bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-mortem diagnosis of septic arthritis by Pasteurella multocida: a case report and literature review of fatal septic arthritis
Authors: Giorgetti Arianna , Santelli Simone , Filipuzzi Ilenia , Bonasoni Maria Paola , Basile Giuseppe , Pirani Filippo , Pelotti Susi
Published: January 2025

The diagnosis of septic arthritis remains challenging in the clinical setting, often leading to a suspicion for medical liability. Our purpose is to describe an unusual case of a post-mortem diagnosis of P. multocida fatal septic arthritis, in a healthy 67-year-old woman presenting with pain in the right shoulder. Moreover, a literature review of cases of fatal septic arthritis is provided. The multidisciplinary approach consisted of a forensic autopsy and additional post-mortem analyses (microbiology, biochemical analyses, histopathology, and revision of radiological images) carried out during the prosecutor’s investigation for medical liability. A systematic review of the literature was performed to collect cases of fatal septic arthritis and to understand its frequency and characteristics. No clear cause of death was determined after the autopsy, that only highlighted swelling and purulent exudation in the right glenohumeral joint. The microbiological swab performed on the shoulder tested positive for P. multocida, while histopathological and biochemical data were consistent with a sepsis. These results guided the interview with the woman’s relatives, until a history of a previous contact with a stray cat emerged. The cause of death was deemed as fatal septic arthritis caused by P. multocida, occurred after cat scratches and bites and only diagnosed post-mortem. The review of the literature provided 15 articles about fatal septic arthritis, only 1 caused by P. multocida, and all with ante-mortem diagnosis. Given the nonspecific symptoms, usually including a localized pain, and the absence of a clear history, e.g. of animal contact, septic arthritis might represent an under-reported clinical and pathological diagnosis, leading to a judicial autopsy for the suspicion for medical liability. The post-mortem examination, following a multidisciplinary approach including integration of the clinical history, microbiological and histopathological analysis, could represent the only opportunity for the diagnosis of the cause of death.
Digital Transformation of Corporate Technical Education and Training – A Case Study on Instructional Designers´ Perceptions
Authors: Wintersberg Lisa , Pittich Daniel
Published: January 2025

This article explores the perspective of instructional designers on the digital transformation of corporate technical education and training. It draws on “episodic narrative interviews” conducted with the learning and development department of a for-profit company in the manufacturing sector to investigate their perceptions of digital transformation. We examine the working structures of the studied company, elaborate on their perceived challenges and needs, and highlight our position on future implications for corporate technical education and training. The case study improves the quality of practice within professional education by pointing out necessary considerations about communication, the instructional design process, job descriptions, digital learning products, and the target group’s attitude towards digital teaching and learning. Our results support companies, learning and development departments, and everyone related to corporate technical education and training in developing concepts for professional education programs or contributing with further best practices.
The intermediate jacobian fibration of a cubic fourfold containing a plane and fibrations in Prym varieties
Authors: Mattei Dominique
Published: January 2025

We give a description of the intermediate Jacobian fibration attached to a general complex cubic fourfold X containing a plane as a Lagrangian subfibration of a moduli space of torsion sheaves on the K3 surface associated to X up to a cover. To do so, we propose a general construction of Lagrangian fibrations in Prym varieties as subfibrations of Beauville–Mukai systems over some loci of nodal curves in linear systems on K3 surfaces.
Initial Stage Oxidation of 304HCu Stainless Steel in Oxygen Environment
Authors: Archana M. , Rao Ch. Jagadeeswara , Ningshen S.
Published: January 2025

The early stages of oxidation and the development of transient initial oxides on 304HCu stainless steel (SS) were investigated by isothermal oxidation at 650 and 750 °C in a pure oxygen environment using thermogravimetry. At 750 °C, the formation of the continuous oxide layer occurs more rapidly, exhibiting protective parabolic kinetics, where the slow diffusion of iron through the oxide layer governs the oxidation rate. The oxide scales primarily consist of binary oxides of iron and chromium, with noticeable segregation of manganese and niobium in the early stages. Distinct morphological differences were observed in the transient initial oxide scales formed at the two temperatures, each providing additional nucleation sites for oxide formation. The GDOES depth profiles indicated the migration of Cu from the oxide/scale interface to the oxide scale. The role of the oxide composition and its morphology on the oxidation behavior of 304HCu SS are discussed in detail.
Effectively eliminating lead and cadmium from industrial wastewater using a biowaste-based sorbent
Authors: Reda Aly , El-Demerdash Abdel-Ghafar , Sadik Wagih , El-Rafey Essam , Shoeib Tamer
Published: January 2025

