bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of recycling on different polyesters and their MMT nanocomposites: Effects on morphology, mechanical properties, and rheological behaviour
Authors: Taha Zoubeida Taha , Gerse Péter , Bata Attila , Molnar Béla , Slezák Emese , Major Andrea Ádámné , Ronkay Ferenc
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the effect of recycling and nanofiller incorporation on the morphological, rheological, and mechanical properties of various injection moulded polyesters. The research compares the behaviour of two types of bio-based (polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS)) and two types of petroleum-based (polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)) polyesters, including polymers with aliphatic and aromatic structures. Recycling was simulated by repeated extrusion for both unreinforced and 6 wt% montmorillonite (MMT) reinforced nanocomposites. Although in all cases the rheology measurements resulted in shear-thinning behaviour, the complex viscosity range and shape of the curves varied differently for each material depending on the MMT reinforcement and the number of extrusions. The melt flow index (MFI) values showed that neither reprocessing nor MMT had a significant effect on the results of PBT, PBS, and PLA. A sharp increment was observed when PET was processed with MMT, indicating the polymer’s notable degradation. Non-isothermal crystallization was used to investigate the extent of overcooling, and the results were compared at 10°C/min and at cooling rates extrapolated to 1°C/min. The undercooling of PBS and PBT barely changed with reprocessing and MMT content, but degradation in PET also modified the crystallization tendency, while in PLA MMT reinforcement inhibited molecular ordering. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) study showed an intercalated structure for all types of polyester nanocomposites, with minor differences in the layer-stack number. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated changes in the glass transition temperature and storage modulus with reprocessing and the addition of MMT. While below the glass transition temperature, the glassy amorphous phase has a more pronounced effect on the storage modulus, above this temperature the crystalline phase tends to dominate, as the contribution of the amorphous phase in the rubbery state is minor to the stiffness. The homogeneous distribution of MMT was confirmed by the shape of the Cole-Cole diagrams.
Sustainable Fashion, Circularity and Consumer Behavior – Systematic Review and a Social Marketing Research and Policy Agenda
Authors: Faludi Julianna
Published: January 2025

Background

Circular fashion presents a new challenge in understanding consumers and marketing. There is a gap in research connecting the different layers of consumer behavior, sustainable fashion, with a systemized view on social marketing.

Focus

This systematic literature review adds value by drawing on the richness of evidence of consumer behavior and sustainable fashion research. The novel, combined method maps out the six key themes, time periods and focal points of the evolution of the field to identify barriers to change and inform social marketing strategies (Action Goals) for a new circular fashion system. Finally, it unpacks the challenges from a systems approach to suggest Research and Policy Recommendations for a circular fashion system, linking the macro, meso and micro levels.

Importance to the Social Marketing Field

This systematic review has applied a systems social marketing approach to set the agenda for future research avenues and identified action goals for social marketing benchmarking.

Research question

This review seeks to investigate existing research to seek for the controversial interpretations and messages about sustainability in the fashion market and the evolving conflicting values of different stakeholders. It unpacks CB in SF, to look for barriers to change.

Method

The study advances the systematic review method by combining scientific mapping and a multi-phase qualitative thematic coding techniques. Quantifying the research trends, along with uncovering the thematic and relational structures has enriched the results and findings.

Result/Recommendations

By unpacking consumer behavior and sustainable fashion to inform about the barriers to transition, this study adds value by embedding fashion into a systems perspective. This study has laid the foundations to support the transformative process for a circular fashion system with Action Goals for Social Marketing, and Research and Policy Recommendations.
Glowing Beyond Shades: Unveiling the Psychosocial Correlates of Skin Lightening Product Choice – A Systematic Review
Authors: Afzal Hanan , Deshpande Sameer , Carlini Joan
Published: January 2025

Background

“Colorism” or “shadism” contributes to the prevalence of skin lightening and bleaching practices, which are predominantly observed among females. Acknowledging the desire for a lighter skin tone is often deeply rooted in various social, psychological, individual, and cultural factors. Harmful skin lightening products (SLPs) are a widespread global phenomenon and a growing environmental and public health concern. However, it is not known what factors contribute to the pervasive use of harmful SLPs.

The Focus of the Article and Research Question

The current study addresses this gap by completing a systematic review of psychological and social factors contributing to the choice of harmful SLPs among females. It presents a conceptual model to guide social marketers in developing interventions to influence policies and de-market harmful SLPs.

Method

This research followed a systematic literature review (SLR) approach. In total, 1057 article titles and abstracts were reviewed across nine databases. Ten articles that were reviewed and subsequently analyzed met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Results indicated that the choice of harmful SLPs is deeply rooted in societal pressure to conform to specific beauty standards, the perpetuation of colorism or shadism, and a desire for upward social mobility.

