bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Planning Approaches for Coastal Climate Adaptation: Process and Key-elements
Authors: Valente Sofia , Pinho Paulo
Published: January 2025

The paradigm of Adaptive Planning and Management provides several methodological approaches for designing robust adaptive plans to cope with uncertain future changes, namely the Adaptation Pathways’ method (APs). These approaches, particularly those containing APs, have captured increasing interest in the field of coastal climate adaptation as useful for guiding its planning and management. While these approaches have been tested in several research cases, there are still few real cases of application into coastal spatial planning instruments. Furthermore, the lack of implementation of coastal adaptation actions in urbanized coasts worldwide, so-called adaptation gaps, points to the need of investigating to what extent these Adaptive Planning approaches containing APs are being applied in coastal plans. A deeper analysis of cases of application of these approaches in coastal plans is required to understand how adaptive plans are being crafted. This article focusses on the two major cases of application of APs-based Adaptive Planning and Management approaches into planning and management instruments – the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan and the Delta Programme – to identify what elements were essential to design an adaptive plan and operationalize an Adaptive Planning and Management approach, including ingredients that the plan had to meet to be robust and adaptive. Our results suggest that at least five elements are required to craft and deliver a robust adaptive plan and accomplish a real Adaptive Planning and Management.
Associations of ventriculomegaly and white matter hyperintensities with glymphatic dysfunction in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Wu Qian , Chen Jiakuan , Yang Xiaolin , Zhang Xiejun , He Wenjie , Xia Jun
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To investigate glymphatic function in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method and to explore the associations of ALPS index with ventriculomegaly and white matter hyperintensities (WMH).

Materials and methods

This study included 41 patients with iNPH and 40 age- and sex-matched normal controls (NCs). All participants underwent brain MRI. Based on DTI, we then calculated the ALPS index to obtain the water diffusivity along the perivascular space. Ventricular volume and WMH were also determined. Differences in the diffusivities and ALPS indexes between the iNPH and NC groups were investigated; associations of the DTI-ALPS index with ventriculomegaly and WMH were analysed.

Results

Patients with iNPH had a lower ALPS index than NCs (p < 0.001). The ALPS index was significantly correlated with the normalised ventricular volume (r = −0.446, p = 0.004), but not with total WMH volume (r = −0.246, p = 0.126). Further regression analyses indicated that the reduced ALPS index was associated with increased ventricular volume (β = −7.158, p = 0.016), but not with normalised WMH volume (β = −2.796, p = 0.161). The receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated the ALPS index’s excellent diagnostic performance for iNPH (the optimal cut-off point = 1.322; sensitivity, 100.0%; specificity, 87.5%; AUC = 0.980).

Conclusions

Patients with iNPH had a lower ALPS index, which may suggest impaired glymphatic function. This study demonstrated an association of DTI-ALPS index with ventriculomegaly, but not WMH in patients with iNPH.

Key Points

Question

Glymphatic dysfunction is crucial in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) development, yet its associations with neuroimaging features remains unclear.

Findings

Diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) revealed a reduced ALPS index in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, negatively correlating with ventricular volume.

Clinical relevance

DTI-ALPS enables non-invasive assessment of glymphatic function and its relationship with neuroimaging characteristics in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, facilitating the investigation of glymphatic dysfunction in iNPH pathophysiology.
Complete blood counts as potential risk factors of early dissemination to liver and lungs in resected colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Popęda Marta , Żok Jolanta , Tomasik Bartłomiej , Duchnowska Renata , Bieńkowski Michał
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Liver and lung metastases demonstrate distinct biological, particularly immunological, characteristics. We investigated whether preoperative complete blood count (CBC) parameters, which may reflect the immune system condition, predict early dissemination to the liver and lungs in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

In this retrospective single-centre study, we included 268 resected CRC cases with complete 2-year follow-up and analysed preoperative CBC for association with early liver or lung metastasis development. Next, selected CBC and clinicopathological parameters were analysed with uni- and multivariable Cox regression. Independent factors affecting liver or lung metastasis-free survival were incorporated into composite scores, which were further evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and dichotomised using a modified, specificity-focused, Youden approach to identify particularly high-risk patients.

Results

Compared to metastasis-free patients, early liver metastases were related to decreases in red blood cells, haematocrit, lymphocytes and elevated monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, while lung metastases to lower eosinophil counts. A composite score of independent factors (erythrocytopenia, lower lymphocyte count and pN) yielded HR of 8.01 (95% CI 3.45–18.57, p < 0.001) for liver-specific metastasis-free survival (MFS). For lung-specific MFS, the combination of eosinopenia, pN and primary tumour location showed HR of 13.69 (95% CI 4.34–43.20, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Early CRC metastases to the liver and lungs are associated with partially divergent clinicopathological and peripheral blood features. We propose simple, clinically implementable scores, based on routinely assessed parameters, to identify patients with an increased risk of early dissemination to the liver or lungs. After validation in independent cohorts, these scores may provide easily available prognostic information.
Left ventricular rigor mortis interferes with postmortem aortic root geometry
Authors: Federspiel Jan Michael , Abeln Karen B. , Ramsthaler Frank , Tschernig Thomas , Schmidt Peter H.
Published: January 2025

