bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Portal Hypertension Unmasked—Cavernous Transformation of the Portal Vein Following Portal Vein Thrombosis in a 9‐Year‐Old Female: A Case Report
Authors: Seedahmed Areej Motasim Khalil , Gasmalla Khalid Alshibli Dafalla , Ahmed Hajer Yousuf Mohammed , Mohammed Sakina Eltahir Omer , Yousif Yousif Omer Elgaili
Published: January 2025

This case demonstrates the complex dynamics of cavernous transformation of the portal vein and portal vein thrombus due to umbilical cord infection in a child and its consequences, namely portal hypertension. This abnormal process has to be understood for proper treatment and stresses the importance of a thorough assessment of such patients.
Spontaneous Heterotopic Triplet Pregnancies With Single Intrauterine and Twin Tubal Pregnancies Post‐Levonorgestrel Use: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Tarafdari Azadeh , Eshraghi Nasim , Shbeeb Hawraa , Poorabdoli Marzie , Ghaemi Marjan , Parsaei Mohammadamin
Published: January 2025

A rare spontaneous triplet heterotopic pregnancy occurred in a patient using emergency contraception. This highlights the need to consider heterotopic pregnancy in differential diagnoses for patients presenting with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, even with detected intrauterine pregnancies, especially after failed emergency contraception, necessitating thorough laboratory and ultrasonographic diagnostic work‐up.
Management of Single Tooth Replacement in the Esthetic Region Using Immediate Implant Placement: A Case Report
Authors: Rathi Manish , Manohar Balaji
Published: January 2025

This case report aimed to illustrate the management of single tooth replacement in the esthetic region using immediate implant placement, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary treatment planning and adherence to esthetic principles. A 37‐year‐old female presented with a fractured upper front tooth, necessitating immediate attention to restore esthetic.
Self‐Healing Elastomers and Coatings via Metal Coordination Bonds
Authors: Yang Song‐Ming , Zhou Shuo , Yuan Jin‐Ying
Published: January 2025

Self‐healing materials can recover the materials from physical damage, and extend the life of equipment. Metal coordination bonds are supramolecular interactions with tunable stability and sensitivity to external stimuli, which are crucial for developing self‐healing materials. Incorporating metal coordination bonds into elastomers and coatings can enable materials to repair damage and enhance material performance. This review details the advance in self‐healing elastomers and coatings. The structural characteristics, mechanical properties, and self‐healing efficacy of these materials are discussed, and a perspective on the challenges and development directions is given.
Electrochemically Mediated Synthesis of Cyanated Heterocycles from α‐amino Esters, Pyridine‐2‐carbaldehydes and NH4SCN as Cyano Group Source
Authors: Grishin Sergei S. , Ustyuzhanin Alexander O. , Vil' Vera A. , Terent'ev. Alexander O.
Published: January 2025

The electrochemically mediated cyanation/annulation process with in situ cyanide ion generation from NH4SCN and multi‐step oxidative construction of CN‐functionalized heterocycles from easily available α‐amino esters and pyridine‐2‐carbaldehydes has been discovered. Depending on the nature of the α‐amino ester, 1‐cyano‐imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates, 3‐alkyl‐ and 3‐aryl‐imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines‐1‐carbonitriles, and the first reported 4‐oxo‐4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrazine‐1‐carbonitriles were obtained. The electrosynthesis is carried out in an undivided electrochemical cell under constant current conditions. The success of the discovered electrochemical synthesis is based on the combination of two anodic processes: oxidation of SCN anion to CN anion and oxidation of C−N bonds to C=N bonds during heterocycle construction. Mechanistic studies based on CV measurements, and control experiments confirm the generation of [CN] species from NH4SCN with subsequent addition to an imine formed from α‐amino esters and pyridine‐2‐carbaldehyde. Computational analysis suggests that for reactive intermediates from glycine esters, the subsequent 5‐endo‐trig cyclization leading to 1‐cyano‐imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates is more favourable and the 6‐exo‐trig cyclization leading to 4‐oxo‐4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrazine‐1‐carbonitriles is less favourable. For α‐amino esters with alkyl or aryl substituents, both cyclization pathways are relatively thermodynamically possible. The leading 4‐oxo‐4H‐pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrazine‐1‐carbonitrile showed high fungicidal activity against phytopathogenic fungi.
Enantioselective Analysis and Separation of Two β‐Blockers via Derivatization Approach
Authors: Vinod  , Sharma Shubham , Pullabhotla Rajasekhar V. S. R. , Mittal Ankit
Published: January 2025

