bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harnessing a Self‐Regenerated Hybridization Circuit for Differentiating Heart Failure Patients of Varied Severity
Authors: Liu Qinglian , Wu Jianglin , Zhang Jiajia , Wang Fuan , Jiang Zhongwei , Wang Yi , Gong Xue , Zhang Pu
Published: February 2025

Heart failure (HF) is a globally threatening cardiovascular disease associated with poor quality of life and high mortality, therefore, timely diagnosis and risk prediction for HF disease are urgently needed. Herein, a compact yet robust self‐regenerated hybridization circuit (SHC) aptasensor is developed for the amplified detection of N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), a “gold standard biomarker” for HF. The aptamer transduction module can specifically recognize NT‐proBNP, thus initiating the cascade hybridization reaction with the successively self‐regenerated triggers that reversely initiate the cross‐hybridization reaction. Benefiting from the aptamer‐specific recognition and the self‐replicated signal amplification, the robust SHC aptasensor demonstrated a more impressive diagnostic performance for HF in elderly patients than the clinical fluorescence immunochromatography assay (FICA) in terms of positive predictive value (21 vs 17), specificity (39 vs 32), and diagnostic accuracy (37 vs 36). Furthermore, this approach allows for differentiation among HF patients with varying disease severities, achieving a sufficiently high accuracy of 78.3%, thus facilitating more timely and accurate therapeutic intervention. The versatile and reliable SHC system offers a new approach to analyzing low‐abundance biomarkers from clinical rare specimens, which is highly important for early disease diagnosis and prognosis assessment.
Superhydrophilic S‐NiFe LDH by Room Temperature Synthesis for Enhanced Alkaline Water/Seawater Oxidation at Large Current Densities
Authors: Chen Yangyang , Dong Leilei , Jia Shaobo , Zhang Qi , Liu Liying , Liu Zhe , Zhang Zhen , Yue Kefen , Cheng Yongliang , Li Dongsheng , Zhu Zhonghua , Wang Yaoyu
Published: February 2025

Developing high‐performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts that can operate stably at large current densities in seawater plays a crucial role in enabling large‐scale hydrogen production, however, it remains a significant challenge. Herein, sulfur‐doped NiFe layered double hydroxide nanosheet (S‐NiFe LDH) grown on a 3D porous nickel foam skeleton is synthesized through electrochemical deposition and ion‐exchange strategies at room temperature as high‐performance, highly selective, and durable OER electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis at large current density. The incorporation of S can enhance the conductivity, promote structural reconstruction to form highly active oxyhydroxides, as well as improve the anti‐corrosion ability of chloride ions. Furthermore, due to its unique self‐supporting structure and superhydrophilicity, which provide abundant active sites and promote efficient bubble release, the optimized electrocatalyst demands a minimal overpotential of 278 and 299 mV to generate 1000 mA cm−2 in alkaline freshwater/seawater, respectively, confirming its excellent OER activity. Meanwhile, the synthesized electrocatalyst also demonstrates exceptional stability in both media, as it maintains stable performance for a duration of 200 h at 500 mA cm−2. The present work offers an efficient strategy and innovative viewpoint for developing efficient OER electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis.
Cyanide Functionalization and Oxygen Vacancy Creation in Ni‐Fe Nano Petals Sprinkled with MIL‐88A Derived Metal Oxide Nano Droplets for Bifunctional Alkaline Seawater Electrolysis
Authors: Bhattarai Roshan Mangal , Nguyen Lan , Le Nghia , Chhetri Kisan , Acharya Debendra , Teke Sosiawati , Saud Shirjana , Nguyen Duc Ba , Kim Sang Jae , Mok Young Sun
Published: February 2025

This work investigates novel improvements in FeNi‐layered double hydroxide (LDH)/MIL‐88A heterocomposite for sustainable seawater electrolysis through a single‐step dual functionalization process. The Fe/Ni precursor weight ratio is optimized, resulting in the formation of smaller LDH petals and nano‐sized MIL‐88A metal–organic framework, which transforms into clusters of Fe2O3 nanospheres within a nitrogen‐functionalized carbon matrix over NiFe2O4 nano petals upon calcination. Furthermore, oxygen vacancies, and nitrogen functionalization are attained in a single step by employing thermal ammonia reduction, significantly improving the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities. Particularly the oxygen vacancy and nitrogen functionalization are found to accelerate the O─O coupling step in OER by lowering the activation barrier. Likewise, the dual functionalization promotes destabilizing the hydride intermediates in HER potentially facilitating faster proton‐coupled electron transfer. Hence, the optimized electrode achieves current densities of 200 mA cm−2 at overpotentials of 350 and 240 mV for OER and HER respectively. The chronopotentiometry stability tests confirms the electrode's durability over 200 h at 20 mA cm−2 in alkaline seawater electrolyte. The optimized electrode, composed of cost‐effective and environmentally friendly materials, demonstrates robustness in alkaline seawater electrolytes, positioning it as a strong candidate for practical and sustainable water electrolysis applications.
Accompanying Bi Clusters as Charge Mediators Effectively Enhance Synergetic Redox of Bi2Sn2O7/ZnIn2S4 S‐Scheme Heterostructure Composites
Authors: Liu Xing , Su Yuchen , Li Yudong , Ma Qinghai , Luo Juhua
Published: February 2025

