bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between dairy product intake and prevalence of dental caries in 3‐year‐old Japanese children
Authors: Utsunomiya Hisanori , Tanaka Keiko , Okubo Hitomi , Nagata Chisato , Miyake Yoshihiro
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Epidemiologic evidence on the association between intake of milk and dairy products and dental caries is limited, particularly in Asia. This cross‐sectional study examined the association between the consumption of milk and dairy products and dental caries among Japanese children aged 3 years.

Methods

The study subjects were 6221 children. Parents or guardians completed a questionnaire, including a self‐administered food frequency questionnaire for children. Dentists assessed dental caries, and these data were recorded in each child's maternal and child health handbook. Parents or guardians transcribed these data from the handbook to our questionnaire. Children were classified as having dental caries if they had one or more decayed or filled primary teeth. Associations with dental caries were assessed using logistic regression analysis with adjustments in demographics, dietary and lifestyle factors, and parental socioeconomic status.

Results

The prevalence of dental caries was 14.6%. Intakes of milk, cheese, and yogurt were associated with 21%, 26%, and 35% decreases, respectively, in the odds of the prevalence of dental caries (p = 0.02, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively), whereas the intake of other dairy products, such as probiotic milk, ice cream, or custard pudding, was associated with a 2.3‐fold increase in the odds of the prevalence of dental caries (p < 0.0001). There was no association between intake of total dairy products and dental caries.

Conclusions

Consumption of milk, cheese, or yogurt had a beneficial effect on childhood dental caries, even in Japan where people consume relatively less milk and dairy products.
Posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth among female and male veterans: The contribution of romantic relationship and friendship functioning
Authors: Barden Eileen P. , Kumar Shaina A. , Sager Julia C. , Thompson‐Hollands Johanna , Lee Daniel J. , Harper Kelly , Keane Terence M. , Marx Brian P.
Published: January 2025

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is characterized as the experience of positive psychological change following exposure to traumatic stress. However, studies examining the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and PTG have demonstrated mixed results. Further, although higher levels of social support have been shown to predict higher ratings of PTG, there are limited longitudinal findings regarding how interpersonal functioning may affect the association between PTSD symptoms and PTG. In this study, we examined interpersonal functioning in romantic relationships and friendships as mediators of the relation between PTSD symptom severity and PTG and examined potential sex differences among these associations. Participants were 1,427 veterans who completed self‐report questionnaires across three time points. A parallel mediation analysis indicated that romantic relationship, β = −.01, 95% CI [−.03, −.001], and friendship, β = −.02, 95% CI [−.04, −.001], functioning were both indirectly associated with PTG in the full sample. Moreover, sex‐stratified models indicated that romantic relationship functioning was a significant mediator for male veterans, β = −.02, 95% CI [−.05, −.01], whereas friendship functioning was a significant mediator for female veterans, β = −.04, 95% CI [−.08, −.01]. Together, these findings suggest that interpersonal functioning is an important factor in PTG, and targeting romantic relationship and friendship functioning in the context of trauma‐focused treatment may be valuable and can help build a pathway from PTSD symptoms to PTG among female and male veterans.
Color‐shifting Crystalline Colloidal Arrays from Polymers With Upper Critical Solution Temperature
Authors: Fan Xinzhen , Luo Mengqi , Zhang Yulin , Zhu X. X. , Zhao Chuanzhuang
Published: January 2025

Crystalline colloidal arrays (CCAs) composed of core–shell microspheres with thermoresponsive structural iridescence governed by Bragg's law have garnered significant attention for diverse applications. While core–shell microspheres with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) properties are extensively studied, upper critical solution temperature (UCST) counterparts remain unexplored, offering the potential to expand the application scope of thermoresponsive CCAs. In this study, poly(N‐acryloyl glycinamide) (PNAGA), a UCST homopolymer, is employed for the first time to synthesize core–shell microspheres. By copolymerizing NAGA with the hydrophilic co‐monomer acrylamide (AM) to form the shell, microspheres with soft shells capable of assembling into CCAs with bright iridescence are obtained. Owing to Bragg's law and the UCST properties of the shell, the diffraction wavelength of these CCAs depends on concentration, observation angle, and temperature. The CCAs exhibit thermoresponsive behavior, with a size transition temperature around 14°C. Upon heating, the shells swell, and the microspheres transition from a rigid to a soft state, leading to an increase in interparticle distance and enhanced stabilization of the ordered microsphere packing. This process results in a red shift and a significant increase in the intensity of the diffraction peak. The thermoresponsive properties of these CCAs highlight their potential as intelligent temperature‐sensing materials.
Broadening the Phenotype Spectrum of MECP2 Variants in Men
Authors: Lötjönen Johannes , Kurra Venla , Laivuori Hannele , Bjelogrlić Nina
Published: January 2025

Background

MECP2 variants cause X‐chromosome‐linked rare developmental syndromes. Typically, the mutation is sporadic, occurs in females and is fatal in men. Accurate genetic and clinical diagnostics are considered essential for the management of symptoms and the development of new treatments. These aims may be difficult to reach before more is known about factors resulting in highly variable clinical pictures among patients carrying the same MECP2 variant. We describe the clinical picture of two brothers carrying the same MECP2 variant and compare them with cases published in the literature.