Enantiomeric analysis of chiral drugs is very significant, as their enantiomers display different pharmacological or toxicological behavior towards living systems. Among these drugs, β‐blockers are available as racemates, where their enantiomers display different pharmacological effects. Herein, we report enantioselective separation of two β‐blockers, namely, atenolol and sotalol, using a derivatization approach. The analytes were derivatized with “(S)‐1‐[1H‐benzo(d)(1,2,3)triazol‐1‐yl]‐2‐[6‐methoxynaphthalen‐2‐yl‐propan‐1‐one]” {(S)‐BTMNP} in a straightforward derivatization step. The resulting diastereomers were separated on a reverse‐phase HPLC C18 column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and TEAP buffer (75:25, v/v, pH = 3.5) and detection at 230 nm. This method achieved successful enantiomer separation for both drugs within 20 min, yielding resolution values greater than 3.8. The detection limits were determined to be 6.4 and 4.6 ng mL−1 for atenolol and sotalol, respectively, which indicated sensitivity and effectiveness of the method for the analysis of two β‐blockers from their dosage formulations.
Total immunoglobulin E levels in induced sputum reflect asthma control status
Authors: Chen Wenhui , Liu Xiaofang , Yao Xiujuan , Hao Yanghe , Zhou Zhuo , Wang Chengshuo , Wang Ming , Zhang Luo
Published: January 2025

Background

Most patients with severe asthma are sensitized to at least one allergen. Whether local immunoglobulin E (IgE) in induced sputum reflects asthma control status has not been investigated.

Methods

Patients with asthma were classified as well controlled, partly controlled, and uncontrolled asthma (UCA) according to Global Initiative for Asthma 2022 guidelines. Lung function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were evaluated. Induced sputum was collected and total IgE and Phadiatop (IgE to common inhalant allergens) measurements were performed. General clinical characteristics and pulmonary inflammation indicators were analyzed between the three groups of asthmatic patients. Univariate and multifactor ordinal logistic regression were used to model the relationship between pulmonary inflammation indicators and asthma control status. The ability of sputum total IgE in identifying different levels of asthma control was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

Results

Patients with UCA had worse lung function and airway inflammation as indicated by lower levels of forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1)%pred, FEV1/FVC, MEF75%pred, MEF50%pred and MEF25%pred, and higher levels of FeNO and sputum eosinophil% compared with the WCA group. In addition, higher levels of total sputum IgE and Phadiatop were found in patients with UCA than in patients with WCA and PCA. Univariate and multifactor ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that sputum total IgE was the unique significant risk factor for poor asthma control (adjusted odds ratio = 6.25; 95% CI, 1.07–36.55; p < 0.05) among pulmonary inflammation indicators including different indices of pulmonary function test, sputum IgE and FeNO. Sputum total IgE levels showed a significant correlation with asthma control scores (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Moreover, ROC analysis showed that the predictive value of sputum total IgE for patients with UCA was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.74–0.9).

Conclusion

Sputum total IgE reflects levels of asthma control, and can be used as an indicator of UCA.
Meta‐Heuristic Aided Multi‐Agent‐Based Method for QoS Improvement in SDN‐Smart Grids
Authors: Keramati Marjan , Mozayani Nasser
Published: January 2025

Smart grid networks as the next generation of distributed grid systems demand diverse Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. In the case of time‐critical services, going beyond the delay threshold leads to the malfunction of the entire network. Software‐defined Networking (SDN) is supposed to improve the QoS of smart grids. But, issues such as traffic prioritization require traffic management policies, which are not provided in software‐defined networks. Accordingly, in this paper, in order to prevent blackout and burnout in smart grid networks, a mechanism is introduced for QoS amendment in Software‐defined‐enabled Smart Grids (SDN‐SG). Providing the QoS‐aware dynamic controllers' load‐balancing mechanism in SDN‐SG is one primary innovation of this paper. Because it reduces the packet loss rate for time‐critical services. The idea is equivalent to the dynamic QoS‐aware controller placement in an sdn‐enabled network, which is an NP‐hard problem. Another novelty of this paper is ameliorating such an NP‐hard complexity and diminishing the overhead of controller placement. It is done by multi‐agent negotiations in holonic organization. Such an improvement in computational complexity contributes significantly to the QoS improvement. The superiority of the paper over similar relevant research is demonstrated by numerical analysis in terms of the degree of controllers' load‐balancing, diminishing packet loss rate, improving delay, and reducing the controller placement overhead.
Droplet menisci recognition by deep learning for digital microfluidics applications
Authors: Danesh Negar , Torabinia Matin , Moon Hyejin
Published: January 2025

This paper demonstrates the use of deep learning, specifically the U‐Net model, to recognize the menisci of droplets in an electrowetting‐on‐dielectric (EWOD) digital microfluidic (DMF) device. Accurate recognition of droplet menisci would enable precise control over the movement of droplets to improve the performance and reliability of an EWOD DMF system. Furthermore, important information such as fluid properties, droplet characteristics, spatial position, dynamic behavior, and reaction kinetics of droplets during DMF manipulation can be understood by recognizing the menisci. Through a convolutional neural network utilizing the U‐Net architecture, precise identification of droplet menisci is achieved. A diverse dataset is prepared and used to train and test the model. As a showcase, details of training and the optimization of hyperparameters are described. Experimental validation demonstrated that the trained model achieves a 98% accuracy rate and a 0.92 Dice score, which confirms the model's high performance. After the successful recognition of droplet menisci, post‐processing techniques are applied to extract essential information such as the droplet and bubble size and volume. This study shows that the trained U‐Net model is capable of discerning droplet menisci even in the presence of background image interference and low‐quality images. The model can detect not only simple droplets, but also compound droplets of two immiscible liquids, droplets containing gas bubbles, and multiple droplets of varying sizes. Finally, the model is shown to detect satellite droplets as small as 2% of the size of the primary droplet, which are byproducts of droplet splitting.
Effect of preheated air temperature on a liquid ammonia flash spray in a swirl combustor
Authors: Liu Jiawen , Zhang Meng , An Zhenhua , Wang Jinhua , Huang Zuohua
Published: January 2025

