bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does problem posing affect self-efficacy, task value, and performance in mathematical modelling?
Authors: Krawitz Janina , Schukajlow Stanislaw , Hartmann Luisa
Published: February 2025

Problem posing is a promising teaching method for enhancing motivation and performance in mathematics and more specifically in mathematical modelling. Hence, the goals of our study were twofold: (1) to examine the effects of problem posing on modelling performance, self-efficacy, and task values in solving modelling problems, and (2) to analyze whether problem posing affects modelling performance via self-efficacy and task values. In a randomized control trial involving ninth- and tenth-grade students (N = 210), participants were assigned to either a problem-posing and problem-solving group or to one of two problem-solving groups. Students in the problem-posing and problem-solving group received a booklet with descriptions of real-world situations and were prompted to pose and subsequently solve their own problems. Students in the two problem-solving groups received the same real-world situations with given problems and were asked to solve the problems. Before solving the problems, students in all groups reported their self-efficacy and task values. Prompting students to pose their own problems positively enhanced students’ self-efficacy and partially improved their task values in solving modelling problems. Further, problem posing indirectly affected modelling performance via self-efficacy but not task values. However, problem posing had no total effect on modelling performance. The findings for self-efficacy and task values are in line with expectancy-value theories, adding new insights to the field by highlighting the importance of motivational constructs in problem-posing approaches and instructions aimed at fostering mathematical modelling.
Prevalence of aeroallergen sensitization in a polluted and industrialized area: a pilot study in South Africa’s Vaal Triangle
Authors: Gharbi Dorra , Neumann Frank Harald , Staats Jurgens , McDonald Marinda , Linde Jo-hanné , Mmatladi Tshiamo , Podile Keneilwe , Piketh Stuart , Burger Roelof , Garland Rebecca M. , Bester Petra , Lebre Pedro Humberto , Ricci Cristian
Published: February 2025

This pioneering study evaluates the prevalence of aeroallergens reactivity among atopic populations living in the Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area (VTAPA), South Africa. A total of 138 volunteers (51 males and 87 females), of African, colored, white, and Asian ethnicity, and with a mean (range) age of 22 (18–56) years were participating in the study. The study was conducted on the North-West University (NWU) campus in Vanderbijlpark/VTAPA. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was utilized for pre-screening to identify individuals with probable allergic dispositions. Subsequently, skin prick testing was conducted using commercial aeroallergen extracts for all confirmed participants with allergy symptoms. One hundred six participants were clinically diagnosed with pollen and fungal spore allergies. The highest allergy prevalence was attributed to Cynodon dactylon ((L.) Pers) (Bermuda grass) (41.5%), followed by Lolium perenne (L.) (ryegrass), grass mix, and Zea mays (L.) (maize) (31.1%), respectively. Moreover, among the tree allergens, Olea (L.) (olive tree) was the most prevalent allergen (20; 18.8%), followed by Platanus (L.) (plane tree) (18; 16.9%). Among the weeds, 16 (15.1%) participants were allergic to the weed mix (Artemisia (L.) (wormwood), Chenopodium (Link) (goosefoot), Salsola (L.) (saltwort), Plantago (L.) (plantain), and 11 (10.3%) to Ambrosia (L.) (ragweed)). Regarding the fungal spores, Alternaria (Fr.) (9; 8.5%) followed by Cladosporium (Link) (5; 4.7%) had the highest skin sensitivity. In this pilot study, our findings provide insights into the prevalence of allergic responses in the study population—underlining the strong impact of allergens of exotic plants—and contribute to the existing aerobiological data in South Africa.
Black holes as laboratories: searching for ultralight fields
Authors: Brito Richard
Published: February 2025

The interaction of black holes with classical fields can lead to many interesting phenomena such as black-hole superradiance and the superradiant instability. The existence of these effects has been shown to have implications for beyond Standard Model particles that could explain dark matter, namely ultralight bosonic fields. In this note I give a historical account of this topic and briefly go through some recent developments. I conclude with some personal reflections on the importance of constraining simple dark matter models, even if such models may ultimately be the incorrect description of nature.
Resiliency through Applied Research into Emerging Constituents
Authors: Posadas Gregor R. , Baker Joshua C. , Ryan Abigail S. , Miller Sondra M.
Published: February 2025

Emerging constituents (ECs), which are referred to as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) or emerging contaminants, include pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). ECs represent a growing challenge in wastewater treatment due to their persistence, environmental impacts, and potential health risks. This paper synthesizes findings from research focused on the behavior and fate of ECs within the Lander Street Water Renewal Facility (LSWRF). This research explores EC removal trends across treatment processes, including physical settling, biological treatment, and UV disinfection, highlighting varying efficiencies dependent on constituent characteristics. Key observations include significant reductions for some ECs, sequestering and release behaviors, and persistent concentrations of others. Temporal and spatial EC concentration variations within LSWRF underscore the influence of seasonality and facility-specific factors on treatment outcomes. The synthesis integrates these findings into a unified framework for understanding EC dynamics in water renewal facilities, emphasizing the need for resilient and adaptive infrastructure to mitigate their environmental and health impacts. This study provides critical insights to guide future research, policy development, and the design of sustainable water treatment systems.
Optimizing Antibiotic Use in Older Adults Through Digital Health Initiatives
Authors: Bear Michael , Aungst Timothy , Herren Janelle , Mosaffa Shayan , Liu Songyun , Riley Sharnett
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

The goal of this paper is to explore the impact of digital health technologies (DHTs) on antibiotic utilization in older adults. The paper aims to address how these technologies are implemented to improve antibiotic stewardship, address age-specific challenges, and manage infection risks in this vulnerable population while assessing limitations, ethical issues, educational barriers, and potential benefits.