Achieving synergistic oxidation and reduction represents a significant challenge in the field of photocatalysis. In this study, the hydrothermal/in situ construction of Bi atom clusters within Bi2Sn2O7/ZnIn2S4 (BSO/ZIS) heterostructures is reported. These clusters exhibit self‐accelerating charge‐transfer mechanisms facilitated by internal electric fields and bonding bridges, resulting in highly efficient light absorption and charge‐transfer capabilities. In situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), as well as theoretical calculations, indicate that the canonical induction and promotion of electrons and holes by the Bi clusters lowers the activation energy of CHO* generation, allowing simultaneous CO2 reduction and toluene oxidation over the catalyst, and enhances proton‐coupling and electron‐transfer processes, resulting in a unique reaction mechanism. The CO2 and toluene as reactant, the Bi‐Bi2Sn2O7/ZnIn2S4 (B‐BSO/ZIS) heterostructure achieves a CO2 reduction rate to CO of 726.3 µmol g−1 h−1 (99.9% selectivity) and a toluene oxidation rate to benzaldehyde of 2362.0 µmol g−1 h−1 (98.0% selectivity), which increases in activity of 14.6 and 5.7 times compared to pristine ZnIn2S4. This study underscores the significance of modulating the photocatalytic pathway through the strategic selection of metal clusters and reactants, contributing to the rational design of photocatalysts for enhanced CO2 adsorption and stabilization of *H.
Constructing Broadband Near‐Infrared Garnet Emitters CaGd2Ga4SiO12:Cr3+ with Unity Quantum Efficiency and High Thermal Stability for Versatile Applications
Authors: Qian Di , Jin Yahong , Li Zhenzhang , Wu Haoyi , Hu Yihua
Published: February 2025

The pursuit of broadband near‐infrared (NIR) phosphors for next‐generation smart NIR light sources has garnered extensive interest. However, developing phosphors efficiently excitable by blue light to produce thermally stable and highly efficient broadband NIR emission surpassing 830 nm remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a novel CaGd2Ga4SiO12 garnet is reported, designed through a structure reconstruction approach to host Cr3+ ions for developing a high‐performance broadband NIR phosphor. By strategically introducing Jahn–Teller distortion at the octahedral sites via chemical pressure, Cr3+ is endowed with a super‐broadband NIR emission spanning 600–1300 nm centered at 837 nm. The full‐width at half maximum (FWHM) varies from 187 to 223 nm across Cr3+ doping concentrations, with the highest internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 99.01%. Remarkable luminescence thermal stability (90.37%@423 K) is bolstered by a weak electron‐phonon coupling (EPC) effect and trap‐mediated energy compensation, a result of the heterovalent ion substitutions in dodecahedral and tetrahedral sites. Furthermore, a prototype broadband NIR phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diode (pc‐LED) is fabricated, delivering a substantial NIR output power of 287.7 mW at 1100 mA and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.4% at 30 mA, enabling impressive performance in versatile applications, including component analysis, non‐destructive testing, NIR imaging, and night vision.
Robust Coupling Between Piezoelectric Field and Interfacial Polarization in Layered Bismuth‐Based Heterostructure for High‐performance Piezocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Liu Daiming , Tan Lining , Li Haoran , Xuan Zhibing , Jin Chengchao , Chen Bingbing , Wang Fei
Published: February 2025

The creation of heterostructures with inherent interface polarization has been proven effective in enhancing piezocatalytic activity; however, developing efficient heterostructure piezocatalysts remains challenging, and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this work, a stable Bi2WO6/BiOBr heterostructure with strong chemical binding is successfully constructed by exchanging double Br− with WO42− in hydrothermal reaction. The heterostructure demonstrates exceptional piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiencies of 0.75 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ in water and 2.28 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ in methanol solution, respectively, outperforming the majority of recently reported bismuth‐based piezocatalysts. During piezocatalytic operations, a robust coupling between the stress‐induced piezoelectric field and the inherent interfacial polarization is pivotal. This coupling results in a large intrinsic dipole moment, excellent piezoelectricity, and improved carrier separation and transfer. Additionally, the polar surface of heterostructure facilitates decreased Gibbs free energy, increased surface potential, and reduced charge transfer resistance, all of which contribute to the high‐activity surface piezocatalytic reaction. This study introduces a simple and universal method for in situ construction of layered bismuth‐based heterostructures with high piezocatalytic performance and offers valuable insights into the role of polarization coupling in piezocatalysis.
New Ways to Discover Novel Nonlinear Optical Materials: Scaling Machine Learning with Chemical Descriptors Information
Authors: An Ran , Wang Hongshan , Xie Congwei , Wu Mengfan , Chu Dongdong , Jin Wenqi , Li Junjie , Pan Shilie , Yang Zhihua
Published: February 2025

