bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Assisted Gene-Flow Rescued Genetic Diversity Without Hindering Growth Performance in an Inbred Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Population Selected for High Growth Phenotype
Authors: Kobayashi Junya , Honda Ryo , Hosoya Sho , Nochiri Yuki , Matsuzaki Keisuke , Sugimoto Koichi , Nagano Atsushi J. , Kumagai Akira , Kikuchi Kiyoshi , Kurokawa Tadahide
Published: February 2025

Selective breeding is a powerful tool for improving aquaculture production. A well-managed breeding program is essential, as populations can otherwise lose genetic diversity, leading to reduced selection response and inbreeding excesses. In such cases, genetic diversity in broodstock must be restored by introducing individuals from external populations. However, this can reduce the accumulated genetic gains from selective breeding. However, the selective introduction of individuals with superior phenotypes will allow the restoration of genetic diversity without sacrificing these gains. In this study, we demonstrated this possibility using a selectively bred (SB) and a randomly bred (RB) population of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Forty males with superior growth were selected from the RB population using genomic selection and crossed with 127 randomly collected females from the SB population, producing a newly bred (NB) population. Genetic diversity, assessed from population statistics such as effective number of alleles, allele richness, and observed heterozygosity of 11 microsatellite markers, was higher in NB than in SB and RB. Additionally, fork length and body weight were compared among the three populations after 12 months of growth post-fertilization in common tanks. The least-squares means of fork length and body weight were similar between NB (164.9 mm and 57.9 g) and SB (161.1 mm and 53.7 g), while both were significantly greater than RB (150.4 mm and 43.0 g). Our results highlight the effectiveness of genome-assisted gene flow in restoring the genetic diversity of a population without compromising accumulated genetic gain in growth.
Self-organising maps reveal distinct spatial and temporal patterns in the build-up of marine heatwaves in the Tasman Sea
Authors: Elzahaby Youstina , Delaux Sébastien , Schaeffer Amandine , Roughan Moninya
Published: February 2025

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems and economies. Predicting MHWs is essential for mitigating their impact, but remains a challenge. Despite considerable progress having been made in understanding the regional-scale drivers of MHWs, a significant knowledge gap remains when it comes to understanding the synoptic-scale processes associated with these events. In this study, we used self-organising maps to identify the synoptic-scale atmospheric and oceanic patterns associated with MHWs identified in four sub-regions of the Tasman Sea between 1985 and 2014. Our results reveal patterns associated with recurring, as well as distinct extreme warming events. We show that anomalous atmospheric influence is consistently present during MHWs and that the two most recurring patterns are linked to a La Niña climate phase. Distinct synoptic air-sea patterns are also identified in the 1997/98 El Niño event. Furthermore, we identify a ‘reservoir’ of warm subsurface temperatures from 2000-2014, during which MHW frequency increased two-fold. Importantly, we have identified patterns of persistent anomalous conditions before the onset of MHWs with timescales on the order of days for atmospheric conditions and weeks to months for oceanic conditions, providing valuable insight into MHW predictors. These findings highlight the importance of understanding synoptic-scale drivers of MHWs and timescales of recurring patterns for MHW prediction. The temporal variability observed in the lead-up to MHWs underscores the potential significance of factors such as surface-layer temperature and sea-level anomalies in capturing longer-term warming trends, likely influenced by sustained atmospheric stress and oceanic dynamics, whilst atmospheric conditions at onset precipitate the transition to the extreme warming thresholds.
PrEP Disparities Among Transgender Feminine, Transgender Masculine, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Youth and Young Adults in the United States
Authors: Fehrenbacher Anne E. , Cain Demetria , Rusow Joshua A. , Lakshmanan Swetha , Polanco Dianna , Ward Demi , Tapia Yara , Flynn Risa P. , Sullivan Patrick S. , Comulada W. Scott , Horvath Keith J. , Reback Cathy J. , Swendeman Dallas T. ,   Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) CARES Team, Rotheram-Borus Mary Jane , Abdalian Sue Ellen , Fernandez M. Isabel , Klausner Jeffrey D. , Lee Sung-Jae , Koussa Maryann , Weiss E. E. , Brookmeyer Ronald , Tang Wenze , Nielsen Karin , Bryson Yvonne , Kerin Tara , Shannon Chelsea , Cortado Ruth , Mitchell Kate , Arnold Elizabeth Mayfield , Milburn Norweeta , Lightfoot Marguerita , Harris Danielle , Fournier Jasmine
Published: January 2025

