bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agreement in Biometric Parameters Between Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Low Coherence Interferometry: Insights into Clinical Precision
Authors: Munteanu Mihnea , Al Barri Leila , Stanca Simona , Mocanu Valeria , Rosca Cosmin , Balica Nicolae-Constantin , Stanca Horia T
Published: January 2025

Accurate biometric measurements are critical for achieving optimal refractive outcomes in cataract surgery. This study evaluated the agreement of biometric measurements between a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer (Argos®, Movu Inc.) and an optical low-coherence interferometry (OLCI) biometer (Aladdin®, Topcon Corp.). Parameters analyzed included axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), keratometry (K1, K2), and white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW). A total of 170 eyes were examined, and agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and Pearson correlation coefficients. Excellent agreement was observed for AL (ICC = 0.975), ACD (ICC = 0.960), LT (ICC = 0.951), K1 (ICC = 0.921), and K2 (ICC = 0.927). Moderate agreement was found for astigmatism axis (ICC = 0.655) and cylinder power (ICC = 0.891). Poor agreement was noted for astigmatism-related Jackson cross-cylinder vectors J0 (ICC = 0.334) and J45 (ICC = -0.311), as well as for WTW (ICC = 0.338). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated narrow limits of agreement for most parameters, with mean differences of 0.009 mm for AL and 0.06 mm for ACD. Both devices demonstrated high agreement for core biometric parameters, supporting their clinical interchangeability. However, the variability in WTW and astigmatism-related measurements highlights the need for caution when precise corrections are required.
Hot and Cool Executive Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizotypal Traits
Authors: Kouklari Evangelia Chrysanthi , Tagkouli Evdokia , Ntre Vassiliki , Pehlivanidis Artemios , Tsermentseli Stella , Stefanis Nikos C , Pantelis Chris , Papanikolaou Katerina
Published: January 2025

Background: Schizotypal traits are notably prevalent among children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Both conditions commonly exhibit impairments in executive functions (EF), which encompass "cool" and "hot" processes. The observed deficits in these EF domains across ASD and schizotypy underscore a compelling need to investigate how their co-occurrence impacts EF. Methods: This study investigated the impact of co-occurring autistic and schizotypal traits on EF in 63 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 7 to 12 years. Participants were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK), and a battery of hot and cool EF tests. Results: Correlational analyses revealed a significant association between MASK score and working memory, as well as between ADOS scores and various cool EF components (i.e., working memory, inhibition & planning). Hierar-chical regression analyses showed that the interaction between ADOS and MASK scores signifi-cantly predicted performance on hot EF (i.e., affective decision-making), but not on cool EF tasks. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the co-occurrence of ASD and schizotypal traits may have differential effects on cool and hot EF domains. Understanding how the combination of autistic and schizotypal traits affects cognitive processes may inform tailored interventions and support strategies for individuals presenting with these traits.
Design Epistemology from Living Geometry: Environments That Boost Creativity
Authors: Salingaros Nikos A.
Published: January 2025

This paper examines the epistemological framework of living geometry as a basis for design, emphasizing its contrast with contemporary architectural practice. Living geometry is defined as a specific type of geometry that merges coherence across scales, fractal structure, and nested symmetries to harmonize with human neurophysiology. It offers a useful method for both evaluating and generating designs using objective criteria. The principles of living geometry are supported by interdisciplinary evidence from biology, environmental psychology, and neuroscience. AI helps to forge a practical design tool using these new insights that prioritize cognition, emotional resonance, and health, thus offering a robust alternative to current trends. Dominant design styles, rooted in untested dogma and narrow aesthetic preferences, promote the opposite characteristics from living geometry. They therefore lack the empirical validation required to address fundamental questions of spatial quality responsible for human well-being.
Enhanced Performance of Austenitic ODS 316L Steel: A Study on Y₂O₃ Reinforcement and Corrosion Behaviour
Authors: Kubasek Jiri , Pokorný Jan , Donik Črtomir , Nečas David , Hybášek Vojtěch , Fojt Jaroslav , Dobkowska Anna , Paulin Irena , Godec Matjaž , Čapek Jaroslav
Published: January 2025

This study explores the mechanical and corrosion properties of yttria-reinforced 316L stainless steel. Powder precursor materials were prepared using mechanical alloying. Varying yttria (Y₂O₃) content (1, 3, and 5 wt%) was used to assess its impact on the steel’s properties. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the successful dispersion of Y₂O₃ within the matrix, with the formation of chromium carbides during spark plasma sintering (SPS). The mechanical properties, including hardness and compressive yield strength, improved with increasing Y₂O₃ content, with the highest strength observed in the 316L-5Y₂O₃ sample. However, corrosion resistance decreased with higher yttria concentrations. The 3 wt% Y₂O₃ sample exhibited the highest corrosion rate due to localized corrosion in areas enriched with oxide particles and chromium carbides. Electrochemical testing revealed that carbide formation and Cr-depleted regions from SPS processing contributed to the corrosion behavior. These findings suggest that while yttria reinforcement enhances mechanical strength, optimizing Y₂O₃ content and processing methods is crucial to balance both mechanical and corrosion performance in ODS 316L stainless steel.
Galanthamine Promotes Neuronal Differentiation and Neurite Outgrowth of Neural Progenitor/Stem Cells by Up-Regulating IGF-2
Authors: Jiang Xia , Wu Liming , Zhou Rong , Quan Miao-Hua , Xiang Xiaoliang
Published: January 2025

