bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal Aspects of Adherence to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): The Controlled Routinization of Sexual Freedom and Spontaneity
Authors: Sandset Tony , Betancourth Víctor , Skolbekken John-Arne
Published: January 2025

This study explores the adherence practices of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users in Norway, focusing on how adherence work enables sexual freedom and spontaneity. Using qualitative interviews with 25 participants (24 gay cisgender men and one transgender man, aged 19–54), we investigate the tensions between the structured routines of adherence and the spontaneity facilitated by PrEP. Our findings highlight two key themes: routine and freedom. Routine adherence practices involved strategies such as using alarms, pill organizers, and synchronizing dosing with daily activities, emphasizing the temporal discipline required to maintain PrEP adherence. These “cold moments” of planning and routinization were essential to enabling “hot moments” of spontaneity, allowing participants to experience sexual freedom with reduced anxiety around HIV risk. The study demonstrates a temporal paradox where structured adherence practices afford spontaneity and autonomy, reframing adherence as an active and embodied labor rather than passive compliance. These findings underscore the importance of addressing the temporal and practical dimensions of adherence in designing PrEP implementation and support strategies. By conceptualizing adherence as work, this study informs public health policies and interventions aimed at enhancing PrEP accessibility and fostering sustainable adherence practices, especially in diverse socio-cultural contexts.
Experiential Learning for Citizen Developers
Authors: Matook Sabine , Wang Yazhu Maggie , Axelsen Micheal
Published: January 2025

Citizen developers and low-code platforms considerably change how software is created because the development of business applications transgresses the boundaries of organizational IT departments. With these changes, a new generation of developers must be trained. Such training is considered the responsibility of higher education institutions that enthusiastically adopt practice-based and experiential learning approaches. At the core, the focus is on real-world experiences and practical problem-solving, albeit with growing concerns about limiting deep learning and metacognitive reflections. Ample educational research highlights that metacognition is essential for students to be workplace-ready, but very little research has investigated the impact of practice-based learning on metacognitive reflections. This study draws on experiential learning theory to examine the influence of experiences in a low-code systems development project on metacognitive thinking. In a quantitative study using a survey, the effects of experiential learning factors (i.e., authenticity, active learning, self-relevance, and utility) and a team-based learning factor on metacognitive reflections are tested. Results show that when citizen developers create business applications, the experiential learning factors positively impact metacognitive reflections. However, team-based learning only positively moderates the relationship between self-relevance and reflections, whereas it negatively moderates the relationship between authenticity and reflections. Taken as a whole, the study's contributions suggest that practice-based learning using low-code platforms under the citizen developer method is an effective way to train IT talents with needed context and life-long self-learning skills.
Anti-proliferative and Pro-apoptotic Activity of a Novel Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion Containing Tea Tree Oil, Quercetin, and Rosmarinic Acid in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Medina-Magariño Esther de J. , Pinos-Rodríguez Juan M. , Pulido-Capiz Ángel , García-González Víctor , Torres-Maravilla Edgar , Quiroz-Mercado Joaquín A. , Cano-Sarmiento Cynthia
Published: January 2025

Cancer is one of the main causes of death across major mammalian orders, being the mammary gland tumor the most frequent in females. Surgery is the most widely used prescription for this condition; however, due to its side effects, new and less invasive treatments using bioactive compounds are being sought. Nanostructured systems, such as nanoemulsions (NEs), enable more efficient delivery and protection of these compounds, allowing it to reach its site of action more effectively. The present study aimed to develop oil-in-water (O/W) NEs with tea tree essential oil integrating quercetin, rosmarinic acid, or both and evaluate them as potential therapeutic agents in breast cancer cells. The NEs were characterized by particle size distribution and Z-potential for 4 weeks. Subsequently, their impact on cell viability was assessed in MDA-MB-231 cells, a triple-negative breast cancer cell line. The four NEs had an average size within the nanometer scale (10–9 m), ideal to passive target the anticancer effect (< 200 nm) due to the retention effect and facilitate its permeability. These vehicles were kept stable at 4 °C for 4 weeks. Our findings demonstrate that with initial doses of 3.9 μg/mL of these NEs, significant antiproliferative activity is achieved in cancer cells (~ 80%, p < 0.001); furthermore, the induction of apoptosis through caspase activation was demonstrated in MDA-MB-231 cells. In summary, our preliminary results suggest that nanoemulsions (NEs) of tea tree oil incorporating the bioactive compounds uercetin and rosmarinic acid may have potential therapeutic applications as co-adjuvant treatment of human breast cancer.
Unravelling the Potential of Anticancer Drugs for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Low Zheng Yao , Wong Ka Heng , Yip Ashley Jia Wen , Liew Hern Liang , Farouk Isra Ahmad , Lal Sunil Kumar , Choo Wee Sim
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, repositioning several anticancer drugs has modulated SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammatory responses and disrupted viral replication. This review aims to discuss the potential of anticancer drug repositioning (DR) for anti-SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, its limitations, and other notable successes of DR against COVID-19.

