occasional periods of heightened carbon sequestration, the general decrease highlights the difficulties in preserving and improving carbon storage in mangrove forests. This study highlights the significance of ongoing monitoring and focused management measures to reduce carbon losses and facilitate global carbon capture initiatives.
Effect of pre-drying time on plywood properties bonded with citric acid and maleic acid adhesives
Authors: Syukur Abdus , Syahfitri Alifah , Abdillah Imam Busyra , Aulia Muhammad Ilham , Amanda Putri , Augustina Sarah , Kusumah Sukma Surya , Rahandi Lubis Muhammad Adly , Sutiawan Jajang , Mubarok Mahdi , Hermawan Dede
Published: February 2025

This study explores the effects of pre-drying time on the physical and mechanical properties of plywood bonded with citric acid (CA) and maleic acid (MA) adhesives. Plywood was constructed using Jabon wood veneers arranged into three layers with 30 x 30 x 0.6 cm dimensions. The adhesives were applied at a spread rate of 140 g/m2, and the boards were hot-pressed at 190 °C for 10 minutes under a pressure of 5 MPa. The pre-drying time of the veneers was 0 and 12 hours at 80 °C was utilized before hot pressing. Physical properties tested included density, moisture content (MC), water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS). In contrast, the mechanical properties tested were modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and tensile shear strength (TSS). The results showed that the pre-drying time significantly enhanced the mechanical properties, particularly for CA adhesive, which demonstrated higher MOE (66720 kg/cm2), MOR (265 kg/cm2), and TSS (7.09 kg/cm2). The density ranged from 0.43 to 0.49 g/cm³, MC from 5.92% to 9.70%, WA from 60.93% to 93.08%, and TS from 4.35 % to 7.07 %. The enhanced performance is attributed to chemical reactions during pre-drying, such as esterification, which improves bond strength and dimensional stability. These findings suggest that pre-drying time at 12 h combined with CA adhesive is an effective method to produce high-quality, eco-friendly plywood.
Bioinformatics approach of nitrifying microorganism genes from mangrove ecosystems
Authors: Mubaraq Alfian , Basyuni Mohammad , Sembiring Mariani , Aznawi Andi Aznan , Sivaipram Itchika
Published: February 2025

Mangrove ecosystems have an ability to remove nitrogen facilitated by nitrifying microorganisms in the conversion of nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle. This study provides an overview of bioinformatics data from nitrifying microorganisms in mangrove ecosystems such as physical and chemical properties, secondary structures, and protein model predictions. Initial information about the genes used using the NCBI database found four functional genes that play a role in nitrification including amoA (HM235889), amoB (ON496751), nxrB (ON041430), and hzo (GQ331363). The four functional genes have important roles in the nitrogen cycle, including the amoA gene from ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA), amoB gene from ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nxrB gene from nitrite oxidizing bacteria, and hzo gene from anammox bacteria. The physical and chemical properties of the gene analyzed using Protparam computation and HNN secondary structure show that the gene with the longest gene length is HM235889 with a molecular weight of 52921. The secondary structure of the gene is also shown in this study. The protein model was predicted using the protein structure homology method using Phyre2 and SWISS-MODEL tools. Sequence identity in protein model prediction has a very high value of about 98% in HM235889, ON041430, and GQ331363. These two protein model prediction tools can help get a more accurate protein model. The bioinformatics approach that has been analyzed is expected to provide preliminary information for further research on nitrifying microorganisms that play a role in mangrove ecosystems.
Kerr self-focusing of few-cycle terahertz pulses in dispersive media
Authors: Ruan Jieya , Liao Guoqian , Xi Tingting , Zhang Xinyao , Xu Litong , Lu Xin , Li Yutong
Published: February 2025