Importance to the Social Marketing Field

Several studies suggest a considerable need for interventions to curb the use of SLPs. Resolving this issue with a multifaceted approach that addresses education, regulation, empowerment, and industry collaboration is crucial.

Recommendations for Research and Practice

A targeted approach is required to discourage the use of harmful SLPs through a social marketing platform. The campaign will craft compelling messages highlighting these products’ health hazards and societal implications. Simultaneously, it will recognize the beauty of diverse skin tones by segmenting the audience based on demographics and behaviors. Engaging content such as videos, testimonies, and infographics will be actively shared on popular social media platforms through influencer collaborations and dynamic online discussion boards. People are encouraged to commit to abstaining from using potentially dangerous products through behavioral prompts and calls to action. Additionally, working with sustainable beauty brands helps to reinforce this message further. Promoting safe skincare procedures and natural beauty through data tracking and campaign refinement based on feedback guarantees a dynamic and successful approach.
The Influence of Parental Social-Emotional Competencies on Intergenerational Child Maltreatment: A Scoping Review
Authors: Corso Casey B. , Shin Sunny H. , Darnell Abigale , Kliewer Wendy , Winter Marcia A.
Published: January 2025

Child maltreatment is a major public and global health issue with well-documented intergenerational patterns. Social-emotional development, which is detrimentally impacted by child maltreatment, has been associated with parenting behaviors and implicated as a mechanism of intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment. This scoping review sought to synthesize information on the social-emotional skills that contribute to or protect against intergenerational maltreatment. Following the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis systematic scoping review methodology, 23 studies were identified as having met all inclusion criteria. Eligible studies were empirical, primary, peer-reviewed and published work written in English. Included studies contained a parental history of maltreatment, maltreatment or risk thereof to the child, and at least one independent parental social-emotional factor. Studies were organized, and findings were conceptually mapped according to Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) social-emotional competency domains. Key findings included determining self-management as the most well-studied CASEL competency area, whereas there was a paucity of research on relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Studies focused almost exclusively on assessing risk. The most well-documented risk factors for intergenerational maltreatment included parental emotion dysregulation, low self-control, aggression, and dissociation. Measurement and consideration of the developmental timing of maltreatment was identified as a critical oversight in the literature. Future work should explore developmentally specific models and elucidate more comprehensive profiles of social-emotional risk and resilience as a means of developing more effective prevention strategies.
Transcaval embolisation of type-II endoleaks – The Australian experience
Authors: Tian Kevin , Samuel Vimalin , Sun David , Morris Dylan , Wong Yew Toh , Velu Ramesh
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Embolizing an abdominal aortic aneurysm sac through a transcaval approach is a novel approach to treat type-II endoleaks that occur following aortic endografting. This study reviews the outcomes of this treatment in one of the few centres in Australia that offers this procedure.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including patients who had received transcaval embolisation of type-II endoleak over a 9-year period. The primary outcome was clinical success, defined as the absence of endoleak on post-procedural ultrasonography at 6-weeks, provided the procedure was successfully completed. Other outcomes included clinical success at 1-year, aneurysm size, rupture and aneurysm-related mortality.

Results

Twelve patients with type-II endoleak and AAA sac growth received transcaval embolisation. Technical success was achieved in 91.7% of cases, in which both Onyx 34 and coils were deployed into the sac. Clinical success, defined as an absence of endoleak on ultrasonography 6-weeks after a technically successful procedure, was achieved in 66.7% of patients, none of whom had evidence of endoleak at 1-year post-procedure. In patients whom clinical success was achieved, there was a decrease in sac size during follow-up, from 72.5 ± 13.1 at 6-weeks to 66.0 ± 12.1 at 1-year post-procedure. Aneurysm sac size continued to enlarge if clinical success was not observed, with an average sac size of 72.0 ± 14.1 at 6-weeks increasing to 76.9 ± 15.2 at 1-year. No patients suffered AAA rupture or AAA-related mortality during follow-up.

Conclusions

This study reports a high technical and clinical success rate, with outcomes that could suggest that this procedure could induce sac regression.
Outcomes of patients with acute complicated type B aortic dissections repaired with the Zenith dissection endovascular system compared to aortic stent graft
Authors: Habash Nicola , Saraiya Avinash , Nooromid Michael , Salvatore Dawn , DiMuzio Paul , Abai Babak
Published: January 2025

Objectives

We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Zenith Dissection Endovascular System (ZDES; Zenith TX2 Dissection Endovascular Graft with Pro-Form and Zenith Dissection Endovascular Stent), which uses a proximal stent graft along with a distal bare metal stent compared to traditional stent grafts in the repair of acute, complicated Type B Aortic Dissection (AcTBAD).