Methods

Most of the MECP2 mutations are known to be de novo mutations, which is why the recurrence of the mutation in the couple's other children is unlikely. Unexpectedly, our routine genetic testing revealed a 23‐year‐old man (P1) and his younger brother (P2) to carry the same hemizygous pathogenic missense variant c.419C>T, p.(Ala140Val) (transcript NM_004992.3) of MECP2, which was found to be inherited from their presumably asymptomatic mother. Thus, further clinical evaluation and comparison with literature cases was considered necessary.

Results

The P1 has a severe syndromic intellectual disorder (ID), whereas his brother has a substantially milder ID predominantly limited to problems in verbal skills. Neither P1 nor his younger brother has been diagnosed with Rett syndrome. The P1 (unlike his younger brother) has several lingual, social and motor difficulties; disruptive behavior was the most difficult symptom to treat. P1's response to several medical and non‐medical treatment trials has remained inadequate, thus requiring the patient to be hospitalised for a long time.

The literature review revealed that apart from our family, there are five other families with more than one male carrying the same MECP2 p.Ala140Val mutation, such as P1 and P2. The phenotypes of all 24 men from us (n = 2) and others (n = 22) carrying the same, presumably non‐lethal mutation show great variability.

Conclusions

The p.Ala140Val mutation of MECP2 in males is associated with a rare X‐chromosomal developmental disorder with highly variable phenotypes. Further studies are needed to better understand all those influencing factors that can explain phenotypic differences within the same genotype to find optimal medicinal therapies.
Artificial Intelligence Enabled Biomineralization for Eco‐Friendly Nanomaterial Synthesis: Charting Future Trends
Authors: Chandrasekar Vaisali , Panicker Anu Jayanthi , Singh Ajay Vikram , Bhadra Jolly , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar , Aboumarzouk Omar M. , Al Ansari Abdulla , Dakua Sarada Prasad
Published: January 2025

The applications of nanoparticles (NPs) have shown tremendous growth during the last decade in the field of biomedicine. Although chemical and physical methods dominate large‐scale NP synthesis, such methods are also known for their adverse impact on the environment and health. In contrast, the use of biological systems provides a sustainable alternative for producing functional NPs by biomineralization process. The transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) has been proven prudent in diagnosis, drug development, therapy, and clinical decision‐making. AI can be utilized for tailored design, synthesis, and NPs scale‐up for biomedical applications. The present review provides an overview of biomineralization process and its advantages over other eco‐friendly NP synthesis opportunities. Specific emphasis is provided on the application of NPs in cancer therapy and how the use of biologically compatible NPs can improve cancer management. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, the potential of integrating AI in NPs synthesis is comprehensively analyzed for the first time. Additionally, an overview on how AI can help surpass conventionally synthesized NP toxicity by integrating toxicology and material science is provided.
Positional Packet Capture for Anomaly Detection in Multitenant Virtual Networks
Authors: Spiekermann Daniel
Published: January 2025

Anomaly detection in multitenant virtual networks presents significant challenges due to the dynamic, ephemeral nature of virtualized environments and the complex traffic patterns they generate. This paper presents a definition of preferable positions within virtual networks to enhance anomaly detection efficacy. Leveraging a combination of overlay and underlay capture positions, this paper examines the strategic impact of network positioning on anomaly detection accuracy, particularly in environments utilizing software‐defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV). Through controlled testing with realistic attack scenarios, including data exfiltration, denial of service, and malware infiltration, the advantages and constraints of each capture position are demonstrated. The findings underscore the necessity of adaptable capture mechanisms to address variability in data volume, encapsulation challenges, and privacy concerns unique to virtualized ecosystems. The paper further introduces a cost calculation model that evaluates each capture position by weighting key factors, enabling an optimized trade‐off between detection accuracy and resource efficiency. The derived classification of the positional value significantly improves real‐time detection of both internal and external threats within multitenant networks.
Calibrating Resistance and Current Measurements in Conductive Probe Atomic Force Microscopy: New Reference Samples and Calibration Methods
Authors: Piquemal François , Chrétien Pascal , Morán‐Meza José , Houzé Frédéric , Delvallée Alexandra , Ulysse Christian , Harouri Abdelmounaim
Published: January 2025