This study assessed disparities in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among transgender and gender expansive youth and young adults (N = 477) between 15 and 24 years old in the CARES (ATN 149) and TechStep (ATN 160) study protocols within the National Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation pathways between gender identity and PrEP uptake among the full sample and stratified by sex assigned at birth. Lifetime PrEP uptake was higher among those assigned male at birth (26%) versus assigned female at birth (9%), explained by greater structural and behavioral risks and perceived need for PrEP, especially among trans women. Among those assigned female at birth, PrEP uptake was higher among trans men (12%) than nonbinary participants (6%). Our findings characterize key structural and behavioral drivers of PrEP use and highlight the need to reduce barriers to healthcare for trans youth, particularly in the South.
Phase field modeling of anisotropic silicon crystalline cracking in 3D thin-walled photovoltaic laminates
Authors: Liu Z. , Lenarda P. , Reinoso J. , Paggi M.
Published: January 2025

A novel computational framework integrating the phase field approach with the solid shell formulation at finite deformation is proposed to model the anisotropic fracture of silicon solar cells in the thin-walled photovoltaic laminates. To alleviate the locking effects, both the enhanced assumed strain and assumed natural strain methods are incorporated in the solid shell element formulation. Aiming at tackling the poor convergence performance of standard Newton schemes, the efficient and robust quasi-Newton scheme is adopted for the solution of phase field modeling with enhanced shell formulation in a monolithic manner. Due to fracture anisotropy of the brittle silicon solar cells, the second-order structural tensor that is defined by the normal of preferential crack plane is introduced into the crack energy density function in the phase field modeling. On the other hand, to efficiently predict the crack growth of silicon solar cells, a global–local approach in the 3D setting proposed in the previous work is adopted here for the fracture modeling. In this approach, both mechanical deformation and phase field fracture are accounted for at the local model, while only mechanical deformation is addressed at the global level. At each time step, the solution of the global model is used to drive the local model, which corresponds to the one-way coupling in line with experimental evidence that the silicon cell cracking has negligible influence on the stiffness of photovoltaic modules. The capability of the modeling framework is demonstrated through numerical simulation of silicon solar cell cracking in the photovoltaic modules when subjected to different loading cases.
Mixed-Methods Study of First-Year Physics Students: Soft Barriers to Coding
Authors: Mears Matthew , Dash Louise , Galloway Ross , Karpenko Calvin , Labrosse Nicolas , Mason Victoria , Quinn Mark
Published: February 2025

Digital proficiency, including coding, is increasingly essential in physics education. However, disparities in coding skills among students are influenced by demographic factors and prior educational exposure. This study examines barriers to pre-university coding exposure for first-year physics students across five UK institutions, proposing a fourth level of the digital divide that emphasizes technical and production knowledge in coding. A survey of 199 first-year physics students reveals significant gender and ethnicity differences in coding experience. Males were more than twice as likely to have prior coding experience than females. Students with no prior coding experience viewed it as more challenging, requiring advanced math and powerful computing resources. Despite these challenges, both groups strongly disagreed that gender affects coding ability. Qualitative data pointed to technical difficulties, a lack of role models, and insufficient pre-university exposure as major obstacles. Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnicity (BAME) students reported less teacher encouragement and faced structural barriers similar to those found in literature. The study identifies a fourth level of the digital divide in coding knowledge, stressing the need for targeted interventions to enhance diversity and inclusivity in physics coding education. Recommendations include improving pre-university coding exposure, using gender-sensitive teaching methods, providing consistent encouragement to students, and deeply integrating coding into physics curricula. These steps are vital for preparing students for the digital demands of their academic and professional futures, ensuring equitable access to essential digital competencies.
Scale properties and efficient network structures in the Swedish electricity distribution market
Authors: Söderberg Magnus , Vesterberg Mattias
Published: January 2025

This paper examines the Swedish electricity distribution sector to highlight three key findings. First, we identify significant economies of scale among electricity distribution firms, indicating that larger firms operate more efficiently. Second, we explore alternative market structures and demonstrate that these can substantially reduce the aggregated costs of electricity distribution. Third, we use novel survey data to show that firms perceive the economic incentives for mergers to be insufficient. These findings suggest that policymakers should consider creating a regulatory environment that encourages consolidation and enhance efficiency in the sector.
Comparative thinking among university students: an ecological momentary assessment of upward comparisons, stress and learning behavior during exam preparation
Authors: Schlechter Pascal , Meyer Thomas , Hagen Meike , Baranova Ksenia , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: January 2025

Studying for exams can be a stressful time. Uncertainty and stress often reach their peak during exam preparation, as students frequently grapple with feelings of inadequacy and anxiety regarding their academic performance. To assess their exam readiness, students can use social, temporal, criteria-based, and counterfactual comparisons. Engaging in upward comparative thinking during exam preparation may increase students’ stress levels. However, previous studies have not examined whether students’ daily comparisons related to exam preparation are associated with their stress, negative mood, and learning behavior. Therefore, we used Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture daily frequency and affective impact of upward comparisons and their influence on stress, negative mood, and self-reported learning behavior among 170 psychology students at a German University. During an eleven-day EMA-phase leading up to exams, participants completed brief surveys three times daily, supplemented by baseline and follow-up assessments. Multilevel models revealed that both between-person and within-person upward comparison frequency correlated positively with stress and negative mood over time. A more negative comparison affective impact mediated the within-person associations of comparison frequency with stress and negative mood. A more negative comparison affective impact also predicted more self-reported avoidant learning behavior, both between-person and within-person. Comparison also influenced depression, test anxiety, and burnout at follow-up. The findings may have implications for designing well-being interventions during periods of performance-related pressure.
Professional commitment and satisfaction of teachers in head start within a systemically marginalized community: associations with perceived psychological distress and physical safety
Authors: Zhao Xiangyu , Byun Sooyeon , Jeon Lieny
Published: January 2025