Galanthamine, an alkaloid from the Amaryllidaceae family, serves as an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Beause of its central cholinergic properties, galanthamine is currently being researched as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, the full extent of its other biological activities is still unclear. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of galanthamine in inducing neuronal differentiation and enhancing neurite outgrowth in neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs). Our comprehensive analysis revealed significant alterations in neuronal morphology and complexity during neuronal maturation following galanthamine treatment. Specifically, galanthamine significantly increased the percentage of multiple-neurite neurons, suggesting its ability to stimulate neurite formation and promote the development of extensive neuronal networks. Additionally, treatment with galanthamine resulted in a considerable increase in the proportion of mature-appearing neurons, characterized by elongated and intricate dendrites, suggesting its potential in enhancing neural plasticity and repair. Importantly, we further confirmed that galanthamine promotes neuronal differentiation in NSPCs through up-regulation of the IGF2 signaling pathway. Altogether, these findings contribute significantly to our understanding of the effects of galanthamine on Alzheimer's disease and underscore its potential as a therapeutic agent for this neurodegenerative condition.
Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance on UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 Targets in Lower-Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Authors: Malik Nirmal
Published: January 2025

Background: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are designed to be achieved by the year 2030, however, inadequate policies and lack of proper implementation of practices to control Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has led to the failure of these SDG 3 targets. The targets and the control parameters align with each other as both pose the same challenges to the health sector by increasing morbidity and mortality and making sustainable development impossible. The aim of the study is to directly address the scope of literature available on the effect of AMR on UN SDG 3 targets. Methods: Free-access database with advanced search strategy for peer-reviewed literature and official websites are used to include six full-text publications following Cochrane guidelines for scoping review. The searches are conducted in January 2025; and results from 2015 to 2025 are considered. Results are filtered and extracted for relevant data, and was the identification and screening process was charted using a flow diagram. Results: A total of 543 results are identified from PubMed search, 3 from PubMed Advanced Search and 5 from organization websites. These are narrowed down after rigorous screening and filtration to include 6 publications in total, both from peer-reviewed journals and grey literature. The comparison of SDG 3 targets with AMR shows eight targets (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6 ,3.7 ,3.8, and 3.B), are directly or indirectly impacted by AMR. The interface of AMR and SDG 3 targets presents overlapping challenges, calling for improved policies to curb AMR and encourage SDG 3 target related efforts. Conclusion: The scoping review sums up the extent and nature of available data on this aspect. This provides a comprehensive insight into the evidence of the current status of SDG 3 targets in relation to AMR, highlighting the need of further research and policy amendments.
Investigation of Anti-Cancer Properties of Novel Curcuminoids in Leukemic Cells and Dalton Lymphoma Ascites Model
Authors: Karki Subhas S , Sudarshan Vijayalakshmi , Shyamjith P , Kumar Sujeet , Choudhary Bibha , Ravindran Febina
Published: January 2025

Leukemia, one of the major causes of cancer death, ranks 11th worldwide among cancer-related deaths. The current treatment of leukemia faces challenges recently due to a high burden of side effects. It is well established that curcumin has anticancer and tumor-suppressing activities in several cancers in addition to leukemia. Accordingly, 15 derivatives were designed, prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the leukemic cell line MOLT-4, which led to the prioritization and further evaluation of compound 5i. Compared to curcumin, 5i was significantly more effective in inducing mitochondrial dysfunction in MOLT-4 cells; hence increased ROS production and cytotoxicity. Treatment groups showed translocation of mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, tumor volume reduction observed with 5i treatment in Dalton's Lymphoma model was with rather low toxicity signs. Intrinsic pathways of apoptosis were initiated by compound 5i that lowered Bcl-2 expression statically while augmenting cytochrome c levels both in vivo and in vitro. These results showcase the potent antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of 5i at nanomolar doses against leukemia, at least 60X better than curcumin.
Fundamental Equations for Turbulent Motion of an Incompressible Viscous Fluid
Authors: Sun Bo Hua
Published: January 2025

Based on the fundamental fact that turbulence does not exist without interaction between fluid viscosity and velocity gradient, a profound reflection was made on the establishment of the equations of fluid motion. It was found that the only artificial factor in the process of establishing the equations of motion is how to determine the fluid's constitutive equation. This paper argues that due to the very high velocity gradients in turbulent flow, the second-order terms related to the deformation rate in the fluid's constitutive equation cannot be omitted and must be retained. This establishes the correct constitutive equation for viscous fluids, which in turn allows for the derivation of hydrodynamic equations suitable for turbulent motion without any adjustable parameters, successfully modifying the Navier-Stokes equations.
Genetic Insights into Breast Cancer in Northeastern Mexico: Unveiling Gene-Environment Interactions and Their Links to Obesity and Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Gallardo-Blanco Hugo Leonid , Garza-Rodríguez María de Loures , Pérez-Ibave Diana Cristina , Salinas-Torres Víctor M. , González-Escamilla Moisés , Piñeiro-Retif Rafael , Cerda-Flores Ricardo M. , Gutierrez Oscar Vidal , Sanchez-Dominguez Celia N.
Published: January 2025