Recent Findings

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, an etiological agent that accounted for the current chaotic COVID-19 episode, has brought many lives away. Notably, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has contributed significantly to the viral replication of all RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, making it a promising target for drug treatment. The lack of efficacious drugs combined with the prolonged duration of the drug discovery process has prompted many to opt for drug repositioning (DR) as an alternative route to combat current or emerging diseases. The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a telomerase catalytic subunit in cancers, has been identified with functional and structural similarities to the viral RdRp, making it a potential target to explore drug repositioning of current anticancer drugs for antiviral usage.

Taken together, the investigation of hTERT and other anticancer drugs is essential to explore other uses of existing drugs for COVID-19, especially in such an urgent time of need. This review highlights the prospects of repositioning anticancer drugs against COVID-19 and its limitations.
Bridges monitoring and assessment using an integrated bim methodology
Authors: Rodriguez Polania D. , Tondolo F. , Osello A. , Piras M. , Di Pietra V. , Grasso N.
Published: January 2025

Risk assessment of long-existing infrastructure has become one of the main challenges in civil engineering. Major efforts have been made in recent years to develop new techniques for rapid damage identification and ensure proper management of these structures. This paper presents a data management approach utilizing BIM methodology to create a digital database for bridge monitoring procedures. Initially, two BIM methodologies for creating a damage database are introduced, focusing on beams from a dismantled urban viaduct. Subsequently, the most suitable methodology is applied to an existing bridge in Turin, Italy. Through the chosen methodology a damage identification and classification process based on a triangular mesh is performed, assisted by a convolutional neural network (CNN) for automatic damage detection. Additionally, the paper outlines a digitalization process within a BIM environment, integrating official guidelines for bridge risk evaluation, classification, and monitoring in Italy. By employing programming tools, all data required by the guidelines is efficiently incorporated into the database. The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of remote sensing applications for bridge inspection and the possibility of merging BIM methodology into the inspection process to enhance the damage assessment of existing structures.
Evaluating Deep Learning Advances for Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation in Urban Environments
Authors: Yan Hailun , Lau Albert , Fan Hongchao
Published: January 2025

The rapid evolution of deep learning technologies has substantially influenced the field of urban-scene point cloud semantic segmentation (USPCSS), a cornerstone for various applications ranging from road-level applications such as autonomous driving, traffic management, and railway track inspection to urban-level applications such as disaster management, urban planning, and rail infrastructure monitoring. Despite remarkable progress, the complexity of urban environments presents unique challenges. This study conducts an in-depth review of both state-of-the-art and pioneering deep learning models and datasets specifically tailored for USPCSS. First, we categorize the existing mainstream USPCSS datasets into road-level and urban-level, summarize their metadata and unique characteristics, and discuss their associated challenges in semantic segmentation. Second, we classify the USPCSS deep learning models into four categories—image-based, voxel-based, point-based, and fusion-based—highlighting unique strengths and weaknesses, architectures, and innovations. Third, we introduce the mainstream USPCSS evaluation metrics, and conduct comparative analyses of these models on selected datasets. Findings reveal that the recent point-based methods such as PTv3 significantly dominate the accuracy metrics across road-level benchmarks, indicating the robustness of using transformer-based architectures for the direct processing of complex urban-scene point clouds. In the end, we address the pressing challenges and gaps in current research, offering insights into future directions for advancing the USPCSS field. Through this review study, we aim to provide thorough guidance to researchers, engineers, and decision-makers who are seeking comprehensive understanding and cutting-edge solutions in the current field of USPCSS.
Megaproject responsible innovation: Concept, framework, and governance
Authors: Lin Han , Nie Shangyao , Wu Pingping , Yuan Ming , Yu Mingchuan , Tam Vivian
Published: January 2025

The reliability and sustainability of innovation in megaprojects are of critical importance with complex stakeholders and substantial resource investments. In that respect, responsible innovation management is the key to the sustainable development of megaprojects. This paper proposes the concept of megaproject responsible innovation (MRI) and develops a holistic framework for MRI with four dimensions: (1) anticipation across the megaproject life cycle, (2) inclusion of various parties in a relationship of symbiosis, competition, and cooperation, (3) reflexivity of social responsibility, and (4) responsiveness to social expectations. Based on an ecosystem approach to megaproject innovation, we propose an ecological governance strategy for MIR. Moreover, different approaches are needed in innovation organizations which are part of specific ecological niches for effective and efficient governance.
Violence, change and continuity in times of transition
Authors: Schwarz Alexander W. , Kühn Florian P. , Eichenberg Julia
Published: January 2025

This article discusses how analyses of conflict often overlook competing interpretations of violence in times of change and transition. As a result, in historiography as well as in public discourse, wars just ‘end’ while neglecting the phenomena that are overlapping war and peaceful periods. This article argues that, along the dimensions of state domination, economy and law, alternative periodizations are required to do justice to actors whose politics are often not very strategic yet important for the political dynamics of transitions. Violence, we argue, can be used as a marker and entry point into the complex politics of change, which are motivated by ideology, opportunity, societal dynamics and lack of coherent control by the state or other institutions.
Plant metabolomics: applications and challenges in the era of multi-omics big data
Authors: Hao Yingchen , Zhang Zhonghui , Luo Enxi , Yang Jun , Wang Shouchuang
Published: January 2025

