bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategies to promote the completion of patient-reported outcome measures by culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous Peoples in clinical care settings: A systematic review
Authors: Nikolovski Jessica , Kim Bora , Morton Rachael L. , Mercieca-Bebber Rebecca , Levesque Jean-Frédéric , Tinsley Melissa , Sutherland Kim , Rossiter Brad , Fagan Margaret , Hartas Gill , Rutherford Claudia
Published: February 2025

Purpose

There is evidence of low completion of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) by people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and Indigenous Peoples with chronic health conditions. We aimed to systematically identify ways to support and promote PROM completion by CALD communities and Indigenous Peoples in clinical care settings.

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collections and CINAHL databases from 1 January 2000 to 19 September 2024. Primary studies were included if they focused on ways to support and promote PROM completion in the care of CALD and Indigenous populations in clinical care settings. The quality of the included papers was appraised independently by two reviewers, using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data were analysed thematically. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023469317.

Results

Of 13,450 title/abstracts retrieved, five papers met eligibility. Strategies to promote PROM completion by Indigenous Peoples included (1) providing training to patients about what PROMs are (2) offering verbal modes of completion and (3) community consultation during design, development, and implementation of PROMs to ensure culturally appropriate and sensitive PROMs are used. Strategies to promote completion by people who are CALD included (1) providing information about how to use electronic PROMs, (2) facilitating self-completion, (3) offering different modes of completion (paper-based, digital), (4) increasing availability of culturally and linguistically appropriate PROM translations, and (5) system-wide financial and administrative support to use translated PROMs.

Conclusion

Few studies reported strategies to support the completion of PROMs by people from CALD backgrounds and/or Indigenous Peoples. Adequate training, planning (including community consultation), resourcing, and financial support are required to encourage people who are CALD and Indigenous Peoples to participate in PROM initiatives globally.
Born to behave: Home CEOs and financial misconduct*
Authors: Lei Zicheng , Petmezas Dimitris , Rau P. Raghavendra , Yang Chen
Published: February 2025

We examine the association between CEO birthplace proximity and financial misconduct. We find that CEOs managing firms near their birthplaces (home CEOs) are associated with less financial misconduct compared to other CEOs. This association is not attributable to differences in corporate governance. The relationship strengthens in areas with a strong local investment presence and greater religious commitment as well as among CEOs with longer tenures in their home state. Our findings are robust to addressing potential selection and omitted variable biases as well as to conducting multiple robustness tests, including analyses of involuntary CEO changes and headquarters relocations. We also find a similar association for CFOs, with firms employing home CFOs exhibiting less financial misconduct.
The Role of Joking for Learning Science: An Exploration of Spontaneous Humour in Two Physics Education Settings
Authors: Berge Maria , Anderhag Per
Published: February 2025

Talking science is based on the premise of being serious and dignified. Still, both teachers and students use humour when they communicate. However, little is known about the mechanisms of how learning science is constituted when teachers and students are using spontaneous humour in science classroom activities. In this study, we acknowledge this gap. We have analysed video data using practical epistemology analysis (PEA) from two different contexts in physics education, a physics classroom in grade 9 and a group of undergraduate students learning basic mechanics together. The findings showed that spontaneous humour, such as absurdities, supported the learning process in two ways: (1) orienting talk and action towards the scientific purposes of the assignments and (2) sorting out what scientific content and norms were/were not of relevance in the situation. The results illustrate how the participants made jokes to clarify how reasoning and actions tallied with the task at hand. These humorous situations positively affected students’ ability to act intentionally towards the aim of the activity, and the results show that this way of joking can have positive consequences for student learning. Therefore, humour ought to be viewed as a significant resource for learning in the science classroom. Doing science can, like any other activity, be a humorous endeavour in itself, without cartoons or extravagant shows.
Gender-Specific Analysis of Self-Reported Health and Educational Mismatch: Evidence from Employees in Russia
Authors: Robone Silvana
Published: February 2025

Our paper investigates the influence of vertical educational mismatch—overeducation and undereducation—on selected EQ-5D metrics, namely pain and anxiety/depression. We conduct a gender-specific analysis and estimate ordered probit models for our categorical dependent variables by using a sample of currently working employees from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey. Since our health outcomes are self-reported, we challenge the validity of the results obtained by using the ordered probit model and enrich the analysis by correcting our estimates for the presence of reporting heterogeneity bias. To do that, we merge the RLMS-HSE (2005) with externally collected anchoring vignettes for Russia from the World Health Survey (2003) and estimate a hierarchical ordered probit (HOPIT) model. The HOPIT estimates show that in several cases, educational mismatch affects the reporting style of respondents. Our findings provide evidence that, after adjusting for reporting heterogeneity, undereducation has a negative influence on the physical component of health (proxied by pain) for women, while overeducation affects the psychological component of health (proxied by anxiety/depression) in both gender groups. Overeducated women appear to have better psychological health, while overeducated men have worse psychological health than their matched counterparts.
What is it like to live with narcolepsy? A scoping review
Authors: Hlodak Jan , Madarasova Geckova Andrea , Carnakovic Simona , Feketeova Eva
Published: February 2025

Background

Narcolepsy impacts quality of life (QoL) with its symptomatology in hobbies and everyday activities, work and productivity and has social and economic consequences. The aim of this review is to map and synthesize evidence about QoL in narcolepsy patients and to focus on research strategies and publications in the matter.

