bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Biliary Neo-Anastomosis of Inadvertently Operatively Excluded Right Posterior Bile Ducts: A Durable and Highly Successful Procedure
Authors: Nakhostin D. , Petrowsky Henrik , Puippe G. , Kobe A. , Pfammatter T.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and outcome of percutaneous biliary neo-anastomosis (PBNA) by means of fluoroscopy-guided enteral/biliary puncture, followed by temporary percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).

Materials and Methods

Four patients (25% female, mean age 56 years) were referred for PBNA (bilio-entero-neo-anastomosis, n = 3; bilio-biliary-neo-anastomosis, n = 1) between 2007 and 2021. They presented with right posterior bile duct exclusion and bile leakage after major liver or pancreatic surgery, or hemiliver transplant. After puncture of the excluded/leaking bile duct, neo-anastomosis was performed under fluoroscopic guidance using the back end of a 0.018″ guidewire (n = 3) or a vascular reentry device (n = 1). PTBDs were inserted to assure PBNA healing.

Results

Technical success rate was 100%. No complications occurred. All PTBDs were removed (median = 65 days). During a median follow-up of 2.8 years, two patients died due to unrelated causes. No subsequent bile leakages or re-occlusions were observed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PBNA is feasible and safe, and offers long-term biliary patency even in liver-transplanted patients.
Latency to delivery and incidence of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes in preterm premature rupture of membranes before 32 weeks
Authors: Seravalli Viola , Colucci Chiara , Di Cencio Chiara , Morucchio Anna , Barsanti Federica , Di Tommaso Mariarosaria
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the average latency to delivery, obstetric outcomes and neonatal survival in pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) before 32 weeks.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on pregnant women admitted for PPROM before 32 weeks. Patients were categorized into three groups based on gestational age (GA) at PPROM (< 24, 24 to 28, 28 to 32 weeks). Latency to delivery, obstetric outcomes and neonatal survival were analyzed.

Results

 86 women who had PPROM before 32 weeks were identified. The mean GA at PPROM was 26.1 weeks and the median latency to delivery was 16 days (IQR 4, 27). The median latency to delivery was 22 days for previable PPROM, 11 days for PPROM between 24 and 28 weeks, and 16 days for PPROM between 28 and 32 weeks (p = 0.29). All cases of placental abruption (7/86, 8%) and cord prolapse (6/86, 7%) occurred in women with PPROM before 28 weeks. In 44% of PPROM, placental histology demonstrated chorionamnionitis. Neonatal survival at discharge was significantly lower in previable PPROM (< 24 weeks) compared to PPROM at 24–26 weeks (58% vs 92%, p = 0.04), and it reached 100% in cases of PPROM after 28 weeks.

Conclusion

In PPROM occurring before 32 weeks the median latency to delivery ranged between 11 and 22 days. Neonatal survival improves with higher GA at PPROM, and it increases by more than 33% when PPROM occurs after 24 weeks of gestation. These data may be valuable for patient counselling.
Contributions to the flora of Kazakhstan, genera Arthrophytum and Haloxylon
Authors: Osmonali Bektemir B. , Vesselova Polina V. , Kudabayeva Gulmira M. , Ussen Serikbay , Abdildanov Daulet Sh. , Friesen Nikolai
Published: February 2025

The article discusses the results of comparative analysis of morphological, anatomical and molecular genetic structure of species Arthrophytum longibracteatum, Arthrophytum balchaschense, and Haloxylon aphyllum). Morphological-anatomical and molecular genetic methods were used during the study. To clarify the correctness of species identification, the collected specimens were compared with the Type specimen of Arthrophytum balchaschense stored at the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction (AA). Other herbaria specimens of this species stored in the AA herbarium and herbaria collections: MW LE and TASH were also reviewed. With the help of QGIS programme, a map of the location points of the studied specimens was made. The conducted studies allowed to form a proof base of clear belonging of Arthrophytum balchaschense to the genus Haloxylon. This circumstance became the reason for the necessity of nomenclatural changes consisting in assignment of Arthrophytum balchaschense to the genus Haloxylon under the name Haloxylon balchaschense (Iljin) Osmonali, Veselova & Kudab. This species has a central-eastern-North Turanian distribution, being endemic to the flora of Kazakhstan.
Influence of hydrodynamic planetary journal bearings on the NVH-behavior of wind turbines
Authors: Sabry Moataz , Jacobs Georg , Decker Thomas , Schünemann Wilhelm , Schelenz Ralf
Published: February 2025

The growth of the wind energy sector is confronted with stringent noise regulations, particularly concerning tonal noises from wind turbines (WTs). These tonal noises, originating from drivetrain vibrations such those caused by gear meshing, are transmitted as structure-borne sound through the WT and ultimately emerge into the surrounding environment as sound emissions. Given that tonal noises are irritating to humans, there is a need for early-stage noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) mitigation.

