bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depression and anxiety in people with kidney disease: understanding symptom variability, patient experience and preferences for mental health support
Authors: Chilcot Joseph , Pearce Christina J. , Hall Natalie , Rehman Zara , Norton Sam , Griffiths Sophie , Hudson Joanna L. , Mackintosh Lucy , Busby Amanda , Wellsted David , Jones Julia , Sharma Shivani , Ormandy Paula , Palmer Nick , Schmill Pooja , Da Silva-Gane Maria , Morgan Neal , Poulikakos Dimitrios , Veighey Kristin , Robertson Stuart , Elias Rob , Farrington Ken
Published: January 2025

Background

Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced by people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to evaluate person- and service-level factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. We sought to also understand utilisation of mental health treatments and preferences for future psychological support.

Methods

An online survey recruited participants from six UK kidney services with varying levels of psychosocial provision. The survey was also advertised on social media. Participants completed screening questionnaires for depression and anxiety, alongside questions about mental health history, self-efficacy, treatment and support. The study included adults (18 years or older) living with CKD (stages 3b and above) or those receiving any form of Kidney Replacement Therapy (KRT), including individuals with a functioning kidney transplant. Eligible participants had to complete study measures and be proficient in reading and writing in either English or Welsh, as the survey was administered in these languages. This survey was developed with our Patient and Public Involvement group and was administered from January 2023 until 31st January, 2024 using Qualtrics and RedCap.

Results

Four hundred fifty-eight people completed the survey. Moderate-severe symptoms of depression and anxiety were 37.7% and 26.5%, respectively. Over 50% reported a history of diagnosed depression. In addition to depression, sleep problems and fatigue were identified as future support needs, with over a third indicating a preference for in-centre provision. In case-mix adjusted analysis, there was no variability in depression and anxiety symptoms across centres. Centre location and size were unrelated to symptoms. Age, female gender, current mental health treatments, self-efficacy and perceptions regarding opportunity for support, were associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. In sub-analysis, there was a negative association between psychosocial staffing levels and depression symptoms.

Conclusion

Patient-related factors and behavioural characteristics were related to variation of these symptoms. There was little evidence of symptom variability across centres, although in a small sub-analysis, psychosocial provision showed a weak negative correlation with depression symptoms. Our findings highlight preferences of future needs which could be helpful for designing future research and service provision.

Graphical abstract
Review on Erosion Wear Subjected to Different Coating Materials on Leading Edge Protection for Cooling Towers and Wind Turbines
Authors: Nirmal Umar , Teo Jin Ji , Chin Chee Wen , Yousif Belal F.
Published: January 2025

In response to the increasing importance of sustainable engineering solutions, this review focuses on evaluating the sustainability of different coating materials to solve erosion problems on the fan blades of a cooling tower and wind turbine. This review focuses on the types of erosion wear namely on the leading edge of cooling towers and wind turbines (LECT/WT) which will prioritise on the leading edge protection (LEP) on the fan blades used in various applications. This review will highlight recent works done on the design and development of high-efficiency cooling towers. The investigation on erosion resistant coating materials will also be reviewed since there are numerous claims made that certain coating material happen to provide enhanced resistance to erosion wear on LECT/WT. We reviewed all possible aspects of coating material on LECT/WT using different chemical composition namely to provide an optimum wear resistance to cast iron. In summary, there is no any specific coating material than can provide an infinite life span of a fan blade used in cooling towers or wind turbines. Lastly, we highlighted crucial future research on the aforesaid topic which may open new research pathways in the future. The ‘hunt’ for the so called ‘ultimate’ coating material to cast iron used in the LECT/WT is yet to be discovered.
Assessing Pore Formation due to Nitrogen Partitioning in a Hypoeutectic Cast Iron
Authors: Queirós Ricardo , Domeij Björn , Diószegi Attila
Published: January 2025

Pore formation in cast iron castings is driven both by shrinkage and dissolved gases, where the latter stems from supersaturated gaseous species, such as nitrogen. During solidification, nitrogen partitions between the austenite and the liquid according to the ratio of its solubility in each phase. This ratio, known as the partition coefficient, is essential to characterize, as accumulation in the liquid phase can lead to critical supersaturation for pore formation. However, there is conflicting information in CALPHAD databases and literature regarding its partitioning behavior. This work evaluates nitrogen partitioning between the primary austenite and the liquid in a hypoeutectic lamellar cast iron alloy. To investigate this, a cylindrical specimen was produced and remelted under an inert atmosphere, allowing the austenite and the liquid to establish a solute equilibrium. After 6 days of holding at 1175 °C within the solid–liquid biphasic range, the specimen was quenched, and samples were extracted from the austenitic and liquid regions, which had transformed into martensite and ledeburite, respectively. The nitrogen concentration was measured by inert gas fusion (IGF), resulting in a nitrogen partition coefficient

$${k}_{N}^{\gamma /L}$$

k

N

γ
/
L

= 0.72±0.08, which represents partition in the opposite direction suggested by thermodynamic databases. The results indicate that there are opportunities to further explore nitrogen partitioning in other compositions and highlight the importance of selecting databases that more accurately represent the phenomena of interest. Moreover, a better understanding of nitrogen partitioning can enhance the control of porosity in cast iron processing.
Life cycle environmental impact assessment of steel structures using building information modeling
Authors: Mohammed Alaa , Elmasoudi Islam , Ghannam Mohamed
Published: January 2025

