bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intratracheal Administration of Nanoplastics With Varying Surface Hydrophobicity Results in Coarsely Vacuolated Alveolar Macrophages, Transient Respiratory Inflammation, and Mild Collagen Deposition
Authors: Morgan Anna Babin , Riffo‐Vasquez Yanira , Bodhaniya Aateka , Jones Stuart A. , Forbes Ben , Sunassee Kavitha , de Rosales Rafael T. M. , Wright Stephanie , Page Clive , Dailey Lea Ann
Published: January 2025

Inhalation of biopersistent nanoplastics may have adverse effects on lung health. By varying the acetate content of poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐alcohol) (PVAc), model nanoplastics with different surface hydrophobicity can be produced to study the effects of nanoplastic hydrophobicity in the lung. PVAc nanoplastics with a high hydrophobicity, administered by oropharyngeal aspiration to C57BL/6j mice (300 µg; ∼10 mg/kg), show transient pulmonary inflammation which peaks at 24 h post‐administration and resolves by day 7. Hydrophilic PVAc induces no inflammatory effects at the same dose. Pulmonary administration of hydrophilic and hydrophobic PVAc nanoplastics increases the prevalence (∼30%–35%) of distinctive coarsely vacuolated alveolar macrophages over 28 days. Hydrophobic PVAc and silica nanoparticles (control) induce minor increases in collagen deposition, but do not stimulate tissue remodeling to the same extent as a bleomycin model of fibrosis. Longitudinal micro‐CT imaging is explored as a non‐invasive methodology for detection of lung fibrosis. A bespoke image analysis method to quantify high density tissue signal volume correlates moderately well with histopathology‐derived collagen deposition data (R2 = 0.73). In summary, inhaled nanoplastics with high surface hydrophobicity induce transient inflammation following a single administration of 300 µg, an increase in coarsely vacuolated macrophages and mild increases in collagen deposition.
Opportunities for Downward Accountability? Survey Evidence From Small Transnational NGOs
Authors: Schnable Allison , Appe Susan , Buyannemekh Battulga
Published: January 2025

Development NGOs face expanded pressures for accountability, both to deliver project results and to operate with participatory and democratic processes. Existing research distinguishes between “upward” accountability to donors and “downward” accountability to clients or beneficiaries, and it often finds that pressures of upward accountability can be stronger. We examine the practices of a subset of NGOs that could be an ideal case for strong downward accountability: small transnational NGOs, which rely on individual donors, tend to make long‐term commitments to a handful of sites, and prize relationships with beneficiaries. We analyze a survey of small U.S.‐based NGOs and find that informal, relational forms of downward accountability dominate among this group. Our analysis finds that the reported frequent visits by U.S. leadership and partnership structure with the host community are associated with more robust downward accountability. Contrary to our predictions, higher shares of funding from foundations and government are not associated with weaker downward accountability. Most importantly for theory, we learn that a lack of required formal upward accountability—in written reports and quantification—is not sufficient to produce stronger downward accountability. Small NGOs are largely untouched by the era of evaluation and quantification in the management of nonprofits. We cannot say whether the absence of these pressures is necessary to promote downward accountability, but we conclude that it is not sufficient.
Glycerol Adsorption on TiO2 Surfaces: A Systematic Periodic DFT Study
Authors: Muñoz Peña Andrés Camilo , Flórez Elizabeth , Núñez‐Zarur Francisco
Published: January 2025

Conversion of glycerol to added‐value products is desirable due to its surplus during biodiesel synthesis. TiO2 has been the most explored catalyst. We performed a systematic study of glycerol adsorption on anatase (101), anatase (001), and rutile (110) TiO2 at the Density Functional Theory level. We found several adsorption modes on these surfaces, with anatase (101) being the less reactive one, leading to adsorption energies between −0.8 and −0.4 eV, with all adsorptions molecular in nature. On the contrary, anatase (001) is the most reactive surface, leading to both molecular and dissociative adsorption modes, with energies ranging from −4 to −1 eV and undergoing severe surface reconstructions in some cases. Rutile (110) also shows both molecular and dissociative adsorptions, but it is less reactive than anatase (001). Surfaces with oxygen vacancies affects the adsorbed states and energies. The electronic structure analysis reveals that glycerol adsorption mainly affects the band gap of the material and not the individual contributions to the valence and conduction band. Bader charge analysis shows that strong adsorption modes on anatase (001) and rutile (110) are associated with large charge transfer from glycerol to the surface, while weak and molecular adsorption modes involve low charge transfer.
Optimizing DSSCs Performance for Indoor Lighting: Matching Organic Dyes Absorption and Indoor Lamps Emission Profiles to Maximize Efficiency
Authors: Salerno Giorgia , Franchi Daniele , Dessì Alessio , Bartolini Matteo , Manfredi Norberto , Abbotto Alessandro , Bettucci Ottavia
Published: January 2025

