bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Metal Electrode and Concentration Redox Couple Effect on Electrical Circuit Parameters for Heterocharge System: Potential Application for Lithium‐Ion Battery
Authors: Taherkhani Farid
Published: February 2025

The analytical solution has been expanded to describe the circuit parameters of a redox couple with a charge of +1 and 0 for electrochemical reaction in the presence of supporting electrolyte as a potential application in lithium‐ion battery. The Gouy–Chapman–Stern theory has been developed to comprehend the capacitance behavior as a function of the difference in electrical potential between the solution and metal parameters (Eeq variable). Finite‐element simulations have been employed to explore various electrochemical system configurations, enhancing electrical storage energy by engineering the types of metal electrode and concentration heterocharge redox couple and supporting electrolyte. The initial guess for the Randles circuit parameters has been implemented by Matlab code developing, deriving them from the electrical current response versus time in a frequency‐dependent sinusoidal wave function. Subsequently, the optimization problem regarding fitting of the circuit parameters has been performed through open‐source Python code for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using the initial Randles circuit parameter guess. The semianalytical method revealed a minimum in capacitance behavior near the zero value of the Eeq variable. Additionally, the numerical method showed that the capacitance behavior regarding the Eeq variable remains constant for high concentrations of the supporting electrolyte. The charge transfer coefficient demonstrated a monotonic behavior versus Eeq for all electrochemical reactions occurring on the parallel microdisk. A simulation result regarding general trend for capacitance versus Eeq variable is consistent with the available experimental data.
How will AI influence higher education?
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: February 2025

I have been reluctant to write about the potential for AI to change higher education because while there are many assumptions and predictions about AI and higher education, no one knows, with certainty, how students will learn, how faculty will teach, and how administrators will govern in an AI environment.
Disclosure 21: Parallel worlds
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: February 2025

Several months ago, I was reading my local newspaper and saw an article that caught my attention. The article (about a half‐page long) reported that the records of two individuals had been illegally disclosed to at least a dozen employees of an institution. The article continued by stating that the disclosures were violations of “federal privacy laws.” The article did not mention the specific laws, but of course, FERPA and HIPAA came to mind instantly.
The University of Florida's Marah Berry: An unexpected path to research administration
Authors: Allarakhia Hawa
Published: February 2025

Marah Berry is the Research Strategy and Operations Director at the University of Florida (UF) for the College of Medicine's Office of Research. She discusses her journey combining her passion for technology and education and how that led her to higher education.
Socialisation of Emotion Regulation in Preschool Classrooms: How Do Peers Matter?
Authors: Diebold Tatiana , Jaggy Ann‐Kathrin , Perren Sonja
Published: February 2025

The development of emotional competence is an important milestone during early childhood. Beyond early experience within the family, the (preschool) classroom is a relevant socialisation context, and both teachers and peers may contribute to children's emotion‐related outcomes. Tracking changes in the emotion regulation competence of N = 173 preschool children (age in months: M = 43.3, SD = 6.6, 45% girls) over 6 months, the current study investigated whether and how peers contribute to differences in the development of emotion regulation in preschool classrooms. The research questions were addressed by examining three different kinds of peer groups: Classroom‐level peer group, friendship group, and high‐status peers (social network centrality). Teachers rated children's emotion regulation competence and empathic co‐regulation behaviour—referring to preschoolers' supportive responses to their peers' emotional expressions—at three assessment points. Multilevel growth modelling provided evidence that friendship‐group empathic co‐regulation (empathy, helping, and comforting behaviour) predicted changes in preschoolers' emotion regulation over time, confirming that friendship groups influence young children's emotional development.
The Impact of Maternal Diabetes Mellitus on Fetal Corpus Callosum Morphology: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Özdal Burcu Bozkurt , Tanaçan Atakan , Özkavak Onur , Kara Özgür , Şahin Dilek
Published: February 2025

Objective

To investigate the morphology of the corpus callosum (CC) in fetuses of pregnant women with diabetes.

Materials and Methods

This prospective study was conducted between February 2024 and August 2024 at a tertiary hospital and included a total of 81 pregnant women, divided into three groups: 27 with gestational diabetes (GDM), 27 with pregestational diabetes (PGDM), and 27 controls. For each patient, CC and cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) measurements, tela‐choroidea‐to‐anterior‐cerebral‐artery distance (TACAD), and Doppler parameters of the anterior cerebral artery were examined.

Results

The mean CC length significantly differed among the three groups (p = 0.00). Post hoc Tukey analysis showed a significant difference between the control group and the PGDM group (p = 0.001), as well as between the control group and the GDM group (p = 0.002). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of CC width, TACAD, anterior cerebral artery Doppler parameters, or CSP width and length (p > 0.05). The CC/head circumference ratio was significantly different among the three groups (p = 0.000).