Aortic regurgitation is a common valve disease and can be caused by delineated findings such as fenestrations or hardly discernible alterations of the aortic root geometry. Therefore, aortic regurgitation can be a challenging diagnosis during an autopsy. Cardiac surgeons, however, are confronted with comparable problems during surgery and have developed a refined knowledge of the anatomy of the aortic root including its geometry. Transferring this knowledge from the operating room to the dissection would further complement the panel of postmortem diagnostic tools. To foster translation of the clinical anatomy, the present study assessed the impact of postmortem peculiarities (i.e. myocardial rigor mortis, putrefaction) that might influence aortic root geometry. The aortic root geometry was described by aortic perimeters (basal, sinus, sino-tubular junction, and ascending aorta), effective height (distance from the cusp’s free margin to its nadir), geometric height (cusp height), commissural height (distance from the base of an interleaflet triangle to the end of a commissure), and length of the ascending aorta. Data from 140 cases were analyzed (linear regression, comparative testing). Myocardial rigor mortis was associated with smaller basal rings. Weak positive correlations between the duration of the postmortem interval and aortic root dimensions were observed. In summary, postmortem peculiarities, especially the myocardial cadaveric rigidity, influence postmortem aortic root geometry. Despite these circumstances, the current study demonstrates that aortic root geometric assessment, including effective height, is feasible in a postmortem setting. Further studies are needed to elaborate on aortic root geometry as a diagnostic tool in a necropsy setting.
Lateral hypothalamic area high-frequency deep brain stimulation rescues memory decline in aged rat: behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological study
Authors: Hussein Abdelaziz M. , Abouelnaga Ahmed F. , Obydah Walaa , Saad Somaya , Abass Marwa , Yehia Asmaa , Ibrahim Eman M. , Ahmed Ahmed T. , Abulseoud Osama A.
Published: January 2025

To examine the effect of DBS of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on age-related memory changes, neuronal firing from CA1, oxidative stress, and the expression of Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin. 72 male rats were randomly allocated into 6 equal groups: a) normal young group (8 W), b) sham young group, c) DBS young group, d) normal old group (24 months), e) sham old group and f) DBS old group. Memory tests (passive avoidance and Y maze), oxidative stress markers (MDA, catalase, and GSH) and expression of Nrf2, HO-1, Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin were measured by the end of the experiment. Also, in vivo recording of the neuronal firing of the CA1 region in the hippocampus was done. Old rats show significant decline in memories, antioxidant genes (Nrf2 and HO-1), antioxidants (GSH and catalase), Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin with significant increase in MDA in hippocampus (p < 0.05) and DBS for LHA caused a significant improvement in memories in old rats, with significant rise in fast gamma and theta waves in CA1 region in old rats (p < 0.05). This was associated with a significant increase in antioxidants (GSH and CAT), antioxidant genes (Nrf2, HO-1), Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin with significant reduction in MDA in hippocampus (p < 0.05). DBS for LHA ameliorates the age-induced memory decline. This might be due to increase in fast gamma in CA1, attenuation of oxidative stress, upregulation of Nrf2, HO-1, Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin in the hippocampus.

Graphical Abstract

The effect of DBS of LHA on memory decline in aged rats. The process of aging results in degeneration of the hippocampus (critical region for memory and learning) via increasing the production of ROS which results in downregulation of Nrf2, HO1, Hsp70, BDNF and synaptophysin leading neuronal aggregates, degeneration and memory decline. On the other hand, DBS of LHA by high frequent currents survive the neurons of hippocampus via reduction of ROS production and upregulation of antioxidant genes (Nrf2/HO1), BDNF, synaptophysin and Hsp70 leading to improvement of memory decline. DBS = deep brain stimulation, LHA = lateral hypothalamic area, ROS = reactive oxygen species, Nrf2 = nuclear erythroid related factor, HO-1 = heme oxygenase-1, BDNF = brain derived neurotrophic factor, Hsp70 = heat shock protein 70. ↑ = increase, ↓ = decrease. Red arrows indicate the process of aging, while blue arrows indicate the process of DBS.
Enhancing difficult airway management training: the role of virtual reality and adaptive learning
Authors: Battegazzorre Edoardo , Gino Bruno , Strada Francesco , Kapralos Bill , Dubrowski Adam , Lamberti Fabrizio , Bottino Andrea
Published: January 2025