The quality of early care and education (ECE) is related to early childhood teachers’ positive work attitudes, as prior research suggests committed and satisfied educators provide effective support and instruction to children. It is important to understand the relationships between psychological and physical factors in relation to teachers’ commitment and satisfaction, especially those working within systematically marginalized communities. Using a sample of 166 Head Start teachers, predominantly Black/African American with low salaries, the study examined how teacher-perceived psychological distress and physical safety relate to their professional commitment and satisfaction. These Head Start programs were in a systemically marginalized community in the United States. Additionally, the study examined the unique variance explained by teachers’ perceptions of physical safety beyond psychological distress as a predictor of four distinct indicators of professional commitment and satisfaction. Three models using hierarchical linear regression were tested to explore the research questions. The results indicate that teachers’ perceptions of psychological distress and physical safety were significantly associated with their job attitudes. Additionally, teachers’ perceptions of physical safety demonstrated incremental validity above and beyond perceived psychological distress on professional commitment and satisfaction. The relationships between teachers’ psychological distress and distinct indicators of professional commitment and satisfaction were transformed after adding physical safety. This study suggests the importance of ECE teachers’ psychological well-being and physical safety in improving their job attitudes, especially for female African American teachers working in systemically marginalized communities.
Microplastics in the Hamburg port area—an analysis of sediment depth profiles along the upper Elbe river, Germany
Authors: Motyl Larissa , Fischer Elke Kerstin
Published: February 2025

Harbours pose a unique environment of increased anthropogenic pressure and artificial river morphology that are of specific interest concerning microplastic release and accumulation. To address the specific situation in the Hamburg port area, a study in cooperation with the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) was conducted. Sediment samples at different depth levels were taken at seven sites with similar flow velocity and underlying morphology. Two sites are located upstream and downstream of the port of Hamburg, while four sites are located in the centre area of the port. One additional site takes into account an estuary of a receiving stream flowing into the upper river Elbe. For the analysis of microplastic concentrations in the samples, the biogenic organic matter was removed by oxidative digestion followed by wet sieving and density separation. For identification, the Nile red staining method in combination with fluorescence microscopy was applied. A subset of identified synthetic polymers was investigated for polymer composition via µRaman spectroscopy. In addition, sediment parameters such as grain size distribution, organic matter and water content were analysed. In total, a number of 31 sediment samples divided into different depths below riverbed level were examined. In brief, 11,280 microplastic particles could be identified. Both the highest and lowest number of particles were detected at centre port sites ranging from 60 to 21,799 microplastics per kilogramme dry weight. Fragments are the dominating particle morphology throughout all locations, except for one centre harbour site where microbeads are most common. Frequently appearing synthetic polymers were detected to be polyvinyl chloride (34%) and polyethylene terephthalate (28%). Within this study, a significant correlation between microbead concentrations and the percentage of sand fractions (coarse, middle and fine sand) was detected.
The efficiency paradox: How high-performance work systems interact with entrepreneurial orientation in hostile environments to impact firm performance in US firms
Authors: Naskar Shankar T. , Hota Pradeep Kumar , Gupta Vishal
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the complex relationships between high-performance work systems, entrepreneurial orientation, and firm performance under varying levels of environmental hostility. Using empirical data from a representative sample of 263 US firms, the paper explores these dynamics through the lens of the resource-based view and configurational theory. The study is the first one to analyze how high-performance work systems and environmental hostility interact to influence the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. The findings challenge the traditional notion of high-performance work systems as universally beneficial, revealing their potential to constrain firm performance, possibly due to structural rigidity inherent in centralized systems and standardization procedures and the contextual misalignment between human resource practices and employee work and business environments. While high-performance work systems seem to stifle the display of entrepreneurial behaviors, environmental hostility enhances firm performance by activating entrepreneurial orientation in hostile conditions. In benign environments, entrepreneurial orientation’s impact on performance is less pronounced. The study also uncovers the complex dynamics of the three-way interaction, showing that in highly hostile environments, entrepreneurial orientation can thrive even without well-developed high-performance work systems, making the case for flexibility and adaptability for activating entrepreneurial behavior in firms. These insights contribute to a nuanced theoretical understanding of how internal and external factors interact to influence firm performance. We provide actionable insights for managers on how to strategize about high-performance work systems to support entrepreneurial orientation effectively, especially in challenging and hostile environments, and offer specific guidance on the optimum configurations of high-performance work systems and entrepreneurial orientation for firm performance in benign and hostile environments. Finally, we present the study’s limitations and outline the future research agenda for scholars, calling on them to incorporate longitudinal and configurational approaches to understand the complex relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance.
Prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies in COVID-19 patients: a remarkable 2.5-fold rise compared to healthy controls
Authors: Dişli Faruk , Yıldız Sedat
Published: February 2025

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has the potential to induce the formation of antibodies that target self-antigens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), the most common type of autoantibody, in both healthy individuals and those recovered from COVID-19.

