bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recovery of Platinum and Ruthenium from PEM Electrodes via Hydrometallurgical Approach
Authors: Sandig-Predzymirska L. , Barreiros T. Veiga , Weigelt A. , Pitscheider S. , Pedersen C. Mølleskov , Kallesøe C. , Thiere A. , Stelter M. , Charitos A.
Published: February 2025

The recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from secondary sources is becoming increasingly relevant from an economic and environmental perspective. There are many studies on the extraction of precious metals using hydro- or pyrometallurgical treatment. Most publications focus on the recycling of these metals from catalytic converters. However, less information is available regarding the recycling of PGMs from electrocatalysts, which are important for the achievement of the decarbonization goals of the European “Green Deal.” This paper focuses on the hydrometallurgical approach for Pt and Ru recycling from the proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrode, as those elements are commonly applied to promote a hydrogen-based economy. The proposed recycling scheme contains pre-treatment, leaching, volatilization, and precipitation steps. A parametric study (e.g., reagent concentration, additives, temperature, leaching time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and stirring rate) concerning the above process steps is presented. Leaching tests demonstrated high recovery yields for both metals, achieving 90% for Pt and 82% for Ru, after 4 h of leaching at 75 °C in 4 M HCl with the addition of 1.5 M AlCl3 as an alternative chloride ion source. Two approaches were followed for Pt/Ru separation: (i) Ru volatilization and (ii) selective Pt precipitation. In the volatilization step, the use of 1 M Na2S2O8 as an oxidizing agent enabled complete Ru recovery (up to 100%) within just 1.5 h. Various acids were evaluated as trapping media to produce different Ru precursors. For selective Pt precipitation, the addition of 5 M NH4Cl to the bi-metallic leach solution resulted in up to 96% Pt recovery within 30 min, while Ru precipitation was minimal (~ 3%). The obtained PGM salts produced by this recycling procedure have been reused as precursors to manufacture a new PtRu electrocatalyst, enabling in this way the circularity of the studied elements.

Graphical Abstract
Technical change and surplus labor in the global economy
Authors: Hashimoto Takahiko
Published: February 2025

Based on the studies of Okishio and Roemer, this study discusses the relationship between surplus value and technological change that reduces costs and labor value by industry. Previous studies were limited in that they constructed a one-country model using a single wage rate and did not consider imported intermediate goods. Therefore, we extend the framework of the previous studies to a case in which imported intermediate goods exist and wage rates differ across countries, using a two-country, two-sector model and a multicountry-multisector model in this study. The analysis reveals that when surplus labor is negative in a country that imports intermediate goods, technological change occurs that reduces costs but uses more direct and indirect labor in the country’s industries. The type of technological change was found to be capital-using and labor-saving.
Reduction of plane quartics and Dixmier–Ohno invariants
Authors: van Bommel Raymond , Docking Jordan , Lercier Reynald , García Elisa Lorenzo
Published: February 2025

We characterise, in terms of Dixmier–Ohno invariants, the types of singularities that a plane quartic curve can have. We then use these results to obtain new criteria for determining the stable reduction types of non-hyperelliptic curves of genus 3.
Integrating media sentiment with traditional economic indicators: a study on PMI, CCI, and employment during COVID-19 period in Poland
Authors: Kaczmarek Iwona , Iwaniak Adam , Chrobak Grzegorz , Kazak Jan K.
Published: February 2025

Global crises, such as wars or the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the need for real-time economic monitoring. Traditional economic indicators often fall short, prompting the exploration of alternative data sources, including online and social media content. This study examines the relationship between media sentiment in press articles and traditional economic indicators: the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), and average employment in the enterprise sector. We evaluate four pre-trained natural language processing models for sentiment analysis to assess their applicability. The analysis also explores the impact of time shifts in media reporting on the correlation between sentiment scores and economic indicators. Results reveal that a + 24-day shift in article dates produces the strongest correlation with PMI, suggesting media sentiment can predict changes in PMI with a lead time of about 3.5 weeks. Further analysis shows a positive correlation between sentiment scores and the CCI with a + 6-day shift, indicating media sentiment may signal changes in consumer confidence approximately one week in advance. Additionally, a + 70-day shift reveals that media sentiment can predict changes in average employment in the enterprise sector up to 10 weeks before they are officially recorded. These findings highlight the potential of media sentiment as an early indicator of economic trends, emphasizing the importance of considering time dynamics in such analyses. The study demonstrates that sentiment analysis offers valuable insights into economic trends through media reporting, potentially aiding in more timely economic forecasting and decision-making.
Apprentice bot model design and implementation for psychological clients’ therapy
Authors: Gidey Kibrom , Beyene Hailay , Haileslassie Fiseha , Berihu Haben
Published: February 2025