Methods

This retrospective study reviews the medical charts of 32 patients with AcTBAD repaired at a single urban academic medical center. 16 of these AcTBAD cases were repaired with the ZDES (87.5% male; mean age, 63.1 years), and 16 were repaired with stent grafts (62.5% male; mean age, 60.6 years). Outcomes include 30-day morbidity, false lumen thrombosis and aneurysmal degeneration at 6 months and 1 year, thirty-day and three-year mortality, and freedom from secondary surgical intervention.

Results

Twelve total postoperative adverse events occurred in the ZDES group compared to 37 in the stent graft group ( p = .046). The notable adverse events included renal insufficiency ( p = .04) and refractory pain ( p = .002). At the 6-month follow-up, complete or partial false lumen thrombosis was noted in 100% of patients (16/16) in the ZDES group and 56.3% of patients (9/16) in the stent graft group ( p < .01). At the 12-month follow-up, complete or partial thrombosis of the false lumen was noted in 1 additional patient in the stent graft group for a total of 62.6% of patients (10/16; p = .018). Growth (>5 mm) of the maximum transaortic diameter at 12 months was noted in 33.3% of patients (5/15) in the ZDES group and 54% of patients (7/13) in the stent graft group ( p = .45). Thirty-day mortality occurred in one patient in the ZDES group and no patients in the stent graft group ( p = 1.0). Three-year mortality occurred in four patients in the stent graft group and no patients in the ZDES group ( p = .11). Although more patients in the ZDES group underwent secondary intervention to address aortic growth, there were no differences between the two groups in freedom from any secondary intervention at 365 days post-procedure ( p = .13).

Conclusions

Patients treated with ZDES had fewer post-procedural adverse events. Although the use of the ZDES had favorable false lumen thrombosis at 6 and 12 months, the device was not associated with a statistically significant change in transaortic diameter. Our single institution study demonstrated that ZDES has favorable clinical outcomes, but further investigation is needed to better understand aortic remodeling in the distally stented regions. Additionally, further research is necessary to explore the incidence of endoleaks associated with ZDES to optimize long-term patient outcomes.
Population-based cancer screening access needs of disabled people: A qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Cithambaram Kumaresan , Corby Deirdre , Hartnett Liz , Joyce David , Swinburne Lynn , Egere Kristi , Healy Sean
Published: January 2025

Background

Cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality among disabled people, and population-based screening is an effective method to identify some cancers early; however, its uptake is lower among the disabled population. There is a lack of evidence regarding why they access less, and their need to access population-based screening programmes.

Aim

To synthesise evidence of the experience of accessing population-based screening programmes for disabled people.

Method

A qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) was carried out by searching electronic databases including Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. Grey literature was also searched for. The search yielded 32 relevant publications.

Results

The findings are based on Levesque’s conceptual framework. Several factors affect the accessibility of screening services, including people’s perceptions, family support, affordability, literacy, and accessibility.

Conclusion

Screening services need to acknowledge the needs of disabled people and integrate reasonable accommodations to facilitate their needs.
Communication of Pakistani politicians while in government and opposition and their followers’ reactions in the digital discourse
Authors: Rafi Muhammad Shaban
Published: January 2025

Political communication on X, formally known as Twitter, seems to be proliferating among Pakistani politicians and their followers. Fewer scholarly studies are available that demonstrate discursive practices in the online communication of politicians while in government and opposition. This study has employed an interdisciplinary framework that emanates theoretically from discourse and ethnological studies to analyze the nature of political communication and their followers’ responses within the digital discourse. The longitudinal data was drawn from the constellation of first- and second-generation Pakistani politicians with differing political ideologies. The data also captured how young adults reinforced and perpetuated discursive constructions in their responses to these politicians’ tweets. Findings indicate that power and subversion shape the discursive practices politicians choose to shape public opinion. Although only a fraction of the vast base of followers reacted to the tweets of these politicians, the data depicted an interesting communication trajectory between them in the digital discourse. When the politicians framed their discourse in positive or negative language, their followers reciprocated similar sentiments. Notably, dystopian discourse is most prevalent among young adults that tends to promote derogatory language toward government/establishment. The study emphasizes that politicians should create the content that may foster norms of dutiful citizenship.
Metastatic urothelial carcinoma in multiple appendicular muscles of a cat
Authors: Hernández Eduardo M , Ginel Pedro J , Blanco Beatriz , Millán Yolanda , Jiménez Maria T , Mozos Elena
Published: January 2025

Case summary

A 13-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat presented with a 2-month history of progressive lameness, poor appetite and constipation. Physical examination revealed palpable lesions in muscles of several extremities. Ultrasound examination confirmed the presence of round lesions with a hypo- or anechoic centre within the muscles. These lesions were characterised by an anechoic, occasionally trabeculated, central area surrounded by a hyperechoic band with heterogeneous echotexture. In total, seven lesions affecting six appendicular muscles were detected in different evolution stages, as suggested by their sizes and ultrasonographic features. Fine-needle aspiration of the muscle lesions revealed nests and isolated pleomorphic large neoplastic cells consistent with a carcinoma (vs sarcoma) and one mass was surgically removed. The histological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed a diagnosis of metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Although this neoplasia typically originates from the urothelium of the urinary bladder or renal pelvis, the primary tumour could not be detected in repeated abdominal ultrasound examinations. The cat was euthanased and further evaluations were declined by the author.