Methods

A scoping review of articles published between 2014–2025. The initial search of WoS resulted in 7748 articles and 2583 in PubMed being screened for eligibility. Intervention, comorbidity, non-narcolepsy, prevalence and medical trials studies were excluded. We extracted data on bibliometric characteristics, research questions, sample and recruitment method, design, concepts and measures, and the main findings. Two independent reviewers did the screening and analyses. The analyzed data were consulted on with stakeholders to settle gaps, possibilities and directions for future research. This study followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Results

Twenty papers were included in this study. There is an increasing trend in publishing studies focused on QoL in narcolepsy patients, but its spread is very limited across various audiences. Most of the studies assess the association of narcolepsy symptoms, treatment, mental health or nutritional status and QoL in narcolepsy patients. Most used was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional design comparing a control group vs narcolepsy patients recruited through regular follow up at a sleep clinic or national reference centers or patients’ organization.

Conclusion

There is a need to spread knowledge beyond the neurology audience, to widen the scope of research beyond the burden of the symptoms and to employ explorative qualitative designs.
Unleashing the power of microalgae: a pioneering path to sustainability and achieving the sustainable development goals
Authors: Hosny Shimaa , Elshobary Mostafa E. , El-Sheekh Mostafa M.
Published: February 2025

This study explores the remarkable potential of algae in addressing global sustainability challenges. Microalgae, in particular, emerge as sustainability champions. Their applications span an impressive array of industries and processes, including food and feed production, biofuels, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and environmental remediation. This versatility positions algae as key players in achieving over 50% of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) simultaneously, addressing issues such as climate action, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, and zero hunger. From sequestering carbon, purifying wastewater, and producing clean energy to combating malnutrition, algae demonstrates unparalleled potential. Their ability to flourish in extreme conditions and their rapid growth rates further enhance their appeal for large-scale cultivation. As research advances, innovative applications continue to emerge, such as algae-based bioplastics and dye-sensitized solar cells, promising novel solutions to pressing global issues. This study illuminates how harnessing the power of algae can drive us towards a more resilient, sustainable world. By leveraging algae’s multifaceted capabilities, we can tackle climate change, resource scarcity, and economic development concurrently. The research highlights the critical role of algae in promoting circular economy principles and achieving a harmonious balance between human needs and environmental preservation, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
Polyurethane foam degradation combining ozonization and mealworm biodegradation and its exploitation
Authors: Ros Margarita , Lidon Paula , Carrascosa Angel , Muñoz Marta , Navarro Maria Virtudes , Orts Jose Maria , Pascual Jose Antonio
Published: February 2025

The biodegradation of polyurethane foam (PU foam) using a combination of oxidative pre-treatment (ozonization) and Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) mealworms was conducted in this study. Different degrees of ozone oxidation (0%, 25%, and 50%) were applied to PU foam, which was subsequently fed to mealworms. The mealworms’ survival and growth were then compared to mealworms receiving a normal diet (bran). Results showed that mealworms fed with non-oxidized PU foam (PUF0) exhibited a higher consumption rate (11.8%) than those fed with 25% (PUF25) and 50% (PUF50) oxidized PU foam (7.7% and 5.7%, respectively). The survival rate was similar across all the PU foam diets and the bran diet. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses revealed minor structural changes in the PU foam. The gut microbiota analysis showed a significant correlation between the PU foam and bran diets. Among the different oxidized PU, distinct microbial community profiles were also observed, with the genus Klebsiella consistently present across the PU foam diets. The ozone pre-treatment altered the palatability and degradation of the PU foam by mealworms, while the mealworm frass and chitin obtained could potentially be used as resources for agricultural and industrial applications that would close the circular bio-economy cycle.
Overview of Data-Driven Models for Wind Turbine Wake Flows
Authors: Ye Maokun , Li Min , Liu Mingqiu , Xiao Chengjiang , Wan Decheng
Published: February 2025

