bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Mig-6 in adipose tissue: Implications for glucose metabolism and insulin resistance
Authors: Kim Ji Min , Lim Joung Youl , Choung Sorim , Kim Ok Soon , Joung Kyoung Hye , Lee Ju Hee , Kim Hyun Jin , Ku Bon Jeong
Published: February 2025

Background

Insulin resistance is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is associated with metabolic disorders. Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in regulating whole-body energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig-6) is a negative feedback regulator of receptor tyrosine kinases, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This study aims to evaluate the role of Mig-6 in white adipose tissue (WAT) and its impact on systemic glucose homeostasis using Mig-6 transgenic mice.

Methods

Human visceral fat samples were obtained from four obese and three lean women undergoing hysterectomy. Adipocyte-specific Mig-6 knock-in (Mig-6AdKI) mice were generated and maintained on either a high-fat diet (HFD) or normal chow diet (NCD). Glucose tolerance tests (GTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) were performed. We conducted histological examinations to observe tissue morphology and used quantitative PCR to assess adipokine mRNA expression.

Results

Mig-6 expression was significantly reduced in the adipose tissue of obese mice and humans. Mig-6AdKI mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity under both NCD and HFD conditions, without changes in body weight or fat mass. The improvement in glucose homeostasis under NCD conditions was particularly noteworthy. Increased adiponectin mRNA levels were observed in the WAT of Mig-6AdKI mice. Meanwhile, histological analysis did not observe any changes in adipose tissue morphology that could explain the improvement in systemic glucose homeostasis, although there were tendencies towards increased adipocyte size and inflammation in HFD-fed Mig-6AdKI mice.

Conclusion

Adipose-specific overexpression of Mig-6 improves systemic glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, suggesting its potential as a target for both the treatment and prevention of diabetes. These findings provide a reference for further research targeting EGFR or Mig-6 in adipose tissue, highlighting the metabolic role of Mig-6 in glucose homeostasis.
The dynamic impact of investor climate sentiment on the crude oil futures market: Evidence from the Chinese market
Authors: Liu Wenwen , Tang Miaomiao , Zhao Peng
Published: February 2025

Climate risk has become a hot topic of global concern. This paper aims to explore the impact of investor climate sentiment (ICS) on China’ s crude oil futures market, covering the period from March 27, 2018, to December 30, 2022. Firstly, this paper employs the Thermal Optimal Path (TOP) method and discovers that the guiding effect of ICS on the volatility of crude oil futures (RVoil) intensifies over time, progressively becoming a pivotal factor in determining volatility. Secondly, based on the lead-lag relationship between ICS and RVoil, this study divides the sample period into five stages and confirms through the HAR model that ICS has a significant inhibitory effect on crude oil volatility during the guiding phase. In addition, incorporating ICS into the HAR model not only improves the model’ s goodness of fit but also significantly reduces the prediction error in out-of-sample forecasts. Finally, by comparing with the full-sample analysis, the volatility prediction results of the segmented samples show that during the guiding phase, the predictive power of ICS for crude oil market volatility is significantly improved. Even in the non-guiding phase, ICS can reduce the prediction error to a certain extent. This result further highlights the advantages of the TOP method in revealing the impact of ICS on the prediction of crude oil volatility.
Accuracy of the Modified Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (Modified FINDRISC) for detecting metabolic syndrome: Findings from the Indonesian national health survey
Authors: Cahyaningsih Indriastuti , Rokhman M. Rifqi , Sudikno  , Postma Maarten J. , van der Schans Jurjen
Published: February 2025

Background

This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Modified Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (Modified FINDRISC) for detecting individuals with metabolic syndrome in Indonesia.

Methods

A dataset from the 2018 Indonesian National Basic Health Survey was analysed, and cases of metabolic syndrome were identified in accordance with both National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) guidelines. Diagnostic accuracy of the Modified FINDRISC tool was evaluated using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC) curve, while optimal cut-off scores were determined by Youden’s Index.

Results

From 25,432 participants, the mean and standard deviation of the Modified FINDRISC score was 5.7 (SD 4.1). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 32.1% and 24.8% based on NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria, respectively. Based on NCEP-ATP III criteria alone, the AUC of the Modified FINDRISC was 80.9% (80.3%-81.5%) with 74.0% sensitivity and 75.5% specificity. Similarly, based on IDF criteria, AUC was 88.9% (88.5%-89.3%) with 89.8% sensitivity and 75.8% specificity. The optimal cut-off score was 6 for both criteria, with 41.2% of the total participants above the cut-off who would require further confirmation tests.