Despite the considerable contributions of conductive probe atomic force microscopy (C‐AFM) to the understanding of materials and devices’ properties at the nanoscale, measurements remain prone to an arsenal of artifact‐inducing factors. Herein, new calibration samples are developed enabling an easy access to highly accurate calibrated C‐AFM measurements over expanded resistance and current ranges from 1 kΩ to 1 TΩ and from 10 fA to 10 μA. For this purpose, the influence of the AFM probe (material, wear) is investigated by operating C‐AFM in spectroscopy and imaging modes. Commendable measurement protocols are elaborated with associated simplified uncertainty budgets, showing that the combined standard uncertainties do not exceed a few percent over the whole resistance and current ranges. These calibration samples pave the way for reliable and reproducible quantitative measurements of resistance and current at the nanoscale, and the findings are expected to promote the adoption of the C‐AFM for these nanoscale measurements.
Affective Politics of Belonging to STEM: Some Conceptual and Methodological Considerations
Authors: El Halwany Sarah , Adams Jennifer D.
Published: January 2025

This paper is situated within the vast literature that examines issues of under‐representation, microaggressions, and social inequities faced by racially and gender diverse students in STEM education. As part of the special issue “Centering Affect and Emotion Toward Justice and Dignity in Science Education,” it focuses on analyzing the affective dimensions of racialized students' encounters in postsecondary settings to highlight affective politics of belonging to STEM fields within a Canadian context. Research on emotions in science education can benefit from a process‐oriented view of emotions to better understand how exclusionary boundaries get (re)formed between bodies, which can inform science equity efforts. One major implication of this work is to offer a different analytical tool for approaching notions of belonging as commonly employed in science education literature. Through a cultural political analysis of emotions, desires, and affects, we seek to go beyond psycho‐social views on belonging as synonymous with understanding students' sense of belonging in STEM. Sense of belonging maintains emotions as interiorized positive feelings, whereby belonging is often employed as a self‐explanatory term, if not an end goal, conflating it with (group) identity. Rather, we seek to analyze how belonging is affectively constituted in day‐to‐day encounters between students and within spaces of postsecondary STEM. Careful not to reproduce deterministic and static analyses, we further attend to students' longings and desires for encountering STEM and higher education spaces anew. Finally, we consider some methodological affordances and limitations for attuning to the affective and embodied in students' responses to an exploratory survey.
Gelatin‐Induced Synthesis of Strain‐Engineered Spherical Cu2O Nanoparticles for Efficient Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia
Authors: Li Ji , Wu Kai , Heng Jing , Zhu Lintao , Wang Xuechuan , Han Qingxin , Qiang Taotao
Published: January 2025

The electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia offers an environmentally sustainable pathway for nitrogen fixation. However, achieving both efficiency and selectivity in nitrate reduction presents a formidable challenge, due to the involvement of sluggish multielectron transfer processes. Herein, the successful synthesis of spherical Cu₂O nanoparticles (s‐Cu₂O) exhibiting significant compressive strain effects, achieved through a one‐pot method using gelatin as a structural modifier, is reported. The s‐Cu₂O catalyst demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance for nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR), achieving a Faradaic efficiency (FENH3) of 95.07%, ammonia selectivity of 92.03%, a nitrate conversion rate of 97.77%, and a yield rate of 284.83 µmol h⁻¹ cm⁻2 at −0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE) for ammonia production. Structural characterization and density functional theory calculations reveal that compressive strain plays a critical role in modulating the electronic structure of the catalyst, thereby activating the *NO intermediate in the potential determining step and effectively suppressing the hydrogen evolution reaction. Furthermore, it is implemented in a Zn‐NO3− battery, and the test results indicate that the battery achieved a peak power density of 3.95 mW cm−2 at a potential of 0.129 V (vs Zn/Zn2⁺), illustrating its excellent electrochemical and functional efficacy. This work introduces a novel strategy for the rational design of high‐performance electrocatalysts through strain engineering, offering broad implications for energy‐efficient ammonia synthesis, and sustainable nitrogen cycling.
Design and Analysis of Double‐Sided U‐Shaped Linear Primary Permanent Magnet Vernier Motor
Authors: Huang Hualin , Lu Xiaojian , Zhang Chi , Yan Wenyuan , Zhang Jie , Zhou Jie , Yang Guilin
Published: January 2025

This paper introduces a new double‐sided U‐shaped linear primary permanent magnet Vernier (U‐LPPMV) motor, whose most important feature is a U‐shaped Halbach structure in which the magnetization direction of five permanent magnets is concentrated at the center point, which provides more than twice the thrust density compared with existing single‐sided motors. The secondary stage adopts a convex pole structure consisting of laminated silicon steel sheets, which has the advantages of a simple structure and low cost. The no‐load counter‐electromotive force and magnetic chain are made more sinusoidal by changing the side end structure at both ends of the primary. Next, the air‐gap magnetic density of the motor is analyzed analytically by establishing the magnetomotive force potential‐magnetic conductance model, and the accuracy is verified by simulation analysis. In addition, a global optimization of the motor is performed to increase the average thrust and improve the electromagnetic performance based on the optimized structural parameters. Finally, the accuracy of the theory is demonstrated by prototype design and fabrication as well as by building a test platform, and the motor is more suitable for long‐stroke, high‐load, and high‐precision application scenarios. © 2025 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Direct repeats found in the vicinity of intron splice sites
Authors: Rogers Scott O. , Bendich Arnold J.
Published: January 2025

