bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root productivity contributes to carbon storage and surface elevation adjustments in coastal wetlands
Authors: Conroy Brooke M. , Kelleway Jeffrey J. , Rogers Kerrylee
Published: January 2025

Background and aims

Organic matter additions in coastal wetlands contribute to blue carbon sequestration and adjustment to sea-level rise through vertical substrate growth, with accurate modelling of these dynamics requiring information of root mass and volume additions across tidal gradients. This study aims to characterise the influence of vegetation zonation and tidal position on root mass and volume dynamics within substrates.

Methods

The root ingrowth technique was coupled with sediment cores to quantify below-ground root mass and volume production, standing stocks and turnover across two years to 90 cm depth at Kooweerup, Victoria, Australia.

Results

We indicate a complex non-linear relationship between fine root mass production and tidal position, influenced by variable vegetation structures across mangrove (442–3427 g m−2 yr−1), saltmarsh (540–860 g m−2 yr−1) and supratidal forest (599 g m−2 yr−1) zones. Fine root volume additions ranged from 274 to 4055 cm3 m−2 yr−1 across sampling locations. Root production was greatest for older mangroves and tidally defined optimal zones of production were evident for mangrove and saltmarsh. Live roots extended deeper than typically studied, reaching depths of 1.0 m in forested zones.

Conclusion

This information of root mass and volume additions across wetland live rooting zones can be used to improve highly parameterised models accounting for carbon sequestration and substrate vertical adjustment along intertidal gradients. We recommend that future studies measure root production across the entire active rooting zone or to 1 m depth to align with standard carbon accounting measurement depths.
Accounting choices in data envelopment analysis
Authors: Cui Claire Murong , Harrison Julie A. , Ng Frederick , Rouse Paul
Published: January 2025

Due to the increasing availability of large-scale digitalized databases containing summarized financial accounting measures, a growing number of DEA models are using these variables. Where only accounting measures are used, we term these “FinDEA” models. Accounting measures are subject to accounting choices regarding recognition and measurement, which means that they are not necessarily equivalent to direct measures of underlying physical measures more commonly used in DEA. This paper investigates the impact of accounting choices on FinDEA results related to alternative accounting measures of capital. Using both simulated and real-world data, we find that accounting choices impact FinDEA results, with the magnitude influenced by the heterogeneity of the accounting choices and sample sizes. Our results suggest that the variations in accounting choices need to be considered as part of an assessment of the homogeneity of inputs and outputs when designing DEA models using accounting measures.
Review and Intercomparison of Machine Learning Applications for Short-term Flood Forecasting
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Kuglitsch Monique M. , Pelivan Ivanka , Albano Raffaele
Published: January 2025

Among natural hazards, floods pose the greatest threat to lives and livelihoods. To reduce flood impacts, short-term flood forecasting can contribute to early warnings that provide communities with time to react. This manuscript explores how machine learning (ML) can support short-term flood forecasting. Using two methods [strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and comparative performance analysis] for different forecast lead times (1–6, 6–12, 12–24, and 24–48 h), we evaluate the performance of machine learning models in 94 journal papers from 2001 to 2023. SWOT reveals that the best short-term flood forecasting was produced by hybrid, random forest (RF), long short-term memory (LSTM), artificial neural network (ANN), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approaches. The comparative performance analysis, meanwhile, favors convolutional neural network, ANFIS, multilayer perceptron, k-nearest neighbors algorithm (KNN), hybrid, LSTM, ANN, and support vector machine (SVM) at 1–6 h; hybrid, ANFIS, ANN, and LSTM at 6–12 h; SVM, hybrid, and RF at 12–24 h; and hybrid and RF at 24–48 h. In general, hybrid approaches consistently perform well across all lead times. Trends such as hybridization, model selection, input data selection, and decomposition seem to improve the accuracy of models. Furthermore, effective stand-alone ML models such as ANN, SVM, RF, genetic algorithm, KNN, and LSTM, provide better outcomes through hybridization with other ML models. By including different machine learning models and parameters such as environmental, socio-economical, and climatic parameters, the hybrid system can produce more accurate flood forecasting, making it more effective for early warning operational purposes.
Indication of the sensitivity of Pinaceae species growing in Eastern Central Europe to ground-level ozone pollution
Authors: Lukasová Veronika , Varšová Svetlana , Žatková Lucia , Adamčíková Katarína , Buchholcerová Anna , Onderka Milan , Milovský Rastislav , Bilčík Dušan , Mináriková Veronika
Published: January 2025