Conversational agents play a crucial role in advising clients and providing treatment for mental health issues. In Ethiopia, a developing country with a high prevalence of mental health issues, an AI text-based chatbot has been developed to assist users in addressing these cases. The bot recognizes features such as general knowledge queries, potential mental disorders, auto-generated advice, and client stories. The syntactic and semantic structure of data and user chat's memory network were investigated. Four neural networks (LSTM, single GRU, transposed GRU and double GRU) were experimented with to find the best-fitting deep learning model. The approach uses Amharic word2vec word embedding techniques (skip gram and CBOW) for semantic extraction of Amharic words and a seq2seq model for response generation. An ensemble architecture of generative-based and retrieval-based approaches was employed to handle user dialogue. The scruffy technique was used to generate word embedding, which was then used to extract semantically comparable terms. The model also embedded custom rules for smoothness and error handling. The performance and outcomes of the chatbot were evaluated using cross-validation, data organization, perplexity, accuracy measurement, f-1 score (precision and recall), and human-evaluation methods. The model's accuracy was 79.62%, with a 79.62% likelihood of delivering relevant responses. The results show that the ensemble architecture based on seq2seq modeling with embedded custom rules and Amharic word vector implementation provides pertinent responses for user utterances.
Ecofriendly Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from Arthrospira platensis and Their Assessment for Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm, Anticancer Potency and Alleviation of Copper Stress in Vicia faba (L.) Plant
Authors: Abo-Shanab Walaa A. , Elsilk Sobhy E. , Afifi Salsabil S. , El-Shenody Rania A.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to biosynthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by using the metabolites from the cell debris of Arthrospira platensis. ZnO NPs have reduced copper toxicity (Cu2+) in Vicia faba (L.) seedlings, and antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anticancer properties were investigated.

Methods

The ZnO NPs were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and UV–visible spectroscopy.

Results

The characterization of ZnO NPs was spherical and ranged from 11 to 20 nm and FTIR analysis confirmed the nanoparticles with specific absorption peaks. The ZnO NPs exhibited antimicrobial activity, strong antibiofilm activity, and were effective in the cytotoxic killing of Hep-G2 cancer cells. The growth attributes of 21-day-old Vicia faba seedlings were negatively impacted by copper stress. However, applying ZnO NPs at varying doses improved the seedlings' physiological and morphological characteristics.

Conclusion

ZnO NPs have potential applications in enhancing plant tolerance to environmental stress and can be employed as potent anticancer, antibacterial, and antibiofilm agents, with potential benefits in agriculture.
A Blockchain-Assisted Trusted Federated Learning for Smart Agriculture
Authors: Manoj T , Makkithaya Krishnamoorthi , Narendra V G
Published: February 2025

Smart agriculture promises to alleviate the burden of climate risks on crop production by leveraging machine learning tasks. These tasks act as a decision support instrument for making well-informed choices by stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. Currently, predictive models in smart agriculture demand a centralized collection of diverse data, fragmented across multiple information systems leading to a single point of failure. The application of the Federated Learning (FL) technique restricts the movement of raw data and trains the model at the data source. However, the FL approach does not ensure trust factors like privacy, authentication, data provenance, transparency and traceability. To address this, a decentralized federated learning framework built on blockchain can be a potential solution. In this study, we introduce a blockchain-based framework called AgriFLChain for trusted federated learning in the context of smart agriculture. We focus on crop yield prediction as an illustrative use case, initially discussing centralized deep learning models (ResNet-16, ResNet-28, CNN-DNN, and CNN-LSTM). We then detail the authentication and data provenance mechanisms for federated learning participants, utilizing blockchain-based Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs). We implement these models using vanilla federated learning and Differential Privacy (DP) federated learning approaches, achieving transparency and traceability through smart contracts by recording metadata of model updates into the blockchain. Finally, detailed evaluation demonstrates that AgriFLChain achieves comparable efficiency to centralized models while maintaining scalability in blockchain transactions for higher data volumes.
‘Hmm, they’re not stranger danger’: Facilitating Ethically Open Spaces for Children and Young People
Authors: Bacon Kyal Brian , Lohmeyer Ben Arnold
Published: February 2025

The way that children and young people engage within research continues to progress from the historical bio-medical notions of passiveness, towards contemporary, collaborative methodologies, and frameworks. Children and young people have the right to participate meaningfully in processes that affect them, and scholarship surrounding how this happens continues to develop. However, contemporary literature is predominantly concerned with why children and young people engage in research and overlooks how researchers and facilitators work with young people to navigate the contextual influences that shape the way they engage. The qualitative data presented within this paper was collected through two focus groups through which participants aged 8–10 years were asked about their experience in a trauma-informed program in their school. Utilising reflexive thematic analysis, we highlight significant themes in their experience of the facilitation of a trauma-informed program and the subsequent focus groups, including safety, choice, and resistance. By reflexively examining the participant’s experience of the program and the focus groups, this paper adds to current research arguing that researchers must reflect on how young people are engaging in the social context, not just why it is important for them to do so. Furthermore, we provide insight into the social context that informs how young people feel they should be engaging and the impact on the ongoing negotiation of consent in ethically open spaces.
Optimizing structural and magnetic properties of sodium niobate ceramics via Fe and Cu Co-doping for multifunctional applications
Authors: Sharma Daksh , Chaudhary Shristi , Rani Meenu , Jindal Shilpi , Kumar Sanjeev , Dalal Jasvir
Published: February 2025

