bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-parametric estimation of system reliability for multicomponent stress-strength model under hierarchical Archimedean copulas
Authors: Wang Junrui , Yan Rongfang
Published: February 2025

In the reliability analysis of multicomponent stress-strength models, it is typically assumed that strengths are either independent or dependent on a common stress factor. However, this assumption may not hold true in certain scenarios. Therefore, accurately estimating the reliability of the stress-strength model becomes a significant concern when strengths exhibit interdependence with both each other and the common stress factor. To address this issue, we propose an Archimedean copula (AC)-based hierarchical dependence approach to effectively model these interdependencies. We employ four distinct semi-parametric methods to comprehensively estimate the reliability of the multicomponent stress-strength model and determine associated dependence parameters. Furthermore, we derive asymptotic properties of our estimator and demonstrate its effectiveness through both Monte Carlo simulations and real-life datasets. The main original contribution of this study is the first attempt to evaluate the reliability problem under dependent strengths and stress using a hierarchical AC approach.
Seasonal El Niño‐Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole Dependencies of Methane Emissions From Wetlands
Authors: Zhu Tingting , Zhou Yanlian , Ju Weimin
Published: February 2025

Wetlands are a significant natural source of methane (CH4), and their emissions are highly sensitive to climatic variability. This study investigated the impact of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on wetland CH4 emission anomalies based on a model simulation data set from 1980 to 2022. Results showed El Niño reduced CH4 emission anomalies, whereas La Niña increased them. Both ENSO and IOD phases greatly altered climatic variables, which in turn affected CH4 emission anomalies. The global mean sensitivities of CH4 emission anomalies to ENSO and IOD were −0.17 and −0.08 mg CH4 m−2 month−1, respectively, which exhibited pronounced temporal and spatial variability, mainly driven by soil moisture and temperature. This study underscored the pronounced temporal and spatial variability of CH4 emission anomalies under ENSO and IOD phases, which would improve the accuracy of predictive CH4 models and inform strategies for mitigating climate change.
A GNSS‐Velocity Clustering Method Applicable at Local to Global Scales
Authors: Takahashi Atsushi , Yano Keisuke , Kano Masayuki
Published: February 2025

We propose a hierarchical clustering methodology for clustering data from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that is applicable at local to global scales. We first adapted the conventional 2D velocity clustering metric for global‐scale applications by implementing parallel translation in differential geometry. We then combined it with a Euler‐vector‐based metric to incorporate the kinematic constraint associated with the rigid motion of plates, achieving advantages in identifying tectonic structures. This hybrid metric approach is assessed through two case studies at different spatial scales to determine whether it can accurately identify tectonic plate and crustal block boundaries: one study uses global‐scale data from the ITRF2008 plate motion model, and the other focuses on a local‐scale study in Taiwan. Results obtained using the hybrid metric consistently align better with geological data than those from either the 2D or Euler vector‐based metrics alone. The proposed method is computationally efficient, enabling us to conduct two types of stability assessment: examination of the robustness of clusters with synthetic noise contamination and leave‐one‐out analysis. Both tests are demonstrated to be feasible within practical timeframes.
Secrecy Sum Rate Maximization of RIS Assisted Downlink NOMA System
Authors: Liu Zhitao , Peng Yongkang , Li Youming , Du Yongfeng
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a method is proposed to improve the strongest user's channel gain and thus enhance the system secrecy sum rate (SSR) of the Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system using a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). Based on the observation that the decoding process of NOMA system utilizes the power allocation differences among multiple users and the SSR largely depends on the strongest user's channel gain, an optimal power allocation optimization problem is constructed under quality of service (QoS) and total power constraints. Then a low‐complexity relaxation based algorithm is proposed to improve the channel gain of the strongest user by optimizing the RIS phase, thereby enhancing the SSR of the system. The final simulation results show that the proposed method not only maintains good performance but also reduces computational complexity by about 2 dB.
Prediction of alcohol intake patterns with olfactory and gustatory brain connectivity networks
Authors: Agarwal Khushbu , Chaudhary Shefali , Tomasi Dardo , Volkow Nora D. , Joseph Paule V.
Published: February 2025

