bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relevant markers for overactive bladder laser therapy: nitric oxide and urinary nerve growth factor
Authors: Ahmed Rasha , Hamdy Omnia , Mohamed Abdulwehab Mona , Abdel-Halim Ibrahim , Soliman Amany Ahmed , Elattar Shaimaa
Published: February 2025

To investigate the potential of nitric oxide (NO) and urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) as indicators of therapeutic outcomes in overactive bladder (OAB) patients undergoing low-level laser therapy (LLLT) via a prospective randomized controlled trial. Fifty OAB patients participated in the study and were subjected to LLLT using 650-nm laser irradiation. The study employed a prospective randomized controlled trial design. Nitric oxide and urine NGF levels were assessed before and after the LLLT intervention to evaluate their correlation with therapeutic outcomes. The study provided evidence supporting the effectiveness of LLLT as a treatment modality for OAB. Analysis of NO and urine NGF levels revealed significant changes following LLLT intervention suggesting their potential as biomarkers for assessing therapeutic response in OAB patients. These biomarkers hold promise for aiding clinicians in evaluating treatment response and personalizing therapy approaches for OAB patients. This study highlights the utility of LLLT in managing OAB and underscores the importance of exploring biomarkers such as nitric oxide and urinary nerve growth factor to enhance treatment efficacy assessment. The findings suggest that NO and urine NGF levels may serve as valuable indicators of therapeutic outcomes in OAB patients undergoing LLLT. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the clinical application of LLLT in OAB management.
Dose-finding and efficacy confirmation trial of the superselective intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin and concomitant radiation therapy for locally advanced maxillary sinus cancer (JCOG1212): final analysis
Authors: Shinomiya Hirotaka , Matsuura Kazuto , Onimaru Rikiya , Ohkoshi Akira , Saito Yuki , Tachibana Hiroyuki , Shiga Kiyoto , Ueda Tsutomu , Asada Yukinori , Uemura Hirokazu , Beppu Takeshi , Seto Akira , Yasumatsu Ryuji , Nakahira Mitsuhiko , Omura Go , Asakage Takahiro , Minami Shujiro , Fujii Takashi , Hirayama Yuji , Yoshida Daisuke , Nakamura Kenichi , Sasaki Keita , Mizusawa Junki , Fukuda Haruhiko , Homma Akihiro ,   Head and Neck Cancer Study Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG-HNCSG)
Published: February 2025

Background

JCOG1212 is a dose-finding and efficacy confirmatory study of concurrent superselective intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin and radiotherapy (RADPLAT) for locally advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus (cT4a,bN0M0). In this study, we report the results of the final analysis of the efficacy confirmation phase for the T4a cohort with 5-year follow-up data to evaluate the late adverse events and long-term efficacy.

Methods

Based on the results of the dose-finding phase, the efficacy confirmation phase consisted of seven weekly intra-arterial infusions of cisplatin 100 mg/m2 combined with radiotherapy (70 Gy). The 5-year prognosis and late adverse events were evaluated.

Results

Between April 2014 and August 2018, 64 patients were included in the analysis (one ineligible patient was excluded); 31 patients were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and 33 with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The 5-year overall survival, event-free survival, and local event-free survival was 71.9, 54.7, and 57.5%, respectively. In terms of late adverse events, grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicity was observed in 42.9% of 63 patients (retinopathy: 12, cataract: 10, osteonecrosis of mandible: 4, etc.). Grade 3 and 4 cataracts of affected side appeared in 22.6% (7/31) of the 3D-CRT group compared to 3.1% (1/32) in the IMRT group. Twenty-one patients had died, with 15 from the primary disease, 5 from other causes, and 1 from treatment-related cause.

Conclusion

The prognosis of RADPLAT was favorable after 5-year follow-up with acceptable late adverse events and low proportion of treatment related death.
Crossing the Sahara by small jumps: the complete migration of the Western Orphean Warbler Curruca hortensis
Authors: Jiguet Frédéric , Champagnon Jocelyn , Duriez Olivier , de Franceschi Christophe , Tillo Stéphan , Dufour Paul
Published: February 2025

We analyzed data retrieved from six multi-sensor loggers deployed on adult Western Orphean Warblers Curruca hortensis in France, to unravel the migration strategy of the species. Individuals followed a mostly direct, straight-line route towards wintering areas in North Senegal/South Mauritania, which was consistent across individuals and between autumn and spring migrations. Most migratory flights lasted around 6 h, covering approximately 300 km, with few variations even during the desert crossing, illustrating that the species crosses the Sahara by short, intermittent jumps. Individuals are likely using wadis with acacias along the route as stopover sites. Flights during spring were, on average, higher than during autumn. Long flights were performed at a median altitude of 2400 m, a few reaching up to 4000 m. Part of these flights were prolonged by a final flight at ground level, likely serving as repositioning flights during the early morning, to survey the landing area and identify suitable stopover habitats.
Adult head circumference and the risk of cancer: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Suhas , Mak Jonathan K. L. , Tan Kathryn C. B. , Li Gloria H. Y. , Cheung Ching-Lung
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Cancer-related genes and pathways have recently been implicated in a genome-wide meta-analysis of head size. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the association between adult head circumference and the risk of cancer.