Recent Findings

Recent research highlights the potential of DHTs to enhance antibiotic use and infection management among older adults. Telehealth has increased access to infectious disease specialists and stewardship services, with promising outcomes in older adults. DHTs like remote monitoring, telemedicine, and AI-driven surveillance may advance outbreak response, predict resistance patterns, and personalize therapy. Home diagnostic kits and physiological sensors offer convenience but face challenges in accuracy, patient education, and health literacy.

Further research is needed to validate and optimize these technologies for this population. Risks such as antibiotic overprescribing due to virtual diagnostic limitations need additional research and ethical consideration of DHTs in older adults require more attention and study and educational and technical barriers must be addressed to maximize use and benefits of DHTs in older adults.
Cultural responsiveness, Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports, and the settler colonial state
Authors: Delany Tim , Rudolph Sophie , McKay-Brown Lisa
Published: February 2025

Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a whole school change framework and approach to learning and engagement that originated in the United States (US) and is now implemented around the world. Such a framework requires consideration of cultural responsiveness, particularly in settler colonial states such as the US and Australia. This article examines guidance for improving culturally responsive practice in the PBIS Cultural Responsiveness Field Guide: Resources for Trainers and Coaches (the Guide), a key resource for educators working with students from culturally diverse backgrounds. We employ critical policy analysis and Decolonising Race Theory (DRT) to analyse and discuss the possibilities and consequences of the Guide for educators who are working with Indigenous students in settings that inherit and uphold structural racisms endemic to colonisation. We identify possible intended and unintended effects of the Guide in settler colonial contexts, particularly Australia. Our critical analysis using DRT highlighted some silences and erasures within the PBIS cultural responsiveness advice. The tendency towards othering, binary thinking, and maintenance of the cultural status quo was also apparent. Through this analysis we show how DRT offers rich opportunities for unsettling settler colonial hegemonies in PBIS and in education more broadly.
Performance Analysis of NoC and WiNoC in Multicore System Architectures
Authors: Lit Asrani , Suhaili Shamsiah , Kipli Kuryati , Rajaee Nordiana
Published: February 2025

Wireless network-on-chip has emerged as an innovative and effective solution to meet the growing demands for efficient data communication in multi-core processors. It offers an alternative approach to overcoming scalability challenges in communication systems. This study offers an in-depth performance assessment of network-on-chip and wireless network-on-chip multicore system architectures in the context of a 64-core and 256-core system. The analysis includes four synthetic traffic patterns—random, shuffle, butterfly, and transpose—giving a detailed overview of how each impacts system performance. Key metrics such as data transmission delay, network throughput efficiency, and energy consumption were thoroughly analyzed. To support our conclusions, simulations were conducted on 64-core and 256-core for NoC and WiNoC multicore system. The results highlight the effectiveness of the WiNoC multicore system design, demonstrating its advantage in network performance based on the simulations carried out with Noxim. WiNoC’s enhanced ability to handle higher traffic loads and achieve lower latency across all traffic profiles showcases its advantage over the traditional NoC setup.
Grand funerary stelae (2nd–3rd c. AD) of the microregion of Musti (El Krib, Tunisia): an iconographic and epigraphic analysis and the latest eco-factual data (2019–2023)
Authors: Kłodziński Karol , Abid Mohammed , Badura Monika , Iwaszczuk Urszula , Hajji Jamel , Waliszewski Tomasz
Published: February 2025

New research in the microregion of Musti (El Krib) in N Tunisia in 2019–2023 has revealed unpublished 2nd–3rd-century AD funerary monuments featuring rich iconography, including a female figure beside the altar and two pigs. These items and other published epigraphic and anepigraphic monuments from the fertile microregion stand out from other tombstones in Roman Africa. Both the type of monument and its relief decoration distinguish these objects. A rare holistic approach, combining historical, epigraphic and iconographic analyses with the results of archaeobotanical and archaeozoological research, will enhance our understanding of the history and agriculture of the Musti microregion and this part of Proconsular Africa during the early Roman Empire.
Prevalence and determinants of wasting and overweight in Brazilian children between 6- 59 months: Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019)
Authors: Farias D. R. , Anjos L.A. , Berti T. L. , Santos N. H. A. , Andrade P. G. , de Freitas M. B. , da Costa J. L. , Oliveira N. , Lacerda E. M. A. , Carneiro L. B. V. , Schincaglia R. M. , Normando P. , de Castro I. R.R. , Kac G.
Published: February 2025

