bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulating Electrochemical and Optical Properties of Oligothiophenes via Subtle Changes in Donnor ‐ Acceptor Sequence
Authors: Frère Pierre , Gurunatham Savitha , Moussallem Chady , Gohier Frédéric
Published: February 2025

This study explores the synthesis and electronic properties of oligothiophenes derived from the 3‐hexyloxy‐4‐cyanothiophene building block. By exploiting the differential reactivity of thiophene's α‐positions, regioisomeric derivatives were synthesized with varying donor–acceptor sequences. These derivatives displayed distinct optical and electrochemical characteristics based on the relative positions of cyano acceptor and hexyloxy donor groups. Spectroscopic, computational, and electrochemical analyses revealed that substituent placement critically affects electronic properties, such as HOMO‐LUMO levels and band gaps. The introduction of alkoxy groups at external β‐sites promoted coupling reactions upon oxidation, leading to polymerization or dimerization. Conversely, cyano groups at these positions stabilized radical cations and dications, suppressing further reactions. These findings offer insights into designing conjugated systems with tunable properties, emphasizing the importance of substituent positioning for optimizing performance.
What's next for the Department of Education?
Authors: D’Orio Wayne
Published: February 2025

A little more than 24 hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as the new president, three former heads of the Department of Education gathered to prognosticate about what the department's new priorities would be, discuss how the DOE could improve its public perception, and explain what functions wouldn’t change, regardless of who's in charge.
Turning numbers into stories: Using data to create compelling web content
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: February 2025

Last fall, I was honored to present a lightning talk at the Higher Education Web Professionals Association* annual conference. These fast‐paced talks cover a topic in five minutes or less, and mine focused on using data to tell bite‐sized stories. I shared the stage with four other industry professionals who spoke about building custom generative pre‐training transformers (GPTs), working with design systems, showing gratitude, and overcoming workplace obstacles.
Effect of Optimized Tilt Angle of PV Modules on Solar Irradiance for Residential and Commercial Buildings in Different Cities of Pakistan: Simulation‐Based Study
Authors: Manzoor Habib Ullah , Aaqib Sheikh Muhammad , Manzoor Tareq , Azeem Fawad , Ashraf Muhammad Waqas , Manzoor Sanaullah
Published: February 2025

The tilt angle of a solar PV panel is a critical factor in improving the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. While tracking systems can enhance performance, they are typically not cost‐effective for residential areas. Alternatively, setting an optimized fixed tilt angle or adjusting the tilt seasonally can mitigate power losses. This study evaluates optimal seasonal tilt angles and the corresponding solar radiation on PV panels for 10 major cities across Pakistan. A novel mathematical framework is proposed to calculate the optimal tilt angle using parameters such as alignment, azimuth, gradient, and temporal angles. Seasonal adjustments are shown to increase solar intensity from to during winter, significantly enhancing output power. For instance, an improvement of up to in output power density was observed at the Quaid‐e‐Azam Solar Park using crystalline solar cells. These findings demonstrate the potential for substantial improvements in solar power production through seasonally optimized tilt angles, particularly during the shorter winter days.
Data Sharing and Evaluation: Evaluation's Role in Improving the Quality of Open Science Data Sharing Platforms
Authors: Jacobson Miriam R. , Baker Stephanie N. , Yang Yiwen , Childs Joshua , Wang Zhuoying , Garbrecht Lisa S.
Published: February 2025

Data sharing platforms are vital open science tools that facilitate research collaboration and data dissemination. Evaluating these platforms helps ensure they meet open science standards by assessing their accessibility, utility, and impact. This article shares a case example from a user experience evaluation of an open science data sharing platform, which collected mixed methods data from users, stakeholders, and the platform's website. In describing the case example, the authors aimed to understand the role of evaluation in helping the platform adhere to open science practices and to identify opportunities for evaluators to use similar types of platforms to enhance their evaluation practice. The evaluation team used open science principles to design their evaluation, which aligned with evaluation values of inclusion, transparency, and utility. The evaluation provided useful data for understanding platform users’ perspectives on the platform and perceptions of its impact. The case example suggests that open science data sharing platforms could provide many benefits for the evaluation field, such as offering ways to collaborate with others, strengthening the quality of evaluation studies, and improving the availability of data. However, to increase engagement of evaluators in data sharing platforms, it is important to build partnerships between evaluators and platform developers, design training and outreach for evaluators, and research how existing data sharing platforms can be further developed to serve the evaluation community.
Open Science for Evaluation Use: How Applying Open Science Principles Can Further Open up Evaluation
Authors: Goodier Sarah
Published: February 2025

