bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gradient Design with Low‐Tortuosity Overcoming Kinetic Limitations in High‐Loading Solid‐State Cathodes
Authors: Cheng Guangzeng , Yu Jinping , Wang Yonghui , Ju Zhengyu , Zhu Yue , Tian Weiqian , Chen Jingwei , Wang Huanlei , Wu Jingyi , Yu Guihua
Published: January 2025

The extensive commercialization of practical solid‐state batteries (SSBs) necessitates the development of high‐loading solid‐state cathodes with fast charging capability. However, electrochemical kinetics are severely delayed in thick cathodes due to tortuous ion transport pathways and slow solid‐solid ion diffusion, which limit the achievable capacity of SSBs at high current densities. In this work, we propose a conductivity gradient cathode with low‐tortuosity to enable facile ion transport and counterbalance ion concentration gradient, thereby overcoming the kinetic limitations and achieving fast charging capabilities in thick cathodes. The LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathodes deliver a room‐temperature (RT) capacities of 147 and 110 mAh g−1 at 5 C and 10 C, respectively, and meanwhile achieve a RT areal capacity of 3.3 mAh cm−2 at 3 C, enabling SSBs simultaneously high energy and power densities. The universality of this strategy is demonstrated in LiFePO4 cathodes, providing a novel solution for fast charging and large‐scale application of high‐loading SSBs.
A Comparison Study of the Synergistic Influence of Discrepancy in Exothermic Behavior of Polyacrylonitrile‐Based Precursor Fibers and the Continuous Gradient Pre‐Oxidation Condition on Stabilization Structure
Authors: Liu Yong , Guo Peipei , Guo Zongwei , Dai Shengtao , Li Honglong , Shang Lei , Ao Yuhui
Published: January 2025

The synergistic influence of discrepancy in exothermic behavior of two types of polyacrylonitrile‐based precursor fibers (labeled as fiber A and B) and the continuous gradient pre‐oxidation conditions on stabilization structure were studied. The evolution and development process of skin‐core structure at different stabilization stages and corresponding influencing factors was clarified. Results showed fiber A had gentle exothermic behavior, smaller exothermic rates, and weaker heat flow, while fiber B had faster exothermic rates and concentrated heat flow, especially at stabilization later stage. Stabilization behaviors revealed that the cyclization index (Ic), oxidation index (Io), dehydrogenation index (Id), aromatization index (AI), X‐ray stabilization index, O elements, and bulk density increased with proceeds of pre‐oxidation. The relationship between the aromatization cross‐linked structure, bulk density, and chemical structure indicated that cyclization, dehydrogenation, and oxidation reactions jointly promoted the formation of aromatization cross‐linked conjugated lamellar structure. Under the same pre‐oxidation conditions, the stabilization degree of fiber B was much higher than that of fiber A. Meanwhile, a more serious inhomogeneous structure appeared at the early stage and further deteriorated at a later stage, which is related to its concentrated exothermic behavior, locally high temperature in the core and nonuniform oxygen distribution in the radial direction. These factors become the internal factors that affect the formation and development of skin‐core structure. By adjusting temperature and gradient distribution as well as shortening time, the skin‐core structure disappeared without compromising the stabilization degree. The formation of the skin‐core structure was controlled by chemical reactions at early stage but by double diffusion and locally high temperature in the core at the later stage. In order to promoted oxygen diffusion, the Ic, Io, and AI values at the initial stage should be controlled below 0.8%, 0.36%, and 32%, respectively. The principles, reasons, and regulatory mechanisms for optimizing the stabilization structure and set proper pre‐oxidation procedures were provided.
Gendered Corruption: How Gender Norms Underpin Experiences of Corruption in Asian and Pacific Countries
Authors: Peiffer Caryn
Published: January 2025

There is a growing recognition that corruption not only exacerbates gender inequality, but that gender inequality undermines anticorruption efforts. As such, anticorruption policy actors are increasingly asked to ‘mainstream gender’ into their work. Doing so effectively requires an understanding of how and why experiences of corruption are gendered in specific contexts. Drawing on findings from a series of 10 focus group discussions (FGDs) held in Cambodia Fiji, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, which gathered the views of 139 participants, this research offers the first examination how and why experiences with corruption are gendered in Asian and Pacific contexts. A focus on gender norms in the FGDs helps to get at why it is that women experience grass‐roots corruption differently. The findings make clear that corruption cannot be effectively controlled without challenging gender norms that make women uniquely vulnerable to corruption and prevent many from resisting and reporting corruption.
Portland Water District: Promoting a Maine Legacy With Bottle‐Filling Stations
Authors: Clements Michelle
Published: January 2025

Key Takeaways

In Portland, Maine, a program to install water bottle–filling stations has exceeded expectations.

The Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program increased public perception of local tap water and strengthened its brand.

