bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrafast Photonic PCR with All‐Solution‐Processed Ti3C2Tx‐Based Perfect Absorbers
Authors: Lee Seho , Alsaadi Abdulrahman , Hassan Tufail , Chung Kyungwha , Kim Seongryeong , Barulin Aleksandr , Cho Gyoujin , Koo Chong Min , Kim Inki
Published: January 2025

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a critical tool for nucleic acid amplification in molecular diagnosis and genetic analysis. Point‐of‐care (POC) devices are essential for controlling the spread of infectious diseases, but developing cost‐effective chip‐based PCR systems remains a challenge. This study introduces a photonic PCR chip featuring a perfect metamaterial absorber made of Ti3C2Tx MXene, silicon dioxide (SiO2), and gold nanoparticles (GNP) in a metal‐insulator‐metal (MIM) configuration. Fabricated via a solution‐processing approach, the absorber demonstrates 98% light absorption without the need for expensive lithographic methods. Utilizing a 940 nm infrared (IR) LED, the chip achieves efficient photothermal effects with heating rates of ≈8.3 °C s⁻¹ and cooling rates of ≈7.2 °C s⁻¹ during 30 cycles of λ‐DNA and SARS‐CoV‐2 amplification, transitioning from 65 °C to 95 °C. The low cost and high efficiency of the MXene‐based metamaterial absorbers highlight their potential as key components for ultrafast, energy‐efficient molecular diagnostic chips suitable for on‐site applications.
Monolithic Spin‐Multiplexing Metalens for Dual‐Functional Imaging
Authors: Xing Zhenyu , Lin Zhelin , Liu Niu , Gao Hao , Hu Yuhui , Liu Zeyang , Jiang Zijian , Zhang Xinliang , Zhang Cheng
Published: January 2025

Optical microscopic imaging technology is an essential tool for exploring and understanding the microcosmic realm. Among various imaging modes, bright‐field and spiral‐phase‐contrast imaging are widely used, each capable of extracting distinct morphological information from target objects. However, conventional microscopic imaging devices and systems typically operate in a single mode or require additional modules for mode switching. Here, we present a monolithic photonic spin‐multiplexing metalens operating in the red and near‐infrared regions, which leverages a spin‐multiplexed point spread function to seamlessly switch between bright‐field and spiral‐phase‐contrast imaging modes by simply adjusting the spin state of illumination light. The device demonstrates operational efficiency of up to 80% and imaging resolution better than 4.4 µm (228 lp mm−1) in both modes. The metalens's dual‐functional imaging performance is validated with both amplitude‐type (custom‐made metallic patterns) and phase‐type (frog tongue epithelium cells and onion epidermal cells) objects. This work provides a viable solution for compact, lightweight, and easily switchable multi‐functional microscopic imaging systems, opening new avenues for applications in biomedical imaging, clinical diagnostics, and material characterization.
Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Short Peptides: Nanostructure Formation, Function Tailoring, and Applications
Authors: Li Liangchun , Zheng Renlin , Sun Rongqin
Published: January 2025

This article explores the hierarchical self‐assembly of short peptides, which refers to the structured spatial arrangements of these molecules over long distances. This phenomenon is commonly found in nature and has important implications for biological structure and function. Short peptides are preferred for self‐assembly because they have the ability to spontaneously create various nanostructures. This process, known as bottom‐up assembly, allows for the addition of functional groups at the carboxyl or amine ends of the peptides. These functional groups enable specific functions that are extremely valuable in the fields of biotechnology and biomedicine. This text discusses the basic processes involved in the self‐assembly of short peptides, such as the characteristics of amino acid side chains, the categorization of short peptides according to their chemical structure, the influence of intermolecular forces, and the dynamic nature of the self‐assembly process. In addition, the paper discusses the various uses of short peptides in the disciplines of biomedicine and optoelectronics, including stimulus‐responsive hydrogels, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. The article also suggests rational design principles for controlling the hierarchical self‐assembly of short peptides, creating new commercial applications, particularly with functional hydrogels, and offers insights into the future of the discipline.
Private Equity in Otolaryngology: What Is the Impact on Medicare Payments?
Authors: Dongre Roshan , Khan Najm S. , Khan Faizaan , Rashidi Keyvon , Majeethia Heli , Somawardana Isuru , Vrabec Jeffrey T. , Takashima Masayoshi , Ahmed Omar G.
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to assess whether private equity (PE) acquisitions of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS) practices are associated with changes in Medicare payments and procedure volume.

Study Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Setting

PitchBook and the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data File.

Methods

PE acquisitions of OHNS practices were determined using the PitchBook database and linked to the 2016‐2022 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data File based on practice address. Non‐PE practices were included as control if located in a state where an acquisition occurred, with the index point corresponding to the year of acquisition. Medicare payments for all procedures were totaled and averaged. PE‐affiliated and non‐PE‐affiliated practices were compared before and after the acquisition.