Methods

This is a cohort study using data from the Hong Kong Osteoporosis Study, where 1,301 participants aged 27–96 years with head circumference measured between 2015 and 2019, and without a history of cancer, were followed up to 15 January 2024. Incident cancers were identified using electronic medical records from a territory-wide database. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for age, sex, height, weight, education, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, and family history of cancer, as well as accounting for familial clustering.

Results

The median head circumference was 53 cm (interquartile range [IQR]: 51–54) and 54 cm (IQR: 53–55) for women and men, respectively. During a median follow-up of 6.9 years, 66 individuals were diagnosed with cancer. In the adjusted model, a larger head circumference was associated with an increased risk of any cancer (HR per cm increase: 1.17; 95% CI 1.00–1.36). Results remained similar when adjusting for waist-to-hip ratio instead of weight or when additionally adjusting for serum calcium and phosphorus levels. When stratified by cancer sites, head circumference was most strongly associated with colorectal cancer (HR per cm increase: 1.81; 95% CI 1.14–2.90) and prostate cancer (HR per cm increase: 1.58; 95% CI 1.16–2.16).

Conclusion

Head circumference is positively associated with the risk of cancer independently of height, weight, and other cancer risk factors.
Assessing the educational impact of extended reality applications: Development and validation of a holistic evaluation tool
Authors: Lampropoulos Georgios , Chen Nian-Shing
Published: February 2025

This study aims to create and validate an evaluation tool that assesses the learning effectiveness of extended reality applications (e.g., augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, and the metaverse). Six research questions were formulated to guide this study. The Extended Reality in Education (XREd) questionnaire consists of 50-items derived from 25 existing and validated questionnaires and surveys. The tool uses a 1–5 Likert scale and its items correspond to 15 factors, which are categorized into 5 dimensions. Both the factors and dimensions are supported by related theoretical aspects and background, and are grouped as follows: (1) System usability: Ease of use and Instructional clarity, (2) Learner’s basic psychological needs: Enjoyment, Autonomy, Self-efficacy, and Social interaction, (3) Learner’s learning state: Flow, Presence, and Immersion, (4) Learner’s learning performance: Learning outcomes, Learning motivation, and Learning engagement, (5) Learner’s learning perceptions: Perceived usefulness, Learning preferences alignment, and Behavioral intention. To validate the tool, descriptive statistics and reliability tests, validity tests, and factor analyses, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used. An extended reality application was developed and applied in higher education settings over the course of a semester. The experiment data was used to validate the created evaluation tool, which was then used to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed XR application and to answer the 6 research questions set to be explored. The results confirmed the validity of the XREd questionnaire and its effectiveness in evaluating extended reality applications. Additionally, its potential to be modularly integrated to evaluate non-extended reality learning applications was highlighted. Finally, the developed application was positively assessed by students, who regarded it as an effective learning tool that can support and enrich their learning experience and improve learning outcomes.
Spatial extrapolation of cadmium concentration in terrestrial mosses using multiple linear regression model predictions across French biogeographical regions
Authors: Lamouroux Jérémy , Meyer Caroline , Leblond Sébastien , Albert Isabelle
Published: February 2025

The French Moss Survey employs forest mosses as indicators to monitor the deposition of atmospheric substances, notably focusing on cadmium (Cd), a known carcinogenic and contributor to respiratory illnesses. This comprehensive study encompasses 55 variables to understand Cd accumulation in terrestrial mosses in France. These variables include moss species, tree cover, biogeographical markers, land use area, proximity to road and rail networks, soil concentration of Cd and atmospheric concentration and deposition of Cd using a physical model. The response variable undergoes a complementary log–log transformation to constrain prediction values within the maximum Cd content in mosses. We have built a regression model to improve predictions, considering the impacts of covariates in France. This model retains biogeographical effects, leading to data segmentation into four distinct biogeographical zones: Atlantic, Continental, Mediterranean and Alpine. Subsequently, zone-specific regression models are explored to refine predictions and consider the impacts of covariates specific to each region, such as those related to railways and roads of the Mediterranean zone. Our biogeographical models effectively mitigate spatial correlation issues and yield accurate predictions, as evidenced by the leave-one-out cross-validation assessment. Compared to ordinary kriging map, the regression prediction maps highlight the contributions of certain covariates, such as the EMEP atmospheric transport model, to areas with high Cd concentrations. Furthermore, these maps exhibit new areas with high (resp. low) Cd concentrations due to high (resp. low) values of the covariates.
Quaternionic Cartan Coverings and Applications
Authors: Prezelj Jasna , Vlacci Fabio
Published: February 2025

We present the topological foundations for solvability of multiplicative Cousin problems formulated on an axially symmetric domain

$$\Omega \subset \mathbb {H}.$$

Ω
⊂
H
.