Conclusion

Metabolic syndrome is prevalent in Indonesia, and the Modified FINDRISC tool offers good diagnostic accuracy for detecting such cases. Utilising Modified FINDRISC as a first-instance screening modality will reduce the number of people requiring further confirmation tests. Modified FINDRISC has the potential for use in daily clinical practice, and the cost-effectiveness of Modified FINDRISC should be further evaluated.
Effectiveness of mindfulness-based online therapy or internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy compared with treatment as usual among patients with persistent somatic symptoms: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vangelova-Korpinen Velina , Liira Helena , Kurki Samu N. , Sainio Markku , Malmivaara Antti , Kanerva Mari , Stenberg Jan-Henry , Varonen Mikko , Venäläinen Mikko , Vuorela Piia , Arokoski Jari
Published: February 2025

Background

Persistent somatic symptoms unexplained by a defined medical or psychiatric condition often include a component of central sensitization. Many treatment options are based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Effective widely available therapies are scarce. There are self-management programs and e-therapies that aim at overcoming the central sensitization by modifying interoceptive neural networks in the brain.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the effect of a mindfulness-based amygdala and insula retraining (AIR) online program and an internet delivered therapist assisted therapy offered by Helsinki University Hospital (HUS iCBTpss) compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in the treatment of conditions causing persistent somatic symptoms.

Methods

We will perform a randomized controlled trial aiming at 360 patients. Consenting patients will be randomized to three study arms: online AIR program, HUS iCBTpss (both interventions as add-ons to TAU); and TAU. Functional ability and quality of life surveys will be collected from participants at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after entering the study.

Conclusions

This study is one of the first to explore non-drug based online interventions developed to overcome the brain’s central sensitization and are available and accessible to patients both in primary and secondary care. The results will develop the management of the common, often debilitating persistent somatic symptoms related to many conditions unexplained by a defined somatic or psychiatric illness.

Trial registration number

NCT05212467.
A novel deep learning-based framework with particle swarm optimisation for intrusion detection in computer networks
Authors: Yılmaz Abdullah Asım
Published: February 2025

Intrusion detection plays a significant role in the provision of information security. The most critical element is the ability to precisely identify different types of intrusions into the network. However, the detection of intrusions poses a important challenge, as many new types of intrusion are now generated by cyber-attackers every day. A robust system is still elusive, despite the various strategies that have been proposed in recent years. Hence, a novel deep-learning-based architecture for detecting intrusions into a computer network is proposed in this paper. The aim is to construct a hybrid system that enhances the efficiency and accuracy of intrusion detection. The main contribution of our work is a novel deep learning-based hybrid architecture in which PSO is used for hyperparameter optimisation and three well-known pre-trained network models are combined in an optimised way. The suggested method involves six key stages: data gathering, pre-processing, deep neural network (DNN) architecture design, optimisation of hyperparameters, training, and evaluation of the trained DNN. To verify the superiority of the suggested method over alternative state-of-the-art schemes, it was evaluated on the KDDCUP’99, NSL-KDD and UNSW-NB15 datasets. Our empirical findings show that the proposed model successfully and correctly classifies different types of attacks with 82.44%, 90.42% and 93.55% accuracy values obtained on UNSW-B15, NSL-KDD and KDDCUP’99 datasets, respectively, and outperforms alternative schemes in the literature.
Factors associated with the use of dental services in older adults in Peru
Authors: Cossio-Alva Bryan Alexis , Rojas Rubén Espinoza , Ruiz-Barrueto Miguel Angel , Atoche Giancarlo Becerra , Mejia Christian R. , Corrales-Reyes Ibraín Enrique
Published: February 2025

Background

The use of dental services by older adults in Peru faces various challenges that impact both their oral and overall health. Several factors play a crucial role in obtaining adequate dental care.

Aims

To evaluate the factors associated with the use of dental services in older adults in Peru.

Methods

This study was an observational, analytical, and cross-sectional investigation that utilized data from multiple years (2018–2022) of the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES, by its Spanish acronym). The use of dental services was assessed through a specific survey question and analyzed in association with various socio-demographic variables, employing both descriptive and analytical statistical methods.

Results

In the multivariable analysis, the likelihood of not utilizing dental services was higher among men aPR: 1.53 (95% CI: 1.45–1.61), those without health insurance aPR: 1.44 (95% CI: 1.36–1.53), those who self-identified as other races aPR: 1.22 (95% CI: 1.13–1.33), Afro-descendants aPR: 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01–1.19), whites aPR: 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01–1.25) according to education level, those with a physical limitation aPR: 1.24 (95% CI: 1.15–1.33), and increased as they were poorer; it was lower among the rich but more pronounced among the middle-income, poor, and very poor, adjusted for five variables.