Craving in alcohol drinkers is often triggered by chemosensory cues, such as taste and smell, which are linked to brain network connectivity. This study aimed to investigate whether these brain connectivity patterns could predict alcohol intake in young adults. Resting-state fMRI data were obtained from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) Young Adult cohort, comprising 1003 participants. Functional connectomes generated from 100 independent components were analyzed, identifying significant connections correlated with taste and odor scores after applying a false discovery rate (FDR) correction using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) method. These significant connections were then utilized as predictors in general linear models for various alcohol intake metrics. The models were validated in an independent sample to assess their accuracy. The training sample (n = 702) and the validation sample (n = 117) showed no significant demographic differences. Out of 742 possible connections, 41 related to odor and 25 related to taste passed the significance threshold (P < 0.05) after FDR-BH correction. Notable predictors included visual-visual connectivity (node32-node13: β = 0.028, P = 0.02) for wine consumption and connectivity between the ventral attention network (VAN) and the frontal parietal/caudate nucleus (FP/CN) (node27-node9: β = −0.31, P = 0.04) for total alcohol intake in the past-week and maximum number of drinks per day in the past-year. The predictive models demonstrated strong accuracy, with root mean square error (RMSE) values of 5.15 for odor-related models and 5.14 for taste-related models. The F1 scores were 0.74 for the odor model and 0.71 for the taste model, indicating reliable performance. These findings suggest that specific patterns of brain connectivity associated with taste and olfactory perception may serve as predictors of alcohol consumption behaviors in young adults. Our study highlight the need for longitudinal research to evaluate the potential of taste- and smell-related brain connectivity patterns for early screening and targeted interventions, as well as their role in personalized treatment strategies for individuals at risk of AUD.
MAGI3 enhances sensitivity to sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma by suppressing the MAS/ERK axis and serves as a prognostic marker
Authors: Wang Haibo , Chen Yibin , Yang Ying , Song Ran , Gu Siyu , Cao Xuedi , Zhang Lijie , Yang Yang , Hou Tianzhong , Qi Xuan , Yang Yumeng , Wang Yue , Bai Tao , Feng Duiping , Yang Xiaomei , He Junqi
Published: February 2025

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) exhibits considerable heterogeneity, with approximately 25% of localized cases susceptible to relapse, highlighting the challenge of the absence of reliable predictive biomarkers for personalized treatment. Meanwhile, metastatic renal cell carcinoma is characterized by unfavorable survival rates, and although Sunitinib offers partial benefits, the clinical advantages are often constrained by drug resistance and adverse side effects. Here, MAGI3 was associate with ccRCC progression, as identified through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of clinical datasets. A low level of MAGI3 emerged as a high-risk factor for ccRCC, indicating its potential as a prognostic marker. Individuals with MAGI3 expression in middle-to-low levels displayed a significantly poorer survival rate, indicating a need for additional treatment even in the early stages of ccRCC. Furthermore, patients with MAGI3 expression in middle-to-high levels exhibited increased sensitivity to Sunitinib compared to those with lower MAGI3 levels, suggesting that individuals with MAGI3 expression at middle levels may potentially benefit from Sunitinib treatment even in the early stages of ccRCC. Through its interaction with the MAS receptor, MAGI3 has been identified as a regulator of cell proliferation and a determinant of Sunitinib resistance in ccRCC, operating via the Ang-(1-7)/MAS/ERK axis. The loss of MAGI3 expression in ccRCC patients activated the ERK signaling pathway, contributing to both cancer progression and Sunitinib resistance. Therefore, our study not only highlight MAGI3’s pivotal role in ccRCC progression and Sunitinib resistance, but also reinforces MAGI3’s prospective value as a predictive marker.
An observational study of pleiotropy and penetrance of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with CAG-repeat expansion of ATXN2
Authors: Demaegd Koen C. , Kernan Aoife , Cooper-Knock Johnathan , van Vugt Joke J. F. A. , Harvey Calum , Moll Tobias , O’Brien David , Gornall Sarah , Drury Luke , Farhan Sali M. K. , Dion Patrick A. , Rouleau Guy A. , Western Andrea , Parsons Paul J. , Mclean Benjamin , Benatar Michael , van den Berg Leonard H. , Van Damme Philip , Willem Dankbaar Jan , Hendrikse Jeroen , Koole Wouter , de Bie Charlotte , Hobson Esther , Veldink Jan H. , van de Warrenburg Bart , Pasterkamp R. Jeroen , van Rheenen Wouter , Kirby Janine , Shaw Pamela J. , van Es Michael. A.
Published: February 2025

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are both associated with a CAG-repeat expansion in ATXN2 and with TDP-43-positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions. The two disorders have been viewed as distinct entities, where an intermediate length expansion of 31-33 CAG-repeats is associated with sporadic ALS and a full length expansion of ≥34 CAG-repeats is associated with SCA2. We report the clinical phenotype of ATXN2-positive patients and their relatives, identified in three specialist ALS clinics, which force a reconsideration of this dichotomy. We also report the frequency of ATXN2 expansions in two large cohorts of ALS patients and in a population-matched cohort of controls. We report ten cases of familial ALS in which disease is associated with either an intermediate or a full-length ATXN2 CAG-repeat expansion. Pedigrees and patients feature additional phenotypes including parkinsonism, dementia and essential tremor (ET). We conclude that CAG-repeat expansions in ATXN2 exhibit pleiotropy and are associated with a disease spectrum that includes ALS, SCA2, and parkinsonism; to recognise this complexity we propose the new term ‘ATXN2-related neurodegeneration’. We also observed sporadic ALS associated with full-length expansions. We conclude that ATXN2 CAG-repeat expansions, irrespective of length, should be considered a risk factor for ALS. Interrupted CAG-repeats were associated with an ALS phenotype in our data but we also identified ALS cases with uninterrupted expansions. Our findings have relevance for researchers, patients and families linked to CAG-repeat expansions in ATXN2.
Digital aberration correction for enhanced thick tissue imaging exploiting aberration matrix and tilt-tilt correlation from the optical memory effect
Authors: Oh ChulMin , Hugonnet Herve , Lee Moosung , Park YongKeun
Published: February 2025