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are fundamental components within building projects. LCA is critical in building projects’ sustainability. The integration of BIM has the potential to enhance the LCA process, leading to better outcomes. Design for Deconstruction (DfD) study on minimizing, reusing, and recycling of building materials is closely linked. This study aims to evaluate and compare the findings obtained from the E-tool LCD and Tally LCA add-in tools; both used as BIM-based LCA tools. This paper outlines the overarching approach to implementing a process-based LCA for a steel building, explicitly emphasising the many processes the building undergoes during its life cycle. The LCA add-in tools, namely e-tool LCD and Tally, have been chosen to discern the disparities in the LCA outcomes resulting from using Environmental Product Declaration (EPD databases that vary across various regions. The input data, system boundaries, and LCA scope remained consistent throughout the LCA procedures. Global Warming Potential values obtained from the manufacturing module developed by e-tool LCD were included in a case study. A case study of steel structure is used to implement the LCA add-in tools. The discussion also addressed the challenges of enhancing interoperability in contemporary BIM-based LCA procedures. The study revealed that using EPD databases with regional variations notably impacts LCA outcomes. Consequently, the compatibility assessment in BIM-based LCA procedures yielded value innovation, efficiency, and distinctiveness.

Furthermore, it was determined that BIM-LCA procedures resulted in notable distinctions compared to conventional LCA methods. These distinctions included enhanced convenience of application, increased efficiency in terms of time and resources, and higher levels of accuracy.
The Prehistory of the Idea that Thinking is Modelling
Authors: Chirimuuta Mazviita
Published: January 2025

This paper examines early expositions of the idea that to think about an object is to construct and manipulate an internal model of that object. The origin of this idea is normally credited to Kenneth Craik (1943) but here I show that it is prefigured in the writings of two nineteenth century physicist-psychologists, Hermann von Helmholtz and Ernst Mach.
Clustering of buoyant tracer in quasi-geostrophic coherent structures
Authors: Meacham Jamie , Berloff Pavel
Published: January 2025

We have investigated the dynamics of floating tracer in an idealised turbulent quasi-geostrophic ocean by advecting Lagrangian particles in a high-resolution velocity field enhanced by the potential flow associated with vortex stretching. At first order in the Rossby number expansion, this component of the ageostrophic circulation can be derived through a diagnostic equation in terms of the geostrophic velocities. Borrowing methods from the theory of Lagrangian coherent structures, we identify coherent material loops around strong vortex cores using the Lagrangian averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD). Building on studies of clustering in kinematic, stochastic velocity fields, we utilise methods from statistical topography to show that the coherent vortices dominate the distribution of extreme values of the concentration field. We find that the presence of clusters and voids in a coherent vortex depends on more than just the sense of rotation, but also on the full evolution of the vorticity over its lifecycle. We identify the mechanism behind the cluster formation that respects the symmetries of the quasi-geostrophic equations but can be expected to hold robustly in more complicated regimes, due to the simple physical description. The association of cluster formation with vortex stretching implies that LAVD is a particularly relevant metric for floating tracer dynamics. The detection of intense clustering also has implications for reaction rates between ocean-borne flotsam, meaning that our results are relevant to understanding the general risk of floating microplastics and marine biological populations.
Strengthening Global Health Security Under the Biden-Harris Administration
Authors: Pace Loyce , Kim Susan C.
Published: January 2025

Global health security in the Biden-Harris Administration has been a dynamic area of engagement, starting with the COVID-19 response, to strengthening and reforming the World Health Organization, to bolstering regional partnerships, and securing financing for pandemic preparedness. Sustained commitment to bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation will ensure that the United States stands ready to address any future health challenges.
Dietary preferences and collagen to collagen prey-predator trophic discrimination factors (Δ13C, Δ15N) in late Pleistocene cave hyena
Authors: Krajcarz Magdalena , Baumann Chris , Bocherens Hervé , Presslee Samantha , Krajcarz Maciej T.
Published: January 2025

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was an important large carnivore of Pleistocene ecosystems in Africa and Eurasia. Like its modern relatives, this obligate carnivore was adapted to crush and digest bones of its prey and absorb organic matter from bones more efficiently than any other carnivore. This difference in the nutrient resource use between hyenas and most other carnivores led to differences in the isotope flux and variation in the carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition. In our paper, we assess the prey-to-hyena collagen-to-collagen Δ13C and Δ15N trophic discrimination factor (TDF), a key parameter needed in mixing models used for quantitative reconstruction of diet. We analyzed a Pleistocene hyena den bone accumulation in Perspektywiczna Cave (Poland), with a preserved assemblage of remains containing both hyenas and a wide spectrum of their prey represented by digested bones. With the use of proteomics-based taxonomic identification (ZooMS), we estimated the proportion of prey species in the hyena diet. The modeled collagen-to-collagen TDFs are around +1.6‰ to +1.7‰ for δ13C and around +3.4‰ to +3.5‰ for δ15N. This study provides new data on the dietary habits of this large carnivore and allows for a more accurate use of isotopic signals in modeling past hyena diets.
Refining Quinean Naturalism: An Alternative to Kemp’s Stimulus Field Approach
Authors: Toy Tolgahan
Published: January 2025