This study focused on testing the response of the assimilation apparatus of evergreen Pinaceae species to increasing levels of oxidative stress simulated in manipulative experiments. Needles were collected from mature individuals of Pinus mugo, Pinus cembra, Pinus sylvestris, Abies alba, and Picea abies at the foothill (FH) and alpine treeline ecotone (ATE) in the High Tatras (Western Carpathians). The injury index (INX), quantified by the modified electrolyte leakage (EL) method, indicated severe needle damage due to exposure to extremely high levels of O3. Ozonation induced changes in the chemical composition of the needles, which were detected via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The oxidative stability (OxS) indicator derived from INXs was used to determine the stomatal O3 flux-based critical level CL(OxS), with the threshold value of OxS at -0.05, corresponding to 5% injury to the needles. Assessment of the phytotoxic ozone dose (POD0) under ambient O3 and field environmental conditions during the 2023 growing season via CL(OxS) revealed that the studied species utilised between 18% (Abies alba FH) and 33% (Pinus mugo ATE) of their O3 tolerance potential. These results support our hypothesis that Pinaceae species growing in the High Tatras, which are part of the Alpine biogeographical region of Eastern Central Europe, are vulnerable to O3 concentrations significantly higher than the typical ambient O3 level in the natural environment.
Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Two Clinostomum (Digenea: Clinostomidae) Species with the First Case of Clinostomum tilapiae from Turkey
Authors: Öztürk Mehmet , Umur Şinasi
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Clinostomum species in wild birds in Turkey using morphological and molecular methods.

Methods

51 birds of 18 species from seven orders previously reported as definitive hosts of the Clinostomum spp. were collected. Identification of the species was made by morphological characteristics and partial sequence of the cox1 gene.

Results

This study concludes that Ardea alba and Ardea cinerea were infected with Clinostomum complanatum, while Ardea purpurea was infected with Clinostomum tilapiae.

Conclusion

Clinostomum complanatum has been reported for the first time in the definitive hosts in Turkey. This study is the first molecular report of C. tilapiae in definitive hosts and the first report in Turkey. The present work indicates that Clinostomum species in the Afrotropic and Palearctic regions can also be found in Turkey.
Factors associated with children’s attachment hierarchy in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction
Authors: Quintigliano Maria , Carone Nicola , Speranza Anna Maria , Lingiardi Vittorio
Published: January 2025

With few exceptions, previous studies of children’s identification and hierarchy of attachment figures have involved only children born to heterosexual parents through unassisted conception, recognizing mothers as the primary attachment figures. Further research into diverse families may help to disentangle parents’ attachment role from their gender, sexual orientation, and biological relatedness to children. The present study aimed at exploring whether differences in children’s choice of primary attachment figure could be explained by parents’ gender, biological status, attachment state of mind, reflective functioning, parenting quality, or by the child’s gender, across diverse family types. In total, 152 parents (i.e., 60 lesbian mothers through donor insemination, 50 gay fathers through surrogacy, 42 heterosexual parents through gamete donation) and their 76 school-aged children participated in the study. Children were interviewed about their choice of attachment figure in different situations. Parents completed questionnaires about parenting stress, parental rejection, parent–child relational efficacy, and parent positivity; and were administered the Adult Attachment Interview as a measure of their attachment state of mind and reflective functioning. Overall, no significant differences emerged between mothers and fathers or between biological and non-biological parents for children’s choice of primary attachment figure. However, fathers with higher RF were more likely to be identified as a primary attachment figure, and gay fathers who demonstrated less parental rejection were more likely to be chosen as a primary attachment figure. The findings provide important insights for social policies aimed at promoting preventive parenting interventions targeting the child–parent attachment bond in diverse families.
Dry Fractionation for Sustainable Production of Functional, Nutritional and Palatable Grain Legume Protein Ingredients
Authors: Schutyser Maarten , Novoa Santiago Calderon , Wetterauw Koen , Politiek Regina , Wilms Patrick
Published: January 2025

Grain legumes such as pea, faba bean, lupin and soybean are an important protein source for the production of plant-based foods and thus facilitate the protein transition. For many food applications, the proteins are first isolated using conventional wet methods that are resource intensive. Dry fractionation processes are therefore developed to facilitate a more sustainable protein transition. This review discusses the status of dry fractionation of grain legumes to produce protein-rich ingredients for food production and how the use of these dry-enriched ingredients could be further enhanced. Dry fractionation includes dry milling and dry separation technologies which are first briefly described. There are different strategies to further improve the separation, which include pre-treatments and improving powder bulk behaviour. Pre- and post-treatments not only improve the functional properties of dry-enriched protein ingredients but also enhance the nutritional value of the ingredients and minimize off-flavours. Opportunities still exist to further optimise dry fractionation techniques and pre-treatments to increase the purity and yield. Finally, the use of dry-enriched fractions should be accelerated by development of 1) functionality-driven ingredient formulation strategies and 2) new physical post-modifications and food fermentation strategies to enhance functionality, nutritional value and taste of the ingredients to prepare attractive food products.
Design and Synthesizing of Hemoglobin-Based Multifunctional Fibers for Improved Carbon Monoxide Absorption Rates
Authors: Pham Anh , Subeshan Balakrishnan , Asmatulu Eylem , Asmatulu Ramazan
Published: January 2025