Fe and Cu co-doping influences on the structural and magnetic properties of sodium niobate (NaNbO₃) antiferroelectric ceramics were systematically investigated. The doped NaNbO₃ samples were synthesized via solid-state reaction, with doping concentrations of Cu and Fe varying from 0.05 to 0.1 mol%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of dopants into the NaNbO₃ lattice, resulting in a decrease in crystallite size from 56.65 µm in undoped NaNbO₃ to 38.32 µm in samples with the highest dopant concentrations. This structural modification was accompanied by a lattice contraction, with lattice parameters (a, b, c) decreasing as doping increased. Additionally, magnetic analysis via Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) revealed a transition from paramagnetic to weak antiferromagnetic behaviour, with the highest magnetization (0.0025 emu/g) and coercivity (10 Oe) observed at 0.1 mol% doping, attributed to enhanced magnetic coupling due to the presence of Cu2⁺ and Fe2⁺ ions. The significant strain introduced by doping, as indicated by Williamson-Hall analysis, further demonstrates the potential of these materials for applications in advanced dielectric devices and magnetic sensors. The novelty of this study lies in the dual-doping approach, which achieves tailored structural and magnetic properties, enhancing the applicability of NaNbO₃-based ceramics in multifunctional device applications.
Seeing, Feeling, and Hearing the World. A Regenerative Worldview: Rinyi, Pirlirr and Liyan
Authors: Knight Kankawa Nagarra [Olive] , Poelina Anne , Wooltorton Sandra
Published: February 2025

In this communication, the Australian authors – two Indigenous women and one woman with Anglo-Celtic ancestry – take us into Western Australian Indigenous language and worldviews, to help us reach toward a regenerative worldview. Indigenous words such as rinyi, pirlirr, and liyan are explored to point us in a direction unfamiliar to many English speakers, to Land and Country as living and responsive. The authors notice that it is very difficult to describe these terms in English, because English language does not seem sufficiently capacious to describe the depth of relational being-with Country that Indigenous languages portray. This may be changing, as various Indigenous and place-based groups publish their messages to the world. Within a methodology that is poetic and ontological, a storying method is used to illustrate elements of an Indigenous regenerative worldview that highlights the lyrics of life, for hope. It is for change agents who want to be transformative of the ways they participate with Country; and enable children to learn.
Impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance and decolonization in the NICU: the Texas children’s hospital experience
Authors: Hiermandi Nahid , Foster Catherine , Campbell Judith , Purnell Krystal , Tocco Elizabeth , Koy Tjin , Nobleza Kenneth , Nguyen Duc , Marquez Lucila
Published: February 2025

Objective:

To determine the impact of screening and decolonization on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Study Design:

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study comparing patient characteristics among MRSA-colonized and MRSA-infected infants, rates of MRSA infection before and after screening with targeted decolonization, and MRSA infection among those receiving single or combined decolonization agents.

Setting:

Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women is a 42-bed level three neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Houston, TX.

Patients:

Neonates admitted to the NICU from 2012 to 2022 were included in analysis of MRSA colonization and infection. The gestational age ranged from 22 weeks to 42 weeks.

Interventions:

The MRSA screening methodology consisted of weekly surveillance PCR or culture on admission until discharge. If positive, infants underwent decolonization consisting of topical intranasal mupirocin, and if meeting the gestational and chronological age-based criteria, topical 2% chlorhexidine wipes and topical intranasal mupirocin.

Results:

The MRSA colonization rate from 2016 to 2022 was 2.2%. Following the screening and decolonization protocol initiated in 2016, there was a sustained downtrend in the rate of MRSA infection. No MRSA-colonized neonates who received both topical mupirocin and Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) developed MRSA infection.

Conclusions:

We observed a decreased rate of MRSA infection in the NICU following implementation of an MRSA screening and decolonization protocol. While our data suggests that the combination of mupirocin and CHG might prevent infection, further studies are needed due to the low prevalence of MRSA infection in our cohort.
A SET OF SHARED PROVERBS FROM THE CEDAR FOREST TABLET OF THE STANDARD BABYLONIAN GILGAMESH AND THE BOOK OF QOHELET 4, 9-12
Authors: Cohen Yoram
Published: February 2025

The article reconstructs lines 75–80 of Tablet V of the Standard Babylonian version of the Epic of Gilgameš. It offers a re-edition of all the extant sources and uses as a recourse verses 9–12 in Chapter 4 of the Book of Qohelet (Ecclesiastes). It then demonstrates how close the passage in the Epic of Gilgameš and the verses of the Book of Qohelet are. The article concludes with a brief discussion about the relationship between the Epic of Gilgameš and the Book of Qohelet.
ORALITY, VOICING, AND INTERRUPTION IN BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN LITERATURE
Authors: Worthington Martin
Published: February 2025

This paper unfolds in three steps. First it draws attention to how the import of Babylonian and Assyrian belles lettres can be affected by the manner in which the utterances are ‘voiced’. Second, it highlights interruption as a particular instance of this, proposing cases where characters are likely to be interrupting each other (the first treatment of this issue in Assyriology). Finally, it argues that the distribution of speech formulae in Gilgameš associates one such formula with interruption and aggression more than another.
Silicified microfossils from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation along a shelf margin-slope-basin transect in Hunan Province, South China, with stratigraphical implications
Authors: Ouyang Qing , Zhou Chuanming , Xiao Shuhai , Wu Chengxi , Chen Zhe , Lang Xianguo , Shi Hongyi , Sun Yunpeng
Published: February 2025