The rapid proliferation of internet‐connected devices has transformed our daily habits prompting a shift towards greater sustainability in renewable energy for indoor applications. Among the various technologies available for obtaining energy in indoor conditions, Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) stand out as the most promising due to their ability to efficiently convert ambient light into usable electricity. This study explores how the optimal matching of the UV‐Vis absorption spectra of dyes commonly used in DSSCs with the emission profiles of indoor lamps allows for the enhanced efficiency of DSSC under indoor lighting. By testing four organic dyes with different UV‐Vis absorption spectra (L1, Y123, S1, and TP1) under two different common indoor light sources (OSRAM 930 and OSRAM 765 lamp), a significant dye‐lamp correlation was demonstrated. Notably, low‐priced dyes like S1 and TP1, characterized by easier synthetic routes and with an optimal overlap with the dye‐lamp spectrum, exhibited competitive efficiencies, narrowing the performance gap with high‐performing dyes like Y123, which require more demanding preparation approaches. The study highlights the critical importance of tailoring dye selection to specific indoor lighting environments, addressing a significant gap and paving the way for more sustainable and cost‐effective energy solutions for indoor applications.
Homoharringtonine in Relapsed/Refractory Paediatric T‐Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia—A Case Series and a Report on the Use of In Vitro Drug Profiling
Authors: Tong Pui Yung Grace , Lin Guanglan , Leung Kam Tong , Zhu Xiaofan , Liu Xiaoming , Zhang Jingliao , Li Chi Kong
Published: January 2025

Paediatric relapse/refractory T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T‐ALL) is notoriously difficult to treat. This group of heavily pre‐treated patients needs effective agents that can rapidly control the disease while not having significant toxicity. Homoharringtonine (HHT) has been widely used in children with acute myeloid leukaemia, but there is little information on T‐ALL. In this case series, HHT, in combination with other agents, achieved good response in five paediatric patients with T‐ALL. The in vitro drug profiling in one patient demonstrated clinical correlation with HHT activity. The study sheds light on the potential of precision medicine for patients with relapsed/refractory leukaemia.
Adherence to outpatient care among individuals with pre‐existing psychiatric disorders following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake: A retrospective study
Authors: Nitta Yusuke , Hashimoto Reiko , Shimizu Yoshihito , Nakai Yuri , Nakai Hisao
Published: January 2025

Aim

The study aim was to investigate the effect of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake on regular psychiatric outpatient check‐ups at Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Japan.

Methods

We retrospectively collected electronic medical records from January 4 to January 17, 2024, and analyzed data from 656 patients. χ2 was used to analyze the association between adherence to scheduled visits and related factors, and the association between inability to attend scheduled visits and self‐reported earthquake‐related reasons among 84 nonadherent patients. A geographical information system was used to analyze geographic characteristics, such as municipality of residence and seismic intensity distribution.

Results

Of the 656 patients, 572 (87.2%) adhered to their scheduled visits. The failure to keep appointments was significantly associated with residence in areas with a seismic intensity of ≥6 (n = 21, 35.6%; p < 0.001). Among the 84 patients who failed to keep appointments, the inability to keep appointments owing to earthquake‐related reasons was significantly associated with residence in areas with a seismic intensity of ≥6 (n = 16, 76.2%; p < 0.001) and presence of an F3 main disease code: Mood (affective) according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (n = 12, 60.0%; p = 0.034).

Conclusion

Patients in areas with higher seismic intensity were more likely to miss appointments, probably because of factors such as infrastructure damage and personal losses. Among patients who missed appointments, those with F3 diagnoses were more likely to cite earthquake‐related reasons. However, the high overall appointment adherence rate despite the effects of a major earthquake warrants further study.
Reassessing the Role of Low PSA in Prognosis Across Grades of Prostate Cancer: A Cohort Study
Authors: Shen Cheng , Chen Zhan , Hu Fei‐Hong , Wang Wei , Pan Yong‐Shen , Zhang Yong , Zhang Wei , Chen Xin‐Feng , Chen Hong‐Lin , Zhu Hua , Zheng Bing
Published: January 2025

Background

Prior studies have concentrated exclusively on how different prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels affect the prognosis of high‐grade prostate cancer (PCa), often overlooking the prognosis of low‐grade PCa.

Methods

The present cohort study included individuals diagnosed with PCa from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2021. The all‐cause mortality (ACM) and prostate cancer‐specific mortality (PCSM) for each treatment group was calculated stratified by the four PSA levels (≤ 4.0, 4.1–10.0, 10.1–20.0, and > 20.0 ng/mL). Fine and Gray competing‐risks analyses were conducted to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses using PSA as a continuous variable with restricted cubic splines (RCS) were conducted to allow for potential nonlinear relationships.

Results

This study encompassed 416,825 male patients diagnosed with PCa. Compared to individuals with PSA value between 4.1 and 10.0 ng/mL, a significant association between low levels of PSA (≤ 4.0 ng/mL) and an increased risk of ACM (AHR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.12−1.19; p < 0.001) and PCSM (AHR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.38−1.61; p < 0.001) was observed. Additionally, the increased risk of ACM (AHR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.29−1.40; p < 0.001) and PCSM (AHR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.67−2.02; p < 0.001) are more pronounced within the first 5 years post‐diagnosis. In most subgroups, similar results were observed. The RCS curves further corroborated the correlation between PSA value and the risk of mortality.

