bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Placeholders and interjective hesitators
Authors: Seraku Tohru
Published: January 2025

In spontaneous discourse, a communicator may be unable or unwilling to produce certain words for contextual reasons. An effective strategy to overcome such difficulties is the use of a placeholder like whatchamacallit. It has been observed that in some languages, demonstrative-related placeholder forms also serve as an interjective hesitator, the type of expression illustrated with um, well, etc. This paper reveals that this functional duality is a broad phenomenon observed with not only demonstratives but also non-demonstrative forms such as wh-words. I investigate non-demonstrative forms in 14 languages and propose a functional account within Discourse Grammar. My contention is twofold: (i) syntactic, semantic, and prosodic differences between placeholders and interjective hesitators are reducible to differences between two grammatical domains, Sentence Grammar and Thetical Grammar; (ii) the functional duality is captured in terms of cooptation, a process whereby a Sentence Grammar unit is transferred to a Thetical Grammar unit.
Nociceptor sodium channels shape subthreshold phase, upstroke, and shoulder of action potentials
Authors: Köster Phil Alexander , Leipold Enrico , Tigerholm Jenny , Maxion Anna , Namer Barbara , Stiehl Thomas , Lampert Angelika
Published: January 2025

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in the peripheral nervous system shape action potentials (APs) and thereby support the detection of sensory stimuli. Most of the nine mammalian VGSC subtypes are expressed in nociceptors, but predominantly, three are linked to several human pain syndromes: while Nav1.7 is suggested to be a (sub-)threshold channel, Nav1.8 is thought to support the fast AP upstroke. Nav1.9, as it produces large persistent currents, is attributed a role in determining the resting membrane potential. We characterized the gating of Nav1.1–Nav1.3 and Nav1.5–Nav1.9 in manual patch clamp with a focus on the AP subthreshold depolarization phase. Nav1.9 exhibited the most hyperpolarized activation, while its fast inactivation resembled the depolarized inactivation of Nav1.8. For some VGSCs (e.g., Nav1.1 and Nav1.2), a positive correlation between ramp current and window current was detected. Using a modified Hodgkin–Huxley model that accounts for the time needed for inactivation to occur, we used the acquired data to simulate two nociceptive nerve fiber types (an Aδ- and a mechano-insensitive C-nociceptor) containing VGSC conductances according to published human RNAseq data. Our simulations suggest that Nav1.9 is supporting both the AP upstroke and its shoulder. A reduced threshold for AP generation was induced by enhancing Nav1.7 conductivity or shifting its activation to more hyperpolarized potentials, as observed in Nav1.7-related pain disorders. Here, we provide a comprehensive, comparative functional characterization of VGSCs relevant in nociception and describe their gating with Hodgkin–Huxley–like models, which can serve as a tool to study their specific contributions to AP shape and sodium channel–related diseases.
Gravitino thermal production, dark matter, and reheating of the Universe
Authors: Eberl Helmut , Gialamas Ioannis D. , Spanos Vassilis C.
Published: January 2025

We present a full one-loop calculation of the gravitino thermal production rate, beyond the so-called hard thermal loop approximation, using the corresponding thermal spectral functions in numerical form on both
sides of the light cone. This framework requires a full numerical evaluation. We interpret our results within the framework of a general supergravity-based model, remaining agnostic about the specifics of supersymmetry breaking.
In this context, assuming that gravitinos constitute the entirety of the dark matter in the Universe imposes strict constraints on the reheating temperature.
For example, with a gluino mass at the current LHC limit, a maximum reheating temperature of T
reh ≃ 109 GeV is compatible with a gravitino mass of m
3/2 ≃ 1 TeV. Additionally, with a reheating temperature an order of magnitude lower at T
reh ≃ 108 GeV, the common gaugino mass M
1/2 can range from 2 to 4 TeV within the same gravitino mass range. For much higher values of M
1/2, which are favored by current accelerator and cosmological data in the context of supersymmetric models, such as M
1/2 = 10 TeV, and for m
3/2 ≃ 1 TeV the reheating temperature compatible with the gravitino dark matter scenario is 107 GeV. If other dark matter particles are considered, the reheating temperature could be much lower.
Hot Casimir wormholes
Authors: Garattini Remo , Faizal Mir
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we have for the first time considered the consequences of
finite temperature contributions to a traversable wormhole. This was done by
using finite temperature generalization of the Casimir effect as a source of a
hot traversable wormhole. To include finite temperature effects, we have
considered the plates positioned either parametrically fixed or radially
varying. Such results have been obtained in both high and low-temperature
regimes. We explicitly investigate the effect of such finite temperature
corrections on the size of a traversable wormhole.
Gravitational waveforms from periodic orbits around a quantum-corrected black hole
Authors: Yang Sen , Zhang Yu-Peng , Zhu Tao , Zhao Li , Liu Yu-Xiao
Published: January 2025

