bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary dopamine supplementation has no effect on ovary activity in queen-less or queen-right honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers
Authors: Knapp R. A. , Lovegrove M. R. , Norman V. C. , Duncan E. J.
Published: January 2025

Eusociality in honeybees (Apis mellifera) is characterised by a reproductive division of labour, where the queen monopolises reproduction while worker reproduction is constrained. This constraint is mediated by queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), which inhibits worker ovary development through Notch signalling and possibly oocyte apoptosis. Dopamine has been implicated in regulating reproduction in worker honeybees, with prior studies suggesting that dietary dopamine enhances ovary activity in queen-less workers. This study aimed to test whether dopamine supplementation could overcome QMP-mediated reproductive constraint in worker honeybees. Using caged honeybee experiments, we administered dopamine and its precursor L-dopa at a range of concentrations, both in the presence and absence of QMP. Results showed that neither dopamine nor L-dopa supplementation affected ovary development, survival rates, or food intake, which contrasts with a previous study. These findings suggest that dopamine may not be a major factor in QMP-mediated reproductive inhibition. Instead, we suggest that the multifaceted nature of QMP’s components together with the complexity of neuroendocrine signalling makes it likely that multiple redundant mechanisms regulate worker reproduction. Future research should investigate the interplay between nutrition, dopamine and QMP components to fully understand the regulation of ovary activation in honeybee workers.
Relative effectiveness of methods that sample worker honey bees to estimate Varroa destructor populations in Apis mellifera colonies
Authors: Taylor Michelle A. , Goodwin R. Mark , McBrydie Heather M. , Cox Harlan M. , Dominiak Bernard C.
Published: January 2025

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies usually survive less than 16 months if populations of parasitic mite (Varroa destructor) are not controlled. The timing of when to control Varroa populations is aided by using methods that estimate the number of Varroa in hives. The relative efficacy of eight methods used to calculate the number of Varroa in samples of 300 adult bees was established: icing sugar shake (78%), low-suds detergent wash (86%), ethanol wash (72%), 10-min exposure to Apistan® (42%), ether roll (42%), a 30-s exposure to grapefruit leaf smoke (5%), a 30-s exposure to fluvalinate smoke (0%), and a 30-s exposure to tobacco leaf smoke (0%). A range of approaches were investigated to improve the efficacy and reliability of some of the methods. The following approaches improved the efficacy of four methods so that more than 95% of the Varroa were recovered: two 15-s shakes with at least 10 g of icing sugar; three 15-s washes with low-suds detergent; three 30-s washes with ethanol; and a 35-min exposure to an Apistan® strip.
Fasting plasma methylglyoxal concentrations are associated with higher numbers of circulating intermediate and non-classical monocytes but with lower activation of intermediate monocytes: the Maastricht Study
Authors: Zhang Xiaodi , van Greevenbroek Marleen M. J. , Scheijen Jean L. J. M. , Eussen Simone J. P. M. , Kelly Jaycey , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Wouters Kristiaan
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Elevated methylglyoxal (MGO) levels and altered immune cell responses are observed in diabetes. MGO is thought to modulate immune cell activation. The current study investigated whether fasting or post-glucose-load plasma MGO concentrations are associated with circulating immune cell counts and activation in a large cohort study.

Methods

696 participants of The Maastricht Study (age 60.3 ± 8.4 years, 51.9% women) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Fasting and post-OGTT plasma MGO concentrations were measured using mass spectrometry. Numbers and activation of circulating immune cells at fasting state were quantified using flow cytometry. Activation scores were calculated by averaging individual marker z-scores for neutrophils (CD11b, CD11c, CD16) and classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes (CD11b, CD11c, CX3XR1, HLA-DR). Associations were analysed using multiple linear regression adjusted for potential confounders. Stratified analyses were performed for glucose metabolism status for associations between plasma MGO levels and immune cell counts.

Results

Higher fasting plasma MGO concentrations were significantly associated with higher numbers of intermediate (β = 0.09 [95%CI 0.02; 0.17]) and non-classical monocytes (0.08 [0.002; 0.15]), but with lower activation scores for the intermediate monocytes (-0.14 [-0.22; -0.06]). Stratified analyses showed that positive associations between fasting plasma MGO levels and numbers of intermediate and non-classical monocytes appear only in participants with type 2 diabetes. Post-OGTT plasma MGO concentrations were not consistently associated with immune cells counts or activation.

Conclusion

Higher fasting plasma MGO concentrations are associated with higher intermediate and non-classical monocyte counts but with lower activation of intermediate monocytes.
Membranes of Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity PIM-1 for Gas Separation: Modification Strategies and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Qiu Boya , Gao Yong , Gorgojo Patricia , Fan Xiaolei
Published: January 2025