Plant metabolites are crucial for the growth, development, environmental adaptation, and nutritional quality of plants. Plant metabolomics, a key branch of systems biology, involves the comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the composition, variation, and functions of these metabolites. Advances in technology have transformed plant metabolomics into a sophisticated process involving sample collection, metabolite extraction, high-throughput analysis, data processing, and multidimensional statistical analysis. In today’s era of big data, the field is witnessing an explosion in data acquisition, offering insight into the complexity and dynamics of plant metabolism. Moreover, multiple omics strategies can be integrated to reveal interactions and regulatory networks across different molecular levels, deepening our understanding of plant biological processes. In this review, we highlight recent advances and challenges in plant metabolomics, emphasizing the roles for this technique in improving crop varieties, enhancing nutritional value, and increasing stress resistance. We also explore the scientific foundations of plant metabolomics and its applications in medicine, and ecological conservation.
Education for sustainable development: analyzing research trends in higher education for sustainable development goals through bibliometric analysis
Authors: Tafese Mestawot Beyene , Kopp Erika
Published: January 2025

Education is a critical component in the advancement of global sustainable development. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in research output within higher education institutions dedicated to this pivotal area. This study aims to identify emerging trends in higher education research on sustainable development goals and examine the specific focus areas in which researchers are engaged. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted on scholarly articles on education for sustainable development (ESD), utilizing data from the Scopus database. 2221 documents were extracted from the database of scientific articles published between 1990 and 2023. After a thorough screening, 1013 articles met the eligibility criteria and were subsequently analyzed using the R-Studio software platform. The findings indicate a significant increase in scientific output in this area since 2018, peaking in 2022 and then declining in 2023. The most prominent journal in this field is Sustainability, published in Switzerland. Gericke is identified as the most prolific author, followed by notable contributions from Leal and Kopnina, who have the highest H-index impact. Regarding publication volumes, China, Spain, and Germany are the leading countries. Thematic analysis revealed a predominant emphasis on the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development, with a comparatively less focus on social sustainability. This imbalance has significant implications, as social sustainability is critical to achieving societal stability. The findings of this research highlight the necessity for a comprehensive approach to higher education research that considers social sustainability, intending to promote a more holistic and enduring sustainability in the future.
Emergency Scenarios in Functional Neurosurgery
Authors: Manfield James , Park Nicholas
Published: January 2025

Functional Neurosurgery modifies CNS circuits to effect change within or outside the nervous system. Most commonly, Functional procedures are performed to treat movement disorders, chronic pain, spasticity and epilepsy. Whilst regarded as a predominantly elective subspecialty, emergent scenarios are encountered. The combination of their relative rarity couple with the niche nature of the subspecialty may engender anxiety amongst neurosurgery trainees. This Element overviews some more common emergency scenarios which may be encountered comprising suspected malfunction of intra-thecal drug delivery devices, deep brain and spinal cord stimulators. Status Trigeminus and an approach to investigations with a neuromodulation device in situ are also covered.
The Greatest of All Time
Authors: Eleff Zev
Published: January 2025

Americans love to talk about 'greatness.' In this book, Zev Eleff explores the phenomenon of 'greatness' culture and what Americans really mean when they talk about greatness. Greatness discourse provides a uniquely American language for participants to discuss their 'ideal' aspirational values and make meaning of their personal lives. The many incarnations and insinuations of 'greatness' suggest more about those carrying on the conversation than they do about those being discussed. An argument for Abraham Lincoln or Franklin D. Roosevelt over George Washington as America's greatest statesman says as much about the speaker as it does about the legacies of former US presidents. Making a case for the Beatles, Michael Jordan, or Mickey Mouse involves the prioritization of politics and perspectives. The persistence of Henry Ford as a great American despite his toxic antisemitism offers another layer to this historical phenomenon. Using a variety of compelling examples, Eleff sheds new new light on “greatness” and its place in American culture.
Systematic Review of Pre-Clinical Systems Using Artificial Microenvironments and Anti-Migratory Drugs to Control Migration of Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Selvi Hana , Brüning-Richardson Anke , Danovi Davide
Published: January 2025

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent primary brain tumour, with an incidence of 2 per 100,000. The standard clinical treatments do not sufficiently target cell migration and invasion, leading to recurrence after surgical resection and resistance after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Pre-clinical studies are being conducted to construct artificial substrates that can mimic the tumour microenvironment (TME) to prevent GBM cells from migrating along their primary route through blood vessels and white matter tracts. Alongside, targeted therapies using anti-migratory or ‘migrastatic’ drugs are also being developed. This study aimed to review the therapeutic translational strategies emerging from the study of the GBM microenvironment and anti-migratory drugs.

Methods

A systematic literature search was carried out using search key terms and synonyms. Full-paper screening was performed based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

From the systems interrogated, the ‘Nanofibre’ assay is suitable to simulate white matter tracts, while hydrogel-based invasion assays and GBM cerebral organoid (GLICO) mimic the brain extracellular matrix. Inhibitors with anti-migratory activity found in this study are active involving distinct molecular mechanisms and have been tested on cell migration assays.

