bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Ultrasonographic Assessment of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter in Prediction of Sepsis—Associated Encephalopathy: Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Mowafy Sherif M. S. , Bauiomy Hany , Kohaf Neveen A. , Abd Ellatif Shereen E.
Published: January 2025

Background

Ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a satisfactory noninvasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring test. Our aim was to evaluate ONSD as an objective screening tool to predict and diagnose ICP changes early in sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).

Methods

Our prospective observational study was conducted on patients with sepsis, and after intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the time to diagnose SAE was recorded, and patients were divided into a non-SAE group including conscious patients with sepsis and a SAE group including patients with sepsis with acute onset of disturbed conscious level. ONSD was measured within 24 h of ICU admission for all patients and then every other day for up to 10 consecutive days until ICU discharge or death. The primary outcome was to compare ONSD measurements of both groups to find if there was a correlation between ONSD and SAE occurrence.

Results

Eighty-nine patients with sepsis were divided into a non-SAE group (n = 45) and an SAE group (n = 44). ONSD showed a statistically significant difference at day 0 and a highly significant difference at days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Day 2 ONSD had the best accuracy for predicting SAE, with a cutoff > 5.2 mm (sensitivity of 93.2%, specificity of 100%), a statistically positive correlation with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (r = 0.485, P < 0.001) and ICU length of stay (r = 0.238, P < 0.001), and a statistically significant wider in patients who died compared to those who survived (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

ONSD could be an objective screening method for early diagnosis of SAE, with a cutoff > 5.2 mm.

Trial registration

NCT05849831 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05849831).
Civil Disobedience in Democratic Education
Authors: Matusov Eugene
Published: January 2025

The study’s goal was to examine the tension between democratic school governance, requiring its participants to obey school rules, even though they might disagree with those rules, and personal responsibility, requiring the participants to act morally, in accordance with their conscience and their sense of what is right and makes sense for them, regardless of the democratic nature of the imposed school rules. This examination was based on three sources: 1) three Open Symposia with American and Russian democratic educationalists, 2) my review of the existing literature on civil disobedience and democratic education, and 3) my empirical study based on the interviews of participants of an American private democratic school, known as The Circle School, regarding their instances of civil disobedience. The three Open Symposia allowed me to develop a working definition of civil disobedience as a particular principled disobedience. One important finding arising from these Open Symposia was that neither democratic educator could come up with an example of civil disobedience in democratic schools. My literature analysis revealed four types of civil disobedience: instrumental, existential, safeguarding, and expedient. The participants of my interviews in a democratic school – current teenage students, staff, and alumni – reported many instances of diverse types of civil disobedience, but primarily existential. Despite a lack of discussions of civil disobedience in the school, I discovered that the democratic school apparently promotes civil disobedience as its unintended curriculum by promoting and supporting students’ authorial agency, aiming at the students deciding what is good for them, and opposing educational paternalism.
Investigation of the relationship between self-perception and alexithymia levels of high-risk pregnant women
Authors: Unlu Bidik Nazli , İlcioglu Kevser , Ozgul Asude
Published: January 2025

Alexithymia, known as emotional unresponsiveness, can occur at any time in response to extreme stress during upsetting life events. A risky pregnancy is also a challenging process associated with psychological and emotional difficulties, and pregnant women may experience perception problems. Therefore, a risky pregnancy diagnosis may trigger the development of alexithymia. This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-perception and alexithymia levels in women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 250 high-risk pregnant women admitted to the hospital between June and November 2022. Data were gathered using the “Socio-demographic Information Form”, A Alexithymia Scale” and the “Pregnant Women’s Self-Perception Scale “. The data was analyzed using the Independent T-test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation Test, and Simple Linear Regression Analysis. The statistical significance level was accepted as p < 0.05. The mean age of the pregnant women in the study group was 30.25 ± 5.78 years. It was found that there was a significant negative correlation between the total score of the A Alexithymia Scale and the Total Score of the Motherhood Perception of Pregnancy Sub-dimension (r=-.197; p < 0.05) and the Total Score of the Body Perception of Pregnancy Sub-dimension (=-.395; p < 0.05). A one-unit increase in the pregnant women’s score on the Body Perception Sub-dimension causes a decrease of 1.822 points in the A Alexithymia Scale score. The study’s findings indicate that pregnant women with a high motherhood perception but a negative body perception have lower alexithymia levels. Therefore, alexithymia levels decrease in pregnant women who can make sense of and express their negative emotions during risky pregnancies.
Context-Aware Prediction with Secure and Lightweight Cognitive Decision Model in Smart Cities
Authors: Al-Quayed Fatima , Humayun Mamoona , Alnusairi Thanaa S. , Ullah Inam , Bashir Ali Kashif , Hussain Tariq
Published: January 2025