Results

A total of 9 acquisitions of OHNS practices across 7 states were identified. Pre‐acquisition, PE‐affiliated otolaryngologists performed more procedures per year (1289 vs 1006, P < .001) compared to their non‐PE counterparts, with average payments per procedure of $92.8 versus $91.36 (P = .398), respectively. Post‐acquisition, PE‐affiliated otolaryngologists performed more procedures per year (1166 procedures vs 950, P = .015) compared to their non‐PE counterparts, with average payments of $105.2 versus $91.3 (P < .001), respectively.

Conclusion

PE‐acquired OHNS practices had increases in average Medicare payments per procedure after acquisition with minimal changes in procedure volumes. In addition, PE firms had a greater number of procedures in both periods. This finding suggests that PE may emphasize both performing high‐payout procedures and investing in high‐volume practices, although this can be firm‐dependent.
Enhanced healability and weldability properties of vitrimers: Review article
Authors: Amin Omar , Ramzy Amna , Abou‐Elmagd Wael S. I. , Abdellatif Mohamed Hazem
Published: January 2025

Vitrimers are developed as a further step towards improving sustainable networked polymers which can be reprocessed while having crosslinks at the same time. However, several competing factors jeopardize and actually manipulate claimed benefits of crosslinking. This review discusses different enhanced properties including chemical, rheological, and mechanical properties that are reported in the literature. In addition, it presents opposite non‐common properties resulted from crosslinking. Moreover, reprocessing and healing methods and efficiencies are reported and discussed.

Highlights

After crosslinking, competing factors may result in better or worse properties.

Recyclability and Healability provide sustainable crosslinked polymers.

Vitrimers offer better welding for incompatible polymers.
Mapping the Partial Shading Degradation in a Monolithically Integrated Perovskite Module
Authors: Aninat Remi , Bakker Klaas , Henzel Jonathan , Zardetto Valerio , Dogan Ilker , Gevaerts Veronique , Veenstra Sjoerd , Theelen Mirjam
Published: January 2025

Among reliability studies on perovskite photovoltaics (PV) cells and modules, partial shading degradation is a crucial and under‐investigated topic. In the present work, we use a combination of mapping electroluminescence (EL), photoluminescence (PL), and illuminated lock‐in thermography (ILIT) to gain insight into the reverse bias degradation mechanisms induced by partial shading on a monolithically interconnected module. Spatial inhomogeneities across the cell length are shown to play an important role in the degradation. A perovskite module was subjected to partial shading, causing, in the lower region of the shaded cells, a PL signal intensity increase and EL decrease. We suggest the formation of a barrier at one of the perovskite/transport layer interfaces, preventing both carrier extraction in PL and carrier injection in EL. A simple model for the current flow in the presence of the barrier can satisfactorily explain the EL, PL, and ILIT behavior and point to some possible propagation mechanisms. In summary, we show that studying partial shading degradation at module level draws a more complex and realistic picture of the interplay between material and electrical parameters than cell‐level studies. We also demonstrate that luminescent and thermal imaging techniques can be combined to draw meaningful conclusions on the degradation mechanisms, their formation, and propagation.
Metaproteomics Beyond Databases: Addressing the Challenges and Potentials of De Novo Sequencing
Authors: Van Den Bossche Tim , Beslic Denis , van Puyenbroeck Sam , Suomi Tomi , Holstein Tanja , Martens Lennart , Elo Laura L. , Muth Thilo
Published: January 2025

Metaproteomics enables the large‐scale characterization of microbial community proteins, offering crucial insights into their taxonomic composition, functional activities, and interactions within their environments. By directly analyzing proteins, metaproteomics offers insights into community phenotypes and the roles individual members play in diverse ecosystems. Although database‐dependent search engines are commonly used for peptide identification, they rely on pre‐existing protein databases, which can be limiting for complex, poorly characterized microbiomes. De novo sequencing presents a promising alternative, which derives peptide sequences directly from mass spectra without requiring a database. Over time, this approach has evolved from manual annotation to advanced graph‐based, tag‐based, and deep learning‐based methods, significantly improving the accuracy of peptide identification. This Viewpoint explores the evolution, advantages, limitations, and future opportunities of de novo sequencing in metaproteomics. We highlight recent technological advancements that have improved its potential for detecting unsequenced species and for providing deeper functional insights into microbial communities.
Transfer of the Oral Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone Receptor Antagonist Relugolix Into Breast Milk of Healthy Lactating Women
Authors: Brimhall Darin B. , Chen Yu‐Luan , Lee Sarah , Yoshida Kazumasa , Ufer Mike
Published: January 2025