Extreme mass-ratio inspirals are crucial sources for future space-based gravitational wave detections. Gravitational waveforms emitted by extreme mass-ratio inspirals are closely related to the orbital dynamics of small celestial objects, which vary with the underlying spacetime geometry. Despite the tremendous success of general relativity, there are unsolved issues such as singularities in both black holes and cosmology. Loop quantum gravity, a theory addressing these singularity problems, offers a framework for regular black holes. In this paper, we focus on periodic orbits of a small celestial object around a supermassive quantum-corrected black hole in loop quantum gravity and compute the corresponding gravitational waveforms. We view the small celestial object as a massive test particle and obtain its four-velocity and effective potential. We explore the effects of quantum corrections on marginally bound orbits, innermost stable circular orbits, and other periodic orbits. Using the numerical kludge scheme, we further explore the gravitational waveforms of the small celestial object along different periodic orbits. The waveforms exhibit distinct zoom and whirl phases in a complete orbital period, closely tied to the quantum parameter α̂. We also perform a spectral analysis of the gravitational waves from these periodic orbits and assess their detectability. With the steady progress of space-based gravitational wave detection programs, our findings will contribute to utilizing extreme mass-ratio inspirals to test and understand the properties of quantum-corrected black holes.
Universal gravitational wave signatures of cosmological solitons
Authors: Lozanov Kaloian D. , Sasaki Misao , Takhistov Volodymyr
Published: January 2025

Cosmological solitonic objects such as monopoles, cosmic strings, domain walls, oscillons and Q-balls often appear in theories of the early Universe. We demonstrate that such scenarios are generically accompanied by a novel production source of gravitational waves stemming from soliton isocurvature perturbations.
The resulting induced universal gravitational waves (UGWs) reside at lower frequencies compared to gravitational waves typically associated with soliton formation.
We show that UGWs from axion-like particle (ALP) oscillons, originating from ALP misalignment, extend the frequency range of produced gravitational waves by more than two orders of magnitude regardless of the ALP mass and decay constant and can be observable in upcoming gravitational wave experiments.
UGWs open a new route for gravitational wave signatures in broad classes of cosmological theories.
Spatiotemporal mode-locked soliton molecules with tunable pulse numbers and intervals in an all-step-index-fiber laser
Authors: Wu Jia-Wen , Huang Rong-Jun , Cui Hu , Luo Zhi-Chao , Xu Wen-Cheng , Luo Ai-Ping
Published: January 2025

We report the generation of soliton molecules in an all-step-index-fiber spatiotemporal mode-locked (STML) laser. By adjusting the pump power and polarization controllers, various soliton molecules with tunable pulse numbers and intervals are achieved. Particularly, the pulse intervals of the soliton molecules can be tuned from 14.9 ps to 234.3 ps. The obtained results are beneficial for exploring the complex nonlinear characteristics of STML fiber lasers, and such flexible soliton molecules hold promising applications in optical communication, all-optical information storage and ultrafast characterization.
A multi-party verifiable quantum proxy blind signature scheme based on controlled quantum teleportation
Authors: Wang Chengxiang , Lu Dianjun , Tian Fuyao , Renqian Suonan
Published: January 2025

When the original signer is unable to sign and the proxy signer does not know the information content, proxy blind signature comes into being and becomes a hot topic in cryptography research. This paper combines the methods of proxy blind signature, controlled quantum teleportation and multi-party verification, and proposes a multi-party verifiable quantum proxy blind signature scheme based on controlled quantum teleportation. This scheme has the following features: using a Hash function shared by all participants for authentication can effectively solve the problem of identity identification among members; in order to facilitate the original signer to ensure the security of proxy authorization, the quantum proxy signature authorization form is used to generate quantum states with mutual unbiased fundamental particles. The security analysis shows that the scheme is unforgeable and undeniable, and can resist intercept-forgery attack and collusive attack.
Flexible artificial vision computing system based on FeO
x
optomemristor for speech recognition
Authors: Li Jie , Xin Yue , Sun Bai , Gu Dengshun , Liao Changrong , Hu Xiaofang , Wang Lidan , Duan Shukai , Zhou Guangdong
Published: January 2025

With the advancement of artificial intelligence, optic in-sensing reservoir computing based on emerging semiconductor devices is high desirable for real-time analog signal processing. Here, we disclose a flexible optomemristor based on C27H30O15/FeO
x
heterostructure that presents a highly sensitive to the light stimuli and artificial optic synaptic features such as short- and long-term plasticity (STP and LTP), enabling the developed optomemristor to implement complex analogy signal processing through building a real-physical dynamic-based in-sensing reservoir computing algorithm and yielding an accuracy of 94.88% for speech recognition. The charge trapping and detrapping mediated by the optic active layer of C27H30O15 that is extracted from the lotus flower is response for the positive photoconductance memory in the prepared optomemristor. This work provides a feasible organic−inorganic heterostructure as well as an optic in-sensing vision computing for an advanced optic computing system in future complex signal processing.
Design strategies and insights of flexible infrared optoelectronic sensors
Authors: Liang Yegang , Ran Wenhao , Kuang Dan , Wang Zhuoran
Published: January 2025