With the rapid advancement of machine learning technology and its growing adoption in research and engineering applications, an increasing number of studies have embraced data-driven approaches for modeling wind turbine wakes. These models leverage the ability to capture complex, high-dimensional characteristics of wind turbine wakes while offering significantly greater efficiency in the prediction process than physics-driven models. As a result, data-driven wind turbine wake models are regarded as powerful and effective tools for predicting wake behavior and turbine power output. This paper aims to provide a concise yet comprehensive review of existing studies on wind turbine wake modeling that employ data-driven approaches. It begins by defining and classifying machine learning methods to facilitate a clearer understanding of the reviewed literature. Subsequently, the related studies are categorized into four key areas: wind turbine power prediction, data-driven analytic wake models, wake field reconstruction, and the incorporation of explicit physical constraints. The accuracy of data-driven models is influenced by two primary factors: the quality of the training data and the performance of the model itself. Accordingly, both data accuracy and model structure are discussed in detail within the review.
Clinical, biochemical profile and atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk score (ASCVD) in patients with high HDL cholesterol
Authors: Mallya Raksha Udupi , Vidyasagar Sudha , BS Varashree , Sukumar Cynthia Amrutha
Published: February 2025

Background

It was observed that many people in the western coastal belt were found to have a high HDL cholesterol, the cause of which was not known. This study was done to learn about the factors contributing to the high HDL cholesterol in these patients and its effect on ASCVD risk.

Methods

In this prospective, case control study, 150 patients were recruited, of which 63 were cases (patients with high HDL cholesterol), and 87 were controls (patients with normal HDL cholesterol). Details regarding their diet, sea-food consumption, habits, comorbidities, daily activity (using GPAQ questionnaire), and blood reports were collected. ASCVD risk score was calculated using an online ASCVD risk estimator. Blood samples of 96 patients (cases 40, controls 56) was tested for cholesterol esterase transfer protein (CETP) levels using ELISA, and the results were compared.

Results

Patients with high HDL cholesterol were found to be physically more active and had median metabolic equivalent (METs) of 4680 (1200, 8580) compared with controls with median METs of 1680 (720, 5580), P-0.013. Cases had a lower mean BMI 23.09(SD-3.69), than in patients with normal HDL cholesterol with a mean of 24.41(SD-4.01), P-0.04. Cases also had a lower triglyceride level (91(69,118) in cases vs 121 (80,151) in controls, P-0.002. Alcohol and sea food consumption had no role on HDL levels in this study. The median CETP level was lower in patients with high HDL levels, 0.336(0.08, 0.336) versus 1.435(0.061, 2.893) in the control group although not statistically significant. Patients with high HDL cholesterol were found to have a significantly lower median 10-year ASCVD risk score 3.05 (0.6, 8.95), compared with patients with normal HDL 6.45 (2.7,14.2).

Conclusion

Patients with high HDL cholesterol were found to be physically more active, had a lower BMI, a lower triglyceride level, and a lower ASCVD risk compared with controls. They also had a lower CETP level. Further research will be required to determine the normal CETP level in Indian population, their genetic makeup, and whether it has a role in cardiovascular protection.
Characteristics of discrimination and ambulatory cognitive performance among older Black and White adults
Authors: Harrington Erin E. , Gamaldo Alyssa A. , Sliwinski Martin J. , Hakun Jonathan G. , Buxton Orfeu M. , Katz Mindy J. , Derby Carol A. , Foor Kaylee , Engeland Christopher G. , Graham-Engeland Jennifer E.
Published: February 2025

Perceived discrimination has been linked with neurocognitive disparities between Black and White adults. Yet, cognitive assessments outside of laboratory settings and the relevance of perceived reasons for discrimination require additional attention. The present work addressed associations between discrimination and ambulatory cognitive performance (i.e., spatial working memory, short-term memory binding, processing speed) in ecological settings among older Black and White adults enrolled in the Einstein Aging Study. Consistent with past laboratory-based research, Black adults exhibited worse ambulatory cognitive performance and reported more frequent discrimination compared to White adults. Racially stratified analyses examined characteristics (i.e., number and type) of the perceived reasons for discrimination as moderators in relation to discrimination frequency and cognition. For Black adults who endorsed zero or one reason for discrimination compared to those who endorsed multiple reasons, discrimination frequency was associated with worse spatial working memory. Additionally, among Black participants who did not attribute discrimination to their race compared to those who endorsed racial discrimination, discrimination frequency related to worse spatial working memory. For White adults, cognitive performance was largely unrelated to discrimination frequency and characteristics. Findings highlight the value of examining discrimination and cognition in daily life, and the importance of assessing characteristics of discriminatory experiences within racial groups.
The extraterrestrial hypothesis: an epistemological case for removing the taboo
Authors: Lane William C.
Published: February 2025

The extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH), the hypothesis that an extraterrestrial civilization (ETC) is active on Earth today, is taboo in academia, but the assumptions behind this taboo are faulty. Advances in biology have rendered the notion that complex life is rare in our Galaxy improbable. The objection that no ETC would come to Earth to hide from us does not consider all possible alien motives or means. For an advanced ETC, the convergent instrumental goals of all rational agents – self-preservation and the acquisition of resources – would support the objectives of removing existential threats and gathering strategic and non-strategic information. It could advance these objectives by proactively gathering information about and from inhabited planets, concealing itself while doing so, and terminating potential rivals before they become imminently dangerous. Other hypotheses of ETC behavior, including the zoo/interdict hypothesis and the dark forest hypothesis also undercut the claim that the ETH is highly improbable, and the ETH overturns none of our well-tested scientific knowledge. It follows that evidence offered in its support need not be extraordinary. The fact that most reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) have natural or human explanations does not count against the ETH. Inference to the best explanation offers a way to find evidence for the hypothesis and some evidence exists, some of it taking the form of reliable witness reports. The most plausible alternative explanation for some UAP declines in probability over time. A hypothesis that does not contradict well-established facts or theories, is not highly improbable for other reasons, and explains otherwise unexplained evidence is a rational hypothesis. Since the ETH meets this test, it should be evaluated alongside other possibilities when the case-specific evidence warrants it.
Sleep disturbances in adults with chronic kidney disease: an umbrella review
Authors: Chu Ginger , Matricciani Lisa , Russo Sarah , Viecelli Andrea K. , Jesudason Shilpanjali , Bennett Paul , Fernandez Ritin
Published: February 2025

Background

This umbrella review aimed to synthesise the existing evidence on sleep disturbances and sleep disorders in the adult chronic kidney disease (CKD) population.

Methods

A systematic search across five electronic databases. Reviews were grouped according to aspects of sleep and the focus of the review. The JBI critical appraisal checklist was used for quality assessment, and Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews (PRIOR) guideline was used for reporting. The protocol was registered in the international registry PROSPERO (CRD42024527039).

Results

We identified 50 reviews covering three main aspects of sleep (sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome and other sleep disturbances) across five focus areas (prevalence, interventions, health outcomes, determinants of sleep and patient experience). Most reviews reported on sleep disturbances (72%, 36 reviews) and focused on interventions (58%, 29 reviews). In contrast, evidence on sleep determinants and patient experience was limited. A high prevalence of sleep apnoea (49%), restless legs syndrome (27.2%) and other sleep disturbances (55%) was reported. Non-pharmacological interventions, including aromatherapy, dialysis, muscle relaxation, yoga, music, and nurse-led management, were found to improve sleep. However, this evidence was based on a single meta-analysis with few primary studies.

Conclusions

Despite the growing number of reviews on interventions to improve sleep, the evidence for their effectiveness is limited by the small number of primary studies and the high degree of overlap between reviews. Further research is needed to identify effective interventions. Additionally, qualitative studies exploring patients’ perspectives on sleep are essential, as evidence in this area remains scarce.

Graphical abstract
Structural Mechanisms of Quasi-2D Perovskites for Next-Generation Photovoltaics
Authors: Lee Hyeonseok , Moon Taeho , Lee Younghyun , Kim Jinhyun
Published: February 2025

Quasi-two-dimensional (2D) perovskite embodies characteristics of both three-dimensional (3D) and 2D perovskites, achieving the superior external environment stability structure of 2D perovskites alongside the high efficiency of 3D perovskites. This effect is realized through critical structural modifications in device fabrication. Typically, perovskites have an octahedral structure, generally ABX3, where an organic ammonium cation (A') participates in forming the perovskite structure, with A'(n) (n = 1 or 2) sandwiched between A(n-1)B(n)X(3n+1) perovskite layers. Depending on whether A' is a monovalent or divalent cation, 2D perovskites are classified into Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite or Dion-Jacobson perovskite, each generating different structures. Although each structure achieves similar effects, they incorporate distinct mechanisms in their formation. And according to these different structures, various properties appear, and additive and optimizing methods to increase the efficiency of 3D perovskites also exist in 2D perovskites. In this review, scientific understanding and engineering perspectives of the quasi-2D perovskite is investigated, and the optimal structure quasi-2D and the device optimization is also discussed to provide the insight in the field.
Character Strengths as Coping Strategies for Daily Challenges: A Qualitative Study Among Adult Refugees
Authors: Hendriks Tom , van Treeck Jorien , Chaya Ranim , de Jong Joop T. V. M. , van Woerkom Marianne
Published: February 2025

Character strengths are positive traits and qualities that are an integral part of an individual’s personality. These strengths can function as protective factors against mental disorders by providing traumatized refugees with resources and tools to cope with stressors and daily challenges. The purpose of the current study was to explore the role of character strengths of refugees in the Netherlands in their problem-focused and/or emotional-focused coping strategies to deal with daily challenges. We interviewed 26 refugees who attained a temporary asylum residence permit and who lived in an asylum seeker center (AZC) or a municipality in the Netherlands. Qualitative data analyses yielded five key character strengths, namely self-regulation, perseverance, gratitude, love of learning, and hope. Patience and adaptability were two additional strengths that function as specific self-regulation techniques. Our findings also suggest a shift from emotion-focused coping strategies during the stay at an asylum seeker center towards problem-focused coping when living in a municipality. Depending on the migration phase in which refugees find themselves, they apply different character strengths in relation to emotion-focused or problem-focused coping strategies. Interventions that aim to increase the well-being of refugees and contribute to successful integration into society should consider relevant contextual factors, in addition to cultural factors.
Web-based phishing URL detection model using deep learning optimization techniques
Authors: Barik Kousik , Misra Sanjay , Mohan Raghini
Published: February 2025