Understanding the determinants of malnutrition is pivotal for public health interventions. This study aimed to identify socio-economic, demographic, dietary, and maternal determinants of wasting and overweight among Brazilian children between 6–59 months. Data from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition were analyzed (n=11,789). Children’s weight-for height Z scores were calculated according to the WHO growth standard and classified as wasting (Z < -2), normal weight (-2 ≤ Z ≤1), overweight risk (1 < Z ≤ 2), and overweight (Z > 2). Socio-economic, demographic, dietary, and maternal covariables were considered. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression (odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was employed. The prevalence of overweight and wasting was 9.5% and 2.6%, respectively. In the adjusted model, younger age (6-23 months: OR: 1.7; 95%CI: 1.3; 2.2), consumption of ≥ 5 ultra-processed food groups (OR: 1.8; 95%CI: 1.1; 3.1), maternal underweight (OR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2; 0.9), overweight (OR: 1.5; 95%CI: 1.2; 1.9) and mild food insecurity (OR: 0.8; 95%CI: 0.6; 1.0) were associated with child overweight. The Brazilian Northeast (OR: 4.9; 95%CI: 2.1; 11.3), Southeast (OR: 7.1; 95%CI: 3.0; 16.6), South (OR: 4.7; 95%CI: 1.8; 12.1), Midwest regions (OR: 2.7; 95%CI: 1.2; 6.2) and maternal underweight (OR: 5.4; 95%CI: 2.7; 10.7) were associated with wasting. Overweight in Brazil is prevalent among children between 6-59 months, while wasting is not a major public health problem. The main determinants of these Brazilian children's nutritional status were age, ultra-processed food consumption, and maternal nutritional status.
Studying Multi-Level Systems with Cross-Level Data: Introducing Three Integrated Datasets
Authors: Röth Leonce , Saldivia Gonzatti Daniel , Kaftan Lea , Kaiser André
Published: February 2025

Most political systems consist of multiple layers. Yet datasets are predominantly situated at a single territorial tier, encouraging methodological nationalism, regionalism, and localism. We present three new integrated datasets that include electoral, institutional, ideological, and government composition data on the country and regional level (RD|CED, RED and RPSD). With this data, we cover 337 country elections on the regional level, 2,226 regional elections, and 2,825 regional cabinets in 365 regions of 21 countries from 1941 to 2019, accounting for 800 political parties and their ideological positions. Combined, these data complement and extend existing datasets and facilitate the study of political interaction across levels. Data are available at http://multi-level-cross-level-politics.eu/ or can be accessed through the Havard Dataverse repository. We conclude with an agenda for future cross-level studies.
Homeland Is Where the Soul Resides: Travel Prayer, Passports, and Nation in the Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Limbert Mandana
Published: February 2025

This article examines conflicting notions of political home or homeland (waṭan) in the early twentieth-century Western Indian Ocean. In a period of colonial consolidation and shifts in trans-oceanic mobility, determining political belonging took on urgency for both British officials and Omani intellectuals and migrants. This article examines how, in contrast to both anti-colonial nationalists and British colonial officials, homeland in Omani religious scholarship was neither bounded territorially nor articulated through origins or subjecthood. Yet, it was spatial, affective, and hierarchically determined. And, it was manifest, embodied, and performed in the daily requirements of prayer. Spatial but not territorial, necessary but personally, hierarchically, and affectively decided, this pious notion of homeland has for the most part been replaced by the nation-state form. Yet, legacies of attachment to waṭan outside the bounded territorial model occasionally surface, operating as a simultaneous, but not synonymous, expression of political and personal belonging.
Fifty years of astrobiology: mapping researcher communities with topic-based network analyses
Authors: Malaterre Christophe , Lareau Francis
Published: February 2025

Astrobiology is often defined as the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life on Earth and in the Universe and thought of as a discipline. In practice though, the delineation of astrobiology-related research and corresponding groups of researchers is far from straightforward. Here, we propose to apply text-mining methods to identify researcher communities depending on thematic similarities in their published works. After fitting a latent Dirichlet allocation topic model to the complete article corpus of three flagship journals in the field – Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (1968–2020), Astrobiology (2001–2020), the International Journal of Astrobiology (2002–2020) – and computing author topic profiles, researcher communities are inferred from topic similarity networks to which community detection is applied. Such semantic social networks reveal, as we call them, ‘hidden communities of interest’ that gather researchers who publish on similar topics. The evolution of these communities is also mapped through time, bringing to light the significant shifts that the discipline underwent in the past 50 years.
A Novel Topography‐Based Approach for Real‐Time Flood Inundation Mapping
Authors: Shi Pengfei , Lyu Kai , Li Zhenya , Yang Tao , Xu Chong‐Yu , Hao Xiaobo , Xiao Jiaqing
Published: February 2025

