bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building a modern data platform based on the data lakehouse architecture and cloud-native ecosystem
Authors: AbouZaid Ahmed , Barclay Peter J. , Chrysoulas Christos , Pitropakis Nikolaos
Published: February 2025

In today’s Big Data world, organisations can gain a competitive edge by adopting data-driven decision-making. However, a modern data platform that is portable, resilient, and efficient is required to manage organisations’ data and support their growth. Furthermore, the change in the data management architectures has been accompanied by changes in storage formats, particularly open standard formats like Apache Hudi, Apache Iceberg, and Delta Lake. With many alternatives, organisations are unclear on how to combine these into an effective platform. Our work investigates capabilities provided by Kubernetes and other Cloud-Native software, using DataOps methodologies to build a generic data platform that follows the Data Lakehouse architecture. We define the data platform specification, architecture, and core components to build a proof of concept system. Moreover, we provide a clear implementation methodology by developing the core of the proposed platform, which are infrastructure (Kubernetes), ingestion and transport (Argo Workflows), storage (MinIO), and finally, query and processing (Dremio). We then conducted performance benchmarks using an industry-standard benchmark suite to compare cold/warm start scenarios and assess Dremio’s caching capabilities, demonstrating a 12% median enhancement of query duration with caching.
Sustainability reporting practices of Hungarian food subsectors from EU taxonomy perspectives
Authors: Gombkötő Nóra , Hámori Judit , Rózsa Andrea , Troján Szabolcs , Hegyi Judit , Lámfalusi Ibolya , Kacz Károly
Published: February 2025

The importance and relevance of sustainability reporting by food companies is growing in the wake of green compliance, especially in EU Member States, where–in line with the EU Taxonomy–stricter legislation requires more accurate and transparent sustainability reporting. From 2014, the NFRD (Non-Financial Reporting Directive) legislation made non-financial reporting mandatory only for companies with at least 500 employees and of public interest, while the CSRD (Corporative Sustainability Reporting Directive) legislation, which came into force in 2023, made it mandatory for all companies. The aim of this paper is to examine how companies are prepared to comply with the new legislation. The sustainability reporting of food companies by subsector was analysed to identify differences and compare the quality of reporting with financial performance data. The study used a content analysis with a scoring method to assess the quality of sustainability reports from the point of view of EU Taxonomy produced by companies in 2020 and 2021. The proportions of critical financial performance data within subsectors were also examined. In 2020 and 2021, the companies analysed accounted for over 50% of the sector’s total net revenue, net profit, and foreign registered capital, highlighting significant financial concentration. The results show that the content and quality of sustainability reporting by food companies varies considerably between subsectors. The subsectors, dairy products manufacturing, processing, and preserving of fruit and vegetables scored the highest on sustainability objectives, particularly excelling in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The significance of the study lies in the fact that the methodology provides an opportunity to track and re-examine the future reporting practices of companies following the legislative changes.
Machine Learning with Python
Authors: Bhatia Parteek
Published: February 2025

Machine learning has become a dominant problem-solving technique in the modern world, with applications ranging from search engines and social media to self-driving cars and artificial intelligence. This lucid textbook presents the theoretical foundations of machine learning algorithms, and then illustrates each concept with its detailed implementation in Python to allow beginners to effectively implement the principles in real-world applications. All major techniques, such as regression, classification, clustering, deep learning, and association mining, have been illustrated using step-by-step coding instructions to help inculcate a 'learning by doing' approach. The book has no prerequisites, and covers the subject from the ground up, including a detailed introductory chapter on the Python language. As such, it is going to be a valuable resource not only for students of computer science, but also for anyone looking for a foundation in the subject, as well as professionals looking for a ready reckoner.
Pan‐European Landslide Risk Assessment: From Theory to Practice
Authors: Caleca Francesco , Lombardo Luigi , Steger Stefan , Tanyas Hakan , Raspini Federico , Dahal Ashok , Nefros Constantinos , Mărgărint Mihai Ciprian , Drouin Vincent , Jemec‐Auflič Mateja , Novellino Alessandro , Tonini Marj , Loche Marco , Casagli Nicola , Tofani Veronica
Published: February 2025

Assessing landslide risk is a fundamental requirement to plan suitable prevention actions. To date, most risk studies focus on individual slopes or catchments. Whereas regional, national or continental scale assessments are hardly available because of methodological and/or data limitations. In this contribution, we present an overview of all requirements and limitations in landslide risk studies across all spatial scales, by means of a hybrid form that combines elements of original research with the comprehensive characteristics of a review study. The review critically analyses each component in the landslide risk analysis providing a detailed explanation of their state‐of‐the‐art, with dedicated sections on susceptibility, hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. To put the theoretical framework to test, we also dive into a case study, expressed at the continental scale. Specifically, we take the main European mountain ranges and provide the reader with a textbook example of risk assessment for such a large territory. In doing so, we take into account issues associated with cross‐national differences in landslide mapping. As a result, we identify landslide‐prone European landscape and explore the associated possible economic consequences (human settlements and agricultural areas). We also analyze the population at risk during daytime and nighttime. Moreover, a modern view of the problem is explored in the form of how risk outcomes should be delivered to master planners and geoscientific personnel alike. Specifically, we convert our output into an interactive Web Application (https://pan‐european‐landslide‐risk.github.io/) to include notions of scientific communication both to a large public as well as to a technical audience.
An Observation‐Driven Framework for Modeling Post‐Fire Hydrologic Response: Evaluation for Two Central California Case Studies
Authors: Lahmers Timothy M. , Kumar Sujay V. , Ahmad Shahryar K. , Holmes Thomas , Getirana Augusto , Orland Elijah , Locke Kim , Biswas Nishan Kumar , Nie Wanshu , Pflug Justin , Whitney Kristen , Anderson Martha , Yang Yun
Published: February 2025