Infrared optoelectronic sensing is the core of many critical applications such as night vision, health and medication, military, space exploration, etc. Further including mechanical flexibility as a new dimension enables novel features of adaptability and conformability, promising for developing next-generation optoelectronic sensory applications toward reduced size, weight, price, power consumption, and enhanced performance (SWaP3). However, in this emerging research frontier, challenges persist in simultaneously achieving high infrared response and good mechanical deformability in devices and integrated systems. Therefore, we perform a comprehensive review of the design strategies and insights of flexible infrared optoelectronic sensors, including the fundamentals of infrared photodetectors, selection of materials and device architectures, fabrication techniques and design strategies, and the discussion of architectural and functional integration towards applications in wearable optoelectronics and advanced image sensing. Finally, this article offers insights into future directions to practically realize the ultra-high performance and smart sensors enabled by infrared-sensitive materials, covering challenges in materials development and device micro-/nanofabrication. Benchmarks for scaling these techniques across fabrication, performance, and integration are presented, alongside perspectives on potential applications in medication and health, biomimetic vision, and neuromorphic sensory systems, etc.
Recent progress in flexible sensors based on 2D materials
Authors: Li Xiang , Wu Guancheng , Pan Caofeng , Bao Rongrong
Published: January 2025

With the rapid development of the internet of things (IoT) and wearable electronics, the role of flexible sensors is becoming increasingly irreplaceable, due to their ability to process and convert information acquisition. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been widely welcomed by researchers as sensitive layers, which broadens the range and application of flexible sensors due to the advantages of their large specific surface area, tunable energy bands, controllable thickness at the atomic level, stable mechanical properties, and excellent optoelectronic properties. This review focuses on five different types of 2D materials for monitoring pressure, humidity, sound, gas, and so on, to realize the recognition and conversion of human body and environmental signals. Meanwhile, the main problems and possible solutions of flexible sensors based on 2D materials as sensitive layers are summarized.
Wearable microneedle graphene field-effect transistor sensors
Authors: Holicky Martin , Fenech-Salerno Benji , Dabas Rupali , Teenan Oliver , Li Xinran , Steer Isobel V , Higgins Claire A , Akhavani Mo , Gadegaard Nikolaj , Kamaly Nazila , Cass Anthony E G , Torrisi Felice
Published: January 2025

Continuous monitoring of biomarkers in interstitial fluid (ISF) holds great potential for early disease detection and personalized medicine. This work presents a novel biosensing platform that combines microneedle technology with graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) to enable sensitive, continuous analyte detection directly in ISF. Using spray-coating and laser lithography techniques, we create GFET channels on three-dimensional microneedle tips. The resulting devices show characteristic GFET behavior in solution. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate pH sensing capabilities with a sensitivity of 2.50%

I

D

/pH and the ability to detect changes as small as 0.04 pH units. Crucially, we show that these microneedle GFETs can function when inserted into ex-vivo human skin samples, with GFET gating occurring through the skin tissue. Finally, based on MTT assays and cellular imaging, no cytotoxic effect was observed which is an important prerequisite for human use.
Optimal Hamilton covers and linear arboricity for random graphs
Authors: Draganić Nemanja , Glock Stefan , Munhá Correia David , Sudakov Benny
Published: January 2025

In his seminal 1976 paper, Pósa showed that for all

p
≥
C
log
⁡
n

/

n

p\geq C\log n/n

, the binomial random graph

G
(
n
,
p
)

G(n,p)

is with high probability Hamiltonian. This leads to the following natural questions, which have been extensively studied: How well is it typically possible to cover all edges of

G
(
n
,
p
)

G(n,p)

with Hamilton cycles? How many cycles are necessary? In this paper we show that for

p
≥
C
log
⁡
n

/

n

p\geq C\log n/n

, we can cover

G
∼
G
(
n
,
p
)

G\sim G(n,p)

with precisely

⌈
Δ
(
G
)

/

2
⌉

\lceil \Delta (G)/2\rceil

Hamilton cycles. Our result is clearly best possible both in terms of the number of required cycles, and the asymptotics of the edge probability

p
p

, since it starts working at the weak threshold needed for Hamiltonicity. This resolves a problem of Glebov, Krivelevich and Szabó [Random Structures Algorithms 44 (2014), pp. 183–200] and improves upon previous work of Hefetz, Kühn, Lapinskas and Osthus [Combinatorica 34 (2014), pp. 573–596], and of Ferber, Kronenberg and Long [Israel J. Math. 220 (2017), pp. 57–87], essentially closing a long line of research on Hamiltonian packing and covering problems in random graphs.
Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy
Authors: MacBeth Angus , Dimaggio Giancarlo
Published: January 2025

Personality disorder (PD) has long been associated with psychological therapies. The ICD-11 model of PD delineates the diagnosis into a severity marker and a trait descriptor. This has an excellent fit with contemporary models of psychological therapies for PD which emphasize interpersonal dysregulation, alongside dysfunctional understandings of the self and others (particularly in social relationships), and maladaptive coping as a response to these difficulties. Metacognitive interpersonal therapy (MIT) is an empirically supported, evidence-based psychological therapy, which takes a formulation-based approach to PD presentations. It is therefore transdiagnostic, and already adapted for intervention with the ICD-11 PD framework. In this chapter we describe the theoretical underpinnings of MIT and its evidence base, and apply this to the new ICD-11 PD model. Subsequently, we illustrate how MIT can be used in the treatment of PD, amplifying aspects of the ICD-11 PD model in the context of a case example.
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy
Authors: Solbakken Ole André
Published: January 2025