The efficient experimental exploration of innovative nonlinear optical materials has long been a challenging task due to the vast chemical space and the lack of suitable theoretical prediction frameworks. Herein, a novel theoretical design paradigm is proposed to accelerate the discovery of novel materials with strong second harmonic generation intensity. This challenge is addressed through several key technologies. 1) A high‐precision machine learning model is proposed on the maximum nonlinear optical dataset. 2) Descriptors information paves the way to systematically offer valuable chemical insights for designing chemical structures. 3) A flexible and fast chemical space construction and exploration method is proposed. Accordingly, a nonlinear optical crystal is successfully synthesized through the constructed “machine to knowledge” theoretical framework. This novel compound exhibits a stronger second‐harmonic generation response and wider optical transmission range. This work introduces novel theoretical design concepts and provides innovative chemical insights into optical materials or other functional materials.
Influencing Factors' Analysis for the Performance of Parallel Evolutionary Test Case Generation for Web Applications
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Zhang Shukai , Qiu Kepeng , Liu Xuejun , Li Xiaodan , Zhao Ruilian
Published: February 2025

Evolutionary test case generation plays a vital role in ensuring software quality and reliability. Since Web applications involve a large number of interactions between client and server, the dynamic evolutionary test case generation is very time‐consuming, which makes it difficult to apply in actual projects. Obviously, parallelization provides a feasible way to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of evolutionary test generation. In our previous research, the idea of parallelism has been introduced into the evolutionary test generation for Web applications. However, its performance is affected by many factors, such as migration scale, migration frequency, the number of browser processes and subpopulations, and so on. The analysis of influencing factors can guide enhancing the performance of evolutionary test generation. For this reason, this paper analyzes the factors that influence parallel evolutionary algorithms and how they affect the performance of test generation for Web applications. At the same time, different parallel evolutionary test generation methods are designed and implemented. Experiments are conducted on open‐source Web applications to generate test cases that meet the server‐side sensitive paths coverage criterion, providing guidance and suggestions for the parameter setting of parallel evolutionary test case generation for Web applications. The experimental results show that (1) compared with the global parallelization model, the evolutionary algorithm based on the parallel island model has a greater improvement in test case generation performance. In more detail, when generating test cases with the same server‐side sensitive paths coverage, the number of iterations required is reduced by 49.6%, and the time cost is reduced by 58.7%; (2) for the test case generation based on the parallel island model, if the migration scale is large, appropriately increasing the migration frequency can reduce its time cost; (3) if the number of subpopulations is fixed, appropriately increasing the number of browser processes can reduce the time cost of Web application test case evolution, but the number of browser processes should not be too large; otherwise, it may increase the time cost.
Reliability‐based assessment of a multilinear regression model for estimating the ultimate load of eccentrically loaded slender circular CFDST columns
Authors: Amika A. Usongo , Haas T. N. , Simwanda L.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a reliability‐based assessment of the multilinear regression (MR) model to predict the ultimate load of slender circular concrete‐filled double‐skin tubular (CFDST) columns under eccentric loading. To assess the MR model's performance, reliability analyses of 10 experimental CFDST columns are conducted and then compared to design code formulae (EN1994, ACI 318‐11, and AISC 2010). Results show that the MR model insignificantly exceeds the target reliability index within a mean absolute error (MAE) margin of 0.37, whereas the opposite applies for the design codes with MAE values of 2.18, 2.74, and 2.13 for EN1994, ACI 318‐11, and AISC 2010, respectively. First‐order reliability method sensitivity coefficients computed show that the model uncertainty has a minimal impact on the MR model but significantly affects the design models. Capacity adjustment factors, based on model uncertainty and eccentricity, are proposed for the design models, leading to improved agreement with target reliability indices with MAE values of 0.17, 1.08, and 0.33. These findings emphasize that the MR model and the modified design models are applicable for use in accurately predicting the ultimate load of slender circular CFDST columns subjected to eccentric loading with acceptable levels of reliability and safety margins.
Complete excision of the basihyoid bone in two dogs during surgical treatment of ectopic thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Peters Harry J. , Nix Charlotte , Owen Laura , Riggs Julia
Published: February 2025

Two dogs were presented to our institution for further investigations of a mass lesion in the cranioventral cervical region. Computed tomography revealed both masses to be in the region of the hyoid apparatus, and partial lysis of the basihyoid bone was noted in both cases. Surgical removal of each mass, along with complete excision of the basihyoid bone, was performed. Histopathology was consistent with a thyroid follicular carcinoma for Patient A and a compact type thyroid carcinoma for Patient B. Prehension of food, mastication, water intake and vocalisation were unaffected immediately after surgery and at follow‐up (3.5 years and 7 months, respectively). Both dogs received courses of adjuvant single agent chemotherapy. Patient A was euthanased 3.5 years after surgery due to owner‐perceived poor quality of life and, at the time of writing this report 7 months after surgery, Patient B had finished chemotherapy without gross evidence of disease recurrence.
Microbial O2 consumption as a function of pore structure in soils of sorghum, switchgrass, and prairie vegetation systems
Authors: Chakraborty Poulamee , Guber Andrey , Kravchenko Alexandra
Published: February 2025