Ammonia is a suitable carbon‐free alternative fuel for power equipment. Direct combustion of liquid ammonia has the potential to reduce system costs and heat loss of gas turbine (GT). However, its tendency to flash and the high latent heat of vaporization can lead to combustion deterioration. Previous research suggests that stabilizing a liquid ammonia flame requires swirling and preheated air. So far, the influence mechanism of preheated air on liquid ammonia swirl spray remains inadequately explored. To fill this research gap, this study conducted a large eddy simulation (LES) to investigate the effect of preheated air temperature () on a liquid ammonia flash spray in a swirl combustor. The influence of on the spray morphology and the axial velocity, diameter, and temperature distributions of the droplets were investigated to understand the spray characteristics. Besides, the effects of on the evaporation characteristics, the properties, and the possible ignition performance of the mixture were studied. The results show that with the increase of , the heating capacity of air is enhanced, leading to a greater proportion of droplets reaching flash boiling conditions. This greatly optimizes the evaporation process, resulting in more complete evaporation and significantly smaller volume. The bulk air flow velocity is increased, causing the expansion of the inner recirculation zone (IRZ), and the gaseous temperature and mixture concentration distribution are optimized. In addition, the low gaseous ammonia concentration makes ignition difficulty at  = 300 K. The high value ( is the shear stress) and large inner recirculation zone area lead to a larger and a smaller at  = 300 K compared to the case of  = 500 K.
Synergistic effect in liquid metal heartbeat with high‐efficiency energy conversion
Authors: Wang Shutong , Wang Sicheng , Zhou Binbin , Ren Dongmei , Yu Zhenwei
Published: January 2025

The phenomenon of liquid metal “heartbeat” oscillation presents intriguing applications in microfluidic devices, drug delivery, and miniature robotics. However, achieving high vibrational kinetic energy outputs in these systems remains challenging. In this study, we developed a graphite ring electrode with V‐shaped inner wall that enables wide‐ranging control over the oscillation performance based on droplet size and the height of the V‐shape. The mechanism driving the heartbeat is defined as a dynamic process involving the transformation of the oxide layer. Through electrochemical analysis, we confirmed three distinct states of the heartbeat and introduced a novel model to elucidate the role of the V‐shaped structure in initiating and halting the oscillations. A comprehensive series of experiments explored how various factors, such as droplet volume, voltage, tilt angle, and V‐shape height, affect heartbeat performance, achieving a significant conversion from surface energy to vibrational kinetic energy as high as 4732 J m−2 s−1. The increase in energy output is attributed to the synergistic effect of the V‐shape height and droplet size on the oscillations. These results not only advance our understanding of liquid metal droplet manipulation but also pave the way for designing high‐speed microfluidic pumping systems.
Gene Doping Detection From the Perspective of 3D Genome
Authors: Ren Xinyuan , Shi Yue , Xiao Bo , Su Xianbin , Shi Hui , He Guang , Chen Peijie , Wu Die , Shi Yi
Published: January 2025

Since the early 20th century, the concept of doping was first introduced. To achieve better athletic performance, chemical substances were used. By the mid‐20th century, it became gradually recognized that the illegal use of doping substances can seriously endangered athletes' health and compromised the fairness of sports competitions. Over the past 30 years, the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) has established corresponding rules and regulations to prohibit athletes from using doping substances or restrict the use of certain drugs, and isotope, chromatography, and mass spectrometry techniques were accredited to detect doping substances. With the development of gene editing technology, many genetic diseases have been effectively treated, but enabled by the same technology, doping has also the potential to pose a threat to sports in the form of gene doping. WADA has explicitly indicated gene doping in the Prohibited List as a prohibited method (M3) and approved qPCR detection. However, gene doping can easily evade detection, if the target genes' upstream regulatory elements are considered, the task became more challenging. Hi‐C experiment driven 3D genome technology, through perspectives such as topologically associating domain (TAD) and chromatin loop, provides a more comprehensive and in‐depth understanding of gene regulation and expression, thereby better preventing the potential use of 3D genome level gene doping. In this work, we will explore gene doping from a different perspective by analyzing recent studies on gene doping and explore related genes under 3D genome.
Hotspots, trends, and regional focus on oil or gas exploration: A bibliometric comparative study
Authors: Wang Jihong , Li Zhongkai , Wang Jianguo , Li Zhiqiang
Published: January 2025

