bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘That’s just the Way it is’: The Experiences of Co-habiting Spanish Siblings of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Baena Sofía , Hidalgo Victoria , Jiménez Lucía
Published: February 2025

Although the literature has provided a large body of evidence about the impact of having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), studies on how this influences typically-developing (TD) siblings are scarcer and less consistent in their findings. Moreover, fewer studies have included TD siblings from non-English speaking countries as informants from a qualitative perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of adolescents and adults with a sibling with ASD. The sample comprised 14 TD people from Spain aged between 12 and 29, currently living with a sibling with ASD. The thematic analysis revealed that participants identified seven domains of impact, grouped into three different levels: personal, dyadic, and family. The findings of the present study highlight the complexity and heterogeneity of TD sibling experiences and relationships among family members. This study presents topics that are of particular relevance to the Spanish context while identifying commonalities with other studies. These results highlight the importance of cultural factors in some family processes. In addition, results shed light on how TD siblings appraise differential parental treatment and potential protective factors for adjustment, incorporating the relevance of the individual parent-child relationship and certain parenting components as potential protective factors for TD siblings. Such information is important to develop more accurate and effective interventions and adjust the necessary resources to assist TD siblings.
Interpretable data-driven framework for life prediction of homogenous lead-free solder joints in ball grid array packages
Authors: Qasaimeh Qais , Liu Jia , Silva Daniel F. , Qasaimeh Awni , Evans John L. , Hamasha Sa’d
Published: February 2025

Designing reliable electronic devices depends heavily on the reliability of solder joints. However, due to the ongoing advancement of novel lead-free solder materials, assessing their reliability for various applications, particularly in extreme conditions, often involves costly and time-consuming tests. Multiple factors, including board, package, assembly parameters, solder material properties, and process parameters, all affect the reliability of solder joints. Leveraging the available reliability test data as well as the simulated data, an interpretable data-driven framework is proposed by integrating linear mixed-effects (LME) models and artificial neural network (ANN) with sensitivity analysis to achieve accurate life predictions of solder materials and improve interpretability for understanding new lead-free materials. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and decision tree (DT) models have also been included for comparison. For thermal cycling (TC) tests, ANN, LME, and MLR achieve high prediction accuracy (R-squared values of 88.95%, 91.79%, and 90.07%, respectively), which are approximately 10%, 14%, and 13% higher than DT. Moreover, the interpretation derived from the random effects of LME and the sensitivity analysis of ANN, along with the insights from MLR and DT, successfully extract valuable information about the life of solder materials, which aligns with experimental testing results and empirical physics knowledge. For instance, it is found that the impact of aging duration on reliability depends on the configuration of the tested electronic package. Furthermore, as the temperature range of the TC test increases, the significance of the solder alloy material’s influence on reliability decreases. This reduction in relevance is associated with a transition to the failure mode under more extreme temperature conditions. Therefore, the interpretable data-driven framework not only models the complex relationships among influencing factors and solder joint reliability but also enables understanding the solder joint reliability. This framework can contribute to accelerating the design and adoption of new lead-free solder materials in various electronic applications and utilizing data-driven models to assess the reliability of electronic packages in future research.
Recurrent Nipple Duct Obstruction in Two Breastfeeding Patients: A Case Report and Discussion of the Underlying Pathophysiology
Authors: Sadovnikova Anna , Greenman Susan , Young Bridget , Rosen-Carole Casey
Published: February 2025

Nipple pain is a common reason for premature breastfeeding cessation. There exists anecdotal evidence that one cause of lactational nipple pain is a ductal obstruction, but there is no published literature describing this phenomenon. Herein we present two case reports for two patients who experienced breast and nipple pain concurrent with milk flow reduction. Both patients removed a small stone-like obstructing object from their nipple; this action was painful for one of the patients, resulting in immediate release of milk and relief from breast pain. Both patients experienced recurrence of stone formation in their nipple ducts. We analyzed the mineral composition of the obstructing objects and breast milk using inductively coupled mass spectroscopy. We use literature on teat obstructions in dairy cows and dacryolith and sialolith formation to propose hypotheses as to how the formation of obstructing objects in milk ducts might occur. Future research directions for determining the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of human nipple duct obstructions are discussed.
Parent-Adolescent Discrepancies in Perceiving Parental Psychological Control and Autonomy Support Predict Adolescents’ Psychological Adjustment: Does Adolescent Gender Make a Difference?
Authors: Zheng Jiayin , Chen Bin-Bin
Published: February 2025

Few studies simultaneously examined how parent-adolescent discrepancies in reporting psychological control and autonomy support predicted adolescents’ adjustment and the moderation by adolescent gender remains unknown. This longitudinal study addressed these gaps using a Chinese sample of 310 adolescents (158 girls; M
age = 13.34, SD = 0.36) and their parents. Adolescents reported depression and resilience and dyads reported parenting. The latent difference scores analysis showed higher psychological control and lower autonomy support perceived by adolescents than parents and larger parent-boy discrepancies in psychological control. Psychological control discrepancies predicted higher adolescents’ depression and autonomy support discrepancies predicted lower boys’ depression. The results suggest that parent-adolescent discrepant perceptions of different parenting behaviors predict adolescents’ adjustment via different processes, which vary for boys and girls.
Decomposing the Law, Composting the Collectives: Indigenous Struggles for Lands and the Making of Life Beyond Rights
Authors: Porto Renan Nery
Published: February 2025