Microscale O2 availability in soil, a main factor influencing microbial processing of soil carbon and nitrogen, is a function of O2 diffusion and microbial O2 consumption. While O2 diffusivity is widely studied, it is difficult to quantify the rate of microbial O2 consumption (MO). In this study, we quantified the MO using O2 microsensor profiling to compare MO in different soils and vegetation systems while manipulating the soil pore structure. Soil samples were collected from three bioenergy vegetation systems, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and prairie, at an experimental site in Southeast Michigan, and from switchgrass and prairie systems at two sites in South and North Wisconsin. We prepared soil cores with two contrasting pore structures, that is, large (>30 µm Ø) pore‐dominated soil (LP) and small (<10 µm Ø) pore‐dominated soil (SP), from the same 1‐ to 2‐mm soil size fraction. We quantified MO (nmol O2 cm−3 s−1) using a microprofiler with an oxygen (OX‐100 µm) microsensor (Unisense) pre‐ and post‐38‐day incubation. Across all studied systems, there was a trend for a decrease in SP MO post‐incubation, suggesting a change in microbial metabolism to lower O2 utilization. However, sizeable microbial O2 consumption continued in the LP soils, further corroborated by a positive correlation between the C‐CO2 emission rate and the post‐incubation MO, highlighting that LP provided a better physical microenvironment for the soil microbes.
Vascular Imaging is the Only Reliable Method to Exclude Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury Post Hanging or Strangulation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Zafar , Wain Howard , Khan Afroz , Clarke Damian L.
Published: February 2025

Background

Strangulation and hanging injuries are a common form of self‐inflicted harm. The incidence of associated blunt cerebrovascular injury and its correlation with clinical findings remains unclear. Furthermore, the decision to image and the choice of imaging remains unresolved.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was performed of all patients who presented with a hanging or strangulation injury. All patients underwent a CT angiogram. Inferential and descriptive statistics were performed. Patient demographics, clinical data, laboratory results, and imaging findings were reviewed.

Results

Over an 11‐year period (2013–2023), 194 patients presented with hanging or strangulation type injuries. The median age was 28.7 years, and 24% were female. All patients underwent a CT angiogram with only 9 patients (4.6%) having a positive finding. There was no correlation between positive findings on CT angiogram and any clinical or laboratory finding. The in‐hospital mortality rate was 1%, none of whom had an associated vascular injury.

Conclusion

The incidence of vascular injury in strangulation or hanging injuries is 4.6%. In light of the reported incidence of stroke in blunt carotid injury (23%–30%) when left untreated, it is imperative that these injuries are found and treated. Based on the above data, there are no clinical or lab indicators (or combination thereof) that can be safely used to exclude an injury and avoid imaging. Thus, is it advised that all patients are imaged with a CT angiogram.
Conclusion and a Possible Displaced Postdevelopmentalism
Authors: Lenz Taguchi Hillevi , Bodén Linnea
Published: February 2025

The conclusion of the book grapples with the question of whether or not a natureculture coconstitutive approach to postdevelopmentalism is possible. What might such a postdevelopmentalism entail, and how might it be characterized when enacted as an inter- or transdisciplinary collaborative inquiry on, to, with, for, and/or by young children? We discuss some ways in which the concept of postdevelopmentalism can be displaced. We then introduce a slow science approach to collaborative inquiry and patchy epistemic piling practices and show how these can be connected to the Enhancing Children’s Attention (ECA) project. To conclude, the chapter discusses what happened after the ECA project and summarizes what can be learned in line with a displaced natureculture coconstitutive postdevelopmentalist approach.
Innovation Shifts: Moving Towards a Sustainable System of Design Adoption in the Thai Government
Authors: Virangkabutra Pisate
Published: February 2025

Design thinking is a term and method widely used in the design industry. Due to its human-centered approach and the versatility of the process, many disciplines and sectors outside of those traditionally labelled as the design industry have adopted the methodology as the front end of their working process to create direction and a more targeted approach to product, service and policy development. One example is the Thai public sector. This article investigates the use of design from five government organizations, with a particular focus on design thinking and service design as an innovation and working tool and the adaptation of the “design ethos”—design principles that characterize the designer’s culture in practice for the public sector in Thailand. It uses the theoretical framework of the four-design typology to explain the state of design adoption in the public sector. The four domains are (i) design as output, (ii) design as capacity building, (iii) design as culture, and (iv) design as core value. These four domains of “design as” are explained with case studies that are related to Thailand, followed by a section on how to improve design adoption, and concluded with the three innovation shift suggestions, which are hierarchical to collaborating shift, administrating to innovating shift, and peripheral to structural shift.
Four Levels of Service Design, “Interaction, Function, Organization, and Social Transition”: Cases of the Agrifood System in China
Authors: Zhong Fang
Published: February 2025