Bottle filling stations should be sited in high‐profile, high‐traffic locations, and good candidates include nonprofit organizations, government buildings, and schools.
Greener Pathways, Strategy, and Economic Performance: A Cross‐National Study on European Service SMEs
Authors: Vagnoni Emidia , Cavicchi Caterina , Borghesi Michela , Trincanato Edoardo , Bonnini Stefano
Published: January 2025

Research into how environmental management practices impact firm performance has largely overlooked the service sector's small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on industry, resource, and institution‐based strategy perspectives, this study investigates how adopting resource efficiency (RE) practices within the framework of a circular economy (CE) supports European service SMEs in achieving carbon neutrality (CN) and reducing production costs (PCs). The study also examines difficulties in adapting to environmental regulations among adopters, their associated impact on performance, and the importance of having a CN strategy. A combined permutation test conducted on 681 European service SMEs from 35 countries revealed––after controlling for sectoral differences––that SMEs without RE practices within the CE framework faced higher PCs, a critical factor for firm performance. Additionally, transportation and storage SMEs with a CN strategy demonstrated greater adoption of RE practices. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed.
Highly iterated palindrome 1 sequence improves Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 transformation efficiencies in a homology‐ and methylation‐dependent manner
Authors: Kamoku Cody , Nielsen David R.
Published: January 2025

The ability to precisely engineer cyanobacterial metabolism first requires the ability to efficiently deliver engineered DNA constructs. Here, we investigate how natural transformation efficiencies in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 can be greatly improved by leveraging the native and abundant cyanobacterial Highly Iterated Palindrome 1 (HIP1) sequence. While including at least one homologous HIP1 site within the homology arms of an integrating plasmid increased integration efficiency by up to 7‐fold, methylation of those sites by HIP1 methyltransferase (encoded by slr0214 from Synechococcus sp. PCC 6803) boosted this to greater than a 100‐fold improvement overall. Non‐homologous HIP1 sites also improved transformation efficiencies of both integrating and replicating episomal plasmids (by up to 60‐ and 9‐fold, respectively), but only if methylated. The collective data further reveal that HIP1 does not function as part of a native restriction enzyme system in PCC 7002, but rather may improve transformation efficiency via an alternative mechanism(s), occurring prior to and/or during homologous recombination. Future studies are needed, however, to more clearly elucidate the specific role of HIP1 during natural transformation of cyanobacteria.
Stipulations of cell and gene therapy and the ties to biomanufacturing
Authors: Allisha Justin , Das Juthika , Dunnigan Thomas , Sharfstein Susan T. , Datta Payel
Published: January 2025

Cell and gene therapy (CGT) products are emerging and innovative biopharmaceuticals that hold promise for treating diseases that are otherwise beyond the scope of conventional medicines. The evolution of CGT from a research idea to a promising therapeutic product is due to the complementary advancements across various scientific disciplines. First, the innovations and advancements in gene editing and delivery technology have provided fundamental tools to manipulate genes and cells for therapeutic pursuits. Second, advancements in applied and translational research, including how clinical trials are designed, performed, evaluated, and analyzed, have transformed the technology into a potential therapeutic product. Third, advancements in scaling up the production of CGT products have been critical in delivering the product for preclinical studies, clinical trials, and approved treatments. In parallel, regulatory requirements have continuously evolved, with lessons learned from translational studies and biomanufacturing. These combined efforts have transformed CGT products from a promising concept into a reality with the potential to treat a wide range of diseases. However, continued R&D and regulatory oversight are crucial to further improve the safety, efficacy, and accessibility of CGT products.
Engineering a high‐throughput clone for industrial‐scale production of long‐acting GLP‐1 analogue with retained bio‐efficacy
Authors: J Praveen Kumar Reddy , Tummuru Murali , Ramkumar Kunka Mohanram
Published: January 2025

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are critical global health issues with rising incidence rates. Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogues have emerged as effective treatments due to their ability to regulate blood glucose levels and gastric emptying through central nervous signals involving hypothalamic receptors, such as leptin. To address the short plasma half‐life of native GLP‐1, a C‐16 fatty acid was conjugated to lysine in the GLP‐1 analogue sequence to enhance its longevity. This study focuses on engineering a high‐throughput clone and evaluation of novel GLP‐1 analogues with improved bio‐efficacy and production yields. Five plasmid models were created using different N‐terminal fusion partners and assessed for hydrophobicity, instability index, and isoelectric point. Three optimal plasmid models were selected based on high‐valued hydrophobicity, solubility, and partial solubility. These plasmids were constructed with the pET24a vector, incorporating GLP‐1 with fusion tags via recombinant DNA technology and transformed into E. coli BL21 DE3 hosts. The proteins were purified through enzyme digestion and chromatography, resulting in a high‐yield peptide. The GLP‐1 peptide was conjugated with in‐house developed fatty acid compound n‐Palmitoyl glutamic acid (n‐PGA) and purified using C18 column chromatography, achieving a final product yield of 170–190 mg per liter of fermentation culture. Biological activity was confirmed by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generation and 3 T3 cell differentiation assays, showing a 1.5‐fold increase in mRNA gene expression with the clone having n‐terminal hydrophobic amino acids, thioredoxin‐modified tag, and enterokinase cleavage site, indicating high purity and biological potency of the GLP‐1 analogue.
Application of Gene Editing in Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer Research
Authors: Feng Shuying , Li Jixia , Yan Aifen , Zhu Xiangxing , Zhang Ligang , Tang Dongsheng , Liu Lian
Published: January 2025

