bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic central hepatectomy: a comparison with open surgery
Authors: Masuda Takashi , Endo Yuichi , Nakamura Shun , Miyoshino Wataru , Nagasawa Yuiko , Orimoto Hiroki , Kawamura Masahiro , Fujinaga Atsuro , Takayama Hiroomi , Kawano Yoko , Hirashita Teijiro , Inomata Masafumi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Laparoscopic liver resection has advantages over open liver resection, including reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stays. Laparoscopic central hepatectomy (CH) is a highly challenging procedure, and such outcomes can only be achieved with a high level of expertise in laparoscopic liver surgery. Laparoscopic CH remains challenging, with safety and efficacy unclear. This study retrospectively evaluated the intra- and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open CH and assessed safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery.

Methods

CH included anterior sectionectomy (AS) and central bisectionectomy (CBS) (excluding cases with biliary reconstruction). The study comprised 38 patients receiving CH in our department from January 2010 to November 2023.

Results

The laparoscopic group included 14 cases and the open group 24. AS/CBS was performed in 14/10 open group cases and 6/8 laparoscopic group cases. Short-term surgical outcomes showed no significant between-group difference in operative time, but the laparoscopic group lost significantly less blood (250 vs. 985 mL; p = 0.001) and the transfusion rate was lower (14% vs. 46%; p = 0.004). Among postoperative outcomes, incidence of bile leakage was not significantly different (33% vs. 42%; p = 0.42), but the laparoscopic group had significantly less postoperative ascites (0% vs. 17%; p = 0.047), fewer surgical site infections (SSI) (0% vs. 21%; p = 0.02), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (14 vs. 30 days; p = 0.005). The risk factor for bile leakage in CH by univariate and multivariate analysis was tumor proximity to the right anterior Glissonean pedicle (OR = 6.84; 95% CI = 1.67–32.7; p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic CH could be performed safely. Compared to open surgery, laparoscopic CH was effective in reducing blood loss, postoperative ascites, SSIs, and shortening postoperative hospital stay. However, tumors close to the root of the right anterior Glissonean pedicle were considered a risk factor for postoperative bile leakage and require caution.
Decoding silent speech: a machine learning perspective on data, methods, and frameworks
Authors: Chowdhury Adiba Tabassum , Newaz Mehrin , Saha Purnata , AbuHaweeleh Mohannad Natheef , Mohsen Sara , Bushnaq Diala , Chabbouh Malek , Aljindi Raghad , Pedersen Shona , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H.
Published: February 2025

At the nexus of signal processing and machine learning (ML), silent speech recognition (SSR) has evolved as a game-changing technology that allows for communication without audible voice. This study offers a thorough overview of SSR, tracing its evolution from early waveform analysis to the most recent ML methods. We start by examining current SSR techniques using ML and determining the essential conditions for efficient SSR systems. After that, we look at the datasets and data collection techniques currently employed in SSR research, highlighting the difficulties posed by the variety of articulatory movements and the scarcity of data. Examining state-of-the-art SSR frameworks, the paper covers important topics such signal processing, feature extraction, ML techniques for decoding and optimizing and assessing the performance of SSR models. We emphasize how deep learning (DL) and ML models have evolved to increase SSR resilience and accuracy. The field's proposed procedures are examined, with an emphasis on sophisticated feature extraction and classification methods. Modern SSR techniques are compared in terms of performance, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of different models. There is also discussion of ethical issues, especially those pertaining to privacy and consent. The integration of multimodal information—visual cues, electromyography signals, and neuroimaging data—to improve SSR systems is covered in this work. We investigate the functions of transfer learning and domain adaptation in handling cross-subject variability. Lastly, the study offers suggestions and future prospects for SSR research, providing practitioners, engineers, and academics with a road map. As SSR continues to push the frontiers of human–machine interaction, our study aims to increase our collective understanding of the technological advances and societal effects of SSR in the ML age.
Die Unterbringungsgesetz-Novelle 2023
Authors: Stastka Kurt , Aigner Martin , Erfurth Andreas
Published: February 2025

Die am 1. Juli 2023 in Österreich in Kraft getretene Novelle zum Unterbringungsgesetz (UbG) stellt eine umfassende Reform dar. Die Novelle bringt für psychiatrische Abteilungen zusätzliche Aufgaben mit sich, die eine Anpassung der Strukturqualität erfordern.

Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, aufzuzeigen, welche Erfahrungen bisher gemacht wurden und wie die Umsetzung des Gesetzes im Sinne eines guten klinischen Risikomanagements gefördert werden kann.
Testing of strain-based sensorized bolts for loosening detection and condition monitoring
Authors: Chavez J. , Flindt R. , Gamit M. , Eustorgi K.
Published: February 2025

The installation of sensorized bolts in the main shaft bolt connection of wind turbines is an innovative approach that allows manufacturers and operators to gain insights into the operating conditions of the drivetrain. This article focuses on the use of sensorized bolts in the flange connections of wind turbines, particularly in the drivetrain. Fraunhofer IWES investigated the suitability of such sensors for determining the loads on the drivetrain and for monitoring the condition of the preload in the bolts of flange connections. In this context, to investigate the behavior of sensorized bolts equipped with strain gauges, a series of tests were carried out on a downscaled drivetrain test bench. Within the flange connection between the hub and the main shaft, four sensorized bolts and four non-sensorized bolts are used, alternating their positions in the flange. The use of these bolts for monitoring the preload in the flange connections is assessed and the results of tests with individual load conditions are evaluated. For this purpose, various load cases with combinations of bending moments and shear forces were applied. The load cases are reflected as cyclical changes in the bolts load due to the rotation of the drivetrain. These changes are captured by the sensorized bolts and the measurement results are presented in this paper.
Geometric design of axial piston machine slipper-bearings made of high-performance plastics
Authors: Schlegel Felix , Schmitz Katharina
Published: February 2025

Oil hydraulic drivetrains are crucial in several industrial applications due to their high power density and dynamics, making them irreplaceable by electric drives. These systems consist of pumps that convert mechanical power into hydraulic power through pressure and volume flow, with axial piston machines being the most commonly used type. The performance and longevity of these pumps are largely determined by their tribological contacts, particularly the slipper-swashplate contact, which typically consists of a hard-soft material pairing of non-ferrous metal and hardened steel. Copper alloys are usually used, which are often alloyed with 0.1 to 23 % lead to improve malleability, corrosion resistance and emergency running properties. However, lead toxicity and copper’s role in accelerating oil aging raise environmental and cost concerns. This study explores the potential of replacing conventional brass slippers with tribologically optimized high-performance plastics. With an FEM-based geometry study several slipper design features are analyzed and their potential for wear reduction are discussed. The focus is on the design of the slipper socket and the attachment of a plastic running surface as well as its influence on the deformation of the running surface. In this context, both conventional non-ferrous metal and plastic slippers are investigated.
Influence of species interactions and climate on tree mortality in mixed stands of Pinus sylvestris, Betula spp., and Picea abies
Authors: Condés Sonia , Bielak Kamil , Brazaitis Gediminas , Brunner Andreas , Löf Magnus , Pach Maciej , del Río Miren
Published: February 2025

Tree mortality is a complex process associated with endogenous factors such as tree size, species composition or stand density, which may interact with each other and/or with exogenous factors such as climate. We studied the influence of these factors on background tree mortality in Scots pine, Norway spruce, and downy and silver birch mixed forests located in Central and Northern European continental (Poland) and boreal (NE Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway) regions. Our main objective was to disentangle how species interactions influence background mortality along a gradient of climate conditions. To achieve this, we developed mortality models using a set of 188405 sample trees in 6840 permanent sample plots, taken from the National Forest Inventories of the four countries. Our results indicate that tree mortality and the effects of competition were species-specific. The competition from pine resulted in higher tree mortality for the pine itself rather than for birch or spruce, and the competition from spruce was usually the greatest, causing higher tree mortality in the three studied species. Temperature modified the effects of competition, always magnifying the effects of intra- or inter-specific competition depending on the species. However, the effect of temperature was complex, as the density-dependent and the density-independent mortality varied in different ways with temperature. In general, mixing pine with spruce and birch increases pine mortality, whereas it favors spruce and birch survival, especially at warmer sites. These findings may be useful for the management of these mixtures in the context of climate change.
Identifying gaps in the conservation of small wild cats of Southeast Asia
Authors: Chiaverini Luca , Macdonald David W. , Hearn Andrew J. , Kaszta Żaneta , Ash Eric , Can Özgün Emre , Channa Phan , Cheyne Susan M. , Clements Gopalasamy Reuben , Haidir Iding Achmad , Kamler Jan F. , Kyaw Pyae Phyoe , Luskin Matthew S. , Rasphone Akchousanh , Singh Priya , Tan Cedric Kai Wei , Yadav Bhupendra P. , Cushman Samuel A.
Published: February 2025

Southeast Asia hosts more felid species than any other region and, although smaller (< 30 kg) felids have important ecological roles, regional conservation has mainly focused on a few charismatic big cats. Information on the ecology and conservation status of small felids is often lacking or geographically limited. We used empirically derived scale-optimized models for seven species in three regions of Southeast Asia (mainland, Borneo and Sumatra) to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing protected areas network in preserving suitable habitats, and to map suitable areas lacking protection. Finally, we assessed whether small felids are good proxies of broader regional terrestrial biodiversity. On the mainland, the largest and most suitable habitats occurred in the Northern Forest Complex of Myanmar and in the region between Eastern Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. In these areas we also highlighted the most important protected areas. In Borneo, the most suitable habitats occurred in the central highlands and in the protected areas of Sabah. In Sumatra, the strongholds of habitat suitability were the Barisan Mountains, in the western extent of the island, and were highly concentrated within existing protected areas. We also found that the aggregated habitat suitability for small felids was correlated more strongly to terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity than was any single felid species individually, suggesting that areas that are suitable for multiple felid species have an association with high overall biodiversity. Overall, our assessment of the distribution of small felids in Southeast Asia highlights the fundamental importance of protected areas for biodiversity conservation, given that most species were highly associated with protected areas and regions with large extents of forest. Our results are a clarion call to expand the extent, and improve the conservation management, of protected areas in the remaining core habitat areas for multiple species in Southeast Asia, and to work to enhance and protect connectivity between them to ensure long-term demographic and genetic exchange among the region’s remaining wildlife populations.
Antecedents of Creativity in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Job Demand-Resources Perspective
Authors: Olsen Espen , Jensen Maria Therese , Solheim Marte C. W. , Iakovleva Tatiana
Published: February 2025

