bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dipole Determination by Polarimetric Spectroscopy Yielding the Orientation of Gold Nanorods
Authors: Simo P. Christian , Mildner Annika , Kern Dieter P. , Fleischer Monika
Published: January 2025

Plasmonic nanorods and other colloidal nanoparticles are widely used probes for enhanced spectromicroscopies. Precise knowledge of the angular orientation of individual nanostructures, respectively of their resonant modes, is required for purposes such as chiroptical spectroscopy or metasurfaces. However, noninvasive measurements of structures below the diffraction limit prove to be challenging. In this article, dark‐field spectroscopy requiring only four spectra in a simple microscope setup with a polarizer and an analyzer is employed in combination with an analytical dipole model to extract the orientation of the longitudinal dipolar mode of exemplary gold nanorods. This mode coincides with the azimuthal orientation of the colloid, and for irregularly shaped particles it can help to determine their dominant axis. The technique is demonstrated on multiple nanorods with varying aspect ratios. The spectroscopically determined orientations are compared to orientations extracted from electron microscopy images, resulting in standard deviations as low as ±2.4°. The method can be generalized to nanostructures with 3D orientations or multiple resonances.
Tensile performance of inclined adhesive anchors in steel fiber‐reinforced concrete
Authors: Cihan Mehmet Timur , Aydın Zekeriya , Kam Serkan
Published: January 2025

In almost all studies on post‐installed anchors in concrete, the anchor direction is perpendicular to the concrete surface. However, the anchor direction may not be perpendicular to the concrete surface due to application errors or requirements. In the study, the effect of inclination angle is examined experimentally for non‐perpendicular anchorage to steel fiber‐reinforced concrete. Anchor inclination angle (0°, 15°, and 30°), fiber volume fraction (0%, 1.5%, and 3%), and embedment depth (40, 60, and 80 mm) are considered variables. Trial points are decided using the “Box–Behnken” experimental design approach. An 8 mm diameter deformed steel bar and two‐component epoxy acrylate‐based chemical adhesive are used for anchorage. Load–displacement curves, ultimate loads, and failure modes are determined through tensile tests. It is concluded that as the fiber fraction increases, failure modes modify and the negative effect of the inclination angle decreases, particularly in cases of small embedment depth.
Sustainable Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment Recycling in Nigeria, Policies and Emerging Technologies
Authors: Abogunrin‐Olafisoye Oladunni Bola , Adeyi Oladayo , Adeyi Abiola J. , Oke Emmanuel Olusola , Ojediran Gideon Oluranti
Published: January 2025

Nigeria faces significant environmental and health risks due to rapid Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) generation, estimated at 500,000 tons annually. This systematic review analyses the situation of WEEE in Nigeria, examining existing policies, regulations, and emerging technologies for sustainable recycling. The review analysis reveals gaps in legislation, inadequate infrastructure, and primitive recycling methods, resulting in severe environmental pollution and health risks. Emerging technologies, such as recycling technologies, waste‐to‐energy conversion, and circular economy approaches, offer potential solutions. This review evaluates these technologies' effectiveness and sustainability in the Nigerian context. Recommendations for policy reforms, technological innovations, and stakeholder engagement are provided to inform evidence‐based decision‐making and promote sustainable WEEE recycling practices in Nigeria.
Clinical presentation, acute care management and discharge information of patients with thoracic trauma in South Africa and Sweden: a prospective multicenter observational study
Authors: van Aswegen Heleen , Roos Ronel , Svensson-Raskh Anna , Svensson Annie , Sehlin Maria , Caragounis Eva-Corina , Plani Frank , Fagevik-Olsén Monika
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Thoracic trauma causes pain and hospitalisation. Middle- and high-income countries have different trauma contexts and populations. To report patients’ clinical presentation (pain and shortness of breath) and its influence on hospital length of stay (LOS), acute care management, and discharge destinations in South Africa (SA) and Sweden.

Methods

Prospective observational multicenter study by means of clinical record review. Two centers in SA and four centers in Sweden participated. One thousand nine hundred and eighteen adults with thoracic trauma were screened over the 20 months period. Study objectives guided information retrieved from clinical records. Statistical analysis was done with significance at p-value < 0.05.