Phishing is a cyber-attack in which the attacker redirects Internet users to fraudulent websites. Fake websites look very similar to legitimate ones, leading users to trust them and disclose sensitive information. Despite the available methods, these attacks have grown exponentially, emphasizing the need for advanced techniques. This study proposes an EGSO-CNN model to detect web phishing by integrating features and optimizing deep learning (DL) techniques. A novel dataset has been created to address the availability of existing updated phishing datasets. The StandardScaler and Variational Autoencoders (VAE) are employed for preprocessing and feature extraction. The Enhanced Grid Search Optimization (EGSO) technique optimizes the model's performance. The proposed model yields an accuracy of 99.44%, a recall of 99.21%, and an f1-score of 99.32% with low false positive and error rates. The presented model can assist management by selecting effective phishing detection strategies to enhance customer delight.
Air quality in the U.S. during the 2023 wildfire season
Authors: Dinavahi Siddhi , Archer Cristina L.
Published: February 2025

During the summer of 2023, Canada was devastated by a series of large and uncontrolled wildfires that set the unprecedented record of over 40 million acres burned and over 120,000 people evacuated. The smoke from the Canadian wildfires reached the U.S. and negatively affected the air quality in several states. The goal of this paper is to document the U.S. air quality in 2023 within the historical and regulatory contexts; more specifically, to compare the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and tropospheric ozone (O3), assessed using statistics as close as possible to those recommended for comparison against the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), in 2023 against those in the past 20 years. We report that the year 2023 was an anomaly, meaning that the well-established trend of decreasing concentrations and improving air quality was suddenly reversed in 2023, with national-median PM2.5 and O3 concentrations exceeding 32 µ

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and 75 parts per billion (ppb), respectively. These values had not been reached since 2007 and 2012 for PM2.5 and O3, respectively. Out of 50 states (plus the District of Columbia), 42 and 45 experienced summer-average concentrations in 2023 that were higher than those in 2013–2022 for PM2.5 and O3, respectively. For PM2.5, the states that experienced the highest concentrations in 2023 were: California, Oregon, and North Dakota with 148, 135, and 67µ

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; for O3, they were: California, Utah, Texas, and Illinois with 107, 99, 90, and 86 ppb. In summary, in the year 2023 the air quality in the U.S. was the worst of the past 15 and 10 years in terms of PM2.5 and O3, respectively.
Voice analysis and deep learning for detecting mental disorders in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ooba Hikaru , Maki Jota , Masuyama Hisashi
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Perinatal mental disorders are prevalent, affecting 10–20% of pregnant women, and can negatively impact both maternal and neonatal outcomes. Traditional screening tools, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), present limitations due to subjectivity and time constraints in clinical settings. Recent advances in voice analysis and machine learning have shown potential for providing more objective screening methods. This study aimed to develop a deep learning model that analyzes the voices of pregnant women to screen for mental disorders, thereby offering an alternative to the traditional tools.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 pregnant women, from whom voice samples were collected during their one-month postpartum checkup. The audio data were preprocessed into 5000 ms intervals, converted into mel-spectrograms, and augmented using TrivialAugment and context-rich minority oversampling. The EfficientFormer V2-L model, pretrained on ImageNet, was employed with transfer learning for classification. The hyperparameters were optimized using Optuna, and an ensemble learning approach was used for the final predictions. The model’s performance was compared to that of the EPDS in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic metrics.

Results

Of the 172 participants analyzed (149 without mental disorders and 23 with mental disorders), the voice-based model demonstrated a sensitivity of 1.00 and a recall of 0.82, outperforming the EPDS in these areas. However, the EPDS exhibited higher specificity (0.97) and precision (0.84). No significant difference was observed in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve between the two methods (p = 0.759).

Discussion

The voice-based model showed higher sensitivity and recall, suggesting that it may be more effective in identifying at-risk individuals than the EPDS. Machine learning and voice analysis are promising objective screening methods for mental disorders during pregnancy, potentially improving early detection.