In a warming climate, wildfires are becoming increasingly common, especially in semi‐arid environments. Wildfires can disrupt forest ecosystems and induce changes to the land surface. Collectively, these impacts can alter the hydrologic response of a catchment following a fire, resulting in increased potential for surface runoff, reduced evapotranspiration, and, ultimately, a higher risk for flash flooding and mass wasting. The timescale of post‐fire recovery of hydrological processes to return to pre‐fire conditions is not well established due to the lack of ground measurements. Accurate characterization of the impacts of fire on hydrologic response is also challenging to simulate, given the complex interplay of various processes. Here, we present a generalized framework to quantify the impacts of wildfire on runoff generation. We consider the disturbances in the vegetation and soil as the two main factors contributing to post‐fire floods. Using an ensemble modeling structure to account for parameter uncertainty, remotely sensed leaf area index (LAI) is assimilated into a land surface model (LSM) to simulate vegetation disturbance, and the maximum land surface saturation LSM parameter is decreased to parameterize the soil disturbance following observed fires. We consider the impacts of fire‐induced changes to LAI and soil saturation on hydrologic states like runoff and evapotranspiration for two case studies. These case studies demonstrate the general applicability of hydrophobicity formulation to serve as a guideline for exploring the range of hydrologic responses post‐fire.
Observations and Biogeochemical Modeling Reveal Chlorophyll Diel Cycle With Near‐Sunset Maxima in the Red Sea
Authors: Wang Yixin , Mazloff Matthew R. , Verdy Ariane , Cerovecki Ivana , Kheireddine Malika , Naylor Patrick , Krokos George , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: February 2025

The Red Sea is an extremely warm tropical sea hosting diverse ecosystems, with marine organisms operating at the high end of their thermal tolerance. Therefore, in the context of global warming, it is increasingly important to understand the Red Sea ecosystem, including the variability of chlorophyll at different spatiotemporal scales. Using a coupled physical–biogeochemical model and in situ data, we investigate and quantify the diel cycle in Red Sea chlorophyll concentration for the first time, revealing near‐sunset chlorophyll maxima at 17 ± 1 hr local time over the entire basin. This chlorophyll peak time is considerably later than those reported in most other oceans, reflecting the previously reported high irradiance and further suggesting potentially low grazing rates in the Red Sea. Model‐based analyses reveal that chlorophyll diel cycle is predominantly controlled by light‐driven circadian rhythm (i.e., irradiance), whereas longer‐timescale (e.g., seasonal) chlorophyll variability is regulated by nutrient availability, suggesting a light‐limited biological production on a diel timescale and a nutrient‐limited production on a seasonal scale. The identified chlorophyll diel cycle comprises a fundamental component of the Red Sea ecology and has implications for chlorophyll remote sensing and in situ measurements. Our findings indicate that future field studies investigating phytoplankton growth and zooplankton grazing dynamics—such as phytoplankton community composition and zooplankton diel vertical migration—are still needed to further elucidate the revealed chlorophyll diel cycle in this potentially unique tropical sea.
Can Hot and Cold Slabs Transport Water Into the Deep Mantle Beyond Subduction Zone Magmatism?
Authors: Ribeiro Julia M. , Ryan Jeff , Wu Jonny
Published: February 2025

The slab thermal state model predicts that only cold slabs should retain some of their intra‐slab water beyond subduction zones, while warmer slabs should be nearly dry past the volcanic arc front. Such predictions are yet to be fully tested, as they mostly rely on numerical modeling. To further test the slab thermal model, here we have examined slab‐sensitive elemental and isotopic tracers in recently erupted basalts (<5 Myr) from along and across an arc transect at end‐member types of cold (NE Japan) and hot subduction zones (SW Japan and Ryukyu) and beyond (eastern China intraplate volcanism). We show that the oceanic crust and the incoming hydrated mantle from the cold subducted Pacific plate are the main water carriers beyond subduction zones. Only cold slabs may thus recycle part of their intra‐slab H2O into the lower mantle. Warmer slabs are too dry past the back‐arc or too short‐lived to exert a first order control on deep water recycling.
Humid Summers Promote Urban Aqueous‐Phase Production of Oxygenated Organic Aerosol in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Rogers Mitchell J. , Joo Taekyu , Hass‐Mitchell Tori , Canagaratna Manjula R. , Campuzano‐Jost Pedro , Sueper Donna , Tran Mia N. , Machesky Jo E. , Roscioli Joseph R. , Jimenez Jose L. , Krechmer Jordan E. , Lambe Andrew T. , Nault Benjamin A. , Gentner Drew R.
Published: February 2025