Kerr self-focusing is one of the most common and fundamental nonlinear phenomena during high-power light pulses propagating through transparent media. It occurs usually when the pulse peak power exceeds a certain critical power and the Kerr nonlinearity overcomes the diffraction effect. In this paper, the nonlinear propagation of terahertz (THz) pulses in dispersive media is studied via numerical simulations. It is found that, for few-cycle THz pulses, the Kerr self-focusing is suppressed dramatically, and a substantially higher THz intensity than that defined by the well-known formula of self-focusing critical power is required to enable an observable spatial self-focusing behaviour. By theoretical modelling and numerically analysing the time-domain evolution of broadband THz pulses in media, the underlying physical cause is attributed to the dominance of the significant dispersion effect over the diffraction effect, resulting in that the Kerr nonlinearity competes with dispersion instead of diffraction. A modified analytical expression for the dispersion-mediated self-focusing critical intensity is derived and shows good agreement with simulation results. The influences of THz pulse and medium dispersion parameters on the THz propagation dynamics are systematically studied such as the THz cycle number, intensity, initial chirp and absolute phase as well as the medium group velocity dispersion, high-order dispersion and their sign. These results have important implications for the study of strong-field THz wave—matter interactions and THz nonlinear optics.
Micromorphology and damage characterization of vacuum brazed stainless steel joints with laser etched interfaces
Authors: Wang Jie , Chen Huixin , Wang Yichuan , Li Nian , Wei Xinlong , Ling Xiang
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the effect of laser etching on vacuum welded joints through organizational observation and shear testing. The residual stress in various sample structures during the brazing process was analyzed through the proposed FE models. The findings indicate that laser etching improves the wetting behavior of copper brazing material on AISI 304 stainless steel substrate. However, contrary to theoretical expectations, due to the melting and splashing of the base material during laser etching, loose stacked particles are formed. With the increase of laser etching times, the shear strength of brazed joints shows a gradual decline trend. The finite element results indicate that the microstructure formed by laser etching promotes the generation of thermal residual compressive stress and reduces residual tensile stress.
The impact of smart city pilots on ecological resilience: a perspective of five major urban agglomerations in eastern China
Authors: Ding Hui , Li Jiawen
Published: February 2025

It is crucial to explore whether and how smart city pilots impact ecological resilience in the context of China’s high priority on ecological civilization and green development. In this study, we adopted the panel data of 58 cities in five major urban agglomerations in eastern China from 2005 to 2021 and used the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model and spatial DID model to empirically analyze the impact of smart city pilots on ecological resilience, their heterogeneity, and the spatial spillover effects. The main results are as follows: smart city pilots can substantially enhance urban ecological resilience, this conclusion still holds significantly after a series of robustness tests such as the parallel trend test, and the propensity score matching method. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of smart city pilots on ecological resilience is affected by infrastructure development and abundant resources. Compared with regional urban agglomerations and nonresource-based cities, the policy effects of national urban agglomerations and resource-based cities are relatively strong. However, smart city pilots have a negative spillover effect on ecological resilience of neighboring regions. The results of this study indicate the policy implications for the construction of smart cities and the enhancement of urban ecological resilience.
Refereeing the referees: evaluating two-sample tests for validating generators in precision sciences
Authors: Grossi Samuele , Letizia Marco , Torre Riccardo
Published: February 2025

We propose a robust methodology to evaluate the performance and computational efficiency of non-parametric two-sample tests, specifically designed for high-dimensional generative models in scientific applications such as in particle physics. The study focuses on tests built from univariate integral probability measures: the sliced Wasserstein distance and the mean of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) statistics, already discussed in the literature, and the novel sliced KS statistic. These metrics can be evaluated in parallel, allowing for fast and reliable estimates of their distribution under the null hypothesis. We also compare these metrics with the recently proposed unbiased Fréchet Gaussian distance and the unbiased quadratic Maximum Mean Discrepancy, computed with a quartic polynomial kernel. We evaluate the proposed tests on various distributions, focusing on their sensitivity to deformations parameterized by a single parameter ε. Our experiments include correlated Gaussians and mixtures of Gaussians in 5, 20, and 100 dimensions, and a particle physics dataset of gluon jets from the JetNet dataset, considering both jet- and particle-level features. Our results demonstrate that one-dimensional-based tests provide a level of sensitivity comparable to other multivariate metrics, but with significantly lower computational cost, making them ideal for evaluating generative models in high-dimensional settings. This methodology offers an efficient, standardized tool for model comparison and can serve as a benchmark for more advanced tests, including machine-learning-based approaches.
Fear of Flaying
Authors: Telò Mario
Published: February 2025