Conclusion

We found that fetal CC morphology was affected in pregnancies presenting with GDM and PGDM, likely due to increased transplacental transfer of nutrients caused by maternal hyperglycemia, which accelerates fetal growth.
Impact of Radiofrequency and Microwave Heating on the Nutritional and Antinutritional Properties of Pulses: A Review
Authors: Das Pabitra Chandra , Baik Oon‐Doo , Tabil Lope G. , Rajagopalan Nandhakishore
Published: February 2025

Pulses, which are the dry seeds of legume crops, have gained global popularity, leading to a notable rise in their production. They are rich in protein, minerals, fibers, and low in fat content. However, they have some antinutrients that need to be removed. Novel techniques like radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) heating can enhance pulse quality by reducing the antinutrients. The key mechanism behind this improvement is the rapid heating that disrupts the native structure of the pulses. These technologies offer several advantages, including speed, consistency, sustainability, and energy efficiency. The effectiveness of RF and MW processing depends on the heating conditions used and the kind of pulses being treated. This review highlights the mechanisms and influencing factors of RF and MW heating as well as their effect on the nutritional and antinutritional qualities of various pulses. Additionally, the limitations of these technologies are summarized, and future research prospects focusing on pulse processing are identified.
A Study on the Co‐Opetition Game Between Low‐Carbon Supply Chains Under Carbon Cap‐and‐Trade Policy
Authors: Li Fang , Yang Yijing , Zhang Wenmin , Li Jiajia
Published: February 2025

Two competing low‐carbon supply chains are modeled using a Nash game and a manufacturer‐dominated Stackelberg game. This study explores equilibrium decisions and profit changes under six competitive models within a carbon cap‐and‐trade policy, focusing on low‐carbon competition and cost reduction. The results indicate that although carbon quotas provide economic benefits, they do not drive emission reductions. Higher carbon trading prices incentivize reductions. Vertical cooperation and horizontal competition improve emission rates and reduce retail prices, whereas horizontal cooperation can harm profits. Optimal outcomes require enhanced collaboration within supply chains and government regulation of carbon trading prices to balance emissions reductions and profits.
Nutraceutical Blends Promote Weight Loss, Inflammation Reduction, and Better Sleep: The Role of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in Overweight Adults–A Double‐Blind Trial
Authors: Santamarina Aline Boveto , Filho Victor Nehmi , de Freitas Jéssica Alves , Franco Lucas Augusto Moysés , Martins Roberta Cristina , Fonseca Joyce Vanessa , Orellana Turri José Antônio , Hufnagel Mariana Tedesco , Demarque Daniel Pecoraro , da Silva Bruna Fernanda Rio Branco , Gusmão Arianne Fagotti , Olivieri Eloísa Helena Ribeiro , de Souza Erica , de Souza Esther Alves , Otoch José Pinhata , Pessoa Ana Flávia Marçal
Published: February 2025

This study explores the effects of a nutraceutical blend with prebiotics, β‐glucans, essential minerals, and silymarin on gut microbiota, inflammation, and sleep quality in obesity through microbiota reshaping and metabolic improvements over 90 days. A double‐blind, randomized trial was conducted on 77 participants divided into two groups receiving either a standard nutraceutical blend (NSupple) or a silymarin‐enriched blend (NSupple_Silybum). Fecal and plasma samples were collected at baseline and post‐supplementation for gut microbiota, metabolic, and inflammatory marker analysis. The results showed a reduction in body weight, waist‐to‐height ratio, total cholesterol, and fractions in the NSupple_Silybum group. There was a dysbiosis recovery shown by the increase in beneficial gut bacteria, such as Lentisphaerae phylum, Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium genera, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the NSupple group, with a concurrent reduction in Adlercreutzia and Sutterella in the NSupple_Silybum group. Both groups demonstrated improved inflammatory profiles by the reduced TNF‐α/IL‐10 ratio, reduced cortisol levels, and reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. Additionally, improvements in sleep quality were associated with reductions in pro‐inflammatory cytokines and improved microbiota composition. The nutraceutical blend reshaped gut microbiota, enhanced anti‐inflammatory species, and improved metabolic and sleep parameters, highlighting its potential as a nutritional strategy for managing obesity and reducing inflammation.
Utilization of Pulsed Current‐Electro Fenton Technology for the Treatment of Wastewater from Industrial Processes
Authors: Asaithambi Perumal , Ezzat Abdelrahman O. , Bidira Firomsa , Busier Yesuf Mamuye , Abd‐Elkader Omar H. , Thirumurugan Arun , Hariharan N. M. , Al‐Lohedan Hamad A. , Kadier Abudukeremu
Published: February 2025