This chapter provides an in-depth examination of the conceptual correspondence, complementarities, and potential synergies of the metapsychology, theory of psychopathology, and principles of psychotherapeutic action derived from Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and the novel clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements of personality disorder as defined by the ICD-11 classification system. The chapter provides a brief overview of ISTDP, its metapsychology, and the theory of psychopathology. It then proposes a spectrum model of personality dysfunction derived from the ICD-11, which in turn is conceptually aligned with the spectra of psychoneurosis and fragile character structure as defined by ISTDP. Thus, the theoretical overlap and interrelatedness of the two systems can be explored in detail. Building on this exploration, a roadmap of ISTDP-based treatment principles suitable for patients operating at various levels of personality dysfunction is proposed and described.
A Lived Experience and Recovery Perspective
Authors: Baltzersen Åse-Line
Published: January 2025

This chapter on lived experience explores the journey of changes in personality functioning and recovery from personality disorder through the lens of the ICD-11 framework. It reflects upon the emergence of personality difficulties and deteriorating functioning during adolescence. This narrative covers the dynamics of living with severe personality disorder and the recovery process, and draws upon past and present sources to explore the complexities and nuances of this journey. While highlighting the consistency of personality traits, this story also illustrates how the expression of traits can transform with changes in self- and interpersonal functioning. It acknowledges the power of the dimensional approach to personality disorders, where both healthcare services and the community play a pivotal role in the path to recovery. Lastly, this user perspective emphasizes the need to address underlying personality difficulties of self- and interpersonal functioning to recover.
Introduction
Authors: Choi Jinhee
Published: January 2025

The introduction situates the historical and discursive context for the representation of girlhood in South Korean culture and cinema at the intersection of Korean feminism and girl culture, the reference girl of the 1970s, and necro-cinematics. From the 1990s onward, with the rise of a new young feminism in Korea in tandem with girls’ fandom, girls have been acknowledged for their significance within, and contribution to, Korean popular culture as consumer subjects. Nonetheless, in contemporary Korean millennial cinema, girls remain associated with death, not only due to the historical circumstances employed as narrative backdrops but also for reasons of mortal economy—as the subject and object of deaths. Drawing on Michele Aaron’s distinction between “dead-already” and “to be dead,” it further argues for the need to advance necro-cinematics to discuss how Korean girls and women have been depicted as “dead-already” yet are further subject to instrumental deaths: to be sacrificed for both the national development ethos and to trigger a moral dilemma for male characters.
Directing Girls
Authors: Choi Jinhee
Published: January 2025

This chapter focuses on women directors’ indie films that feature a girl as the female lead—A Girl at My Door (July Jung, 2014), Microhabitat (Jeon Go-woon, 2018), and The House of Us (Yoon Ga-eun, 2019). It questions and explores the extent to which indie films directed by women directors mark a significant departure from both commercial cinema and within indie cinema. It highlights some of the continuities and transformations between the reference girl of the 1970s and the contemporary girl protagonists of indie cinema, focusing on the insularity of the girlhood. It explores “shelter writing”—an attempt to gain a sense of security by creating a personal space or domestic routines—as an aesthetic strategy and examines through film how female camaraderie is manifested through the (im)possibility of creating such a shelter together.
Idle Girls
Authors: Choi Jinhee
Published: January 2025

This chapter looks at the cinematic portrayal of idleness among girl protagonists in several films; singing, dancing, or other leisure activities have been presented as a possibility to grant a girl protagonist limited freedom. The regional hits Sunny (Kang Hyeong-cheol, 2011) and Miss Granny (Hwang Dong-hyuk, 2014) present an interesting case study for analyzing the notion of idle play and leisure as well as moral values. Both were domestic box-office hits, the latter of which was directed by Hwang (Squid Game, 2021) and inspired a number of remakes in the Asian region. To this pair, an independent film, Queen of Walking, is explored as an alternative. The three could be seen to form an interesting film cycle that stars the actress Shim Eun-kyung as the protagonist. This chapter examines the way in which Queen of Walking associates “idleness” with a form of moral freedom. From the examination of girls’ cinematic death to their seeking of shelter then idleness, this chapter concludes the book with a positive note or even a wish: envisioning a possibility for them to appreciate and enjoy the moral freedom of being forever girls.
Arabic Literature and the Problem of Periodization: Untiming the Modern
Authors: DeYoung Terri
Published: January 2025

Literary works in Arabic emerged out of a fragmented antiquity in the eastern Mediterranean in the 6th century ad. For Arab scholars, their literature had few ties to the past. It represented a new departure. This was reinforced by the rise of a new religion, Islam, which gave a firm spiritual and social backing to the efforts of poets and other writers to use the Arabic language as their sole medium of expression until the early Modern period.