With the rapid development of gene editing technology, its application in breast cancer has gradually become the focus of research. This article reviews the application of gene editing technology in the treatment of breast cancer, and discusses its challenges and future development directions. The key application areas of gene editing technology in the treatment of breast cancer will be outlined, including the discovery of new therapeutic targets and the development of drugs related to the pathway. Gene editing technology has played an important role in the discovery of new therapeutic targets. Through the use of gene editing technology, breast cancer‐related genes are systematically edited to regulate key regulatory factors on related pathways or key tumor suppressor genes such as FOXC1 and BRCA, and the results are analyzed in cell or animal experiments, and the target is obtained from the experimental results, which provides important clues for the development of new drugs. This approach provides an innovative way to find more effective treatment strategies and inhibit tumor growth. In addition, gene editing technology has also promoted the personalization of breast cancer treatment. By analyzing a patient's genomic information, researchers can pinpoint key genetic mutations in a patient's tumor and design personalized treatments. This personalized treatment approach is expected to improve the therapeutic effect and reduce adverse reactions. Finally, the application of gene editing technology also provides support for the development of breast cancer immunotherapy. By editing immune cells to make them more potent against tumors, researchers are trying to develop more effective immunotherapies to bring new treatment options to breast cancer patients.
Development of an Environmentally Responsive Fluorescent Ligand for Vitamin D Receptor
Authors: Iwaki Miho , Sakamoto Ryota , Tsutsumi Rino , Sawada Takahiro , Hirokawa Takatsugu , Kato Shigeaki , Nagasawa Kazuo
Published: January 2025

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a critical role in regulating multiple biological processes, including bone metabolism and cell differentiation, by mediating transcriptional activation in response to ligand binding. We have constructed an environmentally fluorescent probe 2 for VDR to facilitate real‐time observation of its ligand‐dependent conformational changes in living cells. This probe 2 was synthesized by introducing a dansyl fluorophore via an ethynyl group at the C11 position of 1α,25(OH)₂D₃. Probe 2 exhibited strong environmentally responsive fluorescence, showing increased intensity and a blue shift of the peak wavelength upon binding to VDR due to the increased hydrophobicity of the environment.
Enantiodifferentiation of Thiohydantoin Derivatives by NMR in the Presence of Chiral Solvating Agent: (1R,2S)‐Ephedrine and Chiral Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Thioureas
Authors: Sarigul Ozbek Sevgi , Teke Tuncel Senel , Erol Gunal Sule , Dogan Ilknur
Published: January 2025

2‐Thiohydantoin derivatives, including different substitutions at N‐1 and C‐5 (5‐methyl‐, 5‐isopropyl‐, 1‐acetyl‐5‐methyl‐, and 1‐acetyl‐5‐isopropyl‐) (1–4, respectively), were synthesized by the known literature methods. In these synthetic pathways, it was reported that enantiomerically pure 2‐thiohydantions were obtained in the absence of any solvent via the reaction of L‐amino acids with thiourea (1&2) and via the reaction of L‐amino acids with NH4SCN and acetic anhydride (3&4). However, in this study, in contrary to the previous literature studies, racemic mixtures of 2‐thiohydantoins were obtained although the same synthetic methods were used. The racemic nature of 2‐thiohydantoin derivatives (1–4) was proved by using 1H NMR analysis in the presence of (1R,2S)‐(−)‐ephedrine as a chiral auxiliary. In addition, the enantiomers of 3&4 were also resolved on chiral stationary phases by HPLC analyses. Furthermore, newly synthesized unsymmetrical chiral thioureas (S‐1&S‐2) and previously synthesized symmetrical ones (SS‐3&SS‐4) were used as chiral solvating agent (CSA) for the enantiodiscrimination of the thiohydantoins (5&6), previously reported. Optimal CSA/substrate ratios were determined for the best enantiodiscrimination.
Impact of CEOs' Environmental Experience on Corporate Green Innovation
Authors: Zhang Dan , Li Bingxiang , Fu Qiang , Tang Wei , Fatima Taqdees
Published: January 2025

CEOs' environmental background imprints their strategic preferences, which are crucial for promoting corporate green innovation (GI). However, the influence and mechanisms of CEOs' environmental experience (Green) on GI, especially exploring the specific relationship and mechanism between Green and different types of green technology innovation (GTI) and green management innovation (GMI) remain unexplored. Drawing upon the upper echelons theory and resource‐based view, we discuss the impact of Green on GTI and GMI and examine the moderating role of CEO power. Moreover, we investigate the mechanism analysis in the relationship between Green and GTI and GMI, respectively. Our empirical findings suggest that Green significantly promotes GTI and GMI, and the positive relationship between Green and GI is negatively moderated by the strength of CEO power. Furthermore, the mechanism of green consciousness is the functioning channel between Green and GTI; the dynamic capability is the functioning channel between Green and GMI.
Post‐Glacial Vegetation Trajectories on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau Reflect Millennial‐Scale Migration Lags in Complex Mountain Terrain Based on Sedimentary Ancient DNA and Dynamic Dispersal Modeling
Authors: Shen Wei , Kruse Stefan , Liu Sisi , Stoof‐Leichsenring Kathleen , Kühn Ingolf , Li Wenjia , Cao Xianyong , Zhang Zhi‐Rong , Zeng Chun‐Xia , Yang Jun‐Bo , Li De‐Zhu , Herzschuh Ulrike
Published: January 2025