Optical aberrations significantly impair microscopic image quality across various domains, including cell biology and histopathology diagnostics. Traditional adaptive optics techniques, such as wavefront shaping and guide star utilization, face challenges, especially in imaging biological tissues. Here, we introduce a computational adaptive optics approach tailored for optically thick samples. Utilizing the tilt-tilt correlation from the optical memory effect, our method detects phase differences in aberrations caused by small tilts in the incident waves. Experimental validation demonstrates our technique’s capacity to enhance imaging of thick human tissues under substantial aberration conditions using a transmission-mode holotomography setup. Remarkably, our approach works robustly against sample movement, which is essential for enhanced imaging accuracy in critical biomedical applications.
SRBD1 facilitates chromosome segregation by promoting topoisomerase IIα localization to mitotic chromosomes
Authors: Lovejoy Courtney A. , Wessel Sarah R. , Bhowmick Rahul , Hatoyama Yuki , Kanemaki Masato T. , Zhao Runxiang , Cortez David
Published: February 2025

Accurate sister chromatid segregation requires remodeling chromosome architecture, decatenation, and attachment to the mitotic spindle. Some of these events are initiated during S-phase, but they accelerate and conclude during mitosis. Here we describe SRBD1 as a histone and nucleic acid binding protein that prevents DNA damage in interphase cells, localizes to nascent DNA during replication and the chromosome scaffold in mitosis, and is required for chromosome segregation. SRBD1 inactivation causes micronuclei, chromatin bridges, and cell death. Inactivating SRBD1 immediately prior to mitotic entry causes anaphase failure, with a reduction in topoisomerase IIα localization to mitotic chromosomes and defects in properly condensing and decatenating chromosomes. In contrast, SRBD1 is not required to complete cell division after chromosomes are condensed. Strikingly, depleting condensin II reduces the severity of the anaphase defects in SRBD1-deficient cells by restoring topoisomerase IIα localization. Thus, SRBD1 is an essential genome maintenance protein required for mitotic chromosome organization and segregation.
Melanocortin 3 receptor regulates hepatic autophagy and systemic adiposity
Authors: Patel Tushar P. , Jun Joo Yun , Seo Arnold Y. , Levi Noah J. , Elizondo Diana M. , Chen Jocelyn , Wong Adrian M. , Tugarinov Nicol , Altman Elizabeth K. , Gehle Daniel B. , Jung Sun Min , Patel Pooja , Ericson Mark , Haskell-Luevano Carrie , Demby Tamar C. , Cougnoux Antony , Wolska Anna , Yanovski Jack A.
Published: February 2025

Systemic lipid homeostasis requires hepatic autophagy, a major cellular program for intracellular fat recycling. Here, we find melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3R) regulates hepatic autophagy in addition to its previously established CNS role in systemic energy partitioning and puberty. Mice with Mc3r deficiency develop obesity with hepatic triglyceride accumulation and disrupted hepatocellular autophagosome turnover. Mice with partially inactive human MC3R due to obesogenic variants demonstrate similar hepatic autophagic dysfunction. In vitro and in vivo activation of hepatic MC3R upregulates autophagy through LC3II activation, TFEB cytoplasmic-to-nuclear translocation, and subsequent downstream gene activation. MC3R-deficient hepatocytes had blunted autophagosome-lysosome docking and lipid droplet clearance. Finally, the liver-specific rescue of Mc3r was sufficient to restore hepatocellular autophagy, improve hepatocyte mitochondrial function and systemic energy expenditures, reduce adipose tissue lipid accumulation, and partially restore body weight in both male and female mice. We thus report a role for MC3R in regulating hepatic autophagy and systemic adiposity.
Anoctamin-1 is a core component of a mechanosensory anion channel complex in C. elegans
Authors: Zou Wenjuan , Fan Yuedan , Liu Jia , Cheng Hankui , Hong Huitao , Al-Sheikh Umar , Li Shitian , Zhu Linhui , Li Rong , He Longyuan , Tang Yi-Quan , Zhao Guohua , Zhang Yongming , Wang Feng , Zhan Renya , Zheng Xiujue , Kang Lijun
Published: February 2025

Mechanotransduction channels are widely expressed in both vertebrates and invertebrates, mediating various physiological processes such as touch, hearing and blood-pressure sensing. While previously known mechanotransduction channels in metazoans are primarily cation-selective, we identified Anoctamin-1 (ANOH-1), the C. elegans homolog of mammalian calcium-activated chloride channel ANO1/TMEM16A, as an essential component of a mechanosensory channel complex that contributes to the nose touch mechanosensation in C. elegans. Ectopic expression of either C. elegans or human Anoctamin-1 confers mechanosensitivity to touch-insensitive neurons, suggesting a cell-autonomous role of ANOH-1/ANO1 in mechanotransduction. Additionally, we demonstrated that the mechanosensory function of ANOH-1/ANO1 relies on CIB (calcium- and integrin- binding) proteins. Thus, our results reveal an evolutionarily conserved chloride channel involved in mechanosensory transduction in metazoans, highlighting the importance of anion channels in mechanosensory processes.
Structural insights into the in situ assembly of clustered protocadherin γB4
Authors: Zhang Ze , Chen Fabao , Zhang Zihan , Guo Luqiang , Feng Tingting , Fang Zhen , Xin Lihui , Yu Yang , Hu Hongyu , Liu Yingbin , He Yongning
Published: February 2025