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have received considerable attention for making high-performance membranes for carbon dioxide separation over the last two decades, owing to their highly permeable porous structures. However, challenges regarding its relatively low selectivity, physical aging, and plasticisation impede relevant industrial adoptions for gas separation. To address these issues, several strategies including chain modification, post-modification, blending with other polymers, and the addition of fillers, have been developed and explored. PIM-1 is the most investigated PIMs, and hence here we review the state-of-the-arts of the modification strategies of PIM-1 critically and discuss the progress achieved for addressing the aforementioned challenges via meta-analysis. Additionally, the development of PIM-1-based thin film composite membranes is commented as well, shedding light on their potential in industrial gas separation. We hope that the review can be a timely snapshot of the relevant state-of-the-arts of PIMs guiding future design and optimisation of PIMs-based membranes for enhanced performance towards a higher technology readiness level for practical applications.
Primordial black holes and their gravitational-wave signatures
Authors: Bagui Eleni , Clesse Sébastien , De Luca Valerio , Ezquiaga Jose María , Franciolini Gabriele , García-Bellido Juan , Joana Cristian , Kumar Jain Rajeev , Kuroyanagi Sachiko , Musco Ilia , Papanikolaou Theodoros , Raccanelli Alvise , Renaux-Petel Sébastien , Riotto Antonio , Ruiz Morales Ester , Scalisi Marco , Sergijenko Olga , Ünal Caner , Vennin Vincent , Wands David ,   For the LISA Cosmology Working Group
Published: January 2025

In the recent years, primordial black holes (PBHs) have emerged as one of the most interesting and hotly debated topics in cosmology. Among other possibilities, PBHs could explain both some of the signals from binary black hole mergers observed in gravitational-wave detectors and an important component of the dark matter in the Universe. Significant progress has been achieved both on the theory side and from the point of view of observations, including new models and more accurate calculations of PBH formation, evolution, clustering, merger rates, as well as new astrophysical and cosmological probes. In this work, we review, analyze and combine the latest developments in order to perform end-to-end calculations of the various gravitational-wave signatures of PBHs. Different ways to distinguish PBHs from stellar black holes are emphasized. Finally, we discuss their detectability with LISA, the first planned gravitational-wave observatory in space.
Assessment of Radiation absorption parameters of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic used in dentistry: experimental and theoretical approaches
Authors: Şahin Meryem Cansu , Kayhan Mehmet , Kayhan Emine
Published: January 2025

The primary scope of this study is to determine the gamma radiation absorption characteristics of a commercial LD glass-ceramic biomaterial through GAMOS simulation and Phy-X/PSD software, and then compare these results with experimental data to provide information about a radiation absorption property of this material. Elemental analyses of the LD glass-ceramic biomaterial were conducted in this research using X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. In the experimental study, gamma rays with energies from 81 keV to 1408 keV, emitted by sources such as 133Ba, 152Eu, 22Na, 137Cs, 57Co, and 60Co, were detected utilizing a gamma spectrometer with a 2″×2″ NaI(Tl) detector and associated electronic systems. The experimental radiation absorption data were analyzed alongside the results generated by the GAMOS simulation and the Phy-X/PSD program for comparison. The linear attenuation coefficients were 0.418, 0.361, 0.266, 0.289, 0.250, 0.208, 0.184, 0.175, 0.142, 0.177, 0.123, 0.123, 0.135, and 0.122 cm-1 at gamma energies of 81, 121.8, 276.4, 302.9, 356, 383.9, 511, 661.7, 779, 964.1, 1173.2, 1274.5, 1332.5, and 1408 keV, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient values began to decrease rapidly as the gamma photon was increased to 1 MeV. Half value layer ranged from 1.315 cm at 81 keV to 6.243 cm at 1408 keV. Similarly, tenth value layer ​​also increased when photon energy increased. The mean free path values ​​vary between 2.394 cm− 1 and 8.184 cm− 1. In conclusion, it has been observed that the radiation absorption parameters of lithium disilicate dental biomaterial vary depending on the energy level.
Patterns of food preparation in children and adult diets and their associations with demographic and socio-economic characteristics, health and nutritional status, physical activity, and diet quality
Authors: Rei Mariana Correia Castro , Correia Daniela Macedo , Torres Duarte Paulo Martins , Lopes Carla Maria Moura , Costa Ana Isabel Almeida , Rodrigues Sara Simões Pereira
Published: January 2025

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify patterns of food preparation and examine their demographic and socio-economic drivers, along with impacts on health and nutritional status, physical activity, and diet quality. Dietary data from a national-representative sample (n = 5005, 3–84 years) of the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015/16) were classified by preparation locations (at or away from home) and analysed via hierarchical clustering. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between demographic and socio-economic factors and food preparation patterns and between these patterns and health and nutritional status, physical activity, and diet quality. The most common food preparation pattern (followed by 45.4% of participants) represented the highest intake of foods prepared by away-from-home establishments. Adolescents (vs. children, OR = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.17, 0.49) and older adults (vs. adults, OR = 0.37, 95%CI = 0.26, 0.53) had lower odds of following this pattern, whereas adult men (vs. women, OR = 4.20, 95%CI = 3.17, 5.57) had higher odds. Higher education, higher household income, and having children/adolescents in the household also increased the odds of eating foods prepared away from home, whereas living in rural areas or in food-insecure households decreased the odds. Noticeably, adults consuming more foods prepared away from home had lower odds of being overweight or obese (OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.56, 0.97), but higher odds of sedentarism (OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.08, 1.96) and poor diet (OR = 3.01, 95%CI = 2.08, 4.34) compared to those consuming more foods prepared at home by themselves. Dietary patterns marked by high away-from-home food preparation prevail. While these correlated with higher socio-economic status, sedentarism, and poorer diet — relatively to patterns with greater reliance on homecooked food — they were not linked to higher odds of obesity.
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE BANK OF ENGLAND
Authors: Garriga Ana Carolina
Published: January 2025