Recently, a trend has emerged towards replacing planetary rolling bearings (PRBs) with planetary journal bearings (PJBs) in the gearboxes of WT drivetrains. This shift offers several advantages, including reduced installation space, increased reliability, and improved vibration reduction, the latter being especially important for complying with noise regulations. Thus, this paper aims to analyze the impact of using PJBs on the NVH behavior of WTs. To achieve this, the dynamic behavior of a generic 5 MW WT under nominal operational conditions is simulated using a multi-body simulation (MBS) model. The findings of this study indicate significant potential for enhanced noise mitigation through the adoption of PJBs, with the bearing main parameters playing a role in the damping characteristics of the bearing.
It takes a village: an ethnographic study on how undergraduate medical students use each other to learn clinical reasoning in the workplace
Authors: Ruczynski Larissa I. A. , van de Pol Marjolein H. J. , Hashmi Shiba , Vos Erwin J. H. , Fluit Cornelia R. M. G. , Schouwenberg Bas J. J. W.
Published: February 2025

When students learn with–and from–other students, it is called peer-assisted learning (PAL). How undergraduate medical students use their peers for their clinical-reasoning learning process remains unclear, although literature suggests that it is a promising learning strategy at this stage. This research therefore explores the question: ‘How is PAL manifested in the clinical learning environment of undergraduate medical students with regard to developing clinical-reasoning skills?’. A constructivist paradigm with a sociocultural theoretical framework was adopted for this research, using PAL and workplace learning as theoretical background. Focused ethnography and a combination of template and open coding was used to gather and analyze qualitative data. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine students, four residents, and seven clinical supervisors. A total number of 31.5 h were used for five clinical observations. Following categories were used to describe the data: (1) the role of PAL in the clinical-reasoning learning practice, in which PAL-theory was placed alongside clinical practice, (2) the role of different actors during PAL and (3) the PAL environment, in which contextual factors have been scrutinized. Students deploy various categories of PAL to advance their clinical-reasoning skills, although they were largely unaware of these processes, and facilitation of PAL is not consistently provided. Three topics of discussion are identified that need to be acknowledged: (1) the design of a PAL environment that is conducive to collaborative learning, (2) the shifting roles of peers when they enter clinical practice, and (3) the individualistic tendencies of students that can hamper PAL. Future research could focus on stimulating and facilitating PAL among the next generation of students and integrating PAL into the clinical practice workflow.
Unlearning modernity? A critical examination of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Authors: Wagner Niklas , Hornidge Anna-Katharina
Published: February 2025

Modernity's ideals of progress through industrialisation, coupled with rationalist views of value-free and neutral science guiding policymaking, have been driving forces behind the climate crisis and related injustices. Post-colonial scholarship calls for unlearning this modernist paradigm. This study examines the extent to which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the preeminent global authority on climate change knowledge, is both shaped by the procedural logic of Eurocentric modernity and the tendencies towards unlearning these modernist characteristics in favour of more pluralistic, co-productive approaches. Through an inductive-deductive qualitative methodology, including semi-structured interviews with IPCC authors and policymakers at international climate conferences, this paper finds the IPCC to be situated in a tension field between modernity and unlearning it. On the one hand, the IPCC is constrained by path-dependencies of Eurocentric modernity, manifested in the linear model of knowledge transfer, the differentiated systems logic of science and policy spheres, and the privileging of Western scientific expertise as universally valid and apolitical. On the other hand, the study also identifies emergent tendencies within the IPCC towards broadening disciplinary diversity, incorporating alternative epistemologies like Indigenous and Local Knowledge, and fostering co-productive collaborations between scientists and policymakers. These nascent "unlearning" efforts signal cracks in modernity's edifice, though limitations and potential risks caution against overstatement. By highlighting this critical juncture, the paper contributes empirical and conceptual insights into the IPCC's transition from modernist constraints towards more pluriversal climate responses. This analysis sheds light on the IPCC's evolving role in shaping global climate governance and the ongoing struggle to redefine climate knowledge production.
Perceived effectiveness and intrusiveness of school security countermeasures among parents, students, and staff
Authors: Byrd Katie , Kapadia Kevin , John Richard
Published: February 2025

This study evaluates the perceptions of school security countermeasures among parents, recent students, and staff (n = 1105) recruited via Prolific.com. The survey elicited participants’ perceptions of safety and countermeasure effectiveness and invasiveness. Results show broad acceptance of measures like emergency drills, door locks, and security cameras, while more invasive measures, including armed staff, bag inspections, and clear bag policies, generate discomfort. A binary logistic regression found that perceived safety was negatively predicted by a desire for additional countermeasures and positively predicted by perceptions of countermeasures as both comfortable and effective. Socioeconomic factors, like household income, were also positively related to students’ sense of safety. Future research should examine the broader impacts of security measures on student well-being and the school environment.
Demographic and topographic findings suggesting poor response to crosslinking-iontophoresis in patients with progressive keratoconus
Authors: Touriño-Peralba Rosario , Rodríguez-Lago Julio , Lamas-Francis David , Martínez-Pérez Laura , Rodríguez-Ares Teresa
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To evaluate demographic and tomographical parameters in predicting treatment response following transepithelial iontophoresis-assisted corneal cross-linking (I-CXL) for progressive keratoconus.