Creativity is an essential factor determining whether small and medium-sized enterprises survive during times of crisis. The current study aims to examine determinants of creativity using a serial mediational model, developed and tested on 246 workers employed in Norwegian small and medium-sized enterprises, applying structural equation modelling. Data were collected in June 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown in Norway. We included factors related to job demands (hindrance demands and challenge demands), job resources (autonomy), and personal resources (self-efficacy, resilience, and growth mindset) to determine their direct and indirect associations with creativity. Both hindrance demands and challenge demands were directly related to self-efficacy and indirectly related to creativity through self-efficacy. A direct association was discovered between hindrance demands and autonomy. All effects from hindrance demands were also indirectly related to creativity through self-efficacy. Self-efficacy was positively related to creativity. This study illustrates the importance of incorporating several mediators when investigating antecedents of creativity, as some factors may not be significant when assessed together with competing concepts. Recommendations and implications for practitioners and individuals are discussed.
Curriculum Preferences and Engagement of Online Entrepreneurship Students: The Influence of Age and Gender
Authors: Starbird S. Andrew , Martin Jill M. , Kalbas-Schmidt Trish A.
Published: February 2025

It is important for instructors and institutions to create learning experiences that are engaging, effective, and meaningful for students. To achieve these goals, instructors must understand the preferences and interests of their students, build engaging lessons based on those interests, and mitigate content that might make students feel excluded. In-person learning allows instructors to gather information about interests and engagement through direct interaction with students. Gathering information about student interests and engagement is more difficult for asynchronous, self-paced, online training programs. In this paper, we assess the interests, engagement, and disengagement of learners accessing online content focused on entrepreneurship. We focus on the influence of the demographic variables of age and gender and utilize data from Google Analytics to test hypotheses about the relationship between these variables and how the students interact with elements of the curriculum. STATA 18.0 was used for the statistical analysis. We find that while there are significant differences in the preferences for different elements of the curriculum based on gender and age, there is no evidence of a significant difference in curriculum engagement based on these demographic factors. These results support the conclusion that entrepreneurship students in this kind of learning environment select topics that are influenced by their gender and age. However, once the path is selected, engagement with the curriculum does not appear to vary with these individual characteristics.
Phosphorylated glycosphingolipids are commonly detected in Caenorhabditis elegans lipidomes
Authors: Witting Michael , Salzer Liesa , Meyer Sven W. , Barsch Aiko
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The identification of lipids is a cornerstone of lipidomics, and due to the specific characteristics of lipids, it requires dedicated analysis workflows. Identifying novel lipids and lipid species for which no reference spectra are available is tedious and often involves a lot of manual work. Integrating high-resolution mass spectrometry with enhancements from chromatographic and ion mobility separation enables the in-depth investigation of intact lipids.

Objectives

We investigated phosphorylated glycosphingolipids from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a biomedical model organism, and aimed to identify different species from this class of lipids, which have been described in one particular publication only. We checked if these lipids can be detected in lipid extracts of C. elegans.

Methods

We used UHPLC-UHR-TOF-MS and UHPLC-TIMS-TOF-MS in combination with dedicated data analysis to check for the presence of phosphorylated glycosphingolipids. Specifically, candidate features were identified in two datasets using Mass Spec Query Language (MassQL) to search fragmentation data. The additional use of retention time (RT) and collisional cross section (CCS) information allowed to filter false positive annotations.

Results

As a result, we detected all previously described phosphorylated glycosphingolipids and novel species as well as their biosynthetic precursors in two different lipidomics datasets. MassQL significantly speeds up the process by saving time that would otherwise be spent on manual data investigations. In total over 20 sphingolipids could be described.