This study is aimed at developing advanced materials for carbon monoxide (CO) capture by producing hemoglobin (Hb)-based electrospun multifunctional micro- and nanofibers blended with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Unlike conventional CO trapping materials such as activated carbon, ammoniacal cuprous chloride, zeolites, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Hb/PVP fibers leverage the simplicity and scalability of electrospinning to produce continuous, defect-free flexible fibers with tunable micron- to nanoscale diameters. The process enables precise control over fiber morphology, surface area, porosity, and hydrophilicity, providing significant advantages for optimizing CO adsorption rates. Moreover, the inclusion of Hb introduces a biomimetic advantage through its intrinsic CO-binding affinity, offering higher specificity and interaction potential compared to traditional physical adsorption or chemical frameworks. Experimental results revealed that fibers with 8 wt.% PVP exhibited the smallest and most uniform diameters, while higher PVP concentrations (16, 32 wt.%) enhanced hydrophilicity, with complete water absorption occurring within 400 and 200 seconds, respectively. Structural and compositional analyses using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the integrity and chemical characteristics of the fibers. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) established their thermal stability, with critical transitions at approximately 80 ℃ (denaturation) and 200 ℃ (decomposition). Degradation was observed between 200 and 430 ℃, corresponding to significant weight loss. These findings demonstrate the potential of Hb/PVP fibers as exceptional alternatives for CO capture. This study may open new possibilities for increasing the absorption rate of highly porous fibers for toxic CO capture in the bloodstream and address other related concerns.
Deep learning enabled computer vision in remanufacturing and refurbishment applications: defect detection and grading for smart phones
Authors: Mohandas Reenu , Southern Mark , Fitzpatrick Colin , Hayes Martin
Published: January 2025

This work demonstrates the use of Deep Learning-based Computer Vision for Remanufacturing end-of-life consumer electronics products, considering smartphones as the use-case. We implemented automated detection of screen defects such as scratches and cracks. In turn, this could lead to increased reuse of smartphones in a secondary market alongside new ones to meet consumer demand. The refurbishment of smartphone devices is a growing industry heavily dependent on manual labor, making decisions subjective, especially in grading the severity of damage. A critical analysis of defect detection and smartphone grading from a remanufacturing perspective is conducted. This analysis is significant in a remanufacturing sector that deals with dynamically varying input of cores (used products for remanufacturing), characteristics, timing, and number of returns. The solution we propose here is novel in its own right, requiring data analysis and collection, data curing, defect parameterization, and dataset building to enable model-based training and detection experiments. We collected and annotated a dataset to detect and grade the various defects based on their severity. A range of deep learning models was trained on the dataset to obtain baseline results for the state-of-the-art deep learning detection models, including YOLOv7, YOLOv8, YOLO11 variants, and Mask R-CNN. Our experiments also showed improved precision values when the pre-trained models were pre-fine-tuned using a road crack segmentation dataset before training on our phone defect dataset. The inference time for the YOLOv8x model is 8ms. This reduced inference time with a high precision of 70.4% indicates that a consistent, fast, and accurate grading is achieved here, ensuring a high throughput rate in the remanufacturing process and ensuring sustainability.
New limits of the Lie product formula type in Banach algebras
Authors: Popa Dumitru
Published: January 2025

We find new limits of the Lie product formula type in Banach algebras with unit. Some sample results: Let X, Y, Z be Banach algebras with unit,

$$ \left( x_{n},y_{n}\right) _{n\in \mathbb {N}}\subset X\times Y$$

x
n

,

y
n

n
∈
N

⊂
X
×
Y

convergent sequences with

$$\lim \nolimits _{n\rightarrow \infty }x_{n}=x$$

lim

n
→
∞

x
n

=
x

,

$$ \lim \nolimits _{n\rightarrow \infty }y_{n}=y$$

lim

n
→
∞

y
n

=
y

and

$$T:X\times Y\rightarrow Z$$

T
:
X
×
Y
→
Z

a continuous bilinear operator with

$$T\left( \textbf{1},\textbf{1}\right) = \textbf{1}$$

T

1
,
1

=
1

. Then for all sequences of natural numbers

$$\left( a_{n}\right) _{n\in \mathbb {N}}$$

a
n

n
∈
N

with

$$\lim \nolimits _{n\rightarrow \infty }a_{n}=\infty $$

lim

n
→
∞

a
n

=
∞

we have

$$\begin{aligned} \lim \limits _{n\rightarrow \infty }\left[ T\left( \prod \limits _{k=1}^{n}e^{ \frac{x_{k}}{a_{n}\left( k+n\right) \left( k+2n\right) }},\prod \limits _{k=1}^{n}e^{\frac{y_{k}}{a_{n}\left( k+2n\right) \left( k+3n\right) } }\right) \right] ^{a_{n}}=e^{\left( \ln \frac{4}{3}\right) T\left( x,\textbf{ 1}\right) +\left( \ln 2\right) T\left( \textbf{1},y\right) }; \end{aligned}$$

lim

n
→
∞

T

∏

k
=
1

n

e

x
k

a
n

k
+
n

k
+
2
n

,

∏

k
=
1

n

e

y
k

a
n

k
+
2
n

k
+
3
n

a
n

=

e

ln

4
3

T

x
,
1

+

ln
2

T

1
,
y

;