Relevance and novel information

Urothelial carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive neoplasia in the cat. While metastasis to regional lymph nodes and lungs are common in cats and dogs, to the authors’ knowledge, there have been no reports of metastasis to multiple appendicular muscles in cats. This clinical presentation should be considered in the differential diagnoses of multiple nodular or cystic lesions affecting long muscles in cats.
Rural School Counseling Competencies: A Delphi Study
Authors: Boulden Rawn , Simmons Anna
Published: January 2025

Rural school counseling has garnered increased attention within the school counseling profession. However, guidelines for school counseling practice in these settings are lacking. To address this, utilizing the Delphi method, this study created the first empirical set of rural school counseling competencies to inform rural school counseling practice and preparation. This process resulted in 203 rural school counseling competencies agreed upon by individuals with rural school counseling expertise. We present implications for rural schools, practicing rural school counselors, and preservice rural school counselors, and discuss limitations and future research suggestions.
Development and Implementation of an Antiracist, Equity, and Inclusion Focused Syllabus Rubric in Graduate Public Health: A Foundational Framework
Authors: Greenwell Elizabeth , Kennedy Heather , Dinger Mary K. , Brittain Danielle R. , Crane Lori A.
Published: January 2025

Recent shifts within the field of public health have demanded that graduate institutions more fully integrate antiracism, equity, and inclusion into their curricula and training of students. Federal agencies, organizations, and accrediting bodies have centered health equity at the core of public health activities and provided various frameworks and resources to advance racial equity and address structural racism. However, there is a critical need to better understand how to adequately meet the requirements of educating the next generation of public health professionals. In summer 2020, the Antiracism and Equity (ARE) Committee was formed in response to nationwide and campus attention on racism in public health and demand for antiracism efforts. Spurred by theoretical inquiry, inclusive teaching practices, and faculty feedback, the committee’s initial charge was to develop a comprehensive and useful syllabus rubric that integrated antiracism, equity, and inclusion practices along with constructs based on teaching pedagogy, accessibility, and critical praxis. By rethinking aspects of public health pedagogy, we applied components of an academic rubric to the development of a syllabus rubric that incorporated foundational antiracism, equity, and inclusion content for faculty to use during course creation or revision. This descriptive case study highlights the importance of advancing foundational change in course syllabi, along with ongoing faculty professional development with critical self-reflection related to antiracism, equity, and inclusion. These efforts encompass best practices in creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for students from marginalized backgrounds and meeting the needs of an ever changing public health student body.
Dissemination of Decision Aids about Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis to Spanish-Speaking Adults through Social Media
Authors: Valentine K. D. , Marques Felisha , Chen Antonia F. , Simmons Leigh , Sepucha Karen R.
Published: January 2025

Background

Older adults and Hispanic individuals are increasingly turning to social media platforms to access health-related information. The purpose of this project was to evaluate a social media campaign to disseminate information from decision aids (DAs) on hip and knee osteoarthritis to Spanish-speaking adults.

Methods

A social media marketing team helped create an 8-mo campaign posted across 3 social media platforms to promote visits to a Web site offering free multilingual DAs for treatment of hip or knee osteoarthritis. Eight videos featuring Spanish-speaking actors discussing DAs were boosted (i.e., money was paid so posts landed on user’s feeds). In this observational study, metrics tracked reach, extended engagement, and number of users accessing the Web site. Videos were qualitatively coded for themes, including pain and benefits of treatment options; biserial correlations assessed relationships between the presence of a code and the metrics. We calculated cost per visitor using the total campaign cost and number of users accessing the Web site.

Results

During the campaign, boosted videos reached 83,937 users. Of the users, 22,777 had extended engagement with the videos, and 1,835 users visited our Web site with access to the DAs. Videos that included themes of pain tended to reach more users ( r = 0.88) and have higher engagement ( r = 0.70). When videos included the theme of benefits of treatment, more users tended to visit our Web site ( r = 0.78). The total campaign cost was $25,950, making the cost per Web site visitor $14.14.