In particular, we provide a geometric construction of quaternionic Cartan coverings, which are generalizations of (complex) Cartan coverings as presented in Section 4 of Forstnerič and Prezelj (Math. Ann. 322(4), 633-666 (2002)). Because of the requirements of symmetry inherent to the domains of definition of quaternionic regular functions, the existence of quaternionic Cartan coverings of

$$\Omega $$

Ω

is not a consequence of the existence of complex Cartan coverings; for the latter, there are no requirements for the symmetries with respect to the real axis. Due to the real axis’s special role, also the covering restricted to

$$\Omega \cap \mathbb {R}$$

Ω
∩
R

must have additional properties. All these required properties were achieved by starting from a particular symmetric tiling of the symmetric set

$$\Omega \cap (\mathbb {R}+ i\mathbb {R})$$

Ω
∩
(
R
+
i
R
)

. Finally, we apply these results to prove the vanishing of ’antisymmetric’ cohomology groups of planar symmetric domains for

$$n \ge 2$$

n
≥
2

.
On the Moduli of Lipschitz Homology Classes
Authors: Kangasniemi Ilmari , Prywes Eden
Published: February 2025

We define a type of modulus

$$\operatorname {dMod}_p$$

dMod
p

for Lipschitz surfaces based on

$$L^p$$

L
p

-integrable measurable differential forms, generalizing the vector modulus of Aikawa and Ohtsuka. We show that this modulus satisfies a homological duality theorem, where for Hölder conjugate exponents

$$p, q \in (1, \infty )$$

p
,
q
∈
(
1
,
∞
)

, every relative Lipschitz k-homology class c has a unique dual Lipschitz

$$(n-k)$$

(
n
-
k
)

-homology class

$$c'$$

c
′

such that

$$\operatorname {dMod}_p^{1/p}(c) \operatorname {dMod}_q^{1/q}(c') = 1$$

dMod
p

1
/
p

(
c
)

dMod
q

1
/
q

(

c
′

)

=
1

and the Poincaré dual of c maps

$$c'$$

c
′

to 1. As

$$\operatorname {dMod}_p$$

dMod
p

is larger than the classical surface modulus

$$\operatorname {Mod}_p$$

Mod
p

, we immediately recover a more general version of the estimate

$$\operatorname {Mod}_p^{1/p}(c) \operatorname {Mod}_q^{1/q}(c') \le 1$$

Mod
p

1
/
p

(
c
)

Mod
q

1
/
q

(

c
′

)

≤
1

, which appears in works by Freedman and He and by Lohvansuu. Our theory is formulated in the general setting of Lipschitz Riemannian manifolds, though our results appear new in the smooth setting as well. We also provide a characterization of closed and exact Sobolev forms on Lipschitz manifolds based on integration over Lipschitz k-chains.
Production Location Affects Tuber Shape Phenotype of Late-Season Russet Selections and Cultivars from the Northwest Potato Variety Development Program (NWPVDP)
Authors: Spear R. Rhett , Piaskowski Julia , Blauer Jacob M. , Pavek Mark J. , Knowles N. Richard
Published: February 2025

Potato tuber length-to-width ratio (L/W) is an important trait for consumer visual acceptance, pack-out efficiency, French fry production, and waste recovery. In the U.S. Northwest Potato Variety Development Program (NWPVDP), L/W accounts for 13% of the overall postharvest score. Selections with L/W ≥ 1.8 are preferred for maximum raw-product recovery (≥ 7.6-cm-long fries). However, tuber shape often depends on production location. Our objectives were to (1) model the effects of production location on L/W using 26 years of historical data from the NWPVDP, and (2) quantify the variability in tuber shape phenotype of selected NWPVDP varieties across production locations (WA, ID, OR). A mixed linear model demonstrated that tuber L/W was strongly affected by location, year, and location-by-year interactions (40% of total variation), while variety and variety-by-location accounted for 43% of total variation. L/W of the 227-284-g tubers of twenty-two released varieties from the NWPVDP averaged 1.65, 1.70, and 1.92 for WA, OR, and ID, respectively, and ranged from a low of 1.51 and 1.53 (cvs. Payette Russet & Palisade Russet) to a high of 2.06 and 2.12 (cvs. Ranger Russet & Echo Russet) across locations. The round phenotype of Palisade was stable across locations, leading to consistently low fry recovery (84% FW). By contrast, Payette tubers were invariably round in WA and OR, but elongated when grown in ID. The elongated phenotypes of Echo and Ranger from all locations ensured maximum fry recovery (94 to 95% FW), despite the relatively high variation in L/W (9–13%) attributable to location. Collectively, our results suggest an opportunity for genetic selection of L/W that are stable across locations for market specific reductions in shape waste. Future work should focus on identifying key mechanisms which are impacted by production environment for improved stability of L/W. Furthermore, cultural management strategies should be optimized for L/W consistency and usability by all sectors of the potato industry.
Design and rationale of the South-East Netherlands Heart Registry (ZON-HR)
Authors: Woelders Eva C. I. , Peeters Denise A. M. , Janssen Sanne , Luijkx Jasper J. P. , Winkler Patty J. C. , Damman Peter , Remkes Wouter S. , van ’t Hof Arnoud W. J. , van Geuns Robert Jan M. ,   ZON-H.R. investigators, Woelders E. C. I. , Peeters D. A. M. , Damman P. , van Geuns R. J. M. , van Royen N. , van Wely M. H. , Camaro C. , ten Cate T. , Dimitriu-Leen A. C. , van Nunen L. X. , Janssen S. , Luijkx J. J. P. , van ’t Hof A. W. J. , Winkler P. J. C. , Ilhan M. , Ruiters A. W. , Lux A. , Stein M. , Rasoul S. , Theunissen R. A. L. J. , Vainer J. , Veenstra L. F. , Vriesendorp P. A. , Hoebers L. P. C. , Kulekci K. , Ijsselmuiden A. J. J. , Remkes W. S. , Aydin S. , Rahel B. M. , Eerens F. L. J. , Hemradj V. V.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), personalised medicine is key to the secondary prevention of ischaemic and bleeding events. To provide an extensive overview of the quality of secondary prevention and of personalised medicine, a consortium in the southeastern region of the Netherlands has created a PCI registry: the South-East Netherlands Heart Registry (Zuid-Oost Nederland Hart Registratie, ZON-HR).