In the last two decades in Brazil, indigenous peoples have been struggling for their rights through the practice of what they call “retomada de terras” (reappropriation of lands), which consists of reoccupying ancestral lands that were invaded by farmers or other explorers. Inspired by indigenous perspectives, new social movements are struggling for land and territory. After years of reclaiming the legal demarcation of indigenous lands or agrarian reform without a resolution from the State, they decided to act directly in the building of their territories. Within this process, there is also a production of another space, another ecology, another relationship to the land. If Carl Schmitt is right when he says that the original movement that makes law arise is the taking of land, which produces an ordering of space and defines borders that establish internal and external relations, what happens when lands are retaken and borders are reshaped? If we conceive of law in a very modern and technical conception, solely linked to an institutional image, it cannot help us to answer this question. The practice of “retomada” by the Tupinambá people and the agroecological experience of the Web of the People (Teia dos Povos) in Brazil can be an interesting path to investigate how the conditions of existence can be produced beyond abstract rights and more-than-human arrangements can change the way we live together. These practices produce justice spatially in a given territory and bring conceptions of rights rooted in the entanglements of bodies and their territories.
Did the Bank of England’s Quantitative Easing Programme Become Fiscally Wasteful?
Authors: Bleaney Michael
Published: February 2025

In the period of central bank independence since 1997, the level of UK nominal interest rates has been driven almost entirely by real rates as reflected in the market for index-linked government bonds. These bonds offered a yield of + 4% in the 1980s, falling steadily to below -2% in late 2019, and only recovered somewhat in 2022, with long bond yields closely following short bond yields. The Bank of England doubled its purchases of bonds through its Quantitative Easing (QE) programme in 2020–21 at significantly negative real interest rates, taking up almost all of the increased supply associated with the massively increased budget deficit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Neither the Bank nor the Government bothered about the likely eventual fiscal cost, which rose quite steeply at the margin to the extent that the QE purchases had their intended effect of depressing bond yields. Much, but not all, of the blame for this lies with the Government, since under independence it is the Government that defines what the Bank should take into account in making its decisions about monetary policy. The issue of the eventual fiscal cost of QE is also of concern in the Euro Area and the United States.
Multi-band reflective metasurface for efficient linear and circular polarization conversion
Authors: Zafar Jamal , Khan Humayun Zubair , Jabbar Abdul , Kazim Jalil ur Rehman , Ur Rehman Masood , Siddiqui Adil Masood , Abbasi Qammer H. , Imran Muhammad Ali
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a novel reflective metasurface for efficient polarization conversion in the X, Ku, and K bands. Through rigorous simulations and experimental validation, high polarization conversion ratios (PCR) exceeding 90% were achieved, even at incidence angles up to

$$45^\circ$$

45
∘

. Superior performance in the axial ratio (AR) and ellipticity values was demonstrated, showcasing the versatility of the designed metasurface in linear-to-linear and linear-to-circular polarization conversions. Comparative analysis against existing metasurfaces revealed the superiority of the proposed design in polarization conversion, particularly in Linear polarization, left-hand circular polarization, and right-hand circular polarization scenarios. The experimental results closely align with simulation outcomes, with minor discrepancies attributed to fabrication imperfections and antenna misalignments. This study advances metasurface-based polarization converters, offering promising applications in wireless communication, radar systems, quantum optics, and sensing technologies.
The application of a mind, brain and education approach to the Literacy for Women in Africa programme and recommendations for practitioners
Authors: Rogers Cathy Jane , Knowland Victoria C. P. , Vitikainen Ari , Gondwe Patrick , Thomas Michael S. C.
Published: February 2025

A mind, brain and education (MBE) approach applies the best evidence regarding how people learn to real classroom settings. Much of the work in the field to date has involved child learners, but MBE is increasingly turning to the study of adult education, supported by a growing understanding of how adults and children differ in their learning styles. MBE’s systematic, evidence-driven interdisciplinary approach has much to offer the field of adult literacy. The Literacy for Women in Africa (LWA) programme in Malawi seeks to improve and develop its provision for adult learners using MBE’s interdisciplinary, evidence-based approach. This article reports on that programme, showing how its design and future development have benefited from the MBE framework. The authors suggest that the field of adult literacy could gain from the development of a strong, shared, scientific evidence base which allows all programme practitioners to benefit from the best knowledge available. The authors offer their experience with the LWA programme as a small contribution towards that goal. It is their hope that this article will be of use to those involved in the development, design and implementation of adult literacy programmes, particularly in the Global South.
Caring About Our Own Epistemic Capacities qua Responsible Citizens
Authors: Pedrini Patrizia
Published: February 2025