Conclusion

Low PSA levels are notably linked to a heightened risk for both ACM and PCSM, irrespective of the grade of PCa being high or low. There is a need to initiate new studies that tackle novel diagnostics and therapeutics.
Drug‐associated neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Authors: Lam Y. W. Francis
Published: January 2025

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is an uncommon but serious and potentially fatal adverse drug effect caused by dopamine receptor blockade. The syndrome is most closely associated with use of typical, and less frequently atypical, antipsychotics, with an incidence rate of up to 1.4% in patients being treated with these drugs. However, other drugs acting as D2 receptor antagonists, such as antihistamines and antiemetics, can also cause the syndrome. Antidepressants, carbamazepine, and lithium (Konstantakopoulos et al., 2009; Patil et al., 2016) have sometimes been implicated as possible exacerbating factors.
Microscale imaging of phosphate mobility under unsaturated flow as affected by a fertilizer enhancing polymer
Authors: Amoozegar Aziz , Hesterberg Dean , Doydora Sarah , Northrup Paul , Webb Samuel
Published: January 2025

Phosphorus (P) fixation in soil following fertilizer application is a major issue that may be mitigated through a number of methods. Our main objective was to utilize an innovative unsaturated flow system to directly image the mobility of P in soil material as affected by AVAIL, a commercial copolymer phosphate fertilizer enhancer. Air‐dried clayey soil material, passed through a 0.25‐mm sieve and adjusted to pH 6, was packed in three side‐by‐side 1.4‐cm wide, 20‐cm long, and 0.6‐cm deep tracks. Water was applied to the tracks under approximately 1 cm tension and moved downstream by sorptivity. Five microliters of aqueous solutions containing 400 mmol P/L and varying levels of AVAIL were applied at a point near the upstream end of each track. Once water passed approximately 6 cm from the point of P application, each track was sectioned into small blocks and air‐dried. Synchrotron micro X‐ray fluorescence (μ‐XRF) images of P, silicon (Si), and aluminum (Al) were collected on block samples to measure relative movement of phosphorus along the soil tracks. Our results show that, despite the high affinity of soil minerals for P, it was relatively mobile with no enhancer under unsaturated flow conditions. Images showed diminished rate of P movement and enhanced clay dispersion with increasing proportion of AVAIL. We postulate that clay dispersion, corroborated by X‐ray computed tomography imaging, affected P transport due to interactions with Si and Al minerals. Our results demonstrate the potential utility of our unsaturated flow system combined with μ‐XRF imaging to measure convective mobility of plant nutrients or contaminants through soils.
Structural Analysis of Phosphorus and Arsenic Clusters: A Comparative DFT and MP2 Study
Authors: Wang Zerong Daniel
Published: January 2025

Phosphorus and arsenic play pivotal roles in semiconductor and material science due to their versatile applications. We have employed Gaussian 16 software to optimize 20 initial phosphorus (P4) and arsenic (As4) cluster geometries, as well as 32 As2P2 cluster geometries, utilizing B3LYP and MP2 methods with the 6‐311++G(3d2f,3p2d) basis set. The geometries were rigorously validated through frequency calculations, followed by energy calculations using B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVQZ and MP2/aug‐cc‐pVQZ. We thoroughly analyzed and justified the observed disparities between DFT and MP2 results. Notably, a compelling linear relationship was observed in the energy gap between the most stable and the second most stable geometries from P4 to As4 in both MP2 and B3LYP calculations, with MP2 results aligning closely with additional CCSD(full) calculations. Additionally, our investigation unveiled two enantiomeric geometries of As4, specifically the semirectangular shape, with slight energy variations reminiscent of parity violation observed in amino acids. These findings significantly enhance our comprehension of pnictogen cluster stability, offering insights into the semiconductor and material science.
Recent Advances in Silver Nanoparticles‐Catalyzed Reactions
Authors: Kumar Abhishek , Savanur Mohammad Roshan Shoaib , Singh Sandeep Kumar , Singh Jyoti , Bhattacharya Shampa , Asnani Karan , Kumar Bijender , Kumar Manoj , Kumar Sonu
Published: January 2025

This review article provides a detailed summary of current advances in the field of heterogeneous catalysis using silver nanoparticles. The applications of Ag nanoparticles have received a lot of attention over the past few years. The simple synthetic protocols and their green chemistry approach have raised the popularity of novel nanocatalysts. Moreover, the efforts of various researchers to make suitable support for catalysts (carbon azides, mesoporous Ag/mCTFs, reduced graphene oxides, NHC polymers, carbon nanofibers, knitting aryl network polymers, etc.) have introduced the flexibility of the nanoparticles. Their applications have been reported in a varied number of reactions, being reduction, epoxidation, cyclization of alkynes, N‐alkylation, CO2 incorporation, photochemical reactions, Diels–Alder cycloaddition, and Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling used in production of several physiologically and therapeutically significant compounds. This review provides the relevant information from the research through the past few years, required for the advancements and further research on the catalytic ability of silver nanoparticles.
Repositioning, audience churn, and identity ambiguity: The external costs of market repositioning
Authors: Wang Pengfei
Published: January 2025

Research Summary

Prior literature has long underscored the importance for market actors to establish clear identities. Extant studies mostly adopt a static view, assessing whether actors adhere to a specific prototype or membership. By stressing a dynamic perspective, we maintain that identities are in flux as actors constantly shift positions. Specifically, we emphasize that repositioning can induce identity ambiguity, undermining the accuracy of audience evaluation. Analyzing market repositioning of US firms, we find that firms with greater repositioning tend to experience a higher degree of churn in their coverage audiences (financial analysts). More importantly, audiences are found to be less accurate in evaluating firms that undertake greater repositioning. These results align with our conjecture about external repositioning costs: Firms risk incurring identity ambiguity when shifting market positions.