Aqueous‐phase uptake and processing of water‐soluble organic compounds can promote secondary organic aerosol (SOA) production. We evaluated the contributions of aqueous‐phase chemistry to summertime urban SOA at two sites in New York City. The relative role of aqueous‐phase processing varied with chemical and environmental conditions, with evident daytime SOA enhancements (e.g., >1 μg/m3) during periods with relative humidities (RH) exceeding 65% and often higher temperatures. Oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) production was also sensitive to secondary inorganic aerosols, in part through their influence on aerosol liquid water. On average, high‐RH periods exhibited a 69% increase in less‐oxidized OOA production in Queens, NY. These enhancements coincided with southerly backward trajectories and greater inorganic aerosol concentrations, yet showed substantial intra‐city variability between Queens and Manhattan. The observed aqueous‐phase SOA production, even with historically low sulfate and nitrate aerosol loadings, highlights both opportunities and challenges for continued reductions in summertime PM2.5 in urban communities.
Record Early Sea Ice Loss in Southeastern Hudson Bay in Spring 2024
Authors: Soriot C. , Stroeve J. , Crawford A.
Published: February 2025

Hudson Bay seasonal sea‐ice cover plays an important role in marine ecosystems and human activities. Spring 2024 witnessed a uniquely early southeastern opening, leading to basin‐wide sea ice extent falling 5 below the 1979–2023 average. Here, we show that a strong pressure gradient between high pressure over the Canadian Archipelago and low pressure to the south led to unusually strong and persistent winds from the east during May 2024. Consequently, the median sea ice opening date in the southeast was 31 days earlier than the 1979–2023 median, while sea ice opening in the west was delayed by 13 days. Early opening and warmer than average sea surface temperatures have extended the ice‐free period to 202 days in southeastern Hudson Bay, with potentially dramatic consequences on the local marine ecosystem and contributed to the record low Arctic‐wide sea ice extent by December 2024.
The Role of Bedrock Circulation Depth and Porosity in Mountain Streamflow Response to Prolonged Drought
Authors: Carroll Rosemary W. H. , Manning Andrew H. , Williams Kenneth H.
Published: February 2025

Quantitative understanding is lacking on how the depth of active groundwater circulation in bedrock affects mountain streamflow response to a multi‐year drought. We use an integrated hydrological model to explore the sensitivity of a variety of streamflow metrics to bedrock circulation depth and porosity under a plausible extreme drought scenario lasting up to 5 years. Endmember depth versus hydraulic conductivity relationships and porosity values for fractured crystalline rock are simulated. With drought, a deeper circulation system with higher drainable porosity more effectively buffers minimum flow and significantly limits perennial stream loss in comparison to a shallow circulation system. Streamflow buffering is accomplished through extensive groundwater storage loss. However, deeper circulation systems experience prolonged recovery from drought in comparison to storage‐limited shallow systems. Research highlights the importance of characterizing the deeper bedrock hydrogeology in mountainous watersheds to better understand and predict drought impacts on stream ecosystem health and water resource sustainability.
Impact of Sea Ice Over the Greenland Sea on the Indian Ocean Dipole Mode During Boreal Autumn
Authors: Chen Chen , Zeng Gang , Datti Aminu Dalhatu
Published: February 2025

This study identifies a significant positive relationship between Indian Ocean dipole mode (IODM) and Greenland Sea sea ice concentration (GSSIC) in autumn during 1980–2023. The increasing GSSIC can lead to a vertical circulation cell anomaly between the polar region and middle latitude over the North Atlantic due to the thermal condition anomalies. The associated anomalous ascending flow over the coast of western Europe generates wave train propagating southeastward from mid‐high latitude Atlantic to the North Indian Ocean (IO), causing anomalous anticyclone over the Indian Ocean. The related anomalous easterlies over tropical IO contribute to the positive IODM (warmer SSTA over west tropical IO but cooler SSTA off Sumatra–Java) through weakening the wind‐evaporation‐SST feedback over tropical IO and shallowing (deepening) thermocline along the coastal of Sumatra‐Java (west tropical IO). Moreover, the numerical experiments can basically reproduce the observed mechanisms.
Long‐Term High‐Resolution Radiosonde Measurements Reveal More Intensified and Frequent Turbulence at Cruising Altitude in China
Authors: Sun Yuping , Guo Jianping , Chen Tianmeng , Li Ning , Guo Xiaoran , Xu Hui , Zhang Zhen , Shi Yu , Zeng Liping , Chen Juan , Meng Deli
Published: February 2025

Turbulence is of great importance for aviation safety, but its long‐term trend in China remains unclear due to the scarcity of in‐situ measurements. Here the national‐scale assessment of turbulence dissipation rate (ε) at flight cruising altitude (200 hPa) in China is conducted for the period from 2010 to 2022 using high‐resolution radiosonde measurements. Results show that both the intensity and frequency of turbulence exhibit a significant upward trend, particularly in the mid‐latitude regions. Furthermore, 12 other turbulence diagnostic parameters from ERA5 reanalysis show a similar increasing trend, corroborating the intensified trend in radiosonde‐derived turbulence. This more intensified and frequent turbulence is found to be closely associated with the increasing occurrence of jet streams, which could be attributed to the dynamic instability induced by the wind shear around jet streams. The findings help advance our understanding of turbulence trend and its underlying mechanism in the mid‐latitude regions under global warming.
Evolution of Plume Volcanism at Atla Regio, Venus
Authors: Mason P. J. , Klidaras A. , Cirium D. , Ghail R. C. , Lea‐Wurzbach S.
Published: February 2025