Four main classes of introns (group I, group II, spliceosomal, and archaeal) have been reported for all major types of RNA from nuclei and organelles of a wide range of taxa. When and how introns inserted within the genic regions of genomes, however, is often unclear. Introns were examined from Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Up to 80 bp surrounding each of the 5' and 3' intron/exon borders were compared to search for direct repeats (DRs). For each of the 213 introns examined, DNA sequence analysis revealed DRs at or near the intron/exon borders, ranging from 4 to 30 bp in length, with a mean of 11.4 bp. More than 80% of the repeats were within 10 bp of the intron/exon borders. The numbers of DRs 6–30 bp in length were greater than expected by chance. When a DNA segment moves into a new genomic location, the insertion involves a double-strand DNA break that must be repaired to maintain genome stability and often results in a pair of DRs that now flank the insert. This insertion process applies to both mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as transposons, and to introns as reported here. The DNA break at the insertion site may be caused by transposon-like events or recombination. Thus, introns and transposons appear to be members of a group of parasitic MGEs that secondarily may benefit their host cell and have expanded greatly in eukaryotes from their prokaryotic ancestors.
Health and relationship quality of sexual minorities in Europe
Authors: Berlingieri Francesco , Kovacic Matija
Published: January 2025

A growing body of literature investigates inequalities between sexual minorities and their heterosexual peers. This paper deals with disparities in health, health-related behaviours, and relationship quality among LGB+ individuals. We use a novel data set that allows for a wide cross-national analysis (27 EU member states) of disparities between sexual minorities and the rest of the population, as well as differences in reporting sexual orientation. We consider a rich set of social stressors, individual-specific behavioural factors, and health outcomes, as well as novel para-data (i.e., individuals’ response times) that are not available in other large surveys. The results indicate that sexual minorities are more exposed to stigma-related social stressors (both in childhood and adulthood), report worse physical and mental health conditions, feel more lonely, and are more likely to engage in coping strategies aimed at reducing or adapting to stressful conditions. Some of these findings significantly differ across gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals and with respect to household income, the country’s enforcement of sexual minorities’ rights, and relationship status.
Diode area melting of SS316L using low power 450 nm lasers
Authors: Erman Sefer Can , Aydin Alkim , Groom Kristian , Mumtaz Kamran
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the use of Diode Area Melting (DAM) to process 316L stainless steel (SS316L), an alternative to Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), utilising independently addressable, low-power (~ 3.5 W) 450 nm blue lasers to address key limitations of LPBF, including thermal control, scalability, and efficiency. A normalised energy density (NED) processing map was developed to ensure successful material melting. Results demonstrated that DAM can achieve a relative density of 99.99% in single-layer SS316L samples using multiple 450 nm blue diode lasers. Notably, DAM-processed SS316L exhibited a significantly higher delta-ferrite content than samples produced via traditional LPBF, which is attributed to the slower cooling rate in DAM (600 °C/s vs. 107 °C/s). This increased delta-ferrite content enhances resistance to stress corrosion cracking in austenitic steel welds. Moreover, sub-grain cellular structures in the DAM-processed SS316L showed a 100% increase in size (4 μm) compared to those produced by LPBF.
Factors Associated with Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in Late Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Finkelstein Amit , Sion-Sarid Rachel , Zipper Oren , Mitler Avital , Erell Yair
Published: January 2025

Research establishing factors associated with duration of mechanical ventilation after Tetralogy of Fallot repair, is mainly based on population presenting at early infancy. There are fewer reports regarding repair after infancy, during childhood and preadolescence. To compare two groups of late TOF repair based on post-operative invasive mechanical ventilation duration and explore associations with pre-operative clinical markers of severity of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. A single-center retrospective cohort study based on medical charts review of patients older than 12 months who underwent primary complete TOF repair between 2017 and 2023. Patients younger than 12 months or those who had distinct anatomical variants were excluded. Pre-operative characteristics reflecting the severity of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction were collected, including baseline oxygen saturation, the occurrence of hypercyanotic spells, maximum right ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient. Perioperative variables included repair type, cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp duration, and rates of residual lesions. 280 patients from 27 countries were screened; 181 remained eligible and were significantly older than previously reported. 129 (71%) were extubated early post-operatively, while 52 (29%) had a longer ventilation course. In a multivariate analysis, only baseline oxygen saturation and repair type maintained a significant association with length of mechanical ventilation. In distinctly older patients undergoing TOF repair, those with lower base line saturation undergoing a non-valve preserving repair are more likely to have a longer course of mechanical ventilation. Other clinical markers reflecting the severity of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction were not independently associated with mechanical ventilation duration.
Agricultural Practices and Environmental Factors Drive Microbial Communities in the Mezcal-Producing Agave angustifolia Haw
Authors: Contreras-Negrete Gonzalo , Valiente-Banuet Alfonso , Molina-Freaner Francisco , Partida-Martínez Laila P. , Hernández-López Antonio
Published: January 2025