Managerial Summary

Firms constantly reposition in the market via adjusting their product portfolios. We maintain that firms with greater repositioning are subject to considerable external costs, because repositioning can breed ambiguity about their market identities. By analyzing product market positioning and repositioning of US public firms, we find that firms' repositioning often leads to an increased turnover of analysts covering them and undermines the accuracy of analysts' forecasts on their earnings. Our extensions also indicate that firms' repositioning efforts may be less ambiguous, when their initial position is more conventional in the product space and/or when analysts have developed greater firm‐specific experiences. Together, the findings underscore the importance for firms to consider external costs in their repositioning processes.
Chronic Probing of Deep Brain Neuronal Activity Using Nanofibrous Smart Conducting Hydrogel‐Based Brain–Machine Interface Probes
Authors: Zargarian Seyed Shahrooz , Rinoldi Chiara , Ziai Yasamin , Zakrzewska Anna , Fiorelli Roberto , Gazińska Małgorzata , Marinelli Martina , Majkowska Magdalena , Hottowy Paweł , Mindur Bartosz , Czajkowski Rafał , Kublik Ewa , Nakielski Paweł , Lanzi Massimiliano , Kaczmarek Leszek , Pierini Filippo
Published: January 2025

The mechanical mismatch between microelectrode of brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) and soft brain tissue during electrophysiological investigations leads to inflammation, glial scarring, and compromising performance. Herein, a nanostructured, stimuli‐responsive, conductive, and semi‐interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel‐based coated BMIs probe is introduced. The system interface is composed of a cross‐linkable poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based copolymer and regioregular poly[3‐(6‐methoxyhexyl)thiophene] fabricated via electrospinning and integrated into a neural probe. The coating's nanofibrous architecture offers a rapid swelling response and faster shape recovery compared to bulk hydrogels. Moreover, the smart coating becomes more conductive at physiological temperatures, which improves signal transmission efficiency and enhances its stability during chronic use. Indeed, detecting acute neuronal deep brain signals in a mouse model demonstrates that the developed probe can record high‐quality signals and action potentials, favorably modulating impedance and capacitance. Evaluation of in vivo neuronal activity and biocompatibility in chronic configuration shows the successful recording of deep brain signals and a lack of substantial inflammatory response in the long‐term. The development of conducting fibrous hydrogel bio‐interface demonstrates its potential to overcome the limitations of current neural probes, highlighting its promising properties as a candidate for long‐term, high‐quality detection of neuronal activities for deep brain applications such as BMIs.
Prozessmodellierung für den robotischen Zusammenbau im Stahlbau
Authors: Knitt Heinrich , Ergin Emre , Jung Victoria , Brell‐Çokcan Sigrid
Published: January 2025

Angesichts des Fachkräftemangels, zunehmender Dokumentationspflichten und steigenden Kosten‐ sowie Zeitdrucks bietet der Einsatz flexibler Automatisierungslösungen eine vielversprechende Möglichkeit. Große Herausforderungen und Potenziale liegen in der Automatisierung im Stahlbau, insbesondere im Kontext des Zusammenbaus komplexer Baugruppen. Im Fokus steht die Integration der Bauprozess‐Ontologie IoC, welche einen nahtlosen Informationsaustausch über verschiedene Plattformen hinweg ermöglicht. Der Aufsatz stellt das Konzept der statusbasierten Prozesssteuerung vor und demonstriert es exemplarisch am Zusammenbau eines Dachrahmens. Die Forschungsergebnisse betonen die Relevanz offener Datenschnittstellen, die Notwendigkeit der Modellierung von Fähigkeitsmodellen für Roboter und automatisierte Maschinen sowie die Möglichkeit der Nachverfolgbarkeit von Fertigungsprozessen und Bauteilinformationen.
Multilingual Voices: Transforming Professional Development Based on Student Perceptions of Literacy Learning
Authors: Ferguson‐Sams Nicole , Howell Emily , Kaminski Rebecca , Gazioglu Mihaela , Pennington Victoria
Published: January 2025

Acknowledging student perceptions of academic learning has been shown to increase the effectiveness of classroom instruction. However, existing research on multilingual learners (MLs) often focuses on their pedagogical and linguistic needs, overlooking their perceptions of literacy learning. This research, part of a large‐scale, design‐based research (DBR) project, explores MLs' perceptions of literacy learning to increase the capacity of instruction through professional development to classroom teachers in a high‐needs school district. Using grounded theory coding, we analyzed MLs' responses from a self‐efficacy survey to gain insight into their perceptions of literacy learning. Those findings were used to inform DBR modifications, including creating a writing module, a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Escape Room, and a course for ML caregivers. By centering the voices of MLs, this study provides actionable implications for teachers and researchers, contributing to a deeper understanding of literacy education. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering student perceptions in curriculum and instructional design to meet the needs of diverse learners.
A New Model to Assess Compensation for Eco‐Environmental Damage
Authors: Minxuan Chen , Hui Hong , Qiang Zhang , Yunxia Pei , Meiling Bao , Jun Deng
Published: January 2025