Results

Three-hundred-sixty-four participants were recruited with most being male (n = 170/179 (95%) SA; n = 125/185 (68%) Sweden). Type and mechanism of injury differed (SA penetrating (82%) versus Sweden blunt (95%); SA assaults (90%) versus Sweden falls (44%)). Unilateral haemopneumothorax was common (SA 68%, Sweden 35%) and managed with intercostal drainage. Rib cage injuries were common in the Swedish cohort with rib fixation surgery for 17%. Physiotherapy treatment frequency was mostly daily. Blunt injury resulted in higher pain levels during deep breathing (day 1: p = 0.014; day 2: p < 0.001; day 3: p < 0.001) and shortness of breath during activity (day 1: p = 0.036; day 2: p = 0.003; day 3: p < 0.001). LOS was shorter for SA cohort (5 (± 4) versus 7 (± 5) days; p = 0.024). Age influenced LOS in the blunt injury group. Discharge destination was mostly home (99% SA, 56% Sweden).

Conclusion

Priority care is indicated for those who are older and have blunt thoracic injury to prevent pulmonary complications and prolonged hospitalisation.
A Lambda-evo (λevo) phage platform for Zika virus EDIII protein display
Authors: Negrete-Méndez Honorio , Valencia-Toxqui Guadalupe , Martínez-Peñafiel Eva , Medina-Contreras Oscar , Fernández-Ramírez Fernando , Morales-Ríos Edgar , Navarro-González Luis Janiel , Torres-Flores Jesús M. , Kameyama Luis
Published: January 2025

One of the most significant bacteriophage technologies is phage display, in which heterologous peptides are exhibited on the virion surface. This work describes the display of λ decorative protein Dλ linked to the E protein domain III of Zika virus (Dλ-ZEDIII), to the GFP protein (Dλ-GFP), or to different domain III epitopes of the EZIKV protein (Dλ-TD), exhibited on the surface of an in vitro evolved lambda phage (λevo). This phage harbors a gene D deletion and was subjected to directed evolution using Escherichia coli W3110/pDλ-ZEDIII as background. After 20 days (20 cycles of dilution), the λevo phage developed a ~ 22% genome deletion affecting the non-essential λ b region, rendering a more stable phage that exhibited fusion proteins Dλ-ZEDIII or Dλ-GFP but not Dλ-TD. Despite the λevo system was able to decorate itself with the Dλ-ZEDIII protein, the production of viral particles was ~ 1000-fold lower than the λ wild-type, due to the unexpected Dλ-ZEDIII protein aggregation into bacterial inclusion bodies. Decorated phages (106 PFU (plaque forming units)/100 µl) were inoculated into BALB/c mice, and subsequent dot blot and Western blot immunoassays proved the production of murine antibodies against ZIKV (Zika virus). This multipurpose λevo phage display platform may be used interchangeably with other more soluble peptides, providing better yields.

Key points

• λ

evo

 platform for displaying recombinant peptides.

• Directed evolution to generate λ

evo

 with more efficient decoration.

• Antigenic reaction in BALB/c mice by inoculating λ

evo

 with recombinant peptides.
Current advancements in cellular immunotherapy for autoimmune disease
Authors: Berry Corbett T. , Frazee Caitlin S. , Herman Patrick J. , Chen Sisi , Chen Anna , Kuo Yvonne , Ellebrecht Christoph T.
Published: January 2025

The management of autoimmune diseases is currently limited by therapies that largely suppress the immune system, often resulting in partial and temporary remissions. Cellular immunotherapies offer a targeted approach by redirecting immune cells to correct the underlying autoimmunity. This review explores the latest advances in cellular immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases, focusing on various strategies, such as the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, chimeric auto-antibody receptor (CAAR) T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and tolerogenic dendritic cells (TolDCs). We review recent preclinical studies and results from clinical trials that demonstrate the potential for these therapies to either deplete autoreactive cells or promote immune tolerance through broad or selective targeting of immune cell populations. Key challenges such as ensuring specificity, preventing off-target effects, and improving the longevity of therapeutic effects are discussed. The evolving landscape of cellular immunotherapies holds promise for more durable treatment responses and increased specificity for autoimmune disease treatment.
Transcriptional activation and coactivator binding by yeast Ino2 and human proto-oncoprotein c-Myc
Authors: Wendegatz Eva-Carina , Lettow Julia , Wierzbicka Wiktoria , Schüller Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2025