With the development of China’s service economy, service design has attracted increasing attention, and professional design institutions regard it as the direction of innovation. However, there is an obvious gap between the application of service design in industry and the academic research of service design. In this paper, service design is analyzed on four different levels: (1) the micro-level, or the interaction/user experience design; (2) the meso-level, or the inward functional design; (3) outward organizational design; and (4) the macro-level social transition design, aimed at changing the environment in which service organizations are located. This paper describes the present situation of service design in China’s agrifood system and discusses both the current opportunities and challenges of service design at these four levels.
Structure of massive gauge/gravity scattering amplitudes, equivalence theorems, and extended double-copy with compactified warped space
Authors: Hang Yanfeng , Zhao Wei-Wei , He Hong-Jian , Qiu Yin-Long
Published: February 2025

Abstract

We study the structure of scattering amplitudes of massive Kaluza-Klein (KK) states in the compactified 5-dimensional warped gauge and gravity theories. We present systematic formulations of the gauge theory equivalence theorem (GAET) and the gravitational equivalence theorem (GRET) for warped KK theories in R

ξ
gauge, where the GAET connects the scattering amplitudes of longitudinal KK gauge bosons to that of the corresponding KK Goldstone bosons and the GRET connects the scattering amplitudes of KK gravitons of helicity-zero (helicity-one) to that of the corresponding gravitational scalar (vector) KK Goldstone bosons. We analyze the structure of 3-point and 4-point scattering amplitudes of massive KK gauge bosons and of massive KK gravitons as well as of the KK Goldstone bosons at tree level. We first prove the GAET and GRET explicitly for the fundamental 3-point KK gauge/gravity scattering amplitudes. We then demonstrate that the validity of the GAET and GRET for 4-point gauge/gravity scattering amplitudes can be reduced to the validity of GAET and GRET for 3-point gauge/gravity scattering amplitudes. With these, we study the double-copy construction of KK scattering amplitudes in the warped gauge/gravity theories. We newly realize the double-copy for massive 3-point full gauge/gravity amplitudes under the color-kinematics correspondence and the gauge-gravity coupling correspondence at tree level, whereas we can construct extended double-copy for 4-point KK gauge/gravity scattering amplitudes to the leading order (LO) of high energy expansion. We further demonstrate that this LO double-copy construction can be extended to N-point KK scattering amplitudes with N ⩾ 4.
NLO in the large charge sector of the critical O(N) model at large N
Authors: Dondi Nicola Andrea , Sberveglieri Giacomo
Published: February 2025

Abstract

We compute the next-to-leading correction to the scaling dimension of large-charge operators in the 3d critical O(N) model in a double scaling limit in which both N and the operator charge Q are taken to be large. When Q ≫ N our result matches predictions from the conformal superfluid EFT and allows to extract next-to-leading order corrections to the EFT Wilsonian coefficients. At present, our result represents the most precise determination of large-charge operator scaling dimension in weakly-coupled CFTs.
Taming non-analyticities of QFT observables
Authors: Grimm Thomas W. , Ravazzini Giovanni , van Vliet Mick
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Many observables in quantum field theories are involved non-analytic functions of the parameters of the theory. However, it is expected that they are not arbitrarily wild, but rather have only a finite amount of geometric complexity. This expectation has been recently formalized by a tameness principle: physical observables should be definable in o-minimal structures and their sharp refinements. In this work, we show that a broad class of non-analytic partition and correlation functions are tame functions in the o-minimal structure known as

$$ {\mathbb{R}}_{\mathcal{G}} $$

ℝ
G

— the structure defining Gevrey functions. Using a perturbative approach, we expand the observables in asymptotic series in powers of a small coupling constant. Although these series are often divergent, they can be Borel-resummed in the absence of Stokes phenomena to yield the full partition and correlation functions. We show that this makes them definable in

$$ {\mathbb{R}}_{\mathcal{G}} $$

ℝ
G

and provide a number of motivating examples. These include certain 0-dimensional quantum field theories and a set of higher-dimensional quantum field theories that can be analyzed using constructive field theory. Finally, we discuss how the eigenvalues of certain Hamiltonians in quantum mechanics are also definable in

$$ {\mathbb{R}}_{\mathcal{G}} $$

ℝ
G

.
Complete $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_s^2\right) $$ corrections to the leptonic invariant mass spectrum in $$ b\to {X}_cl{\overline{\nu}}_l $$ decay
Authors: Czaja Mateusz , Misiak Mikołaj , Rehman Abdur
Published: February 2025

Abstract

In the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V

cb
| from inclusive semileptonic B-meson decays, moments of the leptonic invariant mass spectrum constitute valuable observables. To evaluate them with sufficient precision, perturbative

$$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_s^2\right) $$

O

α
s
2

corrections to the analogous spectrum in the partonic

$$ b\to {X}_cl{\overline{\nu}}_l $$

b
→

X
c

l

ν
¯

l

decay are necessary. In the present paper, we compute such perturbative corrections in a complete manner, including contributions from the triple-charm channel, namely from the

$$ cc\overline{c}l{\overline{\nu}}_l $$

cc

c
¯

l

ν
¯

l

final states. We present our results in terms of numerical fits in both the single- and triple-charm cases. We confirm the recently found results for the single-charm correction, and analyze the triple-charm channel impact on centralized moments of the spectrum.
Inclusion of tumor periphery in radiomics analysis of magnetic resonance images does not improve predictions of preoperative therapy response in patients with rectal cancer
Authors: Korsavidou Hult Nafsika , Tarai Sambit , Hammarström Klara , Kullberg Joel , Lundström Elin , Bjerner Tomas , Glimelius Bengt , Ahlström Håkan
Published: February 2025