This article explores how open science principles can enhance evaluation practices. It identifies open science approaches that can be integrated at various stages of the evaluation process to improve the use and impact of evaluations within the evaluation community and society, thereby increasing their overall value. This article is relevant to evaluators at all career stages seeking to understand ways they could incorporate a more open approach, where possible, into their evaluation work and to all those involved in the evaluation field, including donors and program implementers, considering how they can maximize the broad contribution of evaluations they are involved in. The article provides a guiding framework of open science principles and open approaches relevant to the evaluation process, providing a starting point for evaluators interested in incorporating these approaches. The key message is that by applying an open science lens to their evaluations, evaluators can be empowered to explicitly think of the value their work could have for the evaluation community and society, beyond intended users for specific evaluations, and to drive knowledge creation for sharing and use in the broader field of evaluation.
Open Data in Evaluation: Implications and Challenges of Facilitating Data Interpretation Using Open Data
Authors: Villalobos Jennifer P. , Grandjean Targos Piper T.
Published: February 2025

This article explores the role of open data in evaluation, using a DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) evaluation case study of the outdoor recreation industry, to highlight data interpretation and multi‐year data infrastructure challenges. It argues that open data enhances transparency and provides practical benchmarks for meaningful interpretations. Our experience with Camber Outdoors (CO) illustrates how having accessible data could have mitigated early evaluation challenges by providing meaningful comparison data. The discussion explores how open data aligns with evaluator competence and addresses the barriers to its adoption, including ethical considerations, resource constraints, and data privacy issues. We advocate for professional development and strategic incentives to foster safe, data‐driven environments that encourage open data practices and advance evaluation scholarship.
Understanding the Link Between Functional Profiles and Intelligence Through Dimensionality Reduction and Graph Analysis
Authors: Alberti Francesco , Menardi Arianna , Margulies Daniel S. , Vallesi Antonino
Published: February 2025

There is a growing interest in neuroscience for how individual‐specific structural and functional features of the cortex relate to cognitive traits. This work builds on previous research which, by using classical high‐dimensional approaches, has proven that the interindividual variability of functional connectivity (FC) profiles reflects differences in fluid intelligence. To provide an additional perspective into this relationship, the present study uses a recent framework for investigating cortical organization: functional gradients. This approach places local connectivity profiles within a common low‐dimensional space whose axes are functionally interpretable dimensions. Specifically, this study uses a data‐driven approach to model the association between FC variability and interindividual differences in intelligence. For one of these loci, in the right ventral‐lateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), we describe an association between fluid intelligence and the relative functional distance of this area from sensory and high‐cognition systems. Furthermore, the topological properties of this region indicate that, with decreasing functional affinity with high‐cognition systems, vlPFC functional connections are more evenly distributed across all networks. Participating in multiple functional networks may reflect a better ability to coordinate sensory and high‐order cognitive systems.
Are Wayfinding Abilities Correlated With Specific Brain Anatomy? An Investigation on Regular Car Drivers Using a Navigational Map in an Unknown Environment
Authors: Navarro Jordan , Ribot Jean , Schnebelen Damien , Seguin Perrine , Ouimet Marie Claude , Reynaud Emanuelle
Published: February 2025

The ability to navigate spatially in the physical world is a fundamental cognitive skill. This study examines the anatomical correlates of map‐assisted wayfinding in an unfamiliar virtual environment using structural magnetic resonance magining (MRI). Thirty‐three participants were required to reach up to seven different locations represented on a navigational map in a simulated environment, while their gazing behavior was recorded, and, in close temporal proximity, the anatomical MRI of their brain was acquired. Significant predictors of wayfinding performance were the volumes of the right hippocampus, left retrosplenial cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex—left inferior frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, and right cerebellar lobule VIIB. Detailed analyses revealed a dissociation between two clusters of gray matter density in the right hippocampus. Compared with the poorest wayfinders, the best wayfinders exhibited more gray matter density in a cluster located in the right posterior hippocampus but less gray matter density in a cluster located in the anterior section of the hippocampus. In addition, top performers spent more time gazing at the map, highlighting the benefit of using external aids during navigation tasks. Altogether, these results underscore how structural adaptations are associated with spatial navigation performance.
The Modulation by the Locus Coeruleus of Recent and Remote Memory Retrieval is Activity‐Dependent
Authors: Babushkina Natalia , Manahan‐Vaughan Denise
Published: February 2025

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in acquiring, storing, and retrieving associative experience. Whereas neuromodulatory control of the hippocampus by the locus coeruleus (LC) enhances memory acquisition and consolidation, less is known about its influence on memory retrieval. The LC fires at tonic (0.5–8 Hz) and phasic frequencies (10–25 Hz), relative to arousal and affective states. Here, we explored to what extent LC stimulation at different frequencies (2–100 Hz) and respective stimulation patterns, before retrieval of recently acquired or remote spatial memory, alter working memory (WM) or reference memory (RM) in male rats. Here, animals learned a spatial memory task in an eight‐arm radial maze over a period of 15 days. LC stimulation before recent memory testing did not affect WM. However, LC stimulation at 20 or 100 Hz, but not 5–10 Hz, impaired retrieval of recently consolidated RM. These frequency‐dependent impairments were abolished by intracerebral β‐adrenergic receptor (β‐AR), but not D1/D5 receptor, antagonism. When memory retrieval was assessed 4 weeks after initial consolidation (Day 34), RM was significantly impaired compared to the final day of recent memory testing (on Day 6). RM was not altered by LC stimulation before remote memory retrieval. However, LC stimulation at 2–100 Hz improved WM. Taken together, these data suggest that frequency‐dependent NA release from the LC disrupts retrieval of recently acquired RM via activation of β‐AR. Strikingly, increasing LC activity in general improves WM of a remotely acquired spatial learning task, assessed 4 weeks after the recent memory testing, suggesting that the increased effort of sustaining WM of a task learned in the past requires higher LC engagement.
The Children's Worlds Psychological Well‐Being Scale in Children Aged 10 and 12 From 30 Countries: Analysis From Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory
Authors: Moreta‐Herrera Rodrigo , Oriol‐Granado Xavier , González Mònica , Rodas Jose A.
Published: February 2025