At that point, as increasingly intrusive and even violent encounters between the West and the Islamic world occurred, the soft power of literature—in the service of a narrative of Western superiority—was deployed in sketching out the relative role of progress in the respective traditions. Post-Enlightenment Western literature was portrayed as following a certain temporal trajectory: Neoclassical, Romantic, and Modern. This restrictive set of categories (or, in even more old-fashioned language, “literary periods”) played a role in undergirding colonial thinking.

Arabic seemed to be an ideal proving ground for an examination of whether or not periodization could be a viable practice outside of colonial, racist ideology. As in Europe, the writing of modern history in Arabic had been deployed to develop a concept of identity and the articulation of a modern national consciousness. Modern Arab scholars attempted to apply period schemes to their literary tradition, culminating in the positivist and internationalizing decades of the mid-20th century, where the main benefit of periodization—its ability to create a convincing and easily grasped picture of a hitherto unknown literary tradition—was displayed. Its main drawbacks—the distortion of what had actually occurred and the introduction of simplifications detrimental to the appreciation of Arabic literature—were not yet clear. Some modern Arab literary critics even added a teleological element, whereby they seemed to endorse the notion that Arabic had to go through a Neoclassical period and a Romantic period in order to arrive at a “Modern” period, where Arabic literature would at last be capable of confronting Western literature on common ground.

The triumph of this periodization on the Western model, however, was a disturbance in the application of a far older paradigm used in Arabic, which was contemporaneous with the rise of the critical impulse in the literature itself and tells us more about its practitioners than any outside set of values can about Arab attitudes to the social function of poetry, the legitimacy of figurative language, and values deemed proper to a literary work. This paradigm is centered on the notion of modernity (ḥadātha), which in Arabic, can lack a clear chronological reference.
How widespread is pollination by sexual deception of fungus gnats in Pterostylis (Orchidaceae)?
Authors: Hayashi Tobias , Reiter Noushka , Phillips Ryan D , Peakall Rod
Published: January 2025

Pollination by sexual deception has evolved multiple times in the Orchidaceae, with most known cases involving male Hymenoptera as pollinators. The diverse Australasian orchid genus Pterostylis, characterized by elaborate trap flowers, contains some species pollinated by sexual deception of fungus gnats (Diptera). However, there is considerable variation in floral morphology, suggesting that additional pollination strategies or pollen vectors may be involved. Here, we test the hypothesis that sexual deception of male Diptera is taxonomically widespread by investigating the pollination systems across a representative subset spanning nine out of 10 sections and 18 Pterostylis species. We confirm four new cases of pollination by sexual deception of male fungus gnats (families Mycetophilidae, Keroplatidae, and Sciaridae) and accrued evidence for three further cases. Each of these orchids was pollinated by a single species of fungus gnat, with two species exploiting the same pollinator. Unexpectedly, we observed insect feeding behaviour on two species pollinated by sciarid gnats and phorid flies, respectively, with trace levels of sucrose detected where feeding was observed. Our results show that the sexual deception of male fungus gnats is likely to be the dominant mode of pollination in Pterostylis, although other poorly understood pollination strategies are also present.
Masterful macrophages: understanding and targeting activation dysfunction in diabetic wounds
Authors: Peng Linian , Luo Gaoxing , He Weifeng , Liang Guangping
Published: January 2025

Diabetes mellitus is a group of chronic metabolic diseases worldwide seriously threatens human health and increases social and economic burden; underlying drivers of impaired healing include uncontrolled inflammation, repeated ischemia–reperfusion injury, and neuropathy alongside infection risks. Macrophages orchestrate standard repair, exhibit sustained classical pro-inflammatory activation in diabetes, disrupting growth factor secretion, angiogenesis, and matrix regulation. Hyperglycemia- mediated advanced glycation end products and reactive oxygen species heighten pattern recognition receptor stimulation, causing reduced alternative macrophage differentiation. Promising immunomodulation approaches redirecting their phenotypes to resolve inflammation and stimulate regeneration provides optimism. We discuss macrophage origination, polarization dynamics, diabetic wound phenotypic imbalance, and critical microenvironmental disruptions perpetuating pathological function. Elucidating specific regulatory nodes upholding their activation states will inform intelligent targeting opportunities. Overall, infiltrating macrophages constitute indispensable yet amenable diabetic wound healing coordinators.
The PbDELLA-PbMYB56-PbCYP78A6 Module Regulates GA4+7-Induced Pseudo-Embryo Development and Parthenocarpy in Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri)
Authors: Zhang Haiqi , Cheng Jingjing , Wang Xue , Dai Pingyuan , Zhang Hongjuan , Zhou Fengli , Yang Chengquan , Zhai Rui , Wang Zhigang , Xu Lingfei
Published: January 2025