Emergency physicians play a central role in healthcare. They often must make quick and accurate decisions to save patients’ lives. Among the critical procedures they have to master is difficult airway management (DAM), a procedure required to establish and maintain a patient’s airway for adequate ventilation and oxygenation. To ensure optimal proficiency in DAM, the clinical skills that comprise this procedure must be regularly practiced and updated. However, traditional training approaches present significant organizational challenges in terms of time and cost. In response to these issues, we have developed an innovative education and training application employing immersive Virtual Reality (VR) for teaching basic to advanced DAM procedures, supported by an Adaptive Learning system. To evaluate the effectiveness of our DAM training system, we conducted experiments with a control group trained using traditional methods and two VR subgroups, one with and one without the Adaptive Learning component. Our results show that simulating the DAM procedure in VR is effective in improving students’ knowledge and produces comparable learning outcomes to traditional teaching methods. Interestingly, our study did not provide conclusive evidence that the adaptive design was superior to the non-adaptive one in terms of knowledge and acquisition of skills. However, it demonstrated greater efficiency, particularly in reducing training time.
Efficacy of unbaited and baited green multi-funnel traps for detection of Agrilus species and other wood-boring beetle taxa
Authors: Santoiemma Giacomo , Sweeney Jon , Booth Everett G. , Cavaletto Giacomo , Curletti Gianfranco , Devine Sarah M. , Francese Joseph A. , Franzen Emily K. L. , Giannone Filippo , Giasson Mischa , Gutowski Jerzy M. , Hughes Cory , Kimoto Troy , Kostanowicz Chantelle , Mokrzycki Tomasz , Plewa Radosław , Ray Ann M. , Qingfan Meng , Williams David , Yan Li , Rassati Davide
Published: January 2025

Semiochemical-baited traps are a key component of post-border surveillance for detection of non-native and potentially invasive bark and wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) at risk of introduction in untreated woody materials used in global trade. Because the particular species that may arrive with imported goods is unknown, plant protection agencies need trapping protocols that effectively survey all three taxa. Baiting traps with host volatiles and aggregation/sex pheromones of longhorn beetles increases efficacy of detecting Cerambycidae and Scolytinae, but its effect on detection of Agrilus species and other jewel beetles is unknown. In this multi-country trapping study we found that the addition of ethanol and common aggregation/sex pheromones of longhorn beetles to green multi-funnel traps placed in the mid-upper forest canopy had negative effects on abundance of Agrilus species and other jewel beetles collected but no effect on their species richness, and significant positive effects on species richness and abundance of Cerambycidae and Scolytinae. Baiting green canopy traps with longhorn beetle pheromones increased the efficacy of traps for detecting total target taxa of bark and wood-boring beetles at risk of international movement in untreated woody materials. This information is beneficial for the design of multi-taxa surveys, potentially saving money and resources without decreasing trapping efficacy.
Modelling low-cycle fatigue behaviour of structural aluminium alloys
Authors: Georgantzia Evangelia , Vardanega Paul J. , Kashani Mohammad M.
Published: January 2025

Recently, use of 6000 series aluminium alloys in braced frame structures has been increased due to their superior structural properties. Fracturing of braces as a result of low-cycle fatigue has a major impact on nonlinear behaviour of structures under earthquake loading. Therefore, modelling low-cycle fatigue life, i.e., number of reversals to failure, is important to understanding braced-frame structural performance. To date, there are no readily available methods for predicting the low-cycle fatigue behaviour of 6000 series aluminium alloys. This research study aims to provide structural engineers with a computationally efficient approach to assess aluminium alloy structures in the context of potential low cycle fatigue. For this purpose, 18 low-cycle high amplitude fatigue tests (up to ± 6% strain amplitude) were conducted to establish strain − life relationships for 6082-T6, 6063-T6 and 6060-T5 aluminium alloys. The obtained experimental results were then used to calibrate a low-cycle fatigue life model to capture the fracture behaviour of the studied materials. The comparison of experimental results and predicted fatigue behaviour shows the capability of the proposed model to predict to a high degree of precision the onset of fracture and the overall low-cycle fatigue behaviour of material.
MutaSwarmClus: enhancing data clustering efficiency with mutation-enhanced swarm algorithm
Authors: Malik Saleem , Patro S. Gopal Krishna , Mahanty Chandrakanta , Lasisi Ayodele , Al-sareji Osamah J.
Published: January 2025

Data clustering is a fundamental technique in data mining, pivotal for various applications such as statistical analysis and data compression. Traditional clustering algorithms often struggle with noisy or high-dimensional datasets, hindering their efficacy in addressing real-world challenges. In response, this research introduces MutaSwarmClus, a novel hybrid metaheuristic algorithm that combines Mouth Brooding Fish (MBF), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), and mutation operators to enhance clustering quality. MutaSwarmClus intends to adaptively control the exploration and exploitation phases of the solution space, solve issues with local optima and changes in the distribution of available data. Moreover, it incorporates an Iterated Local Search (ILS) to refine solutions and avoiding getting stuck in local optima. MutaSwarmClus therefore increases the robustness of the clustering process by incorporating controlled randomness through mutation operators in order to handle noisy and outlier data points well. According to the contributions analysis, the proposed algorithm improves the clustering solution with the combined system of MBF, ACO, and mutation operators, which enables the mechanism of exploration and exploitation in the process of information search. As shown through the results of experimental studies, MutaSwarmClus has high performance when used with various benchmarks, and outperforms or performs as well as or better than compared to other clustering algorithms such as K-means, ALO, Hybrid ALO, and MBF. It achieves an average error rate of only 10%, underscoring its accuracy in clustering tasks. The utilization of MutaSwarmClus offers a solution to the existing problems in clustering large datasets in terms of scalability, efficiency and accuracy. Possible directions for future work can continue to optimize the model parameters of the algorithm and study its adaptability in dynamic conditions and with large amounts of data.
PriCollabAnalysis: privacy-preserving healthcare collaborative analysis on blockchain using homomorphic encryption and secure multiparty computation
Authors: Tawfik Ahmed M. , Al-Ahwal Ayman , Eldien Adly S. Tag , Zayed Hala H.
Published: January 2025