Oil and gas resources serve as the driving force for economic and social development. This rapid development of science and technology has accelerated the exploration, development, and utilization of oil and gas resources, and thus led to spurts in related research. However, the research trends in global oil and gas exploration vary with the progress of science and technology as well as social demands. Accordingly, they are not easily captured. This study explores the research trends in global oil and gas exploration through the bibliometric analysis of 3460 articles on oil and gas exploration collected from the Web of Science database and published from 2013 to 2023. The research hotspots, objects, regional distribution, methods, and evaluation methods in oil and gas exploration are analyzed, and the direction of development of oil and gas exploration is presented on this basis. The research characteristics of four major countries or regions related to oil and gas exploration were further investigated and compared. The results show that the number of publications on oil and gas exploration research has been continuously increasing in the past decade, with China ranking the top in terms of publications. Given the continuously evolving global energy demand, exploration of unconventional oil and gas, application of digital technology, deep and emerging regional resource exploration, and environmentally friendly and low‐carbon source exploration will be future research hotspots.
Who Is Queer Enough for Queer Research?: The Issue of Absence Within Queer Research
Authors: Drabent Dominik , Wenzel Maya
Published: January 2025

Although the inclusion of queer people in research—as well as the application of queer research methods and methodologies that some call queer research—has been on the rise, too often, certain voices are not heard. Not all groups of people who fall under the umbrella term of “queer” are included in queer research. By looking at the examples of asexuality and queer Muslims in this paper, we offer some insights on how people in these groups are often absent in queer research and how cis‐heteronormativity alongside compulsory sexuality, allonormativity, homonationalism and homocapitalism operates within queer communities and queer research, with exclusion often being the result. Through the utilization of intersectional feminism, transnational feminism, and queer of color critique as our methodological approach, we show how these experiences stand exemplary for the absence of some queer communities from queer research. Furthermore, such a methodological approach can assist us to understand the role of cis‐heteronormativity in queer research and what we can do to become more inclusive when undertaking queer research projects.
Modern Methods for Conjugated Polymers Preparation: A Concept of Transition Metal‐Free Synthesis
Authors: Kotnik Tomaž , Kovačič Sebastijan
Published: January 2025

Cross‐coupling technology is still the cornerstone of conjugated polymer synthesis. However, most cross‐coupling reactions rely on platinum group metals (e. g. rhodium, palladium, iridium and platinum), and the supply of these rare and expensive metal catalysts is at risk, making the use of these reactions unsustainable. In addition, the contamination of conjugated polymers with trace metallic catalysts is another concern, especially for organic electronics where the products are used in devices whose performance can be affected by even ′undetectable’ levels of metal contaminant. In pursuit of more sustainable chemistry in the future, various organic reactions have been utilized for the synthesis of conjugated polymers without the aid of transition‐metal catalysts. Presented herein is a comprehensive overview of organic reactions for the synthesis of conjugated polymers that go beyond transition metal‐catalysed cross‐coupling reactions. We discuss metal‐free synthesis strategies and methods in detail and divide them into “condensation” reactions, “click” reactions and other miscellaneous reactions. Reaction mechanisms and key intermediates are also elucidated. The aim is to provide researchers and practitioners with valuable insights that will enable them to innovate and expand the horizons of conjugated polymer synthesis.
Photoinduced, Decarboxylative Coupling of α‐Keto Acids with Diselenides to Form Selenoesters
Authors: Qu Pei , Wang Haifan , Chen Ying , Pajujantaro Kanta , Liu Gong‐Qing
Published: January 2025

A mild and green strategy for the synthesis of selenoester derivatives has been developed through photoinduced decarboxylative coupling of α‐keto acids with diselenides. This transformation proceeds smoothly without requiring any external photocatalyst, additive, or oxidant. Both diaryl and dialkyl diselenides react efficiently with α‐keto acids to produce selenoesters in good yields. Mechanistic studies suggest that the generated acyl radical is responsible for this transformation.
A Finite Element Model of Transient Galvanic Corrosion Behaviour of Aluminium Alloy
Authors: Tang Jieshun , Gao Mingyang , Wang Haitao , Xu Daokui , Guo Shu , Han En‐Hou
Published: January 2025

The environment in which aircraft are used is very complex, and factors such as high salinity, high humidity atmospheric conditions and mechanical loads applied to the aircraft during flight can lead to damage to the fuselage materials and compromise the safety of the aircraft. A large number of mechanical structural components in aircraft consist of aluminium alloys, which are susceptible to mechanical loads that erode mechanical properties and endanger the integrity of the aircraft. A time‐dependent numerical model is developed in this study. The model provides insight into the complex effects of mechanical loading on the kinetics of galvanic coupling corrosion of AA7075 (aluminium alloy). Our results clearly show that mechanical loading accelerates galvanic corrosion, and the galvanic corrosion behaviour of aluminium alloys is significantly accelerated when loading induces plastic deformation; changes in the thickness of the thin liquid film affect the galvanic corrosion of the galvanic coupling model, which is suppressed when the film thickness is increased, and, in general, exhibits a stronger tendency to corrode homogeneously; the galvanic corrosion behaviour of aluminium alloys is significantly accelerated as the area of cathode increases; the simulation also reveals a higher localisation rate of the model when the boundary load is applied compared to the no‐load case in the galvanic coupling corrosion behaviour. The numerical methodology illustrated in this study not only serves as a comprehensive tool for interpreting the intricate relationship between mechanical loading and corrosion behaviour, but also provides a framework for a deeper understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon. In practical applications, the model developed in this study can be used to check the safety of aluminium alloy structural components in service, which can be used as a reference for the design of aircraft wing skins.
Interpretable Transfer Learning for Small Sample Coal and Gas Outburst Risk Identification Using TabNet
Authors: Mao Shuren , Liang Yunpei , Sun Wanjie , Li Quangui
Published: January 2025