Methods

This retrospective study involved 400 participants (200 with COVID-19 and 200 healthy controls), aged 18 to 60 years, without any chronic diseases, including autoimmune conditions. Analyses were performed using three different ANA ELISA test kits (anti-dsDNA, anti-ENA, and anti-Hep-2 nucleus tests) that were developed and validated.

Results

Among the 200 healthy individuals, 38 (19%) tested positive for dsDNA, 37 (18.5%) for ENA, and 30 (15%) for Hep-2 nucleus antibodies. The rates of ANA positivity were significantly higher in individuals with COVID-19, with 97 (48.5%) positive for dsDNA, 81 (40.5%) for ENA, and 84 (42%) for Hep-2 nucleus antibodies (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

One in every two to three individuals with COVID-19 exhibited ANA positivity, indicating that the SARS-CoV-2 virus poses a significant risk regarding autoimmunity. Furthermore, the incidence of ANA in healthy individuals was observed to be higher than the literature average.
Reconsidering task classification systems for situations that can be modelled with multiplication
Authors: Roan Elizabeth , Kularajan Sindura , Czocher Jennifer A.
Published: January 2025

To effectively teach modeling, instructors need to select tasks that allow students to learn which mathematical operations are appropriate for modeling different scenarios. Naturally, instructors might select tasks using a priori task classification systems—ones that group real-world problems for a given operation based on mathematical formalisms (e.g., as reported by Vergnaud (in: Hiebert (ed) Number concepts and operations in the middle grades, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1988). In this paper, we critique the robustness of a priori task classifications systems for guiding the selection of modeling tasks. We investigated the meanings undergraduate STEM majors attributed to multiplication while modeling a predator–prey system using differential equations. Through analysis of task-based clinical interviews with 23 participants, six distinct justifications for why multiplication was an appropriate operation for modeling the scenario were identified. These six justifications confirm that learners’ assimilation of scenarios to operations may differ from how educators classify problems using a priori classification schemes. Our findings challenge the use of a priori task classification systems for guiding the pedagogical selection of real-world scenarios to model because classifying real-world scenarios using a priori systems can overlook nuances in modelers’ structuring and validating. We highlight the importance of these nuances for generating task trajectories that would leverage learners existing meanings for mathematical operations to build new associations between mathematical operations and novel problems. We end by suggesting a shift towards reasoning-based classification systems for selecting real-world scenarios to model—ones that are based on students reasoning about and within a scenario.
A pioneering approach to deterministic rainfall forecasting for wet period in the Northern Territory of Australia using machine learning
Authors: Farooq Rashid , Imteaz Monzur Alam , Mekanik Fatemah
Published: February 2025

Several studies investigated the effect of large-scale climatic modes on rainfall in tropical climatic zone of Australia. In the current study, machine learning models such as artificial neural networks (ANN) and random forest (RF) were used to forecast the wet-period rainfall (Austral summer: December-February) at six different stations of Northern Territory (NT), Australia. To examine the synchronous influence of potential predictors on wet-period rainfall of NT, multiple input sets with different combinations of lagged Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), and Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) were investigated. To assess the superiority of machine learning models over traditional linear regression (MR) model, the linear models were also developed for the same study locations. The model performance was evaluated using five distinct statistical metrics, including the root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), relative root mean square error (rRMSE), relative mean bias (rBias), and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NSC). Large-scale climate factors, primarily MJO, SOI, and Niño3.4, were found to have a considerable effect on NT wet-period rainfall, which can be used for future rainfall forecasting. It is found that among the studied models, the ANN model delivered the best results with the least RMSE ranging from 0.47 to 1.72, along with coefficient of determination values ranging from 0.84 to 0.91. Whereas, for the RF and MR models, produced results were having RMSE values ranging 0.83 ~ 2.28 and 2.52 ~ 4.19 respectively, and R2 values ranging 0.79 ~ 0.86 and 0.62 ~ 0.72 respectively.
Teacher’s Classroom Management Self-Efficacy and Teacher–Child Conflict as a Function of Child Ordinal Behavior Ranking
Authors: Granger Kristen L. , Chow Jason C. , Montesion Alexandra , Stouffer Jean M. , Sutherland Kevin S. , Conroy Maureen A.
Published: January 2025