The occurrence frequency and catastrophe caused by flooding are increasing rapidly, highlighting the importance of real‐time impact‐based forecasting. However, traditional approaches primarily based on hydrodynamic models need large computational cost and generally fail to achieve real‐time flood mapping, especially for large‐scale watersheds. In this work, a novel, simple and convenient approach called Topography‐based Flood Inundation Mapping (TOPFIM) is developed to achieve rapid and accurate flood mapping. TOPFIM is characterized by an adaptive river segmentation method and a dynamic inundation volume allocation approach adhering full water volume constraint. The proposed approach is applied to the upper reaches of the Le'an River basin, China, and HEC‐RAS is employed as the benchmark for comparison. The results demonstrate that TOPFIM's simulation accuracy for inundation extent approaches that of hydrodynamic models, with an averaged critical success index of 0.83 and hit rate of 0.90 compared to HEC‐RAS's simulation. Moreover, TOPFIM generates flood inundation mapping prediction within 10 s rather than hours required by conventional hydrodynamic models. It signifies a pivotal practical enhancement that has the potential to effectively preserve lives and protect assets in times of flood emergencies. Overall, as a simple and convenient tool, TOPFIM demonstrates its potential for real‐time flood inundation mapping and risk analysis.
Novel FBN1 intron variant causes isolated ectopia lentis via in-frame exon skipping
Authors: Shimizu Norihiro , Mashimo Yoichi , Yokouchi Hirotaka , Nishio Yosuke , Sawai Setsu , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Ogi Tomoo , Baba Takayuki , Onouchi Yoshihiro
Published: February 2025

Mutations in fibrillin-1 (FBN1) cause various clinical conditions, such as Marfan syndrome (MFS). However, the genotype–phenotype relationships underlying MFS and other conditions relevant to FBN1 mutations have not been fully elucidated. We performed whole-exome sequencing on three participants, including an affected mother–daughter pair, in a three-generation Japanese family with isolated ectopia lentis (IEL). The sequencing identified a novel single-nucleotide variant (c.1327+3A>C) in intron 11 of FBN1 that was shared between the two patients. We confirmed the co-segregation of the variant with IEL in two additional affected relatives in the family. The Combined Annotation-Dependent Depletion score of the variant was 26.1, which was indicated by SpliceAI to influence splicing, with a score of 0.93. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of mRNAs isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed aberrant bands in all four affected individuals. Subsequent sequencing revealed that these bands originated from FBN1 transcripts lacking exon 11. The causality of the variant in the skipping of exon 11, which results in an in-frame deletion of 60 amino acids corresponding to the “hinge” region of FBN1 protein, was confirmed in a minigene experiment. Interestingly, the same result was observed for a minigene for c.1327+1G>A, a variant previously identified in two unrelated EL families without MFS manifestations. These results suggest that the c.1327+3A>C mutation in FBN1 likely leads to IEL. The findings expand our knowledge of FBN1 and provide insights into FBN1-related diseases.
ACOT12, a novel factor in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis, modulates ACBD5
Authors: Kim Ee Hyun , Kim Mi Kyung , Choe MiSun , Ryu Ji Hyun , Pak Eun Seon , Ha Hunjoo , Jin Eun-Jung
Published: February 2025

Lipid metabolism, particularly fatty acid oxidation dysfunction, is a major driver of renal fibrosis. However, the detailed regulatory mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Here we demonstrated that acyl-CoA thioesterase 12 (Acot12), an enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of acyl-CoA thioesters into free fatty acids and CoA, is a key regulator of lipid metabolism in fibrotic kidneys. A significantly decreased level of ACOT12 was observed in kidney samples from human patients with chronic kidney disease as well as in samples from mice with kidney injuries. Acot12 deficiency induces lipid accumulation and fibrosis in mice subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Fenofibrate administration does not reduce renal fibrosis in Acot12

−/−
mice with UUO. Moreover, the restoration of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in Acot12

−/−

Pparα

−/−
kidneys with UUO exacerbated lipid accumulation and renal fibrosis, whereas the restoration of Acot12 in Acot12

−/−

Pparα

−/−
kidneys with UUO significantly reduced lipid accumulation and renal fibrosis, suggesting that, mechanistically, Acot12 deficiency exacerbates renal fibrosis independently of PPARα. In Acot12

−/−
kidneys with UUO, a reduction in the selective autophagic degradation of peroxisomes and pexophagy with a decreased level of ACBD5 was observed. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the functional role and mechanistic details of Acot12 in the progression of renal fibrosis, provides a preclinical rationale for regulating Acot12 expression and presents a novel means of preventing renal fibrosis.
Active repression of cell fate plasticity by PROX1 safeguards hepatocyte identity and prevents liver tumorigenesis
Authors: Lim Bryce , Kamal Aryan , Gomez Ramos Borja , Adrian Segarra Juan M. , Ibarra Ignacio L. , Dignas Lennart , Kindinger Tim , Volz Kai , Rahbari Mohammad , Rahbari Nuh , Poisel Eric , Kafetzopoulou Kanela , Böse Lio , Breinig Marco , Heide Danijela , Gallage Suchira , Barragan Avila Jose E. , Wiethoff Hendrik , Berest Ivan , Schnabellehner Sarah , Schneider Martin , Becker Jonas , Helm Dominic , Grimm Dirk , Mäkinen Taija , Tschaharganeh Darjus F. , Heikenwalder Mathias , Zaugg Judith B. , Mall Moritz
Published: February 2025