The identification of coal and gas outburst risks is crucial for the safe production of coal mines. The application of deep learning techniques in this domain shows significant promise, particularly in small sample scenarios. This paper investigates the use of transfer learning and self‐supervised learning strategies in static outburst risk identification models under small sample data scenarios. A TabNet‐based model was utilized, focusing on performance improvements achieved through pretraining, particularly with respect to recall rate and false negative rate. The model was pretrained using a combination of self‐supervised and supervised learning to enhance adaptability and generalization capabilities for small sample data scenarios, followed by evaluation with stratified fivefold cross‐validation. Experimental results demonstrated that the pretrained TabNet model significantly outperformed the non‐pretrained model as well as traditional machine learning models, including random forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, SVM, and MLP, in terms of accuracy and stability. Furthermore, removing features with weak correlations to the target variable further improved model performance, emphasizing the importance of integrating various learning strategies during data preprocessing and model training, particularly in limited data contexts. Model interpretability was also analyzed using SHAP and TabNet's inherent interpretability, confirming consistent feature importance rankings and highlighting the model's robustness and reliability.
Comparative Analysis of the Gas Extraction Effects With Different Numbers and Spacings of Boreholes Drilled Along a Coal Seam
Authors: Chen Yuexia , Chu Tingxiang , Chen Xuexi , Chen Peng , Wang Haidong , Jiang Boning , Cao Jialin
Published: January 2025

The number and spacing of boreholes drilled along a coal seam are important parameters of the borehole layout. Despite the previous extensive research by many experts, quantitative and visual comparisons of the gas extraction effects with different borehole spacings and numbers are rare. Here, the effective gas extraction range, delimited by the 0.74 MPa isobaric surface and lines, was simulated. The 0.74 MPa isobaric surface around multiple sets of boreholes at 60 days of gas extraction is wavy. At 50 days, the isobaric lines around a single set of boreholes are approximately circular, whereas those around multiple sets of boreholes are approximately elliptical. When five sets of boreholes are used, the short semiaxis of the elliptical contour around the middle borehole is approximately 59% greater than the effective extraction radius of a single borehole. Among the spacings investigated, the effective extraction volume V5 peaks at a borehole spacing of 5 m at 90 days; but, the isobaric lines at the top and bottom of the working face are concave inwards, that is, certain gas pressures exceed 0.74 MPa, thereby increasing the likelihood of gas emissions. Thus, at 90 days, the efficiency of gas extraction in this studied working face is higher as the borehole spacing is 4 m. This approach, which takes into account the superimposed effect of boreholes drilled along a coal seam, the radius of gas extraction, isolines, isobaric surface and the effective extraction volume, offers theoretical guidance for the arrangement of boreholes.
Silurian to Early Triassic Magnetic Susceptibility Variations in the South Yellow Sea and Their Environmental Implications: Records From the CSDP‐2 Well
Authors: Yan Kai , Zhang Xun‐Hua , Guo Xing‐Wei , Hou Fang‐Hui , Sun Jun , Huang Yu‐Xiao
Published: January 2025

Until recently, no physical rock samples from the Palaeozoic to Mesozoic eras had been recovered from the South Yellow Sea (SYS), leaving the palaeoclimatic significance of this period largely unexplored. This study analyzes data from the Lower Silurian to Lower Triassic strata of the CSDP‐2 Well, including magnetic susceptibility (MS) data from 251 samples and geochemical element data for 345 samples, to determine environmental changes and their implications. We successfully establishes vertically continuous and complete MS and geochemical curves within the SYS, and two depth segments with anomalous values and four climatic shifts are identified. Through the coupled analysis of MS and geochemical data, along with the synthesis of previously published data, one anomalous segment from 1690‐2006. 9 meters below sea floor (mbsf) could represent the Late Devonian‐Early Permian Ice Age, which lasted approximately 80 Ma. Another segment from 820‐930 mbsf represents Emeishan and Siberian volcanism, with an interval between the two events spanning approximately 2.7 Ma. And 15 variation cycles are identified by analyzing changes of MS values, we found that geological event cycles spanned 3‐9 Ma during the Early Silurian to Permian, but the interval shorten to approximately 28.6 Kyr in the Early Triassic. In summary, the CSDP‐2 Well records several significant geological events and the SYS underwent an exceptionally complex evolution of geological environments during the Early Mesozoic. Additionally, MS data from CSDP‐2 Well reveal unique variation patterns not seen in adjacent areas or other blocks, indicating that while the SYS was influenced by global climate and tectonic activities at block‐level, it also experienced distinct regional geological environmental changes.
Dissecting the Structural Shift in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Japan Amidst the Nexus of Natural Resource Rents, Income, and Population Growth: An Econometric Analysis
Authors: Wada Isah
Published: January 2025