Toxic heavy metals, such as Pb(II) and Cd(II), pose serious environmental and health risks, stressing the urgent demand for innovative and sustainable techniques to reduce their adverse effects. This study investigates the use of sugar beet biowaste as an eco-friendly biosorbent for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions, in both laboratory and industrial effluents. Characterization through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the formation of stable hydrocerussite and otavite, confirming chemisorption. Approximately 95% of the employed biowaste is composed of calcium (Ca), carbon (C), and oxygen (O). The zeta potential was measured at − 17.5 mV with a point of zero charge at pH 8.0, and the total surface area of the biosorbent was approximately 7.72 m2 g−1, with a Langmuir surface area of 11.563 m2 g−1 and a pore volume of 0.028 cm3 g−1. Various parameters, such as the metal concentration, biosorbent dosage, pH, temperature, and contact time, were optimized, achieving maximum removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) within 60 min at pH 12 and 328 K. Sorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.99) and the Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.98), with high sorption capacities of 466.5 mg g−1 for Pb(II) and 505.6 mg g−1 for Cd(II). Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the sorption process is spontaneous, thermodynamically favorable, and endothermic. The biowaste effectively removed heavy metals and demonstrated removal efficiencies exceeding 85% for most heavy metals in industrial effluent samples from Alexandria and Ain Sokhna. Sorption capacity ratio values close to 1 indicate effective Pb(II) and Cd(II) uptake with minimal interference, even in the presence of methylene blue dye. Comparative analysis revealed that the untreated biosorbent was more efficient than typical biosorbents, and an economic cost evaluation revealed that processing the biosorbent costs 1.05 USD/kg, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and economically viable option for industrial effluent treatment and supporting broader environmental goals.
Neural Network-Based Finite-Time Control for Stochastic Nonlinear Systems with Input Dead-Zone and Saturation
Authors: Kharrat Mohamed , Krichen Moez , Alhazmi Hadil , Mercorelli Paolo
Published: January 2025

The problem of adaptive control for stochastic systems impacted by saturation and dead zone is discussed in this study. Neural networks are incorporated into the design to effectively control the unknown nonlinear functions present in these systems. The non-smooth input saturation and dead-zone nonlinearities are approximated using the non-affine smooth function. Next, the mean-value theorem is applied to derive the affine form. The study develops an adaptive finite-time controller using the backstepping approach, ensuring semi-globally practical finite-time stability for all closed-loop system signals while driving the tracking error to converge within a finite time to a small region around the origin. To illustrate the efficacy of the suggested control strategy, two simulation examples are given.
Brainsourcing for temporal visual attention estimation
Authors: Moreno-Alcayde Yoelvis , Ruotsalo Tuukka , Leiva Luis A. , Traver V. Javier
Published: January 2025

The concept of temporal visual attention in dynamic contents, such as videos, has been much less studied than its spatial counterpart, i.e., visual salience. Yet, temporal visual attention is useful for many downstream tasks, such as video compression and summarisation, or monitoring users’ engagement with visual information. Previous work has considered quantifying a temporal salience score from spatio-temporal user agreements from gaze data. Instead of gaze-based or content-based approaches, we explore to what extent only brain signals can reveal temporal visual attention. We propose methods for (1) computing a temporal visual salience score from salience maps of video frames; (2) quantifying the temporal brain salience score as a cognitive consistency score from the brain signals from multiple observers; and (3) assessing the correlation between both temporal salience scores, and computing its relevance. Two public EEG datasets (DEAP and MAHNOB) are used for experimental validation. Relevant correlations between temporal visual attention and EEG-based inter-subject consistency were found, as compared with a random baseline. In particular, effect sizes, measured with Cohen’s d, ranged from very small to large in one dataset, and from medium to very large in another dataset. Brain consistency among subjects watching videos unveils temporal visual attention cues. This has relevant practical implications for analysing attention for visual design in human-computer interaction, in the medical domain, and in brain-computer interfaces at large.
Inhibitory effects of the combination of rapamycin with gemcitabine plus paclitaxel on the growth of pancreatic cancer tumors
Authors: Jobu Yuri , Nishigawa Miki , Furihata Kaoru , Furihata Mutsuo , Uchida Kazushige , Taniuchi Keisuke
Published: January 2025

We previously examined the antitumor effects of short interfering RNA nanoparticles targeting mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model. We herein report the inhibitory effects of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin on tumor growth in a novel established mouse model of pancreatic cancer using human pancreatic cancer cell line-derived organoids. Gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel are clinically used to treat advanced pancreatic cancer. In vitro assays showed that rapamycin strongly inhibited cell invasion, while gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and gemcitabine plus paclitaxel primarily inhibited cell proliferation with minimal effects on invasion. In vivo mouse experiments demonstrated that rapamycin exhibited superior antitumor activity to S-1 (a metabolically activated prodrug of 5-fluorouracil) and another mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, while its efficacy was similar to that of gemcitabine plus paclitaxel (which was used instead of nab-paclitaxel due to concerns about allergic reactions in mice to human albumin) in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer using human pancreatic cancer cell line-derived organoids. Furthermore, the combination of rapamycin with gemcitabine plus paclitaxel exerted synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of pancreatic cancer tumors. Although the inhibition of tumor growth was significantly stronger in everolimus-treated mice than in control mice, there were no additive anti-growth effects when combined with gemcitabine plus paclitaxel. The present results suggest that the combination of rapamycin with gemcitabine plus paclitaxel achieved the greatest reduction in tumor volumes in the mouse xenograft model and, thus, has significant clinical promise.
A review of advanced controller methodologies for robotic manipulators
Authors: Tinoco Vítor , Silva Manuel F. , Santos Filipe N. , Morais Raul , Magalhães Sandro A. , Oliveira Paulo Moura
Published: January 2025