Breast cancer (BC), one of the most common cancers, has increased in Mexico during the past decade, along with other chronic and metabolic diseases. Herein, we analyzed 121 SNPs (92 previously associated SNPs to BC, type 2 diabetes, obesity, overweight, insulin resistance, inflammation, and 36 informative ancestry markers) in 91 confirmed BC cases and 126 unaffected BC women from Northeastern Mexico. The relationship of these 121 SNPs with BC, considering BMI, menopause status, and age as cofactors, was explored by a gene-environment (G × E) interaction multi-locus model. Twelve gene variants were significantly associated with BC: rs3856806 PPARG, rs12792229 MMP8, and rs5218 KCNJ11-ABCC8. Whereas rs3917542 PON1; rs3750804 and rs3750805 TCF7L2; rs1121980 and rs3751812 FTO; rs12946618 RPTOR; rs2833483 SCAF4; rs11652805 AMZ2P1-GNA13; and rs1800955 SCT-DEAF1-DRD4 were located in non-coding regions, involved in the accelerated decay of the mRNA transcripts, regulatory, and flanking regions. This study corroborated the association of BC along with menopause, age (above 45), obesity, and overweight with gene variants implicated in diabetes mellitus, obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix.
Playing Around the Coumarin Core in the Discovery of Multimodal Compounds Directed to Alzheimer’s-Related Targets: A Recent Literature Overview
Authors: Rullo Mariagrazia , La Spada Gabriella , Stefanachi Angela , Macchia Eleonora , Pisani Leonardo , Leonetti Francesco
Published: January 2025

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) exerts a great socioeconomic burden, because of its increasing prevalence and the lack of effective therapies. The multifactorial nature of AD prompted researchers to search for new strategies for discovering disease-modifying therapeutics. To this extent, the multitarget approach holds the potential of synergic or cooperative activities arising from compounds properly designed to address two or more pathogenetic mechanisms. As a privileged and nature-friendly scaffold, coumarin has successfully been enrolled as the heterocyclic core for designing multipotent anti-Alzheimer’s agents. Herein, we summarized the most recent literature (2018-2023) covering the rational design and the discovery of coumarin-containing multitarget directed ligands (MTDLs) whose anti-AD profile encompassed at least two different biological activities relevant for disease onset and progression. To enhance the clarity of presentation, coumarin-based MTDLs are categorized into four clusters based on their substitution pattern and reported bioactivities: i) mono-, ii) di-, and iii) poly-substituted coumarins directed to protein targets; iv) coumarins directed to protein targets with additional metal-chelating features. Before discussing multimodal coumarins, the rationale for addressing each biological target has been briefly presented.
Luciargentis gen. nov., a New Genus Revealed by Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidence in the Family Lecithoceridae
Authors: Yu Shuai , Li Haotian , Wang Shuxia
Published: January 2025

In this study, we describe a new genus, Luciargentis Yu & Wang, gen. nov. based on the new species, Luciargentis obesa Yu & Wang, sp. nov. Additionally, the genus is placed within the subfamily Crocanthinae, satisfying the criteria of Crocanthinae. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the family Lecithoceridae using a concatenated dataset that includes one mitochondrial marker (COI) and six nuclear markers (EF-1α, GAPDH, RpS5, CAD, wingless, and MDH), incorporating 17 exemplars from NCBI and 7 newly sequenced exemplars from this study. The yield tree topologies showed that Luciargentis obesa forms a strongly supported monophyletic group with Crocanthes prasinopis, a species of Crocanthinae. Moreover, Luciargentis + Crocanthes were found to be sister groups to Torodorinae. Images of the adults, wing venation, and genitalia of the new species are provided.
The Baku Paradox An Analysis of Selected Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Carlsen Lars
Published: January 2025

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) occurred in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. A central topic, but not the only one, was linked to Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). It has been said that COP 29 developed into a ‘climate finance COP’ to have wealthier countries finance actions in the poorer countries to remedy damages from the effect of the increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. The final agreement was far from as ambitious as hoped for. In this study, the discrepancies between the fourteen regions of the countries of the world have been analyzed with a focus on Sustainable Development Goals 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production ), and 13 (Climate Action). The discrepancies between high-income countries (HIC) and OECD countries, on the one hand, and low-income countries (LIC) and Africa are presented. Where LIC and Africa, over the last 24-year period, virtually complied with the climate action goals (SDG 13), the HIC and OECD countries were far behind. A similar discrepancy is noted in sustainable production and consumption (SDG 12). The data shows no indication that the increasing innovation in the HIC and OECD countries is reflected in an increase in sustainable production and consumption or increased compliance with the climate action goals. One of the outcomes of the Baku COP 29 meeting was that wealthier countries should finance the remediation of the increasing effects of global temperature increase on the poorer countries and thus be able to continue without changing their habits.
Beyond 29,000 Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Umbrella Review of Magnetic Resonance Neuroimaging Studies
Authors: Ghaderi Sadegh , Mohammadi Sana , Fatehi Farzad
Published: January 2025