This study evaluates the Children's Worlds Psychological Well‐Being Scale (CW‐PSWBS) within a diverse international cohort of children aged 10 and 12, utilising Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) methodologies. Through a detailed psychometric analysis, this research assesses the CW‐PSWBS's structural integrity, focusing on its unidimensionality and measurement invariance across gender and age groups. The study also analyses the scale's item discrimination and difficulty levels using IRT. Participants: The sample consisted of children from 30 countries, aged 10 and 12 years, offering a broad perspective on psychological well‐being across different cultures and developmental stages. The CW‐PSWBS demonstrates a unidimensional structure, ensuring consistent measurement across genders and age groups. The scale's items exhibit strong discrimination and appropriate difficulty, highlighting its effectiveness in capturing the latent trait of psychological well‐being, particularly at low and average score ranges. Validated by a comprehensive analysis grounded in both CTT and IRT, the CW‐PSWBS emerges as a reliable tool for assessing the psychological well‐being of children aged 10 and 12 across a wide array of cultural contexts. The study affirms the scale's robustness and cross‐cultural validity, making a significant contribution to the field of child psychology.
Changes of Peripheral T Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Authors: Lao Juanfeng , Huang Rongjun , Wu Rongcai , Yuan Yulin
Published: February 2025

Background

Efficient indicators for evaluating the imbalance of lymphocyte function were crucial to clinical therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This study aimed to find biomarkers to assess lymphocyte‐mediated immune response in SLE patients.

Methods

A total of 81 SLE patients (non‐active: n = 35, active: n = 46) and 70 healthy donors were recruited in the study. Peripheral blood was obtained, and flow cytometry was used to detect circulating lymphocytes.

Results

Data showed that the counts of CD3+T, CD4+T, CD8+ T, and NK cells were decreased in active SLE patients compared with non‐active SLE patients and healthy donors. The counts of peripheral T cells were increased in responders but decreased in non‐responders among active patients. In addition, an increase in B cell counts was found in active SLE patients compared with those in the other two groups. Active SLE patients showed higher percentages of memory T cells but lower naive T cells than those in non‐active SLE patients and healthy controls. Activation molecules (CD38 and HLA‐DR) and inhibitory molecule PD‐1 expressions on T cells were significantly higher but percentages of CD28+CD8+T cells were lower in active SLE patients compared with those in the other two groups.

Conclusion

This study indicated that monitoring the alterations of circulating lymphocyte counts and surface molecules may be helpful to assess disease activity of SLE patients, even discriminate active and non‐active patients, which was beneficial to choose the best treatment option in clinical therapy.
Development and Validation of a Noninvasive Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopic Method for Bilirubin Estimation in Neonates
Authors: R Chitra , Prince Shanthi , Chandrasekaran Ashok , Sundar Subash
Published: February 2025

Jaundice due to excess bilirubin buildup in neonates remains an alarming problem, especially during the very first week of postnatal life. The common method of measuring total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels involves invasive blood testing, which is time‐consuming and uncomfortable for neonates. While noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubinometers (TcB) are available, that often lack accuracy due to interference from other biological chromophores. This study aims to improve bilirubin assessment by developing a noninvasive system that uses diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and a novel algorithm accounting for chromophores like melanin and hemoglobin. Focusing on the sternum as the measurement site, spectra are collected from 285 newborns. Using the proposed algorithm, the bilirubin concentration is calculated at 450, 460, and 470 nm. Compared to TSB levels, the proposed method demonstrated strong accuracy with an average bias of −0.10 mg/dL and narrower limits of agreement of 4.85 mg/dL at 470 nm.
Novel fluorescent probe based on benzotriazole selective detection Hg2+ in real samples
Authors: Liu Yongchun , Wang Ziming , Deng Guowei , Li Jia , Li Yuan , Shi Zhichuan
Published: February 2025