In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of electrochemical and advanced oxidation methods to treat the industrial wastewater. The efficiency of several approaches for treating industrial wastewater, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), electro–Fenton (EF) and pulsed–electro–Fenton (PEF) processes were all investigated. In evaluation to the H2O2, EF, and PEF technologies, the results showed that the PEF process produced 100 % total color and 98 % chemcial oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency with a low consumption of power of 3.4 kWhrm−3. The experimental parameters comprised the following: COD – 2500 mg L−1, pH – 3, H2O2 – 300 mg L−1, distance between electrode – 0.75 cm, current – 0.40 A, cycle of pulse duty – 0.75, combination of electrode – Fe/Fe, stirring speed – 500 rpm and treatment duration (TD) – 125 min. It was demonstrated that increasing the TD, current, and H2O2 while lowering the COD content improved the COD elimination efficiency while employing a iron (Fe/Fe) electrode combination with wastewater pH of 3. The efficiency of the EF process has been reduced in comparison to the PEF process because of the development of an impermeable oxide layer on the cathode and the oxidation–induced corrosion on the anode. Consequently, experimental results have indicated that the PEF could be a more promising technology than the EF method for eliminating pollutants from wastewater with reduced power consumption and process efficiency.
Progression of Otologic and Nasal Symptoms in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Throughout Childhood
Authors: Dagher Isabelle , Kimple Adam J. , Ferkol Thomas W. , Sagel Scott D. , Dell Sharon D. , Milla Carlos E. , Li Lang , Lin Feng‐Chang , Sullivan Kelli M. , Zariwala Maimoona A. , Knowles Michael R. , Rosenfeld Margaret , Leigh Margaret W. , Davis Stephanie D. ,   for the Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium
Published: February 2025

Objective

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by upper and lower airway disease. Multiple studies have demonstrated the progression of pulmonary disease; however, longitudinal changes in the otologic and nasal symptoms have not been well described in patients. This study defines age‐related prevalence, age of onset, and age‐related trends in self‐reported otologic and sinonasal comorbidities in individuals with PCD.

Study Design

A prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational study spanning up to 12 years.

Setting

Six PCD centers in North America.

Methods

Inclusion criteria were <19 years of age and a confirmed diagnosis of PCD based on electron microscopy and/or genetics. A standardized medical history questionnaire and physical exam were completed during each study visit. Descriptive statistics were performed for the entire cohort as well as for subgroups based on ciliary ultrastructure.

Results

A total of 147 participants were followed for an average of 7.6 ± 3.2 years. Pressure equalization tubes (PETs) were placed in 80%, transient hearing loss was reported in 68%, and persistent hearing loss was reported in 30%. Hearing aids and speech therapy were utilized by 8% and 27%, respectively. PETs were placed earlier in those with inner dynein arm/microtubular disorganization defects than those with outer dynein arm defects. Participants reported chronic nasal congestion in 97%, sinusitis in 87%, and 35% underwent >1 sinus surgery.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of reported otologic and sinonasal morbidity among people with PCD that begins during early childhood and persists. Further analysis is indicated to evaluate differences over time among participants with varying ultrastructural defects.

Level of Evidence

Level 2.
A robust fluorogenic substrate for chikungunya virus protease (nsP2) activity
Authors: Makhaik Sparsh , Rut Wioletta , Choudhary Shruti , Upadhyay Tulsi , Hao Chenzhou , Westberg Michael , Bobst Cedric , Yoo Euna , Fejzo Jasna , Lin Michael Z. , Bogyo Matthew , Thompson Paul , Drag Marcin , Hardy Jeanne A.
Published: February 2025

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging pathogen with pandemic potential. CHIKV infection in humans is transmitted by mosquitoes and induces common symptoms of high fever, arthralgia and myalgia. Because no specific antiviral drugs for treatment of CHIKV infection are available, drug development remains a central goal. The chikungunya virus protease from nsP2 (CHIKVP) has emerged as a key drug target due to its indispensable role in viral replication via cleavage of the viral polyprotein. To date, effective tools for screening for CHIKVP inhibitors that reflect the most critical polyprotein cleavage sites have been lacking, hampering drug‐development efforts. We found that the recognition ability of CHIKVP is sensitive to the length of peptide substrates. In this study, we report a robust fluorogenic substrate comprising a 15‐mer peptide derived from the nsP3/4 junction from the CHIKV polyprotein. This peptide is flanked by an ACC‐Lys(dnp) donor–quencher pair. Our new substrate acc‐CHIK15‐dnp shows a 30‐fold improved signal‐to‐noise ratio as compared to the previously reported edab8 substrate, which is also based on the nsP3/4 junction. We found acc‐CHIK15‐dnp is recognized only by CHIKVP but not by other alphavirus proteases. This is surprising due to the high level of sequence conservation in the alpha virus polyprotein junctions and indicates that the P‐side residues are more important than the P′‐side sequence for effective CHIKVP cleavage. The robust signal‐to‐noise ratio obtained using acc‐CHIK15‐dnp derived from the nsP3/4 cleavage site enabled much improved small molecule HTS on CHIKV relative to other fluorogenic reporters.
Role of Chinese Medicine Monomers in Dry Eye Disease: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Inflammation
Authors: Hu Zhuoyu , Chen Xiangdong , Hu Qi , Zou Menglong , Liu Zhimin
Published: February 2025