Human economic activities, aimed at rapid growth, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, thereby accelerating climate change and raising concerns about sustainability, particularly in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The study's objectives align with UNSDG Goal 15, which seeks to minimise the impact of human activities on the environment and halt further environmental degradation. This study explores the structural shifts in greenhouse gas emissions in Japan by examining the relationship between total greenhouse gases, natural resource rents, real income, and population from 1970 to 2018. Utilising the novel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and dynamic quantile ARDL techniques, the analysis reveals an annual equilibrium convergence rate of approximately 34%–36%. The multivariate VECM causality system identifies significant long‐run causal relationships, indicating the influence of these covariates on maintaining a stable equilibrium. In the short run, one‐way causality is observed from resource rents, per capita income, and squared per capita income to total emissions. Long‐term findings suggest that reductions in natural resource rents, per capita GDP, and population growth contribute to improved atmospheric quality. The results support the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, confirming the existence of an ‘inverted U‐curve’ for Japan. Furthermore, the robust quantile ARDL aligns these findings with the net probabilistic effects in both short‐ and long‐term scenarios. By applying innovative accounting decomposition frameworks, the study shows that changes in greenhouse gas emissions, resource rents, and population growth consistently lead to reduced emissions in Japan. Overall, these findings provide empirical support for Japan's goal of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050 and underscore the importance of adhering to transformative policy measures.
Unleashing the Untapped Potential: Groundwater Exploration in a Watershed Environment of North‐East India Using MCDA‐AHP Techniques
Authors: Borah Debashree , Bora Ashok Kumar
Published: January 2025

The contemporary era is marked by the faster exploitation of groundwater resources due to the combined effects of burgeoning population and rapid industrialisation. This study tries to delineate the groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) in a fragile and agriculturally dominant watershed of North‐East India using the GIS‐based multi‐criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The study has undertaken 10 influencing factors: geomorphology, geology, land use/land cover (LU/LC), drainage density, rainfall, soil texture, slope, lineament density, topographic wetness index (TWI) and normalised difference water index (NDWI). Suitable weights for the parameters are assigned according to their relative importance and association with groundwater storage based on a pairwise comparison matrix (PCM). Four GWPZs with their respective coverages namely poor (3.39%), moderate (24.98%), good (33.36%) and excellent (38.27%) categories are found. The central and southern parts of the study area covering a portion of Udalguri, Sonitpur and Darrang districts of Assam have porous geological settings and floodplains, indicating high groundwater potentiality. In contrast, the northern part with hard and rugged terrain lacks groundwater storage. Incorporating the socio‐economic aspect, particularly the number of villages with or without access to suitable groundwater, significantly enhances the study's utility. The outcome is cross‐verified with the well data obtained from the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) and field data which is validated using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve resulting in an accuracy of 72.9%. Hence, this inquiry has implications for both regional and global significance and will assist stakeholders and authorities in creating a roadmap for sustainable and effective water use.
Wetland Distribution in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau and Its Responses to Climate Change and Glacial Retreat
Authors: Peng Tianzhu , Chen Weizhe , Long Hao , Ma Zhenru , Zhang Rui
Published: January 2025

The Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) experienced noticeable warming and glacial retreat during the past decades. However, it is unclear how these changes affect QTP wetland distribution in the past and future. To this end, this study estimated the potential wetland distribution in the QTP under present and future climate scenarios using five machine learning methods. We further decoupled the sensitivity of wetland area to temperature, precipitation, and glacier changes based on the control experiment, and quantified the environmental niche of QTP wetland distribution. The RusBoost algorithm model has the best performance and shows that the current potential wetland area is about 1.6 × 105 km2, accounting for 6.22% of the land surface. By 2100, QTP wetlands are projected to increase by 9.6% and 77.3% relative to the current potential wetland area under the SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5 scenarios, respectively. Climate warming and wetting are positively correlated with the future wetland areas. Each 1°C increase in the warmest season temperature can lead to a 9.0% increase in QTP wetland areas. Glacial retreat to some extent leads to wetland increase, for example, in the southeastern QTP, likely due to glacial meltwater recharge. However, wetlands will decrease due to longer glacial distances in the northeast QTP, because wetlands tend to grow within a suitable distance of 30 km to glaciers. As more current wetlands spread within the recharge range of glacier meltwater, QTP wetlands expect to increase in the near future. This research provides a valuable reference for predicting wetland changes in alpine regions in the context of global warming.
Unravelling Regional Water Balance Dynamics in Anthropogenically Shaped Lowlands: A Data‐Driven Approach
Authors: Kröcher Jenny , Ghazaryan Gohar , Lischeid Gunnar
Published: January 2025