In early care and education settings, children who display challenging behaviors tend to have higher rates of conflict with their teachers than children without such problems. This proof-of-concept study examines the extent to which early childhood teacher’s classroom management self-efficacy is associated with conflictual teacher–child relationships with children who have been screened for and exhibit elevated levels of externalizing behaviors (i.e., focal children). In addition, we examine whether this association varies by a child’s ordinal level of challenging behavior relative to their classroom peers who also exhibit elevated levels of challenging behaviors. This study included 312 focal children (66% male), identified as at risk of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD), and 125 classrooms in which teachers completed surveys to assess teacher–child conflict, classroom management self-efficacy, and child challenging behavior. Findings revealed that in classrooms with three focal children, a disordinal interaction was present. The relation between teacher self-efficacy and teacher–child conflict differed as a function of child ordinal behavior rank. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of this work for research and practice.
Cerebellar Oscillatory Patterns in Essential Tremor: Modulatory Effects of VIM-DBS
Authors: Bosch Taylor J. , Groth Christopher , Espinoza Arturo I. , Bharmauria Vishal , Flouty Oliver , Singh Arun
Published: February 2025

Essential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder, and while ventral intermediate nucleus deep brain stimulation (VIM-DBS) is a well-established treatment, its precise mechanisms or modulatory effects, particularly in relation to cerebellar oscillations, remain unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that VIM-DBS would modulate cerebellar oscillatory activity across both resting and motor task conditions, reflecting its impact on cerebello-thalamic pathways. Ten patients diagnosed with ET participated in this study. We examined the effects of VIM-DBS on mid-cerebellar oscillations during resting-state and lower-limb pedaling motor tasks. Frequency analysis was conducted on the resting-state signal and time-frequency analysis was performed on motor task-related signals. We explored the modulatory effects of VIM-DBS on oscillatory activity across delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands. We found that ON VIM-DBS increased mid-cerebellar relative theta power during resting-state conditions, with no significant changes in other frequency bands. During a pedaling motor task, VIM-DBS led to significant reductions in theta, alpha, and gamma power, highlighting the frequency-specific effects of stimulation. VIM-DBS also increased peak acceleration of leg movements during the pedaling task. Furthermore, VIM-DBS selectively increased mid-frontal relative theta and beta power as well as mid-occipital relative theta power during resting condition, suggesting localized mid-cerebellar modulation. Moreover, similarity analyses between mid-cerebellar and nearby mid-occipital signals revealed differences in coherence, phase coherence, and cross-spectrum phase coherence. Overall, these results support the role of VIM-DBS in modulating mid-cerebellar oscillations in ET and provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying DBS efficacy.
Business Process Deviance Mining with Sequential and Declarative Patterns
Authors: Di Francescomarino Chiara , Donadello Ivan , Ghidini Chiara , Maggi Fabrizio Maria , Puura Joonas
Published: February 2025

Business Process Deviance refers to the phenomenon where a subset of the executions of a business process deviate, in a negative or positive way, with respect to their expected or desirable outcomes. Deviant executions of a business process include ones which violate compliance rules, or executions that underachieve or exceed performance targets. Business Process Deviance Mining is concerned with uncovering the reasons for deviant executions by analyzing event logs stored by the systems which support the execution of a business process. Good characterizations of deviant executions give analysts insights concerning the causes that generate such deviance, thus providing effective process improvement solutions. In the paper, the problem of explaining deviations in business processes is investigated from a novel perspective that integrates sequential and declarative patterns with data attributes of events and traces in event logs. This integration provides process analysts with richer explanations than existing Deviance Mining approaches, thus guaranteeing a better characterization of deviant executions. The research methodology followed in the paper is the design science methodology for information systems research. Using real-life logs from multiple domains, a range of feature types and different forms of explanations are evaluated in terms of their ability to accurately discriminate between deviant and non-deviant executions of a process as well as in terms of understandability of the final outcome returned to the analysts.
Information Provision for Patients Who Undergo Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: Bhimani Nazim , Dieng Mbathio , Kelly Patrick J. , Hugh Thomas J.
Published: February 2025

Information provision to patients is helpful prior to and during cancer treatment. However, the level of information required or warranted varies, and no studies have examined this in patients who have had resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). The aims of this study are to assess how patients perceive information received from different healthcare providers and to examine factors that might be associated with the quality and satisfaction of the information received. This was a cross-sectional study of patients with a potentially curative resection for CRLM between 2010 and June 2021. Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-INFO25 questionnaire. In total, 121 patients underwent resection. Of these, 85 were alive and were sent the questionnaire, and 52 (61%) responded. Overall, patients were very satisfied with the information they received and found it helpful (median score 100). No specific patient or disease-related factors were associated with the degree of satisfaction. This study demonstrates excellent overall satisfaction with the information provided to patients with CRLM. Areas of improvement include information about other supportive services outside the hospital. This information may be given by the specialists providing the care but may also be provided by the patient’s general practitioners and the cancer nurse coordinators.
Water conflicts under climate change: Research gaps and priorities
Authors: Kåresdotter Elisie , Destouni Georgia , Lammers Richard B. , Keskinen Marko , Pan Haozhi , Kalantari Zahra
Published: January 2025