Despite extensive research, the underlying causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remain unclear. This umbrella review aims to synthesize a vast body of evidence from advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of ALS, encompassing a wide range of neuroimaging techniques and patient cohorts. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted an extensive search of four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase) for articles published until December 3, 2024. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed using the AMSTAR2 tool. This review included 18 studies that incorporated data from over 29,000 ALS patients. Structural MRI consistently showed gray matter atrophy in the motor and extra-motor regions, with significant white matter (WM) atrophy in the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed metabolic disruptions, including reduced N-acetylaspartate and elevated choline levels. Functional MRI (fMRI) studies have demonstrated altered brain activation patterns and functional connectivity, reflecting compensatory mechanisms and neurodegeneration. fMRI also demonstrated disrupted motor network connectivity and alterations in the default mode network. Diffusion MRI highlighted microstructural changes, particularly reduced fractional anisotropy in the WM tracts. Susceptibility-weighted imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping revealed iron accumulation in the motor cortex and non-motor regions. Perfusion MRI indicated hypoperfusion in regions associated with cognitive impairment. Multiparametric MRI consistently highlights widespread structural, functional, and metabolic changes in ALS, reflecting neurodegeneration and compensatory mechanisms.
Phytosterol Enriched Food Supplements for Plasma LDL-Cholesterol Lowering: Yes or No?
Authors: Stellaard Frans , Lütjohann Dieter
Published: January 2025

Elevated plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis and development of cardiovascular disease. Elevated plasma LDL-C concentration is the result of enhanced C synthesis, C absorption and/or altered C homeostasis. Plasma LDL-C lowering can be achieved using pharmaceutical means. Statin therapy inhibits endogenous C synthesis and leads to a mean 40% LDL-C reduction. Ezetimibe inhibits C absorption and achieves an average 20% LDL-C reduction with a 10 mg daily intake. Phytosterol therapy is established by food supplements enriched in phytosterols and/or phytostanols. A dosage of 2 to 3 grams a day reduces C absorption and leads to an average 10% LDL-C reduction. This dosage expresses a 10-fold increased daily intake for phytosterols or a 100-fold increased intake of phytostanols. Phytosterol and -stanol enriched food supplements are freely available in the supermarket. The majority of consumers may be healthy subjects with a plasma LDL-C in the normal range. Scientific evidence reveals that increased phytosterol intake may be associated with development of atherosclerosis. The degree of increased risk is dependent on the patient’s genetic polymorphisms in NPC1L1 and ABCG5/G8 transport proteins as well as on the established risk reduction due to LDL-C lowering. Subjects with a normal or only slightly elevated LDL-C have only minimal LDL-C lowering and lack the compensation for the potential increased risk for atherosclerosis by phytosterols. Based on the potential risk induction, the availability of phytosterol fortified food supplements must be abandoned from the supermarket.
Investigation of Image Compression Based on Semantic Network and Deep Residual Variational Auto-Encoder
Authors: Qi Yongjun , Song Yuanmeng , Jia Zhengzheng , Jia Zhaodi , Wang Yuchen , Zhang Liang , Liu Xin , Zheng Hongxing
Published: January 2025

To achieve different compression rates for images while preserving important regions, a semantic network-based deep residual variational auto-encoder is introduced in this paper. The network is divided into two components, a semantic analysis network and an image compression network. The former evaluates the importance of image pixels and accurately locates important semantic regions and key information in the image. According to the semantic importance of different regions, the encoding strategy is dynamically adjusted. The latter utilizes a deep residual variational autoencoder to efficiently encode and decode images, while combining Lagrange multipliers to adjust the model flexibly and the weights of the bitrate. With this model, multiple compression rates have been implemented. Quality of reconstruction achieves better performance with compression at different rates. Finally, a semantic loss function is proposed to replace traditional compression loss functions. Extensive experiments conducts on several datasets, including the Kodak, CLIC and Tecnick TESTIMAGES, which were public datasets. Results demonstrate that our method can effectively improve the quality of image reconstruction at various compression rates. Compared with traditional methods, the peak signal-to-noise ratio is increased by an average of 2dB at the same bitrate, and the structural similarity index is the most close to 0.998. The subjective visual quality is better, especially when processing complex scene images, which can better preserve the details and textures of key objects. This approach can effectively avoid common distortions such as block effects and blurring in traditional methods.
GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4o Performance in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Licensing Examination in Taiwan: The Need for Improved Reliability in AI Solutions
Authors: Wu Yun-Chi , Wu Yao-Cheng , Wu Chun-Lin , Hsieh Tzuo-Yi , Sung Wen-Wei
Published: January 2025