Effective management of water resources in anthropogenically shaped lowlands requires a comprehensive understanding of hydrological processes and balancing various effects in complex settings, especially like lowland hydrology. Unlike mountainous headwater catchments with shallow soils, lowland hydrology is typically dominated by groundwater dynamics, often exhibiting pronounced spatial correlation lengths, though other factors may also contribute. This necessitates consideration of distant anthropogenic impacts in water resources management. This study focuses on the Lusatia region in the northern German, a lowland area heavily altered by mining activities, including extensive groundwater lowering and rebound, impacting the overall water regime. We applied an efficient, data‐based approach to unravel various impacts on the landscape water balance over a 30‐year period (1993–2022). We integrated over 1800 ground‐based time series data on groundwater levels, surface water dynamics and runoff, supplemented by evapotranspiration estimates from multi‐temporal Landsat satellite data to account for land use effects. Through principal component analysis, we identified key patterns driving water balance dynamics. The first four components explained 84% of the variance in groundwater and surface water levels, as well as of runoff dynamics. The dominant processes attributed to these components include anthropogenic influences from mining activities, as well as natural hydrogeological effects such as seasonal variability and the damping of the groundwater recharge signal in the unsaturated zone. A separate principal component analysis that included evapotranspiration data explained 87% of the variance, with the first component predominantly reflecting seasonal variations and subsequent components elucidating land use impacts and long‐term vegetation changes. By linking both analyses, we generated comprehensive maps detailing the spatial distribution of effects on regional water balance. Our approach provides a quantitative tool to assess the size and influence of natural and anthropogenic effects on water resources, offering a comprehensive tool for assessing spatial and temporal effects on hydrological dynamics in a lowland region affected by human activities.
Practical Machine Learning Strategies. I. Correcting the MMFF Molecular Mechanics Model to More Accurately Provide Conformational Energy Differences in Flexible Organic Molecules
Authors: Hehre Thomas , Klunzinger Philip E. , Deppmeier Bernard , Ohlinger William , Hehre Warren
Published: January 2025

A correction to the MMFF molecular mechanics model, based on a neural network trained to reproduce conformer energy differences obtained from ωB97X‐V/6‐311+G(2df,2p)[6‐311G*]//MMFF calculations is described. It is supported for molecules containing H, C, N, O, F, S, Cl, and Br. The correction adds only slightly to the cost of MMFF, and the resulting corrected model is several orders of magnitude faster than ωB97X‐V/6‐311+G(2df,2p)[6‐311G*]. It properly identifies the lowest energy conformer for 82% of the molecules in a test set of flexible organic molecules (3553 total conformers), compared with 38% for MMFF. While the corrected MMFF model cannot be expected to provide sufficiently accurate Boltzmann weights for use in spectra and property calculations on flexible molecules, it is able to reduce the number of “reasonable” conformers that need to be passed on to more rigorous computational models, that can.
Nucleocapsid Antibodies as an Optimal Serological Marker of SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection: A Longitudinal Study at the Thomayer University Hospital
Authors: Ibrahimová Markéta , Jamriková Vladislava , Pavelková Kateřina , Bořecká Klára
Published: January 2025

Background

The longitudinal study was conducted over the initial 2 years of the COVID‐19 pandemic, spanning from June 2020 to December 2022, in healthcare workers (HCWs) of the Thomayer University Hospital. A total of 3892 blood samples were collected and analyzed for total nucleocapsid (N) antibodies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamics of N antibodies, their relationship to the PCR test, spike (S) antibodies, interferon‐gamma, and prediction of reinfection with SARS‐CoV‐2.

Methods

Blood collections were performed in three rounds, along with questionnaires addressing clinical symptoms of past infection, PCR testing, and vaccination. Antibody measurements included total N antibodies (Roche Diagnostics) and postvaccination S antibodies (Euroimmun). Cellular immunity was tested by interferon‐gamma release assay (Euroimmun).

Results

At the end of the study, 35.9% of HCWs were positive for N antibodies, and 39.5% of HCWs had either known PCR positivity or N antibodies or both. Ten percent of participants had no knowledge of a COVID‐19 infection and 35% of positive individuals exhibited no symptoms. The values of positive antibodies decrease over a period of 6 months to 1 year, depending on the initial value, and their dynamics are highly variable. The study also demonstrated that the highest levels of spike antibodies and interferon‐gamma occur during so‐called hybrid immunity.