Silicified microfossils are reported from nine stratigraphic sections of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation deposited in shelf margin, slope, and basin environments in Hunan Province of South China. These microfossils include sphaeromorphic and acanthomorphic acritarchs (15 genera and 29 species, including three new acanthomorph species, Bullatosphaera? colliformis n. sp., Eotylotopalla inflata n. sp., and Verrucosphaera? undulata n. sp.), multicellular algae, tubular microfossils, and other problematic forms, representing major fossil groups similar to those from the Doushantuo Formation in more proximal facies (e.g., inner shelf and shelf lagoon). A database of the abundance and occurrences of Doushantuo acanthomorphs is assembled and analyzed using quantitative and data-visualization methods (e.g., rarefaction analysis, non-parametric multidimensional scaling, and network analysis). The results show that, at the genus and species levels, taxonomic richness of Doushantuo acanthomorphs exhibits considerable variation among facies, but this variation is largely due to sampling and taphonomic biases. The results also show that numerous acanthomorph taxa have broad facies distribution, affirming their biostratigraphic value. The analysis confirms that acanthomorphs in the Weng'an biota of shelf margin facies are composed of a mixture of Member II and Member III assemblages of shelf-lagoon facies in the Yangtze Gorges area. The study shows the biostratigraphic potential of acanthomorphs in the establishment of regional biozones using the first appearance datum of widely distributed taxa, highlighting the importance of continuing exploration of under-sampled Doushantuo sections in slope and basinal facies.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/6fc92858-4054-4117-8043-1f06cfe77155
TRIANGULATED CHARACTERIZATIONS OF SINGULARITIES
Authors: LANK PAT , VENKATESH SRIDHAR
Published: February 2025

This work presents a range of triangulated characterizations for important classes of singularities such as derived splinters, rational singularities, and Du Bois singularities. An invariant called “level” in a triangulated category can be used to measure the failure of a variety to have a prescribed singularity type. We provide explicit computations of this invariant for reduced Nagata schemes of Krull dimension one and for affine cones over smooth projective hypersurfaces. Furthermore, these computations are utilized to produce upper bounds for Rouquier dimension on the respective bounded derived categories.
Mothers of Sierra Leone: Improving Maternal Health through Storytelling
Authors: Kramp Michael , Wakeel Fathima , Murray Ellen , Falatko Hannah
Published: February 2025

Mothers of Sierra Leone leverages the power of filmic storytelling to improve maternal health outcomes in Sierra Leone, a country with one of the planet’s highest maternal mortality rates. Since 2019, we have operated as part of Lehigh University’s Global Social Impact program, working with a team of interdisciplinary students to amplify the voices of Sierra Leonean women rather than transmit Western medical expertise. Our project is based on two premises: (1) we will not solve the healthcare crisis in Sierra Leone through technology and (2) women experience better healthcare outcomes when they are confident and comfortable to advocate for themselves. Our focus group and survey data indicate that our filmic storytelling improves women’s confidence to advocate for themselves and increases their knowledge of available health services. Maternal mortality may be one of the most expansive health challenges facing our planet today because we struggle to comprehend or delimit its parameters, including structural and systemic racism, networks of capitalism, insufficient infrastructure, disparate access to medicine, and patriarchal violence. Our failures to tell public, accessible, and equitable stories about maternal mortality exacerbates and often exoticizes this crisis.
Police interrogation and fraudulent epistemic environments
Authors: Hunt Luke William
Published: February 2025

The police are required to establish probable cause before engaging in custodial interrogation. Much custodial interrogation relies on a fraudulent epistemic environment (FEE) in which the police knowingly use deception and dishonesty to gain an advantage over a suspect regarding a material issue, injuring the interests of the suspect. Probable cause, then, is a sort of evidentiary and epistemic standard that legally justifies the police’s use of deceptive and dishonest custodial interrogation tactics that are on par with fraud. However, there are both deontological and consequentialist considerations that show why the police’s use of an FEE is often unjustified. Accordingly, the paper argues that even if the use of an FEE is based on probable cause, there are other (non-epistemic) reasons to think evidence with probative value (such as a confession) should be excluded when derived from an FEE and there is no acute threat of harm to others.
Demographic and Injury Characteristics of Patients Injured in a Hailstorm
Authors: Kokulu Kamil , Sert Ekrem Taha , Özdemir Serdar , Mutlu Hüseyin , Altunok İbrahim
Published: February 2025

Objective:

The aim of this study was to describe the demographic characteristics, injury characteristics, and outcomes of individuals sustaining injuries during a hailstorm in Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods:

In this study, the medical records of 76 patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary hospital after incurring injuries due to hailstorms were retrospectively reviewed. Analyses were performed to identify hailstorm-associated injury profiles, injury mechanisms, patient demographics, and ED resource use.

Results:

Of the 76 patients, 42 (55.3%) were male and 34 (44.7%) were female, with the ages of the patients ranging from five to 79 years. Of the patients, 93.4% presented to the ED within the first eight hours after a hailstorm. The most common injury mechanisms were the direct impact of hailstones on the body surface (36.8%) and slips and falls during escape (35.6%). The most frequently injured anatomical areas were skin (60.5%), head (44.7%), and extremities (16.7%). Significant injuries occurred in only 11.8% of the patients, of whom three were treated surgically and one died. The most common injuries were soft tissue and minor head injuries.