The aim of our research was to evaluate the accuracies of different versions of ChatGPT in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We tested three versions of ChatGPT—GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4o—using 960 questions from the first stage of the Professional and Technical Senior Examination for Doctors of Chinese Medicine in Taiwan. We found that only GPT-4o passed the exam, with an overall accuracy of 62.29%. Moreover, GPT-4 and GPT-4o performed better in Basic Chinese Medicine II (BCM II) than in Basic Chinese Medicine I (BCM I). We conclude that the GPT models demonstrate a stronger grasp of knowledge related to Chinese herbal formulas and Chinese materia medica in BCM II compared to their understanding of the history, basic theories, Neijing, and Nanjing in BCM I. Furthermore, a noticeable performance gap was evident between TCM and Western medicine. Because of the language bias in ChatGPT’s training on English datasets for TCM-related knowledge, more training is required with TCM-related Chinese data, especially in interpreting classical Chinese. Therefore, future research and development should further optimize the model’s performance in multilingual environments to advance the application of AI in medical education.
Concentrations of the Terrestrial Radionuclides and Their Radiological Risk at Wadi Nugrus, South Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Abdel-Razek Yassin A. , Bakhit A. F. , Abdel-Wahab M. M. , El-Anwar N. I.
Published: January 2025

Fourteen samples were collected from a minor tributary at Wadi Nugrus, SED, Egypt. The average values of the activity concentrations of the terrestrial radionulclides U-238 and Th-232 in the studied samples were 325 and 277 (Bq/kg) much higher than the worldwide averages. The average value of K-40, 820 (Bq/kg), is comparable to the worldwide average concentration of this radionuclide. Four samples have safe values for the hazard indices Raeq, Hex and Hin. This represented a contradiction with values of the absorbed dose rate D which has a minimum value of 110 (nGy/h) exceeding the worldwide average of 60 (nGy/h). At the announced safe unity for both Hex and Hin, the total annual effective dose appears to have more than the value of 6 (mSv/y) which far exceeds the worldwide average effective dose rate of 1.5 (mSv/y). The effective dose approach established by UNSCEAR is reliable since the effective dose reacts directly with the dose limits recommended by the radiation protection regulations.
Unprecedented heat threatened 1 in 10 vertebrate species in 2023
Authors: Merow Cory , Serra-Diaz Josep , Carlson Ben , Maitner Brian , Pinilla-Buitrago Gonzalo , Trisos Christopher , Wilson Adam , Pigot Alex , Urban Mark
Published: January 2025

2023 was the hottest year in recorded history at the time of its recording1 and warmer than any in the past 125,000 years2. Although the effects of this unprecedented year on human health, agriculture, and economies have been documented3, we know much less about its effects on global biodiversity, especially in poorly monitored regions. Here, we demonstrate a rapid climate bioassessment pipeline to pinpoint when and where species have recently been exposed to extreme weather. Applying this approach to > 33,000 terrestrial vertebrate species, we demonstrate that 2023 posed unprecedented levels of risk to biodiversity, with half of all species exposed to extreme temperatures somewhere in their geographic range and 1 in 10 exposed across > 25% of their range. We show that exposure to extreme weather has increased rapidly over the last decade and that many species now exist dangerously close to their historical niche limits. Consequently, although the global mean annual temperature in 2023 was only 0.2oC warmer than the previous warmest year on record in 2016, species exposure doubled. Our 2023 vertebrate assessment provides a prototype for a highly flexible pipeline that can be extended to accommodate any pertinent weather data collected in real-time and can be customized for regional, taxonomic, or conservation-specific needs. Our pipeline can be used to direct management resources to those ecosystems and species, particularly in poorly monitored regions, that are at risk of unnoticed collapse, decline, or extinction following exposure to unprecedented conditions.
Dynamic evaluation of landslide susceptibility in a large-scale region based on time-series InSAR and multi-temporal cataloguing: a case study in Heifangtai, Gansu province
Authors: Ling Qing , Li Weizhi , qu jiebo , Guo Qi , Ren Junguang , Yang Chenjian , Kang Ronghua
Published: January 2025

Landslide disasters are common in the mountainous regions of western China, making accurate classification of landslide hazard risk levels essential for effective geological disaster management. Data-driven models have achieved notable advancements in landslide susceptibility evaluation. However, they still encounter challenges such as a lack of dynamic feature data and an over-reliance on sample quality, which limits their effectiveness for large-scales. To address these issues, this paper introduces an integrated evaluation approach that combines time-series InSAR deformation data with data-driven models. This method initially incorporated time-series InSAR deformation monitoring data as dynamic factors, which were filtered through multivariate covariance analysis to construct a dynamic landslide susceptibility evaluation system. Additionally, only landslide samples were adopted to conduct large-scale landslide susceptibility analysis. Various machine learning algorithms, based on landslide and non-landslide samples, were also applied for model comparison. Building upon this foundation, the evaluation of landslide susceptibility was performed by integrating InSAR deformation data with multi-temporal cataloging. The Heifangtai region in Gansu Province was chosen as a case study. The results indicate that the maximum entropy (Maxent) model achieved the highest accuracy for large-scale susceptibility assessments. Incorporating time-series InSAR deformation into the dynamic landslide susceptibility model improved accuracy by about 0.36%, compared to models without this data. Additionally, the proportion of landslides identified in high and very high susceptibility zones increased by 4.29%. By using eight years of landslide catalog data as positive samples, the presented model achieved an accuracy of 99.26%, demonstrating that long-term, high-quality positive samples improve the precision and reliability of regional predictions. This study advances large-scale landslide risk assessment by integrating a dynamic evaluation system that accounts for data across multiple time periods.
Coastal Physical Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise in the active Ecuadorian margin for Integrated Coastal Zone Management, case study: Santa Elena Bay
Authors: Villacís Elvis Espinoza , Rivas-Oviedo Jacqueline , Martillo-Bustamante Carlos , Muthre M. , Saltos-Andrade Iván , Andrade-García Gina , Cedeño-Oviedo Jonathan , Cervantes-Bernabé Eduardo , Chunga-Morán Kervin
Published: January 2025