Conclusion

Nucleocapsid antibodies proved valuable in monitoring SARS‐CoV‐2 infection dynamics, and they may detect cases of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection missed by PCR tests. The study identified distinct patterns in antibody dynamics and protection of hybrid immunity during reinfection.
Physiological Insights Into the Role of Pericytes in Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Jin Haiming , Rawlins Jessica , Chen Yiqi , Zheng Xiaohang , Charlesworth Oscar , Chen Junchun , Wang Gang , Luo Huoling , Cheng Wenxiang , Li Zhong Alan , Zhu Sipin , Xu Jiake
Published: January 2025

Vascular regeneration plays a vital role in tissue repair yet is drastically impaired in those with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Pericytes are of great significance as they are entwined with vessel‐specific endothelial cells and actively contribute to maintaining the spinal cord's vascular network. Within the neurovascular unit (NVU), subtypes of pericytes characterized by various markers such as PDGFR‐β, Desmin, CD146, and NG‐2 are involved in vascular regeneration in SCI repair. Various pericyte signaling, pericyte‐derived exosomes, and endothelial–pericyte interplay were revealed to participate in SCI repair or fibrotic scars. Through further understanding pericyte biology, it is aimed to accurately generate subtypes of pericytes and develop their therapeutic potential. This review focuses on recent advanced research and development of pericytes as a potential treatment for SCI.
Point of No Return—What Is the Threshold of Mitochondria With Permeability Transition in Cells to Trigger Cell Death
Authors: Kritskaya Kristina A. , Stelmashchuk Olga A. , Abramov Andrey Y.
Published: January 2025

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is essential part of the process of tissue regeneration that also plays role in the mechanism of pathology. The phenomenon of fast and transient permeability of mitochondrial membranes by various triggers, known as permeability transition pore (mPTP) leads to the release of proapoptotic proteins and acts as an initial step in initiation of apoptosis. However, a role for mPTP was also suggested for physiology and it is unclear if there is a threshold in number of mitochondria with mPTP which induces cell death and how this mechanism is regulated in different tissues. Using simultaneous measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential and a fluorescent marker for caspase‐3 activation we studied the number of mitochondria with calcium‐induced mPTP opening necessary for induction of apoptosis in rat primary cortical neurons, astrocytes, fibroblasts, and cancer (BT‐474) cells. The induction of apoptosis was correlated with 80%–90% mitochondrial signal loss in neural cells but only 35% in fibroblasts, and in BT‐474 cancer cells over 90% of mitochondria opens mPTP before apoptosis becomes obvious. The number of mitochondria with mPTP which induce cell death did not correlate with total expression levels of proapoptotic proteins but was consistent with the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio in these cells. Calcium‐induced mPTP opening increased levels of necrosis which was higher in fibroblasts compared to neurons, astrocytes and BT‐474 cells. Thus, different tissues require specific numbers of mitochondria with PTP opening to induce apoptosis and it correlates to the proapoptotic/antiapoptotic proteins expression ratio in them.
Streamlining incident reporting system: A lean approach to enhance patient and staff safety in a Middle Eastern prehospital emergency care setting
Authors: Farhat Hassan , Alinier Guillaume , Sohail Farid Ahmad , Derbel Emna , Rekik Fatma Babay EP. , Khedhiri Rafik , Alcantara Ma Cleo , Varghuese Anish , Ranjith Abraham , Sidaya Elizabeth , Al Ishaq Moza , Al Shaikh Loua , Laughton James
Published: January 2025

Incident reporting in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is vital for enhancing patient safety and system performance, but time constraints often impede efficient documentation. Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service Group (HMCASG) implemented a streamlined “Occurrence, Variance, and Accident” (OVA) reporting system to address these challenges. This study evaluated the effectiveness of this system in reducing incident report completion time. A “Lean” approach was used to streamline the reporting process. Four‐hundred eighty‐two OVA reports (241 baseline, 241 post‐intervention) submitted between September 13 and October 8, 2022, were analyzed. The time taken to complete an OVA report was measured. Statistical analyses included Student t‐tests, bivariate regression, and a Shewhart control chart. The mean time to complete an OVA report decreased significantly from 328.9 to 145.09 seconds (p < 0.05). The Shewhart control chart visually demonstrated the intervention's impact, while regression analysis confirmed its significance (p = 0.007). The streamlined OVA reporting system significantly reduced reporting time, addressing the challenge of balancing incident reporting with emergency response availability. This lean‐based approach enhanced operational efficiency, promoted risk reduction, and strengthened prehospital care's foundation for quality improvement.
Biological Basis of Cell Trafficking: A General Overview
Authors: Gimeno‐Agud Helena , Díaz‐Osorio Yaiza , Oyarzábal Alfonso
Published: January 2025

Cell trafficking is a tightly regulated biological process for the exchange of signals and metabolites between cell compartments, including four main processes: membrane trafficking (transport of membrane‐bound vesicles), autophagy, transport along the cytoskeleton, and membrane contact sites. These processes are cross‐sectional to cellular functions, ranging from the transportation of membrane proteins, membranes, and organelles to the elimination of damaged proteins and organelles. In consequence, cell trafficking is crucial for cell survival and homeostasis, serving as a cornerstone for cellular communication and facilitating interactions both with the surrounding environment and between different organelles. Disorders of cell trafficking are clinically and pathophysiological diverse and complex and form the largest group in the recent International Classification of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (ICIMD). In this review, we explore the four categories of cell trafficking and the biological principles that drive these processes. Instead of delving profoundly into each pathway, as comprehensive reviews on those topics already exist, we offer a broad overview of the molecular mechanisms behind cell trafficking, providing a foundational understanding to ease their entry into this subject and enhance comprehension of the other articles featured in this Special Issue.