Basic helix-loop-helix domains in yeast regulatory proteins Ino2 and Ino4 mediate formation of a heterodimer which binds to and activates expression of phospholipid biosynthetic genes. The human proto-oncoprotein c-Myc (Myc) and its binding partner Max activate genes important for cellular proliferation and contain functional domains structure and position of which strongly resembles Ino2 and Ino4. Since Ino2—Myc and Ino4—Max may be considered as orthologs we performed functional comparisons in yeast. We demonstrate that Myc and Max could be stably synthesized in S. cerevisiae and together significantly activated a target gene of Ino2/Ino4 but nevertheless were unable to functionally complement an ino2 ino4 double mutant. We also map two efficient transcriptional activation domains in the N-terminus of Myc (TAD1: aa 1–41 and TAD2: aa 91–140), corresponding to TAD positions in Ino2. We finally show that coactivators such as TFIID subunits Taf1, Taf4, Taf6, Taf10 and Taf12 as well as ATPase subunits of chromatin remodelling complexes Swi2, Sth1 and Ino80 previously shown to interact with TADs of Ino2 were also able to bind TADs of Myc, supporting the view that heterodimers Ino2/Ino4 and Myc/Max are evolutionary related but have undergone transcriptional rewiring of target genes.
Evaluation of an e-self-management intervention (Happy Hands app) for hand osteoarthritis: Study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Tveter Anne Therese , Fjeldstad Kristine Aasness , Varsi Cecilie , Maarnes Marit Kristin , Pedersen Stein Jarle , Christensen Barbara S. , Blanck Thalita , Nyheim Sissel B. , Prior Yeliz , Björk Mathilda , Pelle Tim , Kjeken Ingvild
Published: January 2025

Objective

This protocol paper describes the rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of a 12 week e-self-management intervention (Happy Hands app) in people with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Methods

In this multicentre RCT, 376 people with HOA will be recruited from all four health regions in Norway. Consenting participants will be randomly allocated to either a control group receiving usual care or an intervention group receiving the Happy Hands app in addition to usual care. Primary outcome will be measured at 3-months follow-up as the proportion of participants classified as OMERACT-OARSI responders (a composite score comprising change in pain, function, and disease activity), analysed using logistic regression. Secondary outcomes, including pain, hand function, stiffness, quality-of-care, health-related quality-of-life, grip strength, adherence and healthcare costs will be measured at 3- and 6-months follow-up.

Results

Recruitment was initiated in November 2022 with a total of 386 participants recruited by August 2023, 194 in the intervention group and 192 in the control group. Data collection was completed in February 2024.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is one of the first large-scale, multicentre RCTs assessing the (cost-)effectiveness of a self-management program delivered through a smartphone app for people with HOA. The results from this trial can enhance our understanding of the role technology can play in managing HOA.

Trial registration

NCT05568875 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05568875, pre-registered October 3, 2022).
Fine resolution satellite sea surface temperatures capture the conditions experienced by corals at monthly but not daily timescales
Authors: Bos Jaelyn T. , Pinsky Malin L.
Published: January 2025

Water temperature is a strong driver of growth, survival, and local adaptation in corals, but our knowledge of the temperatures experienced by corals on reefs worldwide remains limited. While in situ temperature loggers can provide high quality data, they are relatively expensive to place and retrieve. Alternatively, remotely sensed sea surface temperature data are globally available but may be a biased representation of the temperatures experienced by corals. Here, we compared data from 314 temperature loggers on coral reefs to the ~ 1 km2 resolution remotely sensed Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (MUR) product from NASA. We found good agreement (Pearson’s r = 0.95) between maximum monthly mean temperatures calculated from remote and in situ data, with 84% of temperatures within 0.5 °C of each other. However, remotely sensed temperature did not effectively capture sub-diel temperature fluctuations and the highest peak temperatures that may be most dangerous for corals. Predictions of in situ temperatures were significantly but weakly improved by a consideration of reef geomorphology. Ultimately, we found that remotely sensed temperatures can accurately represent the monthly conditions experienced by most corals but should be used with caution at finer temporal scales.
Impact of microplastics on female reproductive health: insights from animal and human experimental studies: a systematic review
Authors: Inam Özen
Published: January 2025

Objective

This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of microplastics on female reproductive health by analyzing experimental studies.

Method

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to identify experimental studies published between 2021 and 2023. Studies investigating the effects of microplastics on reproductive organs, hormone levels, fertility rates, and offspring development in female subjects were included. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that exposure to microplastics significantly affects ovarian function, decreases fertility rates, and disrupts hormone levels in female subjects. Several studies also reported negative effects on embryo development and offsprings health. The quality of the studies varied, with some showing a high risk of bias.