With the global population on the rise and a declining agricultural labor force, the realm of robotics research in agriculture, such as robotic manipulators, has assumed heightened significance. This article undertakes a comprehensive exploration of the latest advancements in controllers tailored for robotic manipulators. The investigation encompasses an examination of six distinct controller paradigms, complemented by the presentation of three exemplars for each category. These paradigms encompass: (i) adaptive control, (ii) sliding mode control, (iii) model predictive control, (iv) robust control, (v) fuzzy logic control and (vi) neural network control. The article further introduces and presents comparative tables for each controller category. These controllers excel in tracking trajectories and efficiently reaching reference points with rapid convergence. The key point of divergence among these controllers resides in their inherent complexity.
Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices About the Potential of ChatGPT in Teaching Mathematics in Secondary Schools
Authors: Busuttil Leonard , Calleja James
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the beliefs and practices of secondary school mathematics teachers in Malta regarding the potential of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), particularly through tools like ChatGPT, in teaching, using the TPACK framework. Through a case study methodology involving pre- and post-professional development (PD) session surveys and analysis of field notes, the research examines the alignment between teachers’ self-reported beliefs and pedagogical practices and their perceptions of ChatGPT’s utility. Findings show teachers, particularly those with discovery and connectionist educational philosophies, view ChatGPT positively, believing it fosters active learning, encourages exploration, and supports individualised engagement. Despite challenges like interpreting visual mathematical representations and inaccuracies, teachers see ChatGPT as a tool for creating practice problems, assessments, and personalised feedback, aligning with trends in existing literature. The study underscores the necessity of ongoing PD to equip teachers with the skills to integrate ChatGPT effectively into their pedagogy, suggesting a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges presented by GenAI in education. The alignment of teachers’ beliefs and practices with their perceptions of ChatGPT’s potential suggests a readiness among educators to adopt innovative technologies that align with contemporary pedagogical values, enhancing the teaching and learning experience in mathematics. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on GenAI integration in education, highlighting the importance of aligning educational technology with teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and practices to maximise its benefits and recognising the potential of ChatGPT to change mathematics education by facilitating active engagement and personalised learning, while also acknowledging its limitations and ethical implications.
Refined Chabauty–Kim computations for the thrice-punctured line over $$\mathbb {Z}[1/6]$$
Authors: Lüdtke Martin
Published: January 2025

The Chabauty–Kim method and its refined variant by Betts and Dogra aim to cut out the S-integral points $$X(\mathbb {Z}_S)$$

X
(

Z
S

)

on a curve inside the p-adic points $$X(\mathbb {Z}_p)$$

X
(

Z
p

)

by producing enough Coleman functions vanishing on them. We derive new functions in the case of the thrice-punctured line when S contains two primes. We describe an algorithm for computing refined Chabauty–Kim loci and verify Kim’s Conjecture over $$\mathbb {Z}[1/6]$$

Z
[
1
/
6
]

for all choices of auxiliary prime $$p < 10{,}000$$

p
<
10
,
000

.
Efficient (3, 3)-isogenies on fast Kummer surfaces
Authors: Corte-Real Santos Maria , Costello Craig , Smith Benjamin
Published: January 2025

We give an alternative derivation of (N, N)-isogenies between fast Kummer surfaces which complements existing works based on the theory of theta functions. We use this framework to produce explicit formulæ for the case of $$N=3$$

N
=
3

, and show that the resulting algorithms are more efficient than all prior (3, 3)-isogeny algorithms.
Opportunities for U.S.–China nuclear tension-reduction
Authors: Bunn Matthew
Published: January 2025

Intense current U.S.–China hostility and distrust undermines the national interests of both sides, increasing the risks of conflict and decreasing the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation. Reducing tensions will require compromises by both China and the United States. It would be difficult to achieve real trust between the U.S. and Chinese governments—but the record of U.S.–Soviet and U.S.–Russian nuclear arms control suggests that nuclear arms restraints are possible even between countries that see each other as adversaries. If China continues its current nuclear buildup with no restraints and no indication of where it is headed, it will force the United States to assume the worst and respond accordingly, potentially provoking a major nuclear arms race. Such competition would undermine China’s national security and likely destroy prospects for negotiated arms control. While China understandably rejects the idea of treaties that would permanently lock it into nuclear inferiority, some forms of nuclear restraint would serve China’s national interests by limiting the dangers of such an arms competition and potentially limiting U.S. forces and actions that China considers threatening. The Chinese government should instruct its nuclear experts and American politics experts to work together to develop proposals that would serve China’s interest and have a realistic chance of being negotiated.
Maternal Emotion Coaching and Child Emotion Regulation: Within-Interaction Sequences in Early Childhood
Authors: Zhu Danhua , Lozada Fantasy T , Smith Cynthia L , Bell Martha Ann , Dunsmore Julie C
Published: January 2025