Parthenocarpy can ensure fruit setting without fertilization and generate seedless fruits. PbCYP78A6 has been shown to play a role in gibberellin (GA)-induced parthenocarpy in pears. However, the transcriptional response mechanism of PbCYP78A6 to GA remains unclear. In this study, using a yeast one-hybrid assay combined with co-expression analysis, PbMYB56 was initially identified as a transcription regulator of PbCYP78A6, which was further confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The biofunction of PbMYB56 was further verified using transient transgene tests, stable transgenic pear callus and tomato. PbMYB56 overexpression resulted in reduced cell death and higher fluorescence intensity after fluoresce diacetate (FDA) staining, as well as delayed fruit-drop by increasing PbCYP78A6 expression in un-pollinated pear fruitlets and callus. In contrast, silencing PbMYB56 caused cell death and early fruit-drop with decreased PbCYP78A6 expression. Moreover, after emasculation, heterologous overexpression of PbMYB56 induced parthenocarpy and enlarged seed size in pollinated tomato fruits. Silencing SlMYB56, a homolog of PbMYB56 in tomatoes, resulted in smaller fruit and seed size, and these traits were restored by co-overexpression with PbCYP78A6. Furthermore, we investigated the protein interaction between PbMYB56 and PbDELLA, which is crucial component of the GA signaling pathway. This interaction inhibited PbMYB56-induced transcriptional activation of PbCYP78A6. Co-overexpression of PbMYB56 and PbDELLA contributed to reduced seed development and loss of parthenocarpy potential in tomatoes. Collectively, our study identifies PbDELLA-PbMYB56-PbCYP78A6 as a regulatory module of GA4+7-induced pseudo-embryo and parthenocarpy development, offering insights into the mechanism underlying parthenocarpy formation in pears.
Effect of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma treatment on the nutritional quality of ground pistachios
Authors: Bi Chengnan , Ma Tingjun
Published: January 2025

Pistachios are easily infected with aflatoxin B1(AFB1), and the AFB1 content in pistachios can be effectively degraded by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma (CP). In this study, the physicochemical indexes, fatty acid composition and the shelf life of the CP-treated pistachios were evaluated. It was aimed to investigate the effect of CP treatment on the nutritional quality of pistachios containing AFB1. The results showed that pistachios treated with the CP, the protein, acid value and peroxide value of pistachios had no significant changes, the GABA content increased, the flavonoid content decreased significantly, and the ratio of ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids was closer to the recommended value of 4:1. It can be predicted that the shelf life of pistachios can be extended to 30 d, 30 d and 21 d by establishing the first order kinetic equation based on the moisture, acid value and peroxide value respectively. It illustrates that pistachios treated with the CP had improved nutritional quality, including internal morphology, active ingredient content and colour, which can not only reduce toxicity but also achieve a better preservation effect.
Collaborative large language models for automated data extraction in living systematic reviews
Authors: Khan Muhammad Ali , Ayub Umair , Naqvi Syed Arsalan Ahmed , Khakwani Kaneez Zahra Rubab , Sipra Zaryab bin Riaz , Raina Ammad , Zhou Sihan , He Huan , Saeidi Amir , Hasan Bashar , Rumble Robert Bryan , Bitterman Danielle S , Warner Jeremy L , Zou Jia , Tevaarwerk Amye J , Leventakos Konstantinos , Kehl Kenneth L , Palmer Jeanne M , Murad Mohammad Hassan , Baral Chitta , Riaz Irbaz bin
Published: January 2025

Objective

Data extraction from the published literature is the most laborious step in conducting living systematic reviews (LSRs). We aim to build a generalizable, automated data extraction workflow leveraging large language models (LLMs) that mimics the real-world 2-reviewer process.

Materials and Methods

A dataset of 10 trials (22 publications) from a published LSR was used, focusing on 23 variables related to trial, population, and outcomes data. The dataset was split into prompt development (n = 5) and held-out test sets (n = 17). GPT-4-turbo and Claude-3-Opus were used for data extraction. Responses from the 2 LLMs were considered concordant if they were the same for a given variable. The discordant responses from each LLM were provided to the other LLM for cross-critique. Accuracy, ie, the total number of correct responses divided by the total number of responses, was computed to assess performance.

Results

In the prompt development set, 110 (96%) responses were concordant, achieving an accuracy of 0.99 against the gold standard. In the test set, 342 (87%) responses were concordant. The accuracy of the concordant responses was 0.94. The accuracy of the discordant responses was 0.41 for GPT-4-turbo and 0.50 for Claude-3-Opus. Of the 49 discordant responses, 25 (51%) became concordant after cross-critique, increasing accuracy to 0.76.

Discussion

Concordant responses by the LLMs are likely to be accurate. In instances of discordant responses, cross-critique can further increase the accuracy.

Conclusion

Large language models, when simulated in a collaborative, 2-reviewer workflow, can extract data with reasonable performance, enabling truly “living” systematic reviews.
Bone turnover markers as predictors of hypocalcemia in patients with bone metastases receiving denosumab
Authors: Tsuchiya Koki , Oshita Yusuke , Emori Haruka , Tani Soji , Nagai Takashi , Ennis Austin , Ishikawa Mahoko , Kudo Yoshifumi , Alman Benjamin , Ishikawa Koji
Published: January 2025