W. V. Quine suggests that meaning derives from the stimulus, the effects of the outside world on the subject’s nerve endings. However, the idiosyncrasy of the stimulus poses challenges to the intersubjectivity of meaning. Gary Kemp proposes the stimulus field approach as a solution. The stimulus field approach focuses on the forces affecting the subject, rather than the effects on the subject. In this article, I critique Kemp’s solution. Furthermore, I argue that the Quinean approach can be refined in a way that two agents may converge on the same meaning even without sharing the same stimuli or forces affecting them.
The 1943 West African Editors’ Press Delegation to the United Kingdom: Mediating the Metropole from World War II Nigeria
Authors: Coates Oliver
Published: January 2025

The 1943 Tour of Eight West African editors to London formed a major event in World War II United Kingdom–West Africa relations. The tour is often understood in terms of the symbolic importance of Azikiwe's landmark Memorandum on the Atlantic Charter. This article argues that we should reappraise our understandings of the tour and pay closer attention to African actors and networks beyond the Colonial Office. We must understand Britain as a periphery to a West African social, cultural, and political centre. The tour reveals how Britain was mediated in West African terms. Existing historiography focused on Azikiwe's Memorandum or decision-making within Whitehall has ignored both the importance of the tour in West Africa and the diversity of Africans in Britain involved in the tour. The present article focuses on African responses to the tour and, drawing on the historiography of print culture and wartime African mobilities, prioritises African-authored sources. Cumulatively, it situates the tour within an evolving historiography of global mobilities in WWII Nigeria. Rather than simply seeking to unite the metropole and colony in a single field, the article suggests that we must consider more deeply the ways that Africans provincialized the metropole, while centring African colonies.
‘Away, Away’: Franz Liszt's Mazeppa and the Bonds of Freedom
Authors: Meyers-Riczu Jamie
Published: January 2025

Franz Liszt's symphonic poem Mazeppa (1854) recreates a narrative that portrays Cossack commander Ivan Mazeppa's torturous Ride – bound naked to an unbroken horse – to miraculous survival and triumph. To evoke this legend, Liszt incorporated familiar musical tropes: persistent galloping triplets, fanfares, apotheosis and a march-like finale. These tropes illustrate a consistent story, but they risk sounding merely clichéd and mimetic. To appreciate how Liszt uses these tropes to create depth and compositional creativity in Mazeppa requires consideration of the myth's intertextuality. This article considers the broader sources that informed Liszt's Mazeppa and offers an interpretation that includes the programme's preface and an array of Mazeppa ‘texts’ that have appeared since the mid-eighteenth century. These texts include a quasi-historical narrative, poetry and visual art along with Liszt's original commentary for Mazeppa and his defence of programme music in his Berlioz and His ‘Harold’ Symphony essay. Taking all of this together, my approach in this article is to analyse Mazeppa as if listening for the protagonist and letting the character of his musical subject inform my interpretation. Hearing the musical subject in this work requires attention to voice, expressivity, motives, gestures, themes and extramusical intertexts to construct, layer by layer, an interpretation of Mazeppa's symbolic significance. I argue that connecting these threads of cultural history illuminates the piece's theme of suffering and death as inescapable companions in the life of the creative genius.
Homophobia in Greece
Authors: Hindenlang Fabian , Kranz Dirk , Chourdaki Maria , Koupa Melodia
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Introduction: Apart from a few studies with limited sample sizes, we have little data on attitudes toward lesbian and gay (LG) people in Greece. Methods: This study examines this topic in 949 heterosexual Greek participants. Based on previous research in cultural contexts other than Greece, we hypothesized that four demographics (gender, age, education, area of residence) and religious and political orientation predict a substantial amount of variance in homophobia (i.e., anti-LG attitudes). Results: We verified all observed variables except area of residence as significant predictors. Regarding the “intergroup contact hypothesis,” we distinguished the direct effects of the predictor variables from indirect effects mediated by contact with lesbians and gay men. All variables except area of residence showed a direct effect and, except for education, also an indirect effect on homophobia. The strongest effects were found for religious and political orientation, followed by gender. Highly religious, right-wing oriented, and male participants reported the highest levels of homophobia, partially mediated by their low level of contact with LG people. Discussion/Conclusion: The results confirm and further explain the detrimental role the Greek Orthodox Church, right-wing political parties, and traditional gender roles play in the acceptance of sexual minorities.
Tracking Multiyear Sea‐Ice Variation in the Arctic Ocean Over Decades With Microseism
Authors: Chen Jui‐Chun Freya , Park Sunyoung , MacAyeal Douglas R.
Published: January 2025