Conclusion

It was reported that 15% of older adults did not use dental services, and this was associated with significant socio-demographic variables.
Monkeys can identify pictures from words
Authors: Cabrera-Ruiz Elizabeth , Alva Marlen , Treviño Mario , Mata-Herrera Miguel , Vergara José , Figueroa Tonatiuh , Perez-Orive Javier , Lemus Luis
Published: February 2025

Humans learn and incorporate cross-modal associations between auditory and visual objects (e.g., between a spoken word and a picture) into language. However, whether nonhuman primates can learn cross-modal associations between words and pictures remains uncertain. We trained two rhesus macaques in a delayed cross-modal match-to-sample task to determine whether they could learn associations between sounds and pictures of different types. In each trial, the monkeys listened to a brief sound (e.g., a monkey vocalization or a human word), and retained information about the sound to match it with one of 2–4 pictures presented on a touchscreen after a 3-second delay. We found that the monkeys learned and performed proficiently in over a dozen associations. In addition, to test their ability to generalize, we exposed them to sounds uttered by different individuals. We found that their hit rate remained high but more variable, suggesting that they perceived the new sounds as equivalent, though not identical. We conclude that rhesus monkeys can learn cross-modal associations between objects of different types, retain information in working memory, and generalize the learned associations to new objects. These findings position rhesus monkeys as an ideal model for future research on the brain pathways of cross-modal associations between auditory and visual objects.
Recency and rarity effects in disambiguating the focus of utterance: A developmental study
Authors: Kishimoto Reiki , Hashiya Kazuhide
Published: February 2025

While the communicator’s intended referent in a conversation may not be immediately apparent, effective communication often overcomes this ambiguity. However, the specific mechanisms through which children use various cues to pinpoint the referent remain unclear. The communicator determines what is salient from the receiver’s perspective. In return, the receiver identifies what the communicator identifies to be relevant for the receiver. The current study focused on two salient cues: rarity and recency, because rarity results in surprise and recency means a cue is more easily perceived and remembered. The current study investigated how adults and children aged 7–10 employ rarity and recency cues embedded in a series of events to clarify the referent intended by the communicator. Participants observed sequences comprising one rare and eight frequent events. An utterance, “Did you see that?” was presented at the end of each sequence, and participants identified the event(s) referred to by “that.” Events that were rare and close to the utterance were more likely to be identified as the referents. Notably, the utilization of these cues differed between adults and children. For adults, the recency effect manifested gradually, with events closer to the utterance identified more frequently, and it exhibited an interaction with rarity. Among children, the recency effect was absolute, as the event closest to the utterance held a higher likelihood of being identified, and this effect was not influenced by rarity. Two additional conditions eliminated potential response biases and memory-related confounds. Our research suggests that school-age children are capable of disambiguating utterances by factoring in that the events they find salient are likely to be the communicator’s focus. However, they are still in the process of developing reasoning skills similar to those of adults.
Influence of inspiratory muscle strength on 6-minute walk distance in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Takahashi Ren , Yokota Junichi , Matsukawa Yuko , Matsushima Keisuke , Suzuki Takeru , Tsushima Eiki
Published: February 2025

Inspiratory muscle weakness may affect exercise tolerance; however, the relationship between inspiratory muscle strength and the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) is unknown. This study aimed to quantitatively investigate the association between inspiratory muscle strength at the start of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and 6MWD at discharge in patients with AHF. This single-center, retrospective, observational study enrolled 275 patients with AHF who underwent CR. Patients unable to walk before admission, with isometric knee extensor strength/weight (%IKES) < 0.3 kgf/kg at the start of CR, or unable to undergo examination were excluded. Maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (PI-max) was used as an indicator of inspiratory muscle strength and was measured at the start of CR. The measured PI-max was divided by the predicted value and used for analysis (%PI-max). The primary outcome was 6MWD, an indicator of exercise tolerance, and was measured at discharge. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple regression analysis, with 6MWD at discharge as the dependent variable and %PI-max at the start of CR as the independent variable. Covariates were age, New York Heart Association class, physical frailty, and %IKES at the start of CR. The final analysis included 94 patients (median age 83.0 years, 57.5% male). Multiple regression analysis showed that %PI-max at the start of CR was significantly associated with 6MWD at discharge even after adjustment for covariates (β =  0.223, 95% confidence interval: 0.063–0.382, p =  0.007). PI-max was a factor associated with 6MWD at discharge in patients with AHF. In conclusion, increased inspiratory muscle strength may contribute to improved 6MWD in patients with AHF.
Impact of mothers’ and fathers’ math self-concept of ability, child-specific beliefs and behaviors on girls’ and boys’ math self-concept of ability
Authors: Feige Paulina , Watermann Rainer , Simpkins Sandra , Eccles Jacquelynne Sue , Oppermann Elisa
Published: February 2025

The present study investigated the longitudinal direct and indirect relations between mothers’ and fathers’ math ability self-concept, their child-specific math performance expectations and encouragement of math and science-related activities at home, and girls’ and boys’ math ability self-concept. Structural equation models were performed with longitudinal data from three waves of the Childhood and Beyond Study (CAB). The final sample consisted of 517 children and their mothers and fathers. The majority of children attended 2nd (26.1%), 3rd (25.5%) or 5th (40.4%) grade at first measurement point. Our results suggest that mothers and fathers with higher math ability self-concepts had higher expectations of their sons and encouraged their sons more, but not their daughters. Fathers’ math ability self-concept was indirectly related to the self-concept of their sons and this association was mediated by performance expectations. Furthermore, both boys and girls profited from their fathers’ expectations and girls benefitted from their fathers’ encouragement of math and science-related activities at home. In contrast, we found no effects from mothers’ beliefs and behaviors on child’s math ability self-concept. The findings underscore the relevance of fathers’ educational participation in the development of the math self-concept of ability of their children.
Alleviating isolation stress in chickens: The benefits of home pen playback and mirrors
Authors: Sirovnik Janja
Published: February 2025