Mezcal, a traditional Mexican alcoholic beverage, has been a vital source of livelihood for indigenous and rural communities for centuries. However, increasing international demand is exerting pressure on natural resources and encouraging intensive agricultural practices. This study investigates the impact of management practices (wild, traditional, and conventional) and environmental factors on the microbial communities associated with Agave angustifolia, a key species in mezcal production. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene regions revealed distinct prokaryotic and fungal community structures across different plant compartments (endosphere, episphere, and soil), identifying 8214 prokaryotic and 7459 fungal ASVs. Core microbial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Alpha diversity analyses showed significant increases in prokaryotic diversity from the endosphere to soil, while fungal diversity remained stable. Notably, conventional management practices were associated with reductions in beneficial microbial taxa. Environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature significantly influenced microbial diversity and composition, especially in the rhizosphere. Beta diversity patterns underscored the strong impact of plant compartment, with management practices and aridity further shaping microbial communities. These results reveal the intricate interactions between management practices, environmental conditions, and microbial diversity, providing valuable insights for the sustainable cultivation of A. angustifolia.
Lifting the Veil of Ignorance: Prison Cruelty, Sentencing Theory, and the Failure of Liberal Retributivism
Authors: Dagan Netanel , Baron Shmuel
Published: January 2025

Criminologists have criticized the gap between retributive theory and prison realities. In this study, we drew on qualitative findings from the Supreme Court judges of Israel to explore how judicial decision-makers construct the relationship between their retributive theory and their vision of prison life. We found that these judges perceived prison to be a disproportionate and cruel punishment. In responding to prison excessiveness, these judges constructed a “veil of ignorance” between the phases of sentencing and imprisonment by (a) re-theorizing retribution; (b) closing the gap between sentencing and prison, and (c) neutralizing responsibility. The findings shed light on the judiciary’s epistemology of prisons and its meaning for their retributive theory. In conclusion, the boundaries of retributive scholarship should be expanded to include more fully the problematic meaning of prison cruelties for judges’ philosophies and consciousness.
Is a single model enough? The systematic comparison of computational approaches for detecting populist radical right content
Authors: Makhortykh Mykola , de León Ernesto , Christner Clara , Sydorova Maryna , Urman Aleksandra , Adam Silke , Maier Michaela , Gil-Lopez Teresa
Published: January 2025

The rise of populist radical right (PRR) ideas stresses the importance of understanding how individuals engage with PRR content online. However, this task is complicated by the variety of channels through which such engagement can take place. In this article, we systematically compare computational approaches for detecting PRR content in textual data. Using 66 dictionary, classic supervised machine learning, and deep learning (DL) models, we compare how these distinct approaches perform on the PRR detection task for three Germanophone test datasets and how their performance is affected by different modes of text preprocessing. In addition to individual models, we examine the performance of 330 ensemble models combining the above-mentioned approaches for the dataset with a particularly high volume of noise. Our findings demonstrate that the DL models, in combination with more computationally intense forms of preprocessing, show the best performance among the individual models, but it remains suboptimal in the case of more noisy datasets. While the use of ensemble models shows some improvement for specific modes of preprocessing, overall, it mostly remains on par with individual DL models, thus stressing the challenging nature of computational detection of PRR content.
Detection and quantification of drugs on banknotes by LC–MS/MS with a fast and non-destructive sample preparation: a comparison of three cities
Authors: Demirel Göksun , Erol Öztürk Yeter , Yeter Oya , Aslıyüksek Hızır
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The analysis of drug residues on some currencies is well-established in the literature. However, there is no published study describing the presence of drug residues on Turkish paper currency.

Methods

This study focused on the analysis of 14 drug residues present on 600 Turkish banknotes collected from three different cities: Ankara, Adana, and Istanbul. The banknotes underwent preparation by a non-destructive and straightforward extraction method using methanol. To investigate the extent of contamination a method was subsequently developed and validated for liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis to detect and quantify the target analytes. The investigated substances included benzoylecgonine, cocaine, heroin, codeine, morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-AM), amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA), methyl 3,3-dimethyl-2-(1-(pent-4-en-1-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)butanoate (MDMB-4EN-PINACA), N-[1-(aminocarbonyl)-2,2-dimethylpropyl]-1-butyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (ADB-BUTINACA), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), pregabalin, ketamine, and tramadol.