Conclusion

MassQL allowed us to search for phosphorylated glycosphingolipids and their potential biosynthetic precursors systematically. Using orthogonal information such as RT and CCS helped filter false positive results. With the detection in two different datasets, we demonstrate that these sphingolipids are a general part of the C. elegans lipidome.
SIRT5: a potential target for discovering bioactive natural products
Authors: Xie Yuwei , Cai Nali , Liu Xiaohua , He Liangliang , Ma Yiming , Yan Changyu , Liang Juan , Ouyang Shu-Hua , Luo Ao , He Yingzhi , Lu Jun , Ao Dang , Liu Jia , Ye Zhonglv , Liu Bin , He Rong-Rong , Li Wen
Published: February 2025

Silent information regulator 5 (SIRT5) is the fifth member of the sirtuin family, which is mainly expressed in mitochondrial matrix. SIRT5 plays a key role in metabolism and antioxidant responses, and is an important regulator for maintaining intracellular homeostasis. Given its involvement in multiple cellular processes, dysregulation of SIRT5 activity is associated with a variety of diseases. This review explores the structural characteristics of SIRT5 that influence its substrate specificity, highlights recent research advances, and summarizes its four key enzymatic activities along with their corresponding substrates in disease contexts. We also discuss the natural products that modulate SIRT5 activity and identify potential targets of SIRT5 through virtual docking, which may provide new therapeutic avenues. Although the mechanism of SIRT5 in diseases needs to be further elucidated and deglutathionylation activities are still at an early stage, targeting SIRT5 and its substrates holds significant promise for the development of novel therapeutics.

Graphical abstract
High Temperature Tensile Properties of TiN-Reinforced 17-4 PH Stainless Steel Produced by Laser Powder-Bed Fusion
Authors: Ozsoy Andac , Aydogan Eda , Dericioglu Arcan F.
Published: February 2025

In this study, the effect of TiN particle reinforcements on high temperature tensile behavior of laser powder-bed fusion processed 17-4 PH stainless steel has been investigated. Tensile tests have been conducted at room temperature (RT), 400 °C, and 600 °C. It was observed that the TiN incorporation increased the strength at RT and 400 °C with a slight tradeoff in elongation. However, at 600 °C, yield and tensile strength values were lower for the composite than those of the unreinforced steel matrix, yet with a threefold increase in elongation. Further investigation on the ruptured specimens revealed that dynamic recovery, recrystallization, and phase transformation were responsible for this behavior. It has been concluded that dispersion hardening offers advantages both at room and elevated temperatures, especially in the ranges where the original alloy is normally used. However, the physical characteristics of the matrix become dominant at high temperatures (> 0.5 T

m
), setting an upper bound to the possible contribution of the reinforcement to a selected matrix, yet, enabling for higher ductility.
Optimal hemoglobin threshold for blood transfusions in sepsis and septic shock: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Permpikul Chairat , Tanksinmankhong Jakpanee , Tongyoo Surat , Naorungroj Thummaporn , Viarasilpa Tanuwong , Karaketklang Khemajira
Published: February 2025

Transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs) are crucial for improving tissue oxygenation in anemic patients with sepsis. Nevertheless, the debate continues over the ideal hemoglobin level for transfusions. This study aimed to assess the impact of different hemoglobin levels on the outcomes of patients with sepsis who received transfusions. This retrospective analysis included adult patients with sepsis treated in the general medical ward and intensive care unit at a University affiliate hospital. Patients needing RBC transfusions were included. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality rate. From March 2018 to January 2022, 806 patients were studied. Of these, 480 (59.6%) were transfused at hemoglobin levels of 7–9 g/dL (“liberal group”), while 326 (40.4%) received RBC transfusions when their hemoglobin was < 7 g/dL (“restrictive group”). Mean hemoglobin levels at transfusion were 8.1 ± 0.8 g/dL and 6.3 ± 0.8 g/dL for each group, respectively(P < 0.001). On day 28, the liberal group had a mortality rate of 51.2% (246 patients), compared to 59.2% (193 patients) in the restrictive group (Odds ratio [OR] 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–0.98, P = 0.031). Adjusted comparisons showed 46.8% mortality in the liberal group (141/301patients) versus 59.3% in the restrictive group (178/300patients) at 28 days (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.92, P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed transfusion at hemoglobin 7–9 g/dL as an independent variable linked to lower 28-day mortality (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49–0.99, P = 0.042). Other factors correlated with 28-day mortality were platelet counts ≤ 150 × 103/µL, albumin ≤ 2.5 g/dL, shock, mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy. This retrospective study suggests that RBC transfusion at hemoglobin levels of 7–9 g/dL associates with lower 28-day mortality in sepsis patients compared to transfusion at hemoglobin levels below 7 g/dL.