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronically inflammatory ocular surface disorder of unknown pathogenesis. Anti‐inflammatory medications, artificial tears, autologous serum, and LipiFlow have been shown to be highly beneficial in alleviating symptoms. Nevertheless, these interventions often provide only short‐term results and do not address the underlying problems of the disease. There is growing evidence that the risk of DED is associated with a vicious cycle of inflammation. This vicious cycle of inflammation is produced by the interaction of several factors, including tear film hyperosmolarity, tear film instability, inflammation, and apoptosis. Chinese medicine monomers, distinguished by their multicomponent and multitarget advantages, have been shown to help treat DED by modulating tear film status, and inhibiting inflammatory responses, and apoptosis, providing a new way of thinking of the management of DED in Chinese medicine.
Enhanced Active Learning for Structural Reliability Analysis: An Ensemble SVR Metamodel‐Monte Carlo Approach
Authors: Zemed Najib , Cherradi Toufik , Bouyahyaoui Azzeddine , Mouzoun Kaoutar
Published: February 2025

The article introduces a novel active learning method for structural reliability analysis EMSVR‐MCS, which combines the ensemble of metamodels (EMs) method, support vector regression (SVR) metamodel, and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), this approach offers an effective and efficient solution for evaluating failure probability. The method proposes constructing a robust average metamodel from a set of SVR metamodels, each trained with a different kernel function. Additionally, it introduces the construction of a variance to estimate the prediction error of the average metamodel by exploiting differences among the predicted responses of each metamodel. The method also uses a new approach to select points for training, ensuring they cover the design space effectively using an innovative learning function. Five examples of varied nature and dimension were used to validate this method, demonstrating its effectiveness in estimating failure probability while significantly reducing computational costs compared to other approaches.
Rigid Spacecraft Attitude Control Based on Finite‐Time Non‐Singular Sliding Mode and Extended State Disturbance Observer With Input Hysteresis
Authors: Liu Junjun , Cui Yufu , Wang Haoping , Tian Yang , Zhou Xingyu
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates an adaptive finite‐time non‐singular terminal sliding mode control method (AFNTSMC) for a rigid spacecraft rapid attitude maneuver control. Meanwhile, the spacecraft suffer from adverse challenges such as input hysteresis, external disturbances, and system uncertainty. To estimate the lumped disadvantage disturbances, an extended state disturbance observer (ESDO) is applied, the ESDO can track the disturbance quickly and accurately. To mitigate the effects of residuals, an adaptive law is applied. Lyapunov theory is applied to confirm the stability of the attitude control system. To validate the efficacy of the proposed control law, comparison simulations are conducted. According to this spacecraft attitude maneuvering system, the results show that the designed AFNTSMC can drive the attitude to the target position rapidly. It can save more than 5 s, the steady‐state error is reduced by more than in steady stage.
Improving the Hydrogenation Performance of Nano‐Catalysts by Constructing a Cavity‐Constrained Fluidized System
Authors: Li Jiale , Wu Guandong , Lin Xingye , Tu Yifeng , Zhao Rongpeng , Yan Zihan , Li Dianqing , He Yufei , Duan Xue
Published: February 2025

Nano‐catalysts demonstrate exceptional performance in heterogeneous reactions, yet their potential is often underutilized due to a lack of attention to engineering design. In this study, an innovative encapsulated structure is presented for nano‐catalysts and a corresponding catalytic system. Using an oil‐in‐water droplet strategy, millimeter‐sized hollow spherical alumina (Al2O3‐HS) is fabricated with an average diameter of ≈3 mm and a hollow void size of ≈1 mm. This approach enables the one‐step encapsulation of nanoscale Pd/Al2O3 within the Al2O3‐HS. The resulting assembly is immobilized within a tubular reactor for the hydrogenation of 2‐ethylanthraquinone, with hydrogen introduced from the bottom of the reactor. Remarkably, the encapsulated catalyst achieved twice the H2O2 productivity of conventional supported catalysts. This enhancement is attributed to the cavity‐constrained fluidization behavior of Pd/Al2O3 within the hollow alumina spheres. The design introduces a novel catalytic system that combines shell‐immobilization with the fluidization of encapsulated nano‐catalysts. As the gas velocity exceeds the minimum fluidization velocity, the Pd/Al2O3 particles remain highly accessible while allowing efficient gas and product flow. This hybrid approach integrates the advantages of fixed‐bed and fluidized‐bed systems, offering a promising solution to the technical challenges limiting the industrial application of nano‐catalysts.
Near‐Infrared Emission Perovskites for Multifunctional Bioimaging
Authors: Wang Tianchi , Sun Jiabo , Teng Zhaowei , Yao Shuyi , Yuan Junheng , Han Lulu , Mu Dedan , Song Hao , Yu Xue , Xu Xuhui
Published: February 2025