Advances in blockchain technology offer a decentralized ledger with transformative potential for healthcare data management, facilitating secure transactions and transparent record-keeping. Nevertheless, the sensitive nature of patient data requires enhanced privacy measures. This paper introduces a comprehensive framework enabling researchers to conduct collaborative statistical analysis on health records while preserving privacy and ensuring security. Statistics are invaluable across various disciplines, guiding consequential decisions based on such analysis. The framework integrates privacy-preserving techniques, including secret-sharing, secure multiparty computation (SMPC), and homomorphic encryption, within a blockchain-based healthcare ecosystem. Patient data is divided using secret-sharing, enabling controlled access. Furthermore, SMPC allows secure data aggregation without revealing individual records, while homomorphic encryption supports computation on encrypted data within smart contracts. Through a series of controlled experiments, we assess the framework’s effectiveness in maintaining data privacy, facilitating secure collaboration, and conducting statistical data analysis. The results demonstrate successful preservation of data privacy and secure analysis on a permissioned blockchain using the Hyperledger Fabric platform. Our framework showcases efficient performance while effectively utilizing system resources. This research contributes to the evolution of secure and privacy-conscious healthcare data analysis, paving the way for practical applications and future advancements.
Review of intermediate representations for quantum computing
Authors: Cardama F. Javier , Vázquez-Pérez Jorge , Piñeiro César , Pichel Juan C. , Pena Tomás F. , Gómez Andrés
Published: January 2025

Intermediate representations (IRs) are fundamental to classical and quantum computing, bridging high-level quantum programming languages and the hardware-specific instructions required for execution. This paper reviews the development of quantum IRs, focusing on their evolution and the need for abstraction layers that facilitate portability and optimization. Monolithic quantum IRs, such as QIR (Lubinski et al. in Front Phys 10:940293, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2022.940293), QSSA (Peduri et al. in Proceedings of the 31st ACM SIGPLAN international conference on compiler construction. CC 2022. Association for Computing Machinery, New York, 2022), or Q-MLIR (McCaskey and Nguyen in Proceedings-2021 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering, QCE, 2021), their effectiveness in handling abstractions, and their hybrid support between quantum-classical operations are evaluated. However, a key limitation is their inability to address qubit locality, an essential feature for distributed quantum computing (DQC). To overcome this, InQuIR (Nishio and Wakizaka in InQuIR: Intermediate Representation for Interconnected Quantum Computers, 2023. https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.00267) was introduced as an IR specifically designed for distributed systems, providing explicit control over qubit locality and inter-node communication. While effective in managing qubit distribution, InQuIR’s dependence on manual manipulation of communication protocols increases complexity for developers. NetQIR (Vázquez-Pérez et al. in NetQIR: An Extension of QIR for Distributed Quantum Computing, 2024. https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.03712), an extension of QIR for DQC, emerges as a solution to achieve the abstraction of quantum communications protocols. This review emphasizes the need for further advancements in IRs for distributed quantum systems, which will play a crucial role in the scalability and usability of future quantum networks.
PET Imaging of a Transgenic Tau Rat Model SHR24 with [18F]AV1451
Authors: Ramakrishnan Nisha K. , Zhao Annie Ziyi , Thompson Stephen , Milicevic Sephton Selena , Williamson David J. , Smolek Tomáš , Žilka Norbert , Aigbirhio Franklin I.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans with radioligands targeting tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) have accelerated our understanding of the role of misfolded tau in neurodegeneration. While intended for human research, applying these radioligands to small animals establishes a vital translational link. Transgenic animal models of dementia, such as the tau rat SHR24, play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of these disorders. This study aims to evaluate the utility of SHR24 rat model for PET studies.

Procedures

Dynamic PET scans were conducted in male SHR24 rats and their wild-type SHR (SHRwt) littermates using [18F]AV1451. Rapid blood sampling and metabolite analysis were performed to acquire input curves. Time activity curves were obtained from various brain regions over 60 min. Blood-based, 2-Tissue Compartment Model (2-TCM) and Logan graphical analysis were used to obtain kinetic modelling parameters. The ability of reference tissue models to predict the binding potential (BPND) were assessed. Autoradiography studies were performed to corroborate the scan data.