We construct a linear model of microseism power as a function of sea‐ice concentration and ocean‐wave activity with a seismic station located on northern Ellesmere Island. The influence of wind‐ice‐ocean interactions on microseism has been taken into account. We find the increase in microseism power over the last 32 years reflects the long‐term loss of sea ice and increasing ocean‐wave activity in the Arctic Ocean likely associated with climate change. We further assess model performance to determine a representative region over which sea‐ice concentration and ocean‐wave activity most directly influence the microseism power. The seismological methods developed here suggest that there is the potential to augment or refine observations of sea‐ice conditions obtained from satellites and from in‐situ observations. Seismological methods may thus help determine properties such as sea‐ice thickness, which are less amenable to conventional observations, under a changing climate, particularly in remote areas like the High Arctic.
The Cloud Radiative Response to Surface Warming Weakens Hydrological Sensitivity
Authors: McGraw Zachary , Polvani Lorenzo M. , Gasparini Blaž , Van de Koot Emily K. , Voigt Aiko
Published: January 2025

Precipitation is expected to increase in a warmer global climate, yet how sensitive precipitation is to warming depends on poorly constrained cloud radiative processes. Clouds respond to surface warming in ways that alter the atmosphere's ability to radiatively cool and hence form precipitation. Here we examine the links between cloud responses to warming, atmospheric radiative fluxes, and hydrological sensitivity in AMIP6 simulations. The clearest impacts come from high clouds, which reduce atmospheric radiative cooling as they rise in altitude in response to surface warming. Using cloud locking, we demonstrate that high cloud radiative changes weaken Earth's hydrological sensitivity to surface warming. The total impact of cloud radiative effects on hydrological sensitivity is halved by interactions between cloud and clear‐sky radiative effects, yet is sufficiently large to be a major source of uncertainty in hydrological sensitivity.
Shift in the Relationship Between Summer Extreme Humid‐Heat Events in Eastern China and Tropical Sea Surface Temperature in the Mid‐1990s
Authors: He Wenyue , Chen Huopo
Published: January 2025

The social losses associated with extreme humid‐heat events (EHHE) increased sharply in recent decades. This study has explored the changing relationship between EHHE in eastern China and tropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Results show that the monopolar mode of EHHE is significantly associated with spring SST anomalies in Northwest Pacific (NWP) before the mid‐1990s, which can impact humid‐heat conditions in eastern China through an atmospheric meridional overturning circulation extending from NWP to eastern China. Then, the associated eastward shift of convection center after the mid‐1990s weakens connection between NWP SST anomalies and the monopolar mode. Further analysis reveals that the weakened Kelvin waves, induced by persistent SST anomalies from spring in tropical Indian Ocean after the mid‐1990s, cause the westward‐shifted anomalous convection in western Pacific, and then reinforce formation of the dipolar mode via exciting zonal wave trains. Numerical simulations via linear baroclinic model further validate atmospheric response to displacement of diabatic forcings.
Ground and Space (LEO) Based GNSS Ionospheric Detection Using Chapman Function Constraint
Authors: Li Jiangfeng , Zhu Yi , Feng Wei , Huang Dingfa
Published: January 2025

Limited by the number and location distribution of ground stations, the ground based ionospheric detection using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technology suffers from low accuracy and poor reliability in some regions. To improve the performance of the global ionospheric model, this study combines the Continuously Operating Reference Station and the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite observation to conduct the ground and space‐based (G/SBased) joint ionospheric detection technique. With reference to the ionospheric radar data of the global ionospheric radio observatory, the performance of the G/SBased GNSS joint ionospheric detection technique was tested in quiet and disturbed geomagnetic environments. Results show that in the ground and space based joint mode, the distribution of ionospheric puncture points (IPPs) is uniform, thus effectively avoiding the problem of IPPs blank in the absence of ground stations. In the quiet geomagnetic environment, the ionospheric detection of the G/SBased joint mode has a remarkable performance improvement compared with the ground GNSS mode, with an average improvement of 55.51%. In the geomagnetically disturbed environment, the G/SBased joint mode still has high consistency with the ionospheric radar results, and the detection performance is better than that of the ground GNSS mode. This research shows that combining with ground GNSS and LEO satellite observation data can substantially provide the performance of GNSS ionospheric total electron content detection and can provide good data support for the construction of a global ionospheric refinement model.
Observations of Small‐Scale Magnetic Flux Ropes Associated With Significant Values of Partial Variance Increment Indices
Authors: Chen Yu , Hu Qiang
Published: January 2025