Bioimaging with remarkable noninvasive nature, ultrahigh resolution and sensitivity allows detection of pathologies of bones, organs, and tissues. Nevertheless, the achievement of more complete information in vivo is challenged by the necessity of multiple photodetectors with diverse response ranges. Herein, a multifunctional bioimaging with Cs2AgInCl6:Yb3+ perovskites via a single InGaAs detector for superior tissue presentation is realized in this work. Co‐incorporation of foreign dopant contributes to alterations of local structural symmetry of the Cs2AgInCl6 host, disruption of parity‐forbidden transitions, and reduction in electron–phonon coupling strength, thereby boosting the near‐infrared (NIR) intensity by 40‐fold of the corresponding perovskites drastically. Moreover, an X‐ray excited NIR light output is 2.83 times that of commercial Bi4Ge3O12 scintillators. Thanks to the efficient NIR emission, the versatile perovskites film endows a multifunctional bioimaging with detailed information of biological tissue in vivo, which fundamentally offers viable avenues for promoting bioimaging technology with integrated access of tissue presentation.
Physiological response of Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to aqueous extracts of Pistia stratiotes and Pontederia crassipes
Authors: de Oliveira Silva Luan , Santos Allan Amorim , Peñaloza Evelyn Maribel Condori , Pacheco Ana Beatriz Furlanetto , de Oliveira e Azevedo Sandra Maria Feliciano
Published: February 2025

Macrophyte extracts inhibit cyanobacteria growth, offering a sustainable solution for bloom control. The present study aimed to evaluate the response of Microcystis aeruginosa to aqueous extracts obtained from the dried biomass of Pistia stratiotes L. and Pontederia crassipes Mart. Solms. The parameters analyzed were cyanobacterial growth, photosynthesis, generation of reactive oxygen species, and antioxidative response. The chemical profile of the aqueous extracts upon incubation was also analyzed. Both extracts (4.0 g.L−1) inhibited cyanobacterial growth in 6 days: 100% inhibition for P. stratiotes and 60% inhibition for P. crassipes. Photosynthetic activity was also inhibited: 99% inhibition for P. stratiotes and 12% inhibition for P. crassipes. This was related to the downregulation of the psbA gene (coding for the photosystem II protein D1). Exposure to both extracts increased the concentration of intracellular reactive oxygen species in cyanobacterial cultures. Superoxide dismutase( SOD) enzymatic activity increased in cultures exposed to P. stratiotes extracts. The transcription of the sod gene was not altered but the transcription of the peroxiredoxin gene (prxA) increased. Upon incubation of the macrophyte extracts with M. aeruginosa cultures, phenol concentrations decreased, and their metabolic profile changed. Thus, P. stratiotes extract outperformed P. crassipes in inhibiting M. aeruginosa growth. P. stratiotes extracts obtained from the plant dry biomass present allelopathic activity on cyanobacteria and can be used as a sustainable alternative to mitigate blooms.

Practitioner Points

Aqueous extracts from dried biomass of P. stratiotes and P. crassipes inhibited M. aeruginosa growth.

P. stratiotes extract suppressed photosystem II activity, while P. crassipes did not.

Both extracts elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cells.

Peroxiredoxin gene expression upregulated by extract exposure.

P. stratiotes extract increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in cells.
Clavicle refractures after hardware removal: are there risk factors? A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kessler Franziska , Kalbas Yannik , Hambrecht Jan , Wlach Victoria , Halvachizadeh Sascha , Pfeifer Roman , Pape Hans-Christoph , Klingebiel Felix Karl-Ludwig , Hierholzer Christian
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Removal of symptomatic hardware after fracture fixation is common, especially in patients with clavicle fracture. Yet, refracture after hardware removal is a relatively common complication in those patients. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for clavicle refractures that could be influenced by the surgical treatment provided.

Methods

All patients from a level one trauma center from 2017 to 2022 were screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria included hardware removal after plate osteosynthesis of the clavicle, age ≥ 18 years, and signed informed consent. Groups were stratified according to occurrence of refracture: no-refracture (NR) vs. refracture (R). Nearest-neighbor matching in a ratio of 5:1 was performed. Parameter investigated included baseline demographics, fracture characteristics and surgical treatment details. A subgroup analysis of only clavicle shaft fractures was performed.

Results

Sixty patients were included with 50 patients in Group NR and 10 in Group R. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. A subgroup analysis on shaft fractures revealed that a significantly larger working length (number of empty screw holes adjacent to the fracture site) in Group NR (1.94 ± 0.85) compared to the refracture group (1.20 ± 0.92) (p = 0.042). Logistic regression yielded an inverse correlation with the number of empty screw holes to the fracture site and the occurrence of refractures (OR 0.369, 95% CI 0.132–0.873; p = 0.035). Time in situ, lag screw application, plate positioning and the total amount of screws did not affect either of the groups.