$$\begin{aligned} \lim \limits _{n\rightarrow \infty }\left[ T\left( \prod \limits _{k=1}^{n}\cos \frac{x_{k}}{a_{n}\sqrt{n\left( n+k\right) }},\prod \limits _{k=1}^{n}\cos \frac{ky_{k}}{na_{n}\sqrt{n^{2}+k^{2}}}\right) \right] ^{na_{n}^{2}} \end{aligned}$$

lim

n
→
∞

T

∏

k
=
1

n

cos

x
k

a
n

n

n
+
k

,

∏

k
=
1

n

cos

k

y
k

n

a
n

n
2

+

k
2

n

a

n

2

$$\begin{aligned} =e^{-\frac{\left( \ln 2\right) T\left( x^{2},\textbf{1}\right) +\left( 1- \frac{\pi }{4}\right) T\left( \textbf{1},y^{2}\right) }{2}}. \end{aligned}$$

=

e

-

ln
2

T

x
2

,
1

+

1
-

π
4

T

1
,

y
2

2

.
Why you Should not use CI to Evaluate Socially Disruptive Technology
Authors: Prégent Alexandra
Published: January 2025

Contextual Integrity (CI) is built to assess potential privacy violations of new sociotechnical systems and practices. It does so by evaluating their respect for the context-relative informational norms at play in a given context. But can CI evaluate new sociotechnical systems that severely disrupt established social practices? In this paper, I argue that, while CI claims to be able to assess privacy violations of all sociotechnical systems and practices, it cannot assess the ones that cause severe changes and disruptions in the norms and values of a given context. These types of technology are known as socially disruptive technologies (SDTs) and this paper argues that they are beyond CI’s scope. It follows that at best, a privacy assessment of those technologies by CI would be useless and, at worst, lead to potential harm, including failure to identify privacy violations and unwarranted legitimisation of privacy-threatening technology. Government actors, policymakers, and academics should refrain from relying on CI to assess this type of technology.
Adolescent depression in school: risk factors and consequences on school functioning
Authors: Fassl Flora , Muth Joy , Hofleitner Maximilian , Lüftenegger Marko
Published: January 2025

Adolescents spend most of their formative years in school, making it an important context to consider when investigating crises. A personal crisis that often has its onset during adolescence is depression. To gain a better understanding of depression in school, we explore possible individual and school-related risk factors and outcomes of depressive symptoms in line with current etiology models. First, we investigate the intersection of possible demographic risk factors of depression (female gender, immigration background, SES). Second, we explore school-related factors (conscientiousness, parental expectations, social inclusion) that might be associated with students’ depressive symptoms, and whether depressive symptoms mediate the effects of these school-related factors on school-functioning (grades, test anxiety). The representative data was collected in 30 Austrian secondary schools in a survey study with three waves. The sample consisted of 1874 12th-grade students from 93 classes. We used well-established self-report scales for all constructs that showed good reliability and students’ mean grades on the most recent tests. Analyses were pre-registered. In general, students experienced heightened depressive symptoms. More specifically, calculating a dummy-coded regression, we found female students with an immigration background and low SES to be the most burdened. The results of the mediation model showed depressive symptoms to partially mediate the association of conscientiousness, social inclusion, and parental expectations with test anxiety; this was not observed for grades. Furthermore, we only found conscientiousness to be positively associated with grades. Directions for future research and implications are discussed.
Ozone in Dentistry: An Updated Overview of Current Applications and Future Perspectives
Authors: Veneri Federica , Lanteri Valentina , Consolo Ugo , Checchi Vittorio , Generali Luigi
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

Oxygen-ozone therapy (OOT) is increasingly applied due to its multiple therapeutic effects, but it is still controversial in the medical community. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent clinical literature on OOT in dentistry, exploring its efficacy and current issues.

Recent Findings

OOT has a wide range of applications in dentistry, including caries management, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery. Overall, the results are promising with very limited adverse effects. The formulations used include gaseous ozone, ozonized water, ozonized gel, and ozonization of various products. A large methodologic heterogeneity currently prevents definitive conclusions and meaningful comparisons between different protocols.

Although not conclusive, current evidence suggests that OOT may offer some advantages as an adjunctive or alternative treatment option in certain clinical conditions. Future research should aim to standardize the reporting methodology of OOT protocols in order to make meaningful comparisons and guide the selection of the best protocols for specific treatment endpoints.
Confronting stem cells with surface-modified magnetic nanoparticles and low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field
Authors: Bayramli-Öner Burcu , Lalegül-Ülker Özge , Sezer Serap , Elçin Ayşe Eser , Elçin Yaşar Murat
Published: January 2025

The combined use of Low Frequency-Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (LF-PEMF) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) represents an innovative approach for biomedical applications in recent years. Also, the surface properties of MNPs play a crucial role in understanding how they will interact with biological systems and determining their suitability for the intended applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interactions of MNPs with different surface charges with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) under LF-PEMF stimulation. Intracellular localization and in vitro cytotoxicity of surface-modified MNPs were examined through their interaction with AD-MSCs. Calcium and histochemical analysis were performed to investigate the synergistic effect of LF-PEMF. It was determined that application of MNPs (50 µg/mL) with LF-PEMF (1.3 mT, 15 Hz) did not demonstrate a cytotoxic effect on AD-MSCs. The surface modification of MNPs ensured a homogeneous distribution within cells, with cationic nanoparticles being predominantly localized around the nucleus, while anionic nanoparticles were dispersed in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, LF-PEMF exposure influenced cell morphology, leading to increased cytoplasmic extensions, particularly in cells interacting with silica-coated MNPs. These results shed light on the importance of how the surface properties of MNPs interact with cells under LF-PEMF stimulation and pave the way for future studies.