This article analyses the correlates of public confidence in the Bank of England (BoE) both at the aggregate and individual levels to answer the following two questions: What are the correlates of trust in the BoE? Is the inflation surge associated with a structural shift in attitudes towards the BoE? Data from the BoE’s Inflation Attitudes survey (2001–2023) suggest that although inflation performance and public trust seem associated at the aggregate level, at the individual level this correlation is weaker. Further analyses suggest some changes in the correlates of public confidence since the inflation surge.
Music, Language, and Technology in More-Than-Human Sonic Cultures
Authors: HARRISON JACK
Published: January 2025

I’m sat at my office desk writing this review when I receive a notification on my phone. An alert of this kind would usually be unworthy of comment. Yet, this notification informs me of a recent BBC News article on sperm whale vocalization. Intrigued, I read the story, which explains how a team of Cetacean Translation Initiative (Ceti) researchers, led by PhD student Pratyusha Sharma at MIT, are using AI technology to analyse large bioacoustics datasets of sperm whale clicks. Their analysis shows that the combining of clicks in sperm whale communication appears to parallel the grouping of phonemes to create words in human languages. What the whales’ different rhythmic sequences of clicks — called ‘codas’ — mean, however, is still unknown. Scientists have, so far, only caught a glimpse of the lives of sperm whales, and so it is impossible to know at this stage what information is carried by particular combinations of codas.1
Not So Irrelevant: The Epistemic Significance of Social Identity
Authors: Brinkerhoff Anna
Published: January 2025

Our social identity affects what we believe. But, how should we epistemically evaluate this doxastic impact? Achieving a robust picture of the epistemic significance of social identity requires us to explore the understudied intersection of irrelevant influences and standpoint epistemology, which leads us to cases of double higher-order evidence. Reflecting on social identity through the lens of irrelevant influences gives us higher-order evidence of error, while reflecting through the lens of standpoint advantage gives us higher-order evidence of accuracy. We must weigh the strength of each piece of higher-order evidence case by case to epistemically evaluate the doxastic impact of social identity.
Revisiting Response-Dependent Responsibility
Authors: Carty Alexander
Published: January 2025

Response-dependence about moral responsibility argues that someone is morally responsible if and only if, and because, they're an appropriate target of reactive attitudes. But if we can be partially morally responsible, and if reactive attitudes are too coarse-grained to register small differences in normatively significant features of agents, then response-dependence is false. Shawn Wang dubs this the “Granularity Challenge.” This article rejects the second premise of the Granularity Challenge. Human emotions are fine-grained enough to register small differences in normatively significant features of agents. One illustrative example of this, I argue, is how children gradually emerge as partially responsible agents.
The Electric Telegraph, News Coverage, and Political Participation
Authors: Wang Tianyi
Published: January 2025

This paper uses newly digitized data on the growth of the telegraph network in America during 1840–1852 to study the impacts of the electric telegraph on national elections. Exploiting the expansion of the telegraph network in a difference-in-difference approach, I find that access to telegraphed news from Washington significantly increased voter turnout in national elections. Newspapers facilitated the dissemination of national news to local areas. Text analysis on historical newspapers shows that the improved access to news from Washington led local newspapers to cover more national political news, including coverage of Congress, the presidency, and sectional divisions involving slavery.
Reanalysis of sequences of alleged Javan tiger highlights the difficulties in studying big cats and the need for high-throughput sequencing
Authors: Khan Anubhab , Yulianto Yulianto , Aninta Sabhrina Gita , Wirdateti Wirdateti
Published: January 2025

Big cats are of conservation concern throughout their range, and genetic tools are often employed to study them for various purposes. However, there are several difficulties in using genetic tools for big cat conservation that could be resolved by modern methods of DNA sequencing. Recent reports of the sighting of a putative Javan tiger Panthera tigris sondaica in West Java, Indonesia, highlight some of the difficulties of studying the genetics of big cats. We reanalysed the data of the original reports and found that the conclusions were drawn based on incorrect copies of the genes. Specifically, the nuclear copy of the mitochondrial gene was analysed with the mitochondrial sequence, leading to discordance in the results. However, re-sequencing of the remaining DNA confirms that the sighting could have been that of a tiger, but the subspecies cannot be confirmed. This work highlights the urgency of developing high-throughput sequencing infrastructure in the tropics and the need for reliable databases for the study of big cats.
Labour Pains: Mothers and Motherhood on the British Left in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Riley Charlotte Lydia , Jenkins Lyndsey , Baughan Emily , Beers Laura , Burnett Jade , Chappell Frankie , Davidson Ruth , Lundin Emma Elinor , Martin Mary Clare , Muggeridge Anna , Peplow Emma , Pivatto Priscila , White Jessica
Published: January 2025