Denosumab treatment is effective for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases. However, hypocalcemia has been recognized as a serious adverse effect of denosumab. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for hypocalcemia in patients with bone metastases. In this prospective open-label study, 35 patients with bone metastases to be treated with denosumab were recruited. During the 3 months follow-up, nine patients (25.7%) experienced hypocalcemia. Higher bone turnover status at baseline was observed in patients with hypocalcemia than in those without hypocalcemia following denosumab administration (total-P1NP, TRACP-5b, and S-NTX: all P<.05). Negative correlations were observed between the lowest calcium levels and baseline bone turnover markers levels (total-P1NP: r = -0.3987; TRACP-5b: r = -0.3664; S-NTX: r = -0.3672, all P<.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with high bone turnover markers (BAP > 32.1 μg/L, total P1NP > 82.3 μg/L, TRACP-5b > 866 mU/dL, S-NTX > 30.8 nmol BCE/L) had a higher risk of hypocalcemia, even after adjusting for reported risk factors such as age, baseline calcium levels and renal function (BAP > 32.1 μg/L: OR = 10.4; total P1NP > 82.3 μg/L: OR = 22.07; TRACP-5b > 866 mU/dL: OR = 36.5; S-NTX > 30.8 nmol BCE/L: OR = 39.74, All P<0. 05). This study shows that denosumab significantly affects serum calcium levels in patients with bone metastases who have high bone turnover status. Bone turnover markers could serve as surrogate markers to predict hypocalcemia.
Understanding authorship in Artificial Intelligence-assisted works
Authors: Fritz Johannes
Published: January 2025

The advent of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought about a significant shift in the way works are created, with the blurring of boundaries between human and machine-driven creation processes becoming a prominent challenge. This leads to the question of whether authorship in such works exists and, if so, whom it should be attributed to. This article focusses on an analysis of existing case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and selected EU Member State courts, in order to find indications about what to consider when examining the authorship of AI-assisted works in the European copyright system. Ultimately, a four-step test is proposed which aids in assessing whether there is authorship in concrete works and whom it should be attributed to. The first step asks what persons are involved in the creation process before determining—as second step—the kind of AI system used. The third step analyses whether the persons involved exercised a sufficient subjective judgment in the composition of the work; the final step determines whether they had an adequate control over the execution.
Single-cell RNA Sequencing Revealed the Immunophenotypic Features of Macrophages in Cardiac Transplants and Uncovered Lgals9 Promoted Their Polarization towards The M2b Subtype
Authors: Zhu Yuexing , Zheng Xinguo , Chen Chao , Xu Ye , Fan Yuxi , Tang Zhouqi , Zeng Yingqi , Feng Chen , Zhang Hedong , Chen Xiaojun , Qi Zhongquan , Li Tengfang , Peng Longkai , Lin Minjie , Chen Weili , Peng Fenghua , Jiang Xin , Dai Helong
Published: January 2025

Macrophages play a crucial role in the immune response during allograft rejection in organ transplantation. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the genomic features of macrophages in mouse heart transplants and use single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate Galectin-9 (Gal-9, Lgals9), a lectin that can mediate the activation and differentiation of immune cells through ligand-receptor interactions, and the effects of its regulation in transplantation. We discovered a new subset of macrophages called "Myoz2+ macrophages", which specifically expressed genes related to myocardial contraction. We identified a distinct differentiation trajectory and process for the Saa3+ macrophage population, representing anti-inflammatory functionality. Also, we observed a significant downregulation of Lgals9 expression in the macrophages after mouse heart transplantation. Then, we validated our findings using RT-qPCR and Western blotting and also investigated the impact of Lgals9 on macrophage function through flow cytometry and ELISA. Furthermore, in vitro, we found that rLgals9 (Recombinant Mouse Galectin-9 Protein) treated macrophages polarized towards the M2b phenotype at appropriate concentrations.
Lactose free diet as therapeutic strategy in low anterior resection syndrome: a case series
Authors: Thong Da W , Theophilus Mary
Published: January 2025

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a challenging complication following sphincter-preserving rectal surgery, characterized by bowel dysfunctions such as urgency, frequency, and incontinence. This case series investigates the potential role of lactose intolerance in exacerbating LARS symptoms. Three patients who developed LARS after rectal resections showed persistent symptoms despite conventional management with bulking agents, physiotherapy, and loperamide. However, all three experienced significant improvement in symptomatology, reflected by reductions in their LARS scores, after eliminating cow’s milk from their diets. These findings suggest a potential link between lactose intolerance, including possible late-onset forms, and LARS symptoms. This study highlights the effectiveness of dietary modifications, particularly lactose elimination, as a simple and non-invasive strategy for managing LARS. The findings also support the need for dietary screening processes and recommendations for milk substitutes to enhance clinical care. Further research is necessary to validate these observations and refine therapeutic strategies.
Cross-sectional and prospective associations between self-compassion and sexual distress in couples coping with sexual interest/arousal disorder
Authors: Massé-Pfister Maude , Rosen Natalie O , Bigras Noémie , Girouard Alice , Perrier-Léonard Delphine , Bergeron Sophie
Published: January 2025

Background

When an individual in a relationship is coping with low desire/arousal, both partners experience difficulties, including higher levels of sexual distress. Effective emotional regulation strategies, such as self-compassion, could have individual and interpersonal benefits for couples with sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD).