Methods

Forty eyes (20 aged < 19 years and 20 aged ≥ 19 years) underwent I-CXL treatment between 2016 and 2022. Progression criteria based on the ABCD system, changes in asphericity (Q), demographic factors and keratoconus phenotypes were evaluated. Subjects were followed for 24 months after procedure.

Results

Sixty percent of participants were male. The mean age at the time of treatment was 21.0 ± 6.0 years. All tomographical values showed progression after 2 years of follow-up (p < 0.05), particularly during the first 6 months, except for anterior curvature. Within the ABCD grading system, we observed: A) an increase in anterior curvature, more evident with lower initial values; B) an increase in posterior curvature, more pronounced with higher initial values. Two years after I-CXL, 20% of subjects met progression criteria in two or more parameters, with 62.5% being under 19 years of age. Patients with a family history of corneal ectasia exhibited a mean KMax progression of 1.94D ± 1.88, (p = 0.046). Only phenotypes 3 and 4 showed progression. Although patients under 19 years showed greater progression in all tomographical variables at the end of the study, this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Treatment with I-CXL did not stop progression in the variables studied two years after the procedure in an effective manner, especially in patients younger than 19 years. A family history of corneal ectasia and subtype 4 keratoconus predicted a less favourable response to I-CXL.
Utilization of Bio-based Monomer Derived from Camelina Oil and Itaconic Acid for the Synthesis of Film-forming Latexes
Authors: Kolář Martin , Honzíček Jan , Podzimek Štěpán , Hájek Martin , Lukeš Vladimír , Klein Erik , Kocián David , Machotová Jana
Published: February 2025

The need for the production of synthetic polymers from renewable and sustainable resources also affects the area of emulsion polymerization. The bio-based monomer (BBM) was synthesized from camelina oil (CO) and itaconic acid through transesterification and epoxidation of CO, followed by itaconation, resulting in a blend of methyl esters of CO-originated fatty acids functionalized with reactive methyl itaconate groups. Various amounts of BBM (0−30 wt% of BBM in the total monomer mixture) were copolymerized with standard petroleum-based acrylic monomers (specifically methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid) using the emulsion polymerization technique to obtain film-forming latexes. Infrared and Raman spectroscopies evidenced the successful incorporation of BBM into the structure of latex polymers. The ultra-high molar mass nanogel fraction was detected by asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation coupled with a multiangle light scattering (AF4-MALS) for the BBM comprising copolymers; the higher the BBM content, the more extensive the nanogel fraction. Cross-linking of latex polymers induced by BBM testified to the reactivity of itaconated functions in emulsion polymerization and provided additional evidence of the copolymerization ability of BBM. The incorporation of BBM also resulted in pendulum hardness and glass transition temperature enhancement (about 11% and 9 °C, respectively, in the case of 30 wt% of BBM content in contrast to 0 wt% of BBM content in the copolymer). Coatings with excellent transparency and gloss were obtained from all latexes regardless of the BBM content used. Slightly increased water repellency (about 7 ° increased water contact angle value) and significantly improved water whitening resistance of the coatings (about 80% decreased water whitening after 1-day long water exposure) were found for coatings comprising 30 wt% of BBM in the copolymer, where the water whitening phenomenon was highly dependent on the BBM content.
Disentangling family environmental factors in predicting children’s short-term memory capacity and social understanding competency
Authors: Chan Yin Fei , Liang Jinghan , Xie Meng , Shi Xiaobo , Lin Dan
Published: February 2025

The current study illustrated a mediation model of different aspects of family environmental factors in predicting short-term memory and social understanding in Chinese children. The study investigated how children’s short-term memory and social understanding were predicted by family environment factors, including socioeconomic status, home crowdedness, household chaos, and the number of children’s books at home (books) among 525 children in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Data on social understanding, socioeconomic status, crowdedness, household chaos, and books were collected by parent questionnaires. Both verbal and visual short-term memory were measured individually. The results showed that the books mediated the role of crowdedness to both verbal and visual short-term memory in Mainland China, whereas in Hong Kong, crowdedness directly predicted two short-term memory with socioeconomic status controlled. Moreover, the role of crowdedness to social understanding is fully mediated by household chaos in Hong Kong and by both household chaos and books in Mainland China. Our study highlighted that manipulating soft aspects of family environmental factors (maintaining an organized, less chaotic family environment, putting more books at home) could enhance children’s fundamental short-term memory capacity and social functioning.
Socioeconomic importance of the semi-feral goat population for smallholders on the island of Socotra (Yemen)
Authors: Maděrová Lucie , Šipoš Jan , Maděra Petr , Suchomel Josef
Published: February 2025