Mountains with complex terrain and steep environmental gradients are biodiversity hotspots such as the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, it is generally assumed that mountain terrain plays a secondary role in plant species assembly on a millennial time‐scale compared to climate change. Here, we investigate plant richness and community changes during the last 18,000 years at two sites: Lake Naleng and Lake Ximen on the eastern TP with similar elevation and climatic conditions but contrasting terrain. We applied plant DNA metabarcoding to lake sediments leveraging a new regional reference database for taxa identification. Furthermore, we developed a simplified species dispersal model named SMARC. This was used to simulate species migration along river valleys in response to past climate change at the taxonomic resolution of the sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) approach. Statistical analyses, including ordination‐based ecological trajectory analysis, yielded a significant match between sedaDNA and simulated results at single taxon and community levels including certain site‐specific differences. Steep terrain downstream of Lake Naleng enhances connectivity to glacial lowland refugia during postglacial warming. In contrast, gentle terrain over long distances implies weak connectivity to the lowland and thus resulted in a strong migration lag at Lake Ximen. Likewise, terrain differences among our sites defined the different connectivity to alpine refugia during late‐Holocene cooling. Our consistent proxy‐ and model‐based results, for the first time, indicate that dispersal related migration lags in complex mountain terrain lead to uneven vegetation trajectories at sites with similar climatic conditions mainly because of differences in connectivity to refugia. Ultimately our results indicate that connectivity to refugia is a first‐order factor for species migration in addition to elevation‐related climatic conditions shaping the postglacial vegetation trajectory in mountainous terrain. This has hitherto largely been ignored when forecasting mountain vegetation responses to climate change and related risk assessment.
Data‐Aggregation‐Aware Energy‐Efficient in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Multi‐Stream General Adversarial Network
Authors: Karunkuzhali D. , Pradeep S. , Sungheetha Akey , Basha T. S. Ghouse
Published: January 2025

The lifetime of a wireless sensor network (WSN) can be impacted by the energy consumption of the routing protocol, because small sensor nodes are typically hard to recharge after deployment. Generally, data aggregation is employed to decrease the data redundancy and save energy at each node in a WSN. Traditional routing protocols frequently fall short of handling the complexities of data aggregation while getting energy efficient. In this paper, Optimized Multi‐Stream General Adversarial Network espoused Data‐Aggregation‐Aware Energy‐Efficient Routing Protocol for WSN (MSGAN‐RPOA‐DAA‐EERP) is proposed. Here, Multi‐Stream General Adversarial Network (MSGAN) is used for routing protocol. Then the Red Panda Optimization algorithm (RPOA) is proposed to optimize the MSGAN to increase the network lifetime of WSN. The proposed model is used to maximize the parameters such as data aggregation, communication energy and node residual energy. The proposed MSGAN‐RPOA‐DAA‐EERP method attains 20.28%, 27.91% and 17.53% lower energy consumption when compared to the existing methods, like Energy‐efficient cross‐layer‐basis opportunistic routing protocol and partially informed sparse autoencoder for data transfer in WSN (EECOP‐PIAS‐WSN), Improved buffalo optimized deep feed forward neural learning dependent multiple path routing for energy efficient data accumulation (IBO‐DFFNL‐EEDA), Effective communication in WSN utilizing optimized energy efficient engroove leach clustering protocol (EC‐WSN‐EEELCP) respectively.
Cancer‐Derived Extracellular Vesicle ITGB2 Promotes the Progression of Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer via the Activation of Cancer‐Associated Fibroblasts
Authors: Fan Jingjing , Sha Tong , Ma Binlin
Published: January 2025

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and a leading cause of death among women globally, posing a significant public health challenge. Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype accounting for 15–20% of all breast cancers, lacks targeted therapies due to the absence of hormone receptors and HER2, resulting in poor prognosis and high recurrence rates. This study investigates the role of cancer‐derived extracellular vesicle (EV) integrin beta‐2 (ITGB2) in TNBC progression. These findings reveal that ITGB2 is significantly overexpressed in TNBC tissues and serum EVs, correlating with advanced tumor stages and poor patient survival. ITGB2 enhances TNBC progression by activating cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment, promoting tumor growth, migration, and invasion. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that EV ITGB2 facilitates CAF activation, driving tumor‐stroma interactions that support TNBC progression. These results highlight ITGB2 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in TNBC, emphasizing the need for novel interventions to combat this challenging breast cancer subtype.
Measuring the effects of motion corruption in fetal fMRI
Authors: Taymourtash Athena , Schwartz Ernst , Nenning Karl‐Heinz , Licandro Roxane , Kienast Patric , Hielle Veronika , Prayer Daniela , Kasprian Gregor , Langs Georg
Published: January 2025