Cognitive networks with the integration of smart and physical devices are rapidly utilized for the development of smart cities. They are explored by many real-time applications such as smart homes, healthcare, safety systems, and other unpredictable environments to gather data and process network requests. However, due to the external conditions and inherent uncertainty of wireless systems, most of the existing approaches cannot cope with routing disturbances and timely delivery performance. Further, due to limited resources, the demand for a secure communication system raises another potential research challenge to protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of the urban environment. This paper presents a secured decision-making model using reinforcement learning with the combination of blockchain to enhance the degree of trust and data protection. The proposed model increases the network efficiency for resource utilization and the management of communication devices with the alliance of security. It provides a reliable and more adaptive paradigm by exploring learning techniques for dealing with the intrinsic uncertainty and imprecision of cognitive systems. Also, the incorporation of blockchain technology reduces the risk of a single point of failure, malicious vulnerabilities, and data leakage, ultimately fostering trust for urban sensor applications. It validates the incoming routing links and identifies any communication fault incurred due to malicious interference. The proposed model is rigorously tested and verified using simulations and its significance has been proven for network metrics in comparison to existing solutions.
Identifying E-Commerce Fraud Through User Behavior Data: Observations and Insights
Authors: Zhang Ziyi , Yin Hang , Rao Susie Xi , Yan Xiao , Wang Zhurong , Liang Weiming , Zhao Yang , Shan Yinan , Zhang Ruixuan , Lin Yuhao , Jiang Jiawei
Published: January 2025

Traditional fraud detection approaches often use linking entities, such as device, email, and address, to identify fraudulent transactions and users. However, as fraud methods continue to evolve and escalate, the fraudsters can fabricate the involved entities and thus hide their real intent. To make fraud detection more robust, we incorporate user behaviors in the pipeline and consider biometric characteristics that are difficult to forge. In this work, we conduct a detailed study of how user behavior data can help identify and prevent fraudulent activity in e-commerce. We present Multi-Modal Behavioral Transformer (MMBT), where we combine both inner-page behavioral data, such as mouse trajectory, and inter-page behavioral data, such as page view sequences. We propose to construct mouse trajectory data as an image, treat each mouse position as a pixel in the image, convert the image into small patches, and hence transform the mouse trajectory into patch index sequences. Our experimental results on real-word data show that MMBT significantly outperforms baselines — the precision@recall = 0.1 increases by up to 7%. In addition, we have built an online pipeline to operationalize our model. In production, the 99th percentile latency is maintained below 500 milliseconds, allowing the platform to initiate rapid response measures and prevent potential losses.
A growth model for citations networks
Authors: Castillo-Castillo Pedro , Stevens-Navarro Enrique , Pineda-Rico Ulises , Garcia-Barrientos Abel , Castillo-Soria Francisco R. , Acosta-Elias Jesus
Published: January 2025

In some complex networks, nodes can continuously increase or decrease the number of their incoming and outgoing links. The World Wide Web is one such example, as webmasters can add or delete hyperlinks on web pages at any time. There are also networks where this can not happen. For instance, in citation networks of scientific articles, after an article has been published, it will start gaining incoming links as it is cited, but its outgoing links will remain unchanged. Although articles are published with a predetermined number of references, the distribution of their outgoing links follows a power law, as if they were the result of a preferential process. So, how can we explain that the number of references an author includes in a scientific article is not purely random? In this work, a growth model for citation networks is presented, proposing that the distribution of outgoing links can be shaped by the presence of communities.
Awareness as an alternative to abandonment? Critical notice of Herman Cappelen’s The Concept of Democracy
Authors: Belleri Delia
Published: January 2025

Herman Cappelen’s book The Concept of Democracy makes a case for ‘abolitionism’, that is, abandonment of the word ‘democracy’ and related terminology (‘D-words’). Cappelen’s strategy includes a direct argument for abandonment, aiming to show that D-words are meaningless; and an indirect argument, based on a comparison of abandonment with other options (for instance, replacement or amelioration). In this critical notice, I focus on his comparative case, arguing that the competing options and their respective challenges are not so well demarcated—where this negatively affects the abandonment proposal. Furthermore, I present and defend a yet unexplored alternative: awareness. Awareness is a worthy candidate for its little costs and significant benefits in comparison to abandonment, thus deserving consideration alongside the options assessed by Cappelen.
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide plus anti-thymocyte globulin decreased serum IL-6 levels when compared with post-transplant cyclophosphamide alone after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Koh Jeong Suk , Lee Myung-Won , Pham Thi Thuy Duong , Heo Bu Yeon , Choi Suyoung , Lee Sang-Woo , Seo Wonhyoung , Kang Sora , Lee Seul Bi , Kim Chul Hee , Ryu Hyewon , Eun Hyuk Soo , Lee Hyo-Jin , Yun Hwan-Jung , Jo Deog-Yeon , Song Ik-Chan
Published: January 2025

Background

Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) are common prophylactic strategies for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT). Interleukin (IL)-6 is a surrogate marker for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and acute GVHD.

Method

The clinical outcomes and complications of haplo-HSCT with PTCy plus ATG versus PTCy monotherapy were compared according to serum IL-6 levels at Chungnam National University Hospital (Daejeon, South Korea) from January 2019 to February 2023.