Conclusions

Social media was a useful, inexpensive tool for disseminating health care information on hip and knee osteoarthritis DAs to predominantly Spanish-speaking adults. Further work should identify how exposure to such social media content affects a viewer’s health care attitudes, health care behaviors, and surgical decision making.

Highlights

An 8-mo social media campaign was able to reach more than 83,000 users and result in almost 2,000 users accessing a Web site with multilingual decision aids. Social media may be an inexpensive tool for disseminating health care information such as decision aids to Spanish-speaking adults.
Patient perspectives on educational needs in scleroderma-interstitial lung disease
Authors: Savvaides Tina M , Di Vitantonio Thomas A , Edgar Armani , O’Beirne Ronan , Krishnan Jamuna K , Kaner Robert J , Podolanczuk Anna J , Spiera Robert , Gordon Jessica , Safford Monika M , Lakin Kimberly S , Aronson Kerri I
Published: January 2025

Background:

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic and rare connective tissue disease with multiorgan effects, including interstitial lung disease (ILD). Navigating systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease presents a challenge for patients due to the gaps in patient education, which can impact patient health and quality of life. This study utilized the nominal group technique to identify priority knowledge gaps among patients with systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease and inform future educational interventions and research.

Methods:

We conducted four structured group sessions using the nominal group technique. Patients with systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease were presented with two questions that aimed to identify knowledge gaps. Following participant ranking, investigators performed a thematic analysis of the patients’ responses to categorize the generated knowledge gaps.

Results:

Twenty-one patients were interviewed and ranked the top three themes for the first question ( What questions about your scleroderma-lung disease that you have keep you awake at night?), based on total points, as: (1) Understanding progression, its impacts on the body, and managing health changes (39.7%); (2) anticipating future symptoms and implementing strategies for management and coping (19.8%); and (3) employing and understanding non-pharmacological interventions and self-management strategies (17.5%). The top three themes for the second question ( What information do you want about your scleroderma-lung disease that you cannot find?) ranked by total points were: (1) understanding progression, its impacts on the body, and managing health changes (41.3%); (2) navigating health system barriers (16.7%); and (3) research efforts toward treating scleroderma (10.3%).

Conclusions:

Our study underscores the importance of understanding the educational needs of patients with systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease. Patient responses emphasize the need to comprehensively address concerns about disease management, coping with impacts on social life, and navigating the healthcare system. By addressing these multifaceted concerns, we can design and implement patient-centered education to empower patients through increased support.
Envisioning Turnaround in Indian Aviation—The Case of Jet Airways
Authors: Senapati Chayanika , Sarma Nripendra Narayan , Choudhury Smritishikha
Published: January 2025

Jet Airways (India) Private Limited, one of India’s finest and largest private aviation companies commanded the Indian skies until 2005. On 5th May 1993, it began commercial operations. Five of the seven airlines that had been launched since 1992 had been grounded by the year 1997. It began with a fleet of four leased Boeing 737–300 planes. In the early 2000s, it surpassed the market leader, state-owned Indian Airlines, in passenger volume. Jet Airways was granted authorization to conduct international flights in 2003. However, as a result of changing market dynamics, Jet Airways became a victim of its own success. The corporation is in billions of dollars of debt, and the company’s closure has harmed almost 20,000 people. Porter’s Five Forces Framework and SWOT Analysis have been applied to interpret the strategic trajectory explaining characteristics in its different phases. This case examines the aspects that contributed to the end of one of India’s greatest airlines. The study’s observations provide a conclusion report on the challenges encountered by airlines. Moreover, a glimpse of the rise and fall of some of the major airlines is also highlighted.
The process of pain assessment in people with dementia living in nursing homes: a scoping review
Authors: Overen Caroline Kreppen , Larsson Maria , Hummelvoll Hillestad Adelheid , Karlsson Ingela , Eriksen Siren
Published: January 2025

Background:

Pain is a common symptom in people with dementia living in nursing homes, but cognitive impairment, including language and communication difficulties, challenges pain assessment and the ability to self-report pain.

Objectives:

This study aimed to identify and summarize patterns, advances, and gaps in research literature describing pain assessment in people with dementia living in nursing homes.

Design:

We conducted a scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework.

Methods:

Systematic searches were conducted in CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. We included studies describing pain expressions in people with dementia and/or healthcare personnel assessment of pain in people with dementia, in a nursing home context. Charted data included demographics, methodological descriptions, ethical and quality assessment and relevant findings. Relevant findings were summarized using thematic analysis, and an overview of patterns, advances, and gaps in the research literature is presented.