Conclusion

An increased working length in patients with clavicle shaft fractures might be a protective measure for occurrence of refractures after hardware removal.
Assessment of fire-retardant treatments and their impact on the fire performance and bonding properties of aspen and silver birch veneers
Authors: Alao Percy , Olusoji Adekunle , Kallakas Heikko , Just Alar , Kers Jaan
Published: February 2025

Plywood is a valuable material that offers superior properties compared to solid wood. However, like solid wood, its poor flammability limits its suitability for various applications. This study investigates the impact of distinct types of fire retardants (FRs), designated as B, P, and U, as well as various application techniques—roller coating, spraying, and impregnation—on the bond strength and fire performance of aspen and birch veneers. A lap shear test (LST) was conducted to compare the bond strength of veneers bonded with a newly developed lignin-substituted phenolic formaldehyde (LPF) resin against a conventional formaldehyde resin (PF) to evaluate the effects of FR treatments. The results indicated that FR retention was significantly higher with impregnation and, overall, with aspen veneers than birch, except for aspen veneers treated using the spraying method with P-FR. The P-FR exhibited strong and consistent performance with birch veneers, irrespective of the treatment method. Notably, P-FR roller-coated aspen, with an FR retention of 9.5% and an ignition time of 11 s, demonstrated the best overall reaction to fire performance. With a basic protection duration of 52 s and a thermal decay time of 157 s, this combination demonstrated improved thermal resistance. The LST further revealed that FR treatments significantly impacted birch veneers, which experienced a 30–48% decrease in shear strength with PF resin relative to untreated veneers. The LPF resin was incompatible with birch veneers when treated with P-FR formulated from a protic ionic liquid. For aspen, the overall decrease in shear strength was 40%, but with B- and U-FR treatments, the reductions reached 38% and 50%, respectively—much higher than the decreases observed in birch (25% and 37%) relative to control samples. These findings provide valuable insights into the effects of fire retardants on new resins, though further research is necessary for comprehensive validation.
Minimum size control for binary topology optimization
Authors: Cortez Rômulo L. , Setta Mario , Picelli Renato , Wadbro Eddie
Published: February 2025

Topology optimization methods employing binary (also known as discrete) design variables currently lack mathematical formulations to ensure length scale control in their solutions. This paper proposes and applies a morphology-mimicking filtering scheme to provide a minimum size control (often also referred to as minimum length scale control) in this class of binary designs. The Topology Optimization of Binary Structures (TOBS) method was chosen as the foundational framework for this length scale control study. Thermal and structural compliance scenarios were explored under this approach. Numerical results show that the proposed filter efficiently imposes the desired minimum length scale. The optimized designs were also less dependent on the filtering parameters when compared to designs optimized using standard techniques that employ continuous design variables.
A Nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard–Darcy System with Singular Potential, Degenerate Mobility, and Sources
Authors: Cavaterra Cecilia , Frigeri Sergio , Grasselli Maurizio
Published: February 2025

We consider a Cahn–Hilliard–Darcy system for an incompressible mixture of two fluids we already analyzed in [9]. In this system, the relative concentration difference

$$\varphi $$

φ

obeys a convective nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard equation with degenerate mobility and singular (e.g., logarithmic) potential, while the volume averaged fluid velocity

$$\varvec{u}$$

u

is given by a Darcy’s law subject to the Korteweg force

$$\mu \nabla \varphi $$

μ
∇
φ

, where the chemical potential

$$\mu $$

μ

is defined by means of a nonlocal Helmholtz free energy. The kinematic viscosity

$$\eta $$

η

depends on

$$\varphi $$

φ

. With respect to the quoted contribution, here we assume that the Darcy’s law is subject to gravity and to a given additional source. Moreover, we suppose that the Cahn–Hilliard equation and the chemical potential contain source terms. Our main goal is to establish the existence of two notions of weak solutions. The first, called “generalized” weak solution, is based a convenient splitting of

$$\mu $$

μ

so that the entropy derivative does not need to be integrable. The second is slightly stronger and allows to reconstruct

$$\mu $$

μ

and to prove the validity of a canonical energy identity. For this reason, the latter is called “natural” weak solution. The rigorous relation between the two notions of weak solution is also analyzed. The existence of a global attractor for generalized weak solutions and time independent sources is then demonstrated via the theory of generalized semiflows introduced by J.M. Ball.
Mixed methods scoping review of patients’ experiences of urgent and emergency cancer care
Authors: Hurley-Wallace A. L. , Defty J. , Richardson A. , Wagland R.
Published: February 2025

Background

Patients with oncological emergencies require immediate specialist cancer care to ensure optimum outcomes. This is often a stressful, time-sensitive situation for patients and their families who describe having to navigate complex care pathways to access urgent treatment. Acute oncology was established as a subspecialty in the UK in 2009, with the goal to streamline emergency cancer care. Patient experiences of urgent care in acute oncology contexts have not specifically been explored; hence, it is unknown whether patient experiences of emergency cancer care have improved. This may be due to lack of a patient-reported experience measure for this purpose.

Methods

A mixed methods scoping review was conducted from 2010 to April 2024, with the aim of identifying core aspects of the care experience important to patients with cancer during an acute oncological episode, based on published research evidence. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods articles were sourced and screened in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review guidance. Core domains of patient experience were collated and summarised using mixed methods evidence synthesis.

Results

Fifteen articles reporting on 14 unique studies were included. Issues important to patient experiences of emergency cancer care were described by patients, healthcare professional, and carer proxies. Studies captured experiences of various care delivery models including telehealth, in-person presentation to an Emergency Department, and acute oncology services. Six core domains of patient experience arose from the synthesis: managing emotional distress, being treated with compassion and respect, deciding when to seek help, hospital environment, quality of care and communication, and discharge planning.