Conclusions:

Severe hailstorms often strike suddenly and can be difficult to predict. In response, EDs must handle a large number of injured patients in the aftermath of a hailstorm. It is important to remember that hailstorms, like other natural disasters, can cause serious injuries.
Identifying Key Polluters: The Feasibility of Applying the Polluter Pays Principle to Marine Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors: Zhu Ling , Li Xinwei
Published: February 2025

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping contribute meaningfully to climate change. Despite significant efforts of the International Maritime Organization over recent decades, existing measures are still inadequate for achieving net-zero GHG emissions in the shipping sector and multilateral negotiations hold little promise for improvement. This article considers the polluter pays principle (PPP) as an alternative or additional pathway for tackling marine GHG emissions. The article focuses on the challenges in identifying polluters, which is the key issue that must be addressed before the PPP can be applied. Specifically, the article presents an analytical framework and examines various approaches to identifying marine GHG emissions polluters. Firstly, it identifies the polluter from a general perspective, using three approaches: examining the issue broadly, reviewing international conventions and European Union initiatives that incorporate the PPP, and analyzing selected domestic legislation reflecting the PPP. The article then focuses on maritime shipping, considering specifically two types of contract of affreightment – charterparties and bills of lading – while highlighting key factors in identifying the polluter. In conclusion, the assessment of causal links, along with operational and management decisions regarding the vessel, attribute the status of primary polluter to the shipowner, demise charterer, and time charterer.
Polygenic scores for autism are associated with reduced neurite density in adults and children from the general population
Authors: Gu Yuanjun , Maria-Stauffer Eva , Bedford Saashi A. ,   APEX consortium, Adhya Deep , Allison Carrie , Ayeung Bonnie , Bamford Rosie , Bethlehem Richard , Biron-Shental Tal , Burton Graham , Davies Jonathan , Davis Joanna , Floris Dori , Franklin Alice , Gabis Lidia , Geschwind Daniel , Greenberg David M. , Havdahl Alexandra , Heazell Alexander , Holt Rosemary , Hurles Matthew , Khan Yumnah , Lai Meng-Chuan , Lancaster Madeline , Lombardo Michael , Martinez Jose Gonzalez , Mill Jonathan , Musa Mahmoud Koko , Niakan Kathy , Pavlinek Adam , Polit Lucia Dutan , Radecki Marcin , Rowitch David , Sichlinger Laura , Srivastava Deepak , Tsompanidis Alexandros , Uzefovsky Florina , Weir Elizabeth , Zhang Xinhe ,   iPSYCH-autism consortium, Borglum Anders , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Hougaard David M. , Mors Ole , Mortensen Preben Bo , Nordentoft Merete , Werge Thomas , Romero-Garcia Rafael , Grove Jakob , Børglum Anders D. , Martin Hilary , Baron-Cohen Simon , Bethlehem Richard A. I. , Warrier Varun
Published: February 2025

Genetic variants linked to autism are thought to change cognition and behaviour by altering the structure and function of the brain. Although a substantial body of literature has identified structural brain differences in autism, it is unknown whether autism-associated common genetic variants are linked to changes in cortical macro- and micro-structure. We investigated this using neuroimaging and genetic data from adults (UK Biobank, N = 31,748) and children (ABCD, N = 4928). Using polygenic scores and genetic correlations we observe a robust negative association between common variants for autism and a magnetic resonance imaging derived phenotype for neurite density (intracellular volume fraction) in the general population. This result is consistent across both children and adults, in both the cortex and in white matter tracts, and confirmed using polygenic scores and genetic correlations. There were no sex differences in this association. Mendelian randomisation analyses provide no evidence for a causal relationship between autism and intracellular volume fraction, although this should be revisited using better powered instruments. Overall, this study provides evidence for shared common variant genetics between autism and cortical neurite density.
Tripartite motif-containing protein 26 promotes colorectal cancer growth by inactivating p53
Authors: Tan Zhihui , Ko Hyun Min , Naji Parnian , Zhu Rong , Wang Jieqiong , Huang Shibo , Zhang Yiwei , Zeng Shelya X. , Lu Hua
Published: February 2025

Tripartite motif-containing protein 26 (TRIM26) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that exhibits divergent roles in various cancer types (oncogenic and anti-oncogenic). This study investigates the interaction of TRIM26 with the tumor suppressor protein p53 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by performing a comprehensive set of biochemical, cell-based assays, and xenograft experiments. As a result, we found that overexpression of TRIM26 significantly enhances CRC cell proliferation and colony formation, while knockdown of TRIM26 suppresses these processes. Xenograft experiments further validated the tumor-promoting role of TRIM26 in CRC. Supporting this is that TRIM26 is highly expressed in human CRC tissues as revealed by our analysis of the TCGA database. Biochemically, TRIM26 directly bound to the C-terminus of p53 and facilitated its ubiquitination, resulting in proteolytic degradation and attenuated p53 activity independently of MDM2. Also, TRIM26 increased the MDM2-mediated ubiquitination of p53 by binding to MDM2’s C-terminus. This study uncovers the oncogenic potential of TRIM26 in CRC by inhibiting p53 function. Through its ubiquitin ligase activity, TRIM26 destabilizes p53, consequently promoting CRC cell proliferation and tumor growth. These findings shed light on the complex involvement of TRIM26 in cancer and identify this ubiquitin ligase as a potential therapeutic target for future development of CRC treatment.
Context-dependent change in the fitness effect of (in)organic phosphate antiporter glpT during Salmonella Typhimurium infection
Authors: Santamaria de Souza Noemi , Cherrak Yassine , Andersen Thea Bill , Vetsch Michel , Barthel Manja , Kroon Sanne , Bakkeren Erik , Schubert Christopher , Christen Philipp , Kiefer Patrick , Vorholt Julia A. , Nguyen Bidong D. , Hardt Wolf-Dietrich
Published: February 2025