Clinical trial registration

The study was registered with the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (identification number TCTR20231003003). (https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20231003003).
Zwischen Anpassung und Innovation
Authors: Brandenberg Elias , Frigo-Charles Olivia , Kaschlik Anke , Nägeli Tobias
Published: February 2025

Auf Basis erster Erkenntnisse aus dem transformativen Forschungsprojekt Jugend und Raum geht der Artikel der Frage nach, wie Jugendliche mit den durch die Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung der Covid 19-Pandemie verursachten sozialräumlichen Einschränkungen umgingen und welche Anforderungen sich daraus für die Offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit ableiten lassen.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles as Next-Generation Green Catalysts for Multifaceted Applications
Authors: Rupanshi  , Kumar Vinod , Yadav Neelam , Singh Davender , Beniwal Vikas , Chhabra Jasbeer , Singh Bijender
Published: February 2025

In the field of material sciences, nano-based formulations have attracted the attention of researchers, as they are highly suitable for applications in different fields. Conventionally, physical and chemical techniques have been employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). However, they use hazardous and poisonous ingredients, which are toxic to human health and the environment. Therefore, it necessitates the development of an eco-friendly and economical method for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. Biogenic AgNPs have been synthesized using plants and microorganisms due to the presence of reducing agents such as metabolites and enzymes in their extracts. The size, shape, and other properties of the biogenic AgNPs have been characterized using various biophysical techniques. AgNPs are widely used to treat infections and diseases in humans and plants. They have demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial activities and, therefore, have been applied in various therapeutic applications like the treatment of cancer, wound dressing, orthopedic and cardiovascular implants, and dental composites. Biogenic AgNPs have been applied for the remediation of environmental pollution, including that of water and air via the detoxification of synthetic dyes and other contaminants. They have improved seed germination and plant growth after application as nanofertilizers and nano-pesticides, as well as in masking the effects of stress. This review describes various biological routes used in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their potential applications in agricultural, environmental, and medical fields.
The Metaethics of Meaning-Making: Jonathan Birch’s the Edge of Sentience
Authors: Rodríguez Higuera Claudio Julio
Published: February 2025

Review of Jonathan Birch’s The Edge of Sentience.
Travertine increases the concentration of trace elements in groundwater in Chahar Takab, Fariman county, northeast Iran
Authors: Rezanezhad Maryam , Mahmudy-Gharaie Mohamad Hosein , Fohrer Nicola , Rosado Daniel
Published: February 2025

Groundwater has emerged as a crucial water source, supplying half of the world’s domestic water needs, particularly in rural areas without supply systems. This study assesses the impact of travertine formations, on water quality in Chahar Takab village, Iran, focusing on suitability for human consumption and ecosystem sustainability where groundwater is the primary source. Thirty-four samples from various sources, including travertine springs, surface water, and groundwater, underwent ICP-OES analysis. Travertine springs exhibited higher electrical conductivity (EC), lower pH, and elevated concentrations of major cations (Na, Ca, Mg) and anions (Cl, HCO3). In them, all samples exceeded European Union limits for Cl and Na in drinking water. Hydrochemical facies were influenced by water-rock interactions, leading to Ca-HCO3 dominance in surface and groundwater samples and Ca-Mg-Cl dominance in travertine springs. Heavy metal analysis revealed high concentrations of As, B, Fe, Mn, and Pb in travertine spring and surface water samples, with As exceeding World Health Organization limits by up to 28.5 times. Additionally, the Metal Index indicated values exceeding drinking water guidelines set by the World Health Organization in 58% of the samples. Travertine springs had the highest toxicity risks, especially for As, Cd, and Pb. Results suggest a tectonic origin for heavy metal contamination (As-containing travertine springs), emphasizing the need for mitigation measures and regular monitoring. Action is necessary to address water quality issues in the region.
Beyond Individual Stress Reduction—The Mindful Students Program Benefits University Students and Their Environment
Authors: Blanke Elisabeth S. , Krämer Susanne , Loy Laura S. , Liebmann Christian , Nestler Steffen , Kunzmann Ute
Published: February 2025

Objectives

While mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for university students usually aim at individual stress prevention and reduction, they can also yield benefits in social and environmental domains that extend beyond the individual. We introduce an MBI, the Mindful Students Program (MSP), which aims to develop an ethical perspective of interdependence between the individual and their social and ecological environment. We hypothesized that the MSP fosters not only mindfulness and individual stress reduction but also, in the context of ethical considerations, promotes prosociality and pro-environmental behavior as primary outcomes.

Method

The MSP was delivered to university students as an elective course within their curriculum. Across three semesters, university students (n = 203) were surveyed in a pre-post design in comparison to two control groups (n = 302); one consisting of participants waiting for an online mindfulness-based intervention and a passive control group consisting of participants without any specific interest in mindfulness. Acceptance and adverse effects were also monitored.

Results

In comparison to the control groups, students receiving the MSP experienced decreases in stress, and increases in mindfulness and pro-environmental behavior. Their levels of prosocial behavior, which were already high at the beginning of the intervention, did not change. Students were highly satisfied with the MSP; adverse events related to meditation were comparatively rare and mostly mild.

Conclusions

The MSP appears to be an effective and safe means of helping individuals to improve their well-being within the university context, while fostering pro-environmental action which may have ripple effects on society.