Emotion socialization is a dynamic transactional process that unfolds at the moment during parent-child interactions. To better understand these transactions (both parent-driven and child-driven) in early childhood, we conducted a lag-sequential analysis examining sequential contingency between maternal emotion coaching and child emotion regulation at ages 3 and 4 years. Mother-child dyads in the southeastern United States (N = 208 for age 3 timepoint [101 boys, 107 girls] and 227 for age 4 timepoint [115 boys, 112 girls]) participated in a laboratory etch-a-sketch task, which was videorecorded and later observationally coded for maternal coaching of both positive and negative emotions and for child emotion regulation (indexed as compliance, engagement, and low frustration) at 30-s intervals. At age 3, we found two reciprocal sequences: (1) When mothers coached positive emotions, children were subsequently more likely to show compliance, and when children complied, mothers were subsequently more likely to coach their positive emotions; (2) when mothers coached negative emotions, children were subsequently more likely to display frustration, and when children showed frustration, mothers were subsequently more likely to coach their negative emotions. At age 4, we only found parent-driven, positive emotion–related sequences: when mothers coached positive emotions, children were subsequently more likely to show compliance and engagement. Findings shed light on the distinct functions of positive and negative emotions as well as the intricacy of dynamic emotion socialization transactions in relation to child emotion regulation during early childhood.
Using δ15N of Amino Acids and Nitrate to Investigate Particle Production and Transformation in the Ocean: A Case Study From the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone
Authors: Lee Charlotte Wing Man , Altabet Mark , Mnich Alanna , Zhang Lin
Published: January 2025

The eastern tropical North Pacific oxygen deficient zone (ETNP‐ODZ) exhibits a distinct physical and biological environment compared to other oxygenated water columns, leading to a unique scenario of particulate organic matter (POM) production and vertical transport. To elucidate these biological pump processes, we present the first comparison of δ15N values of nitrate, phenylalanine (Phe), and glutamic acid (Glu) within two distinct size fractions of particles collected along a productivity gradient in the ETNP‐ODZ. Low δ15NPhe and δ15NGlu values in both particle pools at sites with prominent secondary chlorophyll maximum (SCM), compared to the ambient δ15N‐NO3−, suggest the presence of recycled N‐utilizing primary producers distinct from those at the primary chlorophyll maximum and their contribution to export. We observed reduced 15N enrichment of Phe in small particles and a narrower δ15NPhe disparity between the two particle size fractions compared to the results from oxic waters, likely due to slower heterotrophic microbial degradation of small particles. Unique δ15NPhe and δ15NGlu signatures of particles were found at the lower oxycline, potentially attributable to chemoautotrophic production and zooplankton mediation. These findings underscore the need for further investigations targeting particles generated at the SCM, their subsequent alteration by zooplankton, and the new production by chemoautotrophs. This will allow for a better evaluation of the efficiency of the biological pump in the globally expanding ODZs under contemporary climate change.
“Exceptional” Global Warming Spike Continued in 2024
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: January 2025

More than 3 billion people experienced their hottest year ever in 2024 because of anthropogenic climate change. The world is speeding toward its 1.5�C warming target.
The impact of ovulation-suppressing contraceptives on behavioral and functional difficulties in borderline personality disorder
Authors: Katrinli Seyma , Rothbaum Alex O. , DeMoss Raneeka , Turner William C. , Hunter Ben , Powers Abigail , Michopoulos Vasiliki , Smith Alicia K.
Published: January 2025

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by rapidly shifting emotional, interpersonal, and behavioral symptoms, often co-morbid with mood and anxiety disorders. Females are more likely to be diagnosed with BPD than males and exhibit greater functional impairment. Hormonal fluctuations may influence the manifestation of BPD symptoms. Here, we investigated the influence of ovulation-suppressing contraceptives on behavioral and functional difficulties in BPD. The sample included 348 females ages 18-50 undergoing residential treatment for psychiatric disorders, with 131 having a BPD diagnosis. Patients were categorized by their contraceptive method: Ovulation-suppressing contraceptives (N = 145) and naturally cycling (N = 203). Interaction models tested the impact of ovulation-suppressing contraceptives on the relationship between BPD diagnosis and behavioral and functional difficulties at admission and discharge, assessed by the four Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-32) domains: difficulties in relationships, daily living, depression/anxiety, and impulsivity. Females with a BPD diagnosis were more likely to use ovulation-suppressing contraceptives compared to those without BPD (p = 0.04). However, ovulation-suppressing contraceptive use was not associated with behavioral and functional difficulties at admission, discharge, or over time. Ovulation-suppressing contraceptives moderated the association between BPD diagnosis and difficulties in relationships (p = 0.004), difficulties in daily living (p = 0.01), and depression/anxiety symptoms (p = 0.004). Specifically, patients with BPD experienced more behavioral and functional difficulties only if naturally cycling, whereas patients without BPD showed higher symptom severity only if using ovulation-suppressing contraceptives. Our findings suggest that the impact of ovulation-suppressing contraceptives on behavioral and functional difficulties varies depending on BPD diagnosis and underscores the need for further clinical studies.
Influence of aluminium distribution on the diffusion mechanisms and pairing of [Cu(NH3)2]+ complexes in Cu-CHA
Authors: Bjerregaard Joachim D. , Votsmeier Martin , Grönbeck Henrik
Published: January 2025