Cell fate plasticity enables development, yet unlocked plasticity is a cancer hallmark. While transcription master regulators induce lineage-specific genes to restrict plasticity, it remains unclear whether plasticity is actively suppressed by lineage-specific repressors. Here we computationally predict so-called safeguard repressors for 18 cell types that block phenotypic plasticity lifelong. We validated hepatocyte-specific candidates using reprogramming, revealing that prospero homeobox protein 1 (PROX1) enhanced hepatocyte identity by direct repression of alternative fate master regulators. In mice, Prox1 was required for efficient hepatocyte regeneration after injury and was sufficient to prevent liver tumorigenesis. In line with patient data, Prox1 depletion caused hepatocyte fate loss in vivo and enabled the transition of hepatocellular carcinoma to cholangiocarcinoma. Conversely, overexpression promoted cholangiocarcinoma to hepatocellular carcinoma transdifferentiation. Our findings provide evidence for PROX1 as a hepatocyte-specific safeguard and support a model where cell-type-specific repressors actively suppress plasticity throughout life to safeguard lineage identity and thus prevent disease.
Phase equilibria and drug partitioning ability of betaine based aqueous two-phase systems
Authors: Zafarani-Moattar Mohammed Taghi , Shekaari Hemayat , Asadollahi Soheila
Published: February 2025

The aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) as an environmentally friendly technique has a high potential for extraction of drugs, proteins, metals, etc. In this work first the formation of ATPSs by betaine, which is a novel, low toxic, and high biodegradable material, and polyethylene glycol or phosphate salts (K3PO4 and K2HPO4) were investigated temperatures of 298.15, 308.15, 318.15 K and atmospheric pressure (≈ 85 kPa). The effect of increasing temperature on the binodal curves was investigated. The experimental binodal data were correlated using two empirical nonlinear three parameter expressions developed by Merchuk, and Zafarani-Moattar et al. and the two-parameter modified equation derived from effective excluded volume theory. Then, the experimental tie-line data were represented with Othmer-Tobias and Setschenow correlations. Finally, in these ATPSs the partition behavior of analgesic drugs, namely acetaminophen, salicylic acid, and ceftriaxone were investigated by measuring of partition coefficient and extraction efficiency. The trend of obtained results showed that the selected drugs were successfully extracted into the top phase of studied ATPSs with a partition coefficient greater than one and in the salt systems extraction efficiency was obtained up to 98% and in the case of polymer systems was obtained up to 8% at different tie-lines and it was found that the hydrophobicity of partitioned drugs is responsible for this phenomenon.
City-scale residential energy consumption prediction with a multimodal approach
Authors: Sheng Yulan , Arbabi Hadi , Ward Wil O. C. , Álvarez Mauricio A. , Mayfield Martin
Published: February 2025

The key role of buildings in tackling climate change has gained global recognition. To avoid unnecessary costs and time wasted, it is important to understand the conditions and energy usage for existing housing stock to identify the most important features affecting energy consumption and to guide the relevant retrofit measures. This paper investigated how the spatial, morphological and thermal characteristics of residential houses contribute to housing energy consumption. Additionally, it presents a rapid assessment tool using minimum data input to answer two main questions: 1) What type of properties may need retrofit? 2) What building elements/features may be prioritised to be retrofitted? A case study was performed with around 143,000 residential properties in Sheffield. An automated machine approach was applied which successfully estimated the energy consumption of target buildings with an
$$R^2$$
score of 0.828. Permutation feature importance and partial dependence of the features were examined against energy consumption. The results indicate that housing sizes and conditions of the external walls are found to be the most important features when estimating the energy consumption of residential buildings in Sheffield. Relatively larger and older detached houses in neighbourhoods with higher build density may benefit the most from home upgrading projects for energy consumption reduction.
Improving case fatality ratio estimates in ongoing pandemics through case-to-death time distribution analysis
Authors: Farooq Zia , Sjödin Henrik , Rocklöv Joacim , Brännström Åke
Published: February 2025

The case fatality ratio (CFR) is a vital metric for assessing the disease severity of novel pathogens. The widely used direct method of CFR estimation—the ratio of total confirmed deaths to total confirmed cases—is inherently simplistic, as it fails to account for the essential time lag between case confirmation to death, and reporting delays. These limitations often lead to biased CFR estimates, particularly in the early stages of outbreaks. This study introduces a novel approach—the distributed-delay method that, like the direct method, utilizes publicly available aggregate time-series data on cases and deaths. It estimates CFR by flexibly incorporating a case-to-death time distribution without requiring a priori assumptions on distribution parameters. Using a fitting approach to forecast case fatalities based on known or assumed case-to-death time distributions, the method consistently recovers true CFR much earlier than the direct method under various simulation settings. These settings reflect variability in disease severity, uncertainties in case-to-death time parameters, and limited knowledge of case-to-death time distributions. It outperforms other methods such as Baud’s, which assumes a non-zero constant case-to-death time, and the Generalized Baud’s method, which allows for a direct comparison with our new approach. While evaluations based on empirical data are challenging, our conclusions are supported by CFR estimates obtained using empirical COVID-19 data from 34 countries. As an added value, this analysis also demonstrates a significant negative association between eventual CFR and the expected case-to-death time within the context of COVID-19 data. Our study highlights the complexities of inferring real-time CFR from aggregate time-series case and death data, highlighting that refining this method can lead to accurate real-time CFR estimations for actual outbreaks.
Exploring ionic liquid assisted chemical bath deposition of a highly uniform and transparent cadmium sulfide thin film for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Nasrin Taskina , Selvanathan Vidhya , Islam Md. Ariful , Haque Md. Mahfuzul , Rashid Ayesha Wasima , Ahmad Ludin Norasikin , Chelvanathan Puvaneswaran , Kiong Tiong Sieh , Alanazi Abdulaziz M. , AlMohamadi Hamad , Sayed Ishtiaque M. , Shahiduzzaman Md. , Suemasu Takashi , Akhtaruzzaman Md.
Published: February 2025