Aim

To visualise and improve personalised secondary prevention post-PCI, focussing on key elements such as antiplatelet treatment, cholesterol management and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus.

Design and population

A prospective multicentre registry of all consecutive patients undergoing PCI at 4 participating PCI centres and 3 referral centres.

Treatment

Interventional procedures and concomitant pharmaceutical treatment are performed in accordance with the guidelines. The ZON-HR promotes risk stratification after PCI using a simplified protocol for a personalised antiplatelet strategy.

Data collection and quality

Demographics, laboratory values, baseline procedural characteristics and pharmaceutical treatment data are collected. Outcomes include thromboembolic and bleeding complications and medication changes. Data are pseudonymised, and a clinical event committee will review 20% of the adverse events (randomly selected).

Strengths and weaknesses

This registry represents the entire PCI population and visualises gaps in secondary prevention. Weaknesses are the collection of outcomes and medication changes using mostly patient-reported outcomes.

Conclusion

The ZON-HR is a comprehensive PCI registry that provides baseline and follow-up data of a large PCI cohort in the southeastern region of the Netherlands. The ZON-HR aims to improve secondary prevention after PCI and augment personalised treatment that focusses on key elements of secondary prevention.
Long non-coding RNA involved in the carcinogenesis of human female cancer - a comprehensive review
Authors: Afroze Nazia , Sundaram Madhumitha K. , Haque Shafiul , Hussain Arif
Published: February 2025

Recent years have seen an increase in our understanding of lncRNA and their role in various disease states. lncRNA molecules have been shown to contribute to carcinogenesis and influence the various cancer hallmarks and signalling pathways. It is pertinent to understand the specific contributions and mechanisms of action of these molecules in various cancers. This review provides an overview of the various lncRNA entities that influence and regulate the gynaecological cancers, namely, cervical, breast, ovarian and uterine cancers. The review curates a list of the key players and their effect on cellular processes. lncRNA molecules show immense potential to be used as diagnostic and prognostic indicators and in therapeutic strategies. Several phytochemicals, small molecules, RNA-based regulators, oligos and gene editing tools show promise as a therapeutic strategy. While this review highlights the promising developments in this field, it also underscores the necessity for further research to delineate the complex role of lncRNAs in cancer.
Artificial Intelligence-Powered Materials Science
Authors: Bai Xiaopeng , Zhang Xingcai
Published: February 2025

The advancement of materials has played a pivotal role in the advancement of human civilization, and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered materials science heralds a new era with substantial potential to tackle the escalating challenges related to energy, environment, and biomedical concerns in a sustainable manner. The exploration and development of sustainable materials are poised to assume a critical role in attaining technologically advanced solutions that are environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and conducive to human well-being. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current scholarly progress in artificial intelligence-powered materials science and its cutting-edge applications. We anticipate that AI technology will be extensively utilized in material research and development, thereby expediting the growth and implementation of novel materials. AI will serve as a catalyst for materials innovation, and in turn, advancements in materials innovation will further enhance the capabilities of AI and AI-powered materials science. Through the synergistic collaboration between AI and materials science, we stand to realize a future propelled by advanced AI-powered materials.
Functionalized Aluminum Nitride for Improving Hydrolysis Resistances of Highly Thermally Conductive Polysiloxane Composites
Authors: He Mukun , Zhang Lei , Ruan Kunpeng , Zhang Junliang , Zhang Haitian , Lv Peng , Guo Yongqiang , Shi Xuetao , Guo Hua , Kong Jie , Gu Junwei
Published: February 2025

A series of divinylphenyl-acryloyl chloride copolymers (PDVB-co-PACl) is synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization employing tert-butyl acrylate and divinylbenzene as monomers. PDVB-co-PACl is utilized to graft on the surface of spherical aluminum nitride (AlN) to prepare functionalized AlN (AlN@PDVB-co-PACl). Polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) is then used as the matrix to prepare thermally conductive AlN@PDVB-co-PACl/PMHS composites with AlN@PDVB-co-PACl as fillers through blending and curing. The grafting of PDVB-co-PACl synchronously enhances the hydrolysis resistance of AlN and its interfacial compatibility with PMHS matrix. When the molecular weight of PDVB-co-PACl is 5100 g mol−1 and the grafting density is 0.8 wt%, the composites containing 75 wt% of AlN@PDVB-co-PACl exhibit the optimal comprehensive performance. The thermal conductivity (λ) of the composite is 1.14 W m−1 K−1, which enhances by 20% and 420% compared to the λ of simply physically blended AlN/PMHS composite and pure PMHS, respectively. Meanwhile, AlN@PDVB-co-PACl/PMHS composites display remarkable hydrothermal aging resistance by retaining 99.1% of its λ after soaking in 90 °C deionized water for 80 h, whereas the λ of the blended AlN/PMHS composites decreases sharply to 93.7%.
RE teachers’ ways of balancing children’s existential concerns and the curriculum: mirrored through established RE approaches
Authors: Osbeck Christina , Lilja Annika , Fancourt Nigel
Published: February 2025