British left-wing politics does not know what to think about mothers. In left-wing women’s movements, motherhood has been recognised as essential and difficult; necessary for future revolutions, not least in raising future revolutionaries. In less radical circles, it has been understood as a crucial contribution to the functioning of society, often forming the basis of women’s claims to citizenship and maternalist forms of politics. On the other hand, motherhood has been seen as a ‘natural’ function of women and a private responsibility, rather than a public good or a collective act which needs comprehensive state support. The family, in this reading, is a rather conservative force, better left to social reactionaries. Mothering has added additional hurdles to the gendered obstacles women already face in pursuing politics as activists or elected representatives. Perhaps because of this, many mothers in politics have sought to downplay or distance themselves from their roles as mothers, emphasising instead their contributions as workers and activists who can be fully committed to the left cause. Feminist historians have often followed their lead and have tended to write around political mothers’ maternal roles in their scholarship. This roundtable develops themes first explored in our November 2023 workshop, generously supported by the Royal Historical Society.
Evidence for the Neoproterozoic Rifting of Rodinia in the Rocky Mountain Front Range
Authors: Murray Kendra E. , Niemi Nathan A. , Clark Marin K.
Published: January 2025

Recent advances in low‐temperature thermochronology enable the recovery of deep‐time thermal histories from Precambrian crystalline rocks shaped by multiple tectonic events, offering unprecedented opportunities to test tectonic hypotheses and links to significant biologic and climatic episodes. In particular, the late Neoproterozoic breakup of supercontinent Rodinia profoundly shaped the western margin of Laurentia, leaving a geologic record along the Cordilleran hingeline that temporally associates continental rifting with biological change at the Ediacaran‐Cambrian transition and may explain the unusual eastern extent of the Laramide orogeny. However, sedimentary evidence east of the Cordilleran hingeline is lacking, leaving postulated links untested. Here we interpret Neoproterozoic to recent tectonic histories from the Colorado Front Range using thermal history modeling of zircon (U‐Th)/He (ZHe) ages (50–607 Ma), which vary with grain U‐Th composition. These models are constrained by geologic records that place basement rocks near Earth's surface at ca. 700, 500, and 300 Ma, and they resolve late Neoproterozoic heating to 240–285°C followed by cooling. Sensitivity tests confirm this heating signal depends on fitting Mesoproterozoic 40Ar/39Ar ages and a ZHe data set that includes high‐U‐Th grains with reproducible 61 ± 7.5 Ma ages that correspond to Colorado Mineral Belt magmatism and Laramide exhumation. We interpret the Neoproterozoic heating as direct evidence that intracontinental rifting in the Front Range region drove kilometer‐scale burial coeval with global glaciation and the fragmentation of Rodinia. The magnitude and duration of reheating are well constrained, but resolving subsequent cooling during Neoproterozoic‐Paleozoic time strongly depends on surface constraints from the geologic record.
Differential Extrusion of Indochina‐South China Block and Its Interplay With Slab‐Pull Tectonics: Evidence for End‐Oligocene Basin Inversion in the Beibuwan Basin
Authors: Wang Zheng , Ren Jianye , Hu Chen , Xu Yancheng
Published: January 2025

The Beibuwan Basin is situated at the northwest margin of the South China Sea (SCS) and thereby provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between extrusion and slab‐pull tectonics. Through borehole‐constrained seismic interpretation and quantitative analyses of inversion magnitude, broadly developed end‐Oligocene basin inversion structures have been identified, with their intensity gradually diminishing toward the southeast. The mechanisms underlying the inversion cannot be fully explained by either the extrusion of Indochina Block and South China Block (SCB) or the slab‐pull of Proto‐South China Sea alone. Therefore, we propose an innovative hybrid model suggesting that extrusion tectonics have played a more dominant role than slab‐pull tectonics over time. More specifically, during the Oligocene, extrusion tectonics, as evidenced by the thrusting along the Longmenshan Fault, exerted compressional stress on the western part of the SCB. Concurrently, slab‐pull tectonics induced extension in the SCS, with the extensional force impacting the southern part of the SCB as well. This resulted in a northeast‐oriented stress neutral line within the SCB, delineating the boundary between extensional and compressional stress. At the end of the Oligocene, the initiation of the Sabah Orogeny weakened the effects of slab‐pull tectonics. Consequently, the stress neutral line shifted southeastward to the south of the Qiongdongnan Basin and the northwest sub‐basin of the SCS, triggering the development of inversion structures in the study area and the southward jump of the spreading ridge. This model highlights the significance of compressional stress during the SCS evolution, marking a fundamental difference from the traditional models.
Are associations of adulthood overweight and obesity with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and obesity-related cancer modified by comparative body weight at age 10 years in the UK Biobank study?
Authors: Johnson William , Norris Tom , Pearson Natalie , Petherick Emily S. , King James A. , Willis Scott A. , Hardy Rebecca , Paudel Susan , Haycraft Emma , Baker Jennifer L. , Hamer Mark , Stensel David J. , Tilling Kate , Richardson Tom G.
Published: January 2025

Objective

Adults living with overweight or obesity do not represent a single homogenous group in terms of mortality and disease risks. The aim of our study was to evaluate how the associations of adulthood overweight and obesity with mortality and incident disease are modified by (i.e., differ according to) self-reported childhood body weight categories.

Methods

The sample comprised 191,181 men and 242,806 women aged 40–69 years (in 2006–2010) in the UK Biobank. The outcomes were all-cause mortality, incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and incident obesity-related cancer. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate how the associations with the outcomes of adulthood weight status (normal weight, overweight, obesity) differed according to perceived body weight at age 10 years (about average, thinner, plumper). To triangulate results using an approach that better accounts for confounding, analyses were repeated using previously developed and validated polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for childhood body weight and adulthood BMI, categorised into three-tier variables using the same proportions as in the observational variables.