Climate change is known to worsen conflicts, but its combination with other factors affecting water-related conflicts remains less explored. Using a scoping review, this study examined research in the climate–water–conflict nexus. Using semi-automatic text mining approaches, key research gaps and differences in conflict factors and themes across different regions and conflict types were analyzed. Studies focused on Asia and Africa, with few exploring other regions. Governance and livelihoods emerged as significant factors in water-related conflict responses worldwide, with differences across regions. For instance, farmer–herder conflicts were common in Africa, while agriculture was more related to governance and water management in Asia. Research priorities forward should diversify the range of water-related conflict subjects and regions and give special focus to regions vulnerable to hydroclimatic change. More focus on cooperation and non-violent conflicts is also vital for understanding and being able to project and mitigate future water-related conflict responses to climate change.
Unveiling potential functional applications of grape pomace extracts based on their phenolic profiling, bioactivities, and circular bioeconomy
Authors: Abreu Teresa , Luís Catarina , Câmara José S. , Teixeira Juan , Perestrelo Rosa
Published: February 2025

Grape pomace (GP), a by-residue from the wine industry, contains bioactive molecules such as phenolic compounds, and anthocyanins, among others, with potential health benefits. In the current study, these bioactive molecules were extracted from GP of different Vitis vinifera L. varieties (Tinta Negra, Complexa, Malvasia Roxa, Malvasia, Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Terrantez) using the micro quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (µQuEChERS) procedure. The GP extracts were investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-PDA) to establish the phenolic fingerprint, and by in vitro assays to assess the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Nine phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in GP extracts, with gallic acid (ranging from 10.4 to 12.9 g/100 g), catechin (2.97 to 5.08 g/100 g), quercetin (2.17 to 2.85 g/100 g), and trans-resveratrol (0.28 to 1.82 g/100 g) being the most prominent. GP from the Complexa variety exhibited the highest levels of total anthocyanin content (TAC, 6.67 mgCGE/100 g), total phenolic compounds (TPC, 4727 mgGAE/100 g), and antioxidant activity (DPPH, 9472 mgTE/100 g), while the Tinta Negra variety had the highest total catechin content (TCC, 947 mgCATE/100 g). A strong correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between the TPC-TAC, TPC-DPPH, DPPH-TAC, and TAC-TCC. Moreover, o-coumaric acid and quercetin are significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with TPC, TAC, TCC, and DPPH assays. The investigated GP extracts, at a concentration of 100 µg/mL, showed promising inhibition of albumin protein denaturation compared to aspirin (reference standard). The findings showed that the GP extracts were more useful at inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus compared to Escherichia coli. It is important to emphasise that the GP extracts demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, positioning it as an agro-waste with promising potential for use in the development of innovative functional foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics, aligning with the circular bioeconomy model for its valorisation.
Correcting the Influence of the Angle-Dependent Emissivity on Pyrometric Temperature Measurements for Laser Processes
Authors: Traunecker David , Jarwitz Michael , Michalowski Andreas
Published: February 2025

Pyrometric temperature measurements, commonly used for quality assurance in laser processes, face a significant challenge due to the angle-dependence of the emissivity, as the local geometry can vary significantly during laser processing. If the emissivity changes during the measurement due to a change in the local inclination angle, this can lead to incorrect temperature measurements for a measurement in single-color mode. Therefore, this paper presents an approach to correct the influence of the angle-dependent emissivity on the pyrometric temperature measurements by simultaneously measuring the surface temperature and the geometry. The approach is demonstrated on test samples made of copper with a defined geometry. The corrected temperatures are in good agreement with a reference measurement for all samples tested, showing that the correction was successful and that the influence of the angle-dependent emissivity can be compensated.
Fitting cure models using pseudo-observations approaches with the R package pseudoCure
Authors: Chiou Sy Han , Su Chien-Lin , Lin Feng-Chang
Published: February 2025

In survival analysis, it is traditionally assumed that all individuals are susceptible to the event of interest given sufficient time, a premise supported by well-established statistical software. However, scenarios exist where a considerable subset of individuals may never experience the event, highlighting the need for more sophisticated models. To address this, cure rate models have been developed, which acknowledge a “cured” subpopulation inherently nonsusceptible to the event. Existing methods for these analyses can be complex and computationally demanding. In response, the pseudoCure package (Chiou et al. in pseudoCure: a pseudoobservations approach for analyzing survival data with a cure fraction, 2024) implements an innovative solution by utilizing the pseudo-observations approach, as proposed by Su et al. (Stat Methods Med Res 31:2037–2053, 2022), offering a computationally efficient alternative. This package not only provides robust estimations but also enhances the application of generalized estimating equations in specialized cases, providing an invaluable tool in statistical practices. We demonstrate the efficacy of this package in this paper through examples to highlighting its substantial contributions to the field of survival analysis.
Oxygen Driving Hydrogen Into the Inner Core: Implications for the Earth's Core Composition
Authors: Zhang Zhiming , Wang Wei , Liu Jin , Zhang Yigang , Mitchell Ross N. , Zhang Zhigang
Published: February 2025