Conclusion

Overall, we have analysed therapeutic strategies emerging from an artificial GBM TME approach and from the identification of anti-migratory inhibitors. Both carry potential to improve treatment options to prevent tumour dissemination and spread for GBM.
Wearable technology and daily diaries for studying mental health: lessons learned from pilot studies in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Nielsen Karen E. , Mobley Kate , Culbreth Rachel , Palmier Jane B. , Matovu Gideon , Nabulya Anna , Swahn Monica H.
Published: January 2025

Wearable technology and daily diaries offer insights into everyday behaviors that can further health research and treatment globally. However, the use of these methodologies outside of high-income settings has been limited. We conducted two pilot studies that enrolled 60 young women in the urban slums of Kampala, Uganda to understand design considerations associated with using wearable technology and daily diaries in this context. Each participant in the pilot studies was asked to wear a wearable activity tracker and complete daily diary questionnaires for 5 days. Based on our experiences, we identified several lessons that may be beneficial to others interested in implementing wearable technology and daily self-reports in their research and interventions, particularly when working in low-resource contexts. We discuss the importance of designing solutions tailored to the available resources, building validation for the most critical measures, investing in data management efforts and providing transparent and culturally accessible information to participants. Examples from our study are provided. These lessons may reduce the barriers and improve data quality for future researchers and practitioners interested in using these data collection methods globally.
Limited evidence of association between dysregulated immune marker levels and telomere length in severe mental disorders
Authors: Ormerod Monica B.E.G. , Ueland Thor , Aas Monica , Hjell Gabriela , Rødevand Linn , Sæther Linn Sofie , Lunding Synve Hoffart , Johansen Ingrid Torp , Mlakar Vid , Andreou Dimitrios , Ueland Torill , Lagerberg Trine V. , Melle Ingrid , Djurovic Srdjan , Andreassen Ole A. , Steen Nils Eiel
Published: January 2025

Objective:

Accelerated ageing indexed by telomere attrition is suggested in schizophrenia spectrum- (SCZ) and bipolar disorders (BD). While inflammation may promote telomere shortening, few studies have investigated the association between telomere length (TL) and markers of immune activation and inflammation in severe mental disorders.

Methods:

Leucocyte TL defined as telomere template/amount of single-copy gene template (T/S ratio), was determined in participants with SCZ (N = 301) or BD (N = 211) and a healthy control group (HC, N = 378). TL was analysed with linear regressions for associations with levels of 12 immune markers linked to SCZ or BD. Adjustments were made for a broad range of potential confounding variables. TL was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the immune markers were measured by enzyme immunoassays.

Results:

A positive association between levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1A (sTNF-R1) and TL in SCZ (β = 0.191, p = 0.012) was observed. Plasma levels of the other immune markers were not significantly associated with TL in the BD, SCZ or HC groups.

Conclusion:

There was limited evidence of association between immune markers and TL in SCZ and BD. The results provide little support for involvement of immune dysregulation, as reflected by current systemic markers, in telomere attrition-related accelerated ageing in severe mental disorders.
Conditions for the supersolvability of $\mathcal{F}_{S}(G)$
Authors: Ru Guotuan , Zhang Shengmin , Shen Zhencai
Published: January 2025

In this article,

$\mathcal{F}_{S}(G)$

denotes the fusion category of G on a Sylow p-subgroup S of G where p denotes a prime. A subgroup K of G has normal complement in G if there is a normal subgroup T of G satisfying that G = KT and

$T \cap K = 1$

. We investigate the supersolvability of

$\mathcal{F}_{S}(G)$

under the assumption that some subgroups of S are normal in G or have normal complement in G.
Crude Knowledge: Petro-Periodicals and Resource Sovereignty
Authors: Khalili Laleh
Published: January 2025

The period of struggle over hydrocarbon sovereignty in the Arab world –the 1950s-1970s– saw a spate of periodicals in Arabic about oil. These included periodicals produced by the public relations departments of Euro-American oil companies, as well as monthlies, weeklies and quarterlies produced by Arab journalists, experts, and former oil revolutionaries in Cairo, Baghdad, Beirut and Kuwait. This essay argues that the trajectory of these latter publications –both their context and content– traces the massive political transformations that saw a shift of power in the region, alongside a radical transformation in the representation of oil from a public good into a private property.
Removal of the mucilage reduces intact seed passage through the digestive system of birds
Authors: Kreitschitz A. , Haase E. , Gorb S.N.
Published: January 2025