Atla Regio is a large topographic rise, at the equator of Venus, considered to sit above a young mantle upwelling. Hosting several giant shield volcanoes, including Maat Mons, it is a strong candidate for recent eruptive activity. Through detailed analysis of material units and structures at Ozza, Maat and Sapas Mons, northern Dali Chasma and the surrounding plains, we have unraveled the tectono‐magmatic evolution at Atla Regio. Lithostratigraphic analysis, of the volcanic styles, lava flow relationships, rift–associated shield clusters, graben‐fissure systems and pit cratering, in relation to the regional plains and other older features, has enabled the establishment of a model of the evolution of volcanism. Structural analysis reveals that graben‐fissure systems at Ozza Mons transition outward into three major rifts, and two new, unnamed volcanoes are identified. Our model is evidenced by analysis of lava flow stratigraphy and cross‐cutting relationships with respect to the stratigraphic marker provided by the ejecta halo of the Uvaysi impact, and using sound stratigraphic principles. A relative chronostratigraphic framework for the area around Ozza and Maat Mons has thus been constructed, and our findings are in agreement with prior research. A new regional history is proposed here, where volcanism was initially concentrated along Dali Chasma, before plume volcanism took over at Ozza Mons and finally, Maat Mons became the most recent locus of volcanism. We propose that the pattern of large shield volcanoes with displaced centers here is indicative of minor crustal adjustments above a relatively long‐lived mantle plume.
Forecasting of the Geomagnetic Activity for the Next 3 Days Utilizing Neural Networks Based on Parameters Related to Large‐Scale Structures of the Solar Corona
Authors: Wang Tingyu , Luo Bingxian , Wang Jingjing , Ao Xianzhi , Shi Liqin , Zhong Qiuzhen , Liu Siqing
Published: February 2025

With the increasing number of large constellations, it is crucial to accurately predict satellite positions and movements using upper atmosphere models driven by geomagnetic indices. Machine learning (ML) can quickly provide geomagnetic index predictions. However, previous research using ML to forecast Stream Interaction Region‐driven (SIR‐driven) geomagnetic storms primarily follows two approaches: using real‐time observations at the L1 point with historical geomagnetic indices, which lacks solar source information, or using solar images as input. To forecast SIR‐driven storms over longer horizons (3 days), a neural network model is constructed by incorporating coronal magnetic field physical parameters and the coronal hole features extracted from solar images (). We first select the appropriate combination of coronal magnetic parameters for forecasting geomagnetic indices. Using the Explainable AI technique, we find that the model can learn the propagation characteristics of interactions between high‐ and low‐speed solar wind from historical coronal parameters, which relate to the physical process of SIR formation, providing a physical basis for the approach. We then introduce and the historical Kp index to develop an optimal model. Based on accuracy evaluations across different activity levels and solar cycle phases, the model has proven to provide reasonable forecast results for SIR‐driven events over the next 2–3 days. The model outperforms an empirical model and two ML models in terms of event detection ability for horizons longer than one day. This study offers a new approach for 3‐day geomagnetic disturbance forecasting using a deep neural network.
Cave Deposit Links Greenland’s and Europe’s Climate Records with a German Volcano
Authors: Morris Bill
Published: February 2025

Dating a late Pleistocene eruption has big implications for understanding the Younger Dryas—and current climate change.
A quantitative study of acetic acid emissions from historical cellulose acetate at room conditions
Authors: Novak M. , Grau-Bové J. , Rijavec T. , Kraševec I. , Kralj-Cigić I. , De Stefani C. , Checkley-Scott C. , Strlič M.
Published: February 2025

Historic objects made of cellulose acetate are potential sources of indoor pollution in heritage collections. As these objects degrade, volatile organic compounds, including acetic acid, are produced and emitted. High concentrations of acetic acid can increase the degradation rate of both organic and inorganic objects stored nearby. In this study, micro-invasive sampling and ion chromatography were used to quantify acetic acid emission rates from objects made of cellulose acetate, including 3D objects and photographic negatives. It was observed that some degrading objects emit acetic acid at high rates, even under standard environmental conditions (20 °C and 30% RH) that are prescribed for storage of objects made of cellulose acetate. The emission rate was found to be governed by the internal diffusion for thicker cellulose acetate objects and by the surface evaporation for thinner objects. In the diffusion-controlled mode of emission, the airflow did not accelerate acetic acid emissions. To compare the storage options for cellulose acetate objects, the emission rates of acetic acid were used as the inputs for models predicting the equilibrium acetic acid concentrations in various enclosures (archival box, surface-coated archival box, metal can, and display case). It was observed that surface-coated boxes contained higher concentrations of acetic acid than other enclosures, mainly due to their low air exchange rates and deposition velocities.
PTEN loss drives p53 LOH and immune evasion in a novel urothelial organoid model harboring p53 missense mutations
Authors: Hamada Akihiro , Kita Yuki , Sakatani Toru , Nakamura Kenji , Takada Hideaki , Ikeuchi Ryosuke , Koike Shuhei , Masuda Norihiko , Murakami Kaoru , Sano Takeshi , Goto Takayuki , Saito Ryoichi , Teramoto Yuki , Fujimoto Masakazu , Hatano Narumi , Kamada Mayumi , Ogawa Osamu , Kobayashi Takashi
Published: February 2025