The relationship between learner and curriculum is foundational in education. In this study the purpose is to investigate how Swedish middle-school RE teachers balance children’s existential concerns and the curriculum content in their teaching, as well as how they describe current curricular goals and pupils’ questions, and to explore how these ways of balancing positions can be understood in light of how well-known RE approaches balance the child and the curriculum. In the analysis of the interview transcripts of the eleven middle-school teachers focussing on what the teachers express as important goals for RE, the findings were placed on a continuum between a focus on the child’s experiences and on the curriculum. The result also shows that the teachers recurrently describe pupils’ concerns and questions as relatively absent. The responses vary between “questions are lacking” and “questions are present”, with a middle position of “some interactionally created questions are present”. The child and the curriculum can never in practice be separated since they are integrated in the learning individual: in education, a particular individual is learning something specific. However, revisiting these approaches in combination with concrete examples of teachers’ experiences has brought our understanding further, and has also drawn attention to the need for awareness concerning the varying character of this relationship, as a tension, one between whose poles the teaching constantly moves or as one that falls apart in two different poles that do not necessarily need to be seen in the light of each other.
Study on Metro Operation Safety Based on a Specific Contact Model for Resilient Wheel
Authors: Zhong Shuoqiao , Zhou Xin , Sheng Xiaozhen
Published: February 2025

Resilient wheel (RW) is gradually promoted for use in China’s subway vehicles recent years, which has been widely used in tram in Europe and China. As measured, the RWs in service on the metro trains have experienced eccentric wear and even polygonization of high order after 30,000 km running. Given that most subway lines have small curve radii, this study assesses the operation safety of vehicle passing through curves with RWs having polygonal wear, as well as their effect on vibration reduction compared to conventional wheels. A numeric simulation model is developed to model the metro vehicle-track dynamic system installed with resilient wheel, where a conventional wheel-rail contact model is modified considering the composite structure of a RW. A RW-rail contact model considering relatively independent motion of the wheel hub and rim is developed, which is integrated into a metro vehicle-track dynamic system model equipped with the RWs. Upon comparing the curving performance of vehicles equipped with conventional wheels, the findings reveal that, in scenarios of surplus-superelevation, the wheel load reduction ratio (WLRR) of conventional wheels demonstrates superior performance. While curving in the case of deficient-superelevation, the WLRR of RWs is lower. Furthermore, the safety performance of the RWs surpasses that of conventional wheels, particularly as the severity of polygonal wear on the wheel increases. These conclusions can be used as a reference for maintenance strategy of the RW applied on metro trains, which is urgently to be built considering the potentially wide promotion of the RW to the subway system.
Testing Drying Kinetic Models and the Effect of Drying on Cannabinoids of Floral Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in a Pilot-Scale Cabinet Dryer
Authors: Lumu Stuart , Sarker Niloy Chandra , Hatterman-Valenti Harlene , Hammed Ademola , Chen Bingcan , Monono Ewumbua
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Floral hemp must be dried before storage and processing. Due to a growing interest in cultivating floral hemp for cannabinoid extraction, there is a need to evaluate the drying process and determine the effect of different drying conditions on the various cannabinoids. It is also important to validate existing drying kinetic models at the pilot scale.

Methods

Three floral hemp cultivars (Lifter, Bubbatonic, and Quick Spectrum) were dried in a pilot-scale cabinet dryer (148 cm × 88 cm × 188 cm) at temperatures of 25 °C, 35 °C, or 45 °C, with airflow rates of 1 m s−1 or 2 m s−1. Samples were collected at different time intervals and analyzed for moisture and cannabinoid contents.

Results

The drying rates at 35 °C and 45 °C were not statistically different. Drying of floral hemp from 73% moisture content (wet basis) to less than 11% took approximately 6.5 h at 45 °C and an airflow rate of 2 m s−1. When compared to higher temperatures, increasing airflow had a significant effect on drying time at lower temperatures. The newly proposed Gaussian-based model was slightly better than the existing six thin-layer models as the adjusted coefficient of determination was 0.996 ± 0.002. Cannabinoids analysis showed that drying temperature and airflow rates did not significantly affect cannabinoid content, but longer drying times resulted in the decarboxylation of their acidic form into neutral forms and the degradation of major cannabinoids.

Conclusion

These results show that farmers and processors can adopt higher temperatures (45 °C) and airflow rates (2 m s−1) when using a pilot-scale cabinet dryer.
The crucial role of vascular tissues and COE2-mediated retrograde signaling in mitigating cadmium stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liu Zhixin , Liu Yumeng , Zhou Yaping , Liu Hao , Qin Aizhi , Kong Luyao , Yan Lulu , Li Chunyang , Gao Peibo , Zhao Qianli , Song Xiao , Zhou Mengmeng , Li Mengfan , Xie Yajie , Guo Enzhi , Qin Meng , Sun Xuwu
Published: February 2025