Results

In both sexes, adulthood obesity was associated with higher hazards of all outcomes. However, the associations of obesity with all-cause mortality and incident CVD were stronger in adults who reported being thinner at 10 years. For example, obesity was associated with a 1.28 (1.21, 1.35) times higher hazard of all-cause mortality in men who reported being an average weight child, but among men who reported being a thinner child this estimate was 1.63 (1.53, 1.75). The ratio between these two estimates was 1.28 (1.17, 1.40). There was also some evidence that the associations of obesity with all-cause mortality and incident CVD were stronger in adults who reported being plumper at 10 years. In genetic analyses, however, there was no evidence that the association of obesity (according to the adult PRS) with mortality or incident CVD differed according to childhood body size (according to the child PRS). For incident obesity-related cancer, the evidence for effect modification was limited and inconsistent between the observational and genetic analyses.

Conclusions

Greater risks for all-cause mortality and incident CVD in adults with obesity who perceive themselves to have been a thinner or plumper than average child may be due to confounding and/or recall bias.
Controllable tip exposure of ultramicroelectrodes coated by diamond-like carbon via direct microplasma jet for enhanced stability and fidelity in single-cell recording
Authors: Du Zhiyuan , Xu Qingda , Xi Ye , Xu Mengfei , Cao Jiawei , Wang Longchun , Li Xiuyan , Wang Xiaolin , Liu Qingkun , Lin Zude , Yang Bin , Liu Jingquan
Published: January 2025

Precise and long-term electroanalysis at the single-cell level is crucial for the accurate diagnosis and monitoring of brain diseases. The reliable protection in areas outside the signal acquisition points at sharp ultramicroelectrode (UME) tips has a significant impact on the sensitivity, fidelity, and stability of intracellular neural signal recording. However, it is difficult for existing UMEs to achieve controllable exposure of the tip functional structure, which affects their ability to resist environmental interference and shield noise, resulting in unsatisfactory signal-to-noise ratio and signal fidelity of intracellular recordings. To address this issue, we chose a dense and electrochemically stable diamond-like carbon (DLC) film as the UME protection coating and developed a method to precisely control the exposed degree of the functional structure by directly fixed-point processing of the UME tip by the strong site-selectivity and good controllability of the atmospheric microplasma jet. By analyzing the interaction between the microplasma jet and the UME tip, as well as the changes in the removal length and microstructure of UME tips with processing time, the exposed tip length was precisely controlled down to the submicron scale. Biocompatibility experiments, electrochemical aging tests and real-time intracellular pH recording experiments have demonstrated that the DLC-UME with effective tip protection processed by microplasma jet has the potential to enable long-term detection of intracellular high-fidelity signals.
Leisure activities of adolescents—associations with demographic characteristics, well-being and parental leisure engagement
Authors: Wanka Friederike , Vogel Mandy , Grafe Nico , Aßmann Manuela , Kiess Wieland , Poulain Tanja
Published: January 2025

Background

The present study aimed to investigate associations between leisure activities and well-being, behavioral difficulties, and parental leisure time engagement.

Methods

A total of 959 adolescents aged 10 to 18 years were included in the present study. We assessed their leisure activities (e.g., family time, meeting friends, screen time, sports participation), well-being (Kidscreen-27) and behavioral difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire SDQ) using questionnaires. The leisure behavior of parents was assessed using a parent version of the leisure activities questionnaire. We applied linear and logistic mixed-effect models to assess associations, adjusting for age, sex, and SES.

Results

The associations between leisure activities and well-being differed depending on the type of activity. Active leisure (e.g., family time, meeting friends, café visits, visiting a museum/art exhibition/cinema, visiting a concert/opera, voluntary work, sports participation) was associated with better well-being, especially physical well-being, and fewer behavioral difficulties. Passive leisure activities (screen time, chilling) were associated with lower well-being and more behavioral difficulties. We also observed that adolescents reported more frequently participation in the described leisure activities if their parents did so.

Conclusion

We need to promote active leisure behavior among young people and their parents to improve adolescents’ well-being.

Impact

Most previous studies on leisure behavior have focused on screen time and sports participation, but we examined a variety of leisure activities including family time, meeting friends, café visits, visiting a museum/art exhibition/cinema, visiting a concert/opera, voluntary work, chilling and sports participation and screen time.

Active leisure activities are associated with better well-being and less behavioral problems.

Parents’ leisure time participation is associated with higher participation of their children in these activities.