Results:

Thirty-nine studies were included. The results describe three patterns: (1) pain awareness; (2) suspected pain and (3) pain mapping. Collectively, these patterns constitute a process of pain assessment, integrating pain expressions of people with dementia. Important perspectives on self-reporting are touched upon in several of the included studies, though direct descriptions of attempts to capture the residents’ own experience of pain are sparse.

Conclusion:

This scoping review provides a comprehensive description of pain assessment in people with dementia living in nursing homes as a process in three steps. We identified several knowledge gaps in the understanding of this process and provide concrete recommendations for further research. The results underpin the importance of pain assessment approaches that incorporate the flexibility to meet residents’ varying and potentially fluctuating ways of communicating pain.

Trial registration:

This scoping review is registered in the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/8kaf5/ ).
The impact of climate and land-use change on ecosystem services in the Pearl River Delta area of China
Authors: Liu Zhenhuan , Chi Yueteng , Liu Ziyu , Yang Fan , Wei Lai
Published: January 2025

In the context of global climate change and intensifying human activities, effective management of urban ecosystem services (ESs) is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals. Urbanization-induced land use change and climate change are two primary drivers altering UESs. However, previous studies have predominantly focused on historical urban expansion and climate change effects on UESs, leaving future evolution scenarios and their relative impacts underexplored. This study investigates the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration as a case study area, examining the relative impacts of land use and climate change on five UESs: water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), water purification (WP), urban flood risk mitigation (FM), and urban cooling (UC). The results revealed that all five ecosystem services exhibited high values in the peri-urban areas and low values in the urban core of the Pearl River Delta. WY, FM, and UC showed an overall increasing trend, while SC and WP exhibited fluctuating trends from 1990 to 2050. Changes in SC were predominantly influenced by climate change, accounting for 76.24% of the total area, whereas WY, WP, FM, and UC services were primarily affected by land use change, accounting for over 67.16% of the area. In the future scenarios of 2035 and 2050, the impact of climate change on soil conservation varied the most across different Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP) scenarios. The impact of land use change on WY, WP, FM, and UC exhibited the most significant differences across urban areas, indicating a high sensitivity of urbanization-induced ecosystem services to human disturbances.
Unveiling the potential of spirulina algal extract as promising antibacterial and antibiofilm agent against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: in vitro and in vivo study
Authors: Selim Mohamed I. , El-banna Tarek , Sonbol Fatma , Negm Walaa A. , Elekhnawy Engy
Published: January 2025

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a severe risk to global public health, necessitating the immediate development of novel therapeutic strategies. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the green algae Arthrospira maxima (commercially known as Spirulina) both in vitro and in vivo against carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. In this study, thirty carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were collected, identified, and then screened for their susceptibility to several antibiotics and carbapenemase production genes using PCR. Both blaKPC and blaOXA-48 genes were the most predominant detected carbapenemase genes in the tested isolates. The phytochemical profiling of A. maxima algal extract was conducted using LC–MS/MS in a positive mode technique. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the algal extract ranged from 500 to 1000 µg/mL. The algal extract also resulted in decreasing the membrane integrity and distortion in the bacterial cells as revealed by scanning electron microscope. The bioactive compounds that were responsible for the antibacterial action were fatty acids, including PUFAs, polysaccharides, glycosides, peptides, flavonoids, phycocyanin, minerals, essential amino acids, and vitamins. Moreover, A. maxima algal extract revealed an antibiofilm activity by crystal violet assay and qRT-PCR. A murine pneumonia model was employed for the in vivo assessment of the antibacterial action of the algal extract. A. maxima showed a promising antibacterial action which was comparable to the action of colistin (standard drug). This was manifested by improving the pulmonary architecture, decreasing the inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis after staining with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome stain. Using immunohistochemical investigations, the percentage of the immunoreactive cells significantly decreased after using monoclonal antibodies of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin six. So, A. maxima may be considered a new candidate for the development of new antibacterial medications.

Graphical Abstract
The subventricular zone neurogenic niche provides adult born functional neurons to repair cortical brain injuries in response to diterpenoid therapy
Authors: Pardillo-Díaz Ricardo , Pérez-García Patricia , Ortego-Domínguez María , Gómez-Oliva Ricardo , Martínez-Gómez Nora , Domínguez-García Samuel , García-Cózar Francisco , Muñoz-Miranda Juan Pedro , Hernández-Galán Rosario , Carrascal Livia , Castro Carmen , Nunez-Abades Pedro
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Neural stem cells from the subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenic niche provide neurons that integrate in the olfactory bulb circuitry. However, in response to cortical injuries, the neurogenic activity of the SVZ is significantly altered, leading to increased number of neuroblasts with a modified migration pattern that leads cells towards the site of injury. Despite the increased neurogenesis and migration, many newly generated neurons fail to survive or functionally integrate into the cortical circuitry. Providing the injured area with the adequate signaling molecules may improve both migration and functional integration of newly generated neurons.