Cadmium is a heavy metal that significantly harms plant growth and development by impairing enzyme activity and photosynthesis, leading to chloroplast damage. In this study, we discovered that genes specifically expressed in vascular tissues regulate the plant’s response to heavy metals by scRNA-seq. The overexpression of vascular-specific genes such as AHP1, DOF2.4, NHL1, CDF4, and ATARFB1A increased tolerance to cadmium stress by maining the chloroplast functions. In addition, we found that two chloroplast proteins PSBO1 and J3 are involved in regulating the function of chloroplasts, starch metabolism, and leaf vein development in response to cadmium stress. Further analysis revealed that COE2-mediated retrograde signaling protects chloroplast structure and function by regulating the expression of J3 and PsbO1, and managing the quality control of damaged chloroplasts via FC1 and PUB4. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms plants use to counteract the detrimental effects of cadmium stress.
Distinct moiré exciton dynamics in WS2/WSe2 heterostructure
Authors: Kai Feng , Wang Xiong , Xie Yiqin , Yang Yuhui , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Yu Hongyi , Yao Wang , Cui Xiaodong
Published: February 2025

This letter reports a time resolved pump-probe reflectance spectroscopic study on moiré excitons in a twisted monolayer WS2/WSe2 heterostructure. By probing at the resonant energies of intralayer excitons, we observed their distinct temporal tracks under the influence of interlayer excitons, which we attribute to the discrepancy in spatial distribution of the intralayer excitons in different layers. We also observed that intralayer moiré excitons in WSe2 layer differ at decay rate, which reflects different locations of Wannier-like and charge-transfer intralayer excitons in a moiré cell. We concluded that the interlayer moiré excitons form within a few picoseconds and have the lifetime exceeding five nanoseconds. Our results provide insights into the nature of moiré excitons and the strain’s significant impact on their behaviour in twisted heterostructures, which could have important implications for the development of novel optoelectronic devices.
Heathen Sight and the Problem of Anti-Africanness
Authors: Wells-Oghoghomeh Alexis
Published: February 2025

In his 1615 account of the Upper Guinea Coast Etiópia Menor e descripção géografica da Província da Serra Leoa, Portuguese priest Manual Alvares described at length the so-called “superstitions” of the Susu, Temne, and other inhabitants of the region which rendered the “Ethiopians” in need of the light of Christian intervention. According to Alvares, their superstitions were “those common to all heathen” and paralleled those of the “Moor and the Turk,” “heretics,” and “the Jews” who resisted Catholic missionaries’ evangelistic efforts on account of their incapacity for reason (262, 344–345). Consigning “Ethiopia and its peoples” to the realm of unbelievers, the priest proceeded to rally his fellow Christian brethren to the cause of enlightening those people who were bound to repeat the folly of their foreparents by adhering to ancestral traditions.
AN OVIDIAN TECHNIQUE IN APULEIUS’ CUPID AND PSYCHE ORACLE (MET. 4.33.1)
Authors: Fletcher K.F.B.
Published: February 2025

abstract

This note argues that the second line of the oracle in Apuleius’ Cupid and Psyche (Met. 4.33.1) alludes to Ovid’s Am. 1.1.2. Like its Ovidian model, Apuleius’ line marks a shift in genre, and offers a further hint of the role Cupid will play in the rest of the story.
Russian Media Correspondents in Syria: War Stories in an Oriental Fantasyland
Authors: Daniaud Oudeh Elise
Published: February 2025

The September 2015 military intervention launched in Syria by Vladimir Putin at the invitation of Bashar al-Asad marked Russia’s tangible return to the Middle East and initiated a 180-degree turn in the course of the ongoing war. Four years after the beginning of the Syrian revolution, its repression, and its escalation into war, Moscow’s military involvement became a testing ground for Russian martial strategies, including “nonmilitary” measures and communication strategies. By exploring both textual and visual content posted on social media by Russian war reporters deployed in Syria between September 2015 and January 2020, in this essay I seek to highlight the ties between the embedded narratives around the on-site military intervention for Russian-speaking audiences, and the longstanding Russian Orientalist fascination with the Middle East.
Trading Off Lives and Livelihoods
Authors: Bognar Greg
Published: February 2025

Public health emergencies sometimes require the restriction of civil liberties through social distancing: lockdowns, quarantines, the closure of public spaces and institutions, and so on. Social distancing measures can decrease mortality and morbidity, but they also cause social and economic harm. Policymakers have to make trade-offs between “lives and livelihoods,” while introducing only minimally necessary restrictions on civil liberties. Traditionally, cost-benefit analysis has played a central role in formulating these trade-offs. Recently, however, some philosophers have argued that the trade-offs should instead be made on the basis of contractualist moral theory. In this essay, I argue against the use of contractualism for this purpose.
Never Waste a Good Crisis: COVID-19 and Research Ethics
Authors: Holm Søren
Published: February 2025

The public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid surge in activity in biomedical and social science. The pandemic created a need for new scientific knowledge specifically related to the new, emerging infectious agent and it quickly showed huge gaps in knowledge in relation to social and policy responses to pandemics. Governments all over the world accepted the COVID-19 pandemic as a significant public health crisis and went into crisis mode in order to end the crisis and mitigate its impacts. One area in which rapid policy changes occurred was in relation to research ethics. Research ethics systems and guidelines were changed in many countries. The COVID-19 crisis also led to a flurry of philosophical and bioethical work arguing that traditional research ethics rules and principles should be suspended, rethought, or abolished. This essay will analyze whether a public health crisis justifies changing research ethics principles and policies and, if so, what the scope of justified changes is.
Competition of Benefactors: Herbert Hoover, Emile Francqui and the Remodelling of Belgian Higher Education after the First World War
Authors: Bertrams Kenneth
Published: February 2025

The Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB), established in October 1914 and overseen throughout the war by Herbert Hoover, played a pivotal role in saving millions of Belgians and hundreds of thousands of French from starvation. The proposed article aims to address this gap by examining the phenomenon of an ambivalent, even asymmetrical, diplomacy of gratitude. Herbert Hoover and his Belgian counterpart (and humanitarian rival), the financier Emile Francqui, had initially devised a strategy of remembrance of their wartime collective action, which centred on children, youth and higher education. Nevertheless, while their endeavour to establish a unified Belgian-American foundation ultimately failed due to their diverging postwar agendas, the dominant narrative of US aid encountered mounting opposition within Belgian political and academic circles. In the context of competing national memories and shifting feelings of gratitude, American philanthropy played a seminal role in the co-construction of modern higher education infrastructures in Belgium.
Developing Novel Tools for Bioethics Education: ACECS and the Visual Analytics Dashboard
Authors: Teti Stowe Locke , Armstrong Kelly
Published: February 2025

The translation of bedside experience to pedagogical content presents a unique challenge for the field of bioethics. The contributions are multidisciplinary, the practices are heterogeneous, and the work product is characteristically nuanced. While academic bioethics education programs have proliferated, developing content and pedagogy sufficient to teach clinical ethics effectively remains a longstanding challenge. The authors identify three reasons why progress towards this goal has been slow. First, there is a lack of robust, empirical knowledge for education focused on praxis. Second, the methods employed in academic education tend to focus on traditional didactic approaches rather than engendering competency through interaction and practice—the principle means by which clinical ethicists work. Third, the data practitioners have captured has not been presented in a medium educators and students can most meaningfully interact with.

In this paper, the authors describe a novel pedagogical tool: the Armstrong Clinical Ethics Coding System (ACECS) and interactive visual analytics dashboard. Together, these components comprise an educational platform that utilizes the empirical data collected by the institution’s ethics service. The tool offers four advantages. First, it aids with the identification of ethical issues that present during a consultation at that specific institution or medical unit by making use of a lingua franca comprehensible to both ethicists and non-ethicists. Second, content is centered on issue frequency, type, and relation to other issues. Iterating through cases, requestors, or hospital units allows one to understand cases typologically and through metanarratives that reveal relationships and subtle patterns. Third, the use of interactive data visualizations and data storytelling aids comprehension and retention. Fourth, the process of using the system necessitates understanding the manifold ways each case can be understood, accommodating a wide range of perspectives and ethical lenses, enhancing case analysis and self-reflection conducive to life-long learning.
A New Electron and Proton Radiation Belt Identified by CIRBE/REPTile‐2 Measurements After the Magnetic Super Storm of 10 May 2024
Authors: Li Xinlin , Xiang Zheng , Mei Yang , O'Brien Declan , Brennan David , Zhao Hong , Baker Daniel N. , Temerin Michael A.
Published: February 2025

Following the largest magnetic storm in 20 years (10 May 2024), REPTile‐2 on NASA's CIRBE satellite identified two new radiation belts containing 1.3–5 MeV electrons around L = 2.5–3.5 and 6.8–20 MeV protons around L = 2. The region around L = 2.5–3.5 is usually devoid of relativistic electrons due to wave‐particle interactions that scatter them into the atmosphere. However, these 1.3–5 MeV electrons in this new belt seemed unaffected until a magnetic storm on 28 June 2024, perturbed the region. The long‐lasting nature of this new electron belt has physical implications for the dependence of electron wave‐particle interactions on energy, plasma density, and magnetic field strength. The enhancement of protons around L = 2 exceeded an order of magnitude between 6.8 and 15 MeV forming a distinct new proton belt that appears even more stable. CIRBE, after a year of successful operation, malfunctioned 25 days before the super storm but returned to functionality 1 month after the storm, enabling these discoveries.
Electro-optic cavities for in-situ measurement of cavity fields
Authors: Spencer Michael S. , Urban Joanna M. , Frenzel Maximilian , Mueller Niclas S. , Minakova Olga , Wolf Martin , Paarmann Alexander , Maehrlein Sebastian F.
Published: February 2025

Cavity electrodynamics offers a unique avenue for tailoring ground-state material properties, excited-state engineering, and versatile control of quantum matter. Merging these concepts with high-field physics in the terahertz (THz) spectral range opens the door to explore low-energy, field-driven cavity electrodynamics, emerging from fundamental resonances or order parameters. Despite this demand, leveraging the full potential of field-driven material control in cavities is hindered by the lack of direct access to the intra-cavity fields. Here, we demonstrate a new concept of active cavities, consisting of electro-optic Fabry-Pérot resonators, which measure their intra-cavity electric fields on sub-cycle timescales. We thereby demonstrate quantitative retrieval of the cavity modes in amplitude and phase, over a broad THz frequency range. To enable simultaneous intra-cavity sampling alongside excited-state material control, we design a tunable multi-layer cavity, enabling deterministic design of hybrid cavities for polaritonic systems. Our theoretical models reveal the origin of the avoided crossings embedded in the intricate mode dispersion, and will enable fully-switchable polaritonic effects within arbitrary materials hosted by the hybrid cavity. Electro-optic cavities (EOCs) will therefore serve as integrated probes of light-matter interactions across all coupling regimes, laying the foundation for field-resolved intra-cavity quantum electrodynamics.
Using resistor network models to predict the transport properties of solid-state battery composites
Authors: Ketter Lukas , Greb Niklas , Bernges Tim , Zeier Wolfgang G.
Published: February 2025