A novel reaction probe O‐(2‐(4‐(1H‐benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol‐1‐yl)phenyl)‐4‐oxo‐4H‐chromen‐3‐yl) O‐phenyl carbonothioate (O‐PCBE) synthesized from benzotriazole and benzopyrone. The structure was confirmed by NMR, HRMS, and IR characterization. The probe O‐PCBE was non‐fluorescent until Hg2+ was added, which markedly enhanced fluorescence with an excitation wavelength of 536 nm. The detection mechanism has been thoroughly validated through DFT calculations. Probe O‐PCBE can sensitively detect Hg2+, achieving a detection limit of 1.08 × 10−7 mol/L. Within a pH range of 4–10, the probe exhibits high selectivity, a rapid detection response (2 min), and excellent anti‐interference properties. Additionally, the probe demonstrates good recovery and accuracy in detecting real water samples.
Fermentation and leaching of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste to improve methane production
Authors: Mosquera‐Toscano Hamilton G. , Valdez‐Vazquez Idania , Moreno‐Andrade Iván , González‐Barceló Oscar
Published: February 2025

Background

The anaerobic digestion of soluble substances extracted from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) results in an enhanced rate and production of methane. However, the influence of substrate fermentation and subsequent leaching on methane output has yet to be investigated. This research aimed to examine the impact of combined fermentation and leaching processes over time on the degree of solubilization, fermentation by‐products and, subsequently, the production of methane from fermented leachates and bagasses.

Results

The degree of solubilization observed in the non‐leaching experiment was recorded at 12.7%, while the experiment utilizing daily leaching resulted in a solubilization of 22%. The fermented leachate collected at 24 h yielded 457 ± 75 NL CH4 kg−1 VS, which was 1.6 times greater than the methane production from the raw leachate of the OFMSW. In contrast, the fermented bagasse produced after 96 h demonstrated enhanced digestibility, resulting in 264 ± 26 NL CH4 kg−1 VS, or 1.5 times the methane production of the raw fermented bagasse of the OFMSW. The overall energy recoverable from the raw leachate and bagasse of the OFMSW amounts to 1103.6 kJ kg−1 OFMSW. In contrast, the implementation of the fermentation‐leaching method yields a total of 2482.6 kJ kg−1 OFMSW.

Conclusions

By employing fermentation and subsequently leaching the OFMSW, a greater quantity of particulate substrate was solubilized, leading to an improved recovery of fermentation by‐products. Moreover, both methane production and energy recovery experienced an increase, which can be attributed to the soluble substances extracted from the fermented leachate and the enhanced digestibility of the fermented bagasse. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Universal Adhesive Fortified With Inorganic Nanoparticles on Dentin Affected by Caries: A Comprehensive Study Utilizing SEM, EDX, Micro‐Tensile Bond Strength and Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Authors: Al Wadei Mohammed Hussain Dafer , Ahmed Syed Zubairuddin , Almoallim Maei Hesham , Towaireet Fatimah Muneer , Hamad Tameem , Agwan Muhammad Atif , Niazi Fayez Hussain , Noushad Mohammed
Published: February 2025

The present lab‐based research aimed to assess the impact of different nanofillers: silver (Ag) chitosan (CH), and arginine nanoparticles (ArgNPs) infused in the eighth‐generation universal adhesive (UA) on the antimicrobial potency, micro‐tensile bond strength (μTBS), and degree of conversion (DC) bonded to carious‐affected dentin (CAD) surface. Forty extracted human molars with Class 1 carious lesions were included. CAD was exposed and samples were allocated into four groups based on the type of adhesive (n = 10): Group 1 (UA), Group 2 (1 wt% AgNPs‐UA), Group 3 (1 wt% CHNPs‐UA), and Group 4 (1 wt% ArgNPs‐UA). Survival rate assessment of inoculated Streptococcus mutans was performed after exposing them to different NPs. Characterization of tested nanoparticles (NPs) was also performed using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). The DC of modified and unmodified eighth‐generation adhesive cured and uncured was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Composite was bonded on the CAD and samples underwent artificial aging. Beams were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and μTBS analysis followed by failure mode assessment using a stereomicroscope. Statistical analysis was conducted using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test to compare the means and standard deviations (SDs) between the different experimental groups (p < 0.05). Group 2 (1 wt% AgNPs‐UA) samples exhibited the lowest S. mutans survival (0.10 ± 0.02 CFU/mL). Whereas Group 1 (UA) displayed the highest survival of tested bacteria (0.41 ± 0.08 CFU/mL). The maximum score of bond strength of composite to the CAD was detected in Group 2 (1 wt% AgNPs‐UA) (21.11 ± 0.59 MPa) samples. However, the μTBS was minimal in Group 1 (UA) (16.18 ± 0.91 MPa). DC between the modified adhesive with 1 wt% AgNPs and the unmodified adhesive was comparable (p > 0.05). The incorporation of 1 wt% AgNPs in eighth‐generation adhesives represents a favorable and reasonable alternative to unmodified adhesives when used on caries‐affected dentin.
Key capabilities required for podiatry graduates: A Delphi consensus study
Authors: Munteanu Shannon E. , Cotchett Matthew , Oates Matthew J. , Frescos Nicoletta , Chuter Vivienne , Frecklington Mike , Butler Marie T. , Haley Nick W. , Menz Hylton B.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Work‐readiness is linked to health professional graduates' job performance, satisfaction, engagement and retention. However, there is currently no podiatry‐specific graduate employer work‐readiness survey tool that has been developed with employers of graduate podiatrists. The aim of this study was to conduct a modified Delphi survey to achieve consensus among employers of podiatry graduates on the key capabilities required for podiatry graduates.