We report recent findings for the magnetic field configurations of small‐scale magnetic flux ropes (SFRs) broadly defined and identified by using the Grad‐Shafranov‐based techniques for in situ measurements via the Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Solar Orbiter (SolO), and two Helios spacecraft. Since the current sheets were found to occur at boundaries of SFRs and/or inside SFRs at 1 AU via the partial variance increment (PVI) and the Grad‐Shafranov (GS) reconstruction technique by Pecora et al. (2019), https://doi.org/10.3847/2041‐8213/ab32d9, we further examine such a co‐existence in this study by assessing the maximum PVI indices within SFR intervals using the above four spacecraft observations throughout the inner heliosphere (1 AU). Less than 15% of SFRs have maximum PVI indices exceeding a threshold value of 6 that is used to indicate a current sheet structure. Three representative events are selected to explain the most common situations. (a) Current sheets occur at SFR boundaries and near the center. Each could be a weak switchback feature in the time‐series profile of the gradually bipolar magnetic field rotations. (b) An SFR configuration is confirmed by both the measurement of counterstreaming electrons and the GS reconstruction result, despite that a large PVI value occurs near the SFR center which is due to an arbitrary kink instead of a current sheet. (c) A current sheet is falsely identified as an SFR where a significant PVI value ( 7) occurs near the center. In the end, we discuss the necessity of using multi‐point spacecraft measurements to discern the structures associated with SFRs.
Observation and Reconstruction of Electron Vortex in Reconnection Outflow
Authors: Niu J. Q. , Wang Z. , Fu H. S. , Cao J. B. , Fu W. D.
Published: January 2025

On 27 January 2017, Magnetospheric Multi‐Scale observed a series of electron vortexes, which are driven by the electron Kelvin‐Helmholtz (K‐H) instability in the reconnection outflow at terrestrial magnetopause. We find the electron vorticity can reach above 200 s−1 inside the vortexes, which is comparable to the strong vorticity events in the electron diffusion region. Using the First‐Order Taylor Expansion for Velocity field method, we further reconstruct the 3D topology of two electron vortexes and find one vortex is converging while another vortex is diverging. Interestingly, enhancement of electron temperature was observed in the diverging vortex but not in the converging vortex, indicating electron dynamics is related to the vortex topology. Our study suggests that electron K‐H vortexes formed by the intense electron shear flow in the reconnection outflow have different types of topologies and will help us better understand the reconnection picture at the terrestrial magnetopause.
Guidelines for Managing Induced Seismicity Risks
Authors: Schultz Ryan , Zhou Wen , Lanza Federica , Grigoratos Iason
Published: January 2025

Consolidating state-of-the-art science into guidelines provides a path forward for managing induced seismicity risks and highlights avenues for future research.
A broadly neutralizing antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5
Authors: Chen Zhe , Feng Leilei , Wang Lei , Zhang Li , Zheng Binyang , Fu Hua , Li Fengdi , Liu Ligai , Lv Qi , Deng Ran , Xu YanLi , Hu Yongfeng , Zheng Jianhua , Qin Chuan , Bao Linlin , Wang Xiangxi , Jin Qi
Published: January 2025

The global spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. (SARS-CoV-2) and its variant strains, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and now Omicron, pose a significant challenge. With the constant evolution of the virus, Omicron and its subtypes BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 have developed the capacity to evade neutralization induced by previous vaccination or infection. This evasion highlights the urgency in discovering new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with neutralizing activity, especially broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), to combat the virus.In the current study, we introduced a fully human neutralizing mAb, CR9, that targets Omicron variants. We demonstrated the mAb’s effectiveness in inhibiting Omicron replication both in vitro and in vivo. Structural analysis using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) revealed that CR9 binds to an epitope formed by RBD residues, providing a molecular understanding of its neutralization mechanism. Given its potency and specificity, CR9 holds promise as a potential adjunct therapy for treating Omicron infections. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous mAb discovery and characterization in addressing the evolving threat of COVID-19.
Developing novel Lin28 inhibitors by computer aided drug design
Authors: Matias-Barrios Victor M. , Radaeva Mariia , Rosellinny Graciella , Jia Qiongqiong , Xie Ning , Villanueva Monica , Ibrahim Hanadi , Smith Jason , Gleave Martin , Lallous Nada , Straus Suzana K. , Cherkasov Artem , Dong Xuesen
Published: January 2025

Lin28 is a key regulator of cancer stem cell gene network that promotes therapy-resistant tumor progression in various tumors. However, no Lin28 inhibitor has been approved to treat cancer patients, urging exploration of novel compounds as candidates to be tested for clinical trials. In this contribution, we applied computer-aided drug design (CADD) in combination with quantitative biochemical and biological assays. These efforts led to the discovery of Ln268 as a drug candidate that can block Lin28 from binding to its RNA substrates and inhibit Lin28 activities. Ln268 suppressed Lin28-mediated cancer cell proliferation and spheroid growth. Results from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed that Ln268 perturbs the conformation of the zinc knuckle domain of Lin28, validating the rational drug design by CADD. The inhibitory effects of Ln268 are dependent on Lin28 protein expression in cancer cells, highlighting limited off-target effects of Ln268. Moreover, Ln268 synergizes with several chemotherapy drugs to suppress tumor cell growth. In summary, Ln268 is a promising candidate for further development to target Lin28 as a cancer therapy.
New insights into constitutive neutrophil death
Authors: Chen Tong , Ren Qian , Ma Fengxia
Published: January 2025