Conclusions

This is the first review to identify existing literature on patient experiences of emergency cancer care, highlighting core domains of patient experience impactful for patients and their families. Patients’ decisions about when to seek help and the impact of discussing palliative care needs during an emergency were more specific to emergency cancer care, compared to issues like the hospital environment, which can be important throughout a patient’s cancer care journey. Results will help inform development of a patient-reported experience measure to allow healthcare providers to evaluate and continuously improve specialist urgent and emergency cancer care services.
Measuring the diversity of data and metadata in digital libraries
Authors: C. Carrasco Rafael , Candela Gustavo , Marco-Such Manuel
Published: February 2025

Diversity indices have been traditionally used to capture the biodiversity of ecosystems by measuring the effective number of species or groups of species. In contrast to abundance, which grows with the amount of data available and is sensitive to the appearance of small groups, diversity indices provide a more robust indicator on the variability of individuals. These types of indices can be employed in the context of digital libraries to analyse their content and metadata. They can be used, for example, to identify trends in the distribution of topics, to compare the lexica employed by different authors or to analyse the coverage of semantic metadata. In this article, the lexical diversity is measured through one of the most common indices employed to evaluate diversity, the Shannon index. The experiments show that this index slowly grows with the length of the text used to calculate it. As this growth has the diversity value as ceiling, the curves show that the true value of diversity will only be reached for very large samples. Unfortunately, the available text is often not long enough to achieve the convergence. This paper introduces therefore a new model for the calculation of the asymptotic value of the Shannon diversity of the vocabulary which outperforms traditional models. As regards metadata in digital libraries, we use the new model to analyse the topical specialization of a digital library and its time evolution and propose a more robust way to measure the variety of tags (classes and properties) employed by digital libraries to describe their holdings in Linked Open Data repositories.
Diversity in Morphological Traits, Cultural Characteristics, and Virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Isolates in Oilseed rape in Germany
Authors: Zamani-Noor Nazanin , Brand Sinja , Wüsthoff Niklas , Klocke Bettina , Papenbrock Jutta
Published: February 2025

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes white mold or stem rot in numerous important crops, including oilseed rape. Evaluating morphological traits, cultural characteristics, and virulence among various pathogen isolates is essential for an efficient management strategy. Thus, this study aimed to collect and characterize S. sclerotiorum isolates from diverse regions across Germany. The occurrence of Sclerotinia stem rot in oilseed rape fields in Germany varied from 2020 to 2022, with a total of 62 infested fields identified across 12 federal states. The disease incidence varied notably within these fields, ranging from 2 to 42%. In total, 62 isolates were collected, revealing differences in colony colour, number of produced sclerotia, weight of them, sclerotia formation patterns, mycelium growth index, and mycelial compatibility grouping. Furthermore, the virulence of the isolates were evaluated through their inoculation into five oilseed rape cultivars at the cotyledon stage. The outcomes of the one and two-way ANOVA analysis revealed significant effects for both S. sclerotiorum isolate and oilseed rape cultivar, as well as their interaction (P ≤ 0.05). Out of the evaluated isolates, 16 had low virulence (lesion area below 10%), 39 displayed moderate virulence (lesion area between 10 and 30%), and seven showed high virulence (lesion area above 30%). The evidence presented in this study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the morphological and reproductive behaviours within German S. sclerotiorum populations, along with insights into pathogen virulence. Such systematic assessments can significantly improve the development of effective management strategies to reduce Sclerotinia stem rot disease.
How are location and type of caring associated with the carer’s mental health? Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from SHARE
Authors: Schaps Valerie , Hansen Thomas , Nes Ragnhild Bang , Wahrendorf Morten
Published: February 2025

Research findings on the relationship between caring and health are mixed and call for a more nuanced analysis of the care situation. This study investigates cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between caring and depressive symptoms, considering location and type of care. Data come from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), collected in wave 6 (from 2015 to 2016) and wave 8 (from 2019 to 2020). Cross-sectional data were available for 52.186 respondents in 18 countries. Of these, 18.659 were free of elevated depressive symptoms in wave 6 and were used to investigate incident depression in the longitudinal analyses. We distinguished between personal care, practical help, and paperwork, and were able to compare in-home and outside-home personal care. For both men and women, findings indicate that in-home personal care is associated with an increased risk of reporting and developing depressive symptoms (after controlling for age, country affiliation, education, wealth, employment situation, and functional limitations). Cross-sectional, but not longitudinal, associations were also found for outside-home care in terms of personal care or paperwork, but not for practical help. Additionally, women and disadvantaged population groups were more likely to provide in-home care, but less likely to provide outside care (regardless of the type). Overall, the results highlight that different locations and types of care are associated differently with mental health. Findings also underscore the need for interventions specifically tailored to support disadvantaged populations who provide in-home care, addressing the unique challenges they face.
The Contribution of Household Chaos and Fatigue to Maternal Stress
Authors: Vaschina Madeline , Gilmore Linda , Cuskelly Monica , Lurie Janine
Published: February 2025