Conclusion

We developed a lightweight machine learning model to analyze pregnant women's voices for screening various mental disorders, achieving high sensitivity and demonstrating the potential of voice analysis as an effective and objective tool in perinatal mental health care.
Review of advanced fabric composite liners for enhancing tribological performance on self-lubricating joint bearings
Authors: Zhu Chuang , Chen Qianfang , Liu Xuqing
Published: February 2025

Self-lubricating joint bearings play an important role in the field of aviation because they have advantageous attributes of simple structures, strong load-bearing capacity and free maintenance. Fabric composite liners, as an emerging frictional material for self-lubricating spherical bearings, have been widely studied due to their long service life, design flexibility and self-lubrication characteristics. Recently, the increasing use of fabric composite liners has promoted extensive investigation into enhancing their tribological properties. In this review, the research progress of fabric composite liner is summarized, which mainly includes external experimental parameters, fabric weaving methods, surface modification techniques and resin filling strategies. Finally, key challenges and future directions of advanced fabric composite liners with enhanced tribological performance are examined along with an analysis of possible solutions.
Sensing Potential, Scientists Refine Thermal Imaging of Ecosystems
Authors: Diehl Jen , Wiebe Benjamin , Javadian Mostafa , Pau Stephanie , Richardson Andrew
Published: February 2025

At a recent “bake-off,” researchers judged thermal infrared cameras and developed guidelines for their consistent use in studying vegetation temperatures, which illuminate vital ecosystem processes.
Real-time holographic camera for obtaining real 3D scene hologram
Authors: Li Zhao-Song , Liu Chao , Li Xiao-Wei , Zheng Yi , Huang Qian , Zheng Yi-Wei , Hou Ye-Hao , Chang Chen-Liang , Zhang Da-Wei , Zhuang Song-Lin , Wang Di , Wang Qiong-Hua
Published: February 2025

As a frontier technology, holography has important research values in fields such as bio-micrographic imaging, light field modulation and data storage. However, the real-time acquisition of 3D scenes and high-fidelity reconstruction technology has not yet made a breakthrough, which has seriously hindered the development of holography. Here, a novel holographic camera is proposed to solve the above inherent problems completely. The proposed holographic camera consists of the acquisition end and the calculation end. At the acquisition end of the holographic camera, specially configured liquid materials and liquid lens structure based on voice-coil motor-driving are used to produce the liquid camera, so that the liquid camera can quickly capture the focus stack of the real 3D scene within 15 ms. At the calculation end, a new structured focus stack network (FS-Net) is designed for hologram calculation. After training the FS-Net with the focus stack renderer and learnable Zernike phase, it enables hologram calculation within 13 ms. As the first device to achieve real-time incoherent acquisition and high-fidelity holographic reconstruction of a real 3D scene, our proposed holographic camera breaks technical bottlenecks of difficulty in acquiring the real 3D scene, low quality of the holographic reconstructed image, and incorrect defocus blur. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our holographic camera in the acquisition of focal plane information and hologram calculation of the real 3D scene. The proposed holographic camera opens up a new way for the application of holography in fields such as 3D display, light field modulation, and 3D measurement.
Genomics of pediatric cardiomyopathy
Authors: Lee Teresa M. , Ware Stephanie M. , Kamsheh Alicia M. , Bhatnagar Surbhi , Absi Mohammed , Miller Elyse , Purevjav Enkhsaikhan , Ryan Kaitlin A. , Towbin Jeffrey A. , Lipshultz Steven E.
Published: February 2025

Cardiomyopathy in children is a leading cause of heart failure and cardiac transplantation. Disease-associated genetic variants play a significant role in the development of the different subtypes of disease. Genetic testing is increasingly being recognized as the standard of care for diagnosing this heterogeneous group of disorders, guiding management, providing prognostic information, and facilitating family-based risk stratification. The increase in clinical and research genetic testing within the field has led to new insights into this group of disorders. Mutations in genes encoding sarcomere, cytoskeletal, Z-disk, and sarcolemma proteins appear to play a major role in causing the overlapping clinical phenotypes called cardioskeletal myopathies through “final common pathway” links. For myocarditis, the high frequency of infectious exposures and wide spectrum of presentation suggest that genetic factors mediate the development and course of the disease, including genetic risk alleles, an association with cardiomyopathy, and undiagnosed arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Finally, while we have made strides in elucidating the genetic architecture of pediatric cardiomyopathy, understanding the clinical implications of variants of uncertain significance remains a major issue. The need for continued genetic innovation in this field remains great, particularly as a basis to drive forward targeted precision medicine and gene therapy efforts.

Impact

Cardiomyopathy and skeletal myopathy can occur in the same patient secondary to gene mutations that encode for sarcomeric or cytoskeletal proteins, which are expressed in both muscle groups, highlighting that there are common final pathways of disease.

The heterogeneous presentation of myocarditis is likely secondary to a complex interaction of multiple environmental and genetic factors, suggesting a utility to genetic testing in pediatric patients with myocarditis, particularly those in higher risk groups.