Many plants developed unique adaptations such as protective seed coatings or eatable fruits/seeds that aid in seed dispersal by animals. Birds are among the animals that perform endozoochoric diaspore dispersal. In this study, we used mechanically demucilaginated seeds and seeds covered with artificial mucilage with the aim of determining the protective potential of the mucilage envelope against seed digestion during endozoochory by birds. We removed the mucilage from the seeds of Plantago lanceolata, Plantago ovata, Plantago psyllium, and Linum usitatissimum and fed the seeds to pigeons. Using naturally non-mucilaginous seeds of Amaranthus albus, Brassica napus and Nigella sativa, we tested the survival of diaspores covered with artificial mucilage (P. ovata husk) in the digestive systems of pigeons. Among the demucilaginated diaspores (2700 per taxon), no seeds of L. usitatissimum, 1 seed of P. lanceolata, 1 seed of P. ovata and 7 seeds of P. psyllium passed through the bird gut intact. This indicated that after removing the mucilage envelope, few diaspores can pass through the digestive system. Among diaspores with artificial mucilage, 7 seeds (from 8100 total) passed through the bird gut intact. This indicated that the artificial mucilage did not support the survival of the seeds as they passed through the pigeon digestive system. Furthermore, germination experiments revealed a decrease in the germination rate of demucilaginated seeds. They moulded rapidly, and only a few of the seeds germinated. The results of this study demonstrate the significant role of the mucilage in preventing digestion and supporting diaspore germination during endozoochory.
Mapping the concept of fundamentalism: a scoping review
Authors: Kindermann Nora , Peels Rik , Liefbroer Anke I. , Schoonmade Linda
Published: January 2025

This scoping review of conceptualizations of fundamentalism scrutinizes the concept's domain of application, defining characteristics, and liability to bias. We find fundamentalism in four domains of application: Christianity, other Abrahamic religions, non-Abrahamic religions, and non-religious phenomena. The defining characteristics which we identify are organized into five categories: belief, behavior, emotion, goal, and structure. We find that different kinds of fundamentalisms are defined by different characteristics, with violent and oppressive behaviors, and political beliefs and goals being emphasized for non-Christian fundamentalisms. Additionally, we find that the locus of fundamentalism studies is the Global North. Based on these findings, we conclude that the concept is prone to bias. When conceptualizing fundamentalism, three considerations deserve attention: the mutual dependency between the domain of application and the specification of defining characteristics; the question of usefulness of scientific concepts; and the connection between conceptual ambiguity and the risk of bias in the study of fundamentalism.
Physics‐Based Hazard Assessment of Compound Flooding From Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones in a Warming Climate
Authors: Sarhadi Ali , Rousseau‐Rizzi Raphaël , Emanuel Kerry
Published: January 2025

Recent efforts to assess coastal compound surge and rainfall‐driven flooding hazard from tropical (TCs) and extratropical cyclones (ETCs) in a warming climate have intensified. However, challenges persist in gaining actionable insights into the changing magnitude and spatial variability of these hazards. We employ a physics‐based hydrodynamic framework to numerically simulate compound flooding from TCs and ETCs in both current and future climates, focusing on the western side of Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts. Our approach leverages hydrodynamic models driven by extensive sets of synthetic TCs downscaled from CMIP6 climate models. We also perform a far less extensive analysis of ETCs using a previously produced event set, dynamically downscaled using the WRF model driven by a single CMIP5 model. This methodology quantifies how climate change may reshape the compound flooding hazard landscape in the study area. Our findings reveal a significant increase in TC‐induced compound flooding hazard due to evolving climatology and sea level rise (SLR). Although compound flooding induced by ETCs increases mostly in coastal areas due to SLR, inland areas exhibit almost no change, and some even show a decline in rainfall‐driven flooding from high‐frequency ETC events toward the end of the century compared to the current climate. Our methodology is transferable to vulnerable coastal regions, serving as a tool for adaptive measures in populated areas. It equips decision‐makers and stakeholders with the means to mitigate the destructive impacts of compound flooding arising from both current and future TCs, and shows how the same methodology might be applied to ETCs.
GOLD Observations of Thermospheric Neutral Temperature Variability During the 14 October 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse
Authors: Aryal Saurav , Evans J. Scott , Lumpe Jerry D. , Laskar Fazlul I. , Gan Quan , Wang Wenbin , Eastes Richard W.
Published: January 2025

The 14 October 2023 annular solar eclipse was visible from the US Pacific coast to Brazil's east coast. NASA's Global‐scale Observations of Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission observed the first synoptic thermospheric temperature changes from a geo‐stationary orbit above 47.5°W longitude between 17 and 20 UT during the eclipse. These daytime thermospheric changes were derived using GOLD's disk far ultraviolet (FUV) measurements. A significant decrease in the daytime disk temperatures (∼100 K) was seen near the peak annularity compared to the day before (baseline). The temperature reduction's spatial morphology is also like that of the eclipse shadow. Previous modeling studies of other eclipses typically show a much smaller temperature decrease (∼30–40 K; a factor of 2–3 lower) compared to GOLD observations. These first of kind results provide new insight into the dynamic response of the coupled thermosphere and ionosphere system to transient solar events, including eclipses.
Multi‐Season Lead Prediction of Atlantic Niño Facilitated by Pacific Ocean Precursors
Authors: Jiang Feng , Zhang Wenjun , Boucharel Julien , Jin Fei‐Fei , McPhaden Michael J. , Stuecker Malte F.
Published: January 2025