Results

Total distribution volume (VT) was the best predicted parameter which revealed significantly higher uptake of [18F]AV1451 in the cortex (5.8 ± 1.1 vs 4.6 ± 0.7, P < 0.05) of SHR24 rats compared to SHRwt rats. Binding potential obtained from 2-TCM was variable, however BPND from reference tissue models detected significantly higher binding in cortex (0.28 ± 0.07 vs 0.20 ± 0.04, P < 0.01 by SRTM) and brainstem (0.14 ± 0.04 vs 0.08 ± 0.02, P < 0.01, by SRTM).

Conclusions

With the ability to detect binding of established radioligand [18F]AV1451 in these rats, we have demonstrated the utility of this model for assessing aggregated tau neurobiology by PET, with reference tissue models providing potential for longitudinal studies.
Microvascular blood flow ultrasound imaging with microbubble-based H-Scan technology
Authors: Jiang Feng , Li Yiheng , Cui Yaoyao , Jiao Yang
Published: January 2025

Ultrasound blood flow imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Conventional ultrafast ultrasound plane-wave imaging techniques have limited capabilities in microvascular imaging. To enhance the quality of blood flow imaging, this study proposes a microbubble-based H-Scan ultrasound imaging technique. This technique utilizes high-order H-Scan to detect the Rayleigh scattering contributed by blood flow and microbubbles at certain concentrations. The detected results are then processed in the B channel using methods such as clutter filtering based on Casorati matrix singular value decomposition (Casorati-SVD). Compared with the control group without H-Scan, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the experimental group using the microbubble-based H-Scan ultrasound imaging technique was increased by 38.61% on average and the contrast signal-to-noise ratio (CNR) was increased by 39.5% on average. The improved image quality of microvascular flow imaging was visibly enhanced. This method demonstrates significant advantages in enhancing the sensitivity and accuracy of ultrasound blood flow imaging, indicating considerable potential for clinical applications.

Graphical abstract
Volume and quality of the gluteal muscles are associated with early physical function after total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Iwasa Makoto , Uemura Keisuke , Soufi Mazen , Otake Yoshito , Kinoshita Tomofumi , Kutsuna Tatsuhiko , Takashima Kazuma , Hamada Hidetoshi , Sato Yoshinobu , Sugano Nobuhiko , Okada Seiji , Takao Masaki
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Identifying muscles linked to postoperative physical function can guide protocols to enhance early recovery following total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to evaluate the association of preoperative pelvic and thigh muscle volume and quality with early physical function after THA in patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis (HOA).

Methods

Preoperative Computed tomography (CT) images of 61 patients (eight males and 53 females) with HOA were analyzed. Six muscle groups were segmented from CT images, and muscle volume and quality were calculated on the healthy and affected sides. Muscle quality was quantified using the mean CT values (Hounsfield units [HU]). Early postoperative physical function was evaluated using the Timed Up & Go test (TUG) at three weeks after THA. The effect of preoperative muscle volume and quality of both sides on early postoperative physical function was assessed.

Results

On the healthy and affected sides, mean muscle mass was 9.7 cm3/kg and 8.1 cm3/kg, and mean muscle HU values were 46.0 HU and 39.1 HU, respectively. Significant differences in muscle volume and quality were observed between the affected and healthy sides. On analyzing the function of various muscle groups, the TUG score showed a significant association with the gluteus maximum volume and the gluteus medius/minimus quality on the affected side.

Conclusion

Patients with HOA showed significant muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration in the affected pelvic and thigh regions. The gluteus maximum volume and gluteus medius/minimus quality were associated with early postoperative physical function. Preoperative rehabilitation targeting the gluteal muscles on the affected side could potentially enhance recovery of physical function in the early postoperative period.
A modeling approach to determine substitutive tree species for sweet chestnut in stands affected by ink disease
Authors: Heinz Malve , Prospero Simone
Published: January 2025

Biological invasions, driven mainly by human activities, pose significant threats to global ecosystems and economies, with fungi and fungal-like oomycetes playing a pivotal role. Ink disease, caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. × cambivora, is a growing concern for sweet chestnut stands (Castanea sativa) in Europe. Since both pathogens are thermophilic organisms, ongoing climate change will likely exacerbate their impact. In this study, we applied species distribution modeling techniques to identify potential substitutive species for sweet chestnut in the light of future climate scenarios SSP126 and SSP370 in southern Switzerland. Using the presence-only machine learning algorithm MaxEnt and leveraging occurrence data from the global dataset GBIF, we delineated the current and projected (2070–2100) distribution of 28 tree species. Several exotic species emerged as valuable alternatives to sweet chestnut, although careful consideration of all potential ecological consequences is required. We also identified several native tree species as promising substitutes, offering ecological benefits and potential adaptability to climatic conditions. Since species diversification fosters forest resilience, we also determined communities of alternative species that can be grown together. Our findings represent a valuable decision tool for forest managers confronted with the challenges posed by ink disease and climate change. Given that, even in absence of disease, sweet chestnut is not a future-proof tree species in the study region, the identified species could offer a pathway toward resilient and sustainable forests within the entire chestnut belt.
Unveiling the potential of 360° videos: Tailored interventions for test anxiety within cognitive behavioral therapies
Authors: Doğan Uğur , Sarıcaoğlu Halim , Acar Sinem , Türkcapar Hakan , Sağkal Ali Serdar , Büyüköksüz Engin , Erözkan Atılgan , Çaktı Saide Umut Zeybek , Üzmez Halil , Dağılgan Elif Betül , Onay Samet
Published: January 2025