Results

Forty patients who underwent haplo-HSCT were analyzed. A significant difference in IL-6 levels was observed between the PTCy plus ATG and PTCy alone groups (7.47 ± 10.55 vs. 117.65 ± 127.67; p = 0.003). More patients in the PTCy plus ATG group had a CRS grade of 0 than in the PTCy alone group (p < 0.001). Serum IL-6 levels were associated with grades II–IV acute GVHD (r = 0.547, p < 0.001). The cumulative incidence (CI) of grades II–IV acute GVHD was significantly higher in the PTCy alone group (67.9% vs. 4.8%; p < 0.001). No significant difference in the CI for chronic GVHD was detected between the PTCy plus ATG and PTCy alone groups (72.1% vs. 82.0%; p = 0.730). The CI of 1-year non-relapse mortality was significantly higher in the PTCy alone group than in the PTCy plus ATG group (42.2% vs. 15.9%; p = 0.022). The 1-year overall survival (OS) was significantly better in the PTCy plus ATG group (75.9% vs. 35.3%; p = 0.011). The 1-year GVHD-free, relapse-free survival rate was 29.4% in the PTCy alone group and 54.0% in the PTCy plus ATG group (p = 0.038).

Conclusion

Serum IL-6 levels were higher in the PTCy alone group than in the PTCy plus ATG group. The addition of ATG before stem cell infusion affected IL-6 levels and reduced the incidences of CRS and grade II–IV acute GVHD in haplo-HSCT patients. This study suggests that PTCy plus ATG as GVHD prophylaxis in haplo-HSCT is beneficial in terms of clinical outcomes and complications of HSCT.
Spontaneous Preterm Labour and Birth (Including Preterm Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes)
Authors: Hezelgrave Natasha L. , Shennan Andrew
Published: January 2025

Spontaneous preterm birth remains the leading cause of neonatal death, and the second leading cause of mortality worldwide in children below five years of age. The causes of preterm birth are multifactorial, likely contributing to why significant progress in reducing the incidence has been slow. This Element contains the most up-to-date evidence regarding the aetiology, epidemiology, and management of pregnancies at risk of, or complicated by, spontaneous preterm birth and preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes. It concentrates largely on those aspects potentially amenable to preventative intervention (i.e. cervical dysfunction and premature uterine contractility), as well as strategies to improve outcomes for infants born prematurely.
Unprinted
Authors: Kohler Daria , Wakelin Daniel , Domeisen Natascha , Haywood Daniel , Jones Edward , Mackay Micah , Maxton Rosie , Moore Brian M. , Noble Katie , Simon Felix M. , Wojahn Daniel
Published: January 2025

This Element explores the idea of publication in media used before, alongside, and after print. It contrasts multiple traditions of unprinted communication in their diversity and particularity. This decentres print as the means for understanding publication; instead, publication is seen as an heuristic term which identifies activities these traditions share, but which also differ in ways not reducible to comparisons with printing. The Element engages with texts written on papyrus, chiselled in stone, and created digitally; sung, proclaimed, and put on stage; banned, hidden and rediscovered. The authors move between Greek inscriptions and Tibetan edicts, early modern manuscripts and AI-assisted composition, monasteries and courts, constantly questioning the term 'publication' and considering the agency of people publishing and the publics they address. The picture that transpires is that of a colourful variety of contexts of production and dissemination, underlining the value of studying 'unprinted' publication in its own right.
Preventing risks by experiencing them: effects on knowledge and behaviour
Authors: Bulterman Rob , Verwijmeren Thijs , Holland Rob W. , Veling Harm
Published: January 2025

Safety villages are interventions that aim to boost children's knowledge and behaviour regarding risk-taking behaviours and their consequences via an experiential learning approach. In safety villages, children experience scenarios involving risks that resemble real-life situations. We investigated the extent to which desirable learning outcomes from a single-session safety village visit are visible outside the safety village context. In a well-powered quasi-experimental preregistered field study, we compared students (aged 11–13) who received experiential safety education to a control group of students who had not yet received the education on three important learning outcomes: Knowledge-application, risk-taking behaviour and general risk-taking tendencies. Data were collected outside of the safety village environment, before or after the visit, and without explicit reminders of the visit. Results show students who received experiential safety education outperformed those who did not yet receive experiential education on knowledge-application and reduced risk-taking behaviours. We found no differences on general risk-taking tendencies. These results show a single visit to a safety village visit can reduce risk-taking of risks that were experienced in the village, but not general risk-taking tendencies. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Prompting for products: investigating design space exploration strategies for text-to-image generative models
Authors: Chong Leah , Lo I-Ping , Rayan Jude , Dow Steven , Ahmed Faez , Lykourentzou Ioanna
Published: January 2025

Text-to-image models are enabling efficient design space exploration, rapidly generating images from text prompts. However, many generative AI tools are imperfect for product design applications as they are not built for the goals and requirements of product design. The unclear link between text input and image output further complicates their application. This work empirically investigates design space exploration strategies that can successfully yield product images that are feasible, novel and aesthetic – three common goals in product design. Specifically, users’ actions within the global and local editing modes, including their time spent, prompt length, mono versus multi-criteria prompts, and goal orientation of prompts, are analyzed. Key findings reveal the pivotal role of mono versus multi-criteria and goal orientation of prompts in achieving specific design goals over time and prompt length. The study recommends prioritizing the use of multi-criteria prompts for feasibility and novelty during global editing while favoring mono-criteria prompts for aesthetics during local editing. Overall, this article underscores the nuanced relationship between the AI-driven text-to-image models and their effectiveness in product design, urging designers to carefully structure prompts during different editing modes to better meet the unique demands of product design.
4-Torsion classes in the integral cohomology of oriented Grassmannians
Authors: Matszangosz Ákos K. , Wendt Matthias
Published: January 2025