This study investigated whether the provision of (1) a mirror or (2) video and sound playback of conspecifics in the home pen (i.e., playback) could alleviate stress in socially isolated adult domestic chickens. Thirty adult chickens participated in the study, undergoing three-minute sessions of social isolation over three consecutive days in an arena containing a tray of food treats. Each chicken was exposed to three conditions, one per day, in a semi-randomised order: (1) mirror, (2) playback, and (3) control. Video recordings of the tests were coded for stress-related behaviours, including stress behaviour (i.e., pooled stress vocalisations and escape behaviour), vigilance, feeding, and exploration. Additionally, thermal imaging was used to measure the surface temperatures of the eye and comb. Social isolation elicited mild stress responses, as evidenced by reduced surface eye and comb temperatures along with the exhibition of stress and vigilance behaviours. Both playback and mirror conditions appeared to reduce stress behaviours compared to the control, although the effect of the mirror was not statistically significant. It is possible that the playbacks simulated the presence of a group of calm conspecifics. Vigilance behaviour, however, remained unaffected across conditions. These findings suggest that playback, and to a lesser extent mirrors, may alleviate certain stress-related behaviours in socially isolated adult chickens. As individual variation was high, future research should explore the role of individual differences in stress responses, as well as the long-term effects of repeated exposure to mirrors and playback, along with other environmental variables.
The relation of nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae in comorbid adults with unfavorable outcomes in a low-middle income country
Authors: Olivella-Gomez Juan , Lozada Julián , Serrano-Mayorga Cristian C. , Méndez-Castillo Lina , Acosta-González Alejandro , Viñán Garcés André Emilio , Bustos Ingrid G. , Ibáñez-Prada Elsa D. , Fuentes Yuli V. , Crispin Ana M. , Garcia-Garcia Erica Y. , Santana Eveling , Josa Diego F. , Pulido Saenz Jorge , Rodíguez-Castaño Gina Paola , Rodríguez Orjuela Jorge Alberto , Jaimes Diego , Tettelin Hervé , Orihuela Carlos J. , Reyes Luis Felipe
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is the primary bacterial cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) globally, particularly impacting older adults and children. While Spn colonization in children is linked to LRTI, its prevalence, and consequences in adults with comorbidities remain uncertain. This study aims to provide novel data in that regard.

Methods

This prospective study of outpatient adults with chronic diseases was conducted in Colombia. Data on demographics, vaccination, and clinical history was collected in a RedCap database. Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were examined for Spn colonization using traditional cultures and quantitative—real time polymerase chain reaction (q-rtPCR). Patients were followed for 18 months, with colonization prevalence calculated and factors influencing colonization and its impact on clinical outcomes analyzed through logistic regressions.

Results

810 patients were enrolled, with 10.1% (82/810) identified as colonized. The mean (SD) age was 62 years (±15), and 48.6% (394/810) were female. Major comorbidities included hypertension (52.2% [423/810]), cardiac conditions (31.1% [252/810]), and chronic kidney disease (17.4% [141/810]). Among all, 31.6% (256/810) received the influenza vaccine in the previous year, and 10.7% (87/810) received anti-Spn vaccines. Chronic kidney disease (OR 95% CI; 2.48 [1.01–6.15], p = 0.04) and chronic cardiac diseases (OR 95% CI; 1.62 [0.99–2.66], p = 0.05) were independently associated with Spn colonization. However, colonization was not associated with the development of LRTI (OR 95%CI; 0.64 [0.14–2.79], p = 0.55) or unfavorable outcomes (OR 95% CI;1.17 [0.14–2.79], p = 0.54) during follow-up.

Conclusions

Chronic kidney and cardiac diseases are independently associated with Spn colonization. However, Spn colonization was not associated with LRTI/unfavorable outcomes in adult patients with chronic comorbidities in our cohort.
Medaka (Oryzias latipes) initiate courtship and spawning late at night: Insights from field observations
Authors: Kondo Yuki , Okamoto Kotori , Kitamukai Yuto , Koya Yasunori , Awata Satoshi
Published: February 2025

Laboratory experiments were conducted using model organisms to elucidate biological phenomena. However, the natural habitats of organisms are inherently more complex than those found in the laboratory. To complement the laboratory experiments, we conducted field observations of the small freshwater fish medaka (Oryzias latipes), widely used as a model organism, to elucidate its ecology and behavior in natural environments. Our results showed that medaka initiated courtship and spawning late at night, much earlier than previously thought. Nocturnal video observations examining spawning time during the breeding season in Gifu, Japan (sunset: 19:00; sunrise: 5:00) revealed the presence of post-spawning medaka females around midnight. Behavioral analysis showed that the medaka was inactive until 23:00, with activity increasing from 0:00 and peaking from 1:00 to 3:00. Furthermore, a significant increase in male courtship was observed between 0:00 and 4:00. These findings provide the first empirical evidence that medaka mating begins significantly earlier than previously reported in the laboratory, as within an hour before or after light onset in the morning. This study highlights the importance of field observations in revealing critical aspects of organismal biology that may be overlooked in laboratory settings.
Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Beran Azizullah , Nayfeh Tarek , Akhras Aya , Ramai Daryl , Mohamed Mouhand , Guardiola John J. , Al-Haddad Mohammad , Rex Douglas K.
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on colonoscopy bowel preparation is unclear.