Clustered protocadherins (cPcdhs) belong to the cadherin superfamily and play important roles in neural development. cPcdhs mediate homophilic adhesion and lead to self-avoidance and tiling by giving neurons specific identities in vertebrates. Structures and functions of cPcdhs have been studied extensively in past decades, but the mechanisms behind have not been fully understood. Here we investigate the in situ assembly of cPcdh-γB4, a member in the γ subfamily of cPcdhs, by electron tomography and find that the full length cPcdh-γB4 does not show regular organization at the adhesion interfaces. By contrast, cPcdh-γB4 lacking the intracellular domain can generate an ordered zigzag pattern between cells and the cis-interacting mode is different from the crystal packing of the ectodomain. We also identify the residues on the ectodomain that might be important for the zigzag pattern formation by mutagenesis. Furthermore, truncation mutants of the intracellular domain reveal different assembly patterns between cell membranes, suggesting that the intracellular domain plays a crucial role in the intermembrane organization of cPcdh-γB4. Taken together, these results suggest that both ectodomain and intracellular domain regulate the in situ assembly of cPcdh-γB4 for homophilic cell adhesion, thereby providing mechanistic insights into the functional roles of cPcdhs during neuronal wiring.
Chiral plasmonic superlattices from template-assisted assembly of achiral nanoparticles
Authors: Qi Xiaoyu , Pérez Luis Alberto , Mendoza-Carreño Jose , Garriga Miquel , Alonso Maria Isabel , Mihi Agustín
Published: February 2025

The creation of chiral plasmonic architectures combining templates with achiral plasmonic particles leads to strong chiroptical responses that can be finely tuned via the characteristics of the colloidal building blocks. Here we show how elastomeric molds, pre-patterned with a hexagonal array of triskelia motifs, can guide the assembly of ordinary noble metal colloids into chiral plasmonic architectures with strong dichroism values. Under normal incidence, the chiral arrays made with gold and silver colloids showed g-factors of 0.18 and 0.4, respectively. In all cases, increasing the size of the colloid allows tuning the optical properties of the structure in the VIS-NIR range. When a superstrate layer is deposited onto the structures, the extrinsic chirality response of the 2D superlattice is revealed and strongly amplified by the chiral motifs under oblique inspection, leading to g-factors of ± 1.2 at ± 14°. Finally, these chiral plasmonic resonances sustained by the triskelion array are used to produce circularly polarized photoluminescence from achiral organic dyes placed on top with up to 20% of dissymmetry.
Tissue factor-dependent colitogenic CD4+ T cell thrombogenicity is regulated by activated protein C signalling
Authors: Leon Gemma , Klavina Paula A. , Rehill Aisling M. , Cooper Sarah E. J. , Dominik Anna , Basavarajappa Shrikanth Chomanahalli , O’Donnell James S. , Hussey Seamus , Walsh Patrick T. , Preston Roger J. S.
Published: February 2025

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the underlying mechanistic basis remains poorly defined. Here, we find that colitogenic CD4+ T cells express tissue factor (TF) and promote rapid TF-dependent plasma thrombin generation. TF+CD3+CD4+ T cells are present in both the colons of mice with experimental colitis and blood and colonic tissue from patients with IBD. Expression of genes involved in regulating coagulation, including Protein C (PC; encoded by PROC) and its receptor (PROCR), are dysregulated in IBD patient gut biopsy tissues. Moreover, activated PC signalling reduces the procoagulant activity mediated by TF+CD4+ T cells. Our data thus identify TF-induced, colitogenic T cell-mediated thrombogenicity, and also demonstrate a new function for activated PC signalling in regulating T cell thrombo-inflammatory activity.
Difunctionalization of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes enabled by merging C−C cleavage and ruthenium-catalysed remote C−H activation
Authors: Chen Shan , Xu Zhimin , Yuan Binbin , Gou Xue-Ya , Ackermann Lutz
Published: February 2025

The high fraction of sp
3-hybridized carbon atom (Fsp
3) character of cyclobutane derivatives renders them as highly promising bioisosteres for otherwise typically flat arenes. Here, to address the current needs in medicinal chemistry for Fsp
3-rich molecules, we disclose a distinct strategy that exploits the merger of C–C scission in bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) with ruthenium-catalysed remote C−H functionalization of heteroarenes, affording densely substituted cyclobutanes in a chemo-controlled manner. This approach enabled the rapid and efficient synthesis of versatile tri- and tetrasubstituted cyclobutanes by coupling a wide range of mono- or disubstituted BCBs with heteroarenes and alkyl halides under mild reaction conditions, featuring ample substrate scope. The C–C/C–H functionalization was ensured by a multifunctional ruthenium(II) catalyst that enabled ruthenacycle-mediated halogen-atom transfer (Ru-XAT), as well as the selective functionalization of BCBs by strain release. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies unravelled a multi-catalysis manifold, while the C–H/C–C functionalization strategy allowed for telescoping late-stage modification.
Visible-light-induced synthesis of bibenzofuranones via a cerium-mediated energy transfer process
Authors: Lv Jiaoyue , Lang Yatao , Li Chao-Jun , Zeng Huiying
Published: February 2025