We examined the socioeconomic importance of goat farming on the island of Socotra. The study included 154 participants from various areas. These data were collected via a questionnaire and statistically analyzed using the Bayesian approach and Kruskal–Wallis test to offer insights into the subject matter. The collected data included important quantitative parameters, such as feeding, watering, herd composition, milk production, and mortality, as well as subjective parameters, including the breeders’ reasons for keeping goats. Our study revealed that the main reason for keeping goats on Socotra Island is livelihood purposes (60%), followed by cultural reasons (22%), whereas 18% of respondents keep goats as a companions. In terms of herd composition, generally a Socotri family keeps an average of 107 individuals per herd, of which 59% are adult females, 32% are young under six months, and 9% are adult males. Reproduction patterns indicate that the goats breed twice a year, primarily in May and October. For milk production, goats on Socotra produce an average of 368 ml/day on an annual basis, and the highest production is observed in the mountains. The study also revealed that goats are primarily slaughtered for social reasons, such as family attendance and weddings (55%). According to the respondents, the main cause of mortality in goats was disease (40%). The results of this study have implications for understanding the management of goat farming on the island and conserving the island’s biodiversity.
Identifying urban hotspots of potential bird and pedestrian encounters through corridor overlap
Authors: Verweij Emma E. , Pena João Carlos , Assis Julia C.
Published: February 2025

One way people living in urban areas interact with wildlife is through encounters with birds. Research shows that visual and acoustic interactions with birds enhance the quality of life for city residents. However, global habitat loss and fragmentation have led to declines in most urban bird populations. As urbanization accelerates worldwide, it is essential to find ways for bird populations to thrive in cities while meeting citizens’ cultural ecosystem service needs. This study utilized least-cost path models to identify (i) potential ecological corridors between green spaces for six Dutch urban bird species experiencing population decline and (ii) locations that present a high likelihood of encounters between these birds and pedestrians in urbanized areas. Using expert knowledge, we simulated multiple least-cost corridors among nine green spaces in the Municipality of Utrecht. Additionally, we determined the best potential paths for pedestrians between the same nine green spaces based on citizen science data. Our results revealed that the multi-species nature of bird corridors varies, and there is limited overlap between these corridors and the simulated pedestrian paths. Nonetheless, most bird corridors are situated within 20 m of pedestrian paths, indicating hotspot areas with high potential for bird-pedestrian encounters, particularly near the Utrecht city center. We contend that locations where pedestrian paths intersect or are close to the simulated bird corridors are ideal for interventions aimed at increasing landscape permeability for the six bird species, ultimately enhancing the chances of encounters between birds and pedestrians. Finally, we proposed conservation measures based on our findings that benefit both the studied bird guilds’ population growth and the daily lives of citizens.
Gas accumulation in Lake Bosumtwi deep waters and its potential to contribute to fish kills
Authors: Boehrer Bertram , Shatwell Tom , Damoah Asha , Aurich Patrick , Determann Maria , Sanful Peter , von Tümpling Wolf
Published: February 2025

Lake Bosumtwi in tropical Ghana has been known for its recurrent fish kills, but they have recently been reported to happen less frequently. The lake formed in a meteorite impact crater in Ghana, West Africa. It plays an important role for the local inhabitants for recreation and for fisheries. The lake is deep, and recent observations indicate that recirculation is incomplete. In general, the deep water is anoxic. Fish kills have been associated with the mixing events in the slightly colder rainy season. As unpleasant smells from the water during deep mixing had been reported, the question arose whether toxic gases that had accumulated in the deep water could be responsible; namely, hydrogen sulphide or large amounts of carbon dioxide were considered the most probable candidates. The analysis of the water properties, however, did not detect any hydrogen sulphide nor immensely large concentrations of carbon dioxide. On the contrary, the presence of large amounts of bound nitrogen could be substantiated. We hence concluded that most probably bound nitrogen was responsible for the fish kills on two paths (1) as bound nitrogen as ammonium forms toxic ammonia when mixed into high pH surface water and (2) depletes oxygen when it is oxidized in the surface waters.
Improved performance of cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA)across international registries: a comparative review
Authors: de Grae Meadhbh Ni Mhiochain , Nasehi Armon , Dalury David F. , Masri Bas A. , Sheridan Gerard A.
Published: February 2025

Background

Cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been associated with higher revision rates in the past. However, due to advancements in design, as well as surgical techniques, cementless TKA performance has significantly improved. The advantages of cementless fixation include reduced cement-related complications, shorter operating times, and the potential benefits of osseointegration. We aim to assess the improvement in revision rates for cementless TKA over the last 9 years based on international registry reports.

Methods

A comprehensive retrospective review was conducted of six major English-speaking knee arthroplasty registries across the world including the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, Northern Islan Isle of Man and Guernsey (herby referred to as British), Swedish, Canadian, American, Australian, and New Zealand National Joint Registry. Data was collected from the year 2014 along with the most recent annual report published: 2022 or 2023. Data points collected included usage rates of cemented and cementless prostheses for primary TKA, their respective revision rates, and indications for revision.

Results

Across four databases, there was an average 8.3% increase in the utilization of cementless fixation for primary TKA over the past decade. Three registries reported a reduction in revision rates for cementless fixation. Lower revision rates for cementless compared to cemented TKA were observed in the most recent American (3.2% cemented vs. 2.8% cementless) and New Zealand annual reports (11.8% cemented vs. 4.5% cementless). In 2022, the British registry reported lower rates of revision for infection with cementless fixation (0.56 vs. 0.89).