Background/Purpose

To evaluate the advantages of including versus excluding the tumor periphery and combining diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with T2-weighted imaging (T2w) for outcome predictions of preoperative radio(chemo)therapy in rectal cancer.

Methods

Four analysis strategies, based on two segmentation methods and two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, were evaluated in 106 patients examined with pretreatment MRI. One segmentation method included the tumor periphery in the region of interest (ROI) encompassing the whole tumor (wROI), considered as the reference segmentation approach, and one included only the central part (cROI). Relevant radiomics imaging features were extracted from either T2w alone or from both T2w and DWI and used by a machine learning algorithm for the prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR), neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score, and disease recurrence. The area under the curve (AUC) was the performance measure. AUCs were compared with a bootstrapping method based on 104 bootstraps.

Results

cROI applied to both T2w and DWI provided the highest numerical prediction of pCR (AUC 0.76), however, not significantly superior to the other strategies (p ≥ 0.138). cROI applied to both T2w and DWI also yielded the highest numerical prediction of NAR score (AUC 0.84), showing advantages over wROI-based analysis strategies (AUC 0.66 and 0.69; p ≤ 0.008). When compared to cROI applied to T2w alone (AUC 0.73), the benefit was borderline statistically significant (p = 0.053). For prediction of disease recurrence, no differences were found between the analysis strategies.

Conclusions

Inclusion of the tumor periphery in radiomic analysis of magnetic resonance images does not improve predictions of the preoperative therapy response in patients with rectal cancer. Excluding tumor periphery while adding DWI to T2w improves prediction of the NAR score, although it does not affect pCR or recurrence prediction.

Graphical abstract
Key drivers of large scale changes in North Atlantic atmospheric and oceanic circulations and their predictability
Authors: Dong Buwen , Aksenov Yevgeny , Colfescu Ioana , Harvey Ben , Hirschi Joël , Josey Simon , Lu Hua , Mecking Jenny , Oltmanns Marilena , Osprey Scott , Robson Jon , Rynders Stefanie , Shaffrey Len , Sinha Bablu , Sutton Rowan , Weisheimer Antje
Published: February 2025

Significant changes have occurred during the last few decades across the North Atlantic climate system, including in the atmosphere, ocean, and cryosphere. These large-scale changes play a vital role in shaping regional climate and extreme weather events across the UK and Western Europe. This review synthesizes the characteristics of observed large-scale changes in North Atlantic atmospheric and oceanic circulations during past decades, identifies the drivers and physical processes responsible for these changes, outlines projected changes due to anthropogenic warming, and discusses the predictability of these circulations. On multi-decadal time scales, internal variability, anthropogenic forcings (especially greenhouse gases), and natural forcings (such as solar variability and volcanic eruptions) are identified as key contributors to large-scale variability in North Atlantic atmospheric and oceanic circulations. However, there remain many uncertainties regarding the detailed characteristics of these various influences, and in some cases their relative importance. We therefore conclude that a better understanding of these drivers, and more accurate quantification of their relative roles, are crucial for more reliable decadal predictions and projections of regional climate for the North Atlantic and Europe.
Association of alcohol consumption and rotator cuff retear: a case control matched cohort study
Authors: Kim Suchung , Menzel Kerstina , Lacheta Lucca , Moroder Philipp , Dekena Jan , Akgün Doruk , Thiele Kathi , Karpinski Katrin
Published: February 2025

Background

Failure of healing or retear after surgical repair of the rotator cuff tendons are still a problem and can cause ongoing shoulder pain and dysfunction. Compromised microcirculation as seen in regular alcohol consumption may lead to poor healing.

Purpose

To compare the clinical outcomes and tendon integrity of patients after rotator cuff repair with and without regular alcohol intake.

Study design

Case control matched cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), had regular alcohol intake (according to world health organization (WHO) definition of harmful alcohol consumption) and were at least 2 years postoperative were included, and matched according to age, sex, involved tendon, and tear size with patients who underwent ARCR without regular alcohol intake. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores were collected at final follow-up including the Constant Murley Score (CMS), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Score (WORC), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and visual analog scale (VAS). Tendon integrity (maintained continuity: yes/no = full thickness) was assessed by ultrasound examination at final follow-up. Complications and revision surgeries are reported.