Synthesis of bibenzofuranones from benzils via a radical cyclization-dimerization tandem process, efficiently constructing C–O/C–C bonds and contiguous quaternary carbon centers in a single step, was reported.
Tamarindus indica sub-products as potential tools for simultaneous management of diabetes and obesity
Authors: Souza Gustavo Henrique , Paes Silva Beatriz , Neto Gabriel Arcanjo Viana , Finimundy Tiane C. , Santos Thalita Faleiro Demito , Bueno Paulo Sergio Alves , Souza Felipe de Oliveira , Pilau Eduardo J. , Barros Lillian , Comar Jurandir F. , Bracht Livia , Peralta Rosane M. , Bracht Adelar , Sá-Nakanishi Anacharis B.
Published: February 2025

Schematic representation of the action mechanisms and phytochemicals in Tamarindus indica waste for managing diabetes and obesity.
Mitsunobu reaction: assembling C–N bonds in chiral traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Zhou Xue , Xu Liang , Ma Zhanhui , Cui Jin , Wang Bin
Published: February 2025

The Mitsunobu reaction is a key bimolecular nucleophilic substitution for synthesizing chiral products. This paper highlights its importance in synthesizing biologically active compounds, focusing on forming C–N single bonds.
Quantifying memory: detection of focal conic domain rearrangement across a phase transition
Authors: Hare Sean , de la Vega Alexander , Serra Francesca
Published: February 2025

Smectic liquid crystals are confined in undulated micro-channels. The probability that, after heating and cooling, a smectic defect will form again in the same pocket drops if the system is heated to the isotropic phase but not to the nematic phase.
Next-Generation Perovskite-Metal Organic Framework (MOF) Hybrids in Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: A Path to Green Hydrogen Solutions
Authors: Tey Quan Yee , Soo Joshua Zheyan , Ng Wen Cai , Chong Meng Nan
Published: February 2025

Green hydrogen production through sustainable and clean methods, such as photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, has garnered significant attention as a potential solution to the twin issues of fossil fuel depletion...
Hierarchical biofilm model incorporating sodium alginate beads within a cellulose-chitosan hydrogel matrix
Authors: Li Shiwei , Ji Yuxuan , Xue Yuxiang , Yang Yaohao , Huang Yi , Yang Shuiqing , Chen Xianfeng
Published: February 2025

In biofilm studies, a stable model is crucial for exploring infection mechanisms, antibiotic resistance, and evaluating materials' antibiofilm performance. Cultured biofilm often faces challenges, such as slow maturation or rapid...
Innovative dual-contrast nanocoating for central venous catheters: prolonged infection resistance and enhanced imaging
Authors: Golroudbari Hasti Tashak , Mojtabavi Somayeh , Mohammadi Mostafa , Dehpour Ahmad Reza , Ahmadi Tafti Seyed Hossein , Ahmadi Tafti Seyed Mohsen , Faramarzi Mohammad Ali
Published: February 2025

CVCs coated with laccase–manganese phosphate hybrid nanostructures effectively prevent bacterial infections with high biocompatibility and in vivo safety.
Ultra-sensitive and specific detection of ascorbic acid using a laser-engraved graphene electrode modified with a molecularly imprinted polymer
Authors: Jin Wei , Yao Handong , Wang Xuefeng , Li Ming , Gao Xinghua , Chen Wei , Zhang Yuan
Published: February 2025

A novel electrochemical microsensor combining molecularly imprinted polymer technology with a laser-engraved graphene electrode for ultra-sensitive and specific detection of ascorbic acid has been developed.
Correction: Unified approaches in transition metal catalyzed C(sp3)–H functionalization: recent advances and mechanistic aspects
Authors: Grover Jagrit , Sebastian Amal Tom , Maiti Siddhartha , Bissember Alex C. , Maiti Debabrata
Published: February 2025

Correction for ‘Unified approaches in transition metal catalyzed C(sp3)–H functionalization: recent advances and mechanistic aspects’ by Jagrit Grover et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1039/d0cs00488j.
Enhancing future HIV services through telehealth services: an observational study to explore telehealth adoption and usage for HIV prevention and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Wong Chen Seong , Hashim Anwar , Park Sejun , Phanuphak Nittaya , Janamnuaysook Rena , Simpauco Edel Buna , Wong Timothy , Woo Amanda Rui En , Mo Billy , Green Kimberly
Published: February 2025