Preregistration

A preregistration and supplementary material is stored on the OSF: https://osf.io/59gtc/.
The molecular pathogenesis of SOX2 in prostate cancer
Authors: Liu Shixue , Yu Honglian , Zhao Zhankui
Published: February 2025

SOX2 is one of the members of the SOX transcription factor family, which is believed to be an important transcription factor that plays a role in embryonic development, maintenance of stem cells, cancer progression, and resistance to cancer treatment. There is increasing evidence suggesting that SOX2 is crucial for the initiation, progression, invasion, metastasis, and treatment resistance of prostate cancer, therefore understanding the mechanism of SOX2 in prostate cancer can provide better targets for the treatment of prostate cancer. This article reviews the structural domains, normal physiological functions, and role in prostate cancer progression of SOX2, providing potential targets for prostate cancer treatment.
Italian Manufacturing Productivity, 1976–2016: Sectoral Reallocation Versus Firms’ Heterogeneity
Authors: Brambilla Carlo , Lavista Fabio
Published: February 2025

Based on new datasets collecting financial statements and off-balance sheet data on a wide number of medium and large Italian enterprises between the 1970s and the 2010s, the work aims at contributing to the debate about the productivity growth gap that affected the Italian industry, as compared to other advanced economies, at the end of the last century. It also aims at understanding whether productivity gaps were mainly determined by differences among firms (within-effect) or by resources’ reallocation across industries (between-effect). What emerges from the long term analysis is a contraction of most productive sectors and a productivity slowdown affecting almost all industries. In the long run, the reallocation of resources across sectors has had a negative impact on productivity trends, preceding and somehow offsetting any positive contributions from the within-effect.
Quantifizierende historische Semantik
Authors: Schultz-Balluff Simone
Published: February 2025

Der vorliegende Beitrag möchte quantifizierende Ansätze als Ausgangspunkt für historisch-semantische Fragestellungen diskutieren und schließlich stärken. Ausgehend von einer Bestandsaufnahme semantischer Studien der letzten Jahre wird zunächst eine an Hermann Paul orientierte theoretische Grundposition formuliert, die den Rahmen des Beitrags bildet. Im Anschluss an eine methodische Diskussion der sog. quantitativen Semantik als Teil der digitalen Literaturwissenschaft erfolgt die Ausschärfung des Ansatzes einer ›quantifizierenden historischen Semantik‹. Dieser Ansatz wird am Beispiel des durch unterschiedliche Lexeme repräsentierten historischen Konzeptes ›Dunkelheit‹ über sechs Perspektivierungen (lexematisch, sprachlich, textuell, kontextuell, textsortenspezifisch, kulturhistorisch) exemplarisch entfaltet. Dabei kommen sowohl digitale als auch manuelle Verfahren für korpusbasierte Abfragen, Systematisierung der Daten und Visualisierungen der Ergebnisse zum Einsatz. In einem Fazit wird der Nutzen quantifizierender Verfahren für eine interferenzperspektivierte Semantik resümiert.
Adapting Generative Large Language Models for Information Extraction from Unstructured Electronic Health Records in Residential Aged Care: A Comparative Analysis of Training Approaches
Authors: Vithanage Dinithi , Deng Chao , Wang Lei , Yin Mengyang , Alkhalaf Mohammad , Zhang Zhenyu , Zhu Yunshu , Yu Ping
Published: February 2025

Information extraction (IE) of unstructured electronic health records is challenging due to the semantic complexity of textual data. Generative large language models (LLMs) offer promising solutions to address this challenge. However, identifying the best training methods to adapt LLMs for IE in residential aged care settings remains underexplored. This research addresses this challenge by evaluating the effects of zero-shot and few-shot learning, both with and without parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) using Llama 3.1-8B. The study performed named entity recognition (NER) to nursing notes from Australian aged care facilities (RACFs), focusing on agitation in dementia and malnutrition risk factors. Performance evaluation includes accuracy, macro-averaged precision, recall, and F1 score. We used non-parametric statistical methods to compare if the differences were statistically significant. Results show that zero-shot and few-shot learning, whether combined with PEFT or RAG, achieve comparable performance across the clinical domains when the same prompting template is used. Few-shot learning significantly outperforms zero-shot learning when neither PEFT nor RAG is applied. Notably, PEFT significantly improves model performance in both zero-shot and few-shot learning; however, RAG significantly improves performance only in few-shot learning. After PEFT, the performance of zero-shot learning reaches a comparable level with few-shot learning. However, few-shot learning with RAG significantly outperforms zero-shot learning with RAG. We also found a similar level of performance between few-shot learning with RAG and zero-shot learning with PEFT. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders to optimize the use of generative LLMs in clinical IE.
High-Precision Real-Time Flow Prediction in a Multi-tributary River System: A Bio-inspired Dynamic Neural Network Model
Authors: Yang Jinying , Liu Bao , Xu Mei , Marcos-Martinez Raymundo , Gao Lei
Published: February 2025