We investigate the existence of 4-torsion in the integral cohomology of oriented Grassmannians. We establish bounds on the characteristic rank of oriented Grassmannians and prove some cases of our previous conjecture on the characteristic rank. We also discuss the relation between the characteristic rank and a result of Stong on the height of w1 in the cohomology of Grassmannians. The existence of 4-torsion classes follows from the results on the characteristic rank via Steenrod square considerations. We thus exhibit infinitely many examples of 4-torsion classes for oriented Grassmannians. We also prove bounds on torsion exponents of oriented flag manifolds. The article also discusses consequences of our results for a more general perspective on the relation between the torsion exponent and deficiency for homogeneous spaces.
Slavery on the Northern Frontier: A Stylus Tablet from Vindolanda
Authors: Meyer Alexander , Mullen Alex , Tomlin Roger
Published: January 2025

A Roman stylus tablet discovered at Vindolanda in 2014 preserves the partial text of a deed-of-sale for an enslaved person, only the second such document from Britain. This article presents the results of multiple techniques used to reveal the almost illegible text and proposes a restoration of the format of the document and its lost content, based on more complete examples from Italy and around the Empire. We examine the late first-century archaeological and historical context and suggest that the purchaser is probably the prefect Iulius Verecundus. We consider other possible evidence for the servi of the commanders at Vindolanda, for example in another hard-to-decipher stylus tablet which may be related to their travel. The deed-of-sale provides a new type of testimony for slavery at Vindolanda and adds to knowledge of enslavement in the Roman military.
The distribution and numbers of gamekeepers in Norfolk: 1851 to 1921
Authors: Bailey Juliet
Published: January 2025

Most studies of gamekeepers focussed on poaching and the role of the gamekeeper in society or were gamekeeper’s memoirs, but recently, Osborne and Winstanley and the current author have examined gamekeeper numbers in England at the county level, demonstrating variation across location and time, with significant differences between counties. This study undertakes, for the first time, a detailed examination of one county (Norfolk) from 1851 to 1921. Analysis of census returns revealed how the numbers and locations of gamekeepers varied between and within districts over time. Several factors that might influence gamekeeper numbers were examined, and the results suggested that geology, agricultural economics, and fashion were more important influences on numbers than poaching. The major employers of gamekeepers were concentrated in the west of Norfolk, in areas of sandy, acidic soils, where agricultural pressures drove the creation of large estates, readily converted to shooting.
Two hundred barrels of manure: Fertilisation, environmental stewardship, and short-term leasehold in Cambrésis, 1330–1400
Authors: Jensen Arnoud
Published: January 2025

From its spread in the thirteenth century onwards, short-term leasehold became one of the most common and powerful institutions of land management in Western Europe. Its rise is often strongly connected to the commercialisation of agriculture and short-term profit-seeking, with overexploitation of the soil as a consequence. However, when looking closely at short-term lease contracts of the fourteenth century, these extensive documents often contain a multitude of clauses on the upkeep of the soil, water management, and care for the present fauna and flora. This paper aims to investigate how the management of the soil was regulated through a leasehold in Cambrésis, currently in the north of France, through an in-depth study of the clauses on fertilisation by manure and care for the soil, as recorded in two rather unique fourteenth-century lease ledgers. What can these contracts reveal about contemporary agricultural practices, such as fertilisation? How did the administrators of the Saint-Julien hospital and the collegial chapter of Saint-Géry in Cambrai safeguard the long-term health and value of their leased-out properties in a period of severe crises and rising commercial pressure? Through this research, this paper proposes that short-term leasehold could, in certain conditions, stimulate forms of environmental stewardship.
Rising Threats to U.S. Democracy
Authors: Skocpol Theda
Published: January 2025

This is the expanded written version of the James Madison Lecture delivered on September 6, 2024, at the APSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. I grapple with the pressing question before us as social scientists and as citizens: How and why have US politics and governance arrived at the present juncture where long-standing constitutional practices and democratically responsive governance are very much at stake? My answer focuses on what I see as the prime driver of the current crisis: the recent radicalization of the Republican Party and its allies, as they have pursued two forms and phases of antidemocratic politics. The first version involves maximum use of legal hardball steps that stretch existing laws and rules to disadvantage partisan opponents (I also call this approach “McConnellism” in honor of its chief practitioner, outgoing GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky). The second approach targets political competitors and government operations with extralegal harassment, threats of violence, and even actual violence. Drawing on my own research with many collaborators, as well as from many excellent studies by colleagues in political science and beyond, I will dissect the elite and popular roots of recent Republican embrace of both forms of antidemocratic politics.
A Neurosymbolic Framework for Bias Correction in Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: PADALKAR PARTH , ŚLUSARZ NATALIA , KOMENDANTSKAYA EKATERINA , GUPTA GOPAL
Published: January 2025