Background Telehealth adoption for HIV care continuum accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored telehealth usage, motivators and barriers to telehealth adoption, and implementation challenges during the pandemic among people living with HIV, individuals at risk and community-based organisations (CBOs) in Asia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in June to December 2022 using an online quantitative survey among people living with HIV (n = 787) and individuals at risk (n = 744), and semi-structured qualitative interviews with CBOs across nine countries/territories in Asia. Responses from the survey were reported descriptively, and narratives from the interviews were used to identify the main themes associated with engagement configurations by CBOs. Results Regionally, HIV-related telehealth services were used by 56.8% of people living with HIV and 66.5% of individuals at risk, with 53.6–55.9% increasing their usage in 2021. Phone consultations, HIV-related health information sharing and video communications were the most commonly accessed services by telehealth users. Telehealth users most trusted mobile applications or software provided by clinics/healthcare providers/local CBOs. Telehealth uptake motivators included saving travelling time, improved access to HIV prevention care services and information outside of medical appointments; barriers included data privacy concerns and lack of technology accessibility, which were similarly acknowledged by local CBOs. Lack of resources to support telehealth services, and local policies on HIV prevention and treatment impeded CBOs from adequately delivering HIV care through telehealth. Conclusions This study highlights the potential of telehealth in HIV care while identifying critical challenges for its sustained integration. Addressing these issues (e.g. data privacy, telehealth infrastructure) would be essential to optimise telehealth services and improve HIV outcomes in the region.
Optimization of LiDAR Scanning Positions in Tunnel Environments: Analyzing the Impact of Station Height and Lateral Deviation
Authors: Mingsong DAI , Jiang Jundi , Yun HAN , Yazhou DING , Junping LI , Qi TIAN , Shen Yueqian
Published: February 2025

Subway tunnels deteriorate over time, posing safety risks that necessitate regular inspections. Traditional methods, like manual surveys and total station measurements, are inefficient and provide sparse data. LiDAR technology overcomes these limitations by capturing dense 3D point clouds efficiently. However, its effectiveness is influenced by factors such as incidence angles, scanning distance, and point cloud density, all dependent on station placement. This study develops a model for straight and curved tunnels to analyze how station positioning affects point cloud quality. Results indicate that placing LiDAR stations lower and closer to tunnel walls maximizes coverage, with a maximum effective scanning length of 23.48 meters per station for a 2.75-meter radius tunnel. An alternating station setup further enhances efficiency and accuracy, minimizing station replacements. Validation using Nanjing subway tunnels confirms the effectiveness of the proposed approach in improving data collection and structural assessments, providing practical guidance for LiDAR-based inspections.
EDA H-mode in ASDEX Upgrade: scans of heating power, fueling, and plasma current
Authors: Gil Luís , Pütterich Thomas , Silva C , Hachmeister Daniel , Conway Garrard D , David Pierre , Faitsch Michael , Fischer Rainer , Happel Tim , Kallenbach Arne , Santos Jorge Manuel , Silva António , Stober Joerg , Stroth Ulrich , Viezzer Eleonora , Wolfrum Elisabeth
Published: February 2025

Electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) staircase discharges in strongly shaped plasmas were performed at the full-tungsten ASDEX Upgrade tokamak to investigate the enhanced Dα (EDA) H-mode, a high-confinement regime without edge localized modes (ELMs) that exhibits numerous desirable qualities for future reactors. Heating power, fueling, and plasma current scans reveal rich dynamics as the plasma traverses different confinement regimes. The L-H transition typically occurs with a brief I-phase, sometimes followed by a short nonstationary ELM-free H-mode, before the quasi-coherent mode (QCM) sets in, marking the start of the EDA H-mode. After the pedestal fully develops, the plasma remains stationary until the heating power is raised above a certain threshold, causing ELMs. A novel criterion based on the normality of the divertor shunt current distribution is introduced to identify phases with ELMs, showing general applicability under a wide range of discharges and conditions. The no-ELM power boundary is found to increase with fueling, and too little deuterium gas puff results in a pathological nonstationary ELM-free H-mode without the QCM. Empirical scalings are derived for core, pedestal, and global parameters in EDA H-mode. These show, for example, that pedestal electron pressure increases sublinearly with power and almost quadratically with current. Line-averaged density is approximately proportional to plasma current but very weakly affected by power and fueling, whereas energy confinement time decreases sublinearly with power and increases supralinearly with current. The EDA H-mode achieves several reactor-relevant dimensionless parameters, most notably high Greenwald fraction and confinement enhancement factor over the entire heating power range. This dataset constitutes a versatile resource to plan EDA experiments in present and upcoming devices, also serving as a testbed for validating physics-based theories and models of the regime. Overall, the EDA H-mode remains promising and could become an important no-ELM scenario in future reactors such as SPARC and the full-tungsten ITER.
Thermophoretic effect in natural photonics: Holographic study
Authors: Simovic Pavlovic Marina , Grujic Dusan , Pagnacco Maja C. , Bokic Bojana , Vasiljevic Darko , Verbiest Thierry , Kolaric Branko
Published: February 2025