The performance of Cu-exchanged chabazite (Cu-CHA) for the ammonia-assisted selective catalytic reduction of NOx (NH3-SCR) depends critically on the presence of paired $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

complexes. Here, a machine-learning force field augmented with long-range Coulomb interactions is developed to investigate the effect of Al-distribution and Cu-loading on the mobility and pairing of $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

complexes. Performing unbiased and constrained molecular dynamics simulations, we obtain unique information inaccessible to first-principle calculations and experiments. The free energy barrier for $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

diffusion between CHA-cages depends sensitively on both the local and distant Al-distribution. Importantly, certain Al-distributions and arrangements of neighboring $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

and $${{{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{4}}^{+}$$

NH

4

+

cations make paired $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

complexes exothermic with respect to separated configurations. Our results suggest that the NH3-SCR activity can be enhanced by increasing the Cu-loading and Al-content. The dynamic interplay between $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

and $${{{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{4}}^{+}$$

NH

4

+

diffusion is crucial for the $${[{{{\rm{Cu}}}}{({{{{\rm{NH}}}}}_{3})}_{2}]}^{+}$$

[

Cu

(

NH

3

)

2

]

+

mobility and stresses the need to explore large systems including long-range Coulomb interactions when studying diffusion of charged species in zeolites.
mosGILT antibodies interfere with Plasmodium sporogony in Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Dolan Brady , Correa Gaviria Tomás , Dong Yuemei , Cresswell Peter , Dimopoulos George , Chuang Yu-Min , Fikrig Erol
Published: January 2025

Plasmodium, the causative agents of malaria, are obtained by mosquitoes from an infected human. Following Plasmodium acquisition by Anopheles gambiae, mosquito gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (mosGILT) plays a critical role in its subsequent sporogony in the mosquito. A critical location for this development is the midgut, a tissue we show expresses mosGILT. Using membrane-feeding and murine infection models, we demonstrate that antibodies against mosGILT reduce the number of P. falciparum and P. berghei oocysts in the midgut and the infection prevalence of both species in the mosquito. mosGILT antibodies act in the mosquito midgut, specifically impacting the Plasmodium oocyst stage. Targeting mosGILT can therefore interfere with the Plasmodium life cycle in the mosquito and potentially serve as a transmission-blocking vaccine.
Chromosome-level Genome Assembly of Korean Long-tailed Chicken and Pangenome of 40 Gallus gallus Assemblies
Authors: Shin Hanshin D. , Park Wonchoul , Chai Han-ha , Lee Youngho , Jung Jaehoon , Ko Byung June , Kim Heebal
Published: January 2025

This study presents the first chromosome-level genome assembly of the Korean long-tailed chicken (KLC), a unique breed of Gallus gallus known as Ginkkoridak. Our assembly achieved a super contig N50 of 5.7 Mbp and a scaffold N50 exceeding 90 Mb, with a genome completeness of 96.3% as assessed by BUSCO using the aves_odb10 set. We also constructed a comprehensive pangenome graph, incorporating 40 Gallus gallus assemblies, including the KLC genome. This graph comprises 87,934,214 nodes, 121,720,974 edges, and a total sequence length of 1,709,850,352 bp. Notably, our KLC assembly contributed 1,919,925 bp of new sequences to the pangenome, underscoring the unique genetic makeup of this breed. Furthermore, in comparison with the pangenome, we identified 36,818 structural variants in KLC, which included 2,529 insertions, 27,743 deletions, and 6,546 of either insertions or deletions shorter than 1 kb. We also successfully identified pan-genome wide non-reference sequences. Our KLC assembly and pangenome graph provide valuable genomic resources for studying G. gallus populations.
Measurement of ship-generated waves in German coastal waterways from 1998–2022
Authors: Seemann Arne , Melling Gregor
Published: January 2025