Results

The calculated mean concentrations per note were 475.5 ng cocaine, 660.7 ng methamphetamine, 220.4 ng benzoylecgonine, 36.5 ng ketamine, 46.0 ng amphetamine, 120.6 ng 6-AM, 22.9 ng morphine, 6.3 ng codeine, 107.4 ng THC, 1.3 ng MDMB-4en-PINACA, 1.1 ng ADB-BUTINACA and 65.9 ng MDMA. Our findings indicate that banknotes commonly circulated in the three cities were primarily contaminated with methamphetamine and cocaine.

Conclusions

This study highlights the prevalence of drug residues on banknotes and raises concerns about their potential impact. The contamination of Turkish currency with drug residues is a strong indication of the widespread use of banknotes in drug trafficking.
The Impact of Racial and Low Socioeconomic Status on the Implementation of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain in the United States
Authors: Howard Gabriel , Guinand Luis , Xu Eric , Kervyn Alex , Habibi Behnum
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study aims to review the societal, economic, and racial factors that impact the usage of spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain. Our working hypothesis is that patients of ethnic minority groups or of lower socioeconomic status (SES) status may have lower implantation rates and usage of spinal cord stimulation (SCS).

Materials and Methods

Our study sourced publications from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library on December 21st, 2023 for SCS for the purposes of pain management. Articles were excluded from the review if the study was not USA based, did not involve SCS for the purpose of pain or did not allow for the subgroup analysis. There were 1028 reports that resulted after the initial search with 184 duplicates which were removed. Six reports met the inclusion and exclusionary criteria and were included in the review.

Results

Several trends were able to be extrapolated from the pooled reviews. Orhurhu et al. found that Black and Hispanic minorities had a higher utilization rate of SCSs than their White and Asian counterparts in the inpatient setting. Jones and Missios et al. found that in the outpatient setting, White and privately insured patients were more likely to utilize SCS. Ovrom et al. observed an increased cost associated with Hispanic ethnicity and inpatient SCS utilization. Wondwossen et al. found that in the US military system White patients were more likely to receive SCS earlier in their care than Black patients. Labaran et al. concluded the Southern US completed more SCS implants, particularly in White patients with Medicare insurance.

Conclusions

White patients are recipients of SCS earlier and more frequently than minority patients in the outpatient setting. There is mixed evidence regarding inpatient SCS and how household income relates to SCS usage. Insurance type and coverage may be more accurately predictive than simple household income for SCS utilization.
Maximizing resource valorization: mono- and co-digestion of food and agricultural wastes with insights into microbial community dynamics
Authors: Uzun Omer , Oter Merve , Ozsefil Ibrahim Cem , Doymus Kubra , Ince Bahar , Ince Orhan
Published: January 2025

The valorization of food processing waste is critical for sustainable development and circular economy frameworks. Although Turkish delight waste (D), a high-volume byproduct of the confectionery industry in Turkey, holds significant potential for valorization within the circular economy framework, this potential remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the valorization potential of Turkish delight waste in anaerobic digester systems by co-digesting it with sunflower heads (S) and tea stalks (T), common agricultural wastes in Turkey, in addition to mono-digestion. Economic evaluations were also conducted on the products obtained at different stages of anaerobic digestion (AD). The highest methane yield of 388 mL CH4/g VS was obtained from Turkish delight waste in mono-digestion, and this substrate enhanced methane production when co-digested with the other substrates. However, co-digestion in the DST digester combining all three substrates yielded 234 mL CH4/g VS, indicating a limited synergistic effect. Metagenomic analyses revealed substrate-dependent variations in microbial community dynamics, particularly in digesters containing only Turkish delight waste. Acidogenic fermentation aimed at increasing VFA yield resulted in total acetic acid productions of 2828, 1707, and 1261 mg/L for D, DS, and DST, respectively. Economic assessments demonstrated that the value derived from VFA production was nearly double that obtained from methane production, even in cases where co-digestion resulted in lower overall yields. Thus, Turkish delight waste emerges as a promising candidate for both mono- and co-digestion in AD systems, offering a potentially more economically viable alternative to methane production through the generation of value-added chemicals such as VFAs.