Irregular and unpredictable fetal movement is the most common cause of artifacts in in utero functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), affecting analysis and limiting our understanding of early functional brain development. The accurate detection of corrupted functional connectivity (FC) resulting from motion artifacts or preprocessing, instead of neural activity, is a prerequisite for reliable and valid analysis of FC and early brain development. Approaches to address this problem in adult data are of limited utility in fetal fMRI. In this study, we evaluate a novel technique for robust computational assessment of motion artifacts, and the quantitative comparison of regression models for artifact removal in fetal FC analysis. It exploits the association between dynamic FC and non‐stationarity of fetal movement, to detect residual noise. To validate our motion artifact detection technique in detail, we used a parametric generative model for neural events and fMRI blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) signal. We conducted a systematic evaluation of 11 commonly used regression models in a sample of 70 fetuses with gestational age of 19–39 weeks. Results demonstrate that the proposed method has better accuracy in identifying corrupted FC compared to methods designed for adults. The technique, suggests that censoring, global signal regression and anatomical component‐based regression models are the most effective models for compensating motion. The benchmarking technique, and the generative model for realistic fetal fMRI BOLD enables investigators conducting in utero fMRI analysis to effectively quantify the impact of fetal motion and evaluate alternative regression strategies for mitigating this impact. The code is publicly available at: https://github.com/cirmuw/fetalfMRIproc.
Somatic mutations and DNA methylation identify a subgroup of poor prognosis within lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Rombaut David , Sandmann Sarah , Tekath Tobias , Crouch Simon , de Graaf Aniek O. , Smith Alexandra , Painter Daniel , Kosmider Olivier , Tobiasson Magnus , Lennartsson Andreas , van der Reijden Bert A. , Park Sophie , D'Aveni Maud , Slama Borhane , Clappier Emmanuelle , Fenaux Pierre , Adès Lionel , van de Loosdrecht Arjan , Langemeijer Saskia , Symeonidis Argiris , Čermák Jaroslav , Preudhomme Claude , Savic Aleksandar , Germing Ulrich , Stauder Reinhard , Bowen David , van Marrewijk Corine , Bernard Elsa , de Witte Theo , Varghese Julian , Hellström‐Lindberg Eva , Dugas Martin , Martens Joost , Malcovati Luca , Jansen Joop H. , Fontenay Michaela ,   MDS‐RIGHT consortium
Published: January 2025

Lower risk (LR) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous hematopoietic stem and progenitor disorders caused by the accumulation of somatic mutations in various genes including epigenetic regulators that may produce convergent DNA methylation patterns driving specific gene expression profiles. The integration of genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic profiling has the potential to spotlight distinct LR‐MDS categories on the basis of pathophysiological mechanisms. We performed a comprehensive study of somatic mutations and DNA methylation in a large and clinically well‐annotated cohort of treatment‐naive patients with LR‐MDS at diagnosis from the EUMDS registry (ClinicalTrials.gov.NCT00600860). Unsupervised clustering analyses identified six clusters based on genetic profiling that concentrate into four clusters on the basis of genome‐wide methylation profiling with significant overlap between the two clustering modes. The four methylation clusters showed distinct clinical and genetic features and distinct methylation landscape. All clusters shared hypermethylated enhancers enriched in binding motifs for ETS and bZIP (C/EBP) transcription factor families, involved in the regulation of myeloid cell differentiation. By contrast, one cluster gathering patients with early leukemic evolution exhibited a specific pattern of hypermethylated promoters and, distinctly from other clusters, the upregulation of AP‐1 complex members FOS/FOSL2 together with the absence of hypermethylation of their binding motif at target gene enhancers, which is of relevance for leukemic initiation. Among MDS patients with lower‐risk IPSS‐M, this cluster displayed a significantly inferior overall survival (p < 0.0001). Our study showed that genetic and DNA methylation features of LR‐MDS at early stages may refine risk stratification, therefore offering the frame for a precocious therapeutic intervention.
Simplified Multireference Coupled‐Cluster Methods: Hybrid Approaches With Averaged Coupled Pair Theories
Authors: Waigum Alexander , Suchaneck Sarah , Köhn Andreas
Published: January 2025

We define an approximation to the internally contracted multireference coupled‐cluster method with single and double excitations by a hybrid approach. The rationale is to treat the external pair energy contributions by the coupled‐cluster method, which provides accurate results for a large part of the correlation energy while being tractable as the involved pair cluster operators commute. For the internal and semi‐internal contributions, for which the coupled‐cluster part becomes involved due to non‐commuting operators, a linearized approach based on the coupled‐electron pair approximation (CEPA) is used. For the latter, the CEPA(0) method, the averaged coupled pair functional (ACPF), the averaged quadratic coupled‐cluster (AQCC) method, and the averaged CEPA method are tested. We test the methods concerning size consistency, potential energy curves for C2, N2, CN, and O3 and for the singlet‐triplet splitting of ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐benzynes. Our results show that AQCC provides the most accurate results and stable performance. The main drawback of the method is that it shows small violations of size consistency.
Declining Urban–Rural Population Densities: How Do They Affect Natural Habitat?
Authors: Yang Liyan , Yang Tian , Chen Wanxu , Yang Meng , Liu Qingqing , Wang Guanzheng , Yuan Jintao , Xu Hang , Zeng Jie
Published: January 2025