To improve procedures to initiate compensation for ecological damage, and to more quickly and efficiently quantify damage during the initial stages of damage, inspiration is drawn from the US Natural Resources Damage Assessment System to construct an ecological environment assessment model that includes indicators such as pollutant hazards, environmental functions, exceedance, pollution duration, pollutant quantity, and receptor sensitivity. According to rating values, a particular incident (a “case”) is apportioned to one of three levels: significantly minor, minor, and significant damage. These levels are used as a starting point for refining the case. We applied 126 cases from City A to this model. Results indicate that it is highly consistent with the actual situation. This model has good maneuverability. Based on existing standard specifications and practical cases, this model is validated. This model can be applied to provide technical guidance and a standardized response strategy to managers in instances of environmental impact.
Research on the flame retardancy properties and mechanism of modified epoxy resin with graphene‐based hybrid
Authors: Luo Yunrui , Ming Ling , Wang Xiu , Zhan Zihao , Xu Chengyi
Published: January 2025

The inherent disadvantage of epoxy resin (EP) is that it is easy to burn, and a large number of toxic and harmful gases are generated in the combustion process, and there is a huge fire hazard. Graphene, a two‐dimensional‐layered material with physical barrier effects, is used by many researchers to enhance the fire safety of EP, but because of its easy aggregation, it is difficult to prepare high‐performance flame retardants. In our work, a high‐performance graphene flame retardant was prepared by grafting a hollow zirconium organic frame material onto the surface of graphene. First, zirconium‐based organic frame material (UiO66‐NH2) with different particle sizes was prepared by adjusting acetic acid, the hollow organic frame material was etched with sodium tungstate under acidic conditions, and then reacted with organophosphorus and graphene oxide, thus W‐UiO66‐DOPO‐RGO were obtained. The results show that the W‐UiO66‐3‐DOPO‐RGO/EP has enhanced smoke suppression and flame retardancy, the LOI value up to 33.5%, vertical combustion class up to UL‐94V‐0, PHRR and TSP reduced by up to 58% and 42%, respectively. Through the characterization of the condensed and gas phase of EP composites, the relevant flame retardancy mechanism was clarified, which were mainly the synergistic flame retardancy and smoke suppression mechanism among the adsorption of fractional pores of hollow bimetallic MOFs, catalytic carbonization of metals, condensed phase and gas phase interaction of phosphorus elements, and physical shielding of RGO.

Highlights

A high‐performance graphene‐based flame retardants were proposed.

3 wt% of W‐UiO66‐3‐DOPO‐RGO endows EP with excellent flame retardancy.

The fire safety mechanism of W‐UiO66‐DOPO‐RGO/EP was proposed.
Evaluating the precision and velocity of factory vs. handloaded lead‐free ammunition
Authors: McTee Michael , Casper Chuck , Deeble Ben , Grimes Mark , Henning Mike , Jourdonnais Craig , Ramsey Philip
Published: January 2025

Lead hunting bullets fragment on impact, introducing lead fragments into game meat and carrion scavenged by wildlife. In response, hunters are switching to lead‐free bullets, either voluntarily or due to local restrictions. Hunters often purchase lead‐free bullets already loaded in factory ammunition, but some prefer to handload their own. Handloading allows customization for specific rifles and the use of lead‐free projectiles not available in factory ammunition, while also potentially increasing precision, velocity, and the consistency of velocities. However, the performance advantage of handloading lead‐free ammunition remains unclear. We tested 19 rifle ammunition combinations to compare the precision and velocities of factory and handloaded ammunition, including bullets not found in factory ammunition and bullets that were commercially handloaded. Shooters fired 5 3‐shot groups for each ammunition type, which we also compiled into single 15‐shot groups. We calculated the average 3‐shot extreme spread, 3‐shot mean radius, and 15‐shot mean radius. Only 1 of 12 types of handloaded ammunition outperformed its comparison ammunition across all 3 precision metrics when using identical bullets; however, 2 bullets unavailable in factory ammunition did show greater precision (n = 6). Handloads developed by participating shooters did not reliably shoot more consistent velocities (2 out of 13), although 69% of them achieved higher velocities. Our results suggest that factory lead‐free ammunition offers appropriate precision for big‐game hunting that can occasionally be improved by handloading.
Impact of tissue-independent positron range correction on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET image reconstructions: a patient data study
Authors: Gavriilidis Prodromos , Mottaghy Felix M. , Koole Michel , van de Weijer Tineke , Mitea Cristina , van der Pol Jochem A. J. , van Nijnatten Thiemo J. A. , Jansen Floris P. , Wierts Roel
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The positron range effect can impair PET image quality of Gallium-68 (68Ga). A positron range correction (PRC) can be applied to reduce this effect. In this study, the effect of a tissue-independent PRC for 68Ga was investigated on patient data.

Methods

PET/CT data (40 patients: [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC or [68Ga]Ga-PSMA) were reconstructed using Q.Clear reconstruction algorithm. Two reconstructions were performed per patient, Q.Clear with and without PRC. SUVmax and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values per lesion were compared between PRC and non-PRC images. Five experienced nuclear medicine physicians reviewed the images and chose the preferred reconstruction based on the image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence.