Natural photonic structures allow us to reveal and mold the thermophoretic effect at the nanoscale within condensed matter systems. In this paper, for the first time, holography has been exploited to disclose conditions that determine the strength and dynamics of the thermophoretic effect. We experimentally revealed the link between geometry and nano-corrugation of biological structures that shapes the power of thermophoresis. The presented study opens enormous possibilities for harnessing thermophoretic effect in various bioinspired sensing applications uniquely merging the fields of photonics and mechanics.
Predicting the mechanical properties of concrete incorporating metakaolin, rice husk ash, and steel fibers using machine learning
Authors: Singh Amrinder , Gill Anhad Singh , Kontoni Denise-Penelope N
Published: February 2025

The demand for sustainable concrete is a priority in the current era. The construction industry is actively working to mitigate the environmental impact of cement production in concrete by incorporating alternative and supplementary cementitious materials and reducing carbon emissions. Metakaolin (MK) and rice husk ash (RHA) have become popular in this context due to their pozzolanic properties. This study aims to predict the compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), and flexural strength (FS) of concrete incorporating MK and RHA with the addition of steel fibers. It examines the influence of several factors, including cement, MK, RHA, water, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, steel fiber, superplasticizer usage, and concrete age. To achieve this, the study combined experimental work with existing data from the literature. Various machine learning (ML) models, including linear regression, support vector machines, Gaussian process regression, and artificial neural networks (ANN), were employed to analyze and assess the impact on strength characteristics including CS, STS, and FS. The dataset was divided into training and testing subsets, and statistical analyses were conducted to explain the relationships between the input parameters and CS. The ANN model demonstrated superior precision in predicting CS, STS, and FS compared to the other ML models. The findings suggest that the ANN model, utilizing the identified input parameters, can accurately estimate the CS, STS, and FS of concrete with MK, RHA, and steel fibers. The application of such technologies in the construction sector can enable the rapid and cost-effective assessment of material properties and the influence of various input parameters.
Early Modern Neurodiversity Studies
Authors: Irish Bradley J.
Published: February 2025

Early modern neurodiversity studies is an emerging field that considers the literature and culture of the Renaissance (c. 1500–1700) through the lens of neurodiversity: the fact that human minds naturally vary in their cognitive, emotional, and sensory functioning. Emerging from the context of early modern disability studies, this scholarship primarily interrogates forms of early modern neurodivergence, or less common neurological styles that diverge from what the culture typically assumes to be the norm. Research in this field addresses literary neurodiversity in a variety of ways, such as identifying fictional and historical individuals who may be viewed in terms of neurodivergence, considering literary elements such as genre and style in terms of neurodivergence, and examining how early modern literature is engaged by modern students, scholars, and other audiences who identify as neurodivergent. The analysis of neurodiversity and neurodivergence is one of the most exciting new areas of inquiry in early modern studies, and it promises to radically reshape how we think about Renaissance literature and culture.
Progressive Prosecution and the Progressive Prosecutor Movement
Authors: Gottlieb Sarah
Published: February 2025

A new kind of prosecutor has gained attention across the United States. Instead of running campaigns based on tough-on-crime promises and draconian sentencing, these prosecutors promise to use their power and discretion to enact criminal legal reforms. These new prosecutors believe that the incarceration-led approaches of the past have caused harm rather than solved it. They campaign on reducing mass incarceration, holding police officers accountable, and addressing the disparities in the criminal legal system. Those who support this movement believe that these prosecutors can be the main drivers of reform within the criminal legal system.

These new prosecutors are called “progressive prosecutors,” although there is no widely accepted definition of the term. There is debate within and outside of the legal community about what it means to be a progressive prosecutor. Scholars and activists disagree about whether it is possible for those tasked with charging and incarcerating defendants to be the drivers behind large-scale criminal reforms. Supporters of the progressive prosecutor movement believe not only that prosecutors are the best situated to achieve large-scale criminal reforms but also that they have an obligation to do so, given their role in perpetuating mass incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal legal system. Prison abolitionists do not believe that prosecutors can enact this change. They argue that progressive prosecutors will only give further legitimacy to a system that perpetuates racism and violence. There is also debate regarding whether the progressive reforms being implemented by these new prosecutors are achieving the goals and results the movement envisioned.

Regardless of the efficacy of their reforms, progressive prosecutors have been targeted by those who do not agree with their reform-oriented approach. Governors have removed prosecutors from their democratically elected positions, legislatures have passed preemption laws, and recall elections have been held. This pushback has resulted in discretion and power being stripped from prosecutors in unprecedented ways. Despite these efforts, progressive prosecutors continue to run successful campaigns across the United States, representing larger populations and more areas than ever before, and attempting to implement reforms to the criminal legal system.
Physiological Mechanisms of Attention and Working Memory
Authors: Sereno Anne , Kon Maria , Larranaga Daniel , Lee Sung-Mu
Published: February 2025