Recent efforts in interpreting convolutional neural networks (CNNs) focus on translating the activation of CNN filters into a stratified Answer Set Program (ASP) rule-sets. The CNN filters are known to capture high-level image concepts, thus the predicates in the rule-set are mapped to the concept that their corresponding filter represents. Hence, the rule-set exemplifies the decision-making process of the CNN w.r.t the concepts that it learns for any image classification task. These rule-sets help understand the biases in CNNs, although correcting the biases remains a challenge. We introduce a neurosymbolic framework called NeSyBiCor for bias correction in a trained CNN. Given symbolic concepts, as ASP constraints, that the CNN is biased toward, we convert the concepts to their corresponding vector representations. Then, the CNN is retrained using our novel semantic similarity loss that pushes the filters away from (or toward) learning the desired/undesired concepts. The final ASP rule-set obtained after retraining, satisfies the constraints to a high degree, thus showing the revision in the knowledge of the CNN. We demonstrate that our NeSyBiCor framework successfully corrects the biases of CNNs trained with subsets of classes from the Places dataset while sacrificing minimal accuracy and improving interpretability.
Quantifying over Optimum Answer Sets
Authors: MAZZOTTA GIUSEPPE , RICCA FRANCESCO , TRUSZCZYNSKI MIREK
Published: January 2025

Answer Set Programming with Quantifiers (ASP(Q)) has been introduced to provide a natural extension of ASP modeling to problems in the polynomial hierarchy (PH). However, ASP(Q) lacks a method for encoding in an elegant and compact way problems requiring a polynomial number of calls to an oracle in $\Sigma _n^p$ (that is, problems in $\Delta _{n+1}^p$). Such problems include, in particular, optimization problems. In this paper, we propose an extension of ASP(Q), in which component programs may contain weak constraints. Weak constraints can be used both for expressing local optimization within quantified component programs and for modeling global optimization criteria. We showcase the modeling capabilities of the new formalism through various application scenarios. Further, we study its computational properties obtaining complexity results and unveiling non-obvious characteristics of ASP(Q) programs with weak constraints.
Microstructural and Seismic Characteristics of Mantle Xenoliths From Damaping Area, and Their Geodynamic Implications of North China Craton Destruction
Authors: Shao Yilun , Liu Cai , Gao Rui , Li Shan , Zhao Tianshuo
Published: January 2025

The large‐volume lithospheric mantle xenoliths around the Damaping area provides valuable insights into the detailed destruction progression of the North China Craton (NCC). This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the microstructural and seismic properties of oriented mantle xenoliths (with distinct foliation and lineation). The selected peridotites all have coarse‐grained textures. The olivine crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) are predominantly axial‐[010] type (or AG‐type), with all xenoliths have girdled [100]OL and [001]OL characteristics. B‐type olivine CPO is newly discovered in the research area. Analysis of crystallographic vorticity axis (CVA) projections indicates that more than half of Damaping xenoliths have CVA maxima (sub)parallel to the lineation. These microstructure characteristics suggest that B‐type CPOs were formed before the onset of pure shear‐dominated transpression and pyroxene restriction, which significantly influenced the lithospheric mantle evolution. The upwelling asthenosphere beneath Eastern Block of the NCC not only delaminated its lithospheric mantle but also experienced rollback and flowed along the WNW‐SEE direction. This progression likely serves as the primary driving force of transpression. If foliation were vertical and lineation were horizontal, the valid S‐wave anisotropies range is 5%–12%. All selected samples are spinel facies, resulting in a maximum in situ depth of 90 km, and the calculated SKS splitting delay times (0.5–1.3 s) align with previous seismological observations. The SKS direction in the research area is predominantly oriented perpendicular (NNE‐SSW) to the flow direction of nearby asthenosphere. These characteristics are likely attributed to transpression. Therefore, the “fossil” anisotropy may have developed after the cessation of transpression.
RNF128 deficiency in macrophages promotes colonic inflammation by suppressing the autophagic degradation of S100A8
Authors: Ran Xianwen , Li Yue , Ren Yahui , Chang Weilong , Deng Rui , Wang Huifen , Zhu Weiwei , Zhang Yize , Cai Yudie , Hu Jia , Wang Di , Liu Zhibo
Published: January 2025

Macrophages play important roles in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, the underlying mechanisms that govern macrophage-mediated inflammation are still largely unknown. In this study, we report that RNF128 is downregulated in proinflammatory macrophages. RNF128 deficiency leads to elevated levels of effector cytokines in vitro and accelerates the progression of IBD in mouse models. Bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed that RNF128 deficiency in bone marrow cells contributes to the worsening of DSS-induced colitis. Mechanistically, RNF128 interacts with and destabilizes S100A8 by promoting its autophagic degradation, which is mediated by the cargo receptor Tollip. Moreover, the administration of an S100A8 neutralizing antibody mitigated the development of colitis and improved survival in DSS-treated Rnf128