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of 360° video technology in reducing test anxiety. The objective is to evaluate whether 360° exposure in individual psychological counseling, aligned with Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), is more effective than imagined exposure at reducing test anxiety. The study was conducted with a sample of 26 participants who met the research criteria. 14 participants who met the inclusion criteria were included in the 360° exposure (experimental) group, while the remaining 12 participants were placed in the imaginary exposure (control) group. Data were gathered from seven measurements (Pre-test, 360° video Before, 360° video After, Post-test, 1 month before Exam, 1 week before Exam, 1 month after Exam). The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed using the Westside Test Anxiety Scale, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Five Factor Model Personality Scales. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and ANCOVA. According to the results of these analyses, 360° video exposure was found to be significantly more effective than imaginary exposure (F(6,144) = 105.64; p ¡ .001; 2p = 0.81). Similarly, the inclusion of covariates (neuroticism, state anxiety, and gender) in the analysis did not change. The findings suggest that 360° videos may offer a potential therapeutic tool in the treatment of test anxiety, demonstrating superiority over imaginary exposure. Nevertheless, additional research on the efficacy of 360° video is warranted, considering that the effectiveness of 360° video may differ across demographic groups and various types of 360° video and virtual reality experiences.
Advancing Anaerobic Digestion of Biodiesel Byproducts: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Gebreegziabher Blen W. , Dubale Amare A. , Adaramola Muyiwa S. , Morken John
Published: January 2025

The energy crisis, climate change, and insufficient waste management practices are compelling factors driving research into sustainable waste-to-resource technologies. Anaerobic digestion, aiming to recover energy and nutrients from organic waste, aligns with the circular economy's principles. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of utilizing biodiesel byproducts for biogas production, exploring techniques for enhancing biogas yield and addressing associated challenges. Assessing the potential of biodiesel byproducts highlights their environmental sustainability and economic viability for biogas production. Non-edible seed cake, rich in nutrients, shows promise for significant biogas yield. Additionally, crude glycerol, easily biodegradable, is identified as a promising co-digester, aiding in digesting recalcitrant substrates. Empirical data reveals remarkable methane yield boosts, ranging from 14 to 226% when co-digesting with crude glycerol. Moreover, the resulting digestate enhances soil fertility, promoting healthier plant growth and productivity. Challenges in anaerobic digestion, such as substrate C/N ratio imbalance and recalcitrance, necessitate strategies like substrate pretreatment and co-digestion with compatible materials to optimize biogas yield. Furthermore, advancements in anaerobic digestion technologies are crucial for effectively converting biodiesel wastes into biogas. Additionally, interdisciplinary investigations, including techno-economic analysis, lifecycle assessment, and sensitivity analysis, are vital to enhance and validate the feasibility of anaerobic digestion for biodiesel byproducts. This review serves as a valuable resource for future utilization of biodiesel byproducts for biogas production.
Alternate wetting and drying irrigation with field aged biochar may enhance water and rice productivity
Authors: Vicente Luis , Peña David , Fernández Damián , Albarrán Ángel , Rato-Nunes José Manuel , López-Piñeiro Antonio
Published: January 2025

Rice is traditionally cultivated worldwide under continuous flooding irrigation. However, in Mediterranean environments, there has recently been a decline in the area of rice cultivation in several producing regions where water supplies for this crop cannot always be guaranteed. Therefore, it is necessary to identify alternative crop management strategies that improve water-use efficiency in order to ensure the sustainability of rice production. It has been postulated that rice production under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation requires less water than flooding. However, the effects of the AWD system on rice yield components remain unclear, with different trends observed. It has been suggested that the soil properties are a crucial factor in this regard. In fact, drops in rice yields under AWD have been attributed to the low soil organic matter content. Consequently, the incorporation of organic amendments could offset this organic matter deficit, and the subsequent enhancement in rice productivity might also ensure its sustainability in areas where water availability is scarce. This study is the first to analyse how the soils properties, rice yields components, and water productivity were influenced by fresh and field aged biochar applied to rice soils under conventional flooding and AWD using two-threshold (mild and severe). The results showed that the transition from flood management to AWD management has had a significant impact on soil properties and rice yields, though this was dependent on the threshold. Consequently, yield losses occurred under severe AWD conditions in comparison to the flooded systems. Nevertheless, the use of holm oak biochar was found to enhance rice yields under AWD systems, particularly under severe conditions and following the field ageing process. Thus, the combined use of biochar and AWD may be a sustainable strategy to enhance water productivity, which is one of the main objectives in the rice crop.
Anesthetic Considerations and Management of Spine Surgery Performed Under Neuraxial Anesthesia
Authors: Buren Marc A. , Cil Hemra
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

This paper aims to review the evidence supporting the use of spinal anesthesia (SA) for spinal surgery, highlighting its benefits and addressing the technical challenges and considerations. The goal is to provide practical guidelines to help anesthesia providers feel more comfortable offering SA as an option for appropriate cases.