Methods

A Delphi method of consensus development was used, comprising three online survey rounds. Purposive sampling was used to recruit individuals with extensive experience and knowledge in mentoring and managing graduate podiatrists in Australia or New Zealand. In Round 1, participants were asked to rate agreement/disagreement with 71 items across seven domains relating to capabilities required of podiatry graduates that were extracted from a literature search and steering committee input. Participants were also asked to contribute further ideas in relation to these items, which were incorporated as new items (n = 7) in Round 2. In Rounds 2 and 3, participants re‐appraised their ratings in view of the group consensus. Consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement. In Round 3, participants were also asked to rate the importance of each item as either ‘essential’ or ‘optional’.

Results

Twenty‐five participants (mean [SD] of 14.9 [5.7] years of experience in managing podiatry graduates in clinical practice in Australia or New Zealand) completed Round 1, 24 in Round 2, and 23 in Round 3. Of the 78 items presented to our expert panel, 61 (78.2%) achieved consensus and were accepted, and 17 (21.8%) were excluded. Of the 61 items that achieved consensus, thirty‐nine (63.9%) were rated as ‘essential’ by 75% of more respondents.

Conclusion

Consensus among employers of podiatry graduates was established on the key capabilities required for podiatry graduates. Sixty‐one items were identified across seven domains, and of these, 39 items were rated as ‘essential’. The findings of this study have the potential to inform the creation of a podiatry‐specific graduate employer work‐readiness tool to provide feedback to podiatry education program providers and new graduates in the workplace.
Urgent Focus on the Surgical Risks of People Living With HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Li Kangpeng , Luo Lingxue , Ji Yunxiao , Zhang Qiang
Published: February 2025

With the widespread promotion and application of antiretroviral therapy in clinical practice, people living with HIV (PLWH) have the potential to live as long as non‐HIV people and the probability of surgery for PLWH has been increasing dramatically. However, the overall postoperative outcome and risk are still unclear. We performed comprehensive and methodical searches in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science without date and language restrictions. Study outcomes included: (1) cure rate, (2) mortality, (3) reoperation rate, (4) incidence of any postoperative complications, (5) length of stay, and (6) operation duration. NOS scores were employed to evaluate bias risk, while publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger tests. Review Manager version 5.4.1, R version 4.4.1, and Stata version 14.0 were employed to determine quantitative analysis, considering a significance level of p < 0.05. A total of 50 studies were included, involving 54 565 PLWH undergoing surgical treatment. Synthesis analysis showed that the mortality (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.58−1.83, p < 0.00001), reoperation rate (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.36−2.34, p < 0.00001), complication rate (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.26−1.95, p < 0.00001), LOS (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.28−1.99, p < 0.00001), and operation time (OR = 7.37, 95% CI: 1.14−13.59, p = 0.02) were increased in PLWH. However, there was no significant difference in the cure rate compared to the control group (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.90−1.79, p = 0.18). Subgroup analysis showed that complication rates increased again in orthopedic (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.34−2.05, p < 0.00001) and general surgery (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.08−2.74, p = 0.02). However, the type of procedure, publication quality, study type, and patient origin were not sources of complication rate heterogeneity. Meta‐regression showed that CD4 count had no effect on complication rate, but the anti‐retroviral therapy rate had 34.89% explanatory power. There is an increased risk of postoperative death, reoperation, complications, and prolonged hospital stay and surgical duration in PLWH. However, conducting extensive prospective studies across multiple centers is crucial to validate these findings.
Impact of Rural Non‐Agricultural Employment on Eco‐Efficiency of Farmland Utilization in China: Evidence From 31 Years
Authors: Lu Hua , Gong Jiahong , Zhou Laiyou , Wang Guan
Published: February 2025

Improving the eco‐efficiency of farmland utilization (EEFU) is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices. This study employs a comprehensive, feasible, generalized least squares model to empirically assess the impact of rural non‐agricultural employment (RNE) on EEFU, revealing variations across grain production areas in China. This study also analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution and convergence of EEFU in China from 1990 to 2020 by using the global undesired super‐efficiency slacks‐based measure model and convergence model. Findings indicate that RNE constantly increases; meanwhile, EEFU initially decreases and then increases, demonstrating absolute β convergence. Provinces with low EEFU present a “catch‐up” effect with those characterized by high EEFU. A U‐shaped relationship between RNE and EEFU is thus recognized: RNE in China generally reduces EEFU but enhances EEFU in major grain‐producing areas. However, this relationship weakens in primary grain‐marketing areas and balanced production‐marketing areas. To improve EEFU, China should provide agricultural outsourcing services for elderly and smallholder farmers, addressing labor shortages, insufficient technology utilization, and low efficiency, thus promoting environment‐friendly production practices. Expanding farmland to achieve economies of scale in farmland utilization is also important for improving EEFU.
Parent's Motivation and Behaviour to Protect Their Children From COVID‐19: A Prospective Test of Self‐Determination Theory
Authors: Chan Derwin K. C. , Wan Alison W. L. , Zhang Chun‐Qing , Hagger Martin S.
Published: February 2025

Background

This two‐wave prospective study aims to apply self‐determination theory (SDT) to understand how parents are motivated to protect their young children from COVID‐19. We hypothesised that psychological need support from society and autonomous motivation from parents were predictive of parent's future engagement in preventive behaviours against COVID‐19 for their children.