We need to promote active leisure behavior among adolescents and their parents to improve overall well-being.
Unravelling genomic drivers of speciation in Musa through genome assemblies of wild banana ancestors
Authors: Martin Guillaume , Istace Benjamin , Baurens Franc-Christophe , Belser Caroline , Hervouet Catherine , Labadie Karine , Cruaud Corinne , Noel Benjamin , Guiougou Chantal , Salmon Frederic , Mahadeo Joël , Ahmad Fajarudin , Volkaert Hugo A. , Droc Gaëtan , Rouard Mathieu , Sardos Julie , Wincker Patrick , Yahiaoui Nabila , Aury Jean-Marc , D’Hont Angélique
Published: January 2025

Hybridization between wild Musa species and subspecies from Southeast Asia is at the origin of cultivated bananas. The genomes of these cultivars are complex mosaics involving nine genetic groups, including two previously unknown contributors. This study provides continuous genome assemblies for six wild genetic groups, one of which represents one of the unknown ancestor, identified as M.
acuminata ssp. halabanensis. The second unknown ancestor partially present in a seventh assembly appears related to M. a. ssp. zebrina. These assemblies provide key resources for banana genetics and for improving cultivar assemblies, including that of the emblematic triploid Cavendish. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses reveal an ongoing speciation process within Musa, characterised by large chromosome rearrangements and centromere differentiation through the integration of different types of repeated sequences, including rDNA tandem repeats. This speciation process may have been favoured by reproductive isolation related to the particular context of climate and land connectivity fluctuations in the Southeast Asian region.
Altered olfactory responses in Fmr1 KO mice
Authors: Tuma Jan , Rana Amtul-Noor , Philip Teena , Park Jeong Ben , Lee Hye Young
Published: January 2025

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder oftentimes associated with abnormal social behaviors and altered sensory responsiveness. It is hypothesized that the inappropriate filtering of sensory stimuli, including olfaction, can lead to aberrant social behavior in FXS. However, previous studies investigating olfaction in animal models of FXS have shown inconsistent results. Here, we found that Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice, a mouse model of FXS, showed increased sniffing duration for non-social odors during their first exposure. Additionally, while wild-type (WT) males demonstrated differences in behavioral patterns between non-social odors while Fmr1 KO males did not show such distinction. We also showed that Fmr1 KO males spent significantly less time sniffing female urine odor compared to WT males. Moreover, we found an increased volume of the olfactory bulb in Fmr1 KO males. Overall, our findings suggest that the Fmr1 KO mice demonstrate atypical olfactory behaviors as well as structural changes in the olfactory bulb.
Cumulative damage characteristics of tunnel initial support concrete under blasting load
Authors: Zhao Yan , Zhang Zhuang , Ge Lijie , Xu Lingling , Zhao Huadong , Yu Mingzan
Published: January 2025

Relying on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway Cao Mao Shan tunnel project, blasting vibration monitoring and sound wave testing experiments were carried out. The monitoring results show that the blasting vibration velocity corresponding to the initial support satisfies the Sadowski formula. The results of the sonic test show that with the increase of blasting times, the cumulative damage increases gradually, but the blasting damage increment shows a downward trend. In addition, as the blasting distance decreases, the blasting cumulative damage effect is significant. Through data analysis and curve fitting, the cumulative damage range R

cr
and critical blasting vibration velocity PPV

cr
corresponding to blasting construction are obtained respectively. The numerical analysis results show that there is a good exponential function relationship between the cumulative damage range R

cr
and the corresponding critical blasting vibration velocity PPV

cr
. The purpose of quantitative control of blasting damage can be achieved by setting the corresponding vibration velocity threshold.
Compact inverse designed vertical coupler with bottom reflector for sub-decibel fiber-to-chip coupling on silicon on insulator platform
Authors: Huang Shiang-Yu , Barz Stefanie
Published: January 2025

Inverse design via topology optimization has led to innovations in integrated photonics and offers a promising way for designing high-efficiency on-chip couplers with a minimal footprint. In this work, we exploit topology optimization to design a compact vertical coupler incorporating a bottom reflector, which achieves sub-decibel coupling efficiency on the 220-nm silicon-on-insulator platform. The final design of the vertical coupler yields a predicted coupling efficiency of −0.35 dB at the wavelength of 1550 nm with a footprint of 14 µm

$$\times$$

×

14 µm, which is considerably smaller than conventional grating couplers. Its topology-optimized geometry can be realized by applying one full-etch and one 70-nm shallow-etch process and the fabricability is also guaranteed by a minimum feature size around 150 nm. Analysis of the potential fabrication imperfections indicates that the topology-optimized coupler is more resilient to in-plane variations, as the deviation of approximately ±100 nm in the misalignment of the topology-optimized features, ±20 nm in the size of the topology-optimized features, and ±10 nm in shallow etch depth yields an additional 1-dB loss as a penalty at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The proposed vertical coupler can further miniaturize photonic integrated circuits and enable highly-efficient networks between optical fibers and other photonic devices.
De novo assembly of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two Camellia-oil tree species reveals their multibranch conformation and evolutionary relationships
Authors: Xiao Zhun , Gu Yiyang , Zhou Junqin , Lu Mengqi , Wang Jinfeng , Lu Kaizheng , Zeng Yanling , Tan Xiaofeng
Published: January 2025