Graphical abstract
Advances in wearable energy storage and harvesting systems
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Soham Das , Liang Zheng , Wan Jiayu
Published: January 2025

The development of wearable energy sto rage and harvesting devices is pivotal for advancing next-generation healthcare technologies, facilitating continuous and real-time health monitoring. Traditional wearable devices have been constricted by bulky and rigid batteries, limiting their practicality and comfort. However, recent advancements in materials science have enabled the creation of flexible, stretchable, and lightweight energy storage and harvesting solutions. The integration of energy storage and harvesting technologies is essential for developing self-sustaining systems that minimize reliance on external power sources and enhance device longevity. These integrated systems ensure the continuous operation of sensors and processors vital for real-time health monitoring. This review examines recent significant progress in wearable energy storage and harvesting, focusing on the latest advancements in wearable devices, solar cells, biofuel cells, triboelectric nanogenerators, magnetoelastic gene rators, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries. It also discusses key parameters crucial for their wearable applications, such as energy density, power density, and durability. Finally, the review addresses future challenges and prospects in this rapidly evolving field, underscoring the potential for developing innovative, self-powered wearable systems for healthcare applications.

Graphical Abstract
Stochastic Choice Theory
Authors: Strzalecki Tomasz
Published: January 2025

Models of stochastic choice are studied in decision theory, discrete choice econometrics, behavioral economics and psychology. Numerous experiments show that perception of stimuli is not deterministic, but stochastic (randomly determined). A growing body of evidence indicates that the same is true of economic choices. Whether trials are separated by days or minutes, the fraction of choice reversals is substantial. Stochastic Choice Theory offers a systematic introduction to these models, unifying insights from various fields. It explores mathematical models of stochastic choice, which have a variety of applications in game theory, industrial organization, labor economics, marketing, and experimental economics. Offering a systematic introduction to the field, this book builds up from scratch without any prior knowledge requirements and surveys recent developments, bringing readers to the frontier of research.
Refugee Policies in East Asia
Authors: Flowers Petrice R.
Published: January 2025

East Asia stands apart from the rest of Asia in the prevalence of the institutionalization of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Despite this widespread adoption of the Convention in East Asia, the record on implementation into domestic law and policy is uneven. This Element offers a comparative analysis of the gap between the institutionalization of the Refugee Convention and the implementation of refugee policy in China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Mongolia. Specific attention is given to two key policy issues: refugee status determination—deciding who is granted government recognition as a refugee—and complementary forms of protection—protection based on statutes other than the Refugee Convention. This Element demonstrates that implementation of the Refugee Convention in East Asia depends on a vibrant civil society with the space and opportunity to engage with local UNHCR offices, local branches of international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), and other stake holders.
Category and Measure
Authors: Bingham N. H. , Ostaszewski Adam J.
Published: January 2025

Topological spaces in general, and the real numbers in particular, have the characteristic of exhibiting a 'continuity structure', one that can be examined from the vantage point of Baire category or of Lebesgue measure. Though they are in some sense dual, work over the last half-century has shown that it is the former, topological view, that has pride of place since it reveals a much richer structure that draws from, and gives back to, areas such as analytic sets, infinite games, probability, infinite combinatorics, descriptive set theory and topology. Keeping prerequisites to a minimum, the authors provide a new exposition and synthesis of the extensive mathematical theory needed to understand the subject's current state of knowledge, and they complement their presentation with a thorough bibliography of source material and pointers to further work. The result is a book that will be the standard reference for all researchers in the area.
Partially hydrolyzed guar gum attenuates symptoms and modulates the gut microbiota in a model of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Yang Jiayue , Song Isaiah , Saito Misa , Hartanto Tenagy , Ichinohe Takeshi , Fukuda Shinji
Published: January 2025

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused health issues worldwide. Studies have suggested that modulation of the gut microbiota could attenuate the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. In light of this, we explored the effects of the prebiotic dietary fibre partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) on SARS-CoV-2 infection in a Syrian hamster model, hypothesizing that modulation of the gut microbiome and intestinal metabolites through PHGG administration would improve COVID-19 disease outcomes. Eight hamsters each were assigned to the PHGG administration and control groups. The PHGG group was given a diet supplemented with 5% PHGG for two weeks. Consequently, PHGG improved the host survival rate to 100% compared to 25% of the control group (P = 0.003) and attenuated morbid weight loss. Another non-infected set of hamsters was used for the analysis of the gut microbiome composition with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, serum, and faecal metabolites with GC–MS and LC–MS. PHGG altered the gut microbiome composition and increased the relative abundances of Ileibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and Prevotella. Furthermore, it elevated the concentrations of faecal valeric acid, propionic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and serum deoxycholic acid. Taken together, our data suggest that the prebiotic PHGG modulates gut metabolites and has the potential to reduce COVID-19 morbidity.
Trust in government and American public opinion toward foreign aid
Authors: Macdonald David
Published: January 2025