Vessel-generated waves and currents significantly impact coastal and estuarine waterways. In-situ measurements record all relevant physical phenomena that occur under a wide range of conditions and are therefore a valuable resource in the investigation of ship waves. Here we present a comprehensive compound dataset from in-situ ship wave measurement campaigns conducted over several decades in German coastal waterways. The dataset includes measured ship waves heights and currents as well as an attribution of each wave event to ship and nautical parameters responsible for its generation. The dataset is unique in its scope, combining a significant number of data points from multiple sites with different cross-section profiles. Some campaigns feature multiple gauges per cross-section, facilitating the analysis of wave transformation processes. Some locations feature repeat measurements which helps to understand wave load histories due to e.g. changes in shipping fleet structures and navigation practices. This dataset aims to provide a basis to enhance data-driven models to predict and manage the impacts of vessel-generated waves in different topographic settings and fleet structures.
Erwinia phage Asesino is a nucleus-forming phage that lacks PhuZ
Authors: Prichard Amy , Sy Annika , Meyer Justin , Villa Elizabeth , Pogliano Joe
Published: January 2025

As nucleus-forming phages become better characterized, understanding their unifying similarities and unique differences will help us understand how they occupy varied niches and infect diverse hosts. All identified nucleus-forming phages fall within the Chimalliviridae family and share a core genome of 68 unique genes including chimallin, the major nuclear shell protein. A well-studied but non-essential protein encoded by many nucleus-forming phages is PhuZ, a tubulin homolog which aids in capsid migration, nucleus rotation, and nucleus positioning. One clade that represents 24% of all currently known chimalliviruses lacks a PhuZ homolog. Here we show that Erwinia phage Asesino, one member of this PhuZ-less clade, shares a common overall replication mechanism with other characterized nucleus-forming phages despite lacking PhuZ. We show that Asesino replicates via a phage nucleus that encloses phage DNA and partitions proteins in the nuclear compartment and cytoplasm in a manner similar to previously characterized nucleus-forming phages. Consistent with a lack of PhuZ, however, we did not observe active positioning or rotation of the phage nucleus within infected cells. These data show that some nucleus-forming phages have evolved to replicate efficiently without PhuZ, providing an example of a unique variation in the nucleus-based replication pathway.
Development of a mitochondrial mini-barcode and its application in metabarcoding for identification of leech in traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Shi Chenfeng , Guo Yuhan , Yao Lijuan , Xu Yunhui , Zhou Jing , Hua Moli
Published: January 2025

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the medicinal leech is vital for treatments to promote blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis. However, the prevalence of counterfeit leech products in the market undermines the quality and efficacy of these remedies. Traditional DNA barcoding techniques, such as the COI barcode, have been limited in their application due to amplification challenges. This study identified high variability in the 16 S rRNA gene within the mitochondrial genome across five leech species, leading to the development of a novel 219 bp mini-barcode. Compared with the traditional COI barcode, our mini-barcode showed remarkable identification efficiency, classifying 142 out of 147 leech samples from fresh and processed materials. In contrast, the COI barcode could only successfully identify 79 out of the 147 samples. In the case of seven batches of leech decoction pieces, the mini-barcode identified six, whereas the COI barcode only recognized one. Additionally, the mini-barcode effectively discerned five leech species within Chinese patent medicines when combined with metabarcoding technology. These results confirm the mini-barcode’s potential as a reliable tool for rapidly and precisely identifying leech species in TCM products.
Radiation-assisted tailoring of swelling behavior and water retention of Na-CMC/PAAm hydrogels for enhancing Beta Vulgaris under drought stress
Authors: El-diehy Mahmoud A. , Farghal Ibrahim I. , Amin Mohamed A. , Ghobashy Mohamed Mohamady , Nowwar Abdelatti I. , Gayed H. M.
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the negative impact of climate change on water resources, specifically water for agricultural irrigation. It describes how to optimize swelling, gel properties and long-term water retention capacities of Na-CMC/PAAm hydrogels for managing drought stress of Sugar beet plants through techniques such as changing the composition, synthetic conditions and chemical modification. Gamma radiation-induced free radical copolymerization was used to synthesize superabsorbent hydrogels using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) and acrylamide (AAm). The study also explored how varying Na-CMC/AAm ratio and radiation dose influence their swelling behaviour, gel fraction, and water retention. FTIR showed that CMC and PAAm components are part of the hydrogel structure. The equilibrium swelling reached a maximum value of ~ 500 g/g at a Na-CMC/AAm ratio of 60/40. High content of AAm reduced swelling because it caused increased hydrophobicity while high radiation doses up to 50 kGy increased crosslinking resulting in improved but limited swelling from 65 to 85 (g/g). After the second cycle, KOH modification reached maximum swelling capacity by introducing anionic carboxylate groups up to 415 (g/g). SEM images revealed uniform pores in an unmodified scaffold while larger cavities were formed upon modification facilitating Water absorption. Surprisingly, the improved hydrogels retained more water: about 75% even after 16 days as opposed to a 50% drop within five days in the case of unmodified ones. This hydrogel significantly enhanced shoot length by 18%, root length by 32%, fresh weight shoot by 15%, and dry weight shoot by 15% under severe drought conditions. As a result, yield increased by 22%, proteins went up by 19%, and carbohydrates rose by 13%. Leaf chlorophyll content increased with a corresponding decline in stress enzymes indicating decreased oxidative damage. This eco-friendly Na-CMC/PAAm-based hydrogel seems to have potential use for addressing water scarcity and agricultural challenges.
Reduction in EEG theta power as a potential marker for spatial disorientation during flight
Authors: Geva Gil , Getter Nir , Blecher Boris , Ben-Ari Oded , Gordon Barak , Nakdimon Idan , Shriki Oren
Published: January 2025