Recent Findings

Recent research indicates that SA may offer several benefits for spinal surgery, including better immediate postoperative analgesia, decreased intraoperative blood loss, and faster operating room egress. However, the evidence on hemodynamic stability, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and overall hospital length of stay is mixed.

SA presents a viable alternative to general anesthesia (GA) for specific spinal surgeries, offering distinct benefits. Patient selection is crucial, especially for those with cardiovascular risks or airway management challenges. Proper choice of spinal medication and adjuncts, along with meticulous planning for airway management, is essential. Further research will continue to refine the use of SA in spinal surgery, enhancing patient outcomes and expanding anesthetic practice.
Fe-doped SnO2 nanoparticles: enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen efficiency, Rhodamine-B dye degradation and visible light absorption
Authors: Moses Aashish K , Tripathy Srinath Ranjan , Baral Saroj Sundar
Published: January 2025

The existing energy-wastewater nexus may be resolved using metal oxide semiconductor photocatalysts in photocatalytic hydrogen production and pollutant degradation, which is a clean and sustainable process. SnO2 is one such well-researched and proven photocatalyst that is now in use, although it only works with ultraviolet light, which only makes up 4% of the total solar energy received. The present research aims to use iron as a dopant to make SnO2 active under visible light, enhancing reactions like water splitting and dye degradation. The sol-gel method was used to synthesize the photocatalysts. XRD, BET, UV diffuse reflectance spectra, PL spectra, XPS, and SEM micrographs were used to characterize the synthesized photocatalysts. For 7.5 wt% Fe-doped SnO2, a remarkable hydrogen generation rate of 18.81 µmol/hr under sunlight was achieved, nearly three times that of pure SnO2 (5.71 µmol/h). The nanocomposites display excellent photoreactivity towards RhB dye degradation with an optimal concentration of 7.5 wt% Fe-doped SnO2. This optimal composite photocatalyst removes 93% of RhB dye on 0.1 g/L photocatalysts in only 60 min under sunlight. Pristine SnO2 removes 36% of the dye under similar reaction conditions. The photoluminescence spectra of Fe-doped SnO2 had lower peak locations than the pristine SnO2, indicating a decreased rate of charge recombination and increased life duration of the active species. As a result, hydrogen generation rates and dye degradation efficiencies have increased significantly. The photocatalyst’s recyclability study revealed that the photocatalysts can be used efficiently for four cycles without significant reduction in the yield.
Tailoring durable MnOx-based electrodes for high-performance electrocatalytic function for next-generation electrocatalysis applications
Authors: Tayeba Hashem , Kiani-Anbouhi Roya , Neda Royaei
Published: January 2025

This study introduces a high-performance electrode coated with MnOx compounds to enhance the HER reaction. The active and precipitated MnOx species facilitate interconnected electron transport throughout the Ti electrodes. The tailored MnOx electrodes exhibited a significant reduction in Rct (69.7%), superior Cdl (31.6%), and a notably lower Nyquist ring compared to traditional Ti electrodes, confirming their excellent electrocatalytic performance in Cl− and NaCl production. Additionally, LSV and PDP analysis demonstrated that the MnOx electrodes achieved a 53.9% decrease in Tafel slopes (from 139 mV/decade to 64 mV/decade), lower activity potentials, and robust corrosion resistance (99.4%), indicating faster kinetics and higher efficiency. High-resolution FESEM and contact angle images revealed that the MnOx electrodes possess uniform porous networks and semi-super hydrophilic function, optimizing H2 release and expanding the interfacial area for electron transfer. Finally, the Ti electrodes with advanced MnOx coatings can serve as reliable, cost-effective, and efficient candidates for use as regenerating electrodes in electrocatalytic industries. Moreover, the novel MnOx/rGO composites are versatile materials used as catalysts in chemical reactions, effective electrodes in energy storage devices, sensitive gas sensors, and for water treatment to remove contaminants.
Hospitalizations of the older adults with and without dementia during the last two years of life: the impact of comorbidity and changes from 2002 to 2017
Authors: Vargese Saritha Susan , Jylhä Marja , Raitanen Jani , Forma Leena , Aaltonen Mari
Published: January 2025

Background

Multimorbidity creates challenges for care and increases health care utilization and costs. People with dementia often have multiple comorbidities, but little is known about the role of these comorbidities in hospitalizations.