−/−
mice. Overall, our study underscores the anti-inflammatory role of RNF128 in macrophages during the progression of colitis and highlights the potential of targeting the RNF128-Tollip-S100A8 axis to attenuate intestinal inflammation for the treatment of colitis.
Mapping Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Annotated MRI Dataset Profiling Tumor and Carotid Characteristics
Authors: Pandit A. S. , Keenlyside A. , Khan D. Z. , Reischer G. , Kamal M. A. , Yoh N. , Jaunmuktane Z. , Borg A. , Dorward N. L. , Baldeweg S. E. , Davagnanam I. , Hyare H. , Nachev P. , Marcus H. J.
Published: January 2025

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors remain one of the most common intracranial tumors. While radiomic research related to pituitary tumors is progressing, public data sets for external validation remain scarce. We introduce an open dataset comprising high-resolution T1 contrast-enhanced MR scans of 136 patients with pituitary tumors, annotated for tumor segmentation and accompanied by clinical, radiological and pathological metadata. This diverse dataset captures variations in tumor size, location, and pathological activity, essential for understanding this complex condition. Expert annotations of both the tumor and adjacent carotid arteries ensure precise delineation, facilitating the development of automated segmentation algorithms. Our initiative addresses the need for standardized data in pituitary oncology, fosters collaboration and innovation, and enables the development and benchmarking of workflows that utilize pituitary radiomics for treatment planning and outcome prediction.
Draft genome sequence of Kei apple, an underutilized African tree crop
Authors: Kariba Robert , Waweru Bernice , Njaci Isaac , Banda Linly , Mwangi Jenniffer W. , Harimanantsoa R Antso , Muthemba Samuel , Featherstone Jonathan , Hendre Prasad , Jamnadass Ramni , Van Deynze Allen , Domelevo Entfellner Jean-Baka , Shorinola Oluwaseyi
Published: January 2025

To address food and nutrition security in the face of burgeoning global populations and erratic climatic conditions there is a need to include nutrient dense, climatic resilient but neglected indigenous fruit trees in agrifood systems. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Kei Apple, Dovyalis afra, a neglected indigenous African fruit tree with untapped potential to contribute to nutrient security and improved livelihoods. Our long-read-based genome assembly comprises 440 Mbp sequence across 1190 contigs with a N50 and L50 of 13.3 Mbp and 11, respectively. We also annotated the genome and identified 27,449 protein-coding genes. Our genome assembly provides a valuable resource for unlocking the food security and nutraceutical potential of Kei apple.
New geographic information system based sustainability metric for isolated photovoltaic systems
Authors: Elazab Rasha , Daowd Mohamed
Published: January 2025

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) technologies is vital for achieving sustainable energy solutions in isolated systems. However, A critical challenge that remains is maintaining the sustainability of these systems under the fluctuating conditions of solar irradiance, which is key for isolated energy systems. This study hypothesizes that the sustainability of PV systems can be accurately assessed through a new metric that incorporates performance consistency, variability, and resilience, using real-time energy production data alongside GIS-based solar radiation models. By analyzing fixed PV, concentrated PV (CPV), and dual axis tracking PV (DATPV) systems over a three-year period (2017–2019), The analysis indicates that DATPV systems achieved the highest energy output, with energy ratios exceeding 300% in 2019, though this was accompanied by substantial variability in performance. Fixed PV systems demonstrated the most stable performance, with a consistency term reaching 0.93 and a sustainability score of 0.87 in 2019. CPV systems performed moderately, with a sustainability score of 0.66 in 2017. These results highlight the trade-off between energy capture and operational stability, which is critical for sustainable energy management in isolated systems.
High genomic connectivity within Anatoma at hydrothermal vents along the Central and Southeast Indian Ridge
Authors: Kniesz Katharina , Hoffman Leon , Martínez Arbizu Pedro , Kihara Terue C.
Published: January 2025

Hydrothermal vents are ecosystems inhabited by a highly specialized fauna. To date, more than 30 gastropod species have been recorded from vent fields along the Central and Southeast Indian Ridge and all of them are assumed to be vent-endemic. During the INDEX project, 701 representatives of the genus Anatoma (Mollusca: Vetigastropoda) were sampled from six abyssal hydrothermal vent fields. Traditional morphology and COI barcoding of Hoffman et al. (Eur J Taxon 826:135–162, 2022) were combined with 2b-RAD sequencing to investigate the anatomid community structure and connectivity between the different vent fields. Consequently, 2b-RAD sequencing supported the primary species hypothesis (based on morphology) for 125 individuals of the recently described taxa A. discapex, A. declivis, A. laevapex and A. paucisculpta. We assigned 22 additional specimens to species with 2b-RAD sequencing and updated the community analyses that confirmed the pattern of expanding populations. Population structure and FST values indicated high connectivity along the six sampled vent fields for the three most abundant species. High levels of gene flow are suggested, pointing to high dispersal potential of the target species along the study area. However, low levels of heterozygosity revealed a small gene pool and therefore an increased vulnerability towards environmental change. Our results demonstrate that 2b-RAD sequencing, in combination with other molecular methods, can accurately characterise macrobenthic mollusc communities. Sequencing technology is an essential tool for ongoing monitoring. Furthermore, we highlight that the inferred molecular and ecological patterns provide valuable insights into hydrothermal vent ecosystems, which are crucial for the successful conservation of these ecosystems.
Cytotoxic mechanisms of pemetrexed and HDAC inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer cells involving ribonucleotides in DNA
Authors: Iveland Tobias Solli , Hagen Lars , de Sousa Mirta Mittelstedt Leal , Liabakk Nina Beate , Aas Per Arne , Sharma Animesh , Kavli Bodil , Slupphaug Geir
Published: January 2025