The decline in urban–rural population density (URPD) has consistently characterized China's rapid urbanization. Analyzing the spatiotemporal trends in URPD and their effects on habitats within the context of China's ecological civilization is crucial. However, quantitative studies on the decline in URPD are lacking, and the impact on natural habitats remains unclear. Therefore, using population census and land‐use data, we analyzed the spatiotemporal trends in URPD and habitat effects in China between 2000 and 2020. The results show that China's urban population density (UPD), rural population density (RPD), and habitat quality have decreased by 11.7%, 40.2%, and 2.1%, respectively, and they all tend to shift to lower values. The effects of UPD and RPD on natural habitats vary and exhibit regional heterogeneity. This study provides insights for promoting high‐quality urban–rural development and advancing ecological civilization.
Using Moving Least Square With Particle Swarm Optimization to Solve Nonlinear Transient Convective–Radiative Heat Transfer Problems in the Existence of a Magnetic Field
Authors: Mahmoodabadi M. J. , Atashafrooz M. , Ibrahim M. Yousef
Published: January 2025

In the current research, a novel hybrid scheme is proposed to solve nonlinear equations arising in heat transfer through the combination of meta‐heuristic algorithms and interpolation methods. In order to define a proper objective function for minimization by particle swarm optimization (PSO), the constrained problem is converted into an unconstrained one through the penalty method. Furthermore, the moving least square (MLS) technique is implemented to interpolate and approximate the derivatives appeared in the equation. The main problem for challenging this combined scheme is nonlinear transient convective–radiative heat transfer in existence of a magnetic field. To study the efficiency of the MLS, the results would be contrasted with those extracted by a finite difference method (FDM) based PSO approach. Through five distinctive examples, the evolutionary diagrams as well as temperature distributions found by different methods are displayed, and the effects of the constant parameters are investigated. Besides, the simulations of this research work clearly depict good agreements of the numerical results obtained by the suggested idea with those reported in literature.
Qualitative Uncertainty Principles for the Nonisotropic Angular Stockwell Transforms
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Zheng Shenzhou
Published: January 2025

The nonisotropic angular Stockwell transform (NAST) employs an angular, scalable and localized window function, to effectively capture directional characteristics and nonisotropic features presented in the signal. In this paper, our main contributions are to derive three distinct qualitative uncertainty principles (UPs) for the NAST: the Benedicks–Amrein–Berther UP, the logarithmic Sobolev‐type UP, and the Donoho–Stark UP. These uncertainty principles provide rather valuable insights into the behavior and limitations of the NAST regarding localization and concentration properties.
Disruption of Epistemic Trust in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Possible Adaptation to Avoid Making Costly Mistakes
Authors: Kurt Yağızcan
Published: January 2025

This paper applies error management theory (EMT) (Haselton and Buss 2000) to explore how disruptions in epistemic trust—trust in communicated information—can be understood as adaptive responses to early adversity in individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). I propose that epistemic mistrust (EM) and epistemic credulity (EC), characterized by inappropriate trust patterns, arise from the differential costs of trusting unreliable versus mistrusting reliable information. Although these biases may seem maladaptive, they function as evolutionary survival mechanisms in response to harsh environments. Signal detection analysis can provide empirical evidence for these trust biases by assessing how individuals with BPD make trust‐related decisions. Clinically, understanding these biases as evolutionary adaptations helps reduce stigma and informs evolutionary‐informed interventions to recalibrate trust responses and improve interpersonal relationships. This approach highlights the significance of integrating evolutionary perspectives in treating trust disturbances in BPD.
The Pseudoenzyme β‐Amylase9 From Arabidopsis Activates α‐Amylase3: A Possible Mechanism to Promote Stress‐Induced Starch Degradation
Authors: Berndsen Christopher E. , Storm Amanda R. , Sardelli Angelina M. , Hossain Sheikh R. , Clermont Kristen R. , McFather Luke M. , Connor Mafe A. , Monroe Jonathan D.
Published: January 2025

Starch accumulation in plants provides carbon for nighttime use, for regrowth after periods of dormancy, and for times of stress. Both ɑ‐ and β‐amylases (AMYs and BAMs, respectively) catalyze starch hydrolysis, but their functional roles are unclear. Moreover, the presence of catalytically inactive amylases that show starch excess phenotypes when deleted presents questions on how starch degradation is regulated. Plants lacking one of these catalytically inactive β‐amylases, BAM9, have enhanced starch accumulation when combined with mutations in BAM1 and BAM3, the primary starch degrading BAMs in response to stress and at night, respectively. BAM9 has been reported to be transcriptionally induced by stress although the mechanism for BAM9 function is unclear. From yeast two‐hybrid experiments, we identified the plastid‐localized AMY3 as a potential interaction partner for BAM9. We found that BAM9 interacted with AMY3 in vitro and that BAM9 enhances AMY3 activity about three‐fold. Modeling of the AMY3‐BAM9 complex predicted a previously undescribed alpha–alpha hairpin in AMY3 that could serve as a potential interaction site. Additionally, AMY3 lacking the alpha–alpha hairpin is unaffected by BAM9. Structural analysis of AMY3 showed that it can form a homodimer in solution and that BAM9 appears to replace one of the AMY3 monomers to form a heterodimer. The presence of both BAM9 and AMY3 in many vascular plant lineages, along with model‐based evidence that they heterodimerize, suggests that the interaction is conserved. Collectively these data suggest that BAM9 is a pseudoamylase that activates AMY3 in response to cellular stress, possibly facilitating stress recovery.
A Commensurate Prior Model With Random Effects for Survival and Competing Risk Outcomes to Accommodate Historical Controls
Authors: Khanal Manoj , Logan Brent R. , Banerjee Anjishnu , Fang Xi , Ahn Kwang Woo
Published: January 2025