Results

A total of 155 lesions were identified. The PRC resulted in statistically significant increase of the SUVmax and CNR for soft tissue lesions (6.4%, p < 0.001; 8.6%, p < 0.001), bone lesions (14.6%, p < 0.001; 12.5%, p < 0.001), and lung lesions (3.6%, p = 0.010; 6.3%, p = 0.001). This effect was most prominent in small lesions (SUVmax: 12.0%, p < 0.001, and CNR: 13.0%, p < 0.001). Similar or better image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence was achieved in PRC images compared to the non-PRC images as those assessed by the expert readers.

Conclusions

A tissue-independent PRC increased the SUVmax and CNR in soft tissue, bone, and lung lesions with a larger effect for the small lesions. Visual assessment demonstrated similar or better image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence in PRC images compared to the non-PRC images.
Decay of self-incompatibility within a lifespan in Physalis acutifolia (Solanaceae)
Authors: Pretz Chelsea , Au Erica , Smith Stacey D.
Published: January 2025

Key message

Self-incompatibility decays with age in plants of Physalis acutifolia, and plants that have transitioned to selfing produce fewer seeds but with comparable viability. Self-compatibility in this system is closely related to flower size, which is in turn dependent on the direction of the cross, suggesting parental effects on both morphology and compatibility.

The sharpleaf groundcherry, Physalis acutifolia, is polymorphic for self-compatibility, with naturally occurring self-incompatible (SI) and self-compatible (SC) populations. Moreover, SI individuals have been documented to transition to SC with age, at least in greenhouse conditions. Here we tested whether this within-lifespan transition occurs predictably (developmental decay of SI) or could result from a lack of pollination (a plastic response). Using greenhouse crosses, we demonstrated that SI P. acutifolia plants transition to SC after 70 days, regardless of pollination treatment, consistent with predictable developmental decay. This loss of SI corresponds to a loss of pollen inhibition, with self-pollen often reaching the ovary after 24 h. The originally SI plants that transition to SC can produce viable seeds from self crosses, albeit significantly fewer than from outcrosses of SI plants or from lines fixed for SC. Throughout the experiment, we observed that flower size, which differs between SI and SC populations, was highly correlated with the compatibility phenotype. These findings suggest that the mechanisms leading to the loss of SI during a lifespan are similar to those involved in fixed losses of SI, but that older plants that transition to SC do not present the same reproductive capacity as fixed selfers.
Deep learning and vision transformers-based framework for breast cancer and subtype identification
Authors: Jahan Ishrat , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H. , Vranic Semir , Al Saady Rafif Mahmood , Kabir Saidul , Pranto Zahid Hasan , Mim Sabiha Jahan , Nobi Sadia Farhana
Published: January 2025

Breast cancer, marked by uncontrolled cell growth in breast tissue, is the most common cancer among women and a second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Among its types, ductal and lobular carcinomas are the most prevalent, with invasive ductal carcinoma accounting for about 70–80% of cases and invasive lobular carcinoma for about 10–15%. Accurate identification is crucial for effective treatment but can be time-consuming and prone to interobserver variability. AI can rapidly analyze pathological images, providing precise, cost-effective identification, thus reducing the pathologists’ workload. This study utilizes a deep learning framework for advanced, automatic breast cancer detection and subtype identification. The framework comprises three key components: detecting cancerous patches, identifying cancer subtypes (ductal and lobular carcinoma), and predicting patient-level outcomes from whole slide images (WSI). The validation process includes visualization using Score-CAM to highlight cancer-affected areas prominently. Datasets include 111 WSIs (85 malignant from the Warwick HER2 dataset and 26 benign from pathologists). For subtype detection, there are 57 ductal and 8 lobular carcinoma cases. A total of 28,428 annotated patches were reviewed by two expert pathologists. Four pre-trained models—DenseNet-201, MobileNetV2, an ensemble of these two, and a Vision Transformer-based model—were fine-tuned and tested on the patches. Patient-level results were predicted using a majority voting technique based on the percentage of each patch type in the WSI. The Vision Transformer-based model outperformed other models in patch classification, achieving an accuracy of 96.74% for cancerous patch detection and 89.78% for cancer subtype classification. For WSI-based cancer classification, the majority voting method attained an F1-score of 99.06 and 96.13% for WSI-based cancer subtype classification. The proposed deep learning-based framework for advanced breast cancer detection and subtype identification yielded promising results. This advanced framework shows great promise in medical practice, offering an economical, efficient solution for generating accurate, clinically relevant results and enhancing diagnostic accuracy in hospitals, research centers, and pathology laboratories. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to validate its effectiveness across various environments and larger datasets.
Antibiotic resistance and preventive strategies in foodborne pathogenic bacteria: a comprehensive review
Authors: Farrukh Masooma , Munawar Ayesha , Nawaz Zeenat , Hussain Nazim , Hafeez Ahmer Bin , Szweda Piotr
Published: January 2025

Antibiotic resistance in foodborne bacteria poses a substantial global health challenge. Reports indicate that antibiotic overuse in middle-class and low-income countries is a significant factor in the ever-increasing resistance. Resistance mechanisms have developed through enzymatic hydrolysis, reduced membrane permeability, efflux pumps, and target site mutations. Preventive measures like proper hygiene and safe food preparation, vaccination, antibiotic stewardship and surveillance, implementing infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, good agricultural practices, and investigating novel approaches like CRISPR, NGS, nanotechnology, and bacteriophages may be employed to address this challenge. Naturally occurring preservatives (e.g., nisin) are alternatives to antibiotics for food preservation. Prebiotics, probiotics, nanobiotics, phage treatment, and antimicrobial peptides are also substitutes for antibiotics. Furthermore, plant-derived compounds, such as essential oils and plant extracts, are promising substitutes for antibiotics in animal production. This review focuses on the mechanisms of underlying antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens, necessary preventive measures, and the challenges associated.