Coastal areas face increasing threats from extreme weather and rising sea levels, exposing both human populations and delicate ecosystems. This study evaluates the physical vulnerability in the Santa Elena Bay (SEB) coastline, which is setting in the active margin of Ecuador, which is highly influenced by geological vertical movements. The results of this study permit us to give some recommendations to coastal management. Employing the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI), we analyze variables such as lithology, geomorphology, beach slope, coastal indentation, shoreline displacement, and wave height. The CVI categorized the coast into four vulnerability ranks: Low, Moderate, High, and Very High. Results indicate that low-lying beaches, especially in the Northern zone, where there are higher waves, are the most vulnerable. The Northern zone of SEB exhibits substantially higher vulnerability, with 15.80% of the coast classified as High and 41.76% as Very High. Key factors contributing to Very High vulnerability include low indentation (63.96%), high wave heights (58.69%), and quaternary sediments (57.41%). Conversely, the Southern zone primarily demonstrates High and Low vulnerability, however critical areas can be found which have some important infrastructure to tourism, i.e. Monteverde, San Pablo, Punta Barandúa, Ballenita, and Salinas. The findings highlight the urgency of implementing mitigation measures and integrating adaptive management strategies into urban development policies to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities and protect local ecosystems.
The influence of reduced amino acid alphabets on prediction orthologous protein thermostability
Authors: Jiang Yuxin , Yuan Xiaoyu , Zheng Shizhe , Luo Silin , Chen Haidong , Ding Yanrui
Published: January 2025

Sequence feature plays a vital role in determining protein thermostability. Considering the advantages of reduced amino acid alphabets (RAAs) in reducing data complexity and retaining key sequence information, we evaluate the performance of 672 RAAs on prediction orthologous protein thermostability. By calculating the Amino Acid Composition, Dipeptide Composition, Tripeptide Composition of reduced sequence features and building random forest regression models, we find that 10 RAAs based on the fuzzy clustering algorithm are suitable to predict the thermostability difference of orthologous protein pairs and significantly improve the prediction efficiency. Further, the melting temperature difference ΔTm caused by point mutation is predicted, and it is found that the RAA of EQ-H-K-DN-IL-P-T-FY-M-R-S-W-A-C-G-V could fit the tiny thermostability change caused by point mutation. Our work showcases that the reduction methods based on fuzzy clustering can effectively retain the key sequence features that affect protein thermostability, resulting in reducing the computational complexity and increasing the prediction accuracy.
Assessing Oral Health Challenges and Solutions in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Public Health Perspective
Authors: Hassan Md Sakib
Published: January 2025

Oral health is crucial to overall well-being, yet it is often overlooked in low-income regions like Mogadishu, Somalia. This study assesses the oral health of Mogadishu residents, focusing on the prevalence of oral diseases, hygiene practices, barriers to care, and socio-cultural factors influencing oral health behaviors. Data were collected from 1,505 participants using structured questionnaires at the SWED University Dental Clinic. Findings reveal a high prevalence of oral diseases: 60% of children had dental caries, 70% of participants showed signs of periodontal disease, and 40% of children suffered from fluorosis due to high fluoride levels in local water. Cultural practices such as using Muswaki (chewing sticks) and harmful habits like khat chewing and tobacco use were significant contributors to poor oral health. Economic barriers and limited access to professional dental care forced many to rely on traditional remedies. Preventive care was nearly absent, with most individuals seeking dental treatment only when symptoms became severe. The study also highlighted the shortage of dental professionals in Mogadishu. Recommendations include improving dental care infrastructure, subsidizing dental products, promoting public health education, and addressing issues like high fluoride levels in water to reduce oral health disparities and enhance well-being.
A Deep Learning-Based Model for Financial Crisis Prediction
Authors: Elnaggar Hoda A. , Elsherif Marwa , Marie Mohamed
Published: January 2025