In the third chapter of Regarding the Pain of Others, Sontag lingers on the aesthetic troubles of visual horrorism, of the voyeuristic representation of extreme pain, which she casts as one of the legacies of classical antiquity. The ‘hard-to-look-at cruelties’ handed down to us by classical literature and art interpellate us, says Sontag, with ‘just the provocation: can you look at this?’ This chapter speculates on the meaning of this ‘provocation’, an irresistible call, or an insistent temptation, to which Sontag’s writing jouissantly succumbs through the disavowed act of looking that she performs by repeatedly (and disingenuously) confessing her inability or unwillingness to enjoy the horroristic spectacle. This form of surrendering is a manifestation of tragic anti-catharsis. The chapter illustrates this process with Sontag’s appeal to two extraordinary Renaissance paintings: Hendrick Goltzius’s The Dragon Devouring the Companions of Cadmus (1588) and Titian’s Flaying of Marsyas (1570–6). A devouring that resembles a kiss in the former painting, and a torture indistinguishable from amorous gazing and intimate contact in the latter, encapsulate not only the contradictions of Sontag’s writing on the pain of others, but more to the point, her tangential classicism, a mix of haptic attraction and rejection.
The Dream Machine
Authors: Jansen Laura
Published: February 2025

This essay delves into Sontag’s interviews, essays and diaries to explore the positionality and degree of influence that two classical authors, Plato and Lucretius, have in her thought. It begins by exploring Sontag’s regard for her personal library as a ‘maker of dreams’, as well as Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes’s appeal to Plato’s cave to describe the quasi-cinematic character of the associative strategies Sontag employs in her writings. With these visual frameworks in mind, the discussion turns to the role of Lucretius in Sontag’s early and late diaries. It argues that her treatment of the author of De rerum natura (DRN) displays various degrees of tangentiality, all which have import for her sense of the classics: in the early diaries, she touches briefly on the poet and his message to define moments in her personal experience and intellectual development; in the late diaries, meanwhile, his name becomes a spectral reference, as well as a project that will never be fulfilled. The examples of Lucretius and Plato point to the formation of a quasi-intangible classical tradition in Sontag’s oeuvre, discussed in the closing section, one that cast a light on a divergent history of classical antiquity in the intellectual preoccupations of mid- to late twentieth-century writing.
Epilogue
Authors: Jansen Laura
Published: February 2025

This epilogue first brings the preceding essays together, drawing attention to the brand of tangential classicism uncovered in the volume. It then turns to a key archaeological metaphor in Sontag’s thought, the sense that the culture of the new in her own time emerges ‘in the ruins of thought’ that begin with antiquity and culminate in the ‘supra visions’ of eighteenth-and nineteenth-century German philosophies. The Epilogue closes with a consideration of how this archaeological image also crucially informs Sontag’s tangential classics, as well as the implications that this could have for the study of classicisms in the oblique.
Prologue
Authors: Clifford Emily
Published: February 2025

The Prologue sets the scene by opening a comparative conversation across different cultures and media. After looking at two paintings of the death of Alcestis from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries—La mort d’Alceste, ou l’héroïsme de l’amour conjugal by Pierre Peyron and Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis by Frederic Leighton—it turns to an ancient treatment of the myth in Euripides’ Alcestis. With the latter, it takes the reader back to Classical Athens, the defined culture that is the book’s focus. It ends with a question that sums up the book’s enquiry: how did figuring death help Athenians figure it out?
Angiogenesis during diabetic wound repair: from mechanism to therapy opportunity
Authors: Huang Kang , Mi Bobin , Xiong Yuan , Fu Zicai , Zhou Wenyun , Liu Wanjun , Liu Guohui , Dai Guandong
Published: February 2025