Salmonella enterica is a frequent cause of foodborne diseases, which is attributed to its adaptability. Even within a single host, expressing a gene can be beneficial in certain infection stages but neutral or even detrimental in others as previously shown for flagellins. Mutants deficient for the conserved glycerol-3-phosphate and phosphate antiporter glpT have been shown to be positively selected in nature, clinical, and laboratory settings. This suggests that different selective pressures select for the presence or absence of GlpT in a context dependent fashion, a phenomenon known as antagonistic pleiotropy. Using mutant libraries and reporters, we investigated the fitness of glpT-deficient mutants during murine orogastric infection. While glpT-deficient mutants thrive during initial growth in the gut lumen, where GlpT’s capacity to import phosphate is disadvantageous, they are counter-selected by macrophages. The dichotomy showcases the need to study the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of enteric pathogens’ fitness across distinct lifestyles and niches. Insights into the differential adaptation during infection may reveal opportunities for therapeutic interventions.
Cecelia: a multifunctional image analysis toolbox for decoding spatial cellular interactions and behaviour
Authors: Schienstock Dominik , Hor Jyh Liang , Devi Sapna , Mueller Scott N.
Published: February 2025

With the ever-increasing complexity of microscopy modalities, it is imperative to have computational workflows that enable researchers to process and perform in-depth quantitative analysis of the resulting images. However, workflows that allow flexible, interactive and intuitive analysis from raw images to analysed data are lacking for many experimental use-cases. Notably, integrated software solutions for analysis of complex 3D and live cell images are sorely needed. To address this, we present Cecelia, a toolbox that integrates various open-source packages into a coherent data management suite to make quantitative multidimensional image analysis accessible for non-specialists. We describe the application of Cecelia to several immunologically relevant scenarios and the development of an unbiased approach to distinguish dynamic cell behaviours from live imaging data. Cecelia is available as a software package with a Shiny app interface (https://github.com/schienstockd/cecelia). We envision that this framework and its approaches will be of broad use for biological researchers.
Glutathione triggers leaf-to-leaf, calcium-based plant defense signaling
Authors: Li Rui , Yang Yongfang , Lou Hao , Wang Weicheng , Du Ran , Chen Haidong , Du Xiaoxi , Hu Shuai , Wang Guo-Liang , Yan Jianbin , Shan Xiaoyi , Xie Daoxin
Published: February 2025

Animals rely on nervous systems to cope with environmental variability, whereas plants are characterized by lack of nervous system but still have evolved systemic communication systems through signaling molecules that trigger long-distance defense signaling events when encountered with environmental challenges. Here, our genetic screening of the previously constructed hairpin RNA-based Arabidopsis library identifies a glutathione (GSH)-deficient mutant that has high accumulation of glutamate (Glu), a previously defined wound signal essential for activating plant defense, but disharmoniously exhibits attenuation of defense signaling events. We further uncover GSH as a critical signaling molecule that relies on GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE 3.3 (GLR3.3) to trigger long-distance calcium-based defense signaling events in plants. Our findings offer new insights into highly sophisticated systemic defense systems evolved by plants to defend against herbivory and pathogen invasion.
Pan-cancer analysis reveals SMARCAL1 expression is associated with immune cell infiltration and poor prognosis in various cancers
Authors: Zhao Wu-jie , Wang Meng-lei , Zhao Yun-fang , Zhao Wen-peng , Huang Qiong-hui , Lu Zhen-wei , Jia Fang , Shi Jin-jin , Liu Bo-sen , Han Wan-hong , Lu Han-wen , Zhang Bing-chang , Wang Zhan-xiang
Published: February 2025

Although immune checkpoint inhibition in particular has shown promise in cancer immunotherapy, it is not always efficient. Recent studies suggest that SMARCAL1 may play a role in tumor immune evasion, yet its pan-cancer role is unclear. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of SMARCAL1 using TCGA, GTEx, and CCLE databases, evaluating its expression, genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications, and their clinical correlations across 33 cancer types. Our findings indicate that SMARCAL1 is overexpressed in several cancers, such as Glioma, LUAD, KIRC, and LIHC, impacting prognosis. Elevated SMARCAL1 is linked to poor outcomes in Glioma, LUAD, and LIHC but correlates with better survival in KIRC. We also found significant associations between SMARCAL1 expression and DNA methylation in 13 cancers. Furthermore, SMARCAL1 expression correlates with immune infiltration, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. This study underscores the need for further research on SMARCAL1 to enhance immunotherapeutic strategies.
Construction organoid model of ovarian endometriosis and the function of estrogen and progesterone in the model
Authors: Zhang Ruiqi , Yang Yu’e , Li Ruyue , Ma Yuan , Ma Shaohan , Chen Xiuxin , Li Bowei , Li Bei , Qi XinYi , Ha Chunfang
Published: February 2025