Neutrophils undergo rapid aging and death known as constitutive or spontaneous death. Constitutive neutrophil death (CND) contributes to neutrophil homeostasis and inflammation resolution. CND has long been considered to be apoptotic until our findings reveal that it was a heterogeneous combination of diverse death. Furthermore, dead neutrophils retain functional roles via multiple manners. This review provides an overview of current research on the mechanism and modulation of CND. More noteworthy, we also summarize the after-death events of neutrophils. The fate of neutrophils can be changed under pathological conditions, so the involvement of CND in diseases and CND-related therapeutic strategies are also addressed.
Rice transcription factor bHLH25 confers resistance to multiple diseases by sensing H2O2
Authors: Liao Haicheng , Fang Yu , Yin Junjie , He Min , Wei Yingjie , Zhang Juan , Yong Shuang , Cha Jiankui , Song Li , Zhu Xiaobo , Chen Xixi , Kováč Ján , Hou Qingqing , Ma Zhaotang , Zhou Xiaogang , Chen Lin , Yumoto Emi , Yang Tian , He Qi , Li Wei , Deng Yixin , Li Haoxuan , Li Mingwu , Qing Hai , Zou Lijuan , Bi Yu , Liu Jiali , Yang Yihua , Ye Daihua , Tao Qi , Wang Long , Xiong Qing , Lu Xiang , Tang Yongyan , Li Ting , Ma Bingtian , Qin Peng , Li Yan , Wang Wenming , Qian Yangwen , Ďurkovič Jaroslav , Miyamoto Koji , Chern Mawsheng , Li Shigui , Li Weitao , Wang Jing , Chen Xuewei
Published: January 2025

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a ubiquitous signal regulating many biological processes, including innate immunity, in all eukaryotes. However, it remains largely unknown that how transcription factors directly sense H2O2 in eukaryotes. Here, we report that rice basic/helix-loop-helix transcription factor bHLH25 directly senses H2O2 to confer resistance to multiple diseases caused by fungi or bacteria. Upon pathogen attack, rice plants increase the production of H2O2, which directly oxidizes bHLH25 at methionine 256 in the nucleus. Oxidized bHLH25 represses miR397b expression to activate lignin biosynthesis for plant cell wall reinforcement, preventing pathogens from penetrating plant cells. Lignin biosynthesis consumes H2O2 causing accumulation of non-oxidized bHLH25. Non-oxidized bHLH25 switches to promote the expression of Copalyl Diphosphate Synthase 2 (CPS2), which increases phytoalexin biosynthesis to inhibit expansion of pathogens that escape into plants. This oxidization/non-oxidation status change of bHLH25 allows plants to maintain H2O2, lignin and phytoalexin at optimized levels to effectively fight against pathogens and prevents these three molecules from over-accumulation that harms plants. Thus, our discovery reveals a novel mechanism by which a single protein promotes two independent defense pathways against pathogens. Importantly, the bHLH25 orthologues from available plant genomes all contain a conserved M256-like methionine suggesting the broad existence of this mechanism in the plant kingdom. Moreover, this Met-oxidation mechanism may also be employed by other eukaryotic transcription factors to sense H2O2 to change functions.
The evolution of preferred male traits, female preference and the G matrix: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”
Authors: Roff Derek A.
Published: January 2025

Female preference exerts selection on male traits. How such preferences affect male traits, how female preferences change and the genetic correlation between male traits and female preference were examined by an experiment in which females were either mated to males they preferred (S lines) or to males chosen at random from the population (R lines). Female preference was predicted to increase the time spent calling by males. Thirteen other song components were measured. Preference for individual traits was greatest for time spent calling(CALL), volume(VOL) and chirp rate(CHIRP) but the major contributors in the multivariate function were CALL and CHIRP, the univariate influence of VOL arising from correlations to these traits. Estimation of β, the standardized selection differential, for CALL resulting from female preference showed that it was under strong direct selection. However, contrary to prediction, CALL did not change over the course of the experiment whereas VOL, CHIRP and other song components did. Simulation of the experiment using the estimated G matrix showed that lack of change in CALL resulted from indirect genetic effects negating direct effects. Changes in song components were largely due to indirect effects. This experiment showed that female preference may exert strong selection on traits but how they respond to such selection will depend greatly upon the G matrix. As predicted, female preference declined in the R lines. The genetic correlations between preference and preferred traits did not decline significantly more in the R lines, suggesting correlations resulted from both linkage disequilibrium and pleiotropy.
Integration of clinical, pathological, radiological, and transcriptomic data improves prediction for first-line immunotherapy outcome in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Captier Nicolas , Lerousseau Marvin , Orlhac Fanny , Hovhannisyan-Baghdasarian Narinée , Luporsi Marie , Woff Erwin , Lagha Sarah , Salamoun Feghali Paulette , Lonjou Christine , Beaulaton Clément , Zinovyev Andrei , Salmon Hélène , Walter Thomas , Buvat Irène , Girard Nicolas , Barillot Emmanuel
Published: January 2025