Improved cadmium sulfied (CdS) thin films via controlled deposition using ionic liquids.
Conductive network enhanced self-assembled diphasic Prussian blue analogs for aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Hu Bingbing , Li Dongshan , Li Meixin , Jiang Jiayu , Zou Ye , Deng Yu , Zhou Zideng , Pu Hong , Ma Guangqiang , Li Zhi
Published: February 2025

The mechanism of structural evolution and ion insertion/extraction for diphasic Prussian blue analogs via the synergistic effect of multiple strategies.
A portable and ecological paper-based device for glucose monitoring in peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates
Authors: Nota Grazia , Cimmino Wanda , Singh Sima , Darwish Ibrahim A. , La Rocca Claudia , Carbone Fortunata , Matarese Giuseppe , Cinti Stefano
Published: February 2025

The increasing need for point-of-care (POC) testing has prompted a rise in the popularity of affordable biosensors that are eco-friendly, especially paper-based electrochemical sensors.
Writing the Signs: An Explainable Machine Learning Approach for Alzheimer's Disease Classification from Handwriting
Authors: Ho Ngoc Truc Ngan , Gonzalez Paulina , Gogovi Gideon K.
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer's disease is a global health challenge, emphasizing the need for early detection to enable timely intervention and improve outcomes. This study analyzes handwriting data from individuals with and without Alzheimer's to identify predictive features across copying, graphic and memory‐based tasks. Machine learning models, including Random Forest, Bootstrap Aggregating (Bagging), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) and Gradient Boosting, were applied to classify patients, with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) enhancing model interpretability. Time‐related features were crucial in copying and graphic tasks, reflecting cognitive processing speed, while pressure‐related features were significant in memory tasks, indicating recall confidence. Simpler graphic tasks showed strong discriminatory power, aiding early detection. Performance metrics demonstrated model effectiveness: For memory tasks, Random Forest achieved the highest accuracy (), while Bagged SVC was the lowest (). Copying tasks recorded a peak accuracy of with Gradient Boost and a low of for Bagged SVC. Graphic tasks reached with Gradient Boost and 0.643 ± 0.071 with AdaBoost. For all tasks combined, Random Forest excelled (), while Gradient Boost performed worst (). These results highlight handwriting analysis's potential in Alzheimer's detection.
Beamforming optimization via quantum algorithms using Variational Quantum Eigensolver and Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Dhara Bidisha , Agrawal Monika , Dutta Roy Sumantra
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the application of quantum algorithms, specifically the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) and the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), to design optimal sensor configurations for beamforming, enhancing signal quality and overall system performance. We propose two distinct optimization formulations: one aimed at maximising array gain while the other aimed at maximising signal‐to‐noise‐interference ratio (SINR). Our findings show that the outputs obtained from quantum algorithms are consistent with those derived from classical methods.
From dilemma to breakthrough: fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of green development behavior pathways in construction materials enterprises
Authors: Li Xingwei , Yao Yuhong , Shen Qiong
Published: February 2025

The climate crisis and ecological degradation highlight the importance of achieving green development in the construction materials enterprises. However, the transformation process faces numerous obstacles, and research on the configurational effects of enterprise green development behavior remains insufficient. Using new institutional theory and strategic cognition theory as guides, this study takes 53 construction materials enterprises listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets in China from 2010 to 2021 as the research samples and applies fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to reveal the configuration paths of green development behaviors in construction materials enterprises. This study reveals that (1) individual antecedent conditions are not necessary to drive green development behavior in construction materials enterprises, and executive green cognition can play a more pervasive role; (2) four driving paths are formed: public opinion crisis type, public surveillance type, market incentive type, and institutional environmental copromotion type, with all four paths sharing the characteristic of “different paths to the same destination”; (3) there is an alternative relationship between social surveillance and market liberalization in driving the green development behavior of enterprises. The research conclusions provide new perspectives and ideas to the field of enterprise green development behavior and offer strategic options for construction materials enterprises to achieve green development under different conditions.
Controlling the interaction of tightly focused 10-PW class lasers with multicomponent plasma via target parameters: Optimization of electron–positron pair and γ-photon sources
Authors: Bashinov A. V. , Efimenko E. S. , Muraviev A. A. , Panova E. A. , Volokitin V. D. , Meyerov I. B. , Kim A. V.
Published: February 2025