Diabetes mellitus, a pervasive chronic metabolic disorder, is often associated with complications such as impaired wound healing. Various factors, most notably vascular deficiency, govern the wound repair process in diabetic patients, significantly impeding diabetic wound healing; therefore, angiogenesis and its role in diabetic wound repair have emerged as important areas of research. This review aims to delve into the mechanisms of angiogenesis, the effects of diabetes on angiogenesis, and the association between angiogenesis and diabetic wound repair. This will ultimately offer valuable guidance regarding the ideal timing of diabetic wound treatment in a clinical setting.
The role of the gut microbiome and brain-liver-gut Axis in neurological disorders
Authors: Pan Li , Xie Lizheng , Yang Wenpei , Feng Shi , Mao Wenbao , Ye Lei , Cheng Hongwei , Wu Xiao , Mao Xiang
Published: February 2025

In recent years, with the increasing volume of related research, it has become apparent that the liver and gut play important roles in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Considering the interactions among the brain, liver, and gut, the brain–liver–gut axis has been proposed and gradually recognized. In this article, we summarized the complex network of interactions within the brain–liver–gut axis, encompassing the vagus nerve, barrier permeability, immunity and inflammation, the blood–brain barrier, gut microbial metabolites, the gut barrier, neurotoxic metabolites, and beta-amyloid (Aβ) metabolism. We also elaborated on the impact of the brain–liver–gut axis on various neurological disorders. Furthermore, we outline several therapies aimed at modulating the brain–liver–gut axis, including antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and dietary interventions. The focus is on elucidating possible mechanisms underlying neurological disorders pathogenesis and identifying effective treatments that are based on our understanding of the brain–liver–gut axis.
DFSP of the scalp treated with formalin-fixed Mohs Surgery; a patient's perspective
Authors: Affleck Andrew
Published: February 2025

A personal account of a patient having formalin-fixed slow Mohs of a scalp DFSP is given. The impact on her life is highlighted.
Complete response of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis treated with tofacitinib
Authors: Mercader-Salvans Júlia , Caldeira Marques Santos e Silva Luisa , Lukoviek Vania , Rodríguez Rosa , Expósito Pérez Lorena , Guimerá Francisco , Arteaga-Henríquez María
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we report a case of a multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with articular and skin manifestations that didn’t respond to classical treatments. Tofacitinib was prescribed and a complete clinical resolution was achieved. We discuss the risk of starting a JAKi treatment in a multicentric reticulohistiocytosis due to a possible malignancy-association with it.
Neural correlates underlying creative ideation associated with malevolent or benevolent intentions
Authors: Gao Zhenni , Liu Xiaojin , Gao Mengxia , Hao Ning
Published: February 2025

Creativity is a multifaceted cognitive process that can be driven by either malevolent or benevolent intentions, leading to divergent social outcomes. There is still uncertainty about the similarities and differences in the underlying neural activities of creativity associated with malevolent and benevolent intentions. This study investigates how intentions shape creative ideation using functional magnetic resonance imaging during malevolent and benevolent creative tasks. Key findings include: (i) overlapping activation in the middle frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus across tasks, indicating a shared neural basis for creative thinking; (ii) distinct activation patterns, with the malevolent creative task showing greater activation and reduced functional connectivity in regions such as the right rolandic operculum and supramarginal gyrus compared to the benevolent creative task; (iii) similar neural activity patterns in regions like the middle frontal gyrus and lingual gyrus between the malevolent creative task and benevolent creative task may indicate overlapping cognitive processes. (iv) Correlations between task-specific neural activity and behavioral performance, including malevolence negatively correlating with functional connectivity in the rolandic operculum and middle cingulate cortex during the malevolent creative task, and benevolence correlating with functional connectivity in the parahippocampal gyrus and insula during the benevolent creative task. This study indicated distinct and shared neural correlates linked to malevolent and benevolent creativity.
Risk-factor control and secondary prevention in ischemic heart disease in primary care: real-world insights from QregPV
Authors: Bager Johan-Emil , Mourtzinis Georgios , Simons Koen , Rosengren Annika , Åberg Maria , Andersson Tobias
Published: February 2025

Aims

With current, stricter lipid and blood pressure targets in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), secondary prevention may be insufficient and vary between patient groups and primary health care centres (PHCCs). We assessed the heterogeneity of risk-factor control and secondary prevention using contemporary Swedish primary-care data.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of IHD patients in September 2023 from QregPV, a Swedish regional primary-care register. We evaluated the proportions attaining risk-factor control (blood pressure <140/90 mmHg, LDL-cholesterol [LDL-C] <1.4 mmol/L, and non-smoking) and the use of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and antithrombotic therapy (ATT) by age and sex using logistic regression models. Heterogeneity among PHCCs was estimated using multilevel models and summarised as adjusted median odds ratios (aMOR).