Relugolix is an oral gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor antagonist that suppresses sex steroid hormones and is approved as monotherapy for prostate cancer and as a fixed‐dose combination with estradiol/norethindrone for the treatment of endometriosis and uterine fibroids. The aim of this postmarketing study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and quantify the amount of relugolix excreted into breast milk of healthy lactating women. Following a single, oral dose of 40 mg relugolix, breast milk was sampled over 120 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined, including the cumulative amount of relugolix excreted into breast milk to derive the total infant dose. The safety and tolerability of relugolix were also assessed. Eight healthy lactating women were enrolled and completed the study per protocol. Relugolix was safe and well tolerated based on adverse events and other safety data. It was excreted into breast milk with a median time to peak concentration (tmax) of 5.81 h and a geometric mean peak concentration (Cmax) of 15.7 ng/mL, similar to corresponding plasma data from previous clinical studies. The mean cumulative amount of relugolix excreted was 0.0051 mg over 24 h and 0.0067 mg over 120 h, corresponding to 0.0128% and 0.0167% of the maternal dose, respectively. The body weight‐adjusted relative daily infant dose of approximately 0.25% suggests a 400‐fold lower newborn than maternal relugolix exposure. Relevant effects of relugolix on the breastfed child appear unlikely given its limited excretion into breast milk of lactating women but cannot be fully excluded in the absence of infant safety data.
Identification of the CYPome associated with acetamiprid resistance based on the chromosome‐level genome of Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Pang Rui , Wang Jiabin , Li Haolong , Zhong Zichun , Li Zhongsheng , Qiu Bo , Zhou Chenyan , Ali Shaukat , Wu Jianhui
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

The bean flower thrips, Megalurothrips usitatus, poses a great threat to cowpea and other legume cultivars. Chemical insecticides have been applied to control M. usitatus, but have resulted in little profit because of the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance. To characterize the potential insecticide resistance mechanisms in M. usitatus, we sequenced and assembled a chromosome‐level genome of M. usitatus by combining PacBio sequencing and Hi‐C technology using a susceptible population.

RESULTS

The genome size was 248.60 Mb and contained 14 128 protein‐coding genes. The expansion genes of M. usitatus were enriched in the functional categories of heme binding and monooxygenase activity. We further identified 103 cytochrome P450 genes from the M. usitatus genome, 33 of which belonged to the CYP6 family. Ten CYP6 genes were significantly overexpressed in an acetamiprid‐resistant population of M. usitatus. An RNA interference bioassay showed that knockdown of CYP6FW1, CYP6GM5, CYP6GM6, and CYP6GM7 significantly reduced acetamiprid resistance in the resistant population. In addition, the expression of all four genes could be induced by acetamiprid exposure. AlphaFold2‐based homology modeling and molecular docking analysis showed that the proteins with relevance to acetamiprid resistance had relatively lower binding free energy with the acetamiprid molecule.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a reference genome and gene resources for future studies on the evolution of M. usitatus and related pest species, and highlights the importance of cytochrome P450s in insecticide resistance in this pest insect. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
Students' behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes in gamified flipped classrooms: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Sun Xinlei , Sailer Maximilian
Published: January 2025

This study aims to illustrate the effects of gamified flipped classrooms (GFC) on students' behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes in formal educational settings. Based on the PRISMA reporting guidelines, we systematically identified and screened articles from five databases: Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, ProQuest and ERIC. Finally, 21 effect sizes from 13 articles on behavioural outcomes, 38 effect sizes from 19 articles on cognitive outcomes and 16 effect sizes from 11 articles on affective outcomes were included in this study. Then, we use CMA 3.0 software to conduct the meta‐analysis for the selected articles. The calculated effect sizes indicate that GFC had a more positive effect on students' behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes compared to traditional lectures. Using a random effects model, we calculated two statistically significant medium overall effect sizes—Cohen's d = 0.409 for the behavioural outcome, Cohen's d = 0.400 for the affective outcome—and a statistically significant small overall effect size—Cohen's d = 0.285 for the cognitive outcome. In addition, through the publication bias test, we did not find that this study was threatened by publication bias. Moderator variable analysis demonstrated that year of publication, region, educational level, subject, treatment (intervention) duration, and learning environment were significant variables influencing the effects of GFC on behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes. Overall, the results of this study suggest that GFC significantly improved students' behavioural, cognitive and affective outcomes.

Context and implications

Rationale for this study: This study aims to explore the effects of GFC on learning outcomes, as there is a lack of sufficient prior research evidence to prove this.

Why the new findings matter: As the first meta‐analysis clarifying the effects of GFC on all three domains of learning outcomes, it fills a gap in meta‐analyses on this topic.

Implications for educational researchers and practitioners: This study points the way for educational researchers and practitioners who apply GFC in the classroom. Researchers can explore more research topics based on the results of this study, such as investigating the influence mechanism of GFC on three different domains of learning outcomes respectively. In addition, this study provides effective references and promising results for future instructional design and educational practice.
Dynamic Event‐Triggered Fixed‐Time Coordinated Control of Nonlinear Multi‐Agent Systems With General Directed Topologies
Authors: Xia Yaping , Kuang Weicheng , Li Haodong
Published: January 2025