Solid-state batteries use composites of solid ion conductors and active materials as electrode materials. The effective transport of charge carriers and heat thereby strongly determines the overall solid-state battery performance and safety. However, the phase space for optimization of the composition of solid electrolyte, active material, additive is too large to cover experimentally. In this work, a resistor network model is presented that successfully describes the transport phenomena in solid-state battery composites, when benchmarked against experimental data of the electronic, ionic, and thermal conductivity of LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2-Li6PS5Cl positive electrode composites. To highlight the broadness of the approach, literature data are examined using the proposed model. As the model is easily accessible and expandable, without the need for high computing power, it offers valuable guidance for experimentalists helping to streamline the tedious process of performing a multitude of experiments to understand and optimize the effective transport of composite electrodes.
Neurovascularization inhibiting dual responsive hydrogel for alleviating the progression of osteoarthritis
Authors: Qin Wenpin , Ma Zhangyu , Bai Guo , Qin Wen , Li Ling , Hao Dongxiao , Wang Yuzhu , Yan Jianfei , Han Xiaoxiao , Niu Wen , Niu Lina , Jiao Kai
Published: February 2025

Treating osteoarthritis (OA) associated pain is a challenge with the potential to significantly improve patients lives. Here, we report on a hydrogel for extracellular RNA scavenging and releasing bevacizumab to block neurovascularization at the osteochondral interface, thereby mitigating OA pain and disease progression. The hydrogel is formed by cross-linking aldehyde-phenylboronic acid-modified sodium alginate/polyethyleneimine-grafted protocatechuic acid (OSAP/PPCA) and bevacizumab sustained-release nanoparticles (BGN@Be), termed OSPPB. The dynamic Schiff base bonds and boronic ester bonds allow for injectability, self-healing, and pH/reactive oxygen species dual responsiveness. The OSPPB hydrogel can significantly inhibit angiogenesis and neurogenesis in vitro. In an in vivo OA model, intraarticular injection of OSPPB accelerates the healing process of condyles and alleviates chronic pain by inhibiting neurovascularization at the osteochondral interface. The injectable hydrogel represents a promising technique to treat OA and OA associated pain.
Public health implications of multidrug-resistant and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in retail oysters
Authors: Mohammed Rahma , Nader Sara M. , Hamza Dalia A. , Sabry Maha A.
Published: February 2025

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major challenge for food safety and public health. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of oysters sold in Egypt as a source for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), MRSA, and multidrug-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDR-MRSA). It also examined the occurrence of tsst-1 virulence gene and assessed the associated zoonotic risks. Thirty-three pooled fresh oyster samples were acquired from different retail fish markets in Egypt. S. aureus was identified by conventional culture-based and molecular methods. Antimicrobial resistance was performed by the disk-diffusion method, and the multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was calculated. Antimicrobial resistance (mecA and mecC) and virulence (tsst-1) genes were screened using polymerase chain reaction. The clustering of virulent MDR-MRSA isolates was performed using R with the pheatmap package. The prevalence of S. aureus was 39.4% (13 /33), and 77% of them (10/13) were classified as MDR with MARI values greater than 0.2. Notably, 46.2% (6 /13) of isolates were identified as MRSA and all MRSA isolates displayed MDR. Of the MDR-MRSA isolates, 66.7% (4 /6) possessed the mecA gene, while 16.7% (1 /6) tested positive for the mecC gene. Additionally, the tsst-1 gene was identified in one isolate (16.7%). Interestingly, two MDR-MRSA isolates exhibited a clustered pattern. The study sheds light on the emergence of virulent MDR-MRSA isolates in Egyptian oysters. It highlights oysters as a potential source for spreading these isolates within aquatic ecosystems, posing a threat to food safety and public health.
Ocean stratification impedes particulate transport to the plumes of Enceladus
Authors: Ames Flynn , Ferreira David , Czaja Arnaud , Masters Adam
Published: February 2025

Water-vapour plumes erupting from Enceladus’ south pole provide a window into the properties of its subsurface ocean, a prime target in the search for life. However, the extent to which plume material represents conditions at Enceladus’ depths is unclear, because of its unknown ocean stratification, which may impede the transport of matter to the ocean top. Previous studies have found conflicting stratification regimes using differing parameter choices and model physics. Here, we build a comprehensive view of Enceladus’ ocean stratification and bottom-to-top transport timescale, across plausible ranges of salinity and tidally- and librationally-induced mixing, accounting for non-linearities in the equation of state for water, geothermal heating and ice-ocean freshwater exchanges. We use theoretical models verified with global ocean numerical simulations. We show that, under a steady state assumption for the ice shell, which requires melting at the poles, there is no parameter choice permitting an unstratified ocean from top to bottom there. As a result, potential hydrothermal products take at minimum 100s of years to reach the plumes. This suggests that either timescales of several months, inferred from Cassini observations, are incorrect, perhaps biased by alternative particulate transport mechanisms, or that Enceladus’ ice shell is not in a quasi-equilibrated state.