During flight, spatial disorientation (SD) commonly occurs when a pilot’s perception conflicts with the aircraft’s actual motion, attitude, or position. A prevalent form of SD is the somatogyral illusion, which is elicited by constant speed rotation and causes a false perception of motion in the opposite direction when the rotation ceases. This research aimed to investigate changes in brain activity that occur when experiencing a somatogyral illusion by simulating conditions closely mimicking flight conditions to gain insight into how to better manage this illusion during flight. In the study, 23 volunteers were isolated from external stimuli to promote somatogyral illusion induction while seated in a Barany (rotating) chair. The study employed electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-tracking glasses to monitor brain activity and eye movements, respectively. Participants reported their perceived motion direction using a joystick, allowing us to compare a reference condition to that of the illusion. Results indicate a significant decrease (34%) in theta power (4–7.5 Hz) over the left frontal region during the illusion, complemented by the occurrence of nystagmus in 72% of the trials. These findings align with previous studies linking SD and theta band changes, suggesting implications for EEG-based identification of SD in flight.
A multilevel social network approach to studying multiple disease-prevention behaviors
Authors: Vörös András , Bellotti Elisa , Nengnong Carinthia Balabet , Passah Mattimi , Nongrum Quinnie Doreen , Khongwir Charishma , van Eijk Anna Maria , Kessler Anne , Sarkar Rajiv , Carlton Jane M. , Albert Sandra
Published: January 2025

The effective prevention of many infectious and non-infectious diseases relies on people concurrently adopting multiple prevention behaviors. Individual characteristics, opinion leaders, and social networks have been found to explain why people take up specific prevention behaviors. However, it remains challenging to understand how these factors shape multiple interdependent behaviors. We propose a multilevel social network framework that allows us to study the effects of individual and social factors on multiple disease prevention behaviors simultaneously. We apply this approach to examine the factors explaining eight malaria prevention behaviors, using unique interview data collected from 1529 individuals in 10 hard-to-reach, malaria-endemic villages in Meghalaya, India in 2020–2022. Statistical network modelling reveals exposure to similar behaviors in one’s social network as the most important factor explaining prevention behaviors. Further, we find that households indirectly shape behaviors as key contexts for social ties. Together, these two factors are crucial for explaining the observed patterns of behaviors and social networks in the data, outweighing individual characteristics, opinion leaders, and social network size. The results highlight that social network processes may facilitate or hamper disease prevention efforts that rely on a combination of behaviors. Our approach is well suited to study these processes in the context of various diseases.
Predicting coefficient of volume compressibility of fine-grained soils using appropriate soil type and soil state parameters
Authors: Vivekananda K. S. , Nagaraj H. B.
Published: January 2025

Predicting the coefficient of volume compressibility (mv) would help a field engineer to make a quick estimate of the soil compressibility. The multiple correlations suggested by various researchers as available in the literature indicate the importance of predicting the mv of soil. The existing correlations as available in literature either use soil state (in the form of SPT N-value or unconfined compressive strength or natural water content) or soil type (in the form of plasticity properties). However, using both soil type and soil state parameters in developing any prediction equation would be more reliable. To overcome this limitation of existing correlation equations to predict mv, a simple and reliable method that can be universally applied with appropriate soil type parameter represented by the Shrinkage Index (Liquid Limit-Shrinkage Limit) and soil state parameter represented by standardized SPT N60 has been proposed. This model is designed to be universally applicable, serving as a valuable tool for practicing engineers and researchers to predict mv.
Circulating serum metabolites as biomarkers and predictors of residual feed intake in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Hailemariam Dagnachew , Manafiazar Ghader , Baes Christine , Schenkel Flavio , Miglior Filippo , Stothard Paul , Plastow Graham
Published: January 2025

This study explored the potential of circulatory serum metabolite profiles to increase understanding of the physiology of feed efficiency and identify biomarkers to predict residual feed intake (RFI) in lactating Holsteins. Serum metabolite profiles were compared in high (n = 20) and low RFI (n = 20) cows at early, mid, and late lactation stages. The low RFI cows had decreased (P < 0.05) concentrations of dodecanoylcarnitine, dodecenoylcarnitine, dodecanedioylcarnitine, tetradecanoylcarnitine, succinic acid, trimethylamine N-oxide, betaine, and increased concentrations of p-Hydroxyhippuric acid, hydroxysphingomyeline C16:1, phosphatidylcholine diacyl C40:6, and glutarylcarnitine at early lactation. A similar comparison at mid lactation stage showed altered serum concentrations of 26 metabolites that fall into the categories of acyl carnitines, glycerophospholipids, biogenic amines, amino acids, and organic acids. At late lactation, fewer sets of metabolites were significantly affected by RFI grouping. Receiver operator curve analyses identified p-Hydroxyhippuric acid as the top biomarker at early lactation and acetylornithine at mid and late lactation. Models based on sets of serum metabolites in early, mid, and late lactation stages predicted RFI with a validation coefficient of determination of 0.54, 0.68, and 0.64, respectively. This study demonstrated the potential of circulatory serum metabolites as biomarkers and predictors of RFI in lactating dairy cows.
Research on vehicle scheduling for forest fires in the northern Greater Khingan Mountains
Authors: Zhang Jie , He Junnan , Ren Shihao , Zhou Pei , Guo Jun , Song Mingyue
Published: January 2025