Methods

In here, we have studied the effect of a diterpene with the capacity to induce neuregulin release at promoting neurogenesis in a murine model of cortical brain injury. Using green fluorescent protein expressing vectors we have labeled SVZ cells and have studied the migration of newly generated neuroblasts toward the injury in response the treatment. In addition, using electrophysiological recordings we have studied the differentiation of these neuroblasts into mature neurons and their functional integration into the cortical circuitry. We have studied their electrical properties, their morphology and cortical location.

Results

We have found that EOF2 treatment of adult mice with mechanical cortical injuries facilitates the delivery of neuroblasts into these injuries. The newly generated neurons develop features of fully functional neurons. Our results show that the newly generated neurons receive electrical inputs, fire action potentials, and undergo complete differentiation into neurons recapitulating the stages that distinguish ontogenic differentiation. These neurons develop features representative of neurons belonging the cortical layer in which they are situated. We have also studied that EOF2 facilitates neuregulin release in SVZ cells, a signaling factor that promotes neuronal differentiation. Neuregulin is expressed in microglial cells that reach the injury in response to the damage and its release is increased by EOF2 treatment.

Conclusion

Promoting neuregulin release via diterpene treatment facilitates migration of SVZ-derived neuroblasts to cortical injuries stimulating their differentiation into mature functional neurons, which receive electrical inputs and develop features of cortical neurons. These findings highlight the role of diterpenoids as a potential therapy to repair cortical brain injuries.
Net energy of grains for dairy goats differed with processing methods and grain types
Authors: Su Xiaodong , Zhang Lei , Sun Yiyang , Wu Yanbo , Ren Jianrong , Wu Shengru , Lei Xinjian , Zhang Jun , Wang Dangdang , Ren Hao , Yao Junhu
Published: January 2025

Background

The diverse types and processing methods of grains intricately influence the sites and digestibility of starch digestion, thereby impacting energy utilization. This study aimed to explore the impact of grain variety and processing methods on the net energy (NE) in dairy goats, analyzing these effects at the level of nutrient digestion and metabolism.

Methods

Eighteen castrated Guanzhong dairy goats (44.25 ± 3.59 kg BW) were randomly divided into 3 groups, each consisting of 6 replicates. The substitution method was employed to determine the NE values of the dry-rolled corn (DRC), dry-rolled wheat (DRW) or steam-flaked corn (SFC, 360 g/L). Briefly, two phases were performed. Throughout the basal phase, all goats were fed the same basal diet. In the substitution phase, 30% of the basal diet was replaced with DRC, DRW and SFC, respectively.

Results

In this study, the NE values of the DRC, DRW and SFC were 7.65, 7.54 and 7.44 MJ/kg DM, respectively. Compared to the DRC group, the DRW group showed increased digestibility of starch and crude protein (CP). Similarly, the SFC group exhibited increased organic matter (OM) and starch digestibility and a trend towards higher dry matter (DM) digestibility, reduced fecal OM and starch content. Additionally, fecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations decreased in goats fed SFC. Correspondingly, digestible energy (DE) in the DRW and SFC groups tended to be higher than in the DRC group. DRW increased total VFA concentration compared to DRC, while SFC increased the proportion of propionate and decreased the acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen. Both the DRW and SFC diets elevated serum glucose levels. Furthermore, heat increment (HI) and gaseous energy (GasE) related to fermentation were significantly higher in the DRW and SFC groups compared to the DRC group.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that DRW and SFC increased rumen starch fermentation in goats, thereby improving total tract starch digestion and DE. However, DRW and SFC failed to improve NE value due to increased heat and gas energy production from fermentation. Therefore, excessively refined grains processing in the diet of dairy goats does not effectively improve energy efficiency.
Discounted-likelihood valuation of variance and volatility swaps
Authors: Rujeerapaiboon Napat , Rujivan Sanae , Chen Hongdan
Published: January 2025

The valuation of financial derivatives often assumes risk neutrality with respect to the risk-neutral martingale measure, which prevents arbitrage opportunities. However, casual traders may still incur substantial losses when trading at this risk-neutral price, especially when the price has to be paid now and the payoff is only realized in the future. This study proposes a new valuation framework that provides risk-sensitive investors with an additional safeguard. The proposed framework embraces a worst-case perspective while exploiting the underlier’s stochastic process, representing a combination of robust optimization and stochastic programming. Notably, it aims to mitigate losses in the likelier scenarios of the underlying asset’s prices. When the underlier’s returns are independent and lognormally but not necessarily identically distributed, our approach for pricing variance and volatility swaps could be greatly simplified, benefit from parallel computing, and be solved by a two-dimensional grid search. We further derive a closed-form solution in some special stationary cases and provide experimental results to highlight the effect of risk aversion on fending off sizable trading losses.
Transformational technologies for more uptakes of entomopathogenic nematodes
Authors: Abd-Elgawad Mahfouz M. M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Accelerated concern over chemical pesticides—due to health hazards, ecological pollution, and development of resistance-breaking pathotypes—has created markets for biopesticide products worldwide. Entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) products have recently attained major developments in their use, but their markets are still mostly confined to relatively few specialty crops. Their relatively high cost, occasional inconsistent efficacy, and lack of public awareness for their diverse benefits are gaps that relegate them to niche markets.