The cytotoxic mechanisms of thymidylate synthase inhibitors, such as the multitarget antifolate pemetrexed, are not yet fully understood. Emerging evidence indicates that combining pemetrexed with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) may enhance therapeutic efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To explore this further, A549 NSCLC cells were treated with various combinations of pemetrexed and the HDACi MS275 (Entinostat), and subsequently assessed for cell viability, cell cycle changes, and genotoxic markers. Proteomic alterations were analyzed using label-free shotgun and targeted LC–MS/MS. MS275 enhanced the sensitivity of A549 cells to pemetrexed, but only when administered following prior treatment with pemetrexed. Both HeLa (p53 negative) and A549 (p53 positive) showed robust activation of γH2AX upon treatment with this combination. Importantly, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the uracil-DNA glycosylase UNG did not affect γH2AX activation or sensitivity to pemetrexed. Proteomic analysis revealed that MS275 altered the expression of known pemetrexed targets, as well as several proteins involved in pyrimidine metabolism and DNA repair, which could potentiate pemetrexed cytotoxicity. Contrary to the conventional model of antifolate toxicity, which implicates futile cycles of uracil incorporation and excision in DNA, we propose that ribonucleotide incorporation in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA significantly contributes to the cytotoxicity of antifolates like pemetrexed, and likely also of fluorinated pyrimidine analogs. HDAC inhibition apparently exacerbates cytotoxicity of these agents by inhibiting error-free repair of misincorporated ribonucleotides in DNA. The potential of HDACis to modulate pyrimidine metabolism and DNA damage responses offers novel strategies for improving NSCLC outcomes.
A novel poly(amidoamine)-modified electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor-based biosensor for label-free detection of ATP
Authors: Qu Zhan , Bashir Muhammad Noman , Wang Miaomiao , Chen Yating , Noureen Beenish , Wang Zhiyao , Liu Yage , Du Liping , Wu Chunsheng
Published: January 2025

A label-free ATP detection biosensor based on poly(amidoamine)-modified EIS sensors was developed with a LOD as low as 0.12 nM.
Perchlorate-supported Cu(ii)-based 1D polymeric chains containing 1,10-phenanthroline: synthesis, characterization and adsorption of organic dyes and heavy metal ions
Authors: Atta Sawaira , Siddique Amna , Qasim Muhammad Naveed , AlDamen Murad A. , Sheikh Tahir Ali , Sadullayevich Normamatov Adkhamjon , Ibragimov Aziz B. , Akhtar Muhammad Nadeem
Published: January 2025

A one dimensional Cu(ii) based coordination network is designed for selective adsorption of organic dyes and heavy metal ions.
Origin of photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction on bare Cu(In,Ga)S2 (CIGS) thin films in aqueous media without co-catalysts
Authors: Prabhakar Rajiv Ramanujam , Shukla Sudhanshu , Li Haoyi , Kim R. Soyoung , Chen Wei , Beaudelot Jérôme , D’Haen Jan , Santos Daniely Reis , Vereecken Philippe M. , Rignanese Gian-Marco , Crumlin Ethan J. , Yano Junko , Vermang Bart , Ager Joel W.
Published: January 2025

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO2 reduction (CO2R) directly on chalcogenide semiconductor surface in an aqueous environment.
Green active food packaging films based on nanocomposites of PHBV/sepiolite/essential oils
Authors: Cerruti da Costa Renata , Oliveira Pâmela Rosa , Nandi Leandro Guarezi , Bobermin Daiane Mara , Miotto Marília , Bellettini Ismael Casagrande , da Silva Crespo Janaina , Daitx Tales da Silva , Teixeira Cristiano da Silva , Carli Larissa Nardini
Published: January 2025

The incorporation of essential oils results in an antibacterial packaging with more than 99% reduction in bacterial growth. The synergy between components provides a control over the release rate of essential oils into the packaging system.
Dynamic fluidic manipulation in microfluidic chips with dead-end channels through spinning: the Spinochip technology for hematocrit measurement, white blood cell counting and plasma separation
Authors: Oksuz Cemre , Bicmen Can , Tekin H. Cumhur
Published: January 2025

A novel centrifugal microfluidic system enables programmable fluid operations in dead-end channels. It separates plasma, buffy coat, and red blood cells, and provides hematocrit and white blood cell measurements using standard centrifuges.
Mass production of robust hydrogel electrolytes for high-performance zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Ma Linlin , Liu Xiaojing , Fan Jihao , Yu Xiaodong , Cao Longsheng , Zhao Chuangqi
Published: January 2025

Hydrogel electrolytes prepard by superspreading strategy, which effectively suppress zinc dendrite growth and side reactions, enabling ultra-stable cycling in zinc-ion batteries. This makes zinc batteries highly promising for large-scale applications.
Enhancing the electrochemical catalytic performance of novel bifunctional oxygen vacancy-enriched silver niobate (AgNbO3) through electrochemical activation
Authors: Patil Deepak Rajaram , Chavan Harish S. , Lee Ah-yeong , Lee Geon , Ryu Jungho , Son Younggon , Lee Kiyoung
Published: January 2025