In the face of forest fire emergencies, fast and efficient dispatching of rescue vehicles is an important means of mitigating the damage caused by forest fires, and is an effective method of avoiding secondary damage caused by forest fires, minimizing the damage caused by forest fires to the ecosystem, and mitigating the losses caused by economic development. this paper takes the actual problem as the starting point, constructs a reasonable mathematical model of the problem, for the special characteristics of the emergency rescue vehicle scheduling problem of forest fires, taking into account the actual road conditions in the northern pristine forest area, through the analysis of the cost of paths between the forest area and the highway, to obtain the least obstructed rescue paths, to narrow the gap between the theoretical model and the problem of the actual. Improvement of ordinary genetic algorithm, design of double population strategy selection operation, the introduction of chaotic search initialization population, to improve the algorithm’s solution efficiency and accuracy, through the northern pristine forest area of Daxing’anling real forest fire cases and generation of large-scale random fire point simulation experimental test to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, to ensure that the effectiveness and reasonableness of the solution to the problem of forest fire emergency rescue vehicle scheduling program. It enriches the solution method of forest fire emergency rescue vehicle dispatching problem in Great Khingan area, which is of great significance to improve the emergency rescue capability in case of sudden forest fire. Through simulation experiments, the proposed Improved Genetic Algorithm (IGA) achieved an average rescue time reduction of 8.5% compared to conventional Genetic Algorithm (GA) and 3.5% compared to Improved Artificial Bee Colony (IABC) algorithm, with an average solution time of 9.4 ms.
Selenium nanoparticles modified niobium MXene for non-enzymatic detection of glucose
Authors: E. Prabisha K. , K. Neena P. , Ankitha Menon , Rasheed P. Abdul , Suneesh P. V. , Satheesh Babu T. G.
Published: January 2025

Glucose sensing remains a crucial need as diabetes is a worldwide concern. This work reports the application of Nb2CTx—selenium nanoparticle composite material for the nonenzymatic sensing of glucose. The surface morphology of the synthesized composite was analyzed using various microscopic techniques like scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and its structural properties were analyzed using diffraction and spectroscopic methods. A gold disc electrode was modified using the nanocomposite and tested for glucose in an alkaline medium. The sensing was based on the oxidation of glucose on the catalytic surface. The glucose was quantified amperometrically at a significantly lower overpotential of 0.16 V. The sensor showed a good detection range from 2 to 30 mM with a sensitivity of 4.15 µA mM−1 cm−2 and a detection limit of 1.1 mM.
Neurological post-COVID syndrome is associated with substantial impairment of verbal short-term and working memory
Authors: Charles James Jeyanthan , Schulze Hannah , Siems Nadine , Prehn Christian , Quast Daniel R. , Trampe Nadine , Gold Ralf , Faissner Simon
Published: January 2025

A substantial proportion of patients suffer from Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS) with fatigue and impairment of memory and concentration being the most important symptoms. We here set out to perform in-depth neuropsychological assessment of PCS patients referred to the Neurologic PCS clinic compared to patients without sequelae after COVID-19 (non-PCS) and healthy controls (HC) to decipher the most prevalent cognitive deficits. We included n = 60 PCS patients with neurologic symptoms, n = 15 non-PCS patients and n = 15 healthy controls. Basic socioeconomic data and subjective complaints were recorded. This was followed by a detailed neuropsychological test battery, including assessments of general orientation, motor and cognitive fatigue, screening of depressive and anxiety symptoms, information processing speed, concentration, visuomotor processing speed, attention, verbal short-term and working memory, cognitive flexibility, semantic and phonematic word fluency, as well as verbal and visual memory functions. Neurologic PCS patients had more complaints with significantly higher fatigue scores as well as higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to Non-PCS and HC. Deep neuropsychological assessment showed that neurologic PCS patients performed worse in a general screening of cognitive deficits compared to HC. Neurologic PCS patients showed impaired mental flexibility as an executive subfunction, verbal short-term memory, working memory and general reactivity (prolonged reaction time). Multiple regression showed fatigue affected processing speed; depression did not. Self-reported cognitive deficits of patients with neurologic PCS including fatigue, concentration, and memory deficits, are well mirrored in impaired performance of cognitive domains of concentration and working memory. The present results should be considered to optimize treatment algorithms for therapy and rehabilitation programs of PCS patients with neurologic symptoms.