Are citizens responsible for their own bad epistemic conduct? What grounds do we have for such accountability practice? And what if citizens lack education and knowledge on how evidence should be considered and thus acted upon? Does ignorance of this kind excuse them, or are there still normative margins for legitimately holding them accountable? In this paper, I wish to chart the legitimate options that we have for our practice of moral accountability in the epistemic domain, in particular the one which pertains to the institutional role of citizens. In order to fulfil the task, I will resort to an analysis of what it takes to meet the standards of an institutional role, what capacities are required, and what duties we incur. The analysis will show that a certain number of capacities are required in order to perform within an institutional role, and that role-occupants are not exempt from a duty of care regarding the state of their own capacities. This is a duty which pertains to most institutional roles, and citizens qua institutional role-occupants are no exception. Institutions have a role to play; they should educate citizens not only by offering suitable chances to acquire specific capacities and knowledge of evidence treatment, but also, conjunctively and constitutively, by helping them to enhance the conscience and care pertaining to the role. This can be effectively done by more clearly defining the standards of epistemic conduct imperative to the institutional role of citizens, as well as illustrating its moral significance in-depth.
University students’ perceptions of using generative AI in translation practices
Authors: Zhang Wenkang , Li Albert W. , Wu Chenze
Published: February 2025

The rising application of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Bard in language teaching and learning heralds a transformative era. Yet, the experiences and perspectives of university students on integrating these tools into their translation studies remain underexplored. This qualitative study, conducted in a research-intensive, Sino-foreign cooperative university in southern China, explored university students’ perceived benefits and challenges of utilizing GenAI in translation practices, as well as their preferred support mechanisms for addressing encountered issues. Data was collected through open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews and analyzed by using reflexive thematic analysis. Results underscored the advantages of GenAI in enhancing translation efficiency, quality, learning, and practice, fostering a positive outlook and social benefits. Nevertheless, issues such as adequacy, prompt engineering efficacy, practical application, technical limitations, accountability, transparency, and potential AI dependency were noted. Beyond existing self-help strategies, there was an expressed need for additional guidance from educators and institutions. This study enriches our comprehension of how university students perceive and engage with GenAI tools in translation, offering insights for educators and academic institutions to optimize future teaching strategies. It also outlines the study’s limitations and proposes directions for subsequent research.
Detection of sleep apnea using only inertial measurement unit signals from apple watch: a pilot-study with machine learning approach
Authors: Hayano Junichiro , Adachi Mine , Murakami Yutaka , Sasaki Fumihiko , Yuda Emi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Despite increased awareness of sleep hygiene, over 80% of sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed, underscoring the need for accessible screening methods. This study presents a method for detecting sleep apnea using data from the Apple Watch’s inertial measurement unit (IMU).

Methods

An algorithm was developed to extract seismocardiographic and respiratory signals from IMU data, analyzing features such as breathing and heart rate variability, respiratory dips, and body movements. In a cohort of 61 adults undergoing polysomnography, we analyzed 52,337 30-second epochs, with 12,373 (23.6%) identified as apnea/hypopnea episodes. Machine learning models using five classifiers (Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, k-Nearest Neighbors, and Multi-layer Perceptron) were trained on data from 41 subjects and validated on 20 subjects.

Results

The Random Forest classifier performed best in per-epoch respiratory event detection, achieving an AUC of 0.827 and an F1 score of 0.572 in the training group, and an AUC of 0.831 and an F1 score of 0.602 in the test group. The model’s per-subject predictions strongly correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from polysomnography (r = 0.93) and identified subjects with AHI ≥ 15 with 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity.

Conclusion

Utilizing the widespread availability of the Apple Watch and the low power requirements of the IMU, this approach has the potential to significantly improve sleep apnea screening accessibility.
Ozone exposure alters nutrients and stoichiometric ratios in different organs of four urban tree species despite limited negative effects on leaf physiology and plant growth and biomass
Authors: Zhang Kun , Li Shenglan , Li Shuangjiang , Shang Bo , Saitanis Costas J. , Xu Yansen , Fang Chao , Papadopoulos George , Feng Zhaozhong , Agathokleous Evgenios
Published: February 2025