Results

45 771 patients (34.5% women) were included. Combined risk-factor control was low, 15.5% (95% CI 15.0-16.0), mainly due to low LDL-C attainment, 20.7% (20.3-21.1). Combined risk-factor control decreased with higher age (p<0.001) and was lower in women than in men, age-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.60 (0.55-0.66). LLT and ATT were used by 77.2% (76.8-77.6) and 85.6% (85.2-85.9), with lower usage in women, aOR 0.52 (0.50-0.54) and aOR 0.58 (0.54-0.62). Substantial heterogeneity among PHCCs was observed, with combined risk-factor control aMOR 1.39 (1.32-1.48).

Conclusion

Combined risk-factor control was low, largely due to low LDL-C control, despite high LLT usage. Risk-factor control and the use of LLT and ATT varied between PHCCs and were lower in women than men. Concrete clinical strategies for attaining risk-factor goals in both sexes and for reducing PHCC variation are warranted.
Elevated lipoprotein(a) levels linked to new-onset atrial fibrillation: insights from a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Awad Kamal , Kamel Moaz , Mahmoud Ahmed K , Farina Juan M , Badr Amro , Pereyra Pietri Milagros , Scalia Isabel G , Abbas Mohammed Tiseer , Ali Nima Baba , Alsidawi Said , Lester Steven J , Abu Rmilah Anan , Barry Timothy , Shen Win-Kuang , Srivathsan Komandoor , Scott Luis R , El Masry Hicham , Valverde Arturo M , Sardana Mayank , Sorajja Dan , Ayoub Chadi , Arsanjani Reza
Published: February 2025

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Although lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is known to be a well-established risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, its role in the development of AF, independent of this association, remains unclear.

Methods and results

Adult patients from the three Mayo Clinic sites with a baseline Lp(a) and without AF history were included. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their Lp(a) levels: high Lp(a) (≥50 mg/dL) and low Lp(a) (<50 mg/dL). Survival probabilities free from incident AF were compared between Lp(a) groups, during a follow-up period up to 15 years, using the Kaplan–Meier curve and the log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was also conducted. A total of 75 376 patients were included (median age: 55 years, 59% males), with a median follow-up duration of 8.8 (inter-quartile range: 3.4, 14.8) years. Incident AF was detected in 5738 (7.6%) patients. Survival probability free from incident AF was significantly lower in patients with elevated Lp(a) (86%) compared with those with low Lp(a) (88%, log-rank P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis adjusted for potential risk factors of AF showed a statistically significant association of elevated Lp(a) with an 11% increase in AF risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.18).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that elevated Lp(a) (≥50 mg/dL) is an independent risk factor for incident AF. Future prospective studies are warranted to validate our results and to test if reducing Lp(a) could mitigate the burden of AF.
Identification and expression of a hydrophobic carboxylic acid reductase from Trichoderma virens
Authors: Goh Andrew Boon Huat , Ling Jonathan Guyang , Kamaruddin Shazilah , Murad Abdul Munir Abdul , Bakar Farah Diba Abu
Published: February 2025

Carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) have been garnering attention in applications for the sustainable synthesis of aldehydes. Despite numerous discoveries, not all characteristics of CAR enzymes have been extensively studied or understood. Herein, we report the discovery and expression of a new CAR enzyme (TvirCAR2) from the ascomycetous fungus, Trichoderma virens. Tvircar2 is one of five putative CARs identified from analyses of the T. virens genome. In silico analyses showed that TvirCAR2 has a high hydrophobicity index and that its corresponding gene is part of a biosynthetic gene cluster predicted to synthesize hybrid PKS-NRPS secondary metabolites. TvirCAR2 was highly expressed as soluble and insoluble forms in an Escherichia coli expression host. The solubility of the purified TvirCAR2 necessitated the addition of glycerol in the purification and assay buffers. Substrate screening via molecular docking showed that benzoic acid was a suitable substrate candidate. The TvirCAR2 enzyme catalyzed the reduction of benzoic acid with a specific activity of around 1.4 µmol/h/mg. Homologs which are predicted to exhibit similar hydrophobicity are the CARs from Stachybotrys bisbyi (StbB) which is involved in the production of the meroterpenoid, ilicicolin B, and Trichoderma reesei (TrCAR) which is part of a similar but still uncharacterized biosynthetic gene cluster.
Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation of Corallium rubrum: A Mediterranean Coral Threatened by Overharvesting and Climate Change
Authors: Ledoux Jean-Baptiste , Gomez-Garrido Jessica , Cruz Fernando , Camara Ferreira Francisco , Matos Ana , Sarropoulou Xenia , Ramirez-Calero Sandra , Aurelle Didier , Lopez-Sendino Paula , Grayson Natalie E , Moore Bradley S , Antunes Agostinho , Aguilera Laura , Gut Marta , Salces-Ortiz Judit , Fernández Rosa , Linares Cristina , Garrabou Joaquim , Alioto Tyler
Published: February 2025

Reference genomes are key resources in biodiversity conservation. Yet, sequencing efforts are not evenly distributed across the tree of life raising concerns over our ability to enlighten conservation with genomic data. Good-quality reference genomes remain scarce in octocorals while these species are highly relevant targets for conservation. Here, we present the first annotated reference genome in the red coral, Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758), a habitat-forming octocoral from the Mediterranean and neighboring Atlantic, impacted by overharvesting and anthropogenic warming-induced mass mortality events. Combining long reads from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), Illumina paired-end reads for improving the base accuracy of the ONT-based genome assembly, and Arima Hi-C contact data to place the sequences into chromosomes, we assembled a genome of 532 Mb (20 chromosomes, 309 scaffolds) with contig and scaffold N50 of 1.6 and 18.5 Mb, respectively. Fifty percent of the sequence (L50) was contained in seven superscaffolds. The consensus quality value of the final assembly was 42, and the single and duplicated gene completeness reported by BUSCO was 86.4% and 1%, respectively (metazoa_odb10 database). We annotated 26,348 protein-coding genes and 34,548 noncoding transcripts. This annotated chromosome-level genome assembly, one of the first in octocorals and the first in Scleralcyonacea order, is currently used in a project based on whole-genome resequencing dedicated to the conservation and management of C. rubrum.
Sustained purpose in life is associated with slower cognitive decline in older adults: A longitudinal analysis with a diverse national sample
Authors: Friedman Elliot M , Thomas Patricia A , Sauerteig-Rolston Madison R , Barnes Lisa L , Ferraro Kenneth F
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Purpose in life is positively associated with cognitive function and better maintenance of cognitive function over time in aging adults. However, purpose in life itself declines over time, and we examined whether such changes are related to changes in cognition and whether this varied by race and ethnicity.

Method

The current study used three waves of data from the nationally representative survey, Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 9,808), to examine the longitudinal associations between purpose in life and cognitive function in White, Black, and Hispanic adults age 65 and older. Purpose in life was measured using the 7-item version of the Ryff Psychological Well-Being scale. Cognitive function was assessed using a modified version of the TICS (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status).

Results

Growth curve models showed that purpose in life and cognitive function both declined over time, initial levels of purpose and cognitive function were positively associated, and less decline in purpose was associated with less decline in cognitive function. Addition of interaction terms for race and ethnicity showed that the positive association between initial levels of purpose in life and cognitive function was stronger in Black participants than in White or Hispanic participants; there were no racial or ethnic differences in the longitudinal associations.