Since the end of World War II, the US government has spent nearly $4 trillion on humanitarian, economic, and military assistance to other countries. Despite the myriad benefits of such programs, mass support has long been lacking. Here, I argue that low citizen trust in government can help us to understand why. Using cross-sectional and panel survey data from the United States, I find a positive and substantively significant relationship between political trust and support for government spending on foreign aid. Overall, these findings underscore the relevance of political trust and further illustrate the drivers of U.S. public opinion toward foreign aid, something that has implications for whether America should turn inward or continue its long-standing role of global leadership.
Diverse single-stranded nucleic acid binding proteins enable both stable protection and rapid exchange required for biological function
Authors: Morse Michael , Cashen Ben A. , Rouzina Ioulia , Williams Mark C.
Published: January 2025

Single-stranded nucleic acid (ssNA) binding proteins must both stably protect ssNA transiently exposed during replication and other NA transactions, and also rapidly reorganize and dissociate to allow further NA processing. How these seemingly opposing functions can coexist has been recently elucidated by optical tweezers (OT) experiments that isolate and manipulate single long ssNA molecules to measure conformation in real time. The effective length of an ssNA substrate held at fixed tension is altered upon protein binding, enabling quantification of both the structure and kinetics of protein–NA interactions. When proteins exhibit multiple binding states, however, OT measurements may produce difficult to analyze signals including non-monotonic response to free protein concentration and convolution of multiple fundamental rates. In this review we compare single-molecule experiments with three proteins of vastly different structure and origin that exhibit similar ssNA interactions. These results are consistent with a general model in which protein oligomers containing multiple binding interfaces switch conformations to adjust protein:NA stoichiometry. These characteristics allow a finite number of proteins to protect long ssNA regions by maximizing protein–ssNA contacts while also providing a pathway with reduced energetic barriers to reorganization and eventual protein displacement when these ssNA regions are diminished.
Negative priors and inferences from absence of evidence in cognitive and linguistic archaeology: Epistemically sound and scientifically strategic
Authors: Irurtzun Aritz
Published: January 2025

The article provides an important warning but its general conclusions should be nuanced: (i) When there is no evidence for it, we should depart from the hypothesis that a species lacks a particular cognitive capacity, and (ii) inferences from absence of evidence can be epistemically sound and scientifically strategic in cognitive and linguistic archaeology.
Perishable material choice indicates symbolic and representational capacities
Authors: Tzafestas Elpida
Published: January 2025

The absence of symbolic material cultural objects in the archaeological record does not prove absence of symbolic cognition. Sometimes perishable materials are selected for symbolic roles, for practical concerns or to indicate a temporary condition. Also some symbolic functions may predate the use of durable materials. Finally, child play and artisan experimentations usually involve cheap and perishable materials. These are symbolic and representational activities that do not leave a material trace.
Animal artefacts challenge archaeological standards for tracing human symbolic cognition
Authors: Verpooten Jan , De Tiège Alexis
Published: January 2025

Stibbard-Hawkes challenges the link between symbolic material evidence and behavioural modernity. Extending this to non-human species, we find that personal adornment, decoration, figurative art, and musical instruments may not uniquely distinguish human cognition. These common criteria may ineffectively distinguish symbolic from non-symbolic cognition or symbolic cognition is not uniquely human. It highlights the need for broader comparative perspectives.
SAHD-10: Development and initial validation of a short version of the Schedule of Attitudes Toward Hastened Death based on a large multinational sample
Authors: Kremeike Kerstin , Boström Kathleen , Dojan Thomas , Montforte-Royo Cristina , Rosenfeld Barry , Voltz Raymond , Rietz Christian , Strupp Julia
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Wishes to hasten death (WTHDs) are common in patients with serious illness. The Schedule of Attitudes Toward Hastened Death (SAHD) is a validated 20-item instrument for measuring WTHD. Two short versions have also been developed based on statistical item selection. However, all existing versions show some limitations with potential for improvement. This study aims to develop and initially validate a theory-driven and statistically sound SAHD short version based on a large multinational sample to advance the WTHD assessment in different countries and with different legislations.

Methods

A 3-step procedure was carried out including (1) theory-driven item selection, (2) exploratory, and (3) confirmatory factor analysis. We used a data set collected between 1998 and 2020 across 3 different countries (Germany, Spain, USA). Participants were N = 1156 complete cases (n = 181 German, n = 101 Spanish and n = 874 US) of severely ill adult in- and outpatients. They had to be ≥18 years and give informed consent.