To better understand the effects of ground-level ozone (O3) on nutrients and stoichiometry in different plant organs, urban tree species Celtis sinensis, Cyclocarya paliurus, Quercus acutissima, and Quercus nuttallii were subjected to a constant exposure to charcoal-filtered air (CF), nonfiltered air (NF), or NF + 40, 60, or 80 nmol O3 mol–1 (NF40, NF60, and NF80) starting early in the summer of the growing season. At the end of summer, net CO2 assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (g
s), leaf mass per area (LMA), and/or leaf greenness (SPAD) either were not significantly affected by elevated O3 or were even higher in some cases during the summer compared with the CF or NF controls. LMA was significantly lower in autumn only after the highest O3 exposures. Compared to NF, NF40 caused a large increase in g
s across species in late summer and more K and Mn in stems. At the end of the growing season, nutrient status and stoichiometric ratios in different organs were variously altered under O3 stress; many changes were large and often species-specific. Across O3 treatments, LMA was primarily associated with C and Mg levels in leaves and Ca levels in leaves and stems. NF40 enriched K, P, Fe, and Mn in stems, relative to NF, and NF60 enhanced Ca in leaves relative to CF and NF40. Moreover, NF resulted in a higher Ca/Mg ratio in leaves of Q. acutissima only, relative to the other O3 regimes. Interestingly, across species, O3 stress led to different nutrient modifications in different organs (stems + branches vs leaves). Thus, ambient and/or elevated O3 exposures can alter the dynamics and distribution of nutrients and disrupt stoichiometry in different organs in a species-specific manner. Changes in stoichiometry reflect an important defense mechanism in plants under O3, and O3 pollution adds more risk to ecological stoichiometries in urban areas.
Outpatient flexible cystoscopy in urogynaecology: a tertiary hospital’s experience
Authors: Kumar Parijot , Tariq Saboohi , Philip Siji , Hendricken Caroline , Salameh Fadi
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study is a retrospective evaluation of a new outpatient flexible cystoscopy service in a tertiary care hospital in Dublin, Ireland.

Design

This is a retrospective observational study.

Setting

This study has been held at the Department of Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.

Population

This included all women who underwent outpatient flexible cystoscopy in Rotunda Hospital between May 2023 to October 2024.

Materials and methods

Retrospective data collection included patient demographics, indications for referrals, cystoscopic findings, post-procedural complications, and cost–benefit analysis.

Results

A total of 77 women underwent flexible cystoscopy. The mean age was 52.5 years ranging from 20 to 85 years. Flexible cystoscopy was successfully completed in all patients, and there were no post procedure complications. The most common indications were as follows: recurrent urinary tract infections (36%) and bladder pain syndrome (36%), followed by overactive bladder symptoms (14%). Fifty-five percent of patients had no abnormal findings. The most common abnormality found was trabeculations (39%), followed by glomerulations (9%). A cost–benefit analysis showed an approximate saving of € 1211 per patient leading to a saving of over € 93,000 over a period of 18 months.

Conclusion

Outpatient cystoscopy is a low-risk, feasible, well tolerated, and safe diagnostic procedure, with no post-procedure complications observed in this study. It avoids the risks of general anaesthesia and is associated with lower procedural costs.
Exploring AI-Driven Feedback as a Cultural Tool: A Cultural-Historical Perspective on Design of AI Environments to Support Students’ Writing Process
Authors: Engeness Irina , Gamlem Siv M.
Published: February 2025

This study draws on the cultural-historical perspectives of Vygotsky and Galperin to examine the role of AI-generated feedback within the Assessment for Learning (AfL) process in fostering students’ development as learners. By leveraging Galperin’s concept of cultural tools and the developmental role of human activity, elaborated in his dissertation written almost a hundred years ago, this study elucidates how this theoretical framework can enhance our understanding of the pedagogical value of individually tailored feedback from AI, ultimately contributing to human development and inspire the Design Principles (DPs) of AI-based educational technologies. Essay Assessment Technology (EAT), designed according to the suggested DPs, is presented to illustrate the application of AfL strategies in schools, highlighting its potential to enhance students’ learning and their development as learners.
Butchery activities associated with member 5 at Sterkfontein, South Africa
Authors: Hanon Raphaël , Val Aurore , Sambo Recognise , Stratford Dominic
Published: February 2025

The origin of animal tissue consumption within the hominin lineage remains a central question in palaeoanthropology and taphonomy. This question is mostly addressed through the study of bone surface modifications (e.g., butchery marks) observed on fossils from East African sites. Albeit somewhat overlooked compared to East Africa, South Africa provides an additional body of evidence regarding the evolution of hominin behaviours. Here, we provide a comprehensive description and analysis of a butchered bone assemblage from the Sterkfontein Name Chamber and Member 5 East Oldowan infill in South Africa, dated conservatively to between 1.4 and 2.18 Ma. Based on the anatomical location and morphology of the bone surface modifications, we demonstrate that hominins using Oldowan tools were capable of performing a complete butchery sequence that included skinning, disarticulation, defleshing and marrow extraction. Furthermore, comparison with the butchered bones from the neighbouring sites of Cooper’s D and Swartkrans shows a continuity, or the repeated emergence, of similar butchery patterns through the Early Pleistocene. The identification of distinct butchery patterns, the range of exploited animals, as well as the presence of bone tools in many sites highlight the diversity of hominin subsistence behaviours during the Early Pleistocene, which we interpret as a reflection of the likely non-linear evolution of such behaviours. Finally, we argue that the research focus of taphonomic analyses should address how hominins processed carcasses in addition to how and when these were acquired. Such analyses would help identifying the development of complex butchery practices in the archaeological record.
Comprehensive review for aflatoxin detoxification with special attention to cold plasma treatment
Authors: Mahmoud Yehia A.-G. , Elkaliny Nehal E. , Darwish Omar A. , Ashraf Yara , Ebrahim Rumaisa Ali , Das Shankar Prasad , Yahya Galal
Published: February 2025