Methods:

We searched multiple databases for studies comparing bowel preparation quality between GLP-1RA users and control group. Using a random-effects model, we calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Inadequate bowel preparation (IBP) rate was the primary outcome and Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) mean score was the secondary outcome.

Results:

Five studies with 10,833 subjects (n=5,434 GLP-1RAs vs. n=5,399 control) were included. The IBP rate was higher in the GLP-1RAs group compared to the control group (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.41-3.13, p=0.0003). Furthermore, the mean BBPS score was lower in the GLP1-RAs group compared to the control group (MD -0.34; 95% CI -0.51, -0.17; p=0.0001).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that using GLP-1RA increases the risk of inadequate bowel preparation.
Pediatric Cancer: Promoting Desired School Outcomes Through Collaboration
Authors: Hay Genevieve Howe
Published: February 2025

Due to medical advances, many students with pediatric cancer are able to attend school. The professional literature reflects the need for enhanced collaboration between medical and educational personnel to address the academic and health care needs of children undergoing cancer treatment and who may experience late effects throughout their academic careers.  To promote effective educational services during and after treatment, it is crucial for multidisciplinary teams and families to collaborate effectively. Additionally, preservice and in-service teachers need training and support to meet the needs of students with cancer.
 Keywords: pediatric cancer, collaboration, hospital-based school liaison, school-based liaison, school psychologist, school nurse, classroom teacher
BAILLOT, Anne. 2023. From Handwriting to Footprinting. Text and Heritage in the Age of Climate Crisis.
Authors: Priore Roberta
Published: February 2025

Review.
The Effects of Applying the ELI Recommendations for Corporate Sustainability: Illustrative Examples
Authors: Hossfeld Christopher
Published: February 2025

In the last two decades new forms of distributions to shareholders such as share buybacks have found their way in standard dividend distribution policies of companies. Also, accounting rules have evolved and refer nowadays more to fair value consideration (for example in IFRS) which leads to an increased recognition of unrealised profits in distributable profits. The European Law Institute (ELI) recommendations (Biondi, Yuri, Colin Haslam and Corrado Malberti. 2025. “ELI Guidance on Company Capital and Financial Accounting for Corporate Sustainability.” Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium 15 (s1): s21–88.) propose to modernise European company law regarding distributions, equity capital maintenance, and non-distributable reserves. The aim of the ELI recommendations is to ensure that payments made to shareholders, primarily in the form of dividends but also share buybacks, do not worsen the financial situation of companies and, therefore, endanger their continuity and resilience through time and circumstances, undermining their long-term capacity to cope with social and environmental commitments. We provide illustrative examples for eight ELI recommendations: restricting the dividend distribution of share premiums, stricter legal reserve requirements, the setting up of non-distributable reserves for gains from certain accounting measurements, for current value measurement of provisions, for capitalized development costs, for equity method holding gains, for held own-shares, and for goodwill. Our numerical examples show how the application of the ELI recommendations limits distributable profits and, therefore, contributes to sustain a sound financial situation of companies.
ELI Guidance on Company Capital and Financial Accounting for Corporate Sustainability
Authors: Biondi Yuri , Haslam Colin , Malberti Corrado
Published: February 2025

The European Law Institute – ELI Guidance proposes a set of Recommendations on company capital and financial accounting for corporate sustainability aimed at: (i) providing a frame of reference and analysis to understand corporate sustainability in the context of business and law; (ii) pointing to specific issues which need to be addressed by European and national lawmakers and regulators; and (iii) establishing a set of company law instruments which set out possible solutions to cope with these issues. The Recommendations aim at restating and modernising well-established principles of European company law on: (i) distributions; (ii) equity capital maintenance; and (iii) non-distributable reserves. Specific attention was paid to the enhanced controlling of new kinds of distributions such as share buybacks, as well as to limiting distributions of non-realised gains. The Project Team developed a comprehensive set of Recommendations aimed at fostering and facilitating sustainable business conduct through responsible company capital management and financial accounting adjustments. Further Recommendations were provided on related policy and regulatory matters concerning the EU framework for corporate sustainability. As a whole, the Recommendations propose that companies commit to a prudent use of resources, by setting aside sufficient reserves to meet social and environmental commitments over long-term horizons, and establish a fair balance between these commitments and distributions to shareholding investors. Corporate sustainability may be enhanced by implementing controls over distributions while reinforcing reserve provisioning. This in turn will ensure company continuity and resilience, as well as financial stability and sustainable development for the benefit of business and society at large.
Quantization effects for multi-component Ginzburg-Landau vortices
Authors: Hadiji Rejeb , Han Jongmin , Sohn Juhee
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we are concerned with n-component Ginzburg-Landau equations on