Results

Twenty-two patients (versus twenty-two matched—controls) were available for follow-up. There were two female (9%) and twenty male (91%) patients with a mean age of 66.6 years (standard deviation, 36–85 years). The mean follow-up was 4 years (standard deviation, 2–5 years) in the alcohol group and 5 years (standard deviation, 2–10 years) in the non-alcohol group. No differences in mean PRO scores between alcohol and non-alcohol groups were seen except VAS (0.5 (standard deviation, 0–5) vs. 1.6 (standard deviation, 0–8), (P = 0.049*) respectively). Intact tendon insertion was seen in 77% (17/22) for the alcohol group and 100% (22/22) for non-alcohol group, (P = 0.021*). One patient underwent revision surgery (5%) in the alcohol group due to a retear, no further peri- or postoperative complications were noticed.

Conclusion

Patients with torn rotator cuff tendons benefited similarly from ARCR independently of their alcohol use concerning clinical presentation. However, significantly higher retear rates were recorded in the alcohol group.
Challenges in blood pressure measurement in children with obesity: focus on the cuff
Authors: Evripidou Kleo , Chainoglou Athanasia , Kotsis Vasilios , Stabouli Stella
Published: February 2025

Childhood obesity is a well-known risk factor for primary hypertension (HTN), especially during puberty. Validated automated oscillometric devices based on universal protocols using proper cuffs according to arm sizes must be selected for blood pressure (BP) measurement in clinical practice. Recent recommendations have addressed the importance of accurate BP measurement in patients with obesity. The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests using a cone-shaped cuff, while the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) emphasizes the significance of cuff characteristics based on arm size. The applicability of cone-shaped cuffs over cylindrical cuffs has been studied in adults with obesity. Most studies focused on the upper arm’s shape and provided evidence that the use of cylindrical cuffs may overestimate BP in individuals with obesity, while the conical cuff was proposed as a proper alternative. However, current validation studies for BP measurement devices have not included the arm’s size as a recruiting criterion, which may compromise the accuracy of devices in individuals with obesity. This review discusses the role of arm characteristics in cuff selection and the potential role of conical cuffs as an alternative to commonly used cylindrical ones in BP measurement in pediatric patients with obesity.

Graphical abstract
Periodontal status and risk factors in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Costa Rosana , Ríos-Carrasco Blanca , López-Jarana Paula , Cabral Cristina , Cunha Filipe , Gonçalves Maria , Relvas Marta
Published: February 2025

Objective

Conduct a cross-sectional study to investigate the periodontal conditions and oral health behaviours among adult subjects with type one diabetes mellitus and compare them with those of a group of age- and gender-matched without diabetes. Furthermore, we also intend to evaluate the potential indicators of the risk for the development of periodontal disease.

Methods

The evaluation was undertaken with patients with diabetes (n = 70) from a patients’ cohort of the the Hospitalar Center of Tâmega e Sousa and subjects without diabetes (n = 69).

Results

The prevalence of periodontal disease showed significant differences between groups. Gingivitis reached a prevalence of 37.1% in patients with type one diabetes mellitus and periodontitis 55.7%. These systemically compromised patients exhibited a higher prevalence of Plaque Index, Bleeding on Probing and Periodontal Probing Depth and a reduced number of teeth when compared to the control group. The stage II was the most prevalent in the diabetes population, followed by the stage IV and most of diabetes subjects presented grade C progression.

Conclusions

There is a higher prevalence of periodontal disease in type one diabetes mellitus individuals when compared to the controls. Age, Bleeding on Probing and number of cigarettes per day are associated with higher risk of periodontal disease in type one diabetes mellitus patients.

Clinical relevance

Our study provides evidence about the prevalence of periodontal disease among type 1 diabetes mellitus and creates awareness regarding the factors that potentially contribute to worsening periodontal tissues. Furthermore, informing diabetic patients about the importance of early diagnosis and prevention of periodontal disease and the importance of reducing/quitting smoking.
Comparison of the efficacy of different protocols of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on motor function, activities of daily living, and neurological function in patients with early stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Ni Xueyi , Yuan Zinan , Xie Ruimou , Zhai Xiaoxue , Cheng Xiang , Pan Yu
Published: February 2025

Background

The application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with early stroke has recently received considerable attention, but the optimal protocol remains inconclusive. This study intends to evaluate and compare the effects of different protocols of tDCS and rTMS on improving motor function, activities of daily living (ADL), and neurological function in patients with early stroke, and to comprehensively assess their efficacy and safety.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool, and Bayesian NMA was conducted using R4.3.1 and Stata16.

Results

The results of NMA showed that after early intervention, bilateral application of high- and low-frequency rTMS (BL-rTMS) performed best in improving the upper extremity motor function at the end of intervention (SUCRA: 92.8%) and 3 months (SUCRA: 95.4%). Besides, low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS) performed best in improving the lower extremity motor function (SUCRA: 67.7%). BL-rTMS was the most effective in ameliorating the ADL at the end of intervention (SUCRA: 100%) and 3 months (SUCRA: 85.6%). In terms of the NIHSS scores, BL-rTMS had the highest probability of being the most effective measure at the end of intervention (SUCRA: 99.7%) and 3 months (SUCRA: 97.05%). Besides, LF-rTMS (0%), 5 Hz-rTMS (0%), and intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) (0%) all exhibited a good safety profile.