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens and pose significant risks to food safety and public health worldwide. Aflatoxins include Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), Aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). AFB1 is particularly notorious for its carcinogenicity, classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Chronic exposure to aflatoxins through contaminated food and feed can lead to liver cancer, immunosuppression, growth impairment, and other systemic health issues. Efforts to mitigate aflatoxin contamination have traditionally relied on chemical treatments, physical separation methods, and biological degradation. However, these approaches often pose challenges related to safety, efficacy, and impact on food quality. Recently, cold plasma treatment has emerged as a promising alternative. Cold plasma generates reactive oxygen species, which effectively degrade aflatoxins on food surfaces without compromising nutritional integrity or safety. This review consolidates current research and advancements in aflatoxin detoxification, highlighting the potential of cold plasma technology to revolutionize food safety practices. By exploring the mechanisms of aflatoxin toxicity, evaluating existing detoxification methods, and discussing the principles and applications of cold plasma treatment.

Graphical Abstract
A Study of Direct NH4VO3 Crystallization from Dilute V Solutions and the Effect of Impurities (Fe, Mn) on Crystallization
Authors: Kokko Maria , Hu Tao , Lassi Ulla , Pesonen Janne
Published: February 2025

Industrial side streams, such as steel slag, can contain significant amounts of vanadium (V), and its recovery is important for their beneficial use. This study presents a simple approach for recovery of NH4VO3 by direct crystallization from (NH4)2CO3 matrix without significant reagent additions and a V separation stage. This study investigated several factors (seed crystals, ultrasonic pretreatment, pH, vanadium concentration [V], Fe and Mn impurities) affecting direct NH4VO3 crystallization from dilute V-containing ([V] 1.2–2.4 g/L) synthetic solutions. Besides [V], pH had a significant effect on crystallization, especially in the presence of a main impurity Fe. Fe precipitated rapidly with an amorphous structure during pH adjustment. At sufficiently low pH (< 6.8), NH4VO3 crystallized slowly after Fe-containing precipitate formation. The total V recovery (R%) reached 81% but due to co-precipitation of V and Fe, V losses (2–35%) varied depending on the variation in Fe concentration. To minimize V loss, washing the Fe-containing precipitate with an alkaline solution was carried out with promising results (V R% 16–80%). The presence of Mn increased V R% despite almost complete co-precipitation with NH4VO3. The utilization of seed crystals accelerated the crystallization, but the effect of a three-minute ultrasonic pretreatment had an insignificant effect. The method was applied to authentic leachates ([V] 1.6 g/L) which showed comparable results (V R% 81%). Based on SEM-EDS, NH4VO3 crystals contained only marginally Si. This study demonstrates the significant applicability of direct NH4VO3 crystallization for dilute V solutions and offers a functional method from an industrial perspective.
Using generic cities to assess flying ad-hoc network (FANET) performance
Authors: Marks Tobias , Fuger Konrad
Published: February 2025

Flying ad-hoc networks (FANET) offer a solution to provide communication among unmanned aerial systems (UAS) without ground infrastructure and, hence, may provide redundancy if main terrestrial communication systems fail. With a strongly growing UAS market, this redundancy is of particular importance especially if the vehicles are operated over densely populated regions, such as urban areas. To further develop the FANET technology, it is, therefore, essential to understand and predict the performance requirements for such networks and the necessary systems as they arise from the different applications. However, with the diversity of cities, the problem arises that custom-made simulation models often lack generality. For this reason, in our work, we introduce an approach to generate randomized cities and to model UAS traffic for selected applications to assess different performance metrics of the FANET. This approach comprises the creation of randomized city geometries, the derivation of UAS traffic demand on these geometries, as well as the simulation of the flights of each individual vehicle. To showcase the capabilities of the approach, we generate an exemplary city and obtain characteristic datasets of the UAS traffic which are then used to assess the FANET performance for a selected FANET application using a simplified network model. We will show that FANET performance is strongly influenced by the extent of the demand, demand distribution over time, vehicle speed, and delivery network geometry.
Exploring the dynamic functions of pastoral traditional knowledge
Authors: Chao Ouerle , Li Xiaoyue , Reyes-García Victoria
Published: February 2025