Conclusion

International registries demonstrate increased utilization of cementless TKA. Cementless TKA was reported to have lower revision rates in the most recent US and New Zealand annual reports when compared to cemented TKA.
The Recast Single Permit Directive: an assessment of its changes for the rights of third-country nationals
Authors: Melin Pauline
Published: February 2025

Originally adopted in 2011, the Single Permit Directive provides for a procedure with one single permit for both work and residence for third-country nationals in EU Member States. The Single Permit Directive also grants a uniform set of rights for single permit holders. In 2022, the European Commission proposed to recast it in order to make the procedure more attractive and efficient; to clarify the scope; to strengthen the equal treatment rights; and to better protect single permit holders against exploitation. This contribution will evaluate whether the Recast Single Permit Directive adopted in 2024 meets those expectations.
A systematic review to identify carbonate rock exploration paradigms and examine current and future research directions: a case study at one of the southwest oil fields of Iran
Authors: Mehrabi Masoume , Fatemi Aghda Seyed Mahmoud , Sarkheil Hamid , Teshnehlab Mohammad , Salehi Ehsan , Kamrani Kamran , Yamini Alireza
Published: February 2025

One of the principal challenges of the current and next century’s environmental, scientific, and technical areas is undoubtedly the exploration of carbonate rocks. The role of in-depth understanding and extensive knowledge of subsurface in petroleum exploration and production is undeniable. This industry has been furnished with much information regarding the petroleum industry due to technological development. However, as a result of the nature of the subsurface many uncertainties exist that need to be addressed. Recently, the aforementioned uncertainties have been dealt with by the potential tools provided by investigating the effective parameters such as facies, diagenesis, fractures, and sedimentary environment. Some topics of investigation are recommended in the form of research questions. One question is as follows: What are the research gaps and prospective research directions for carbonate rock exploration? Previously proposed hydrocarbon content determination models in carbonate rocks have raised questions due to the complicated systems and inherently heterogeneous nature. The key purpose of this article is to deeply review the literature to find the exploration paradigms of carbonate rocks, to evaluate the existing models for their prediction in carbonate rocks of different types, and to shed light on the future routes of such studies. For this purpose, the articles presented in different databases from 1960 to 2022 have been reviewed. In the present study facies, fracture, sedimentary environment, and diagenesis parameters have been considered as the criteria for the article selection. To provide the researchers with meritorious assistance to develop a deep knowledge of carbonate rock exploration paradigms in new settings and to develop more effective deployment approaches, the proposed concept map has been prepared. It should be noted that despite the direct relationship generally observed between permeability and porosity, in practice it is not possible to develop the same general relationship for porosity and permeability because the controlling parameters of carbonate rocks vary significantly in each field and formation. Therefore, by examining the logs of several wells and interviewing experienced employees of the oil company about the case study oilfield, they concluded that the contribution of porosity was not considerable and that fracture in production is more effective than vugs or decent porosity. The porosity obtained from the total field logs was 4% and its permeability was obtained from the core and with the help of equations and fracture models.
Challenges for Workspace Analysis of Manipulators
Authors: Ceccarelli Marco
Published: February 2025

A survey of the analysis of the workspace of manipulators is presented with the aim of outlining fundamental characteristics still of current interest and source of research, also referring to the direct experiences of the author. The topic, which began with the advent of industrial robotics in the early 1970s, received a period of great attention both at practical and research levels in the following two decades in order to determine analysis procedures for design algorithms for robotic manipulators with serial kinematic architecture. In the last two decades, interest diminished, although research activities have made the manipulator workspace useful for functional characterization and design of parallel manipulators with problems and open issues.
Flutter assessment of a rotor blade in hover based on indicial aerodynamics considering blade aerofoil, rotor inflow and wake periodicity
Authors: Arnold J.
Published: February 2025

The experimental 7AD rotor blade is assessed for flutter stability in hover to identify the influence of aerodynamic contributions related to blade aerofoil, rotor inflow and wake periodicity on flutter onset. For the aeroelastic analyses, the multibody model is tightly coupled with an unsteady aerodynamic model based on Wagner’s function and related enhancements for the general motion of an aerofoil section considering heave and pitch. The mathematical setup of the approximated Wagner function in state space is extended for axial flow to include unsteady effects related to rotor inflow and wake periodicity. Since the aerodynamic model is based on indicial response functions, a separation of these contributions is possible and allows for the study of their impact on rotor blade flutter. The according flutter results are extracted in terms of frequency and damping behaviour for three test cases that differ in the unsteady aerodynamic model for circulation comprising blade aerofoil, rotor inflow and wake periodicity. As known for articulated rotor blades, also the 7AD blade exhibits a classical bending-torsion coupling. The lowest flutter onset is found for unsteady aerodynamics limited to blade aerofoil, whilst the cases with added rotor inflow and wake periodicity show both the same flutter onset at a 5% larger rotor speed. Here, the influence of rotor inflow plays the major role, since it increases the torsion damping within the critical flutter coupling. Added wake periodicity neither changes frequency nor damping and, hence, does not affect the aeroelastic coupling.
Doubling constructions and tensor product L-functions: coverings of the symplectic group
Authors: Kaplan Eyal
Published: February 2025