Earth's core should contain light elements to account for the density deficit relative to pure iron as inferred from seismic observations. Of particular interest is hydrogen, as planetary accretion models predict the delivery of water possibly sequestered in the core. In this study, we investigate the partitioning of hydrogen across the inner‐core boundary using extensive atomistic simulations with machine learning potentials. While showing the tendency of hydrogen to dominantly remain in the liquid phase during inner core solidification, we find that the presence of oxygen would drive more hydrogen into the inner core, where 7 mol% oxygen even reverses the partitioning of hydrogen. By considering such mutual influences of partitioning among light elements in the core, we propose that the inner core can be an important reservoir of primordial hydrogen along with its growth.
Double Reflections in Polarized Radar Data Reveal Ice Fabric in the North East Greenland Ice Stream
Authors: Nymand Niels F. , Lilien David A. , Gerber Tamara A. , Hvidberg Christine S. , Steinhage Daniel , Gogineni Prasad , Taylor Drew , Dahl‐Jensen Dorthe
Published: February 2025

The orientation of ice crystals within large ice masses has a strong influence on their mechanical properties, but cannot be directly observed from the surface. The bulk birefringence of anisotropic ice allows us to infer information about the crystal orientation fabric (COF) from polarized radar measurements. Here, we show a new approach for determining the orientation and strength of horizontal COF anisotropy from two radar reflections originating from the same physical layer in birefringent ice. We apply this method to data collected as part of a ground‐based radar survey of the North East Greenland Ice Stream. We observe a 12‐degree clockwise rotation of the fabric at the center of the ice stream, and a tendency toward a flow‐aligned COF further southeast. This asymmetry across the ice‐stream centerline adds to growing evidence for a more variable ice stream than previously assumed.
Symmetry in Mesoscale Circulations Explains Weak Impact of Trade Cumulus Self‐Organization on the Radiation Budget in Large‐Eddy Simulations
Authors: Janssens M. , Jansson F. , Alinaghi P. , Glassmeier F. , Siebesma A. P.
Published: February 2025

We investigate if mesoscale self‐organisation of trade cumuli in 150 km‐domain large‐eddy simulations modifies the top‐of‐atmosphere radiation budget relative to 10 km‐domain simulations, across 77 characteristic, idealized environments. In large domains, self‐generated mesoscale circulations produce fewer, larger and deeper clouds, raising the cloud albedo. Yet they also precipitate more than small‐domain cumuli, drying and warming the cloud layer, and reducing cloud cover. Consequently, large domains cool slightly less through the shortwave cloud‐radiative effect, and slightly more through clear‐sky outgoing longwave radiation, for a net cooling (−0.5 W ). This cooling is generally smaller than the large‐domain radiation's sensitivity to large‐scale meteorological variability, which is similar in small‐domain simulations and observations. Hence, mesoscale self‐organisation would not alter weak trade‐cumulus feedback estimates previously derived from small‐domain simulations. We explain this with a symmetry hypothesis: ascending and descending branches of mesoscale circulations symmetrically increase and reduce cloudiness, weakly modifying the mean radiation budget.
Seasonal Sea Surface Temperature Variations at the Northern Limit of the Kuroshio Current in Marine Isotope Stage 20–18
Authors: Kajita Hiroto , Suganuma Yusuke , Haneda Yuki , Okada Makoto , Yamamoto Masanobu , Seki Osamu , Ohkouchi Naohiko
Published: February 2025

This study presents a high time‐resolution alkenone unsaturation ratios (UK'37) in the Chiba composite section, a marine sedimentary sequence formed in the Kazusa forearc basin in the northwestern Pacific under the influence of the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents. The UK'37 reflects summer sea surface temperature (SST) and records glacial‐interglacial to sub‐millennial‐scale variations spanning the marine isotope stage (MIS) 19, an analog of our Holocene interglacial. At the glacial‐interglacial scale, summer UK'37‐SST and previously published winter SST fluctuations are in tandem with East Asian Summer and Winter monsoon variabilities, respectively. Millennial‐scale UK'37‐SST variations correspond to meltwater events in the North Atlantic. Summer temperature amplitudes maybe half those in winter, suggesting the stable dominance of the Kuroshio Current during the summer and significant winter cooling caused by the Oyashio Current intrusion. Our study reveals the unique seasonally different atmosphere‐ocean coupling system during MIS 19 at the subarctic front in the northwestern Pacific.
Would the 2021 Western Europe Flood Event Be Visible in Satellite Gravimetry?
Authors: Kracheletz Magdalena , Liu Ziyu , Springer Anne , Kusche Jürgen , Friederichs Petra
Published: February 2025