Pastoral traditional knowledge is increasingly recognized for its inherent adaptability in addressing contemporary challenges and increasing the resilience of pastoral communities. To deepen our understanding of how this knowledge system demonstrates adaptive characteristics, we employ a functional lens to examine its dynamic nature in this systematic review. Our analysis, based on insights from 152 case studies worldwide, shows that this knowledge system has various domains and serves diverse functions, including ecological, economic, and socio-cultural functions, with further subfunctions. Ecologically, pastoral traditional knowledge predominantly enhances climate adaptation and resilience; economically, it helps maintain herd productivity and sustain livelihood support; and socio-culturally, it is crucial for preserving the cultural identity and heritage of pastoral communities. Furthermore, our findings highlight that each knowledge domain shows multifunctional characteristic. Our analysis also helps identify common functions across eight knowledge domains, each contributing to areas like sustainable resource management and climate adaptation, though to varying degrees.
Comparison of three camera trap designs for sampling small mammals
Authors: Fink Maya , Jachowski David
Published: February 2025

Small mammals are increasingly of conservation concern, and addressing management questions like distribution and habitat associations for many species has been limited by low detection rates. Recently, three novel camera trapping designs for small mammals (Mostela, Small Mammal Box, and Baited Post) have been pioneered for camera-trap-based small mammal monitoring. However, these techniques have not been comparatively assessed. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these three designs at capturing images of small mammals in forest edge habitats of the southeastern United States. Across all methods we generally were only able to identify larger bodied small mammals (> 25 cm in length) to species, although the percentage of mammals we successfully identified down to species was greatest for the Mostela. The Small Mammal Box and Mostela recorded more small mammal species on average than the Baited Post, and the Small Mammal Box had five times more mice detections than other techniques. Latency to detection varied by species, with mice (Peromyscus sp.), opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and rabbit (Sylvilagus sp.) visiting the Small Mammal Box 1 to 8 days earlier than the Mostela and the Baited Post. While no single technique enabled us to identify all small mammals encountered down to species, we suggest the broader use of Small Mammal Boxes and Mostelas, particularly in combination with traditional capture designs, could enhance monitoring and ultimately fill knowledge gaps for small mammal species in this region.
The Impact of Diet Quality on COVID-19 Severity and Outcomes—A Scoping Review
Authors: Tassakos Athina , Kloppman Alanna , Louie Jimmy Chun Yu
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has highlighted the potential role of nutrition in modifying disease susceptibility and severity. This review aims to systematically evaluate the current evidence on associations between dietary patterns, assessed using diet quality scores (DQS), and COVID-19 severity and outcomes.

Recent Findings

A comprehensive literature search identified 15 studies across diverse populations. Prospective cohort studies generally found higher diet quality associated with lower COVID-19 infection rates. Case–control studies consistently showed reduced odds of COVID-19 infection and severe illness with adherence to anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet. Cross-sectional data revealed associations between higher DQS and reduced COVID-19 symptom burden and improved prognostic biomarkers. An ecological study demonstrated inverse relationships between national-level diet quality and COVID-19 caseloads. Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and plant-based diet scores were notably predictive of favourable outcomes, even after adjusting for confounders. Conversely, consumption of processed foods high in saturated fats, sugars, and additives was linked to increased COVID-19 complications. Despite these findings, research gaps remain, including the impacts of specific dietary components, effect modifiers across populations, and establishing causality through interventional trials.

This review highlights the observational evidence supporting the potential integration of optimal nutrition into pandemic preparedness strategies. Further research is needed to strengthen these findings and inform evidence-based dietary recommendations for COVID-19 prevention and management.
Recovery Blindness: The Concept of Recovery in Veterans with a Gambling Disorder – A Scoping Review*
Authors: Gavriel-Fried Belle , Vana Noa , Xu Tiange , Kraus Shane W.
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

Gambling disorder (GD) presents significant psychiatric challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations like military veterans, who often also face mental health comorbidities. Recovery is a crucial issue in the gambling field, representing a transition from illness to health. Currently, there is no consensus regarding its definition. This scoping review aimed to map the characteristics of studies on recovery in veterans with GD, explore how it is defined and measured, identify the dominate recovery approach, and the main research topics.

Recent Findings

This review identified 13 scientific articles. Findings showed minimal explicit use of the term “recovery” by researchers. The main recovery approach is the deficit based. Most studies focused on treatment programs and their effectiveness, neglecting the unique characteristics of veterans and alternative recovery pathways. 

Future studies should explore and conceptualize recovery in veterans, and inquire into the specific recovery needs of veterans living with GD.
The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Radkhah Hanieh , Rahimipour Anaraki Shiva , Parhizkar Roudsari Peyvand , Arabzadeh Bahri Razman , Zooravar Diar , Asgarian Sara , Hosseini Dolama Reza , Alirezaei Ali , Khalooeifard Razieh
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have shown potential in managing eating disorders (EDs). Recent studies highlight their effects on pathophysiological pathways, indicating their therapeutic promise, particularly for binge eating disorder (BED). This systematic review evaluates the therapeutic effects of GLP-1 agonists on BED, focusing on weight management and eating behaviors.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, along with manual searches, identified studies assessing GLP-1 agonists in BED patients up to November 8, 2024. Observational studies and clinical trials meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed.