In this work, we develop an integral representation for the partial L-function of a pair
$\pi \times \tau $
of genuine irreducible cuspidal automorphic representations,
$\pi $
of the m-fold covering of Matsumoto of the symplectic group
$\operatorname {\mathrm {Sp}}_{2n}$
and
$\tau $
of a certain covering group of
$\operatorname {\mathrm {GL}}_k$
, with arbitrary m, n and k. Our construction is based on the recent extension by Cai, Friedberg, Ginzburg and the author, of the classical doubling method of Piatetski-Shapiro and Rallis, from rank-
$1$
twists to arbitrary rank twists. We prove a basic global identity for the integral and compute the local integrals with unramified data. Our global results are subject to certain conjectures, but when
$k=1$
they are unconditional for all m. One possible future application of this work will be a Shimura-type lift of representations from covering groups to general linear groups. In a recent work, we used the present results in order to provide an analytic definition of local factors for representations of the m-fold covering of
$\operatorname {\mathrm {Sp}}_{2n}$
.
Infinite flags and Schubert polynomials
Authors: Anderson David
Published: February 2025

We study Schubert polynomials using geometry of infinite-dimensional flag varieties and degeneracy loci. Applications include Graham-positivity of coefficients appearing in equivariant coproduct formulas and expansions of back-stable and enriched Schubert polynomials. We also construct an embedding of the type C flag variety and study the corresponding pullback map on (equivariant) cohomology rings.
Out-Competing Rivals: Armed Group Governance and Civilian Attitudes in Colombia
Authors: DE BRUIN ERICA , LEVY GABRIELLA , SCHUBIGER LIVIA I. , WEINTRAUB MICHAEL
Published: February 2025

What determines the legitimacy of aspiring rulers? Questions about support of the governed are central to theories of state-building and political order. Millions worldwide live under the influence of competing armed groups, yet we know little about how people in these contexts make comparative assessments of would-be rulers. We theorize how local norms, social networks, and the provision of goods and services influence these comparative judgments. We report results from a conjoint survey experiment in Colombia among nearly 2,400 respondents across 54 municipalities contested by multiple armed groups. Armed groups that take community norms into account and those that involve local leaders in decision-making are judged less negatively. Additionally, providing services and limiting violence both reduce negative evaluations of armed groups. These findings help us understand dimensions of political legitimacy under limited statehood and the effects of governance on civilian attitudes in areas of competition.
THE DENSE REGION IN SCATTERING DIAGRAMS
Authors: GRÄFNITZ TIM , LUO PATRICK
Published: February 2025

We use deformations and mutations of scattering diagrams to show that a scattering diagram with initial functions

$f_1=(1+tx)^\mu $

and

$f_2=(1+ty)^\nu $

has a dense region. This answers a question asked by Gross and Pandharipande [‘Quivers, curves, and the tropical vertex’, Port. Math.67(2) (2010), 211–259] which had been proved only for the case

$\mu =\nu $

.
First record of the sea anemone Actinia equina (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) on the Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States
Authors: Boonman Diederik , Wilding Craig Stephen , Carlton James T. , Adolf Jason E.
Published: February 2025

Members of the genus Actinia are familiar members of rocky shore communities across much of the world. However, to date, no Actinia species have been reported from the North American continent. Here, we report Actinia from an approximately 22 km length of the New Jersey, US shoreline, where it was first discovered in 2021. Morphology and DNA barcoding data (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I and nuclear internal transcribed spacer) indicate that these populations are Actinia equina. The presence of these populations close to major ports in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia suggests a probable introduction from shipping activities.
The role of training and exposure to print for the mastery of connectives in French
Authors: Tskhovrebova Ekaterina , Wetzel Mathis , Gygax Pascal , Zufferey Sandrine
Published: February 2025

A good knowledge of connectives like moreover and therefore is crucial for reading comprehension and academic success, yet not all connectives, especially infrequent connectives mostly used in writing, are well mastered even by adults. The main goal of this paper is to assess the possibility to improve the ability to use connectives in discourse during the transitional teenage years. To do so, we examined whether 228 native French-speaking teenagers and 60 adults improved their performance with eight infrequent (prototypical and non-prototypical) connectives in a sentence-completion task after active or passive training. The results revealed that training had only a limited effect on the ability to use both types of connectives, while the degree of exposure to print was an important predictor of individual variations. These findings suggest that connectives’ mastery depends more on exposure to extensive written input that allows to internalize their procedural meaning over time rather than on one-time explicit activation of the mapping between their form and function.
Phonetic reduction in native and non-native English speech: Assessing the intelligibility for L2 listeners
Authors: Verbeke Gil , Mitterer Holger , Simon Ellen
Published: February 2025