Aim

Using a dyadic design, we examined the role of self-compassion in the sexual distress of couples coping with SIAD, accounting for overall relationship satisfaction. The associations were analyzed cross-sectionally and prospectively. We also explored the moderating roles of having at least one member identify as sexually or gender diverse within the couple in the potential associations between self-compassion and sexual distress.

Methods

Individuals with SIAD and their partners (N = 263 couples) completed online measures at baseline and 6 months later.

Outcomes

Individuals with SIAD and their partners completed the Sexual Distress Scale-Short Form and the Couples Satisfaction Index.

Results

Controlling for relationship satisfaction, when individuals coping with SIAD and their partners reported greater self-compassion at baseline, they also reported lower sexual distress. For partners only, greater self-compassion was associated with the person with SIAD’s lower levels of sexual distress at baseline. No statistically significant prospective associations were found between levels of self-compassion and sexual distress 6 months later. Belonging to a sexually diverse couple was a significant moderator of the cross-sectional associations between partners’ level of self-compassion and their own level of sexual distress at baseline, such that the link between greater self-compassion and lower sexual distress was observed only in partners belonging to a sexually diverse couple. Belonging to a gender diverse couple did not moderate any of the associations.

Clinical Implications

Findings indicate that self-compassion could be a promising tool to reduce sexual distress in couples coping with SIAD.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths of this study include the large, diverse sample of couples coping with SIAD, the use of a cross-sectional and prospective design, and the examination of the moderating role of belonging to a gender or sexually diverse couple. However, the possible lack of statistical power to measure moderation based on belonging to a gender diverse couple and the recall bias due to the use of self-report questionnaires should be considered when interpreting the results.

Conclusion

Greater self-compassion is associated with lower sexual distress in both partners of couples coping with SIAD. Self-compassion may be particularly beneficial for partners of individuals with SIAD belonging to a sexually diverse couple.
Artificial Intelligence Decision Support Systems in Resource-Limited Environments to Save Lives and Reduce Moral Injury
Authors: Umlauf Lindsey , Remley Michael , Colombo Christopher , Pamplin Jeremy
Published: January 2025

Future military conflicts are likely to involve peer or near-peer adversaries in large-scale combat operations, leading to casualty rates not seen since World War II. Casualty volume, combined with anticipated disruptions in medical evacuation, will create resource-limited environments that challenge medical responders to make complex, repetitive triage decisions. Similarly, pandemics, mass casualty incidents, and natural disasters strain civilian health care providers, increasing their risk for exhaustion, burnout, and moral injury. As opposed to exhaustion and burnout, which can be mitigated with appropriate rest cycles and changes in workload, moral injury is a long-lasting and impairing condition with cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, and spiritual repercussions. Exhaustion and burnout experienced by providers during COVID-19 correlated with increased disengagement and the desire to leave the health care field. Telemedicine and telementoring expands access to medical expertise, thereby reducing an inexperienced provider’s stress levels and uncertainty and improving their confidence in care delivery. Artificial Intelligence Decision Support Systems (AIDeSS) may represent the next phase in clinical decision support systems across the continuum of care. These systems may help address both the anticipated scale of casualties in large-scale combat operations and the critical expertise gaps during future pandemics, mass casualty events, and natural disasters. This study advocates for urgent research at the intersection of high-stress, resource-limited care contexts that may cause moral injury in health care providers and the potential for AIDeSS to reduce that risk. Understanding these dynamics may yield strategies to mitigate psychological distress in medical responders, increase patient survival, and improve the health of our medical systems.
Scalable and shapable nacre-like ceramic-metal composites based on deformable microspheres
Authors: Lu Yu-Jie , Meng Xiang-Sen , Sun Qiu-An , Wang Jie , Song Jun-Jie , Wang Peng-Fei , Wang Guo-Rui , Yu Cheng-Xin , Zhang Yong-Sheng , Mao Li-Bo , Yu Shu-Hong
Published: January 2025

Natural nacre that consists of brittle minerals and weak organics exhibits a high fracture toughness while retaining a high strength. The exceptional mechanical performance of nacre is attributed to its hierarchical structure like a ‘brick-and-mortar’ structure, which has inspired the development of tough ceramic-based composites. However, the practical applications of biomimetic structural ceramics are hindered by limited material size, fabrication efficiency and flexibility of being molded into various shapes. We herein report the fabrication of nacre-like ceramic-metal composites based on deformable alumina microspheres coated with nickel salt. Green bodies are produced by assembling the composite microspheres in molds with different shapes. During the hot-pressing sintering of the green bodies, the microspheres are flattened into platelets under pressure and fill up the entire space without visible voids. The aligned platelets are separated by nickel that is reduced from the nickel salt on their surface, constituting a typical ‘brick-and-mortar’ structure. By tuning the microsphere sizes, the microstructures of the composites can be optimized to obtain a high flexural strength (386 MPa at room temperature and 286.86 MPa at 600°C) and a high fracture toughness (12.76 MPa·m1/2 at room temperature and 12.99 MPa·m1/2 at 600°C) simultaneously. This strategy opens a promising avenue for the feasible mass production and all-in-one molding of nacre-like ceramic-metal composites with various shapes, sizes and raw materials.