Conclusion

BL-rTMS is the optimal stimulation protocol for improving upper extremity motor function, ADL, and neurological function in early stroke, with long-term efficacy.
Palatability of insecticides and protein in sugar solutions to Argentine ants
Authors: Wagner Thomas , Vorjans Moana , Garsi Elias , Werneke Cosmina , Czaczkes Tomer J.
Published: February 2025

Invasive ant species like Linepithema humile cause significant ecological and economic harm, making effective control strategies essential. Insecticide baits are currently the most effective approach for controlling ants. Therefore, quantifying how palatable or unpalatable baits, bait additives, or toxicants are, is critical for developing effective control methods. Recent research shows that when animals can compare a test food containing a bitterant with another option, they are much better at detecting the bitterant and thus rejecting the test food. Here, we deploy a newly developed comparative evaluation methodology to examine the palatability to L. humile workers of three toxicants commonly used in invasive ant control: fipronil, spinosad, and imidacloprid. Additionally, we tested egg-white protein in sucrose solutions to assess its impact on bait acceptance. Ants showed no significant preference between pure sucrose and sucrose-toxicant solutions, indicating that they either cannot detect the toxicants or do not find them distasteful. Survival tests confirmed that the toxicant concentrations used, fipronil at 0.0001% and 0.001%, spinosad at 0.015% and 0.15%, and imidacloprid at 0.005%, were lethal, with a survival rate of 50% or below after 72 h. However, ants found egg protein additive unpalatable, significantly preferring pure sucrose to a sucrose egg-white protein mix. These findings confirm that three major toxicants are suitable for use in baits, and that reported abandonment or avoidance of toxic baits is not due to the unpalatability of these toxicants. However, the addition of egg protein alone to sucrose baits, even at ratios which optimise colony growth, is likely counterproductive. Future research should investigate the relative preference of invasive ants for various bait matrixes over naturally available food, ensuring more effective pest management strategies.
Quasi-Monte Carlo methods for mixture distributions and approximated distributions via piecewise linear interpolation
Authors: Cui Tiangang , Dick Josef , Pillichshammer Friedrich
Published: February 2025

We study numerical integration over bounded regions in

$$\mathbb {R}^s$$

R

s

,

$$s \ge 1$$

s
≥
1

, with respect to some probability measure. We replace random sampling with quasi-Monte Carlo methods, where the underlying point set is derived from deterministic constructions which aim to fill the space more evenly than random points. Ordinarily, such quasi-Monte Carlo point sets are designed for the uniform measure, and the theory only works for product measures when a coordinate-wise transformation is applied. Going beyond this setting, we first consider the case where the target density is a mixture distribution where each term in the mixture comes from a product distribution. Next, we consider target densities which can be approximated with such mixture distributions. In order to be able to use an approximation of the target density, we require the approximation to be a sum of coordinate-wise products and that the approximation is positive everywhere (so that they can be re-scaled to probability density functions). We use tensor product hat function approximations for this purpose here, since a hat function approximation of a positive function is itself positive. We also study more complex algorithms, where we first approximate the target density with a general Gaussian mixture distribution and approximate this mixture distribution with an adaptive hat function approximation on rotated intervals. The Gaussian mixture approximation allows us (at least to some degree) to locate the essential parts of the target density, whereas the adaptive hat function approximation allows us to approximate the finer structure of the target density. We prove convergence rates for each of the integration techniques based on quasi-Monte Carlo sampling for integrands with bounded partial mixed derivatives. The employed algorithms are based on digital (t, s)-sequences over the finite field

$$\mathbb {F}_2$$

F
2

and an inversion method. Numerical examples illustrate the performance of the algorithms for some target densities and integrands.
One shero and/or a group of sheroes? Top executive gender and innovation in tech-based new venture
Authors: Wei Li-Qun
Published: February 2025

Strategic leadership theories, especially the upper-echelon perspective, emphasize the critical role of the top management team (TMT) in determining a firm’s short- and long-term performance. However, there is limited evidence on whether the gender of strategic leaders matters to firm innovation—which determines a firm’s long-term competitiveness, especially in new ventures. More specifically, at the TMT level, whether the gender of CEO, as the leader of TMT, influences the gender composition of the TMT remains unknown. Drawing on the notion of CEO-TMT interface and the opposing views on gender in leadership, this article examined the determinant role of CEO gender on the gender composition of the TMT, which in turn affects the venture’s innovation performance. The contextual role of a prominent CEO trait, i.e., CEO self-efficacy in shaping the CEO gender-TMT gender composition linkage was also tested. Findings from a sample of 300 Chinese tech-based new ventures indicate that female CEOs are more likely to appoint female TMT members, supporting the “similarity-attraction effect/homophily view” but failing to support the “queen bee syndrome theory.” Moreover, female representation in TMT is positively related to the innovation of new ventures. Finally, the positive link between female CEO and female representation in TMT is stronger when CEO self-efficacy is relatively lower.