Clinical trials (CTs) often suffer from small sample sizes due to limited budgets and patient enrollment challenges. Using historical data for the CT data analysis may boost statistical power and reduce the required sample size. Existing methods on borrowing information from historical data with right‐censored outcomes did not consider matching between historical data and CT data to reduce the heterogeneity. In addition, they studied the survival outcome only, not competing risk outcomes. Therefore, we propose a clustering‐based commensurate prior model with random effects for both survival and competing risk outcomes that effectively borrows information based on the degree of comparability between historical and CT data. Simulation results show that the proposed method controls type I errors better and has a lower bias than some competing methods. We apply our method to a phase III CT which compares the effectiveness of bone marrow donated from family members with only partially matched bone marrow versus two partially matched cord blood units to treat leukemia and lymphoma.
Taylor Series Approximation for Accurate Generalized Confidence Intervals of Ratios of Log‐Normal Standard Deviations for Meta‐Analysis Using Means and Standard Deviations in Time Scale
Authors: Chen Pei‐Fu , Dexter Franklin
Published: January 2025

With contemporary anesthetic drugs, the efficacy of general anesthesia is assured. Health‐economic and clinical objectives are related to reductions in the variability in dosing, variability in recovery, etc. Consequently, meta‐analyses for anesthesiology research would benefit from quantification of ratios of standard deviations of log‐normally distributed variables (e.g., surgical duration). Generalized confidence intervals can be used, once sample means and standard deviations in the raw, time, scale, for each study and group have been used to estimate the mean and standard deviation of the logarithms of the times (i.e., “log‐scale”). We examine the matching of the first two moments versus also using higher‐order terms, following Higgins et al. 2008 and Friedrich et al. 2012. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that using the first two moments 95% confidence intervals had coverage 92%–95%, with small bias. Use of higher‐order moments worsened confidence interval coverage for the log ratios, especially for coefficients of variation in the time scale of 50% and for larger sample sizes per group, resulting in 88% coverage. We recommend that for calculating confidence intervals for ratios of standard deviations based on generalized pivotal quantities and log‐normal distributions, when relying on transformation of sample statistics from time to log scale, use the first two moments, not the higher order terms.
Lipid‐Lowering Drugs and Pulmonary Vascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Yuan Xingya , Hong Peiwei , Zhou JinQiu
Published: January 2025

The therapeutic value of lipid‐lowering drugs in pulmonary vascular disease remains uncertain due to insufficient studies and evidence. This study aims to investigate the causal effects of lipid‐lowering drugs (specifically, inhibitors of APOB, CETP, HMGCR, NPC1L1, and PCSK9) on pulmonary vascular diseases using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. We utilized summary‐level statistics from genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) to simulate the exposure to low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and its outcomes on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pulmonary embolism (PE), and pulmonary heart disease (PHD). Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within or near drug target‐associated LDL‐C loci were selected as proxies for the lipid‐lowering drugs. Data from the FinnGen cohort and UK Biobank (UKB) were incorporated to enhance the robustness and generalizability of the findings. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) and MR‐Egger methods were employed to estimate MR effects. Our MR analysis indicated that LDL‐C mediated by NPC1L1 (odds ratio [OR] = 104.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.01–5457.01, p = 0.021) and PCSK9 (OR = 10.20, 95% CI = 3.58–29.10, p < 0.001) was associated with an increased risk of PAH. In contrast, LDL‐C mediated by APOB was associated with a decreased risk of PE (FinnGen: OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.60–0.91, p = 0.005; UKB: OR = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.996–1.000, p = 0.031) and PHD (FinnGen: OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.59–0.91, p = 0.004). However, LDL‐C mediated by CETP and HMGCR did not show significant associations with the risks of PAH, PE, or PHD. This MR study revealed the causal effects of NPC1L1 and PCSK9 inhibitors on increased PAH risk, while APOB inhibitors appear to reduce the risks of PE and PHD. These findings enhance our understanding of the potential roles of lipid‐lowering drugs in pulmonary vascular disease.
Primary tracheo‐bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma: A surgical series with literature review
Authors: Ben Amara Kaouther , Bouassida Imen , Ayadi Rahma , Affes Mariem , Abdelkbir Amina , Abdennadher Mahdi , Ben Othmen Salma , Ayadi‐Kaddour Ayda , Zribi Hazem , Marghli Adel
Published: January 2025

Tracheo‐bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma (TBACC) is a rare disease. Its treatment is mainly surgical. We herein describe the clinical and para‐clinical varieties of TBACC as well as their surgical treatment and prognosis. We conducted a retrospective study of eight patients operated on between 1994 and 2022 and whose definitive pathological examination concluded with primary TBACC. There were three men and five women with an average age of 44 years. The bronchoscopy found a budding formation reducing the tracheal lumen at the cervical (two cases), middle (two case) and distal trachea and carina (four cases). Bronchial anastomosis resection and sleeve pneumonectomy were the most common procedures. Surgical resections R0 were achieved in five patients. Surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in two patients with incomplete surgical resection R1. The overall survival for all patients with primary ACC was 72% at 5 years. TBACC is a rare and low‐to‐moderate grade malignant tumour. The choice of the surgical procedure and the appropriate approach is challenging to obtain a promising prognosis.
A Model for Sustainable Development in Territorial Production Systems
Authors: Sica Francesco , Tajani Francesco , Morano Pierluigi
Published: January 2025