Camellia-oil trees are economically valuable, oil-rich species within the genus Camellia, family Theaceae. Among these species, C. oleifera, a member of Section Oleifera in the genus, is the most extensively cultivated in China. In this study, we assembled the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two Camellia species, namely C. oleifera and C. lanceoleosa. These two species are closely related and belong to the same genus and section, with C. oleifera being hexaploid and C. lanceoleosa being diploid. The mitogenome of C. oleifera is comprised of 1,039,838 base pairs (bp), and C. lanceoleosa is comprised of 934,155 bp. Both genomes exhibit a multipartite genome structure, which is supported by our PCR experiments. We conducted codon usage and RNA editing site analysis on these two mitogenomes, which showed highly consistent results. However, analysis of repetitive sequences and mitochondrial plastid sequences (MTPTs) revealed differences between the two mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these two species clustered together, suggesting a close evolutionary relationship. The collinearity analysis results showed extensive genome rearrangements in the mitogenomes of Camellia species. We successfully assembled the mitogenomes of C. oleifera and C. lanceoleosa, marking a significant advancement in understanding camellia-oil tree mitogenomes. Unlike circular mitogenomes reported before, our research confirms multiple-branched configurations in these two species. This sheds light on mitogenome structural complexities and contributes to our understanding of evolutionary processes. Additionally, these results enrich Camellia genetic resources and expand our knowledge of mitogenome variation.
Sex-specific association between maternal childhood adversities and offspring’s weight gain in a Brazilian cohort
Authors: Santana Vinicius Oliveira , Ramos Aline Camargo , Cogo-Moreira Hugo , Araújo Célia Maria , Alves Barbara Shibuya , Ribeiro Lucas , Lodi Aline , Milani Ana Carolina Coelho , Silva Ivaldo , Duarte Cristiane S. , Posner Jonathan , Jackowski Andrea Parolin
Published: January 2025

Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to negative health and developmental outcomes in offspring. However, whether maternal ACEs influence infant weight gain in the first months of life, and if this effect differs by infant sex, remains unclear. This study included 352 full-term newborns from low-risk pregnancies and their mothers in low-income settings in Brazil. Anthropometric data (weight, length, head circumference) and other information (feeding type, offspring sex, family income) were collected at delivery (W0), discharge (W1), and up to 8 weeks postpartum (W2). ACEs were assessed using the CDC-Kaiser Questionnaire, and weight gain was calculated as the difference between W2 and W1, divided by the number of days between measurements. The association between maternal ACEs and offspring weight gain was positive only in male offspring (unstandardized coefficient (male) = 1.82, SE = 0.438, p < 0.001); for each 1-point increase in the ACEs score (e.g., from 0 to 1), weight gain increased by 1.8 g/day. These findings indicate that maternal ACEs are associated with increased weight gain in male infants during the first two months of life, potentially increasing the risk of future obesity. Further research is required to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms and their neurodevelopmental implications.
Multicolor emission from a 0D-doped hybrid halide (C8H14N2)2CdBr6 single crystal
Authors: Xu Yuchen , Dong Wenxiao , Song Shaoli , He Huichao , Jiang Hanmei , Jia Bi , Liu Xiaoyan , Qiu Jianbei , Han Tao
Published: January 2025

A three-millimeter-scale 0D (MXDA)2CdBr6 (MXDA = C8H14N22+) single crystal serves as an outstanding host for doping with various valence activators, such as Cu+, Mn2+ and Sb3+, which can emit blue, yellow and red fluorescence, respectively.
Deciphering molecular composition and summarizing control strategies of unknown disinfection by-products in water and wastewater based on FT-ICR-MS analysis: a comprehensive review
Authors: Wang Changmin , Zhang Bingliang , Rong Youzhuang , Shi Xifeng , Liu Yunyan
Published: January 2025

This review systemically summarizes the molecular composition and characteristics and control strategies of unknown DBPs in water and wastewater based on FT-ICR-MS analysis.
Human milk oligosaccharides 2′-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose attenuate ovalbumin-induced food allergy through immunoregulation and gut microbiota modulation
Authors: Wu Siya , Chen Haiqin , Yu Renqiang , Li Huizhen , Zhao Jianxin , Stanton Catherine , Paul Ross R. , Chen Wei , Yang Bo
Published: January 2025

2′-FL and 3-FL may modulate immunity by modulating the gut microbiota, increasing the content of short-chain fatty acids, and enhancing the intestinal barrier function, thus attenuating OVA-induced allergic symptoms.
In vitro hydrolysis of V-type starch inclusion complexes of alkyl gallates: the controlled two-step release behavior of gallic acid and its beneficial effect on glycemic control
Authors: Chen Xuan , Wang Xinmiao , Wang Qian , Cai Dong , Yu Jinghan , Zhu Beiwei , Zhou Dayong , Yin Fawen
Published: January 2025

The heat treatment method was used to synthesize starch inclusion complexes from starch and short-chain alkyl gallates (a typical representative of phenololipids), such as butyl gallate, propyl gallate, ethyl gallate and methyl gallate.
Band structure and magnetism engineering of InSe monolayers through doping with IVA- and VA-group atoms: role of impurities
Authors: Han Nguyen Thi , Guerrero-Sanchez J. , Hoat D. M.
Published: January 2025

The pristine InSe monolayer is a nonmagnetic indirect gap semiconductor. Furthermore, doping with IVA- and VA-group atoms at both In and Se sublattices is explored to achieve effective band structure and magnetism engineering in this 2D material.
Ionic liquid-mediated Pd-free biaryl synthesis catalysed by in situ generated nickel nanoparticles
Authors: Sarmah Samprity , Dutta Bidyutjyoti , Sarma Diganta
Published: January 2025

For the first time, an ionic liquid-mediated nickel-catalysed mild yet efficient protocol has been developed for biaryl synthesis via Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling (SMC) reactions.
Fluorescence polarization assays to study carbohydrate–protein interactions
Authors: de Paz José L. , Nieto Pedro M.
Published: January 2025