This study extends the dynamic event‐triggered fixed‐time consensus results of nonlinear multi‐agent systems (NMASs) from undirected graphs to general directed graphs. Three novel distributed dynamic event‐triggered control (ETC) protocols are proposed. Instead of a constant, a dynamic threshold is introduced in the triggering function. The proposed controllers, along with their triggering conditions, can ensure fewer trigger times and controller updates, resulting in lower energy consumption. To avoid continuous communication between agents, a new triggering mechanism is further proposed in this paper. Furthermore, it is shown that the triggered time sequence does not exhibit Zeno behavior. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed dynamic ETC mechanism is verified by three examples.
Rational Pore Design in Multivariate Metal‐Organic Frameworks for C2H6/C2H4 Separation
Authors: Park Jihyun , Oh Kwang Hyun , Kang Shinyoung , Ha Junsu , Lee Seungjin , Kim Jihan , Bae Youn‐Sang , Moon Hoi Ri
Published: January 2025

The arrangement of pores within the framework plays a crucial role in the gas separation and adsorption of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), determining their overall performance. In this study, the impact on gas separation efficiency is compared using two multivariate MOF (MTV‐MOF) systems with controlled pore arrangements. These systems employ two types of ligands with differing bulkiness: one is the core‐shell MOF composite (CSMOF), sequentially synthesized with the bulkier ligand located at the shell, and the other is the mixed‐linker MOF (MLMOF), synthesized via a one‐pot reaction. Interestingly, in MLMOFs, it is confirmed that the distribution of bulky ligands increases gradually from the center to the surface, rather than being randomly distributed, forming a framework with finely tuned pores. MLMOFs exhibit a high C2H6/C2H4 ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) selectivity of 2.25 due to the overall distribution of alkoxy chains that can form multiple interaction sites with C2H6. Breakthrough experiments demonstrate that MLMOF enables the effective separation of C2H6/C2H4 mixtures, achieving the productivity of 19.7 L kg−1 for high‐purity C2H4 (>99.9%) under dry conditions. This study indicates that pore space partitioning utilizing MTV‐MOFs can be effectively applied to maximize performance in specific gas separations.
Rheological and morphological behavior of waxy crude with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) as flow modifier
Authors: Dutta Pranjal P. , Mohan Bitupan , Phukan Subasita , Saikia Subrat , Saikia Prakash J.
Published: January 2025

Free radical and reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) techniques has been applied in the synthesis of poly(octadecyl methacrylate) (POMA) to be evaluated as flow improver (FI) for waxy crude through rheological and morphological studies. Addition of POMA improves the flow ability of waxy crude as well as modulated the wax crystal morphology. The maximum reduction of apparent viscosity of waxy crude was observed at higher concentration of POMA that was synthesized via free radical polymerization and at lower concentration of POMA that was synthesized via reverse ATRP technique. The wax crystal morphological observation by polarized optical microscopy shows that POMA can strongly crystallize with wax molecules, and the size of wax crystals increases slightly and tends to form small wax crystal flocs, which greatly improves the rheological properties of the crude oil.

Highlights

Comb‐like polymer POMA synthesized via free radical and reverse ATRP methods.

Effect of POMA on low‐temperature flow ability of crude oil was studied.

POMA via free radical method efficiently lowers the crude oil gelation point.

Crude oil viscosity significantly decreases with addition of synthesized POMA.

Adding POMA via both methods significantly alters wax crystal size in crude oil.
Assessing risk factors for drug storage practices in veterinary surgeries: A questionnaire study of UK veterinary professionals
Authors: Perry Jordan , Gouveia Kelly
Published: January 2025

Background

Safe drug storage practices are essential in veterinary practice to maintain optimal standards of animal care. Practical challenges in clinic may impact their uptake, which could affect drug efficacy and the success of treatment. The UK is presumed to provide high standards for animal care and welfare in the veterinary profession and may provide an interesting case study to assess veterinary drug storage practices.

Methods

An online survey with 184 practice participants assessed UK veterinary professionals’ responses on drug storage practices. This included socio‐demographic information and questions or statements that examined storage practices compliant with the requirements established by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body for veterinary practice in the UK.

Results

Overall, practices followed RCVS‐recommended measures, though there was clear selectivity for stock temperature checks (72.2%), over other measures, particularly, replacing stock (54.4%) and returning medications to refrigerated storage (52.5%). Clinical experience and practice type impacted most on drug storage practices, with more experienced clinicians and small animal practices showing greater uptake of best measures.

Conclusions

We suggest that practices should adopt all of the RCVS measures in relation to veterinary drug storage practices. Socio‐demographic factors should be considered because they can act as risk factors influencing best practice in clinics. Our findings may have wider implications for the veterinary profession in general, given similar demographic trends in veterinary practice in many European countries.
Mediation Mechanisms in Serbian Intellectual Property Law: A Steady Progression
Authors: Popović Dušan V.
Published: January 2025