Methods

Participants were 689 US parents or legal caregivers of 3‐ to 8‐year‐old children. They completed an online survey comprising previously validated measures of psychological need support, autonomous motivation from SDT and behavioural adherence to COVID‐19 prevention at baseline and a 1‐month follow‐up. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were employed to test the hypothesised relationships.

Results

Structural equation modelling revealed that psychological need support and autonomous motivation at baseline were positively related to parents’ adherence to COVID‐19 preventive behaviours at follow‐up.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the provision of autonomy‐supportive and need‐satisfying social environments may promote greater COVID‐19 preventive behaviours in parents for their children and provide formative evidence to inform future interventions.
Thermally Controlled Multi‐Functional Waveguide Photodetector
Authors: Wang Jianing , Tao Guoyi , Zhang Zimeng , Li Yihang , Xiao Shumin , Huang Chaoran , Song Qinghai , Tsang Hon Ki , Xu Ke
Published: February 2025

Photodetectors are one of the fundamental building blocks in integrated photonic systems. They mainly serve to convert optical to electrical signals by absorbing photons in semiconductors which have a bandgap smaller than the photon energy. The constraint on photon energy in relation to the bandgap of commonly available semiconductor materials hinders the application of integrated photonics for some emerging applications. Here a novel waveguide detector integrated with on‐chip heater is proposed. Tunable bandgap can be achieved via local heating, which changes absorption characteristics. Based on this mechanism, the multi‐functional germanium detector for three different applications including broadband optical communications, optical neural networks, and optical spectral sensing is demonstrated. The proposed photodetector enables high‐speed detection at extended long wavelengths. In an artificial neural network, the controllable photoresponse allows for a tailorable nonlinear activation function to be implemented. It is also capable of retrieving spectral information via a single tunable detector without the need for any other optical components. This work not only proposes a new waveguide photodetector structure but also identify an approach to make multi‐functional photodetectors that can be used in different photonic integration platforms.
Are Quality Improvement and Store Brand Introduction Always Effective Strategies Under the Online Platform Case?
Authors: Wei Jie , Wang Kaili
Published: February 2025

Recently, many platform operators (p‐operators) have introduced store brands (SBs), which brings sales competition with suppliers' national brands (NBs) sold through these p‐operators with reselling or agency‐selling agreement. Confronting the encroachments of p‐operators' SBs, many suppliers usually conduct quality improvement to maintain the high‐end brand reputation of their NBs. We utilize the analytical model to investigate the effectiveness of quality improvement and SB introduction strategies in an online platform supply chain. Results reveal that the supplier always benefits from conducting quality improvement irrespective of the p‐operator's SB introduction strategy. The p‐operator always benefits from introducing SB if the supplier conducts quality improvement under reselling case, whereas this result cannot always hold under agency‐selling case. Although SB introduction hurts the supplier's profit, conducting quality improvement could mitigate the negative effect of p‐operator's SB on the supplier's profit. Counterintuitively, SB introduction may not necessarily decrease the NB's demand when the supplier conducts quality improvement. We also find that the supplier and p‐operator have a chance to achieve Pareto optimality under agency‐selling case, and the increased commission rate or/and brands substitutability would enlarge the chance of achieving Pareto optimality.
An overview of high‐throughput synthesis for advanced high‐entropy alloys
Authors: Xie Tong , Li Weidong , Velisa Gihan , Chen Shuying , Meng Fanchao , Liaw Peter K. , Tong Yang
Published: February 2025

High‐entropy alloys (HEAs) have revolutionized alloy design by integrating multiple principal elements in equimolar or near‐equimolar ratios to form solid solutions, vastly expanding the compositional space beyond traditional alloys based on a primary element. However, the immense compositional complexity presents significant challenges in designing alloys with targeted properties, as billions of new alloy systems emerge. High‐throughput approaches, which allow the parallel execution of numerous experiments, are essential for accelerated HEA design to navigate this extensive compositional space and fully exploit their potential. Here, we reviewed how advancements in high‐throughput synthesis tools have accelerated HEA database development. We also discussed the advantages and limitations of each high‐throughput fabrication methodology, as understanding these is vital for achieving precise HEA design.
Animal Husbandry, Cultural Change, and Economic Networks: An Archaeozoological Perspective on the Transformation of Iron Age Oppida Societies
Authors: Trixl Simon , Horvath Janette
Published: February 2025