Despite missense mutation accounts for over 60% of p53 alterations while homozygous deletion (HOM) for only 5% or less in advanced bladder cancer cases, most of the previously reported mouse models are deficient of p53. Accordingly, few studies have addressed the mechanisms of missense mutation occurrence and its functional advantage over HOM in bladder cancer development. Organoids derived from Krt5-expressing mouse urothelium (K5-mUrorganoid) demonstrated the crucial role of Pten loss in driving loss of wild-type allele of Trp53 (Trp53

R172H/LOH
), which conferred tumorigenic ability to K5-mUrorganoid in athymic mice. These tumors recapitulated the histological and genetic characteristics of the human basal-squamous subtype bladder cancer. Both Trp53

R172H/Δ

; Pten

Δ/Δ
and Trp53

Δ/Δ

; Pten

Δ/Δ
K5-mUrorganoids formed tumors in athymic mice, whereas only Trp53

R172H/Δ

; Pten

Δ/Δ
K5-mUrorganoid formed tumors even when directly inoculated in immunocompetent syngeneic mice. The absence of wild-type Trp53 was associated with upregulation of proliferative signaling, and the presence of a mutant Trp53 allele was associated with immune-excluded microenvironment. This study highlights the functional significance of p53 mutant LOH in bladder carcinogenesis conferring several hallmarks of cancer such as sustaining proliferative signaling and avoiding immune destruction, thus provides a novel immunocompetent mouse model of urothelial carcinoma harboring p53 mutations as a novel tool for cancer immunology research.
Electrical impedance tomography in neonates: a review
Authors: Ako Ako A. , Ismaiel Ahmed , Rastogi Shantanu
Published: February 2025

Appropriate interventions informed by real-time assessment of pulmonary function in mechanically ventilated critically ill neonates can reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pneumothorax, intraventricular hemorrhage and other complications of newborn life. The respiratory system in neonates is uniquely different from older children, and its physiological and anatomic attributes increase neonatal vulnerability to respiratory distress and eventual failure. While significant advancements have been made in developing respiratory support for neonates, such support is accompanied by inherent risks to their delicate lungs. Ventilator-associated lung injury poses a critical concern that can be potentially decreased with more precise, non-invasive, non-radiating, bedside methods for assessing neonatal pulmonary function in real time. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is one such tool, with immense potential for real-time pulmonary function monitoring in neonates. Still relatively new and in the earliest stages of clinical adoption, EIT use in neonatal critical care has been reported in several studies. This review discusses the basic features of EIT, its distinct advantages over traditional pulmonary function monitoring tools, the scope of its adoption in neonatal clinical practice, challenges associated with clinical adoption, and prospects for future applications.

Impact

Individualized care assisted by bedside pulmonary function monitoring can positively impact neonatal critical care and outcomes.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has the potential to improve neonatal pulmonary function monitoring and treatment outcomes.

Electrical impedance tomography can be adopted as a part of routine neonatal respiratory critical care, especially in the population of patients most at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia and acute respiratory complications.
Readability of paediatric participant information leaflets in research studies
Authors: O’Halloran Cian P. , Agarwal Abhishek , Hawcutt Daniel B. , Oni Louise , Moss James
Published: February 2025

Background

Information leaflets in research studies should be age-appropriate to be understood, however the formal readability of children’s participant information leaflets (PILs) for research studies has not been assessed.

Methods

A single-centre cross-sectional study assessing paediatric PILs. Six readability tests were applied (Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Coleman–Liau Index (CLI), Automated Readability Index (ARI) and Flesch Reading Ease score (FRE). Results were compared between age groups, and whether the PIL was from either a commercially sponsored or investigator led study.

Results

191 paediatric PILs were included. Age categories; <10 years (n = 65), ≤12 (n = 73), ≤15 (n = 73) and ≥16 (n = 61); were used for analysis. There were 39 commercial PILs and 226 non-commercial PILs. For the ≤10 and ≤12 age bands, all 6 median readability scores exceeded the target age group (thus hard to read, p < 0.005), and there was no difference in readability scores between these two age bands. Four scores from the readability tests were considered age-appropriate in the ≤15 year category, and all median scores were age-appropriate in the ≥16 years age groups. Readability scores for children’s PILs were significantly higher in commercially sponsored versus non-commercial studies (P < 0.005).

Conclusion

Improvements are required to make children’s PILs readable for the target audience, particularly in commercially sponsored research studies.

Impact

Paediatric participant information leaflets may not be readable in research studies, especially in younger age groups.

PILs for children participating in commercially sponsored studies were less readable than non-commercial studies.

Research teams writing PILs for a paediatric study need to consider the use of readability tools to ensure that the information they are providing is readable by the target audience.
Cold spells over Greenland during the mid-Pliocene Warm Period
Authors: Sousa I. M. C. , Hillaire-Marcel C. , de Vernal A. , Montero-Serrano J. -C. , Aubry A. M. R.
Published: February 2025

The mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP; 3.26–3.02 Ma) is an interval often suggested as a potential analogue of the near future climate and fate of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS). Here, neodymium and lead isotopes from marine sediment cores collected off the southern Greenland margin suggest pulses of intense glacial erosion of Precambrian terranes during this interval, while grain size data indicate a reduction in the strength of contour currents, both following a near obliquity cycle (~41 ka) pacing. These cold spells were thus sufficiently intense to trigger recurrent ice growth over Greenland, even under the high atmospheric CO2 concentration (~400 ppmV) of the interval, before the intensification of the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (~2.7 Ma). However, the mPWP was marked by a low amplitude in the axial tilt oscillation of the Earth, thus lesser variations in summer insolation at high latitudes than in the present era. Therefore, although it may offer some similarities with the future of the Earth’s climate, the mid-Pliocene cannot be seen as a genuine analogue for predicting the fate of the GIS.
Activation of CAMK2 by pseudokinase PEAK1 represents a targetable pathway in triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Yang Xue , Ma Xiuquan , Zhao Tianyue , Croucher David R. , Nguyen Elizabeth V. , Clark Kimberley C. , Hu Changyuan , Latham Sharissa L. , Bayly-Jones Charles , Nguyen Bao V. , Budnar Srikanth , Shin Sung-Young , Nguyen Lan K. , Cotton Thomas R. , Chüeh Anderly C. , Lim Kam Sian Terry C. C. , Stratton Margaret M. , Ellisdon Andrew M. , Daly Roger J.
Published: February 2025

The PEAK family of pseudokinases, comprising PEAK1-3, play oncogenic roles in several poor prognosis human cancers, including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, therapeutic targeting of pseudokinases is challenging due to their lack of catalytic activity. To address this, we screen for PEAK1 effectors and identify calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 (CAMK2)D and CAMK2G. PEAK1 promotes CAMK2 activation in TNBC cells via PLCγ1/Ca2+ signalling and direct binding to CAMK2. In turn, CAMK2 phosphorylates PEAK1 to enhance association with PEAK2, which is critical for PEAK1 oncogenic signalling. To achieve pharmacologic targeting of PEAK1/CAMK2, we repurpose RA306, a second generation CAMK2 inhibitor. RA306 inhibits PEAK1-enhanced migration and invasion of TNBC cells in vitro and significantly attenuates TNBC xenograft growth and metastasis in a manner mirrored by PEAK1 ablation. Overall, these studies establish PEAK1 as a critical cell signalling nexus that integrates Ca2+ and tyrosine kinase signals and identify CAMK2 as a therapeutically ‘actionable’ target downstream of PEAK1.
Analysis of NS2-dependent effects on influenza PB1 segment extends replication requirements beyond the canonical promoter
Authors: Swaminath Sharmada , Mendes Marisa , Zhang Yipeng , Remick Kaleigh A. , Mejia Isabel , Güereca Melissa , te Velthuis Aartjan J. W. , Russell Alistair B.
Published: February 2025

Influenza A virus encodes conserved promoter sequences. Using minimal replication assays—transfections with viral polymerase, nucleoprotein, and a genomic template—these sequences were identified as 13nt at the 5’ end of the genomic RNA (U13) and 12nt at the 3’ end (U12). Other than the fourth 3’ nucleotide, the U12 and U13 sequences are identical between all eight RNA molecules of the segmented influenza A genome. However, individual segments can exhibit different dynamics during infection. Influenza NS2, which modulates transcription and replication differentially between genomic segments, may provide an explanation. Here, we assess how internal sequences of two genomic segments, HA and PB1, contribute to NS2-dependent replication and map such interactions down to individual nucleotides in PB1. We find that the expression of NS2 significantly alters sequence requirements for efficient replication beyond the identical U12 and U13 sequences, providing a potential mechanism for segment-specific replication dynamics across the influenza genome.
Interpretable single-cell factor decomposition using sciRED
Authors: Pouyabahar Delaram , Andrews Tallulah , Bader Gary D.
Published: February 2025

Single-cell RNA sequencing maps gene expression heterogeneity within a tissue. However, identifying biological signals in this data is challenging due to confounding technical factors, sparsity, and high dimensionality. Data factorization methods address this by separating and identifying signals in the data, such as gene expression programs, but the resulting factors must be manually interpreted. We developed Single-Cell Interpretable REsidual Decomposition (sciRED) to improve the interpretation of scRNA-seq factor analysis. sciRED removes known confounding effects, uses rotations to improve factor interpretability, maps factors to known covariates, identifies unexplained factors that may capture hidden biological phenomena, and determines the genes and biological processes represented by the resulting factors. We apply sciRED to multiple scRNA-seq datasets and identify sex-specific variation in a kidney map, discern strong and weak immune stimulation signals in a PBMC dataset, reduce ambient RNA contamination in a rat liver atlas to help identify strain variation and reveal rare cell type signatures and anatomical zonation gene programs in a healthy human liver map. These demonstrate that sciRED is useful in characterizing diverse biological signals within scRNA-seq data.
Universal in situ oxide-based ABX3-structured seeds for templating halide perovskite growth in All-perovskite tandems
Authors: Chen Weiqing , Zhou Shun , Cui Hongsen , Meng Weiwei , Guan Hongling , Zeng Guojun , Ge Yansong , Cheng Sengke , Yu Zixi , Pu Dexin , Huang Lishuai , Zhou Jin , Chen Guoyi , Li Guang , Fang Hongyi , Yu Zhiqiu , Zhou Hai , Fang Guojia , Ke Weijun
Published: February 2025