The introduction of mediation mechanisms in Serbian civil law was incited by the accession of the country to the Council of Europe in 2003. The chapter starts by examining the general rules on mediability in Serbian law and applying them to IP-related disputes. As a general rule, mediation may be used as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism: (i) in contentious legal matters in which the parties may freely dispose of their claims; (ii) unless the law stipulates exclusive authority of a court or other relevant entity. This rule sets the objective boundaries of mediation. The subjective boundaries of mediation, related to the criteria that the parties in mediation must meet, are not prescribed in Serbian law. The first criterion is quite extensively defined, given that the parties may freely dispose not only of their property claims but also of non-property claims, as long as this is in accordance with the imperative norms, public order, moral rules and customary rules. The Serbian intellectual property legislation explicitly refers to mediation mechanisms in two cases only. First, the copyright legislation allows for a mediation mechanisms to be employed if a broadcasting organization and a cable operator are unable to reach an agreement on cable retransmission conditions. Second, trademark legislation allows for the parties to trademark opposition proceedings to attempt to resolve the dispute by means of mediation within the time frame of 24 months. Even if an IP dispute is mediable, one should not necessarily conclude that it is always appropriate to resolve it by way of mediation. Accordingly, the chapter examines the advantages and disadvantages of mediation over litigation.
Assessing personal recovery in individuals with severe mental illness: validation of the Dutch Brief INSPIRE-O
Authors: Swildens Wilma E. , Visser Ellen , van Ens Welmoed , Schaefer Barbara , Nugter Annet , Delespaul Philippe , van Weeghel Jaap , Slade Mike , Sanches Sarita A.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Recovery is a key objective in mental health services for people with severe mental illness (SMI). In addition to clinical and functional recovery, personal recovery has gained increasing attention. The CHIME Framework identifies five personal recovery processes—Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment—and is the theoretical foundation for the Brief INSPIRE, a validated Patient-Rated Experience Measure (PREM) to evaluate recovery support. Brief INSPIRE was modified to a five-item Patient-Rated Outcome Measure (PROM) assessing recovery, called Brief INSPIRE-Outcome (Brief INSPIRE-O). Subject of this study are the psychometric properties of the Brief INSPIRE-O.

Methods

Data on validity and reliability gathered through annual routine outcome monitoring were collected for 861 individuals with SMI of Flexible Assertive Community Treatment teams and a follow-up measurement was available for 232 of these individuals. Test–retest reliability was evaluated in a separate subset of 30 individuals with SMI.

Results

The Brief INSPIRE-O shows good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.77), test–retest reliability, construct validity, sensitivity to change and no floor or ceiling effects. Furthermore, change in Brief INSPIRE-O was positively related to changes in quality of life and negatively to problems in clinical functioning and unmet care need.

Conclusion

Brief INSPIRE-O can be used for research and monitoring to better understand and improve processes of personal recovery in individuals with SMI.
Characterization of chemical compounds of fractions from four different bee pollens with chemometric classification
Authors: Tel-Çayan Gülsen , Çayan Fatih , Deveci Ebru , Karataş Şükrü , Duru Mehmet Emin
Published: January 2025

Bee pollen continues to increase its popularity as a ‘complete food’ among natural resources with its high health value and therapeutic chemical compounds. This study focused on HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection) based on the identification of chemical compounds of Cistus creticus, Helianthus annuus, Papaver somniferum and Salix sp. bee pollens. Also, water extracts and the fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, water) obtained from the methanol extracts of all bee pollens were investigated for chemical compounds. A total of 29 chemical compounds were screened and kaempferol was detected in all studied bee pollen samples at concentration of 0.4 and 331.6 µg/g. Luteolin (68.7–694.8 µg/g), trans-aconitic acid (12.2–479.1 µg/g), myricetin (160.4–1534.2 µg/g), quercetin (162.1–608.1 µg/g), rosmarinic acid (273.8–435.6 µg/g), rutin (3.6–202.8 µg/g), and trans-cinnamic acid (5.1–1854.6 µg/g) were found as the most abundant chemical compounds. Additionally, nonpolar and polar fractions of the bee pollens were chemometrically clustered for similarities and differences of chemical compounds via principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). In nonpolar fractions, C. creticus, H. annuus, P. somniferum, and Salix sp. ethyl acetate fractions (CEA, HEA, PEA, SEA) were separated from other fractions, while in polar fractions, C. creticus, H. annuus, P. somniferum, and Salix sp. butanol fractions (CB, HB, PB, SB) were separated from other fractions. This study provides additional data on the characterization of valuable chemical compounds in bee pollens and constitutes a beginning in the chemometric classification of chemical compounds.
Using ground oyster mushroom and chia seeds for the fortification of wheat bread-Nelder–Mead simplex optimisation
Authors: Schneider Yannik , Zettel Viktoria
Published: January 2025