Floods are among the most severe natural disasters globally, particularly in densely populated areas with extensive agriculture, concentrated rivers, and abundant rainfall. In recent years, human activities have altered river confluence conditions, exacerbating the frequency and severity of floods. To address the limitations of existing multi-tributary stream flow prediction models, which suffer from poor real-time performance and low prediction accuracy, we developed a bio-inspired neural network (Bio-NN) model motivated by a cooperative regulation mechanism in biological systems. Considering the problem that there is less feedback information in existing neural networks, the proposed model combines a biohormone multi-level nonlinear feedback regulation mechanism with a neural network. This enhances traditional neural networks by improving network structure and dynamically incorporating feedback information, allowing real-time optimization and improving optimization speed and precision over time. We tested the Bio-NN model by applying it to predict river flow along the lower Murray River in Australia. To obtain deeper insights into the performance of Bio-NN, indicators such as NSE, RSR, PCC, and KGE, were determined in the basin. The simulation demonstrated its superior performance, achieving a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) of 0.991, root mean squared to standard deviation ratio (RSR) of 0.096, a Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.996, and a Kling-Gupta efficiency coefficient (KGE) of 0.995. Compared to a back propagation neural network (BP-NN), a dynamic learning BP-NN, and a self-feedback BP-NN, the Bio-NN showed significant improvements in prediction performance: improved by 8-65% (NSE), 4-28% (PCC), 67-85% (RSR), 9-27% (KGE). The results underscore Bio-NN’s capability to significantly enhance the accuracy and stability of flood prediction models.
Identifying climate extremes in Southern Africa through advanced bias correction of climate projections
Authors: Trentini Laura , Venturini Marco , Guerrini Federica , Gesso Sara Dal , Calmanti Sandro , Petitta Marcello
Published: February 2025

This study presents a novel bias correction methodology for enhancing the reliability of climate projections, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This methodology is here applied jointly with a downscaling method to correct systematic distributional biases and refine the spatial resolution of climate model outputs, with the aim of improving the identification of extreme weather events. Our work builds upon a unique bias correction approach that enhances the quantile mapping (QM) technique by fitting a generalised extreme value distribution (GEV) to the tails of the distribution. This approach addresses the limitations of traditional methods when dealing with extreme events, which are often tied to the scarcity of data for such high-impact, yet low-probability occurrences. Moreover, we extend the applicability of our methodology to climate projections by integrating an approach designed to preserve relative trends in climate data. The technique is then applied to the daily mean temperature data of long-term climate projections (until 2100) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The bias correction of historical simulations produces an increase in the ensemble forecast members predicting temperature extremes in agreement with the reference dataset (i.e., the reanalysis ERA5-Land). When analysing future scenarios, there is an expected increase in both the intensity and frequency of extreme events, especially in more pessimistic scenarios, such as SSP585. However, these results vary depending on the specific climate model used. Our results suggest that considering multiple climate models of varying resolutions and comparing their outputs against observations and other climate datasets might be key to a comprehensive understanding of extreme event trends in climate scenarios. This approach accounts for each model’s strengths and limitations, providing a robust analysis of changes in extreme weather phenomena.
Field Performance Assessment and Unsupervised Modeling of Thin Asphalt Overlays as Preservation Treatments for Highway Pavements, a Case Study
Authors: Brenes-Calderon Anthony , Vargas-Nordcbeck Adriana
Published: February 2025

Thin asphalt overlays are a popular preservation treatment for asphalt and composite pavements due to their ability to address multiple pavement distresses. Their efficiency depends on several components such as traffic, climate, and the pavement condition at the time the treatment is applied. Nevertheless, typical life expectancy for thin overlays ranges between 7 and 12 years. Significant traffic volumes experienced on highway tend to accelerate pavement deterioration. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the field performance of thin asphalt overlays through several surface indicators such as rutting, cracking, and roughness. Data from the Pavement Preservation Group Study, a broader research study conducted by the National Center for Asphalt Technology and the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Road Research Facility was utilized. Specifically, control sections (untreated) and thin overlays placed on highway pavements at two different geographic locations, with distinctive climatic conditions, were studied. A k-means cluster and principal component analysis were performed to group sections with similar performance since various thin overlay configurations and combinations with alternative pavement preservation treatments have arisen. The findings revealed that thin overlays as preservation treatments contribute to maximizing pavement service life, maintaining roughness in good condition (International Roughness Index, IRI below 1.5 m/km even after 6 years), and decreasing its progression by up to 84% compared to untreated sections. These benefits were dependent on the respective pre-treatment condition and treatment configuration. Additionally, climatic conditions in each specific region play a crucial role in determining treatment performance.
Earnings, income, and wealth inequality in Japan: a long-term perspective, 1984–2019
Authors: Kitao Sagiri , Yamada Tomoaki
Published: February 2025