Deep learning (DL) is becoming more widespread in the banking and finance industries. There is currently no thorough analysis of deep learning's uses in banking and finance in the corpus of extant literature. This study examines the literature on the application of model evaluation, input data evaluation, and model preprocessing evaluation. This study gives scholars and practitioner’s guidance and insight into the current status of deep learning model application in the banking and finance industries. Two recurrent neural network architectures are compared in this study: the recurrent neural network (RNN) and the short-term memory (LSTM), the results show that deep learning is superior for financial crisis prediction. RNN has a 99.2% precision rate.
Exploring the Trade-Off Between Environmental Quality and Economic Welfare: Analyzing the EPC and EKC Hypotheses in the UK with a Focus on Democratization and Fossil Fuel Use
Authors: Güler İlkay , Naimoğlu Mustafa , Şimşek Orhan , Adalı Zafer , Özbek Sefa
Published: January 2025

Carbon neutrality achievement, mitigating and reverting environmental degradations, and increasing renewable energy projections have been among the most mentioned and received the attention of the government's agendas. Nearly all documents and policy actions have been designed and highlighted under environmental-related issues. However, the considered policy actions have been considered tough decisions involving a trade-off between environmental quality and economic welfare. The Environmental Phillips Curve has been recently introduced under the insight into the trade-off, and the EPC implies that environmental degradations can be blessed at the cost of high unemployment. The study strives to scrutinize the EPC and EKC hypotheses by considering the effect of Democratization, quality of government, and fossil use on CO2 emissions in the UK. Within this context, the ARDL approach, the FMOLS, and DOLS estimators are performed on data covering the period between 1990 and 2021. The result of the study discloses that the EPC hypothesis is not verified, whereas the EKC hypothesis holds for the UK. Besides, quality of government and Democratization play a pivotal role in mitigating CO2 emissions, while fossil fuels impair the air quality of the UK. The evidence is that policymakers in improved democratic institutions can implement a better performance of providing policy directions for mitigating environmental degradation, and the country with achieved compositions and techniques effects can implement pro-environmental policies without the cost of economic welfare.
Association of IGF1R Polymorphisms with Idiopathic Short Stature in Children: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hemmatyar Ahmad , Vafapour Maryam , Talebi Hanieh , Dastgheib Seyed Alireza , Bahrami Reza , Pourkazemi Melina , Rashnavadi Heewa , Shahbazi Amirhossein , Rahmani Amirhossein , Aghili Kazem , Neamatzadeh Hossein
Published: January 2025

Background
Idiopathic short stature (ISS) poses substantial challenges in pediatric growth assessment due to its multifactorial origins. This meta-analysis explores the relationship between IGF1R polymorphisms and the risk of ISS in children.
Methods
A comprehensive literature review was performed utilizing PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and CNKI, culminating on January 1, 2025, focusing on studies published before this date. The search employed relevant keywords and MeSH terms related to ISS and genetics factors. The inclusion criteria focused on original case-control, longitudinal, or cohort studies, with no restrictions on language or publication year. Correlations were quantified as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.
Results
Eight case-control studies comprising 3,794 children with ISS and 3,018 controls were included. Four studies examined the variant rs1976667 (2,255 cases and 1,642 controls), while the other four focused on rs2684788 (1,539 cases and 1,376 controls). All studies, conducted in China from 2011 to 2018, found no significant associations between IGF1R polymorphisms rs1976667 and rs2684788 and ISS across all five genetic models.
Conclusions
This meta-analysis reveals no significant association between IGF1R rs1976667 and rs2684788 polymorphisms with ISS. However, the predominance of studies conducted in Asian populations, particularly China, may limit the generalizability of the findings to other ethnic groups.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Lessons from Clinical Cases, A case series
Authors: Elkourashy Sarah A. , Mashhadi Tamader , Al-Kuwari Amna , Al-Abdulla Sara , Sayed Gamal
Published: January 2025

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) is a rare yet life-threatening complication during pregnancy, with maternal mortality rates historically exceeding 90% before the advent of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), which has been the cornerstone of treatment for several decades. Rituximab has become increasingly important for managing refractory or relapsing TTP, particularly during pregnancy, due to its effectiveness in reducing relapses. In severe or recurrent cases, caplacizumab has emerged as a valuable agent, rapidly controlling acute episodes by preventing platelet aggregation and reducing microvascular thrombosis, which is critical in reducing organ damage and improving survival. Monitoring ADAMTS13 activity has become crucial in distinguishing between congenital and acquired TTP, guiding treatment decisions, and preventing relapses. This case series includes both acquired and congenital TTP cases, and in one severe case with multiple relapses, we used caplacizumab to stabilize the patient's condition. The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis, individualized treatment, and proactive management in improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Development and characterization of new muscle line from Lates cacarifer (Bloch, 1790) towards cultivated seafood research
Authors: D.K. Pawaskar , Pinto Nevil , Iqbal Gowhar , Sonwane Arvind , Rasal Kiran , Goswami Mukunda
Published: January 2025