Results

The exploratory factor analysis revealed that 10 of 11 items previously selected theory-driven loaded on either of 2 factors: (1) WTHD and (2) internal locus of control. These factors showed good to excellent reliability according to Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s Ω, as well as an excellent fit of our data as an overall model for the total sample.

Significance of results

The developed SAHD-10 represents a reliable and valid alternative to the SAHD and an efficient means to measure and further investigate a WTHD in cross-cultural clinical and research settings.
Improving outcomes via treatment augmentations to behavioural activation for depression in routine practice: a cohort comparison study
Authors: Simmonds-Buckley Melanie , Kellett Stephen , Hague Jennie , Waller Glenn
Published: January 2025

Whilst behavioural activation (BA) is an empirically supported treatment for depression, some patients do not benefit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two treatment augmentations to an extant manualized 8-session group version of BA. The two treatment augmentations were (a) dose–response psychoeducation to improve attendance and (b) implementation intentions to improve clinical outcomes. A cohort comparison design in routine practice comparing standard group BA (n=31, drawn from a sample of n=161, from 22 BA groups) with treatment-augmented group BA (n=31 from 3 BA+ groups). There was no effect of the two treatment augmentations on attendance or in overall mean reductions to depression (mean improvement difference=2.2), anxiety (mean improvement difference=1.9) or impaired functioning (mean improvement difference=1.5). Rates of reliable improvement in depression were significantly higher for augmented BA (odds ratio=3.21 for BA+ compared with BA). Efforts should be made to still improve outcomes for empirically supported interventions, with any treatment augmentations tested in well-controlled studies.

Key learning aims

(1)

To learn about the utility of adapting existing treatments as opposed to developing new treatments.

(2)

To learn about the potential of propensity score matching in the analysis of routinely collected datasets.

(3)

To learn about delivery of behavioural activation in groups.

(4)

To better understand how to enhance and evaluate treatment protocols using theoretically informed and low-cost treatment augmentations.
Component library creation and pixel array generation with micromilled droplet microfluidics
Authors: McIntyre David , Arguijo Diana , Kawata Kaede , Densmore Douglas
Published: January 2025

Droplet microfluidics enable high-throughput screening, sequencing, and formulation of biological and chemical systems at the microscale. Such devices are generally fabricated in a soft polymer such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). However, developing design masks for PDMS devices can be a slow and expensive process, requiring an internal cleanroom facility or using an external vendor. Here, we present the first complete droplet-based component library using low-cost rapid prototyping and electrode integration. This fabrication method for droplet microfluidic devices costs less than $12 per device and a full design-build-test cycle can be completed within a day. Discrete microfluidic components for droplet generation, re-injection, picoinjection, anchoring, fluorescence sensing, and sorting were built and characterized. These devices are biocompatible, low-cost, and high-throughput. To show its ability to perform multistep workflows, these components were used to assemble droplet “pixel" arrays, where droplets were generated, sensed, sorted, and anchored onto a grid to produce images.
Infiltrating peripheral monocyte TREM-1 mediates dopaminergic neuron injury in substantia nigra of Parkinson’s disease model mice
Authors: Song Wei , Zhou Zi-ming , Zhang Le-le , Shu Hai-feng , Xia Jin-ru , Qin Xia , Hua Rong , Zhang Yong-mei
Published: January 2025

Neuroinflammation is a key factor in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Activated microglia in the central nervous system (CNS) and infiltration of peripheral immune cells contribute to dopaminergic neuron loss. However, the role of peripheral immune responses, particularly triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1), in PD remains unclear. Using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model, we examined TREM-1 expression and monocyte infiltration in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). We found that MPTP increased peripheral monocytes, and deletion of peripheral monocytes protected against MPTP neurotoxicity in the SNpc. TREM-1 inhibition, both genetically and pharmacologically, reduced monocyte infiltration, alleviated neuroinflammation, and preserved dopaminergic neurons, resulting in improved motor function. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of TREM-1-expressing monocytes from PD model mice to naive mice induced neuronal damage and motor deficits. These results underscore the critical role of peripheral monocytes and TREM-1 in PD progression, suggesting that targeting TREM-1 could be a promising therapeutic approach to prevent dopaminergic neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction in PD.
Ultrasound guided Ru106 plaque brachytherapy for treatment of exudative retinal detachment in children with diffuse choroidal haemangioma
Authors: Venkataraman Anusha , Al-Gilgawi Ali , Stoker Ian , Reddy M. Ashwin , Sagoo Mandeep S.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided ruthenium (Ru 106) plaque brachytherapy for treatment of exudative retinal detachment in diffuse choroidal haemangioma (DCH).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of four paediatric patients treated with ultrasound-guided Ru 106 plaque brachytherapy for DCH with total exudative retinal detachment directed to the thickest part of the DCH. A dose of 40 Gy to the tumour apex was delivered in all patients. The outcomes of treatment were regression of DCH, resolution of retinal detachment, development of neovascular glaucoma or any other radiation-associated complications which were assessed clinically and with B scan ultrasonography.