Main body

Transformational technologies for EPN surveys via sophisticated sampling, extraction, identification, and counting techniques could soundly characterize and employ more promising species/strains. Also, bridging the gaps can economize their usage via dual-purpose application or controlling multiple insect pests on a crop. Their simultaneous biocontrol of a variety of pests like plant-parasitic nematodes and insect pests should be considered. Their sequential and co-application with other agricultural inputs to offer additive/synergistic effects in integrated pest management (IPM) should be expanded. Such technologies should also widen spectra of EPN activity to manage further insect pests even on low-value crops such as alfalfa and maize. Classical breeding of EPNs could obtain Heterorhabditis bacteriophora-infective juveniles with so virulent and persistent superiority that application rates and consequent costs were reduced into the range of chemical insecticides. In contrast to chemicals, applying such a sustainable, non-toxic alternative biopesticide should be expanded to control Diabrotica virgifera virgifera infesting maize fields. Merits/demerits of the three EPN mass production approaches are well-known, but the related issues need to be astutely addressed for optimization. Recent examples to challenge such production issues as nematode quality/yield and cost efficiency are highlighted.

Conclusion

Astute exploitation of EPNs as a part of sophisticated IPM programs for crop pests is imperative. Widening their biocontrol spectra to other pest groups such as arthropods infecting low-value crops will expand their marketing. Other aspects for more uptakes of EPNs imply optimizing EPN delivery and persistence, priming them/their bioactive insecticidal compounds, and incorporating advanced technologies to reform their biocontrol with transformative impact.
Phylogenetic inferences reveal multiple intra- and interhost genetic diversity among bat rabies viruses circulating in northeastern Brazil
Authors: de Sousa Larissa Leão F. , Guilardi Mariana Dias , Martins Junior Olimpio , Alves Bruna Stefanie S. , Tibo Luiz Henrique S. , da Silva-Antunes Patrícia , Cabral-Miranda Gustavo , Caldeira Débora Bellini , Brandão Paulo Eduardo , Campos Fabrício Souza , Janini Luiz Mário R. , Durães-Carvalho Ricardo
Published: January 2025

Background

Rabies, a lethal viral zoonotic disease, remains a significant global public health concern. In northeastern Brazil, in particular, its epidemiology is complex and dynamic, characterized by the presence of several reservoirs associated with human rabies infection.

Methods

This study, conducted from June 2022 to July 2023, was part of a passive epidemiological surveillance initiative under Brazil’s National Rabies Surveillance Program. It investigated the presence of Rhabdovirus (RhabV) in 356 postmortem chiropteran brain samples using three diagnostic techniques for rabies and conducted an evolutionary study on both pan-RhabV- and pan-LYSSAV-positive PCR samples. The samples were collected from 20 bat species and different locations in the State of Ceará, an endemic region for the rabies virus (RABV). Rabies-positive samples were further explored through Bayesian, genetic distance mapping and recombination analyses.

Results

From a total of 356 samples collected, 43 (12.07%) were positive for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and 40 (11.23%) for mouse intracerebral inoculation (MIT) tests. Among the positive results, 40 samples were confirmed by both DIF and MIT, while 13 (3.65%) had inconclusive results for one or both techniques. Molecular assays identified 38 rabies-positive samples (10.67%). Members of the Molossidae and Phyllostomidae families had the highest prevalence, highlighting the role of insectivorous and frugivorous bats in the cycle and dynamics of rabies transmission. Phylogenetic reconstructions revealed three distinct and well-supported clusters and clades, indicating the cocirculation of different RABV lineages in the region and shedding light on both intra- and interhost diversity. We also demonstrated genetic distance among the RABV clusters and inferred that their common ancestor originated in Europe, later diversifying across continents. No recombination breakpoints were identified.

Conclusions

This study highlights the dynamic nature of RABV evolution within individual bat hosts, contributing to the understanding of the genetic diversity of RABV variants found in several bat species in northeastern Brazil. This study provides crucial insights into viral transmission dynamics within and between different host species and is essential for designing effective rabies control and prevention strategies tailored to endemic regions.