Wheat bread was enriched with ground chia and ground oyster mushroom to improve its nutritional properties regarding protein and fibre content within the context of food fortification while maintaining a high specific volume and a soft crumb. A bread made from 100% wheat flour was used as reference. The Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm was used to determine the optimal proportions of chia and oyster mushroom substitution in the recipe. Bread quality was analysed and rated. Chia has a positive effect on the baking result due to its water-binding capacity, while mushrooms have a rather negative effect caused by the enzymes they contain. It was possible to replace 1.6% of wheat flour with ground oyster mushroom and 1.2% chia without any deviations from the control within 7 steps Furthermore, the partially substituted breads showed 3.8% lower contents of carbohydrates with a reduction of 4.1% of total sugar and higher contents of dietary fibre and protein, 22.7% and 2.3% respectively in comparison with the control sample. The wheat flour in bread can be replaced by chia flour and ground oyster mushrooms in small quantities without compromising the quality of the bread while improving some nutritional values.
Abwehrmechanismen in der Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy
Authors: Herrmann Pauline Leonie , Hüwe Lotta , Andreas Sylke
Published: January 2025

Die Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) ist ein 16-stündiges manualisiertes Psychotherapieverfahren mit psychodynamischem Hintergrund. Im Fokus steht die Bearbeitung eines maladaptiven Beziehungsmusters, das als Ursache der Symptome begriffen wird. Inwiefern Veränderungen im Funktionsniveau der psychischen Abwehr eine Rolle spielen, wurde bislang nicht untersucht und soll an einem Einzelfall herausgearbeitet werden. Hierzu wurden 11 Sitzungen aus verschiedenen Therapiephasen mithilfe der Defense Mechanism Rating Scales Q‑sort analysiert. Die Symptombelastung, die therapeutische Beziehung und die Mentalisierungsfähigkeit wurden vor jeder Sitzung erhoben. Es zeigte sich beim Patienten ein stabiles und adaptives Muster der Abwehr mit unsystematischen Schwankungen. Die Outcome-Instrumente lassen auf einen erfolgreichen Verlauf der Behandlung schließen. Es bleibt zu diskutieren, ob adaptive Funktionsniveaus der Abwehr ein Behandlungsziel oder vielmehr eine Behandlungsvoraussetzung für die DIT darstellen.
DeepLabv3 + method for detecting and segmenting apical lesions on panoramic radiography
Authors: Ketenci Çay Fatmanur , Yeşil Çağrı , Çay Oktay , Yılmaz Büşra Gül , Özçini Fatma Hasene , İlgüy Dilhan
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aimed to apply the DeepLabv3 + model and compare it with the U-Net model in terms of detecting and segmenting apical lesions on panoramic radiography.

Methods

260 panoramic images that contain apical lesions in different regions were collected and randomly divided into training and test datasets. All images were manually annotated for apical lesions using Computer Vision Annotation Tool software by two independent dental radiologists and a master reviewer. The DeepLabv3 + model, one of the state-of-the-art deep semantic segmentation models, was utilized using Python programming language and the TensorFlow library and applied to the prepared datasets. The model was compared with the U-Net model applied to apical lesions and other medical image segmentation problems in the literature.

Results

The DeepLabv3 + and U-Net models were applied to the same datasets with the same hyper-parameters. The AUC and recall results of the DeepLabv3 + were 29.96% and 61.06% better than the U-Net model. However, the U-Net model gets 69.17% and 25.55% better precision and F1-score results than the DeepLabv3 + model. The difference in the IoU results of the models was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

This paper comprehensively evaluated the DeepLabv3 + model and compared it with the U-Net model. Our experimental findings indicated that DeepLabv3 + outperforms the U-Net model by a substantial margin for both AUC and recall metrics. According to those results, for detecting apical lesions, we encourage researchers to use and improve the DeepLabv3 + model.

Clinical relevance

The DeepLabv3 + model has the poten tial to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment planning and save time in the clinic.
Ultra-fast computation of fractal dimension for RGB images
Authors: Ruiz de Miras Juan , Li Yurong , León Alejandro , Arroyo Germán , López Luis , Torres Juan Carlos , Martín Domingo
Published: January 2025

The fractal dimension (FD) is a quantitative parameter widely used to analyze digital images in many application fields such as image segmentation, feature extraction, object recognition, texture analysis, and image compression and denoising, among many others. A variety of algorithms have been previously proposed for estimating the FD, however most of them are limited to binary or gray-scale images only. In recent years, several authors have proposed algorithms for computing the FD of color images. Nevertheless, almost all these methods are computationally inefficient when analyzing large images. Nowadays, color images can be very large in size, and there is a growing trend toward even larger datasets. This implies that the time required to calculate the FD of such datasets can become extremely long. In this paper we present a very efficient GPU algorithm, implemented in CUDA, for computing the FD of RGB color images. Our solution is an extension to RGB of the differential box-counting (DBC) algorithm for gray-scale images. Our implementation simplifies the box-counting computation to very simple operations which are easily combined across iterations. We evaluated our algorithm on two distinct hardware/software platforms using a set of images of increasing size. The performance of our method was compared against two recent FD algorithms for RGB images: a fast box-merging GPU algorithm, and the most advanced approach based on extending the DBC method. The results showed that our GPU algorithm performed very well and achieved speedups of up to 7.9× and 6172.6× regarding these algorithms, respectively. In addition, our algorithm achieved average error rates similar to those obtained by the two reference algorithms when estimating the FD for synthetic images with known FD values, and even outperformed them when processing large images. These results suggest that our GPU algorithm offers a highly reliable and ultra-fast solution for estimating the FD of color images.
Computational analysis of virus-host protein-protein interactions using gene ontology and natural language processing
Authors: Cihan Pınar , Ozger Zeynep Banu , Cakabay Zeynep
Published: January 2025