The boreal summer Atlantic Niño, the dominant mode of interannual climate variability in the equatorial Atlantic, exerts profound effects on local ecosystems and broader climate patterns, yet its prediction remains a long‐standing challenge. The short lifecycle of the Atlantic Niño and the lack of precursor signals beyond about one season lead time have hindered the development of forecasts with useful accuracy and lead time. In this study, we propose a new approach to Atlantic Niño forecasting that extends beyond the Atlantic region by incorporating longer‐lasting precursors in the Pacific associated with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation events. Using this prediction framework, we can hindcast the Atlantic Niño with skill up to three seasons in advance. Our results highlight the critical role of inter‐basin interactions in shaping regional and global climate patterns, and provide new hope for improving seasonal climate prediction capabilities in the tropical Atlantic.
Tidally Driven Intra‐Seasonal Oscillations in the Thermosphere From TIEGCM‐ICON and Connections to the Madden‐Julian Oscillation
Authors: Gasperini Federico , Maute Astrid , Wang Houjun , McClung Owen , Aggarwal Deepali , Kumari Komal
Published: January 2025

Recent evidence has revealed that strong coupling between the lower atmosphere and the thermosphere (100 km) occurs on intra‐seasonal (IS) timescales ( 30–90 days). The Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO), a key source of IS variability in tropical convection and circulation, influences the generation and propagation of atmospheric tides and is believed to be a significant driver of thermospheric IS oscillations (ISOs). However, limited satellite observations in the “thermospheric gap” (100–300 km) and challenges faced by numerical models in characterizing this region have hindered a comprehensive understanding of this connection. This study uses an Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON)‐adapted version of the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model, incorporating lower boundary tides from Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) observations, to quantify the impact of the upward‐propagating tidal spectrum on thermospheric ISOs and elucidate connections to the MJO. Thermospheric zonal and diurnal mean zonal winds exhibit prominent ( 20 m/s) tidally driven ISOs throughout 2020–2021, largest at low latitudes near 110–150 km altitude. Correlation analyses confirm a robust connection between thermospheric ISOs, tides, and the MJO. Additionally, Hovmöller diagrams show eastward tidal propagation consistent with the MJO and concurrent Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) observations. This study demonstrates that vertically propagating tides play a crucial role in linking IS variability from the lower atmosphere to the thermosphere, with the MJO identified as a primary driver of this whole‐atmosphere teleconnection. Understanding these connections is vital for advancing our knowledge in space physics, particularly regarding the dynamics of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere.
Airspace closures due to reentering space objects
Authors: Wright Ewan , Boley Aaron , Byers Michael
Published: January 2025

Uncontrolled reentries of space objects create a collision risk with aircraft in flight. While the probability of a strike is low, the consequences could be catastrophic. Moreover, the risk is rising due to increases in both reentries and flights. In response, national authorities may choose to preemptively close airspace during reentry events; some have already done so. We determine the probability for a rocket body reentry within airspace over a range of air traffic densities. The highest-density regions, around major airports, have a 0.8% chance per year of being affected by an uncontrolled reentry. This rate rises to 26% for larger but still busy areas of airspace, such as that found in the northeastern United States, northern Europe, or around major cities in the Asia-Pacific region. For a given reentry, the collision risk in the underlying airspace increases with the air traffic density. However, the economic consequences of flight delays also increase should that airspace be closed. This situation puts national authorities in a dilemma—to close airspace or not—with safety and economic implications either way. The collision risk could be mitigated if controlled reentries into the ocean were required for all missions. However, over 2300 rocket bodies are already in orbit and will eventually reenter in an uncontrolled manner. Airspace authorities will face the challenge of uncontrolled reentries for decades to come.
Transient cortical beta-frequency oscillations associated with contextual novelty in high density mouse EEG
Authors: Walsh Callum , Tait Luke , Garrido Maria Garcia , Brown Jonathan T. , Ridler Thomas
Published: January 2025

Beta-frequency oscillations (20–30 Hz) are prominent in both human and rodent electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. Discrete epochs of beta (or Beta2) oscillations are prevalent in the hippocampus and other brain areas during exploration of novel environments. However, little is known about the spatial distribution and temporal relationships of beta oscillations across the cortex in response to novel contexts. To investigate this, mice fitted with 30-channel EEG-style multi-electrode arrays underwent a single recording session in a novel environment. While changes to spectral properties of cortical oscillations were minimal, there was a profound increase in the rate of beta bursts during the initial part of the recording session, when the environment was most novel. This was true across the cortex but most notable in recording channels situated above the retrosplenial cortex. Additionally, novelty was associated with greater connectivity between retrosplenial areas and the rest of the cortex, specifically in the beta frequency range. However, it was also found that the cortex in general, is highly modulated by environmental novelty. This data further suggests the retrosplenial cortex is an important hub for distinguishing environmental context and highlights the diversity of functions for beta oscillations across the brain, which can be observed using high-density EEG.
Patient-derived xenografts from circulating cancer stem cells as a preclinical model for personalized pancreatic cancer research
Authors: Wagner Benedikt J. , Ettner-Sitter Andreas , Ihlo Nicolas A. , Behr Merle , Koelbl Sebastian , Brunner Stefan M. , Weber Florian , Rau Bettina M. , Schlitt Hans J. , Brochhausen Christoph , Schoenmehl Rebecca , Artinger Annalena , Schott Dorothea , Pizon Monika , Pachmann Katharina , Aung Thiha , Haerteis Silke , Hackl Christina
Published: January 2025

Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) provide biologically relevant models and potential platforms for the development of treatment strategies for precision medicine in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, circulating epithelial tumor cells (CETCs/CTCs) are released into the bloodstream by solid tumors and a rare subpopulation—circulating cancer stem cells (cCSCs) – is considered to be responsible for recurrence and plays a key role in metastasis. For the identification of cCSCs, an innovative in vitro assay to generate tumorspheres was established in this study. The number of tumorspheres and CETCs/CTCs was analyzed perioperatively in 25 pancreatic cancer patients. Additionally, an individual in vivo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) culture system was used to generate PDXs from these tumorspheres. While overall correlations of CETCs/CTCs with clinicopathological parameters did not reach statistical significance, a significant difference in the number of tumorspheres was observed between patient subgroups with lower and higher UICC stages. This finding underscores their potential as biomarkers, providing valuable insights into clinical decision-making and tumor progression. The application of tumorspheres on the CAM successfully established PDXs within 7 days. These xenografts closely resembled the histological features of the primary tumor. Hence, this model represents a novel and fast option for individualized testing of new therapies for PDAC.
Constitutive expression of Cas9 and rapamycin-inducible Cre recombinase facilitates conditional genome editing in Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Das Samhita , Unhale Tanaya , Marinach Carine , Valeriano Alegria Belsy del Carmen , Roux Camille , Madry Hélène , Mohand Oumoussa Badreddine , Amino Rogerio , Iwanaga Shiroh , Briquet Sylvie , Silvie Olivier
Published: January 2025

Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium and remains a global health concern. The parasite has a highly adaptable life cycle comprising successive rounds of asexual replication in a vertebrate host and sexual maturation in the mosquito vector Anopheles. Genetic manipulation of the parasite has been instrumental for deciphering the function of Plasmodium genes. Conventional reverse genetic tools cannot be used to study essential genes of the asexual blood stages, thereby necessitating the development of conditional strategies. Among various such strategies, the rapamycin-inducible dimerisable Cre (DiCre) recombinase system emerged as a powerful approach for conditional editing of essential genes in human-infecting P. falciparum and in the rodent malaria model parasite P. berghei. We previously generated a DiCre-expressing P. berghei line and validated it by conditionally deleting several essential asexual stage genes, revealing their important role also in sporozoites. Another potent tool is the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which has enabled targeted genome editing with higher accuracy and specificity and greatly advanced genome engineering in Plasmodium spp. Here, we developed new P. berghei parasite lines by integrating the DiCre cassette and a fluorescent marker in parasites constitutively expressing Cas9. Owing to the dual integration of CRISPR/Cas9 and DiCre, these new lines allow unparalleled levels of gene modification and conditional regulation simultaneously. To illustrate the versatility of this new tool, we conditionally knocked out the essential gene encoding the claudin-like apicomplexan micronemal protein (CLAMP) in P. berghei and confirmed the role of CLAMP during invasion of erythrocytes.
Improved robustness of sequentially deposited potassium cesium antimonide photocathodes achieved by increasing the potassium content towards theoretical stoichiometry
Authors: Guo Lei , Shiohara Keisuke , Yamaguchi Hisato , Wang Gaoxue , Okabe Yuki , Nakatake Masashi , Takakura Shoichi , Yamamoto Masahiro , Ogawa Shuichi , Takashima Yoshifumi
Published: January 2025

Alkali antimonide semiconductor photocathodes are promising candidates for high-brightness electron sources for advanced accelerators, including free-electron lasers (FEL), due to their high quantum efficiency (QE), low emittance, and high temporal resolution. Two challenges with these photocathodes are (1) the lack of a universal deposition recipe to achieve crystal stoichiometries and (2) their high susceptibility to vacuum contamination, which restricts their operation pressure to ultrahigh vacuums and leads to a short lifetime and low extraction charge. To resolve these issues, it is essential to understand the elemental compositions of deposited photocathodes and correlate them to robustness. Here, we report depth profiles for potassium cesium antimonide photocathodes, which were investigated using synchrotron radiation x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the robustness of those photocathodes. We prepared two types of photocathodes with different potassium contents via sequential thermal evaporation. Depth profiles revealed that the photocathodes with a potassium deficit had excess cesium at the surface, while the ratio of potassium and cesium to antimony decreased rapidly within the film. In contrast, the photocathodes with sufficient potassium had close to the theoretical stoichiometry of K2CsSb at the surface and maintained that stoichiometry for over half the entire film thickness. Both photocathode types had a similar maximum QE at 532 nm; however, exposure to oxygen revealed that the photocathode with a crystalline stoichiometry of K2CsSb maintained QE at one order of magnitude higher pressure compared to its potassium-deficit counterpart. These results highlight the importance of synthesizing potassium cesium antimonide photocathodes with sufficient potassium to achieve the theoretical crystalline stoichiometry for both high QE and improved robustness.
Bioorthogonal reaction-mediated photosensitizer–peptide conjugate anchoring on cell membranes for enhanced photodynamic therapy
Authors: Hu Buwei , Ji Chenlin , Zhou Zhuohang , Xu Xuehan , Wang Luyi , Cao Tingting , Cheng Jianjun , Sun Rui
Published: January 2025