R

2

${\mathbb{R}}^{2}$

. By introducing a diffusion constant for each component, we discuss that the n-component equations are different from n-copies of the single Ginzburg-Landau equations. Then, the results of Brezis-Merle-Riviere for the single Ginzburg-Landau equation can be nontrivially extended to the multi-component case. First, we show that if the solutions have their gradients in L
2 space, they are trivial solutions. Second, we prove that if the potential is square summable, then it has quantized integrals, i.e., there exists one-to-one correspondence between the possible values of the potential energy and

N

n

${\mathbb{N}}^{n}$

. Third, we show that different diffusion coefficients in the system are important to obtain nontrivial solutions of n-component equations.
Characterization of volatile flavor compounds of cigar with different aging conditions by headspace–gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry
Authors: Zhu Beibei , Chen Jiaowen , Song Guangfu , Jia Yun , Hu Wanrong , An Hongyue , Zhang Rongya , Ma Zhiqiang , Li Dongliang , Xue Fang
Published: February 2025

Aging conditions, including time, temperature, humidity, and flipping frequency, play an important role in the flavor development of cigars. In this study, the headspace–gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS–GC–IMS) method was used to analyze the changes in the volatile flavor compounds (VFCs) of cigars under different aging conditions. A total of 82 VFCs were identified from cigars. Differences in the VFCs of cigar samples were shown in topographic plots and fingerprints. The effects of aging temperature, humidity, and flipping frequency on the VFCs of cigars were more important than the aging time. When the aging time exceeded 60 days, the effect on the VFCs of cigars was minimal. Moreover, the changes in the main VFCs of cigars under different aging conditions were the result of a series of chemical reactions, including the Maillard reaction and the degradation of carotenoids. Orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) results demonstrated that the samples, which were subjected to various aging conditions, could be distinctly classified. Therefore, the integration of HS–GC–IMS with OPLS-DA proves to be a sensitive method for identifying and differentiating the VFCs of cigar samples under diverse aging conditions. This study provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the aging process and improving the flavor quality of cigars.
Crystal structure of 5′-(9-phenyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-[2,2′-bithiophene]-5-carbaldehyde, C27H17NOS2
Authors: Zhao Wen-Ze , Lu Feng-Jun
Published: February 2025

C27H17NOS2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 17.5582(11) Å, b = 12.4355(8) Å, c = 10.0535(5) Å, β = 103.391(2)°, V = 2135.5 Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0555, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1093, T = 273 K.
Epilogue
Authors: van Laak Dirk
Published: February 2025

This epilogue underscores the insights to be gained from analyzing music as a “globalized infrastructure,” revealing its dual role in enabling cultural connections and reinforcing societal hierarchies. Relating music to socio-technological systems, it highlights how material and immaterial infrastructures facilitate the production, dissemination, and collective experience of music across global contexts. This perspective deepens our understanding of music’s role in shaping global interactions and its potential as a shared cultural resource in an interconnected world.
A new, innovative, simple method to determine the concentration of phosphate and sulphate ions in an aqueous extract of plants using conductometric titration
Authors: Azmat Rafia , Saleem Ailyan , Ahmed Tehseen , Ahmed Waseem
Published: February 2025

Determining phosphate (PO4
−3) and sulphate (SO4
−2) is highly significant in agricultural sciences and practices for the sustainable growth of crops. Their deficiencies have reflective properties on the transcriptome and many metabolic pathways. Therefore, this study planned to monitor concentrations of both ions for the first time through conductometric titration using BaCl2. For this purpose, the leaves of Spinacia oleracea L., Thorn Apple, and Rangoon Creeper plants were collected from Karachi and transported to the Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, where they were washed thoroughly to remove any dust particles, dried, and crushed in deionized water and filtered. A known concentration of barium chloride (BaCl2) as a single reagent was prepared to be applied to an aqueous plant extract test sample containing an unknown amount of phosphate and sulphate ions. The 50 ml of extract was taken into the beaker and subjected to titration with a known concentration of BaCl2 conductometrically. Results showed that as precipitation started, the conductivity of the extract solution decreased with the addition of the BaCl2 and reached a point where further addition did not affect it. The precipitate was tested two times, initially and at the end of the reaction, by adding HCl and HNO3 to validate the presence of these ions in leaves aqueous extract. Chemical analysis of the precipitate initially suggested that phosphate is separated first due to its low solubility product (Ksp) value and then sulphate. Moreover, the concentration of both ions at the end of the reaction was determined through the derivative graph of the conductivity curve and standard curve method after the separation of ions by HCl and HNO3. It was concluded that this simple technique may be used to ascertain the concentration of both ions required for plant growth under various stress conditions.
„Itt nyugta van az embernek…”
Authors: Kaján Marianna
Published: February 2025