Discussion

These results show that maintaining higher levels of purpose in life may protect cognitive abilities in older adults from diverse racial and ethnic groups.
Identification of Small Open Reading Frame Encoded Proteins from the Human Genome
Authors: Kore Hitesh , Okano Satomi , Datta Keshava K , Thorp Jackson , Periasamy Parthiban , Divate Mayur , Liyanage Upekha , Hartel Gunter , Nagaraj Shivashankar H , Gowda Harsha
Published: February 2025

One of the main goals of human genome project was to identify all the protein-coding genes. There are ∼ 20,500 protein-coding genes annotated in human reference databases. However, in the last few years, proteogenomics studies have predicted thousands of novel protein-coding regions including low molecular weight proteins encoded by small open reading frames (ORFs) in untranslated regions of messenger RNAs and non-coding RNAs. Most of these predictions are based on bioinformatics analysis and ribosome footprints. The validity of some of these small ORF (sORF) encoded proteins (SEPs) has been established following functional characterization. With the growing number of predicted novel proteins, a strategy to identify reliable candidates that warrant further studies is needed. We developed an integrated proteogenomics workflow to identify reliable set of novel protein-coding regions in the human genome based on their recurrent observations across multiple samples. Publicly available ribosome profiling and global proteomics datasets were used to establish protein-coding evidence. We predicted protein translation from 4008 ORFs based on recurrent ribosome occupancy signals across samples. In addition, we identified 825 SEPs based on proteomics data. Some of the novel protein-coding regions identified were in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) loci associated with various traits and disease phenotypes. Peptides from SEPs are also presented by major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) complex similar to canonical proteins. Novel protein-coding regions reported in this study expand the current catalog of protein-coding genes and warrant experimental studies to elucidate cellular functions regulated by these proteins and their role in human diseases.
Sorbitol impregnation reduces freeze–thaw damage in potato slices subjected to different freezing methods
Authors: Liu Wuyi , Jiayi Gao , Sun Xiyun , Wang Yaoyao , Xiao Hongwei , Liu Chunju , Wang Haiou
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the effect of sorbitol impregnation on freeze–thaw damage in potato slices subjected to four freezing methods: −40 °C contact plate freezing (−40 °C-CPF), −80 °C contact plate freezing (−80 °C-CPF), liquid nitrogen freezing (LNF), and vacuum freezing (VF) to compare their freezing characteristics, water status, cell activity, and microstructure. Results indicate that sorbitol impregnation significantly reduced the drip loss (DL), the freezing time and the relative electrical conductivity (REC) (except for LNF) of freeze–thawed potato slices, presenting a higher reduction in REC index under the freezing method of −80 °C-CPF. Low-frequency nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis showed that the change in the peak area proportion of sorbitol-impregnated sample at −80 °C-CPF was found to be minimal, which was beneficial for the retention of water. Compared with LNF and VF freezing methods, it retained relatively more intact cell structures and exhibited less cell death. Overall, sorbitol impregnation derived more alleviation of freeze–thaw damage in potato slices under the −80 °C-CPF freezing method.
“Smaller Goals Were Achieved”: Feminist Peace Archives in Israel and Communal Methods of Repair
Authors: Aharoni Sarai B , Eyal Hedva , Preser Ruth
Published: February 2025

The article engages with the potential of feminist archiving-as-activism as a communal method of repair that can enable a more responsible research agenda toward women’s resistance to armed conflict. The study is based on a local, dialogical approach and on qualitative data obtained through a series of 35 interviews with Israeli feminist peace activists, scholars and archivists and on an ethnographic survey of 11 Feminist Peace Archives (FPAs) conducted in 2019–2022. The analysis is embedded in a reparative logic of imagining future FPAs in Israel/Palestine by listening to stories about endurance and failure. We discuss four themes: (1) the types of materials produced by feminist peace organizations; (2) the current location of historical records; (3) decision-making processes regarding preservation and archiving; and (4) the overall importance of creating feminist peace archives even under conditions of long-term failure. We find that “archives of failure” are characterized by silences that are manifested in parallel practices of preservation and erasure of materials and reverberate the activism failure, and the fear of being forgotten altogether. As such, the act of questioning is by itself a form of reparative archival work that involves an effort to subvert the silencing of everyday stories of peace and cooperation.