This study introduces a cell membrane-targeting peptide–photosensitizer conjugate, which leverages in vivo bioorthogonal reactions for long-term cell membrane and tumor retention, leading to effective single-session tumor elimination.
Solvent-controlled silver catalyzed radical transformation of α-imino-oxy acids with cyclic aldimines
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Qin Yuran , Cui Ke , Li Xueqi , Cui Mingyue , Cao Sheng , Zhang Linbo , Shen Qin , Wang Teng , Li Feng
Published: January 2025

A silver-catalyzed cross coupling of cyclic aldimines and α-imino-oxy acids has been developed. The solvent-dependent reaction could selectively deliver either cyclic imine moiety retained nitriles or ring-opened oxonitriles in moderate yields.
Synthesis of Xenes: physical and chemical methods
Authors: Molle Alessandro , Yuhara Junji , Yamada-Takamura Yukiko , Sofer Zdenek
Published: January 2025

The synthesis of 2D Xenes and related materials (e.g. heterostructures and hybrids) is reviewed with respect to physical and chemical methods, covering different epitaxial schemes, topotactic deintercalation and exfoliation techniques.
Elucidating the role of surface Ce sites in the enhanced low temperature reduction of Pd-loaded CeO2–ZrO2 using infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Tanaka Hiroki , Endo Yoshinori , Haneda Masaaki
Published: January 2025

The reduction mechanism of Pd/CZ was elucidated through quantitative observation of Ce reduction via infrared absorption derived from the electronic transition of Ce3+ and C–O vibration of methoxy on the surface Ce sites.
Programming Two-component Peptides Self-assembly by Tuning the Hydrophobic Linker
Authors: Li Sangshuang , Liu Huayang , Fang Yu , Li Yaoting , Zhou Laicheng , Chen Dinghao , Liang Juan , Wang Huaimin
Published: January 2025

Molecular self-assembly enables the formation of intricate networks through non-covalent interactions, serving as a key strategy for constructing structures ranging from molecules to macroscopic forms. While zero-dimensional and one-dimensional nanostructures...
TBAF-catalyzed inverse vulcanization under mild conditions enabling synthesis of refractive indexing, ultraviolet blocking and light transmiting sulfur-rich polymers
Authors: Cao Xing-Rui , Liu Xiao-Jun , Li Wei-Ping , Chen Dong-Ping , Hasell Tom , Wu Xiaofeng , Wang Xi-Cun , Quan Zheng-Jun
Published: January 2025

We present a tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-catalyzed inverse vulcanization (IV) process that extends the methodology for anionic IV polymerisation under mild conditions and broadens the potential application areas of the resulting polymers.
A catalyst- and thiol-free protocol for arene C–H thioetherification via photoactive electron donor–acceptor complexes
Authors: Gao Ang , Liu He-Xiang , Zhou Ya-Nan , Fu Ming-Chen
Published: January 2025

We present a catalyst- and thiol-free protocol for arene C–H thioetherification under visible light irradiation.
Multicore silica microcapsules containing α-tocopherol for potential consumer product applications
Authors: Al-Sharabi Mohammed , Lobel Benjamin T. , Baiocco Daniele , Cayre Olivier J. , Zhang Zhibing , Routh Alexander F.
Published: January 2025

Preparation of multicore silica microcapsules containing a lipid-soluble vitamin for potential cosmetic applications.
Dual surrogate imprinting: an innovative strategy for the preparation of virus-selective particles
Authors: Fresco-Cala Beatriz , Gálvez-Vergara Ana , Baumgarten Daniel , Zech Fabian , Münch Jan , Mizaikoff Boris
Published: January 2025

This work involves the preparation of dual surrogate-imprinted polymers (D-MIPs) for the capture of SARS-CoV-2.
Stereoselective synthesis of 3-oxo-2-C-branched glycosides from 2,3-unsaturated sugars via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement
Authors: Ali Intzar , Gundumalla Sravani , Perali Ramu Sridhar
Published: January 2025

Herein we report an efficient protocol for the stereoselective preparation of carbon-branched sugars involving the Claisen rearrangement of 3-O-allyl 2,3-unsaturated sugar derivatives.
HFIP-mediated, regio- and stereoselective hydrosulfenylation of ynamides: a versatile strategy for accessing ketene N,S-acetals
Authors: Satyanarayana Appanapalli N. V. , Pattanayak Paramita , Chatterjee Tanmay
Published: January 2025

Green and versatile synthesis of valuable ketene N,S-acetals via a metal-free, HFIP-mediated highly atom-economical and regio- and stereoselective hydrosulfenylation of ynamides with various S-nucleophiles.