This study examines trends in earnings, income and wealth inequality among households in Japan from 1984 to 2019. Our findings reveal that inequality in all three domains has increased over the last decades, but due to different underlying factors. The rise in earnings and income inequality is primarily driven by demographic aging, with an increasing proportion of elderly households who typically exhibit higher inequality levels. The growth in wealth inequality is evident not only in the overall population but is particularly pronounced among the young. This trend is largely attributed to a significant rise in the number of households that possess extremely low wealth. Key factors contributing to inequality trends in Japan include aging demographics, shifts in household structure, and major macroeconomic developments such as the financial bubble period and the prolonged economic slow-down that followed.
RALF-FER, a master ligand‒receptor pair in plant health
Authors: Chen Xing-Yan , Chen Jia , Xu Fan , Cai Xin-Zhong
Published: February 2025

Pathogens deliver many effector proteins into the plant apoplast, which helps plants evade pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-mediated surveillance by camouflaging or blocking PRR-triggered signaling. Plants must prioritize immunity or growth and development according to the presence or absence of pathogen-derived effectors. Crosstalk exists between PRR immune signaling pathways and growth and development pathways. A typical example is the signaling pathway of the receptor kinase FERONIA (FER), a core element of a global signaling network. FER interacts with its coreceptors and different Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) peptide ligands to function in various growth and developmental processes and respond to pathogens. Studies on the roles of host FERs in different plant species and those of RALFs derived from both hosts and pathogens are beginning to flourish. Here, we focus on recent advances in FER and RALF in plant‒pathogen interactions, with an emphasis on the mechanisms underlying these interactions. We also present a brief outlook to highlight challenges and perspectives for future research on how to utilize the RALF-FER pair or its related signaling elements as targets to improve crop resistance to pathogens.
The Movement Disorders Prescriber's Guide to Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Chaudhuri K. Ray , Jenner Peter , Leta Valentina , Jones Shelley , Boura Iro
Published: February 2025

This concise, yet authoritative, clinical reference guide fulfils the needs of diverse clinicians, pharmacists and allied health professionals prescribing for Parkinson's disease and movement disorders in contemporary clinical practice. With chapters on newly approved drugs and their effects on motor and non-motor symptoms, information is also given on their use in particular populations including the elderly and patients with cognitive impairment. Each chapter includes pharmacological/biochemical rationale for drug use, a general guide to therapeutic use, pharmacokinetics, interaction profile, adverse effects, dosing and use, special population considerations, costs and value for money considerations, clinical vignette, a summary overview, and suggested reading. Ordered alphabetically and perfect for quick reference use, the guide is practical and essential for all prescribers with responsibility for patients with Parkinson's disease, including neurologists, geriatricians, internists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, family physicians, pharmacists as well as allied health professionals and resident, fellow, and student trainees in all related medical fields.
Money and Irish Catholicism
Authors: Roddy Sarah
Published: February 2025

In the decades after the Great Famine, from about 1850, the Irish Catholic Church underwent a 'devotional revolution' and grew wealthy on a 'voluntary' system of payments from ordinary lay people. This study explores the lives of the people who gave the money. Focusing on both routine payments made to support clerical incomes and donations towards building the vast Catholic infrastructure that emerged in the period, Money and Irish Catholicism offers an intimate insight into the motivations, experiences, and emotions of ordinary people. In so doing, it offers a new perspective on the history of Irish Catholicism, focused less on the top-down exploits of bishops, priests, and nuns, and more on the bottom-up contributions of everyday Catholics. Sarah Roddy also demonstrates the extent to which the creation of the modern Irish Catholic Church was a transnational process, in which the diaspora, especially in the United States, played a vital role
The Cambridge Ulysses: The 1922 Text with Essays and Notes
Authors: Joyce James
Published: February 2025

James Joyce's Ulysses is considered one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century. This new edition – first published in 2022 to celebrate the centenary of the book's first publication – helps readers to understand the pleasures of this monumental work and to grapple with its challenges. Copiously equipped with maps, photographs, and explanatory footnotes, it provides a vivid and illuminating context for the experiences of Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, and Molly Bloom, as well as Joyce's many other Dublin characters, on June 16, 1904. Featuring a facsimile of the historic 1922 Shakespeare and Company text, this version includes Joyce's own errata as well as references to amendments made in later editions. Each of the eighteen chapters of Ulysses is introduced by a leading Joyce scholar. These richly informative pieces discuss the novel's plot and allusions, while exploring crucial questions that have puzzled and tantalized readers over the last hundred years.
Scientific Realism
Authors: Lyons Timothy D.
Published: February 2025

The scientific realism debate directly addresses the relation between human thought and the reality in which it finds itself. A core question: can we justifiably believe that science accurately describes the reality that lies beneath the limits of human experience? Exploring this question, the Element begins at the most foundational level of scientific realism, the endeavor to justify belief in the existence of unobservables by way of abduction. Raising anti-realist challenges, some much discussed in the literature but also some generally overlooked, it works its way toward more refined variants of scientific realism. Because it takes scientific realism to be the default position of many – scientific realists themselves often assuming it is the default position of scientists – the emphasis will be on the challenges. Those challenges will also motivate the variants of scientific realism traced. The Element concludes with an articulation of the author's own position, Socratic scientific realism.