Erzsébet királyné rendkívüli rokonszenvvel fordult a szabadságra vágyó, öntudatos magyar nép felé. Megtanulta a magyar nyelvet, udvartartásába magyar embereket választott, bennük megbízhatott. A királyné sok időt töltött magyar földön: Márki Sándor történész szerint 2663 napot, ebből több, mint 2000 éjszakát, a gödöllői kastélyban. A gödöllői uradalmat, a Grassalkovichok barokk kastélyával és az erdőséggel 1867-ben a magyar állam megvásárolta, és a mindenkori uralkodócsalád használatába bocsátották. A királyi pár elsősorban, mint vadászkastélyt használta, igazi családi kastélyuk lett, ahol sokkal több időt töltöttek együtt és gyermekeikkel.
Erzsébet névnapja (november 19.) és születésnapja (december 24.) a királyi korszakban igazi ünnepnapokká váltak Magyarországon. A királyné sok alkalommal ünnepelte névnapját és születésnapját családja körében a gödöllői kastélyban. Ekkor Gödöllő népe szerenáddal és fáklyás felvonulással köszöntötte szeretett királynéját. Erzsébet életének fontos helyszínévé vált a gödöllői kastély. Itt igazán szabadnak érezhette magát, és nyugalmat is talált. Ahogyan változott a királyné élete, úgy változott a kastélybeli élet, ezért nevezték már a korabeli források is „a királyné kastélyának”. Az 1870-es években töltötte a legtöbb időt a kastély falai között, ekkor Erzsébet életében a legfontosabb a lovaglás és a vadászat volt, ehhez a legalkalmasabb hely pedig a Gödöllői dombság.
Majd az 1880-as évek közepe felé egészségügyi okokból, orvosai tanácsára felhagyott a lovaglással. Hosszú gyalogtúrákba kezdett, és a gödöllői erdőkben gyönyörű sétautakat talált. Végül az 1890-es években amikor már nem találta a helyét a világban, ezért folyton utazott, magányra, nyugalomra vágyott, egyre kevesebb időre jött Gödöllőre. A kastély „elcsendesedett”. Bár továbbra is tartottak vadászatokat, de már a királyné nélkül, aki inkább sétált a kastélyparkban, a környék erdeiben és élvezte a csendet.
 
Fotó: Fortepan / Budapest Főváros Levéltára / Klösz György fényképei
Parenting a Neurodiverse Child during the Elementary School Years
Authors: Comerford Susan A.
Published: February 2025

This descriptive, nonlinear autoethnography is the second in a series analyzing my experiences as a social worker parenting a neurodiverse child through the educational system. It continues my story of accompanying my daughter Belle from Early Essential Education to and through the elementary school years (Comerford, 2019).1 My perspective on Belle’s journey is woven through a discussion of the United Nations Conventions that lay out the rights of children with disabilities and the federal legal frameworks that are meant to protect them and establish their rights to a Free Appropriate Public Education. The essay focuses on my own experiences parenting her, loving her, and advocating for her while holding the multiple roles as a parent, social worker, and social work educator. It provides a “view from below” by depicting key moments occurring across the elementary school years as experienced by a parent, and through reflection and reflexive process, some important lessons learned.
The Grave
Authors: Chawla Devika
Published: February 2025

This essay came into being in walking, remembering, thinking, and talking about my relationship to graves. In winter 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began, a compulsive walker, I found myself venturing further away from home in my walks. Walking in small-town America means you inevitably encounter cemeteries where the local dead rest. Indeed, cemeteries are an intrinsic part of rural and urban landscapes. As I walked, watched the landscape, and avoided cemeteries, I remembered other places and a specific grave in India. Some might say an essay on a grave was bound to emerge because at the peak of Covid-19 death raged all around us. But this writing is not about death, dying, or the dead. It is about life, about how the past enters the present in curious, sometimes material ways or how, as the late poet Michael Donaghy beautifully intones, “the past falls open anywhere.”1
An Autoethnographic Reflection of a Female Psychotherapist with Mentally Challenged Siblings
Authors: Yeh An-Hua
Published: February 2025

The reflective writing of autoethnography helps crystalize the author’s experiences spanning five decades as the only typically developing child in her natal family with two mentally challenged brothers. In this essay, the author reports the chaos in her memory of growing up with her brothers, running away from her natal family, and eventually taking up the role of caretaker. The author also explores what has been illuminated through this reflective writing, as well as the sociocultural traits unique to the Taiwanese society that may have precipitated what she has experienced. It is the author’s hope that her account will reverberate among families with mentally challenged members and, in particular, shed light on the sociocultural dimension of these families’ experiences—a dimension that might have eluded them as they are preoccupied with navigating through the day-to-day struggle.
“[T]hese are my slave songs”: The Poetics of Transgression and Exorcising the Demon of Racism in Wanda Coleman’s Jazz Sonnets
Authors:   University of Białystok, Poland, Kamionowski Jerzy
Published: February 2025