The primary objective of the GRACE Follow‐On satellite mission is to measure temporal changes in the Earth's gravitational field. Distance variations between the two GRACE‐FO satellites, recorded by a K‐Band Ranging system and a new Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI), are significantly influenced by atmospheric mass redistribution. We investigate whether the sub‐monthly variations in atmospheric water mass, precipitation, and changes in total water storage during the extreme flood event in western Europe in 2021 were sufficiently large to influence the satellite gravity field measurements, if the GRACE‐FO satellites would have passed directly over the region. We use several data sets such as weather forecasts (ICON‐D2 model), hydrological simulations (ParFlow/CLM), observations as well as reanalyses, showing the high uncertainty between different estimations of the considered variables: total precipitable water, total precipitation, and total water storage. Our estimates suggest a potentially noticeable impact of the 2021 flood event on the GRACE‐FO satellites. Although it was globally seen a rather small event, even the atmospheric water mass beyond water vapor, which is not considered within the de‐aliasing process, is close to the LRI detection accuracy. This is particularly relevant for future gravity missions, which will use the LRI with potentially higher sensitivity as their main instrument. Sub‐monthly variations in the total atmospheric water mass, that is, beyond water vapor of huge extreme precipitation events should be investigated further to reduce potential future aliasing errors.
Black Carbon Reflects Extremely Efficient Aerosol Wet Removal in Monsoonal Convective Transport
Authors: Berberich J. , Jacoby S. A. , Michailoudi G. , Schwarz J. P. , Viciani S. , D’Amato F. , Bianchini G. , Barucci M. , Campos T. , Ullman K. , Podolske J. R. , Gurganus C. , Smith W. P. , Ueyama R. , Honomichl S. B. , Pan L. L. , Woods S. , Wienzierl B. , Dollner M. , Perring A. E.
Published: January 2025

Refractory black carbon (rBC) is a primary aerosol species, produced through incomplete combustion, that absorbs sunlight and contributes to positive radiative forcing. The overall climate effect of rBC depends on its spatial distribution and atmospheric lifetime, both of which are impacted by the efficiency with which rBC is transported or removed by convective systems. These processes are poorly constrained by observations. It is especially interesting to investigate rBC transport efficiency through the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) since this meteorological pattern delivers vast quantities of boundary layer air from Asia, where rBC emissions are high to the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UT/LS) where the lifetime of rBC is expected to be long. Here, we present in situ observations of rBC made during the Asian Summer Monsoon Chemistry and Climate Impact Project of summer, 2022. We use observed relationships between rBC and CO in ASM outflow to show that rBC is removed nearly completely (>98%) from uplifted air and that rBC concentrations in ASM outflow are statistically indistinguishable from the UT/LS background. We compare observed rBC and CO concentrations to those expected based on two chemical transport models and find that the models reproduce CO to within a factor of 2 at all altitudes whereas rBC is overpredicted by a factor of 20–100 at altitudes associated with ASM outflow. We find that the rBC particles in recently convected air have thinner coatings than those found in the UTLS background, suggesting transport of a small number of rBC particles that are negligible for concentration.
Multiple Climate Forcings Decomposed From a Tibetan Plateau Ice Core Isotope Record
Authors: Li Rong , Cai Zhongyin , Wang Cheng , Liu Feng , Yang Di , Xu Chenhao , Yu Songlin , Yu Xinyi , Fan Qiyao , Tian Lide
Published: January 2025

Due to the impact of various climate systems, including the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) and westerlies, it is challenging to identify specific climate variables from the ice core δ18O records of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Here, we disentangle the major climate modes by applying the singular spectrum analysis method to a δ18O time series in a shallow ice core retrieved from central TP. This method allows us to identify three major climate modes: the trend component, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The trend component mainly reflects warming in the middle and upper troposphere over the south of the TP rather than the low land surface temperature changes. Furthermore, we found that water vapor δ18O in these upper atmospheric layers positively correlates with temperature. We propose that the up‐and‐over transport of such water vapor to the TP contributes to the temperature signal in the ice core δ18O record, which also helps understand the increasing trend in TP ice core δ18O records during the last deglaciation. ENSO and PDO affect the intensity of the ASM through two phases: warm phases tend to weaken the monsoon, leading to higher δ18O values, whereas cool phases strengthen the monsoon, resulting in lower δ18O values. Our findings suggest that multiple climate forcings can have their specific isotopic imprints in isotopic archives and highlight the importance of analyzing the integrated effects of diverse climatic drivers. The analyses also shed light on separating different climate signals from paleoclimate records.