Endometriosis is a refractory estrogen-dependent gynecological disease in which ovarian endometriosis(OE) is the most common, and the main cell components are endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells. However, constructing ectopic endometrial epithelial cell models in basic studies is still challenging. In this study, we explored the feasibility and influencing factors of constructing and validating eutopic and ectopic endometrial organoid models of OE as in-vitro models. Eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of OE patients were selected to establish organoids. Morphologically, the organoids showed a three-dimensional glandular structure with vacuoles or cystic irregularities, and the histological features of the epithelial organoids in endometriosis were well preserved. Immunofluorescence showed positive expression of epithelial markers and estrogen/progesterone receptors. Genetic identification revealed a 100% match between endometriosis epithelial organoids and endometrial tissue, indicating a common origin. The effects of estrogen and progesterone on the proliferation and secretion of organoids differed with the change in concentration. The successful construction of ectopic endometrial organoids provides a new in vitro model for drug intervention and mechanism study of ovarian endometriosis.
Bioprinting of mesenchymal stem cells in low concentration gelatin methacryloyl/alginate blends without ionic crosslinking of alginate
Authors: Jahani Kadousaraei Masoumeh , Yamada Shuntaro , Aydin Mehmet Serhat , Rashad Ahmad , Cabeza Noemi Molina , Mohamed-Ahmed Samih , Gjerde Cecilie G. , Malkoch Michael , Mustafa Kamal
Published: February 2025

Bioprinting allows for the fabrication of tissue-like constructs by precise architecture and positioning of the bioactive hydrogels with living cells. This study was performed to determine the effect of very low concentrations of alginate (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% w/v) on bioprinting of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA; 5% w/v)/alginate blend. Furthermore, while GelMA was photocrosslinked in all bioprinted constructs, the effect of crosslinking alginate with calcium chloride on the physical and biological characteristics of the constructs was investigated. The inclusion of low-concentration alginate improved the viscosity and printability of the formulation as well as the compressive modulus of the hydrogels, particularly when ionically crosslinked with calcium chloride, compared with the group in that alginate was not crosslinked. However, the stability and degradability of 3D printed scaffolds that were only photocrosslinked were comparable to those that were additionally crosslinked with calcium chloride. Noteworthily, ionic crosslinking of alginate deteriorated the viability of BMSC. Morphology and growth of BMSC were improved by adding a low alginate concentration; however, ionic crosslinking of alginate affected these factors adversely. The findings of this study underscore the significance of carefully evaluating the crosslinking strategy used in conjunction with cell-laden GelMA/alginate hydrogel to achieve balanced physical and biological properties as well as less complicated post-bioprinting processing.
Filling the climate finance gap: holistic approaches to mobilise private finance in developing economies
Authors: Kerr Suzi , Hu Xian
Published: February 2025

Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires over $8.4 trillion annually for the rest of this decade, but current efforts are insufficient, especially in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). Using a theoretical model of the climate finance gap, we identify key factors needed to close this gap and examine how adjustments in carbon pricing could effectively mobilise the required investment. Our findings highlight the importance of strengthening two core elements: (1) Reframing ‘international carbon markets’ to focus on supporting comprehensive, equitable transitions in EMDEs and fostering large-scale systemic cooperation, and delivering real mitigation impacts. (2) Implementing holistic transition plans and cohesive packages of public, private, and market support to create economic, social, and political environments that enable credible and effective policy implementation, while providing the critical technology and skilled labour needed to make private financial flows more responsive to carbon price signals.
Pathogenesis and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 D614G, Alpha, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants in golden hamsters
Authors: Banete Andra , Griffin Bryan D. , Corredor Juan C. , Chien Emily , Yip Lily , Gunawardena Tarini N. A. , Nirmalarajah Kuganya , Liang Jady , Lee Yaejin , Leacy Alexander , Pagliarani Sara , de Borja Richard , Yim Winfield , Lee Hunsang , Onodera Yu , Aftanas Patryk , Budylowski Patrick , Ahn Sang Kyun , Pei Yanlong , Ouyang Hong , Kent Laura , Li Xinliu Angel , Ostrowski Mario A. , Kozak Robert A. , Wootton Sarah K. , Christie-Holmes Natasha , Gray-Owen Scott D. , Taipale Mikko , Simpson Jared T. , Maguire Finlay , McGeer Allison J. , Zhang Haibo , Susta Leonardo , Moraes Theo J. , Mubareka Samira
Published: February 2025