Graphical Abstract
Selenium improves the flavor-promoting substances of summer tea (Camellia sinensis) by altering the expression of flavonoid and amino acids metabolic genes
Authors: Zhang Ruiming , Tang Huishan , Hu Xinlong , Chen Yuqiong , Ni Dejiang , Wang Mingle
Published: January 2025

Summer tea (Camellia sinensis) is less favored due to its inferior taste compared to spring tea. The application of selenium (Se) has proven effective in enhancing tea flavor. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the Se-mediated improvement of summer tea quality remain unclear. This study examines the alteration of trace elements, the metabolome, and the transcriptome in tea plants subjected to Se treatment. Se application increased the concentrations of B, Fe, Zn, and Se in the summer tea shoots of certain cultivars. Metabolomic analysis revealed that exogenous Se elevated the levels of theanine and flavonoids while reducing the catechin bitterness taste index in most of the selected cultivars. Transcriptomic analysis further demonstrated that Se treatment modulated the expression of CsSULTRs, CsPHTs, CsIRTs, CsZIPs, and CsBOTs, indicating a potential link between the accumulation of these elements and the corresponding transporter genes. Based on qRT-PCR results, CsSULTR1.1, 1.2, and 4.1 are likely involved in Se transport. Additionally, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly enriched in the flavonoid and amino acid biosynthesis pathways following Se treatment. In conclusion, the addition of Se enhances the flavor profile of summer tea by modulating genes participating in flavonoid and amino acid metabolism, underpinning its potential for improving summer tea quality.
Tehran's Borderlines
Authors: Jalili Jaleh
Published: January 2025

Tehran has changed in recent decades. Rapid urban development through the expansion of subway lines, highways, bridges, and tunnels, and the emergence of new public spaces have drastically reshaped the physical spaces of Tehran. As the city changes, so do its citizens, their social relations, and their individual and collective perceptions of urban life, class, and culture. Tehran's Borderlines is about the social relations that are interrupted, facilitated, forged, and transformed through processes of urban development. Focusing on the use of public spaces, this book provides an analysis of urban social relations in the context of broader economic, cultural, and political forces. The book offers a narrative of how public spaces function as manifestations of complex relations among citizens of different backgrounds, between citizens and the state, and between forces that shape the physical realities of spaces and the conceptual meanings that citizens create and assign to them.
Sustaining Development in Small Islands
Authors: Bishop Matthew Louis , Bouhia Rachid , Carter Salā George , Corbett Jack , Lindsay Courtney , Scobie Michelle , Wilkinson Emily
Published: January 2025

The viability of small island developing states (SIDS) is threatened by three distinct processes – a backlash against globalisation; rising geopolitical competition between powers; and accelerating climate change – which are pulling at the threads binding the liberal international order together. We suggest that this order has been kinder to SIDS than is often acknowledged because its underpinning norms – sovereign equality, non-interference, and right to development – are inherently permissive and thus provide SIDS with choices rather than imperatives. Their leaders should fight for the continuation and enhancement of that order rather than be seduced by alternatives. We provide a rationale for and examples of policies to achieve this, including reforms to the way ODA is measured, debt restructured, climate finance allocated, and global governance organised. These enhancements represent the most plausible pathway for SIDS in a period of significant global upheaval. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
The City Beautiful and the Globalization of Urban Planning
Authors: Morley Ian
Published: January 2025

During the past one hundred or so years, urbanists have composed grand narratives regarding the development of urban design and the international dissemination of planning models. Yet, building upon this historiography, whilst the transnational dimension of modern city planning has centred itself upon the diffusion of the British garden city, far less attention has been put upon the global reach of the American City Beautiful. Owing to the ethnocentricity of American planning history literature, thus, the chronicle of the City Beautiful has anchored itself, literally and figuratively, to the North American continent. Yet, in truth, grand American-inspired plans were implemented throughout the world; indeed, they were carried out long after the City Beautiful's popularity had waned in North America, and they were executed under a variety of cultural and political conditions.
The Shamanism of Eco-Tourism
Authors: Whitaker James Andrew
Published: January 2025

In the first book in English to focus specifically on the Makushi in Guyana, James Andrew Whitaker examines how shamanism informs Makushi interactions with outsiders in the context of historical missionization and contemporary tourism. The Makushi are an Indigeneous people who speak a Cariban language and live in Guyana, Brazil, and Venezuela. Combining ethnohistory, ethnographic fieldwork, and archival research, this book elucidates a shamanic framework that is seen in Makushi engagements with outsiders in the past and present. It shows how this framework structures interactions between Makushi groups and various visitors in Guyana. Similar to how Makushi shamans draw in spirit allies, Makushi groups seek human outsiders and form strategic partnerships with them to obtain desired resources that are used for local goals and transformative projects. The book advances recent scholarship concerning ontological relations in Amazonia and is positioned at the cusp of debates over Amazonian relations with alterity.
TransGenre
Authors: Hammes Aaron
Published: January 2025

TransGenre is a reconsideration of genre theory in long-form fiction through transgender minor literature in the US and Canada. Using four genre sites (the road novel, the mourning novel, the chosen family novel, and the archival novel), this Element considers how the minoritized becomes the minoritarian through deterritorializing generic conventions in fiction to its own ends. In so doing, TransGenre proposes narrative reading practices as strategies of the minor to subvert, transgress, and reappropriate the novel's genealogy and radical future prospects. A range of fiction published in the last decade is deployed as largely self-theorizing, generating its own epistemological, thematic, and formal innovations and possibilities, revealing cisheteronormative underpinnings of generic categories and turning them in on themselves.
The Idea of the City in Late Antiquity
Authors: Wallace-Hadrill Andrew
Published: January 2025