Precise control over halide perovskite crystallization is pivotal for realizing efficient solar cells. Here, we introduce a strategy utilizing in-situ-formed oxide-based ABX3-structured seeds to regulate perovskite crystallization and growth. Introducing potassium stannate into perovskite precursors triggers a spontaneous reaction with lead iodide, producing potassium iodide and lead stannate. Potassium iodide effectively passivates defects, while PbSnO3 (ABX3-structured), exhibiting a 98% lattice match, acts as a template and seed. This approach facilitates pre-nucleation cluster formation, preferential grain orientation, and the elimination of intermediate-phase processes in perovskite films. Incorporating potassium stannate into both the perovskite precursors and the buried hole transport layers enables single-junction 1.25 eV-bandgap Sn-Pb perovskite solar cells to achieve a steady-state efficiency of 23.12% and enhanced stability. Furthermore, all-perovskite tandem devices yield efficiencies of 28.12% (two-terminal) and 28.81% (four-terminal). This versatile templating method also boosts the performance of 1.77 eV and 1.54 eV-bandgap cells, underscoring its broad applicability.
Droplet impact dynamics on stretched textiles
Authors: Varghese Nonu , Stone Corinne A. , Quetzeri-Santiago Miguel A. , Castrejón-Pita J. Rafael
Published: February 2025

Preventing droplets from penetrating fabrics is critical in surgical wards and the battlefield, where biological and chemical hazards are dispersed and transmitted in droplet form. Here, we study the interaction between droplets and a nylon textile using high-speed imaging. We explore various droplet impact velocities and liquids to understand the influence of liquid characteristics on the impact behaviour. Importantly, we investigate the impact dynamics of droplets on textiles subjected to various tensile forces. Critical phenomena, such as droplet penetration and capture, are analyzed. We find that the critical impact velocity for droplet penetration increases as the stretching tension in the textile decreases. Furthermore, we present a simple model to predict the critical conditions for droplet penetration and capture that takes into account the surface tension, the droplet size, density and speed, the tensile load and the textile contact angle. We validate the model through experiments, demonstrating a strong agreement. These insights hold significant implications for the design of protective garments, such as face-masks and water-repellent clothing.
Comparison of SS-EPI DWI and one-minute TGSE-BLADE DWI for diagnosis of acute infarction
Authors: Okuchi Sachi , Fushimi Yasutaka , Sakata Akihiko , Otani Sayo , Nakajima Satoshi , Maki Takakuni , Tanji Masahiro , Sano Noritaka , Ikeda Satoshi , Ito Shuichi , Urushibata Yuta , Zhou Kun , Arakawa Yoshiki , Nakamoto Yuji
Published: February 2025

The efficacy of 2D turbo gradient- and spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging with non-Cartesian BLADE trajectory (TGSE-BLADE DWI) has not been well studied for acute stroke due to its long acquisition time. This study was performed to compare distortion, artifacts and image quality between single-shot echo planar imaging (SS-EPI) DWI and TGSE-BLADE DWI with acquisition time reduced to 1 min by simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging, and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of TGSE-BLADE DWI for acute infarctions. Total 104 patients with a past history of stroke or symptoms suspicious for acute infarction or who had undergone surgery for brain tumor within two days were prospectively enrolled. Ten lesions in 9 patients were diagnosed as acute or subacute infarction and were detectable only in TGSE-BLADE DWI but not in SS-EPI DWI. Scores for geometric distortion, susceptibility artifacts, overall image quality, lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence were lower for SS-EPI DWI than TGSE-BLADE DWI (p ≤ .001). Distortion was significantly worse in SS-EPI DWI than TGSE-BLADE DWI (p < .001). SNR of centrum semiovale was significantly higher in SS-EPI DWI than TGSE-BLADE DWI (p < .001). One-minute TGSE-BLADE DWI showed better image quality than SS-EPI DWI in terms of distortion and artifacts, and higher diagnostic performance for acute infarctions.
Differentiating right upper limb movements of esports players who play different game genres
Authors: Dupuy Antoine , Campbell Mark J. , Toth Adam J.
Published: February 2025

Esports is a fast-growing worldwide phenomenon encompassing hundreds of millions of competitive players. It is well-established that different game genres require distinct cognitive skills, but the biomechanical implications of playing different game genres have received little attention. This is the first study to quantify gamers’ kinematic behaviour across genres, demonstrating the importance of physical demands on performance and equipment in esports. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the right upper limb kinematic behaviour differs among players across game genres. 63 esports players played a First Person Shooter (FPS), Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), or Adventure game for 10 min. Three tri-axial accelerometers, positioned on each participant’s right upper limb (hand, forearm, arm), recorded kinematic data during gameplay. Hand acceleration magnitude, direction change, distance travelled (sum of all hand displacements over 10-min of gameplay), and displacement area (size and shape) were calculated in addition to hand, forearm, and arm acceleration ratios. There was a marked difference in movement patterns across players of different game genres. FPS players displayed greater hand acceleration magnitude (0.96 m.s−2 ± 0.07 SEM), moved their hand through a greater distance (38.96 m ± 2.47 SEM), and over a larger displacement area (119.13 cm2 ± 16.05 SEM) compared to MOBA and Adventure players. MOBA players exhibited greater hand acceleration magnitude (0.73 m.s−2 ± 0.05 SEM), changed direction more (2335 ± 172 SEM) and covered more distance (29.25 m ± 1.80 SEM) compared to Adventure players within a smaller overall area (70.49 cm2 ± 9.91 SEM). These findings have the potential to impact the design of gaming equipment and the training volumes of gamers across different game genres, so as to mitigate injury risk and improve overall gaming performance.
Association between systemic immune inflammation index and adolescent obesity in a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Zhang Yu-zhen , Ma Run-wei , Bhandari Suwas , Xie Juan , Zhang Xiao-yu , Xie Chao , Duan Hong , Meng Juan , Wu Qiong-yu , Liu Kai , Feng Bo , Cheng Li-ming
Published: February 2025