Immunotherapy is improving the survival of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet reliable biomarkers are needed to identify responders prospectively and optimize patient care. In this study, we explore the benefits of multimodal approaches to predict immunotherapy outcome using multiple machine learning algorithms and integration strategies. We analyze baseline multimodal data from a cohort of 317 metastatic NSCLC patients treated with first-line immunotherapy, including positron emission tomography images, digitized pathological slides, bulk transcriptomic profiles, and clinical information. Testing multiple integration strategies, most of them yield multimodal models surpassing both the best unimodal models and established univariate biomarkers, such as PD-L1 expression. Additionally, several multimodal combinations demonstrate improved patient risk stratification compared to models built with routine clinical features only. Our study thus provides evidence of the superiority of multimodal over unimodal approaches, advocating for the collection of large multimodal NSCLC datasets to develop and validate robust and powerful immunotherapy biomarkers.
Challenges and opportunities for high-quality battery production at scale
Authors: Attia Peter M. , Moch Eric , Herring Patrick K.
Published: January 2025

As the world electrifies, global battery production is expected to surge. However, batteries are both difficult to produce at the gigawatt-hour scale and sensitive to minor manufacturing variation. As a result, the battery industry has already experienced both highly-visible safety incidents and under-the-radar reliability issues—a trend that will only worsen if left unaddressed. Here we highlight both the challenges and opportunities to enable battery quality at scale. We first describe the interplay between various battery failure modes and their numerous root causes. We then discuss how to manage and improve battery quality during production. We hope our perspective brings greater visibility to the battery quality challenge to enable safe global electrification.
Neuronal dynamics of cerebellum and medial prefrontal cortex in adaptive motor timing
Authors: Ren Zhong , Wang Xiaolu , Angelov Milen , De Zeeuw Chris I. , Gao Zhenyu
Published: January 2025

Precise temporal control of sensorimotor coordination and adaptation is a fundamental basis of animal behavior. How different brain regions are involved in regulating the flexible temporal adaptation remains elusive. Here, we investigated the neuronal dynamics of the cerebellar interposed nucleus (IpN) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons during temporal adaptation between delay eyeblink conditioning (DEC) and trace eyeblink conditioning (TEC). When mice were trained for either DEC or TEC and subsequently subjected to a new paradigm, their conditioned responses (CRs) adapted virtually instantaneously. Changes in the activity of the IpN neurons related to CR timing were prominent during DEC-to-TEC adaptation, but less so during TEC-to-DEC adaptation. In contrast, mPFC neurons could rapidly alter their modulation patterns during both adaptation paradigms. Accordingly, silencing the mPFC completely blocked the adaptation of CR timing. These results illustrate how cerebral and cerebellar mechanisms may play different roles during adaptive control of associative motor timing.
Tracking hydrothermal infiltration within light oil reservoirs using organic geochemical proxies in the Shunbei area of Tarim Basin in China
Authors: Gao Jian , Li Shaojie , Li Huan , Cao Zicheng , Li Huili , Geng Feng , Han Jun , Huang Cheng
Published: January 2025

Deep oil reservoirs are becoming increasingly significant fields of hydrocarbon exploration in recent decades. Hydrothermal fluid flow is deemed as a potentially crucial factor affecting the occurrence of deep oil reservoirs, such as enhancing porosity/permeability of reservoirs, accelerating oil generation and thermal cracking, and modifying organic properties of crude oils. Understanding the interplay between hydrothermal fluids and crude oils would provide useful constraints for reconstructing hydrocarbon accumulation processes and predicting the distribution patterns of crude oils. Voluminous crude oils have been discovered in the deeply buried Ordovician carbonate reservoirs within the Shunbei area of the northern Tarim Basin. Previous studies revealed that the Early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province (LIP) has affected the Shunbei area, whereas it is still debated whether the LIP-related hydrothermal infiltration affected hydrocarbons within the Ordovician reservoirs. To resolve this puzzle, this study was designed to unravel the potential thermal impact of hydrothermal infiltration on hydrocarbons according to molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of oils and associated natural gases, reflectance analysis of solid bitumen, and fluid inclusion thermometry. The studied crude oils are characterized by uniform organic indicators of paraffin, terpanes, steranes, and light hydrocarbons, implying that crude oils are derived from the same source rock. Genetic binary diagrams, such as dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene (DBT/P) vs. Pr/Ph (pristane/phytane), Pr/n-C17 alkane vs. Ph/n-C18 alkane, C31R/C30hopane vs. C26/C25tricyclic terpane (TT), and C24/C23 TT vs. C22/C21 TT, indicate that marine shales deposited in a reducing-weakly oxidized environment are major source rocks. Natural gases are associated with oil reservoirs and are mainly generated via the decomposition of kerogen and crude oil. Solid bitumen with abnormally high reflectance values (2.17–2.20%) occurred in the studied area, suggesting their formation temperatures were 252–254 °C. The abnormally high temperatures may be caused by hydrothermal infiltration related to the Tarim LIP. Hydrothermal infiltration is supported by the presence of high contents of CO2 (30–48%) with enriched δ13C ratios (between − 2.5‰ and − 2.3‰), enriched n-alkane δ13C ratios, and incongruent temperatures estimated by multiple indicators, such as light hydrocarbon compositions, homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions, and bitumen reflectance. Outcomes of this study support the interpretation that hydrothermal infiltration indeed occurred and may have facilitated hydrocarbon generation in the Shunbei area, and possibly elsewhere in the cratonic regions of the northern Tarim Basin.
Static and dynamic Raman excitation mapping of chirality-pure carbon nanotube films
Authors: Finnie Paul , Ouyang Jianying , Fagan Jeffrey A.
Published: January 2025