Oxygen vacancies enhanced overall water-splitting efficiency in the AgNbO3 electrocatalyst.
Molecular layer deposition of biomimetic amino acid-based hybrid thin films for artificial nociceptors
Authors: Zhu Lin , Zhang Chu-Yi , Gao Li , Fu Li-Ling , Wang Chen , Cao Yan-Qiang , Li Wei-Min , Li Ai-Dong
Published: January 2025

MLD derived biomimetic amino acid-based hybrid thin films were used as functional layer for Pt/Ti-Cys/TiN memristor, which exhibits reproducible volatile switching behavior and successfully emulates bio-pain sensation and synapse functions.
Plastic waste gasification for low-carbon hydrogen production: a comprehensive review
Authors: Bashir Muhammad Aamir , Ji Tuo , Weidman Jennifer , Soong Yee , Gray McMahan , Shi Fan , Wang Ping
Published: January 2025

A comprehensive review of low-carbon hydrogen production via plastic waste gasification.
Retraction: Influence of carbon additions on microstructures and mechanical properties in additive manufactured superalloys
Authors: Xie Mingjun , Zhao Yan , Guan Jianjun , Yang Yanhong , Fu Yuting
Published: January 2025

Retraction of ‘Influence of carbon additions on microstructures and mechanical properties in additive manufactured superalloys’ by Mingjun Xie et al., Mater. Adv., 2023, 4, 4897–4911, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00370A.
Discovery of a cold giant planet and mass measurement of a hot super-Earth in the multi-planetary system WASP-132
Authors: Grieves Nolan , Bouchy François , Armstrong David J. , Akinsanmi Babatunde , Psaridi Angelica , Ulmer-Moll Solène , Frensch Yolanda G. C. , Helled Ravit , Müller Simon , Knierim Henrik , Santos Nuno C. , Adibekyan Vardan , Parc Léna , Lendl Monika , Battley Matthew P. , Unger Nicolas , Chaverot Guillaume , Bayliss Daniel , Dumusque Xavier , Hawthorn Faith , Figueira Pedro , Fetzner Keniger Marcelo Aron , Lillo-Box Jorge , Dyregaard Nielsen Louise , Osborn Ares , Sousa Sérgio G. , Strøm Paul , Udry Stéphane
Published: January 2025

Hot Jupiters generally do not have nearby planet companions, as they may have cleared out other planets during their inward migration from more distant orbits. This gives evidence that hot Jupiters more often migrate inward via high-eccentricity migration due to dynamical interactions between planets rather than more dynamically cool migration mechanisms through the protoplanetary disk. Here we further refine the unique system of WASP-132 by characterizing the mass of the recently validated 1.0-day period super-Earth WASP-132c (TOI-822.02), interior to the 7.1-day period hot Jupiter WASP-132b. Additionally, we announce the discovery of a giant planet at a 5-year period (2.7 AU). We also detected a long-term trend in the radial velocity data indicative of another outer companion. Using over nine years of CORALIE radial velocities (RVs) and over two months of highly sampled HARPS RVs, we determined the masses of the planets from smallest to largest orbital period to be Mc = 6.26−1.83+1.84 M⊕, Mb = 0.428−0.015+0.015 MJup, and Md = sin i 5.16−0.52+0.52 MJup, respectively. Using TESS and CHEOPS photometry data, we measured the radii of the two inner transiting planets to be Rc = 1.841−0.093+0.094 R⊕ and Rb = 0.901−0.038+0.038 RJup. We find a bulk density of ρc = 5.47−1.71+1.96 g cm−3 for WASP-132c, which is slightly above the Earth-like composition line on the mass-radius diagram. WASP-132 is a unique multi-planetary system in that both an inner rocky planet and an outer giant planet are in a system with a hot Jupiter. This suggests it migrated via a rarer dynamically cool mechanism and helps to further our understanding of how hot Jupiter systems form and evolve.
Determination of Effective Moisture Diffusivity Considering Shrinkage for Vibration-Assisted Infrared Drying of Pumpkin
Authors: Jongyingcharoen Jiraporn Sripinyowanich , Naweera Worawit , Sangruangnak Sakawrat , Assawadejmethakul Achira
Published: January 2025

Drying characteristics and physical properties of pumpkin slices during vibration-assisted infrared (VIR), infrared (IR), and hot air (HA) drying were investigated. VIR drying exhibited the highest drying rate (0.1 g water/g dry matter·min) and shortest drying time (100 min), with drying efficiency influenced by IR intensity. Pumpkin slices dried under VIR drying at a middle IR intensity of 750 W/m² demonstrated superior product properties. Shrinkage was linearly correlated with moisture ratio. Effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) ranged from 1.44×10-8 to 5.78×10-8 m2/s for HA and VIR drying, respectively. Incorporating shrinkage effects, Deff-S decreased linearly with decreasing moisture ratio. Deff-S exhibited a strong negative correlation with shrinkage and a strong positive correlation with moisture content, moisture ratio, projected area, and volume.