Obesity is a prevalent health issue among adolescents, characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, which increases the risk of developing various chronic diseases in the future. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) serves as an indicator of inflammation and immune response. This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2016, including 5,676 participants. A multivariate logistic regression model, Generalized Additive Models (GAM), and subgroup analysis were used to examine the relationship between obesity and SII. The multivariate logistic regression results revealed a significant positive correlation between log SII and adolescent obesity (1.254 [1.024–1.537]). Furthermore, the risk of obesity increased with higher quartiles of SII. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests showed that this positive association persisted across various factors, including female gender, race (Non-Hispanic White and Mexican American), non-hyperlipidemia, normal white blood cell count, and PIR < 1. Additionally, a U-shaped relationship between log SII and obesity was observed, with a turning point at 6.410. The findings suggest that an increase in the systemic immune-inflammation index is significantly associated with obesity in adolescents. However, further validation through large-scale prospective studies is needed.
Unveiling the contribution of particle-associated non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs to N2 fixation in the upper mesopelagic North Pacific Gyre
Authors: Reeder Christian F. , Filella Alba , Voznyuk Anna , Coët Arthur , James Reece C. , Rohrer Tully , White Angelicque E. , Berline Léo , Grosso Olivier , van Dijken Gert , Arrigo Kevin R. , Mills Matthew M. , Turk-Kubo Kendra A. , Benavides Mar
Published: February 2025

Dinitrogen (N2) fixation supports marine life through the supply of reactive nitrogen. Recent studies suggest that particle-associated non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCDs) could contribute significantly to N2 fixation contrary to the paradigm of diazotrophy as primarily driven by cyanobacterial genera. We examine the community composition of NCDs associated with suspended, slow, and fast-sinking particles in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Suspended and slow-sinking particles showed a higher abundance of cyanobacterial diazotrophs than fast-sinking particles, while fast-sinking particles showed a higher diversity of NCDs including Marinobacter, Oceanobacter and Pseudomonas. Using single-cell mass spectrometry we find that Gammaproteobacteria N2 fixation rates were higher on suspended and slow-sinking particles (up to 67 ± 48.54 fmol N cell⁻¹ d⁻¹), while putative NCDs’ rates were highest on fast-sinking particles (121 ± 22.02 fmol N cell⁻¹ d⁻¹). These rates are comparable to previous diazotrophic cyanobacteria observations, suggesting that particle-associated NCDs may be important contributors to pelagic N2 fixation.
Characterization of a second class Ie ribonucleotide reductase
Authors: John Juliane , Lundin Daniel , Branca Rui M. , Kumar Rohit , Srinivas Vivek , Lebrette Hugo , Högbom Martin
Published: February 2025

Class I ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) convert ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides under oxic conditions. The R2 subunit provides a radical required for catalysis conducted by the R1 subunit. In most R2s the radical is generated on a tyrosine via oxidation by an adjacent metal site. The discovery of a metal-free R2 defined the new RNR subclass Ie. In R2e, three of the otherwise strictly conserved metal-binding glutamates in the active site are substituted. Two variants have been found, VPK and QSK. To date, the VPK version has been the focus of biochemical characterization. Here we characterize a QSK variant of R2e. We analyse the organismal distribution of the two R2e versions and find dozens of organisms relying solely on the QSK RNR for deoxyribonucleotide production. We demonstrate that the R2eQSK of the human pathogen Gardnerella vaginalis (Bifidobacterium vaginale) modifies the active site-adjacent tyrosine to DOPA. The amount of modified protein is shown to be dependent on coexpression with the other proteins encoded in the RNR operon. The DOPA containing R2eQSK can support ribonucleotide reduction in vitro while the unmodified protein cannot. Finally, we determined the first structures of R2eQSK in the unmodified and DOPA states.
Phage engineering to overcome bacterial Tmn immunity in Dhillonvirus
Authors: Yamashita Wakana , Chihara Kotaro , Azam Aa Haeruman , Kondo Kohei , Ojima Shinjiro , Tamura Azumi , Imanaka Matthew , Nobrega Franklin L. , Takahashi Yoshimasa , Watashi Koichi , Tsuneda Satoshi , Kiga Kotaro
Published: February 2025

Bacteria possess numerous defense systems against phage infections, which limit phage infectivity and pose challenges for phage therapy. This study aimed to engineer phages capable of evading these defense systems, using the Tmn defense system as a model. We identified an anti-Tmn protein in the ΦSMS22 phage from the Dhillonvirus genus that inhibits Tmn function in Escherichia coli. Introducing this gene into the Tmn-sensitive ΦKSS9 phage enabled it to evade Tmn immunity. Additionally, we found that a single mutation in the nmad5 gene, a DNA modification enzyme in Dhillonvirus, prevented Tmn from sensing phage infection. By mutating the nmad5 gene in the Tmn-sensitive Dhillonvirus, we demonstrated that engineering phages to evade bacterial sensing mechanisms is another viable strategy. These two phage engineering approaches—introducing anti-defense genes and mutating sensing-related genes—present a promising strategy for establishing effective phage therapy by neutralizing bacterial defense systems.