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful method for probing electronic and vibrational properties of materials, particularly nanomaterials such as single-wall carbon nanotubes. Typically, Raman spectroscopy is conducted at a single, or few, excitation wavelengths, but that provides limited information about excitation resonance structure, and their dynamical evolution. Here, we extend a sensitive full-spectrum technique to rapidly obtain two-dimensional Raman excitation maps both statically and dynamically for chirality-pure single-wall carbon nanotube films. We demonstrate sensitive evaluation of structured resonance profiles even from weak vibrational modes, and sub-second time resolution of the dynamics of photo-driven defect production. Findings include the direct observation of bands and their profiles – including bands which could be missed in conventional Raman spectroscopy - and demonstration of differences for odd vs. even defect band combinations. This opens up possibilities to investigate the coupling of electronic states with vibrational modes in nanomaterials and track their dynamical evolution subject to intentional modulation.
Three new hot hydrogen-deficient pre-white dwarfs
Authors: Werner Klaus , Reindl Nicole , Pritzkuleit Max , Geier Stephan
Published: January 2025

We have detected three new hydrogen-deficient (H < 0.001 mass fraction) pre-white dwarfs (WDs) with helium-dominated atmospheres. The first object is a relatively cool PG1159 star (effective temperature Teff = 72 000 K) that has the lowest surface gravity of any PG1159 star known (log g = 4.8). It is a PG1159 star in the earliest pre-WD phase. The second object is a hot subdwarf O (sdO) star (Teff = 50 000 K, log g = 5.3) with high carbon and oxygen abundances. It is only the third known member of the recently established CO-sdO spectral class, which comprises stars that are thought to be formed by a merger of a disrupted low-mass CO WD with a higher-mass He WD. The third object is one of the rare stars of spectral type O(He) (Teff = 90 000 K, log g = 5.5).
Parametric Study of a Ball-Screw Energy Harvester Shock Absorber
Authors: Djellal Hajar , Morrone Biagio , Costanzo Luigi , Vitelli Massimo , Saad Aouatif
Published: January 2025

This paper investigates a ball-screw energy harvester shock absorber (BS-EHSA) equipped with a DC motor/generator and driven by an external sinusoidal force. A comprehensive parametric study examines the effect on the power delivered to the load of varying the sprung mass, external electrical resistance, and spring constant. A simulation study is also performed to demonstrate how the resonance frequency of the system impacts energy recovery. Numerical simulations are carried out in the MATLAB environment, providing insights into optimizing system parameters for maximum power efficiency.
Tabu Search for Multi-Objective Hub Location Planning: A Case Study of the Northern Rail Line, Thailand
Authors: Nguyen Dang Nha , Pham Van Nam , Chanta Sunarin , Sangsawang Ornurai
Published: January 2025

Rail transport system is considered as one of the most sustainable transportation modes with low carbon emissions per kilometer and unit transported. However, investing in rail infrastructure comes with significant construction costs. Therefore, the design of a rail transport system must be carefully planned, taking into account many relevant factors. In this research, we determine the optimal location of transportation hubs in the rail transport network using a multi-objective mathematical model with objectives of minimizing the total cost of transportation and minimizing the maximum passenger travel time in transportation network. The model is tested and applied to a real-world case study in the rail transport system of Thailand. Because the complexity of the multi-objective mathematical model and the large-scale of real case study, we develop a metaheuristics algorithm to efficiently solve this problem. The algorithm is based on the Tabu Search method and is designed to explore non-dominated neighborhoods. This approach allows the model to handle large-scale problems within a reasonable time frame while generating Pareto fronts. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of multi-objective optimization in supporting rail hub location planning.
Copper-Catalyzed Unconventional Reactivities of Propargylic Esters
Authors: Yang Shuang , Fang Xinqiang
Published: January 2025

Propargyl esters, known for their reactivities in nucleophilic substitution and substitution–annulation reactions, have been extensively studied and summarized in a range of reviews. However, there is a notable lack of comprehensive comment on their unconventional reactivities. This review aims to bridge this gap by showcasing the versatility and potential of propargyl esters in enabling unconventional reaction patterns mediated by copper catalysts. Each reaction type is discussed in detail, with emphasis on the mechanisms and reaction conditions. We hope that this review will inspire the discovery of more new reaction modes of propargyl esters and provide new tools for the synthesis of related complex bioactive compounds.

1 Introduction

2 Reactions of Terminal Propargylic Esters

3 Reactions of Internal Propargylic Esters

4 Conclusion