The interaction of multipetawatt lasers with plasma is a complex multiparameter problem, providing a wide field for fundamental research and opening up great opportunities for creating unique sources of high-energy electrons and positrons, dense pair plasma, and γ-photons. However, to achieve the high efficiency of such a source, it is necessary to use targets with optimized parameters, primarily density and size, for the given laser parameters. With the use of 3D QED-PIC modeling, it is shown that, when targets whose size is comparable with the laser wavelength are irradiated by laser beams with a total power of several tens of PW, the total initial number of target electrons may be regarded as the similarity parameter. In practice, this can significantly simplify the selection of the targets needed for controlling the interaction and, accordingly, for achieving the specified parameters of the developed electron–positron plasma and γ-photon sources. Based on the similarity parameter, various laser-plasma interaction modes are identified, the necessary conditions for their launch are determined, and the properties of the pair particle and γ-photon source are revealed. Moreover, qualitative estimates of the quantitative and energy characteristics of such a source are obtained, allowing it to be optimized for various laser beam configurations.
Mangnon–phonon–photon interactions in cubic ferromagnets in the vicinity of orientational phase transition: Retrospective and phenomenological study
Authors: Bychkov I. V. , Kuzmin D. A. , Tolkachev V. A. , Buchelnikov V. D. , Shavrov V. G.
Published: February 2025

This work presents a comprehensive theoretical investigation of magnon–phonon–photon interactions in cubic ferromagnets near orientational phase transitions (OPTs). The study focuses on the interplay of magnetoelastic (ME), electromagnetic-spin (EMS), and acoustic–electromagnetic (AEM) interactions in ferromagnetic dielectrics and metals. By deriving dispersion equations for coupled waves, the research reveals how the dynamic properties of magnetically ordered crystals evolve in response to these interactions under varying external magnetic fields and near OPT points. The ME interaction prominently influences spin and elastic wave dynamics, giving rise to coupled modes, such as quasi-magnon and quasi-acoustic waves. Near the OPT, these interactions become dominant, leading to phenomena like the ME gap and the softening of vibrational modes. The EMS interaction significantly alters the activation energy and dispersion of quasi-spin and quasi-electromagnetic waves. In ferromagnetic metals, helicons (weakly damped electromagnetic waves) exhibit strong coupling with spin and elastic waves, particularly in the OPT region. The study identifies conditions for triple resonance among spin, elastic, and electromagnetic waves. Additionally, it explores the frequency-dependent rotation of polarization planes in electromagnetic and ME waves, which sharpens near the OPT points. These results provide a deeper understanding of the coupled dynamics in ferromagnetic materials, paving the way for new technological applications in spintronics, signal processing, and advanced magneto-optical devices. The theoretical framework developed here emphasizes the critical role of ME, EMS, and AEM interactions in tailoring wave properties for specific applications, particularly in designing next-generation magnetic and electronic systems.
Elastic and anti-elastic random walk: Applications to soft matter phenomena
Authors: Pontes J. H. M. , de Sousa J. S. , Suki B. , Andrade J. S. , Oliveira C. L. N.
Published: February 2025

Brownian particles often exhibit biased motion near equilibrium positions influenced by elastic or anti-elastic forces, which either confine the particles to a stable region or drive them away from an unstable equilibrium. Some particles undergo a “memory loss” effect, periodically resetting such equilibrium points. The interplay of forces and equilibrium shifts provides a unified framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying such dynamics. In this work, we propose a generalized random walk model that incorporates position-dependent biases (acting as probabilistic forces) capable of confining particles (elastic cases) or expelling them (anti-elastic cases) from their equilibrium positions. Introducing a dynamic update of the equilibrium position at random intervals allows both elastic and anti-elastic dynamics to return to a diffusive regime, with the diffusion coefficient decreasing under elastic forces and increasing under anti-elastic forces as the update interval grows. We reveal how these forces fundamentally alter system behavior through analytical analysis and numerical simulations. Moreover, our model successfully reproduces a range of stochastic phenomena observed in soft and active matter experiments, including the motion of free and optically trapped Brownian particles, particle dynamics in viscoelastic materials, and the run-and-tumble behavior of bacteria. These results highlight the model's versatility in capturing transitions between bounded, diffusive, and ballistic regimes, offering new insights into the complex dynamics of diverse systems and inspiring further research and practical applications.
Benefits of low-speed flight in odor-tracking navigation for hawkmoths
Authors: Lionetti Seth , Lei Menglong , Hedrick Tyson L. , Li Chengyu
Published: February 2025