Results

Five studies (182 participants) were included. Patients receiving GLP-1 agonists experienced greater weight loss (− 3.81 kg; 95% CI − 5.14 to − 2.49; p < 0.01, I
2: 59.88%) compared to controls. GLP-1 agonists significantly reduced BMI (− 1.48 kg/m2) and waist circumference (− 3.14 cm). Binge Eating Scale (BES) scores improved significantly (− 8.14 points; 95% CI − 13.13 to − 3.15; p < 0.01), though heterogeneity was noted.

Conclusions

This review underscores the potential role of GLP-1 agonists in BED management. However, given the limited data, especially concerning EDs other than BED and the long-term effects of these medications, further comprehensive clinical trials are recommended to evaluate the impact of various GLP-1 agonists on different EDs across diverse demographic groups.

Level of evidence

Level I, randomized controlled trials.
ccfDNA analysis for the classification of adrenocortical adenomas
Authors: Xu Mengjie , Tourigny David S. , Lippert Juliane , Crastin Ana , Appenzeller Silke , Asia Miriam , Podstawka Oskar , Smith Gabrielle , Elhassan Yasir S. , Skordilis Kassiani , Prete Alessandro , Ronchi Cristina L.
Published: February 2025

Background

Somatic alterations are commonly observed in adrenocortical adenomas including cortisol-producing (CPA) [overt Cushing syndrome (CS) or mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS)], aldosterone-producing (APA), and non-functioning (NFAT) tumors. We tested whether somatic variants could be detected in circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) from patients with adenomas and potentially contribute to management strategies.

Materials and methods

We investigated 44 patients (17 CPA-MACS, 9 CPA-CS, 12 APA, and 6 NFAT). 23 healthy subjects (HS) served as controls. ccfDNA was extracted from blood samples and quantified with fluorimeter. Tumor DNA (T-DNA) was isolated from paraffin embedded tissue in 17/44 cases. Matched ccfDNA/T-DNA were sequenced using a customized panel including 32 genes. Leucocyte DNA was used to filter out germline variants.

Results

Patients with adenomas had higher total ccfDNA concentrations than HS [median 0.12 (IQR 0.05–0.19) vs. 0.05 (0.00-0.08) ng/µl, P < 0.001], with CPA-CS showing the highest ccfDNA levels [0.18 (0.05–0.47) ng/µl]. Within T-DNA, somatic variants were identified in 53% of adenomas: PRKACA in 2/7 CPA-CS, CTNNB1 in 3/5 CPA-MACS and 1/7 CPA-CS, KCNJ5 in 2/5 APA and CACNA1D in 1/5 APA. Somatic mutations were not detected in any of the investigated ccfDNA samples.

Conclusions

Total ccfDNA concentrations are higher in patients with CPA-CS. Despite the presence of somatic variants in half of tumor samples, we did not detect any at ccfDNA level. Therefore, this approach appears ineffective for pre-operative detection of genetic alterations.
Engineering Students’ Initial Use Schemes of ChatGPT as an Instrument for Learning
Authors: Kock Zeger-jan , Salinas-Hernández Ulises , Pepin Birgit
Published: February 2025

ChatGPT is a new technological tool with the potential to impact education. Using Vergnaud’s notion of “use schemes,” we analyzed three interviews with engineering students who discovered ChatGPT and started to develop initial utilization schemes of the tool. Results showed that there were three domains of use of ChatGPT: (a) in mathematics/engineering; (b) for general academic purposes; and (c) in the students’ personal lives. Domain (a), with a focus on mathematical modelling, has a relation to mathematics education. Students used ChatGPT to foster their conceptual understanding, to find alternative modelling strategies, to translate mathematical models to computer code, and to optimize this computer code. The students developed a critical attitude in relation to the limitations of the tool and, according to the interview data, their schemes developed over time. The interview data show some evidence for the emergence of a hybrid form of learning in which ChatGPT became a co-agent of learning, an interactive resource with which the students could discuss their ideas. We consider the case as a positive example of how ChatGPT can contribute to student agency in education and support the development of knowledge and student competencies.
Quantitative analysis of different SLAM algorithms for geo-monitoring in an underground test field
Authors: Li Jing , Benndorf Jörg , Trybała Paweł
Published: February 2025