The role of in-silico computational methods in identifying protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between target and host proteins is crucial for developing effective infection treatments. These methods are essential for quickly determining high-quality and accurate PPIs, predicting protein pairs with the highest likelihood of physical interaction from a large pool, and reducing the need for experimental confirmation or prioritizing pairs for experiments. This study proposes using gene ontology and natural language processing (NLP) approaches to extract and quantify features from protein sequences. In the first step, proteins were represented using gene ontology terms, and a set of features was generated. In the second step, NLP techniques treated gene ontology terms as a word dictionary, creating numerical vectors using the bag of words (BoW), count vector, term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF), and information content methods. In the third step, different machine learning methods, including Decision Tree, Random Forest, Bagging-RepTree, Bagging-RF, BayesNet, Deep Neural Network (DNN), Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and VotedPerceptron, were employed to predict protein interactions in the datasets. In the fourth step, the Max-Min Parents and Children (MMPC) feature selection algorithm was applied to improve predictions using fewer features. The performance of the developed method was tested on the SARS-CoV-2 protein interaction dataset. The MMPC algorithm reduced the feature count by over 99%, enhancing protein interaction prediction. After feature selection, the DNN method achieved the highest predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.878 and an F-Measure of 0.793. Sequence-based protein encoding methods AAC, APAAC, CKSAAPP, CTriad, DC, and PAAC were applied to proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 interaction dataset and their performance was compared with GO-NLP. The performance of the relevant methods was measured separately and combined. The highest performance was obtained from the combined dataset with an AUC value of 0.888. This study demonstrates that the proposed gene ontology and NLP approach can successfully predict protein-protein interactions for antiviral drug design with significantly fewer features using the MMPC-DNN model.
Supporting learning difficulties with e-book based on context-based teaching strategy from social perspective: design and experience
Authors: Şanal Seda Özer , Güler Tülay Dargut , Torun Fulya
Published: January 2025

Although the positive effects of the use of technology for students with learning disabilities (LD) have been reported, there is a lack of both theory and practice in terms of integrating technology with the appropriate strategy in accordance with the student, content and purpose. Both teaching materials developed with qualified strategies and the active involvement of the target audience in the process are a need to design effective and sustainable learning materials and processes for LD. This study involved both the production of a material with the common views of stakeholders related to LD (individuals diagnosed with LD, special education teachers, academics working on LD) and the examination of the effectiveness of this material. The focus of the study is primarily on the fact that human being is a social being and learning, language and reading are social phenomena. In this context, within the framework of social constructivist perspective, an e-book design based on context based teaching (CBT) strategy and its effectiveness on reading performance were analysed. The study involved a two-stage process. In the first phase, design-based research was conducted and a CBT-supported e-book (DIJIKIT) was developed. In the second stage, DIJIKIT and an e-book were compared in an adapted alternating implementation design. The participants of the study in the CBT process consisted of researchers, three special education teachers, academicians and two primary school students diagnosed with learning disabilities. In each cycle of the DBR, the participants provided feedback on the material. Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, video recordings and a researcher's diary were used as data collection tools in the DBR. As a result of the DBR, DIJIKIT design and content features were determined. In the experimental process, DIJIKIT was used by three primary school students diagnosed with learning disabilities. In the experimental process, efficacy (the informal reading invetory), reliability (treatment integrity, interobserver agreement) and social validity (social validity forms) data were collected. The reading comprehension performances and reading levels of all three students increased. Social validity data supported the experimental process data and clearly demonstrated the need for effective instructional technologies for both parents and teachers. The study offers practical implications and recommendations for future researchers in terms of exemplary design features and greater visibility of the relationship between instructional technologies and special education.
Teacher Satisfaction in Online Education: A Two-Factor Model of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors Across Diverse Contexts
Authors: Yan Ning , Batako Andre , Czanner Gabriela , Zhang Aiping
Published: January 2025

Blended learning modes are becoming the norm in educational institutions. This research investigates the factors affecting teacher satisfaction with online lesson delivery. This study was undertaken in primary, secondary, and higher education institutions across ten countries worldwide. A total of 247 teachers responded to the survey. This work innovatively validates a two-factor model of teacher satisfaction with online teaching, grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory. A first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to validate the constructs, followed by a second-order exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify key drivers of teacher satisfaction. The results showed that there were two key hidden drivers of teacher satisfaction i.e., intrinsic factor and extrinsic factor. The two factors explained 75% of the variance in teacher satisfaction. Teachers reported higher satisfaction due to the flexibility and work-life balance that online teaching affords, while dissatisfaction stemmed from institutional policies and insufficient incentives. It was observed that STEM teachers and older educators had lower satisfaction and higher technology anxiety. These insights have potential applications beyond online teaching, extending to teacher satisfaction in physical classroom settings.
Rumination Mediates the Relation of Hostile Attribution to Psychological Maladjustment Among Adolescents from Three Countries
Authors: Iselin Anne-Marie R. , DeCoster Jamie , DiGiunta Laura , Lansford Jennifer E. , Dodge Kenneth A. , Eisenberg Nancy , Pastorelli Concetta , Tirado Liliana Maria Uribe , Bacchini Dario
Published: January 2025