Graphical abstract

Created using BioRender https://www.biorender.com/
Moving to a “flat with referee” in older age: an embodied and social transition
Authors: Gfeller Fabienne , Zittoun Tania
Published: January 2025

Moving in older age is a critical experience in the person’s life trajectory as it may require an important reorganization of their relation to the social and material environment. In order to better understand this experience, we propose to address it drawing on the concepts of rupture and transition as developed in the frame of sociocultural lifecourse psychology. We complete this theoretical framework with the distinction between frame and space and with literature on bodies and embodiment. We present a case study conducted in a building of so-called flats with referee, a type of flats developed in the frame of a political reform addressing demographic ageing, in a Swiss canton. We focus in particular on interviews with inhabitants before and after they moved to these flats. In the analysis, we discuss two aspects of this rupture/transition which, we argue, play an important role in the persons’ experiences: firstly, the embodied dimension of the experience of rupture, which is notably related to the experience of a new physical environment; secondly, the social relations in these buildings designed especially to favor relationships among neighbors. Through this analysis, we aim at contributing to the understanding of development in older age from a sociocultural psychological perspective and to the literature on ruptures and transitions as we highlight theoretical and methodological implications.
Pd nanocatalyst supported on chitosan–waste oil microspheres for efficient degradation of industrial pollutants in water
Authors: Karaoğlu Kaan , Yılmaz Baran Nuray , Özçifçi Zehra , Akçay Hakkı Türker , Baran Talat
Published: January 2025

Disposal of industrial pollutants is one of the most important working topics today. Pd–doped catalysts have high efficiency in the degradation of many organic pollutants. Within the scope of this study, waste engine oil (WEO) was used as activated carbon (AC) source and then AC was encapsulated with chitosan (CS) to prepared chitosan–based microbeads (CS/WEO AC) for catalyst support. After treatment with glyoxal as cross–linker, Pd nanoparticles with spherical shape and 16.8 nm diameter were decorated on the microbeads (Pd@CS/WEO AC). Efficiency of Pd@CS/WEO AC on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (4-NPDA), 2-nitroaniline (2-NA), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) as nitroarens; methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and rhodamine B (RhB) as organic dyes; Cr(VI) and K3[Fe(CN)6] was examined in aqueous media. Developed Pd@CS/WEO AC nanocatalyst reduced nitroarenes, organic dyes, Cr(VI) and K3[Fe(CN)6] in very short times (0–130 s). Based on kinetic studies, the rate constants for Pd@CS/WEO AC–catalyzed reduction reactions of 2–NA, 4–NP, 4–NA, 4–NPDA, MO, RhB, [Fe(CN)6]3⁻, and Cr(VI) were found to be 0.018 s−1, 0.007 s−1, 0.026 s−1, 0.012 s−1, 0.021 s−1, 0.065 s−1, 0.048 s−1, and 0.042 s−1, respectively. Additionally, it was confirmed that Pd@CS/WEO AC is a long–lasting catalyst, as it was reused for five successive runs in the reduction of 4–NP. In this study, we aim to design new materials by modifying carbon–containing waste sources with biological macromolecules and investigate the possible applications of these materials to remove some pollutants from water sources.
Renal denervation in the setting of heart failure
Authors: Koppe-Schmeißer Franziska , Fengler Karl , Kresoja Karl-Patrik , Lurz Philipp , Rommel Karl-Philipp
Published: January 2025

Renal Denervation (RDN) has emerged over the last decade as a third pillar in the treatment of arterial hypertension, alongside pharmacotherapy and lifestyle modifications. Mechanistically, it reduces central sympathetic overactivation, a process also relevant to heart failure. In this mini-review, we summarize the development of RDN for heart failure, discuss the current evidence supporting its effects, and provide an outlook on future developments.
Exploring Parent and Autistic Youth Perspectives to Inform Adaptations for an Advocacy Program
Authors: Burke Meghan M. , Johnston Amanda N. , Ramos-Torres Saury , Singh Sanskriti , DaWalt Leann Smith , Taylor Julie Lounds
Published: January 2025

Autistic Youth and their parents often struggle to access adult disability services. It is important to garner feedback from autistic youth and their parents to inform interventions to facilitate access to adult services. In this study, 128 parents of transition-aged autistic youth and 78 autistic youth completed individual interviews to inform adaptations to an advocacy program designed to improve access to adult services. Parents reported wanting a navigator (versus a group) program to help them learn to navigate adult services. However, parents reported concerns about the quality of navigators. Autistic youth reported wanting to learn about diverse issues in adulthood including types of adult services; most youth wanted to learn about services via videos. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Novel probe with iRGD integrated graphene oxide nanoparticles and labeled with 131I for detection of thyroid papillary carcinoma cells
Authors: Li Pinghui , Feng Jiaojiao , Wang Tingting , Yang Shici , Cai Xiaoming , Zhang Yaohui , Cai Jinming , Zhu Gaohong
Published: January 2025