Results

There were 4 eyes included in the study, with a mean (median, range) age of 8.75 (8.4, 3–15) years. The pre-operative tumour thickness was 5.0 (5.12, 4.2–5.5) mm. The visual acuity ranged from 0.8-2.8 LogMAR and 3 of 4 eyes had only light perception at presentation. One eye had been treated with goniotomy for pre-existing secondary glaucoma and was on topical antihypertensive medications. At a mean follow-up of 14.6 months (10.5 months, 6-30 months), all patients showed regression of the tumour. The mean tumour thickness reduced to 2.05 mm (2.44 mm, 1.1–2.6 mm) post-operatively. All patients (4/4) had complete resolution of the retinal detachment. The visual acuity remained stable in all the patients with none of the patients developing neovascular glaucoma or any other radiation-related complications.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided Ru 106 plaque brachytherapy is an effective treatment strategy as a primary treatment in the absence of external beam radiotherapy, to achieve tumour regression and resolution of retinal detachment in DCH.
Human interpretable structure-property relationships in chemistry using explainable machine learning and large language models
Authors: Wellawatte Geemi P. , Schwaller Philippe
Published: January 2025

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) is an emerging field in AI that aims to address the opaque nature of machine learning models. Furthermore, it has been shown that XAI can be used to extract input-output relationships, making them a useful tool in chemistry to understand structure-property relationships. However, one of the main limitations of XAI methods is that they are developed for technically oriented users. We propose the XpertAI framework that integrates XAI methods with large language models (LLMs) accessing scientific literature to generate accessible natural language explanations of raw chemical data automatically. We conducted 5 case studies to evaluate the performance of XpertAI. Our results show that XpertAI combines the strengths of LLMs and XAI tools in generating specific, scientific, and interpretable explanations.
Enhanced energy storage in relaxor (1-x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBaZryTi1-yO3 thin films by morphotropic phase boundary engineering
Authors: Kobald Herbert , Kobald Alexander M. , Panzic Ivana , Deluca Marco
Published: January 2025

Perovskites at the crossover between ferroelectric and relaxor are often used to realize dielectric capacitors with high energy and power density and simultaneously good efficiency. Lead-free Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 is gaining importance in showing an alternative to lead-based devices. Here we show that (1-x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 – xBaZr
y
Ti
1-y
O3 (best: 0.94Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 -0.06BaZr0.4Ti0.6O3) shows an increase of recoverable energy density and electric breakdown upon chemical substitution. In thin films derived from Chemical Solution Deposition, we observed that polarization peaks at the morphotropic phase boundary at x = 0.06. While Zr substitution results in reduced polarization, it enhances both efficiency and electric breakdown strength, ultimately doubling the recoverable energy density and the metallization interface by lowering surface roughness. Our dielectric capacitor shows <3% deviation of energy properties over 106 cycles. A virtual device model of a multilayer thin film capacitor (7.25 mJ recoverable energy) was used to compare its performance to already in use multilayer ceramic capacitors.
Crystalline porous frameworks based on double extension of metal–organic and covalent organic linkages
Authors: Endo Kenichi , Canossa Stefano , Heck Fabian , Proserpio Davide M. , Istek M. Satukbugra , Stemmler Friedrich , van Slageren Joris , Hartmann Sean , Hartschuh Achim , Lotsch Bettina V.
Published: January 2025

Reticular chemistry is a powerful strategy to design materials with fine-tuned chemical functionality and porosity, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs). MOFs typically show high crystallinity due to their reversible coordinative bonds, and the organic backbone of COFs provides chemical stability. Here we synthesize metal–organic–covalent–organic frameworks (MOCOFs) that combine both crystallinity and stability in a single framework by the double extension of metal–organic and covalent organic linkages. Several MOCOFs are obtained by reaction between a cobalt aminoporphyrin and dialdehydes, which are interconnected by cobalt–amine coordination and imine condensation to form three-dimensional networks. The MOCOFs exhibit chiral topological nets, large surface areas, high crystallinities and high chemical stabilities due to the two types of extended linkages. Thus, MOCOFs present a reticular design strategy that further diversifies the chemical and structural space of porous solids.
Unveiling sectoral coupling for resilient electrification of the transportation sector
Authors: Mitra Bhaskar , Pal Seemita , Reeve Hayden , Kintner-Meyer Michael
Published: January 2025

Electrifying the transportation sector is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offers numerous benefits including increased energy efficiency, lower total ownership costs, enhanced national energy security, and improved air quality. Despite the availability of necessary technologies, fully integrating the transportation and electricity sectors presents challenges in understanding all benefits and risks. Previous studies have not highlighted the role of coupling between these sectors. To better understand this coupling, this work reviews the structure of the current fossil-fuel-based transportation sector (including its dependence on the electricity sector) and case studies of its vulnerabilities to key risks. By adopting a systemic perspective, we uncover the indispensable interplay between the transportation and electricity sectors, shedding light on previously neglected dynamics. Leveraging the principles of grid architecture (GA), we introduce a hierarchical approach to assess vulnerabilities within the prevailing fuel-based transportation system and elucidate pathways for enhancement through electrification.