Addressing global concerns about youth mental health requires understanding longitudinal pathways to psychological maladjustment among diverse youth. Hostile attribution bias (HAB) and hostile rumination (HR) are cognitive vulnerabilities associated with multiple forms of psychological maladjustment among diverse youth. This study longitudinally examined whether HR mediates the relation of HAB to aggression, anxiety, and depression symptoms in a sample of adolescents from three countries. Participants included 532 mothers, 384 fathers, and 566 youth (50% female) from Colombia, Italy (Naples and Rome), and the U.S. (White, Black, and Latinx). Structural equation modeling indicated that youth-reported HR at Time 2 (mean age = 12.58 years) significantly mediated the relation of youth-reported HAB at Time 1 (mean age = 10.89 years) to parent-reported aggression and anxiety symptoms at Time 3 (mean age = 13.71 years; aggression: b = 0.05, 95% bootstrap CI = [0.006, 0.14]; anxiety: b = 0.06, 95% bootstrap CI = [0.01, 0.16]); but not to parent-reported depression symptoms at Time 3 (b = 0.02, 95% bootstrap CI = [-0.04, 0.08]). A reverse model indicated HAB at Time 3 significantly mediated the relation of HR at Time 2 to anxiety symptoms at Time 4 (mean age = 14.99 years; b = -0.01, 95% bootstrap CI = [-0.04, -0.001]), but not to aggression or depression symptoms at Time 4. Multi-group analyses indicated focal mediational paths did not vary significantly across national, regional, and racial subgroups or gender. Findings support the Integrative Cognitive Model of Aggression, providing evidence that HAB and HR may be vulnerability factors for aggression and anxiety among diverse youth.
Microbial phosphorus in loamy, basalt-derived forest soil is altered by plant nutritional status: a root-splitting study
Authors: Butler O. M. , Warren C. R.
Published: January 2025

Background and aims

Soil nutrient content is a major driver of primary productivity. Microbial biomass comprises a substantial soil nutrient pool, the properties of which could be shaped by plant nutrient-limitation status. We aimed to determine how plant nutrition affects soil microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and phosphorus (MBP), and whether such effects are linked to microbial composition.

Methods

To isolate the effect of plant nutrition on soil microbes, we used a split-root system with Syncarpia glomulifera Smith seedlings fertilised with either P-free Hoagland solution or a P-only solution, and quantified rhizosphere soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), MBN, MBP, and microbial polar lipid fatty acids (PLFAs).

Results

Provision of N + micronutrients to S. glomulifera seedlings in basalt-derived soils led to a 19% decline in soil MBP relative to controls. This effect was not evident in comparatively P-depleted sandstone-derived soils. MBC and MBN were not affected by plant nutritional status, and neither were the abundances and composition of microbial PLFAs.

Conclusion

Rhizosphere microbial nutrient pools are potentially sensitive to plant nutritional status. Microbial P can be reduced when plants are P-limited. These effects are not necessarily paralleled by altered microbial composition, implicating microbial physiology as a possible driver of variation in microbial P.
Exploring Cultural Adaptations: A Scoping Review on Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention Programs
Authors: Corpus-Espinosa Claudia , Mac Fadden Isotta , del Carmen Torrejón-Guirado María , Lima-Serrano Marta
Published: January 2025

Adolescence is a critical period for developing risk behaviors such as substance use, which can impact health in adulthood. Culturally adapted evidence-based programs (EBPs) are promising for prevention. This review explores the processes for culturally adapting EBPs targeting alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis use, and/or anxiety or depression in adolescents. We searched multiple databases, grey literature, and relevant websites for studies detailing the cultural adaptation process of EBPs. We then categorized common adaptation steps, classified adaptations using the cultural sensitivity model, identified prevalent adaptation techniques, and determined effectiveness assessment methods. We reviewed the cultural adaptation processes of 43 EBPs. These programs were implemented in schools (51%), followed by family settings (30%), community settings (14%), and multi-component settings (5%). Eleven key steps were identified across the documents: local needs assessment, program selection, understanding of the program's curriculum, advisory group establishment, first draft of initial adaptation changes, staff selection and training, pilot study, enhanced cultural adaptation, implementation, evaluation and monitoring, and dissemination. Most programs integrated both surface (e.g., use of local images, material translation) and deep adaptations (e.g., incorporation of cultural values like "familismo"). Despite the common use of the cultural sensitivity model, detailed adaptation frameworks were often lacking. The field has advanced, but clearer documentation is needed to improve research and practical application.