In the 2nd century bce, with the Iron Age Oppida Civilisation, Central Europe experienced an unprecedented degree of urbanization, economic centralization, and supra‐regional exchange. However, from 80 bce onwards, in the Northern Alpine Foreland (present‐day southern Germany), these structures declined, leading to the abandonment of both urban and rural settlements. Various factors, such as landscape overexploitation and military conflicts, have been proposed to explain this decline. Concurrently, cultural transfer and possible migration movements from the Central German Upland Zone gave rise to the Southeast Bavarian Group (SEBG), an Iron Age community that emerged north of the Alps, differing from Oppida societies in terms of material culture and settlement structure. This paper aims to explore the effects of these socio‐economic upheavals on livestock farming by comparing faunal assemblages from the Oppida Civilisation and the SEBG, focusing on two categories of archaeozoological data: species distribution and body size development in cattle. Generally, species distribution patterns in SEBG farmsteads show continuity with the preceding Oppida Civilisation, with the exception of the Langenpreising site near Munich, where a high proportion of sheep could suggests economic influences from the Central German Upland Zone. Osteometric results on cattle breeding prompt the hypothesis that a large‐sized cattle type of non‐local origin appeared in SEBG contexts. We discuss several potential regions as the origin of this allochthonous phenotype, with the most plausible explanation being that these cattle were possibly transferred from Roman Upper Italy through Eastern Alpine Iron Age communities to the SEBG. However, because of the limited osteometric data set, this is to be seen as a working hypothesis that requires further testing. From an archaeozoological perspective, the end of the Iron Age was characterized by the decline of proto‐urban structures on the one hand and the emergence of new economic networks on the other.
Bloodletting as Medical Child Abuse Revealed by Lack of Iron Accumulation Despite Multiple Erythrocyte Transfusions
Authors: Hasle Henrik , Frost Lise , Johansen Klaus Birkelund , Jørgensen Gitte Hesthaven
Published: February 2025

The central venous line was used for feeding an infant with failure to thrive. He later developed unexplained severe transfusion‐dependent anemia. Ferritin remained low despite more than 100 transfusions. The medical arguments mainly based upon iron physiology provided strong suspicion for intended bloodletting, which was documented by covert video. The mother was very active on social media lacking behavioral signs of Munchhausen by proxy during hospital contacts. Despite clear medical evidence of medical child abuse, the diagnosis was delayed by several years.
Challenges and Opportunities of a Multi‐Institutional Treatment Guideline for Wilms Tumor in Low‐Middle‐Income Countries—A Report from the Asociación de Hemato‐Oncología Pediátrica de Centro América (AHOPCA)
Authors: Valverde Patricia , Velasquez Thelma , Ortiz Roberta , Fuentes‐Alabi Soad Linneth , Peña Armando , Gonzalez José Fernando , Gutierrez Tito Luis , Melendez Luis Enrique , Tome Enrique , Arreola Magda , Valsecchi Maria Grazia , Colombo Valeria , Luna‐Fineman Sandra , Blanco‐Lopez Jessica , Metzger Monika L. , Spreafico Filippo
Published: February 2025

Since 2000, centers across Central America have shared treatment guidelines for Wilms tumor, using histology (anaplasia present or absent) and tumor stage to stratify patients into low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups. Weekly virtual tumor board meetings involving local and international experts were held to ensure consistent treatment assignments. We analyzed data from 367 children with unilateral tumors treated per these guidelines. Five‐year abandonment‐sensitive event‐free and overall survival estimates were: low risk 82% ± 3.8% and 86% ± 3.6%, intermediate risk 50% ± 3.4% and 60% ± 3.4%, and high risk 36% ± 7.6% and 45% ± 7.9%. Survival outcomes were suboptimal, primarily due to advanced disease in fragile children at presentation and abandonment of treatment.
Bacterial and Parasitic Stool Studies Have Limited Utility in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients
Authors: Nagy Matthew , Wychera Chiara , Schemm Jeffrey , Brewster Ryan , Duncan Christine N.
Published: February 2025

Background

Diarrhea is a common complication among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. Although many of the cases are secondary to graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), stool microbiological studies are often performed to evaluate an underlying infectious etiology. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and utility of stool studies in children who have undergone HCT.

Methods

Demographics, clinical characteristics, and stool study results (viral, parasitic, and bacterial) of all patients who underwent HCT at a large, academic, freestanding children's hospital between January 2006 and December 2023 were obtained. Statistical analysis conducted included t tests, chi‐square, and linear regression.

Results

Overall, 1381 HCT recipients (9.2 ± 6.6 years) were included. Altogether, 6509 stool studies were obtained among 741 (54%) patients. Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli (SSYCE) studies were sent on 363 (26%, 2252 studies) patients with 1 (0.04%) positive result. Clostridium difficile was sent on 706 (51%, 2055 studies) patients, with 156 positive studies (7.6%). Stool ova and parasite testing was sent on 143 (10%, 242 studies) patients, with two positive results (0.8%). Viral studies were sent on 638 (46%, 1960 studies) patients, with 107 positive studies (5.5%).