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, novel variants have evolved to become dominant circulating lineages. These include D614G (B.1 lineage), Alpha (B.1.1.7), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron BA.1 (B.1.1.529) and BA.2 (B.1.1.529.2) viruses. Here, we compared the viral replication, pathogenesis, and transmissibility of these variants. Replication kinetics and innate immune response against the viruses were tested in ex vivo human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC) and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived lung organoids (IPSC-LOs), and the golden hamster model was employed to test pathogenicity and potential for transmission by the respiratory route. Delta, BA.1, and BA.2 viruses replicated more efficiently, and outcompeted D614G, Alpha, and Gamma viruses in an HNEC competition assay. BA.1 and BA.2 viruses, however, replicated poorly in IPSC-LOs compared to other variants. Moreover, BA.2 virus infection significantly increased secretion of IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, IL-6, and IL-1RA in HNECs relative to D614G infection, but not in IPSC-LOs. The BA.1 and BA.2 viruses replicated less effectively in hamster lungs compared to the other variants; and while the Gamma virus reached titers comparable to D614G and Delta viruses, it caused greater lung pathology. Lastly, the Gamma and Delta variants transmitted more efficiently by the respiratory route compared to the other viruses, while BA.1 and BA.2 viruses transmitted less efficiently. These findings demonstrate the ongoing utility of experimental risk assessment as SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to evolve.
Conformational analysis of biomineral proteins interacting with inorganic minerals using dispersive mineral particles for solution NMR
Authors: Futagawa Kei , Kato Yugo , Suzuki Michio
Published: February 2025

Biominerals form via organic–inorganic interactions, but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Solution NMR with dispersive mineral particles enables conformational analysis, providing insights for biomimetic mineral synthesis.
A digital microfluidic approach to increasing sample volume and reducing bead numbers in single molecule array assays
Authors: Salari Alinaghi , Camacho Valenzuela Jose Gilberto , Le Nguyen , Dahmer Joshua , Sklavounos Alexandros A. , Kan Cheuk W. , Manning Ryan , Duffy David C. , Pollock Nira R. , Wheeler Aaron R.
Published: February 2025

Digital microfluidics enables processing of large sample volumes (up to 100 μL) with low bead counts (as few as 5000) in single molecule array assays.
Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal evaluation of novel Knoevenagel hydroxychloroquine derivatives
Authors: Dario Priscila Paola , Yamashita Luis , Salome Kahlil , Kosinski Gabriel , Justen Guilherme , Rampon Daniel da S. , Lazarin-Bidóia Danielle , Nakamura Celso  V. , Rosa Fernanda Andreia , Montes D’Oca Marcelo G.
Published: February 2025

Leishmaniasis and Chagas diseases affect millions of people, particularly in developing countries, with conventional treatments proving unsatisfactory due to increasing drug resistance and high toxicity. Therefore, there is an urgent...
Binding affinity and transport studies of engineered photocrosslinkable affibody-enzyme-nanoparticle constructs
Authors: Curry Shane D. , Bower Bryce M. , Saemundsson Sven A. , Goodwin Andrew P. , Cha Jennifer N.
Published: February 2025

Modulating affinity and photocrosslinking of affibody-silica nanoparticle complexes leads to altered 3D particle transport in tumor spheroid models.
Thermally-driven fabrication of single-atom catalysts from bulk metal foil for oxygen reduction
Authors: Ge Xiao , Shao Yucheng , Gan Yuyang , Liu Xinya
Published: February 2025

A straightforward SACs synthesis method via thermal-induced bulk foil emission is proposed, offering a cost-effective fabrication platform for industrial applications.
Perylene Tetracarboxylate Dye Based Colorimetric and Fluorometric Sensor for ppb-Level Fluoride Detection in Water
Authors: Mahanta Sanjeev Pran , Mushahary Bikash Chandra , Bora Debajit , Goswami Chayanika , Das Rituraj
Published: February 2025

Fluoride contamination in water is a serious global concern, demanding advanced sensing and quantitative monitoring methodologies. Many existing fluoride sensors are limited to detecting fluoride ions in organic mediums, but...
Recent Advances in Functional Lipid-Based Nanomedicine as Drug Carriers for Organ-Specific Delivery
Authors: Yun Yeochan , An Jeongmin , Kim Hyun Joong , Choi Hye Kyu , Cho Hyeon-Yeol
Published: February 2025

Lipid-based nanoparticles have emerged as promising drug delivery systems for a wide range of therapeutic agents, including plasmids, mRNA, and proteins. However, these nanoparticles still encounter various challenges in drug...
Interfacial polarization-induced tribological behavior in MoS2/β-Te and G/β-Te heterostructures
Authors: Ru Guoliang , Qi Weihong , Xue Kaiyuan , Wang Mengzhao , Liu Xuqing
Published: February 2025

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures have opened up new avenues for controlling nanoscale friction; however, the relationship between their interfacial characteristics and frictional behavior remains to be thoroughly explored.
Palladium-Catalyzed Difluorocarbene Transfer Synthesis of Diaryl Ketones from Iodoarene and Arylboronic Acid
Authors: Tan Zhiyong , Chen Tingting , Shen Jiayi , Zhu Jinbin , Zhong Weihong , Guo Wei
Published: February 2025

Herein, we disclose a novel carbonylative Suzuki-Miyaura reaction for the synthesis of diaryl ketones via palladium-catalyzed difluorocarbene transfer. BrCF2CO2Et was employed as a safe and effective carbonyl surrogate. The CO...
Experimental heat capacity of highly stable diamond/thermal oil nano-suspensions
Authors: Ahmed Anas , Ilyas Suhaib Umer , Noshad Nawal , Alsaady Mustafa , Abdulrahman Aymn , Mahfouz Abdullah Bin , Ali Abulhassan
Published: February 2025

Experimental specific heat capacity (SHC) analysis of nano-diamond/thermal oil nanofluids using DSC, and its comparison with conventional models. A decrement of 8.25% in SHC is found for 1 wt% nanofluid.