The article focuses on Wanda Coleman’s protracted series of American Sonnets as a prime example of what I call the poetics of transgression, which the poet worked out and implemented in her “jazz sonnets.” The article discusses the reasons behind Coleman’s decision to turn towards formal poetry, and argues that her choice of the sonnet form is a transgressive gesture, which means a challenge to the white tradition whose limits are infringed by violating the convention, as Coleman approaches the sonnet as the entirely plastic form in the meaning that Catherine Malabou gives to the term. Through the formal transgression – i.e., breaking the rules and destruction of all the recognizable features of the sonnet, the poet demonstrates her refusal to be its slave, as she actively challenges and reshapes the old form by “jazzing it up.” Simultaneously, the formal choice of the sonnet allows her to extend her earlier subject matter concerning black women’s experience in the Los Angeles ghetto. Merging “integrity” with “extension” (the features of black writing identified by Craig Werner) provides Coleman with a foundation to discuss larger topics from a black perspective, such as history, identity, culture, and poetry itself. As a result, her American Sonnets series remains the poet’s most consistent and subtle strategy of tracing down and exorcising the demon of racism wherever it hides – i.e. in its manifestations in the acts of violence as well as its stubborn presence in American (sub)consciousness.
Microwave ablation for small papillary thyroid carcinomas: clinical outcomes and thyroid function preservation
Authors: Zhao Lu , Peng Xiaolin , Xiong Jianning , Zhu Yanhui , Song Mu
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study explores the impact of microwave ablation (MWA) on thyroid function in patients with small papillary thyroid carcinomas (SPTCs) using a specific energy/volume model to optimize treatment and evaluate clinical efficacy.

Methods

A cohort of 70 patients with confirmed SPTCs underwent MWA tailored to individual nodule characteristics. Pre- and post-ablation assessments included ultrasound imaging for nodule size and thyroid function tests (thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels) were conducted at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment. The main results are the complete ablation rate of nodules and the stability of thyroid function after treatment. Secondary outcomes include the incidence of complications and other clinical parameters.

Results

The complete ablation rate was achieved in 95% of the nodules, with most patients (90%) requiring a single ablation session. Nodule size reduced significantly from an average of 174.0 ± 259.1 to 3.2 ± 11.3 mm3, with a mean volume reduction rate of 98.47 (5.82%) at the 18-month follow-up. Stable thyroid function and minimal fluctuations in hormone levels were observed in 90% of patients, demonstrating the effectiveness of MWA in preserving thyroid function. Notably, lower energy/volume ratios were linked to a reduced risk of complications and preservation of thyroid function. Only 5% of patients reported minor complications, with no major adverse events.

Conclusions

The study’s results validate the clinical utility of MWA in energy/volume setting as an effective, minimally invasive treatment for SPTCs.
ОБРАТНАЯ ПАРАМЕТРИЧЕСКАЯ ЗАДАЧА ДЛЯ ОДНОЙ БОЛЬШОЙ СИСТЕМЫ ДИФФЕРЕНЦИАЛЬНЫХ УРАВНЕНИЙ С НЕЛОКАЛЬНЫМИ ГРАНИЧНЫМИ УСЛОВИЯМИ
Authors: АШРАФОВА Е.Р.
Published: February 2025

Решается задача определения параметров большой системы неавтономных дифференциальных уравнений, состоящей из подсистем, связанных в произвольном порядке нелокальными краевыми условиями. Неизвестные параметры участвуют как в дифференциальных уравнениях, так и в краевых условиях. Исследуемая задача приводится к параметрической задаче оптимального управления со среднеквадратичным критерием невязки, оценивающим степень невыполнения дополнительно заданных краевых условий. Для применения численных методов первого порядка получены аналитические формулы для компонентов градиента целевого функционала в пространстве оптимизируемых параметров. На примере решении тестовой задачи проведены компьютерные эксперименты, представлен анализ результатов.

The problem of determining the parameters of a large system of non-autonomous differential equations consisting of subsystems connected in an arbitrary order by non-local boundary conditions is solved. Unknown parameters participate both in differential equations and in boundary conditions. The problem under study is reduced to a parametric optimal control problem with a mean-square residual criterion estimating the degree of non-fulfillment of additionally specified boundary conditions. To apply first-order numerical methods, analytical formulas for the components of the gradient of the objective functional in the space of optimized parameters are obtained. The analysis of the obtained results of computer experiments is made using a test problem as an example.
Exploring the future of novel flute shapes and their mechanical benefits
Authors: Garbowski Tomasz
Published: February 2025

Corrugated board is a ubiquitous material, playing a critical role in modern packaging, transportation, and storage industries. While traditional flute shapes like sinusoidal waves dominate production, exploring and implementing novel fluting geometries could significantly enhance the mechanical properties of this material. This editorial discusses the theoretical future of various flute shapes and their potential to improve mechanical performances, such as bending stiffness and load-bearing capacity. Embracing innovative design and production techniques could lead to more sustainable and high-performing usages for corrugated cardboard for diverse applications.