The territorial production system demand innovation and adaptability to provide the majority of decisions, especially when splitting up available resources among productive sectors by the lens of sustainable development. The system's economic units evolve in dimensional profile, technical execution, and management of productive process to approach the worldwide benchmark for sustainability, taking into account not only the environment, society, and economy, but also the twin transition to digitalisation. The study addresses the issue of allocation resources across territory's productive sectors by an inter‐sectorial model that accounts for both external and endogenous sustainability performance criteria. The model is developed starting from the Leontief input–output system and tested in the Italian production system. The sustainability perspective's individualization of the sector's top performer and the quantity of resources to be allocated in response to their respectable sustainable performance are provided as outputs. The political repercussions, model's potential and strengths, and its limits with regard to the sustainable development of territorial production frame are discussed in the conclusions.
Community Attachment, Emotional Solidarity, and Sustainable Tourism Support: Evidence From Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
Authors: Chen Qian , Jiang Fei , Guo Yingzhi , Shrestha Raj Kush , Zhang Qingchuo
Published: January 2025

National parks, such as Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal, serve as critical conservation areas and key attractions for nature‐based tourism, offering both opportunities and challenges to local communities. This study aims to address the underexplored perspectives of residents in economically disadvantaged, tourism‐dependent regions by investigating the factors influencing their support for sustainable tourism development. Specifically, it integrates Community Attachment Theory, Social Exchange Theory, and Emotional Solidarity Theory to examine how community attachment, perceived value, and emotional solidarity interact to shape residents' support for sustainable tourism. Data were collected from 260 residents in the Khumbu region and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The findings reveal that strong community attachment enhances perceived value, which subsequently boosts support for sustainable tourism. Additionally, community attachment and perceived value significantly reinforce emotional solidarity, playing a crucial role in fostering positive resident attitudes towards sustainable tourism. The study also identifies gender as a moderating factor in the relationship between emotional solidarity dimensions—such as welcoming nature and sympathetic understanding—and tourism support. These insights contribute to the theoretical understanding of community dynamics in tourism and offer practical recommendations for policymakers to enhance resident engagement and promote sustainable tourism in sensitive environments.
A Fully Integrated ICP‐Enriched and Nanozyme‐Catalyzed Lateral Flow Assay for cfDNA Detection in Whole Blood
Authors: Cun Fei , Li Hanxue , Wang Haonan , Yang Bin , Kong Jilie , Chen Hui
Published: January 2025

Rapid and sensitive detection of Epstein−Barr virus cell‐free DNA (EBV cfDNA) is crucial for early diagnosis and monitoring of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but accessibility to screening is limited by complicated and costly conventional DNA isolation and purification approaches. Here, a fully integrated ion concentration polarization (ICP)‐enriched and nanozyme‐catalyzed lateral flow assay (ICP‐cLFA) is developed, enabling total analysis of EBV cfDNA in whole blood samples, with DNA isolation, pre‐concentration, and amplification performed on a microfluidic chip, consequently providing the signal readout within 75 min. Specifically, ICP preconcentration and amplification steps, together with target recognition catalyzed by a platinum‐decorated mesoporous gold nanosphere (MGNS@Pt) nanozyme, result in an ultralow detection limit of 4 aM in standard cfDNA samples and 100 aM in whole blood from NPC‐bearing rats. The high sensitivity and specificity of the ICP‐cLFA suggest strong potential for cfDNA screening in resource‐limited clinical and field applications.
High‐Performance Proton Exchange Membrane with Vertically Aligned Montmorillonite Nanochannels
Authors: Gao Yushuan , Qiao Zilin , Zhang Lei , Shi Le
Published: January 2025

The traditional perfluorosulfonic acid proton exchange membrane is crucial for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, but its high cost has impeded broader commercialization. In this study, a novel concept of a cost‐effective and stable vertically aligned polydopamine‐intercalated montmorillonite membrane (VAPMM) is introduced. 2D nanochannels formed within the lamellar structure of polydopamine‐coated montmorillonite nanosheets provide a significant stable in‐plane proton conductivity of 0.58 S cm−1. The stacked lamellar structure is embedded in epoxy resin to maintain its orientation. Subsequently, precise slicing along the vertical direction of the 2D nanochannels yields a thin film ≈150 µm thick, featuring vertically aligned proton conductive transmembrane nanochannels. When assembled into a membrane electrode assembly with commercial gas diffusion electrodes, the VAPMM exhibits a maximum areal peak power density of up to 534.00 mW cm−2 at 75 °C with 100% RH, surpassing by more than four times that of a commercial Nafion membrane of similar thickness (N117, 183 µm, 116.17 mW cm−2). This study outlines a pathway for developing next‐generation proton exchange membranes that are both cost‐effective and highly stable. Additionally, it introduces a straightforward method to create fully vertically aligned transmembrane nanochannels while preserving the interlayer structure, which is crucial for advancements in nanofluidics.