Integrating multiple targets and hence bio-distribution effectively for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) treatment remains a significant challenge, which can be addressed by using suitable nano-scale materials. Herein, iRGD-modified graphene oxide (GO) loaded 131I are developed for the specific treatment of PTC strengthened integrin targeting. Fine structural characteristics of GO and GO-iRGDs were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEC), Raman spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that there were characteristic peaks and chemical bonds on GO and GO-iRGDs by FT-IR, the D-peak and G-peak of GO disappeared by Raman spectrum and C-N bond with iRGD of GO-iRGDs were strong by XPS. These 131I-GO-iRGDs and 131I-GOs were taken up by PTC cell (TPC-1, BCPAP, and IHH-4) through endocytosis after 48 h and 72 h in cell uptake test, especially the uptake rate of 131I-GO50-iRGD was the highest. The CCK-8 cytotoxicity test of 131I-GO-iRGDs and 131I-GOs showed that these nanoparticles toxicity were higher than that of Na131I and finally promoted PTC death. In vitro data verified the targeting mechanism of GO and 131I for PTC cell line is based on the relevant advantages of binding cell, followed by iRGD-endowed cell surface transport. The tailored design of GO-iRGDs validates a promising paradigm for radioisotope (131-iodine) delivery to combat PTC resistance and metastasis resulting from poor target access for effective combination therapy.
Multilateral Supervaluationism and Classicality
Authors: Kortenbach Bas , Incurvati Luca , Schloeder Julian J.
Published: January 2025

Incurvati and Schlöder (Journal of Philosophical Logic, 51(6), 1549–1582, 2022) have recently proposed to define supervaluationist logic in a multilateral framework, and claimed that this defuses well-known objections concerning supervaluationism’s apparent departures from classical logic. However, we note that the unconventional multilateral syntax prevents a straightforward comparison of inference rules of different levels, across multi- and unilateral languages. This leaves it unclear how the supervaluationist multilateral logics actually relate to classical logic, and raises questions about Incurvati and Schlöder’s response to the objections. We overcome the obstacle, by developing a general method for comparisons of strength between multi- and unilateral logics. We apply it to establish precisely on which inferential levels the supervaluationist multilateral logics defined by Incurvati and Schlöder are classical. Furthermore, we prove general limits on how classical a multilateral logic can be while remaining supervaluationistically acceptable. Multilateral supervaluationism leads to sentential logic being classical on the levels of theorems and regular inferences, but necessarily strictly weaker on meta- and higher-levels, while in a first-order language with identity, even some classical theorems and inferences must be forfeited. Moreover, the results allow us to fill in the gaps of Incurvati and Schlöder’s strategy for defusing the relevant objections.
The protective efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on oxidative stress, inflammation, neurotransmitter perturbations, and apoptosis induced by monosodium glutamate in the brain of male rats
Authors: Essawy Amina E. , Jimmiey Eman M. , Abdel-Wahab Wessam M. , Ali Rania G. , Eweda Saber M. , Abdou Heba M.
Published: January 2025

Exaggerated neuronal excitation by glutamate is a well-known cause of excitotoxicity, a key factor in numerous neurodegenerative disorders. This study examined the neurotoxic effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the brain cortex of rats and focused on assessing the potential neuroprotective effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs). Four groups of adult male rats (n = 10) were assigned as follows; normal control, ω-3 PUFAs (400 mg/kg) alone, MSG (4 mg/g) alone, and MSG plus ω-3 PUFAs (4 mg/g MSG plus 400 mg/kg ω-3 PUFAs). Biochemical analysis, immunohistochemical, and histological examinations were conducted upon completion of the treatment protocol. Results revealed that MSG significantly increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1β, acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and caspase-3. However, the MSG-treated group showed a decline in reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, dopamine, and serotonin. In addition, MSG caused histopathological changes in the cortical region which support the biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis. Supplementation of ω-3 PUFAs greatly improved the biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histopathological alterations induced by MSG administration in the brain cortex. Together, these findings revealed a neuroprotective effect of ω-3 PUFAs against MSG-induced toxicity in the brain cortex by attenuating oxidative damage, inflammation, neurochemical perturbations, and apoptosis.

Graphical abstract
EUFCC-340K: A faceted hierarchical dataset for metadata annotation in GLAM collections
Authors: Net Francesc , Folia Marc , Casals Pep , Bagdanov Andrew D. , Gómez Lluis
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we address the challenges of automatic metadata annotation in the domain of Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAMs) by introducing a novel dataset, EUFCC-340K, collected from the Europeana portal. Comprising over 340,000 images, the EUFCC-340K dataset is organized across multiple facets – Materials, Object Types, Disciplines, and Subjects – following a hierarchical structure based on the Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT). We developed several baseline models, incorporating multiple heads on a ConvNeXT backbone for multi-label image tagging on these facets, and fine-tuning a CLIP model with our image-text pairs. Our experiments to evaluate model robustness and generalization capabilities in two different test scenarios demonstrate the dataset’s utility in improving multi-label classification tools that have the potential to alleviate cataloging tasks in the cultural heritage sector. The EUFCC-340K dataset is publicly available at https://github.com/cesc47/EUFCC-340K.