This study examines to what extent phonetic reduction in different accents affects intelligibility for non-native (L2) listeners, and whether similar reduction processes in listeners’ first language (L1) facilitate the recognition and processing of reduced word forms in the target language. In two experiments, 80 Dutch-speaking and 80 Spanish-speaking learners of English were presented with unreduced and reduced pronunciation variants in native and non-native English speech. Results showed that unreduced words are recognized more accurately and more quickly than reduced words, regardless of whether these variants occur in non-regionally, regionally or non-native accented speech. No differential effect of phonetic reduction on intelligibility and spoken word recognition was observed between Dutch-speaking and Spanish-speaking participants, despite the absence of strong vowel reduction in Spanish. These findings suggest that similar speech processes in listeners’ L1 and L2 do not invariably lead to an intelligibility benefit or a cross-linguistic facilitation effect in lexical access.
The Deaths and Afterlives of George Floyd and Ashli Babbitt: Political Martyrs, Political Movements, and the Politics of Memory
Authors: Murphy Andrew R.
Published: February 2025

In this paper, I explore how two recent politically charged deaths—those of George Floyd and Ashli Babbitt—illuminate the broader dynamics inherent in the concept of political martyrdom and its relationship to American democracy. Political martyrdom (as distinct from that associated with religious communities) offers martyrs a life beyond the grave, not by promising eternal life or paradise, but by ensuring them a role in a community’s collective memory. It involves three components: death, in what we might call “unnatural” circumstances, generally connected to an individual’s identity (or identities) or political commitments; consecration of that death, embedding it in a community’s collective memory and ascribing to it transcendent meaning; and transmission, the passing down of martyrdom narratives over time through media, ritual, and commemorative practices. The paper uses the examples of Floyd and Babbitt to illustrate the value of this conceptual category, one that focuses less on the personal qualities of individuals and more on communities’ narrations of their lives and deaths; highlights such narratives’ capacity to build collective identities over time, often in contexts far removed from the martyrs’ own lives and deaths; and offers new interpretive lenses for considering twenty-first-century issues of systemic violence and structural injustice.
Elevated Atmospheric Sulfur Deposition Affects Predominant Forms of Sulfur in Ombrotrophic Peatlands
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Yu Zhi‐Guo , Broder Tanja , Göttlicher Jörg , Steininger Ralph , Wagner Sindy , Biester Harald , Knorr Klaus‐Holger
Published: February 2025

Long‐term transformations of sulfur from atmospheric deposition in ombrotrophic peatlands have rarely been studied, although the potential impact on carbon mineralization and particularly methane formation is acknowledged. To elucidate the long‐term fate of sulfur in peat, we therefore applied sulfur K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to investigate peatlands with either natural or anthropogenic atmospheric sulfur deposition. A peatland in central Europe (Germany, BBM) experienced high sulfur deposition during the Industrial Revolution, and an oceanic peatland (Chilean Patagonia, PBr) continuously exposed to aerosols from sea spray, were investigated. During early phases of site BBM, when sulfur deposition was constantly low, wet‐chemical extractions indicated that 98% ± 0.7% of sulfur was present as organic sulfur. The S K‐edge XANES fitting suggested that sulfur redox transformations mainly occurred near the water table, at which reduced sulfur forms (primarily organic sulfides, and thiols) increased from ∼40% to and stabilized at 65% ± 4% in anoxic peat. An increased contribution of reduced sulfur forms was observed in the polluted section of BBM and entire peat profile of PBr. While increases in reduced inorganic sulfur (TRIS) likely depended on available Fe, rises in the ratio of reduced organic sulfur to total organic sulfur from both sites were pronounced. This increase in reduced organic sulfur forms likely resulted from abiotic sulphurization of organic carbon after sulfate reduction. Our study highlights the long‐term fate of elevated sulfur in ombrotrophic peatlands, being mainly transformed into reduced organic sulfur.
Gestational autoantibody exposure impacts early brain development in a rat model of MAR autism
Authors: McLellan Janna , Iosif Ana-Maria , Cichewicz Karol , Canales Cesar , Rahbarian Darlene , Corea Melissa , Bauman Melissa , Nord Alex S. , Van de Water Judy
Published: February 2025