Conclusions

While testing for Clostridium difficile and enteric viruses may have value in the work‐up of pediatric HCT patients, SSYCE and O&P studies hold little to no value. Clinical practices surrounding routine stool microbiological studies should be reconsidered.
Enhanced strength and toughness of epoxy resin through a controllable cross‐linked network with a rigid‐flexible interchain structure
Authors: Jin Runze , Xu Baosheng , Qu Lijie
Published: February 2025

Oxide nanomaterials are widely used to enhance the mechanical properties of epoxy resins (EP) owing to their high strength and toughness. However, the stress concentration caused by agglomeration limits their performance. This paper proposes a new method to simultaneously improve the strength and toughness of EP by introducing CuO nanorods with a surface‐grafted flexible linear polymer into the EP cross‐linking network. This forms a rigid–flexible chain interpenetrating structure in the system, and covalent bonding with the EP network, facilitating the controllable adjustment of the crosslinking density of the system. Thus, the goal of simultaneously enhancing and toughening the EP is achieved. Experimental results show that the strength and toughness of modified BCN‐CuO/EP are 91.2 and 1.77 MPa·m1/2, respectively, which are 76.0% and 92.3% better than those of pure EP, respectively. This study provides new insights for improving the mechanical performance of EP.

Highlights

The integration of CuO nanorods with flexible linear polymers (BTCI) led to a 76.0% increase in strength and a 92.3% improvement in toughness of the epoxy resin (EP), showcasing significant performance gains.

The study introduced a novel “rigid–flexible” chain interpenetrating network in EP, achieved through covalent bonding, which optimally adjusts crosslinking density and mitigates stress concentration.

The research highlights the effectiveness of combining CuO nanorods with BTCI in EP systems, opening new pathways for enhancing the mechanical characteristics of composite materials.
The potential role of GLP‐1 receptor agonists in osteoarthritis
Authors: Ryan Mackenzie , Megyeri Saige , Nuffer Wes , Trujillo Jennifer M.
Published: February 2025

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 500 million people globally. Current treatments are primarily symptom‐focused, with no approved therapies to halt disease progression. Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs), widely used in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, demonstrate significant weight loss and glucose‐lowering effects and have been shown to possess anti‐inflammatory properties. Given the central role of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in OA, this review examines the potential utility of GLP‐1 RAs in OA management, focusing on both indirect effects, such as weight reduction, and possible direct effects on inflammatory pathways and cartilage preservation. Clinical studies suggest that GLP‐1 RAs may benefit people with OA by reducing weight, improving glycemic control, and modulating inflammatory markers relevant to OA progression. Notable findings include significant weight loss and pain reduction in people with knee OA (KOA) treated with semaglutide in the STEP‐9 trial. In other studies, GLP‐1 RAs have shown potential to lower oxidative stress and pro‐inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) and interleukin (IL)‐6, with reductions in OA‐related pain and functional impairment observed in some cohorts. However, results vary, with some studies showing limited effects, potentially linked to the degree of weight loss achieved. Although some studies report variability in pain relief, likely influenced by the degree of weight loss achieved, GLP‐1 RAs have shown overall promise in reducing both OA symptoms and markers associated with disease progression. This emerging evidence supports the utility of GLP‐1 RAs as a potential disease‐modifying option for OA, offering a dual benefit in metabolic and joint health. Future research should focus on establishing the long‐term efficacy and safety and elucidating the mechanism by which GLP‐1 RAs influence OA pathology.
Combined effect of biochar, cover crop residues, and manure on greenhouse gas emissions: Insights from 60‐day soil incubations
Authors: Salehin Sk Musfiq Us , Rajan Nithya , Mowrer Jake , Casey Kenneth D. , Somenahally Anil , Bagavathiannan Muthu
Published: February 2025

Cover crops and manure are popular climate‐smart tools providing ecosystem services. However, their potential can be compromised by increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during decomposition. Stable, carbon‐rich biochar can potentially offset such effects. We investigated soil GHG emissions during the decomposition of different cover crops and poultry litter (PL) with/without cotton biochar. Soil samples from an organic cotton field were incubated in a 5 × 2 factorial design in 2022 and 2023. Different cover crops were collected from the field experiment and PL combinations, such as PL with oat (Avena sativa L.), Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum) (AWP), and a mix of oat and AWP; only PL and a control were used as factor 1. Cotton residue biochar pyrolyzed at 350°C was applied to field‐collected soils at a rate of 1% w/w as the second factor. After 60 days of incubation, the lower C:N ratios of AWP and mixed species led to increased soil CO2 and N2O emissions than oats, irrespective of biochar addition for both years. Biochar reduced soil N2O emissions by 49% and 43% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Although cover crops and manure did not affect soil CH4 uptake, biochar reduced soil CH4 uptake by 37.5% in 2023. Regardless of biochar addition, AWP and mixed‐species cover crops with manure had greater soil total nitrogen at the end of incubations. On the other hand, biochar increased both soil total carbon and nitrogen at the end of incubations regardless of the residue treatments. Overall, biochar can enhance the agroecosystem services of cover crops and manure through reduced GHG emissions and increased carbon and nitrogen stocks.