The most recent fluorescence polarization (FP) based approaches to assess carbohydrate–protein interactions are reviewed.
Visible-light-promoted cascade cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with bromomethyl sulfone: access to sulfonylmethylated phenanthridines
Authors: Tan Qiannan , Mi Xia , Zhang Jingyu , Pi Chao
Published: January 2025

A visible-light-promoted radical cascade cyclization reaction of N-arylacrylamides bearing cyano groups was developed for the rapid and high efficient synthesis of sulfonylmethylated phenanthridines under mild conditions.
Giant molecules with varying geometric features by programming the unit sequence
Authors: Yang Ze , Liu Zhongguo , Wang Shuai , Li Gang , Dong Xue-Hui
Published: January 2025

Giant molecules with precise regio-configuration and geometric features were modularly prepared.
Optimizing adsorption and photocatalysis for tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole removal: the role of Ag+ and NH4+ in Bi-MOF derivatives
Authors: Anh Tran Vy , Tran Thi Tuong Vi , Sang Tran Thanh , Thu Nguyen Anh , Dat Nguyen Duy , Vu_Quang Hieu , Le Van Thuan , Thi Vo Thu Thao
Published: January 2025

This study investigates Bi-MOFs and their derivatives (Ag+/Bi-MOF, NH4+/Ag+/Bi-MOF) for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole under visible light, demonstrating their efficiency and potential for environmental applications.
Synergistic effect of scattered rare metals on Pt/CeO2 for propane oxidative dehydrogenation with CO2
Authors: Wang Jiulong , Wang Fang , Li Longyang , Zhao Weihao , Wang Shiyuan , Ma Zelin , Kong Yan , Shuang Yazhou , Xia Weiwei , Jian Jie , Guo Pengfei , Wang Hongqiang
Published: January 2025

We present in this work a synergetic modulation strategy on electronic structure and surface properties, which achieves 88.24% selectivity of dehydrogenation of the C–H bond.
Aggregation-induced emission in novel multilayered 3D polymers: development of a fluorescent probe for selective metal ion detection
Authors: Zhang Sai , Yuan Qingkai , Xu Qingzheng , Yan Shenghu , Zhang Yue , Li Guigen
Published: January 2025

This study presents the characterization of a novel multilayered three-dimensional (3D) polymer exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties when excited at a low wavelength of 280 nm.
Stereoselective synthesis of atropisomeric amides enabled by intramolecular acyl transfer
Authors: Wootton Jack M. , Roper Natalie J. , Morris Catrin E. , Maguire Victoria E. , Duff Lee C. , Waddell Paul G. , Whitwood Adrian C. , Gammons Richard J. , Miah Afjal H. , Lynam Jason M. , Armstrong Roly J. , Unsworth William P.
Published: January 2025

A stereoselective strategy to make C–N atropisomeric amides based on intramolecular acyl transfer via a tethered Lewis basic pyridine or tertiary amine group is reported.
Potential theranostics of breast cancer with copper-64/67 sarcophagine-trastuzumab
Authors: Rudd Stacey E. , Van Zuylekom Jessica , Cullinane Carleen , Blyth Benjamin J. , Donnelly Paul S.
Published: January 2025

An antibody for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) radiolabelled with copper-67 has high therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of HER2 positive tumours.
Sm6WO12 tungstate supported nickel-based catalysts with enhanced resistance to coking and oxidation in auto-thermal reforming of acetic acid
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Xu Yingchun , Gan Mao , Su Ying , Liu Jinbo , Huang Lihong
Published: January 2025

Hydrogen is an eco-friendly and renewable energy source with high energy density per mass and is expected to be an alternative to fossil fuels.
Carboxylate-functionalized polyoxo-titanium clusters for adsorption/solar photocatalytic synergistic tetracycline degradation
Authors: Wang Shu-Han , Du Ming , Guo Hui-Li , Chen Hui-Yuan , Pang Jing-Yu , Dang Dong-Bin , Bai Yan
Published: January 2025

Well-defined carboxylate-functionalized PTCs were used to remove tetracycline, with an efficiency of 92.41% under real sunlight.
Mesoporous polymeric nanoparticles for effective treatment of inflammatory diseases: an in vivo study
Authors: Pareek Divya , Zeyaullah Md. , Patra Sukanya , Alagu Oviya , Singh Gurmeet , Wasnik Kirti , Gupta Prem Shankar , Paik Pradip
Published: January 2025

Glycine-based polymer nanoparticles for the treatment of inflammatory diseases without using any additional drugs.
Functionalized 3D polyurethane foams with microwave-synthesized TiO2 nanostructures for solar light-driven degradation of tetracycline
Authors: Matias Maria Leonor , Pimentel Ana , Reis Machado Ana S. , Rodrigues Joana , Fernandes Auguste , Monteiro Teresa , Almeida Carvalho Patrícia , Amaral Mariana N. , Reis Catarina Pinto , Deuermeier Jonas , Fortunato Elvira , Martins Rodrigo , Nunes Daniela
Published: January 2025

Defective TiO2 nanostructures on 3D polyurethane foams for the adsorption and degradation of tetracycline under sunlight irradiation.