Given the high prevalence of variants of uncertain significance in genetic testing, better bioinformatic tools and pipelines are needed to resolve their clinical meaning.
Anaerobic metabolism promotes breast cancer survival via Histone-3 Lysine-18 lactylation mediating PPARD axis
Authors: Xu Ying , Meng Weiwei , Dai Yingqi , Xu Lin , Ding Ning , Zhang Jinqing , Zhuang Xuewei
Published: February 2025

Histone lactylation plays a crucial role in cancer progression, but its impact on breast cancer (BC) tumorigenesis is still unclear. We utilized chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing with H3K18la antibodies, transcriptomics of clinical BC samples, and proteomics and ATAC-seq analyses of in vivo tumors to identify the genes regulated by H3K18la and the transcription factor PPARD. qPCR and Western blot assays were used to detect expressions of molecules. We discovered that H3K18la levels were higher in BC tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. H3K18la promoted the expression of PPARD, which in turn influenced the transcription of AKT, but not ILK. ATAC-seq analysis revealed that glycolysis in BC cells enhanced chromatin accessibility. Additionally, we confirmed that HDAC2 and HDAC3 act as “erasers” for H3 lysine lactylation. During the proteomics analysis, AKT-phosphorylation in the aerobic respiration inhibitor group exhibited an apparent disparity and activity. Our study demonstrated that changes in H3K18la in BC and its downstream transcription factor PPARD support cell survival under anaerobic glycolysis conditions. PPARD accelerated cancer proliferation by promoting the transcription and phosphorylation of AKT. This highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting the H3K18la/PPARD/AKT axis in breast cancer, providing new insights into epigenetic regulation and cancer metabolism (Trial registration: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee Shandong Provincial Third Hospital (KYLL-2023057; https://www.medicalresearch.org.cn/)).
Internal limiting membrane peel size and macular hole surgery outcome: a systematic review and individual participant data study of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Teh Boon Lin , Li Yanda , Nanji Keean , Phillips Mark , Chaudhary Varun , Steel David H. ,   ILM Peel Size Study Group, Sinawat Suthasinee , Kang Se Woong , Bae Kunho , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Khalili Pour Elias , Khodabande Alireza , Qu Jinfeng , Zhao Mingwei , Yao Yuou , Sadda Srinivas , Modi Aditya , Anantharaman Giridhar
Published: February 2025

Background

There is no consensus regarding the optimal internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel size during vitrectomy for idiopathic full thickness macular holes (iFTMH).

Methods

A systematic review was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing vitrectomy with ILM peeling of differing sizes in adults with iFTMH. Individual participant data was obtained including relevant baseline variables. The effect of different ILM peel sizes, divided into “small” (1-disc diameter [DD] in radius or less) and “large” (>1-DD in radius) were analysed on primary hole closure and postoperative visual acuity (VA) at 6 months. A subgroup analysis analysing for the effect of macular hole size on the same outcomes was also performed. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to assess the certainty of evidence.

Results

Five RCTs with 370 eyes were included. Primary closure was achieved in 74.7% in small peel group compared to 84.8% in large peel group (p = 0.016). Multilevel logistic regression showed that a peel radius of >1-DD probably improved hole closure slightly with odds ratio (OR) of 1.20 (95% CI: 1.11–1.31, p < 0.001) and a number needed to treat (NNT) to benefit of 31 (95% CI: 21–53). ILM peel size likely did not affect VA. The mean difference in postoperative VA was a -0.05 logMAR gain (2-3 ETDRS letters) (95% CI: −0.13 to 0.02, p = 0.155) in vision with a large ILM peel radius. The GRADE certainty of evidence was moderate for both outcomes. A significantly higher closure rate was found in the large peel group for iFTMH >400 microns with an OR of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.11–1.38, p < 0.001) and NNT to benefit of 21 (95% CI: 17–50), but not in holes <400 microns (OR 1.05 (95% CI: 0.93–1.18, p = 0.396)).

Conclusions

Performing ILM peel of more than 1-DD in radius likely improves closure rates for iFTMH although the effect size is relatively small. The effect is greater in holes >400 microns. ILM peel size probably has no significant effect on postoperative VA.
R-loops acted on by RNase H1 influence DNA replication timing and genome stability in Leishmania
Authors: Damasceno Jeziel D. , Briggs Emma M. , Krasilnikova Marija , Marques Catarina A. , Lapsley Craig , McCulloch Richard
Published: February 2025