Geo-monitoring provides quantitative and reliable information to identify hazards and adopt appropriate measures timely. However, this task inherently exposes monitoring staff to hazardous environments, especially in underground settings. Since 2000s, robots have been widely applied in various fields and many studies have focused on establishing autonomous mobile robotic systems as well as solving the issue of underground navigation and mapping. However, only a few studies have conducted quantitative evaluations of these methods, and almost none have provided a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the suitability of mapping robots for underground geo-monitoring. In this study, a methodology for objective and quantitative assessment of the applicability of SLAM methods in underground geo-monitoring is proposed. This involves the development of an underground test field and some specific metrics, which allow detailed local accuracy analysis of point measurements, line segments, and areas using artificial targets. With this proposed methodology, a series of repeated experimental measurements has been performed with an autonomous driving robot and the selected LiDAR- and visual-based SLAM methods. The resulting point cloud was compared with the reference data measured by a total station and a terrestrial laser scanner. The accuracy and precision of the selected SLAM methods as well as the verifiability and reliability of the results are evaluated and discussed by analysing quantities such as the deviations of the control points coordinates, cloud-to-cloud distances between the test and reference point cloud, normal vector, centre point coordinates and area of the planar objects. The results demonstrate that the HDL Graph SLAM achieves satisfactory precision, accuracy, and repeatability with a mean cloud-to-cloud distance of 0.12 m (with a standard deviation of 0.13 m) in an 80 m closed-loop measurement area. Although RTAB-Map exhibits better plane-capturing capabilities, the measurement results reveal instability and inaccuracies.
A Novel Surface‐Based Approach to Represent Aquifer Heterogeneity in Sedimentary Formations
Authors: Schorpp Ludovic , Straubhaar Julien , Renard Philippe
Published: February 2025

Sedimentary formations that compose most aquifers are difficult to model as a result of the nature of their deposition. Their formation generally involves multiple processes (alluvial, glacial, lacustrine, etc.) that contribute to the complex organization of these deposits. Representative models can be obtained using process‐based or rule‐based methods. However, such methods have several drawbacks: complicated parameterization, large computing time, and challenging, if not impossible, conditioning. To address these problems, we propose a new simple hierarchical surface‐based algorithm, named EROSim. First, a predefined number of stochastic surfaces are simulated in a given order (from older to younger). These surfaces are simulated independently but interact with each other through erosion rules. Each surface is either an erosive or a deposition surface. The deposition surfaces represent the boundaries of depositional events, whereas the erosive surfaces can remove parts of the previously simulated deposits. Finally, these surfaces delimit sedimentary regions that are filled with facies. The approach is quite simple, general, flexible, and can be conditioned to borehole data. The applicability of the method is illustrated using data from fluvio‐glacial sedimentary deposits observed in the Bümberg quarry in Switzerland.
Magma Beneath Yellowstone Is Shifting Northeast
Authors: Ware Skyler
Published: February 2025

Though the volcano’s magma chambers could hold enough material for a caldera-forming event, none of them are likely to erupt soon.
Prompt injection attacks on vision language models in oncology
Authors: Clusmann Jan , Ferber Dyke , Wiest Isabella C. , Schneider Carolin V. , Brinker Titus J. , Foersch Sebastian , Truhn Daniel , Kather Jakob Nikolas
Published: February 2025

Vision-language artificial intelligence models (VLMs) possess medical knowledge and can be employed in healthcare in numerous ways, including as image interpreters, virtual scribes, and general decision support systems. However, here, we demonstrate that current VLMs applied to medical tasks exhibit a fundamental security flaw: they can be compromised by prompt injection attacks. These can be used to output harmful information just by interacting with the VLM, without any access to its parameters. We perform a quantitative study to evaluate the vulnerabilities to these attacks in four state of the art VLMs: Claude-3 Opus, Claude-3.5 Sonnet, Reka Core, and GPT-4o. Using a set of N = 594 attacks, we show that all of these models are susceptible. Specifically, we show that embedding sub-visual prompts in manifold medical imaging data can cause the model to provide harmful output, and that these prompts are non-obvious to human observers. Thus, our study demonstrates a key vulnerability in medical VLMs which should be mitigated before widespread clinical adoption.
Allogeneic CD33-directed CAR-NKT cells for the treatment of bone marrow-resident myeloid malignancies
Authors: Li Yan-Ruide , Fang Ying , Niu Siyue , Zhu Yichen , Chen Yuning , Lyu Zibai , Zhu Enbo , Tian Yanxin , Huang Jie , Rezek Valerie , Kitchen Scott , Hsiai Tzung , Zhou Jin J. , Wang Pin , Chai-Ho Wanxing , Park Sunmin , Seet Christopher S. , Oliai Caspian , Yang Lili
Published: February 2025

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cell therapy holds promise for treating myeloid malignancies, but challenges remain in bone marrow (BM) infiltration and targeting BM-resident malignant cells. Current autologous CAR-T therapies also face manufacturing and patient selection issues, underscoring the need for off-the-shelf products. In this study, we characterize primary patient samples and identify a unique therapeutic opportunity for CAR-engineered invariant natural killer T (CAR-NKT) cells. Using stem cell gene engineering and a clinically guided culture method, we generate allogeneic CD33-directed CAR-NKT cells with high yield, purity, and robustness. In preclinical mouse models, CAR-NKT cells exhibit strong BM homing and effectively target BM-resident malignant blast cells, including CD33-low/negative leukemia stem and progenitor cells. Furthermore, CAR-NKT cells synergize with hypomethylating agents, enhancing tumor-killing efficacy. These cells also show minimal off-tumor toxicity, reduced graft-versus-host disease and cytokine release syndrome risks, and resistance to allorejection, highlighting their substantial therapeutic potential for treating myeloid malignancies.