Aims

This study examines the frequency of hospitalizations during the last two years of life in older adults with and without dementia, the impact of comorbidities on hospitalizations, and their time trends.

Methods

The data came from national registers and covered all persons 70 and above who died in Finland in 2002–2017. The effect of dementia and comorbidities on hospitalizations in the last two years of life was determined using binary logistic regression and negative binomial regression.

Results

At all levels of comorbidity, people with dementia were less likely to be hospitalized and had a lower number of hospitalizations than people at the same level of comorbidity but no dementia. Hospitalizations were strongly associated with multimorbidity. During the study period, the overall hospitalization rates from home and LTC have declined.

Discussion

The declining trend of hospitalization during the 15-year study period should be interpreted in the context of the health and long-term care system.

Conclusion

Among people with dementia, comorbidities were the main driver for hospitalizations. Regardless of the number of comorbidities, people with dementia were hospitalized less often than people without dementia in last two years of life. It remains unclear whether the lower hospitalization rate is due to the improved ability to care for people with dementia outside the hospital or to the lack of sufficient medical care for them.
Viral infections of the central nervous system increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Mingyi , Su Yani , Xu Ke , Wen Pengfei , Xie Jiale , Wan Xianjie , Jing Wensen , Yang Zhi , Liu Lin , Xu Peng
Published: January 2025

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a condition under the influence of central nervous system (CNS) regulatory mechanisms. This investigation aims to examine the causal association between viral infections of the central nervous system (VICNS) and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (IDCNS) and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at the genetic level.

Methods

In this investigation, VICNS and IDCNS were considered as primary exposure variables, while KOA served as the primary outcome. Employing a two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we conducted an analysis utilizing summary data derived from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The GWAS summary data pertaining to VICNS and IDCNS were procured from the Finnish consortium, whereas the IEU OpenGWAS database furnished the requisite data for KOA. To ensure the robustness of our genetic causal assessment, a comprehensive array of sensitivity analyses was undertaken, encompassing evaluations of heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, outlier identification, leave-one-out analyses, and assessment of the normal distribution.

Results

The results of the MR analyses revealed a suggestive positive genetic causal relationship between VICNS and KOA (P = 0.012, odds ratio [OR] with a 95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.033 [1.007–1.059]). Conversely, the MR analyses did not indicate any evidence of genetic causation between IDCNS and KOA (P = 0.575, OR 95% CI = 0.986 [0.940–1.035]). Importantly, the genetic causal assessment of the exposure and outcome variables did not demonstrate any indications of heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, or outliers. Furthermore, this assessment remained robust against the influence of individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and exhibited adherence to a normal distribution.

Conclusion

The result of this study has elucidated a suggestive positive genetic causal link between the VICNS and KOA. However, no such genetic causal relationship was observed between the IDCNS and KOA. These findings substantiate the genetic underpinnings supporting the association between the CNS and OA.
Probabilistic Property Modeling for Reliable Casting Design and Production
Authors: Bramann Horst , Olofsson Jakob , Sturm Jörg C.
Published: January 2025

A new methodology leverages virtual casting process simulations to predict the statistical distribution of local mechanical properties, based on computed local microstructures and defects. The extensive result sets generated from each simulation can be statistically evaluated in a manner similar to numerous individual tensile tests. By incorporating process variability into the simulation, this innovative approach enables probabilistic modeling of expected local properties. Consequently, this method supports designers during the design phase for reliable component development and assists casters in achieving robust process designs.
An empirical evaluation of deep semi-supervised learning
Authors: Fredriksson Teodor , Bosch Jan , Olsson Helena H.
Published: January 2025

Obtaining labels for supervised learning is time-consuming, and practitioners seek to minimize manual labeling. Semi-supervised learning allows practitioners to eliminate manual labeling by including unlabeled data in the training process. With many deep semi-supervised algorithms and applications available, practitioners need guidelines to select the optimal labeling algorithm for their problem. The performance of new algorithms is rarely compared against existing algorithms on real-world data. This study empirically evaluates 16 deep semi-supervised learning algorithms to fill the research gap. To investigate whether the algorithms perform differently in different scenarios, the algorithms are run on 15 commonly known datasets of three datatypes (image, text and sound). Since manual data labeling is expensive, practitioners must know how many manually labeled instances are needed to achieve the lowest error rates. Therefore, this study utilizes different configurations for the number of available labels to study the manual effort required for optimal error rate. Additionally, to study how different algorithms perform on real-world datasets, the researchers add noise to the datasets to mirror real-world datasets. The study utilizes the Bradley–Terry model to rank the algorithms based on error rates and the Binomial model to investigate the probability of achieving an error rate lower than 10%. The results demonstrate that utilizing unlabeled data with semi-supervised learning may improve classification accuracy over supervised learning. Based on the results, the authors recommend FreeMatch, SimMatch, and SoftMatch since they provide the lowest error rate and have a high probability of achieving an error rate below 10% on noisy datasets.