Parenting stress can be detrimental to child outcomes and there is evidence that both parental fatigue and household chaos are associated with the stress experienced by parents. There has been little investigation of the relative contributions these variables make to stress and even less consideration of the changes that may occur in the impact of and associations among these variables as children mature. This study explored the contribution of fatigue and household chaos to parental stress in a large sample of Australian mothers of children and adolescents. Participants completed the Parental Stress Scale, the Fatigue Assessment Scale and the Confusion, Hubbub and Order Scale. There was no group difference on the measure of stress. While parents of young children reported slightly higher levels of fatigue and household chaos than those of adolescents, effect sizes were small. Household chaos contributed to maternal stress over and above the impact of fatigue; however, there was a complex interaction between the effect of chaos and fatigue on stress. As the level of chaos increased, the impact of fatigue on maternal stress decreased. This interaction was not moderated by child age. As the data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, our considerations of the results of the study include some speculation about the influence of this on our results.
Evolution of Vortex Filaments and Reconnections in the Gross–Pitaevskii Equation and its Approximation by the Binormal Flow Equation
Authors: Arrayás M. , Fontelos M. A. , González M. D. M. , Uriarte C.
Published: February 2025

The evolution of a vortex line following the binormal flow equation (i.e. with a velocity proportional to the local curvature in the direction of the binormal vector) has been postulated as an approximation for the evolution of vortex filaments in both the Euler system for inviscid incompressible fluids and the Gross–Pitaevskii equation in superfluids. We address the issue of whether this is a suitable approximation or not and its degree of validity by using rigorous mathematical methods and direct numerical simulations. More specifically, we show that as the vortex core thickness goes to zero, the vortex core moves (at leading order and for long periods of time) with a velocity proportional to its local curvature and the binormal vector to the curve. The main idea of our analysis lies in a reformulation of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation in terms of associated velocity and vorticity fields that resemble the Euler system written in terms of vorticity in its weak form. We also present full numerical simulations aimed to compare Gross–Pitaevskii and binormal flow in various physical situations of interest such as the periodic evolution of deformed vortex rings and the reconnection of vortex filaments.
Community pharmacists improving equitable access to contraceptive methods: a commentary
Authors: Ali Zaynah Zureen , Assifi Anisa Rojanapenkul , Skouteris Helen , Pirotta Stephanie , Hussainy Safeera Yasmeen
Published: February 2025

Sexual and reproductive health is an important aspect of a woman’s health and her ability to access safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable forms of fertility regulation, including contraception. This commentary piece introduces the barriers and facilitators to community pharmacists’ practising in sexual and reproductive health, and compares and contrasts interventions taking place internationally, compared to key clinical trials occurring in Australia on an expanded scope of community pharmacy practice, in prescribing the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). Modelling the practices already occurring in other high-income countries, Australia is striving to remove barriers and improve accessibility to contraceptive care, by enabling community pharmacists to prescribe contraception.
Identifying Mechanisms of Action for Implementation Strategies Using a Retrospective Implementation Mapping Logic Model Approach
Authors: Walker Timothy J. , Are Funlola , Heredia Natalia I. , Onadeko Kempson , Saving Emma E. , Kang Eunyoung , Fernandez Maria E.
Published: February 2025

Understanding causal mechanisms for implementation strategies is a priority for implementation and health promotion research. Logic models are helpful for understanding and illustrating mechanisms through which implementation strategies operate. Little guidance exists for developing logic models for existing implementation strategies. We demonstrate how to use Implementation Mapping (IM) in a retrospective manner to develop an IMap Logic Model for a social-emotional learning program implemented at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH). To inform logic model development, we used qualitative interview data (from implementers) and conversations with program organizers. To develop the logic model, we specified the most accessible information, beginning with the program and health-related outcomes. We then specified the implementation strategies and implementation outcomes, followed by change methods (i.e., theoretical techniques that influence positive change in determinants), practical applications (i.e., specific techniques for operationalizing change methods), and determinants (factors that influence implementation) and other contextual factors. The effectiveness outcomes for the program were to improve emotion regulation and social skills among youth. Clinician implementers delivered the program and BGCGH club directors and staff supported delivery. The implementation strategies were (1) group leader trainings; (2) implementation guide; (3) BGCGH staff training; (4) needs assessments (via site visits); (5) follow-up meetings; and (6) pilot program check-in meetings. Collectively, the strategies used various practical applications (e.g., scenario discussions, reviewing procedures) to operationalize change methods (e.g., active learning, participatory problem solving) to address determinants (e.g., knowledge, interorganizational relationships). The strategy set out to improve implementation behaviors (e.g., delivering program components as prescribed) and implementation outcomes (e.g., fidelity). The developed IMap Logic Model can be used to inform implementation evaluation efforts by helping identify outcomes, mediators, and moderators. The logic model can also be used to identify gaps that, if addressed, can help ongoing implementation and scale-up efforts.