Flying insects are equipped with complex olfactory systems, which they utilize to seek food, identify mates, and evade predators. It is suspected that insects flap their wings to draw odor plumes toward their antennae, a behavior akin to mammals' sniffing, aimed at enhancing olfactory sensitivity. However, insects' wing kinematics change drastically as their flight speed increases, and it is unknown how these changes affect the insect's odorant perception. Addressing this gap in knowledge is crucial to a full understanding of the interplay between insects' aerodynamic performance and sensory perception. To this end, we simulated odor-tracking hawkmoth flight at 2 and 4 m/s using an in-house computational fluid dynamics solver. This solver incorporated both the Navier–Stokes equations that govern the flow, as well as the advection-diffusion equation that governs the odor transport process. Findings indicate that hawkmoths enhance odor intensity along their antennae using their wings, with peak odor intensity being 39% higher during 2 m/s flight compared to 4 m/s flight. This demonstrates there is a trade-off between rapid transport and olfaction, which is attributable to differences in wing kinematics between low- and high-speed flights. Despite literature suggesting hawkmoths are limited to steady forward flights at speeds below 5 m/s—about half of what is theoretically predicted based on body mass—this study reveals that slower flight speeds improve their olfactory capabilities during navigation. Our findings offer insights into the evolution of flight and sensory capabilities in hawkmoths, as well as provide inspiration for the development of bio-inspired odor-guided navigation technologies.
Lower expression of colony-stimulating factor 2, an embryokine, in the endometrial epithelium of old cows
Authors: Wanjiru Denis Karani , Niyonzima Yvan Bienvenu , Kadokawa Hiroya
Published: February 2025

Context Infertility increases with age in various animals, including cows, owing to unknown mechanisms. The glandular and luminal epithelia of the bovine uterus synthesise and secrete colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), which is a well-studied embryokine. We recently reported the possibility of fibrosis in the uteri of old cows. However, the relationship between CSF2 expression and fibrosis has not yet been clarified. Aims We tested the hypothesis that the endometrial epithelia of old cows have lower CSF2 expression compared to in heifers, and that myofibroblasts [alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-positive fibroblasts] increase near the epithelium of old cows. Methods We collected caruncle and intercaruncle samples from post-pubertal, growing, nulliparous heifers (n = 6; 24.7 ± 1.3 months old) and old multiparous cows (n = 6; 128.5 ± 15.4 months old). We analysed mRNA and protein expression, along with fluorescent immunohistochemistry for CSF2, anti-collagen type IV, anti-Müllerian hormone type 2 receptor, and anti-αSMA. Key results Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis revealed lower CSF2 expression in the caruncle and intercaruncle of old cows than in young heifers. Fluorescence microscopy using the same antibodies and anti-collagen type IV, anti-Müllerian hormone type 2 receptor, and anti-αSMA antibodies showed increased fibroblasts and αSMA signals near the epithelium of old cows compared to young heifers. Conclusion CSF2 expression was lower in endometrial epithelia of old cows compared to those in heifers, and myofibroblasts increased near the epithelia of old cows. Implications Lower CSF2 may play an important role in age-related infertility.
The potential of using magnetic susceptibility to identify past wildfires in Australia
Authors: Herbert Annika V.
Published: February 2025

Fully understanding the causes and frequency of wildfires has never been more important than it is today, with potentially thousands of lives at risk from wildfire smoke in Australia alone. Until now wildfire frequency in Australia has been estimated based solely on observed fire events, records that barely cover the last century. This coverage is severely inadequate for a reliable estimation of wildfire frequency. Here, it is suggested that records of magnetic susceptibility may help extend the wildfire records used, which will significantly increase the confidence level of estimated wildfire frequency. With Australian soils being rich in iron, the main factor limiting the use of magnetic susceptibility appears to be rainfall. Additionally, the magnetic susceptibility records of several sites may respond more to local hydrology or organic matter content than to wildfires, possibly owing to insufficient heating of the soil. A comprehensive field study is thereby suggested, which will determine which site characteristics have the most significant influence on magnetic susceptibility records in Australia. This will enable more detailed studies to be conducted and will extend Australia’s fire records.
Construction of hole-free 2D c-WSe2/3D CsSnI3 perovskite heterojunction cells optimized using SCAPS-1D
Authors: Wang Jian , Chen Bin , Shi Zhou , Zhang Yanhua , Sheng Kai , Gao Wenjing , Yoriya Sorachon , Zhang Meilin , He Ping , Li Chaoen , Wu Jiang , Chen Yiting
Published: February 2025

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have made remarkable progress in power conversion efficiency, reaching 26%, but interfacial defects and operational instability continue to hinder their practical application. Two-dimensional (2D) c-WSe2 has emerged as a promising solution to these challenges due to its bondless surface and ability to form van der Waals heterojunctions, which can improve interface quality and enhance device stability. Here, we investigate the effect of 2D c-WSe2 on tin-based PSCs by constructing 2D c-WSe2/3D CsSnI3 heterojunctions. A hole-free transport layer structure was used to reduce fabrication complexity and cost. We simulated and optimized cell performance using SCAPS-1D, comparing the effects of various electron transport layers (ETLs) and back electrodes. Our results show that selecting materials with energy level alignment to the absorption layer significantly enhances carrier transport efficiency and increases power conversion efficiency (PCE). Optimization of parameters such as the absorption layer thickness, c-WSe2 band gap, interface defect layer (IDL1 and IDL2) thickness, and operating temperature further improved performance. Specifically, adjusting the band gap and layer thickness improved light absorption and aligned the band structure, promoting efficient carrier transport across the interface. The final optimized device achieved an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.23 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 34.46 mA cm−2, fill factor (FF) of 75.51%, and PCE of 32.12%. These results highlight the potential of 2D materials like c-WSe2 in advancing heterojunction PSCs and improving the efficiency and stability, suggesting promising prospects for their practical application.