Genomes in eukaryotes normally undergo DNA replication in a choreographed temporal order, resulting in early and late replicating chromosome compartments. Leishmania, a human protozoan parasite, displays an unconventional DNA replication program in which the timing of DNA replication completion is chromosome size-dependent: larger chromosomes complete replication later then smaller ones. Here we show that both R-loops and RNase H1, a ribonuclease that resolves RNA-DNA hybrids, accumulate in Leishmania major chromosomes in a pattern that reflects their replication timing. Furthermore, we demonstrate that such differential organisation of R-loops, RNase H1 and DNA replication timing across the parasite’s chromosomes correlates with size-dependent differences in chromatin accessibility, G quadruplex distribution and sequence content. Using conditional gene excision, we show that loss of RNase H1 leads to transient growth perturbation and permanently abrogates the differences in DNA replication timing across chromosomes, as well as altering levels of aneuploidy and increasing chromosome instability in a size-dependent manner. This work provides a link between R-loop homeostasis and DNA replication timing in a eukaryotic parasite and demonstrates that orchestration of DNA replication dictates levels of genome plasticity in Leishmania.
Corticosteroid-sparing topical treatment with cyclosporin for juvenile keratoconjunctivitis
Authors: Barcsay-Veres Amarilla , Csorba Anita , Kovacs Illes , Tothfalusi Laszlo , Maneschg Otto Alexander
Published: February 2025

Ocular surface inflammation due to allergy and blepharitis can lead to corneal complications and visual impairment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a cyclosporin 0.1% topical treatment achieving steroid-sparing. Eighty pediatric patients with moderate and severe vernal and blepharitis-related keratoconjunctivitis were included. Symptoms (photosensitivity, itching, discharge, tearing), signs (corneal fluorescein staining, papillary hypertrophy) and patients’ subjective assessment were evaluated during a 6-month follow-up. At the follow-up, all patients treated with topical cyclosporin showed a significant improvement in all subjective symptoms and objective signs (p < 0.001). The total number of courses of rescue steroids courses decreased from 3.71 ± 1.72 to 0.25 ± 0.49 at month 3 and to 0.13 ± 0.38 dropping bottle at month 6 (p < 0.001 at both time points). The 96.1% of the allergic cohort and 96.4% of the blepharitis cohort experienced a satisfactory good or rapid and good effect during the 6-month follow-up. The probability of needing rescue corticosteroids increased with an odds ratio of 1.98, (95% CI: 1.19–3.28, p = 0.008) for each unit increase in Oxford score when analysing the whole cohort. Topical cyclosporin seems to be very effective reducing the number of recurrences of corneal involvement and the need for steroid treatment.
Carboxymethyl cellulose assisted reforming of poly acrylic acid co methyl methacrylate composite for wastewater treatment and effective hosting of antimicrobial silver
Authors: Hamdy Ahmed , Nageh Hassan , Hassan S. A. , Mekewi Mohamed A. , Darwish Atef S.
Published: February 2025

Herein, novel polymer composite is fabricated by hybridizing poly (acrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) filaments with carboxymethyl cellulose, which efficiently reorients and strictly ties the fibrous chains to form polymeric units of plate-like morphology. This innovative hybrid polymer composite is analyzed using XRD, FT-IR, swelling and contact angle studies, DLS, AFM, and SEM. Removal efficiency of such polymer composite is scrutinized in colored wastewater treatment. Langmuir and pseudo-first-order kinetic models best describe safranine dye removal from wastewater, adopting exothermic adsorption progression with elevated capacity (~ 59.47 mg/g) and accelerated rate (~ 1.06 h− 1). Such polymer composite exhibits persistent removal efficiency of ~ 90% within 10 min for five consecutive cycles. Hybrid polymer composite is good candidate platform for hosting Ag particles to heighten their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, far exceeding 75% reduction. Future studies on applicability of oxygen-rich polymer composites in wastewater treatment and disinfection are optimistic and extremely competent.
Genotype B of deformed wing virus and related recombinant viruses become dominant in European honey bee colonies
Authors: Sircoulomb Fabrice , Dubois Eric , Schurr Frank , Lucas Pierrick , Meixner Marina , Bertolotti Alicia , Blanchard Yannick , Thiéry Richard
Published: February 2025

The Varroa destructor mite’s transmission of deformed wing virus (DWV) to honey bees is responsible for most winter mortalities of colonies worldwide. Four DWV genotypes (A, B, C and D) and numerous recombinants have been described. The most recent studies have reported the greater prevalence of DWV-B over DWV-A in several countries, including European ones, while C and D genotypes appear rare or extinct. However, no global evaluation of DWV-A and DWV-B distribution was available at the European level to date. In this study, we quantified both DWV genotypes by real-time PCR from pools or individual honey bees and from V. destructor mites sampled in 15 European countries between 2010 and 2017. These data and the sequencing of the viral RNA provide a first insight into DWV diversity, with a clear dominance of DWV-B and recombinants (A/B) in Europe. Chimeric sequencing reads were used to locate the recombinant junctions along the DWV genome. These were not randomly distributed, but mainly clustered in three genomic areas: the 5’UTR, leader peptide and helicase coding sequences. In our study, the DWV recombinant genomes shared at least the VP1-VP3 coding sequences with the DWV-B. Further studies are needed to explore the apicultural context explaining these differences in DWV genotype dominance.