Maternal autoantibody-related autism (MARA) is a subtype of autism characterized by the maternal production of specific patterns of autoantibodies during pregnancy, which significantly increases the likelihood of an autism diagnosis in their children. Multiple patterns of MARA autoantibodies (MARA-ABS) have been identified, and differences in the severity of the autism phenotype associated with each autoantibody pattern have been described. In this study, we utilized preclinical rat models to further elucidate the differential effects of MARA-AB exposure based on the known clinical patterns, including the originally reported pattern of lactate dehydrogenase A and B (LDHA/B) + collapsin response mediator protein 1 (CRMP1) + stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1), as well as the more recently described patterns of CRMP1+CRMP2, CRMP1 + guanine deaminase (GDA), and STIP1+ neuron-specific enolase (NSE). We induced endogenous MARA-AB production in rat dams before pregnancy to expose offspring to the ABs throughout gestation. We found that in postnatal day 2 offspring exposed to MARA-ABS, the levels of brain and serum cytokines/chemokines/growth factors were altered based on the pattern of MARA-AB exposure. Further, bulk transcriptomic profiles of coronal sections containing hippocampal formation and the adjacent cortical and subcortical structures suggested changes in cellular proliferation and differentiation following MARA exposure. These combined observations demonstrate that gestational exposure to MARA-ABS alters early gene expression and immune signaling molecules, both of which may contribute to the altered neurodevelopment and behaviors associated with MARA.
Tri-specific tribodies targeting 5T4, CD3, and immune checkpoint drive stronger functional T-cell responses than combinations of antibody therapeutics
Authors: Passariello Margherita , Manna Lorenzo , Rapuano Lembo Rosa , Yoshioka Asami , Inoue Toshikazu , Kajiwara Kentaro , Hashimoto Shu‑ichi , Nakamura Koji , De Lorenzo Claudia
Published: February 2025

One of the most promising cancer immunotherapies is based on bi-specific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) that simultaneously bind with one arm to a tumor-associated antigen on tumor cells and with the other one to CD3 complex on T cells to form a TCR-MHC independent immune synapse. We previously generated four novel tri-specific tribodies made up of a Fab targeting 5T4, an oncofetal tumor antigen expressed on several types of tumors, a scFv targeting CD3 on T cells, and an additional scFv specific for an immune checkpoint (IC), such as PD-1, PD-L1 or LAG-3. To verify their advantages over the combinations of BiTEs (CD3/TAA) with IC inhibitors, recently used to overcome tumor immunosuppressive environment, here we tested their functional properties in comparison with clinically validated mAbs targeting the same ICs, used alone or in combination with a control bi-specific devoid of immunomodulatory scFvs, called 53 P. We found that the novel tri-specific tribodies activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells more efficiently than clinically validated mAbs (atezolizumab, pembrolizumab, and relatlimab) either used alone or in combination with 53 P, leading to a stronger tumor cytotoxicity and cytokines release. In particular, 53L10 tribody targeting PD-L1 displayed much more potent effects than the combination of 53 P with all the clinically validated mAbs and led to complete tumor regression in vivo, showing much higher efficacy than the combination of 53 P and atezolizumab. We shed light on the molecular basis of this potentiated anti-tumor activity by evidencing that the insertion of the anti-PD-L1 moiety in 53L10 led not only to stronger binding of the tri-specific to tumor cells but also efficiently blocked the effects of increased PD-L1 on tumor cells, induced by IFNγ secretion also due to T-cell activation. These results are important also for the design of novel T-cell engagers targeting other tumor antigens.
Phospho-tau serine-262 and serine-356 as biomarkers of pre-tangle soluble tau assemblies in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Islam Tohidul , Hill Emily , Abrahamson Eric E. , Servaes Stijn , Smirnov Denis S. , Zeng Xuemei , Sehrawat Anuradha , Chen Yijun , Kac Przemysław R. , Kvartsberg Hlin , Olsson Maria , Sjons Emma , Gonzalez-Ortiz Fernando , Therriault Joseph , Tissot Cécile , Del Popolo Ivana , Rahmouni Nesrine , Richardson Abbie , Mitchell Victoria , Zetterberg Henrik , Pascoal Tharick A. , Lashley Tammaryn , Wall Mark J. , Galasko Douglas , Rosa-Neto Pedro , Ikonomovic Milos D. , Blennow Kaj , Karikari Thomas K.
Published: February 2025

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with little or no quantifiable insoluble brain tau neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology demonstrate stronger clinical benefits of therapies than those with advanced NFTs. The formation of NFTs can be prevented by targeting the intermediate soluble tau assemblies (STAs). However, biochemical understanding and biomarkers of STAs are lacking. We show that Tris-buffered saline-soluble tau aggregates from autopsy-verified AD brain tissues include the core sequence ~tau258–368. In neuropathological assessments, antibodies against the phosphorylation sites serine-262 and serine-356 within the STA core almost exclusively stained granular (that is, prefibrillar) tau aggregates in pre-NFTs while antibodies against phosphorylation at serine-202 and threonine-205 and threonine-231, outside the STA core, stained the entire spectrum of tau aggregates in pre-NFTs and mature NFTs, dystrophic neurites and neuropil threads in the hippocampus. Functionally, a recombinantly produced STA core peptide robustly altered neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in mouse hippocampal brain slices. Furthermore, we developed a cerebrospinal fluid assay that differentiated STAs in AD from non-AD tauopathies, correlated with the severity of NFT burden and cognitive decline independently of amyloid beta deposition, and with tau positron emission tomography uptake across Braak NFT stages. Together, our findings inform about the status of early-stage tau aggregation, reveal aggregation-relevant phosphorylation epitopes in tau and offer a diagnostic biomarker and targeted therapeutic opportunities for AD.