Lates calcarifer (Asian Seabass) is one of the important aquaculture species, widely cultured in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a euryhaline and catadromous fish found in near estuaries. A cell line was developed from muscle tissue of Asian Seabass designated as SBM and was conditioned to grow in reduced serum concentration. These cells were subcultured upto 30 passages. SBM cells were conditioned to grow in Leibovitz’s-15 (L-15) supplemented with 5% FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum). The SBM cells had a doubling time of 26 h. SBM cells had optimal growth at 28°C with 5% FBS. The COI gene sequence from cytochrome C oxidase subunit I was used to authenticate the developed cell line. The myogenicity of SBM cells was confirmed using immunofluorescence. The immunological characterization of the MyoD and PAX7 was assessed in SBM cells at 2 different passages i.e., 10th and 25th passages. The expression of MyoD and PAX7 was higher at passage 10th compared to passage 25th. A revival rate of 80% was obtained when SBM cells were cryopreserved at − 196°C using liquid nitrogen. This study will enhance our understanding of invitro myogenesis and provide insights for cultivated seafood.
Lesões Oculares e o Uso do Equipamento de Proteção Individual: Revisão Integrativa da Literatura
Authors: Freitas Maria Bethânia Alves de , Cunha Vinícius , Schmidt Cristhiane Martins , Moimaz Suzely Adas Saliba , Saliba Tânia Adas
Published: January 2025

A visão é imprescindível no exercício profissional do cirurgião-dentista, pois permite a observação, o diagnóstico e a realização de movimentos precisos. Entretanto, os olhos estão constantemente expostos a lesões ocupacionais. Objetivou-se investigar na literatura a ocorrência das lesões oculares e a utilização do equipamento de proteção individual por cirurgiões-dentistas e acadêmicos de Odontologia. Realizou-se uma busca nas bases de dados PubMed (n=421), Scielo (n=16) e BVS- Lilacs e BBO (n=248) com os descritores “Odontologia do Trabalho”, “Lesões Oculares”, “Dispositivos de Proteção dos Olhos”, “Odontologia, “Equipamento de Proteção Individual” e “Acidentes de trabalho”. Foram selecionados estudos clínicos, relatos de casos, estudos transversais e observacionais. Excluíram-se manuais, resenhas, artigos de opinião, relatórios científicos e revisões. Foram selecionados 27 artigos. As lesões oculares representam até 75% das lesões ocupacionais. O uso dos óculos de proteção por profissionais e acadêmicos de Odontologia variou de 14% a 82%, aproximadamente. Concluiu-se que as lesões oculares ocorrem na prática clínica do cirurgião-dentista e que o uso do equipamento de proteção individual é frequentemente negligenciado por acadêmicos e profissionais de Odontologia.
Evaluating the effectiveness of public finance used for social protection of internally displaced persons
Authors: Bilan Yuriy , Yurchyk Halyna , Samoliuk Natalia , Mishchuk Halyna
Published: January 2025

The increasing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in wartime Ukraine leads to growing problems in social protection funding. Under these circumstances, the evaluation of the effectiveness of public finance use is of increasing importance. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of public finance for internally displaced persons’ social protection, adapting the KPI methodology for analysis on the national level. The effectiveness is considered following the OECD approach as the extent to which the intervention achieved its objectives and results. At macrolevel of research, the integral indicator was developed based on indicators of input (financing of social protection programs), output (involvement of IDPs in social programs), activity (funding per recipient and multiplicative effect in GDP growth), mechanism (administrative costs for achieving results), and control (effectiveness of IDPs’ social protection compared to other demographic groups). Thirty indicators in total were used (e.g., budgetary funding allocated for housing assistance; budget expenditures on staff salaries of the authorities responsible for certain programs; coverage rate of unemployed IDPs receiving vocational training). The essential distance from the maximum level of expected results (1.0) allows concluding the low effectiveness in this area of public finance use: from 0.330 in 2020 to 0.668 in 2023. Gaps are evident in each direction, especially in input performance (the highest value did not exceed 0.370). The best results were achieved in housing funding and employment governance. The proposed approach is useful for analyzing gaps and identifying opportunities to improve the management of other social programs.
Petersburg in the Early Works by Vladimir Nabokov
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Potapova Zoya S.
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to the early works of Vladimir Nabokov, both prose and poetry, written in the 1910s and 1920s. The main artistic space of these texts is Petersburg, nostalgia for which accompanied the writer throughout his life. At the same time, most of the texts, not only dedicated to Petersburg, but also those where the space of the city appears, were created in emigration. Domestic and foreign literary scholars have devoted their studies to the image of Petersburg in Nabokov’s work, but the material for their analysis was mainly prose written after 1930, and a little less often poetry — the poems “To the Capital”, “Petersburg”. For this study, poems, stories, the play “A Man from the USSR” and the novel “Mashenka” were selected. The selection was made based on the principle of mentioning the space of St. Petersburg and recognizable loci, such as the Bronze Horseman, the Neva, the Moika, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, etc. The city is integrated into various associative series that arise in the consciousness of the characters. In Nabokov’s work, St. Petersburg is ambivalent. On the one hand, it is shown as a place of happiness, where the characters spent their childhood and had their first love. On the other hand, it is directly connected with historical events: the difficult course of construction in a swampy area not intended for this, emigration, and the October Revolution, which destroys the appearance of the former St. Petersburg (for Nabokov’s characters, the city of childhood ceases to exist on the map) and puts an end to the characters’ St. Petersburg biography.