Attention and memory are considered the bedrock of intellectual function. Further, disruptions of attention and memory are a core characteristic of many human disorders. However, neither attention nor memory are unitary constructs and little is known about the relation between them. Understanding how the human brain gives rise to such complex cognitive processes remains one of our biggest challenges, and modeling can be a useful tool in that pursuit. Simple models composed of neurons with physiologically plausible properties (such as those widely observed in the brain) can provide insight into (a) the meaning of these physiological properties, (b) how specific mechanisms may relate to behaviors such as attention and memory, (c) how lesions of the same network can result in either attention and memory correlations (similarities) or lack of correlations (differences), and finally (d) how such instantiations can impact the understanding of how attention and memory are represented and related in the brain. Most importantly, models can be helpful in making predictions and suggesting new ways to impact and the improve treatment of human disorders of attention and memory.
Christfried Jakob and the Discovery of the Visceral Brain
Authors: Triarhou Lazaros C.
Published: February 2025

The benchmark discovery of the cingulate gyrus as a brain structure that receives signals from the muscles and viscera was made in 1907 by the neuropathologist Christfried Jakob. In 1911–1913, Jakob also suggested the involvement of the mamillary bodies, anterior nucleus of the thalamus, cingulate cortex, and the hippocampus in the circuit of the emotive brain (i.e., all elements of the 1937 “circuit of Papez”), described the thalamocingulate projection, and introduced the term “visceral brain.” On a directly related theme, Jakob formulated in 1923 a “tripsychic” brain system based on neural phylogeny. In the same year, Sigmund Freud solidified his tripartite model of the mental apparatus. Paul MacLean used the term “visceral brain” in 1949, and introduced his “triune brain” postulate in 1969. In spite of their time distance of half a century, the neuroevolutionary models of Jakob and MacLean reveal convergent morphofunctional propositions. In conclusion, Jakob preceded the concepts of the “visceral brain” and the “circuit of Papez” by 30 years with his series of articles written in German or Spanish. In his writings, from the early 1900s until his last publication of 1949, Jakob further made the dichotomy between an interoceptive (introyental) affective sphere, represented in the medial/limbic facies of the cerebral hemisphere, and the lateral cognitive (intelectualizante) sphere, which interacts with the outer environment.
Crayfish Sleep
Authors: Mendoza-Angeles Karina , Osorio-Palacios Mireya , Hernandez-Falcon Jesus
Published: February 2025

Sleep, a complex phenomenon with an unknown function, is present in a wide range of animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates. Sleep definitions typically include at least two of three main criteria: behavioral, brain electrical activity, and the activation of certain genes. Additional collateral criteria may include metabolic changes, autonomic regulation, and involvement in learning and memory. While most vertebrates fulfill these criteria, invertebrates often do not because of anatomical and size constraints.

Crayfish are crustaceans that inhabit freshwater ecosystems globally. These animals have been extensively studied for their remarkable biological features, including their intricate nervous system, sensory capabilities, circadian rhythms, escape reflex, and complex behavior, such as sleep.

Crayfish sleep fulfills both behavioral and electrophysiological criteria defined for vertebrates. Research over the past 20 years has revealed neural correlates of crayfish sleep and potential similarities with sleep in other organisms, including humans. Understanding sleep in an invertebrate model like crayfish may provide valuable insights into the evolutionary origins and fundamental principles of sleep across diverse species.
Romance in Contact With Germanic
Authors: Morlicchio Elda
Published: February 2025

Linguistic contact with Germanic languages has accompanied the Romance languages since the beginning of their history—indeed, even earlier, as the oldest contacts date back to Latin. Relics of this period are still present in the lexicon of the Romance languages.

The most significant period in this respect is that of the migrations of the Germanic peoples (until about the 1970s referred to as “barbarian invasions”), which reached as far as the Iberian Peninsula via Gaul and Italy, with settlements of varying duration. In this period (5th–10th centuries ce), historical events overlapped with linguistic ones, which saw the fragmentation of the Latin unity and the beginning of the processes that led to the formation of the Romance languages. The presence of Germanic gentes and languages left traces in the lexicon and, to a lesser extent, in the phonetics and morphosyntax of the Romance languages; in some cases it may have influenced the formation of the Romance dialect areas.

From the late medieval period—which saw the emergence of distinct Romance areas, largely corresponding to those of the modern day—to the present, the nature of the language contact changes. No longer connected to massive movements of populations, it involves cultural and commercial contacts. Individuals and the dissemination of cultural products, broadly speaking (mainly literature, but later politics, philosophy, music, art, and, eventually, technology and science), create contact situations. These situations result exclusively in lexical borrowings, which often, starting from the early modern period, are not adapted and, thus, are recognized as having a foreign origin. In addition, the medium of contact has also changed: alongside oral speech, which has been the primary channel of contact, the written word also became increasingly relevant. It should also be remembered that in the present day, there are geographical areas (states or regions) in Europe where Romance and Germanic languages coexist, often both as official languages.

A peculiar type of contact is represented by the relationship between Gallo-Romance varieties and English, starting from the Norman conquest (11th century ce) to the 15th century ce. Finally, a special case is represented by the language contact between the Romance languages and English in the modern day, since this follows quite different paths with respect to other Germanic languages: almost nonexistent until the early modern period, it is significant from the 18th century onward and then becomes so prominent from the second half of the 20th century (also due to the influence of U.S. English) that it has led to the emergence of purist movements against the Anglicization of European languages.