The city was one of the central and defining features of the world of the Greek and Roman Mediterranean. Challenging the idea that the ancient city 'declined and fell', Andrew Wallace-Hadrill argues that memories of the past enabled cities to adapt and remain relevant in the changing post-Roman world. In the new kingdoms in Italy, France and Spain cities remained a key part of the structure of control, while to contemporary authors, such as Cassiodorus in Ostrogothic Italy, Gregory of Tours in Merovingian Gaul, and Isidore in Visigothic Spain, they remained as crucial as in antiquity. The archaeological evidence of New Cities founded in this period, from Constantinople to Reccopolis in Spain, also shows the deep influence of past models. This timely and exhilarating book reveals the adaptability of cities and the endurance of the Greek and Roman world.
Art, Knowledge, and Papal Politics in Medieval Rome
Authors: Hauknes Marius B.
Published: January 2025

Discovered in 1995, the remarkable thirteenth-century frescoes in the great hall, or Aula Gotica, of Rome's Santi Quattro Coronati complex are among the most important vestiges of medieval Italian painting. In this volume, Marius Hauknes offers a thorough investigation of the fresco cycle, which includes allegorical representations of the liberal arts, the virtues and vices, the seasons, the signs of the zodiac, and the months of the year. Hauknes relates these subjects to the papacy's growing interest in fields of worldly knowledge, such as music, time, astrology, and medicine. He argues that the Santi Quattro Coronati frescoes function as a large-scale, interactive encyclopedia that not only represented secular knowledge but also produced philosophical speculation, stimulating beholders to draw connections between pictorial motifs across architectural space. Integrating medieval intellectual history with close attention to multi-sensory and architectural conditions of fresco Hauknes' study offers new insights into religion, art, science, and spectatorship in medieval Italy.
Bayesian Models of the Mind
Authors: Rescorla Michael
Published: January 2025

Bayesian decision theory is a mathematical framework that models reasoning and decision-making under uncertain conditions. The Bayesian paradigm originated as a theory of how people should operate, not a theory of how they actually operate. Nevertheless, cognitive scientists increasingly use it to describe the actual workings of the human mind. Over the past few decades, cognitive science has produced impressive Bayesian models of mental activity. The models postulate that certain mental processes conform, or approximately conform, to Bayesian norms. Bayesian models offered within cognitive science have illuminated numerous mental phenomena, such as perception, motor control, and navigation. This Element provides a self-contained introduction to the foundations of Bayesian cognitive science. It then explores what we can learn about the mind from Bayesian models offered by cognitive scientists.
A RIGID KUREPA TREE FROM A FREE SUSLIN TREE
Authors: KRUEGER JOHN
Published: January 2025

We analyze a countable support product of a free Suslin tree which turns it into a highly rigid Kurepa tree with no Aronszajn subtree. In the process, we introduce a new rigidity property for trees, which says roughly speaking that any non-trivial strictly increasing function from a section of the tree into itself maps into a cofinal branch.
THE SHORT EXACT SEQUENCE IN DEFINABLE GALOIS COHOMOLOGY
Authors: MERETZKY DAVID
Published: January 2025

In [2], Pillay introduced definable Galois cohomology, a model-theoretic generalization of Galois cohomology. Let M be an atomic and strongly

$\omega $

-homogeneous structure over a set of parameters A. Let B be a normal extension of A in M. We show that a short exact sequence of automorphism groups

$1 \to \operatorname {\mathrm {Aut}}(M/B) \to \operatorname {\mathrm {Aut}}(M/A) \to \operatorname {\mathrm {Aut}}(B/A) \to 1$

induces a short exact sequence in definable Galois cohomology. We also discuss compatibilities with [3]. Our result complements the long exact sequence in definable Galois cohomology developed in [4].
Mobilization and recycling of intracellular phosphorus in response to availability
Authors: Chiang Chih-Pin , Yayen Joseph , Chiou Tzyy-Jen
Published: January 2025

Phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable resource that limits plant productivity due to its low bioavailability in the soil. Large amounts of P fertilizer are required to sustain high yields, which is both inefficient and hazardous to the environment. Plants have evolved various adaptive responses to cope with low external P availability, including mobilizing cellular P through phosphate (Pi) transporters and recycling Pi from P-containing biomolecules to maintain cellular P homeostasis. This mini-review summarizes the current research on intracellular P recycling and mobilization in response to P availability. We introduce the roles of Pi transporters and the P metabolic enzymes and expand on their gene regulation and mechanisms. The relevance of these processes in the search for targets to improve phosphorus use efficiency and some of the current challenges and gaps in our understanding of P starvation responses are discussed.