Conclusion

The evidence from experimental studies suggests that microplastics have a detrimental effect on female reproductive health. However, the variation in study quality highlights the need for more rigorous research to confirm these results and better understand the underlying mechanisms.
Improving detection of monogenic diabetes through reanalysis of GCK variants of uncertain significance
Authors: De Sousa Sunita M. C. , Phan Jennifer M. N. , Wells Amanda , Wu Kathy H. C. , Scott Hamish S.
Published: January 2025

Aims

To assess the utility of reanalysing GCK variants of uncertain significance (VUS) as an intervention to improve the detection of monogenic diabetes.

Methods

We examined GCK VUS in a local cohort of individuals with suspected monogenic diabetes and re-curated each variant against the recent ClinGen GCK-specific variant classification guidelines.

Results

Variant reanalysis achieved a new ‘likely pathogenic’ classification (i.e., positive results) in 4/8 identified VUS. The single most common newly applied criterion indicating variant pathogenicity was a confirmed phenotype of GCK-hyperglycaemia. RNA sequencing and segregation studies were performed in two cases but not additive to reclassification.

Conclusions

This is the first VUS reclassification study in monogenic diabetes using gene-specific guidelines. Within the limits of this small study, we observed a high rate (50%) of VUS upgrades to a positive result, thereby confirming the utility of VUS reanalysis– particularly with biochemical phenotyping– in increasing the detection of monogenic diabetes. We recommend HbA1c, fasting blood glucose and either pancreatic autoantibody negativity or a small oral glucose tolerance test increment as a feasible minimum dataset to inform variant classification at the individual patient level, noting the ongoing work of the ClinGen Monogenic Diabetes Expert Panel in systematically reviewing GCK variants at the international level.
In vivo 9.4 Tesla MRI of a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy: Technical report
Authors: van Lanen Rick H. G. J. , Uher Daniel , Tse Desmond H. Y. , Steijvers Esther , Colon Albert J. , Jansen Jacobus F. A. , Drenthen Gerhard S. , Ivanov Dimo , Hoogland Govert , Rijkers Kim , Hoeberigs Christianne M. , Hofman Paul A. M. , Backes Walter H. , Schijns Olaf E. M. G.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In resective epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE), good seizure outcome is strongly associated with visualization of an epileptogenic lesion on MRI. Standard clinical MRI (≤ 3 Tesla (T)) may fail to detect subtle lesions. 7T MRI enhances detection and delineation, the potential benefits of increasing field strength to 9.4T are explored.

Methods

A 36 years old male patient with DRE evaluated for resective surgery, in which 3T and 7T MRI failed to detect any epileptogenic lesions, was submitted to a dedicated epilepsy scan protocol using T1 and T2* weighted imaging at 9.4T. Images were evaluated independently by two neuroradiologists and one neurosurgeon.

Results

9.4T MRI offered increased spatial resolution and enhanced depiction of anatomical structures vital for epilepsy imaging, exemplified by regions mesio-temporal (hippocampus, amygdala), latero-temporal, insula, frontal and temporal operculum, and gray-white matter junction (precentral gyrus/frontal lobe) compared to 3T and 7T, albeit with challenges in mesial-temporal and antero-inferior temporal lobe imaging. No epileptogenic lesion was identified.

Conclusion

9.4T demonstrates promise in the identification and delineation of anatomical structures and small epileptogenic lesions in patients with DRE eligible for resective surgery. Whether clinical 9.4T MRI in DRE has clinical advantages over 7T or leads to a more complete resection of the epileptogenic zone and improved seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery needs to be established.
Fundraising, Governance and Environmental Ethics: Evidence from Equity Crowdfunding
Authors: Vismara Silvio , Wirtz Peter
Published: January 2025

There is an important research tradition concerning the financial implications of social and environmental ethics. This study investigates the short- and long-term financial performance of ventures with explicit environmental commitments seeking to raise funds in equity crowdfunding (ECF) markets. Our results indicate that environmental orientation positively influences short-term funding performance, though only when accompanied by the costly signal of robust corporate governance mechanisms. In the long run, environmental orientation also positively impacts performance, albeit with only weak statistical significance when observed alone. Governance again serves as a positive moderator, but its effect is less significant relative to the short term. However, environmental orientation does feature a strongly significant positive impact on long-run performance when combined with a successfully conducted initial ECF campaign.
A solar-powered, internet of things (IoT)-controlled water irrigation system supported by rainfall forecasts utilizing aerosols: a review
Authors: Balamurali D. , Chakankar Samarth , Sharma Giridhar , Pagey Ananjan Praveen , Natarajan M. , Shaik Saboor , Gnanavendan Sudarshan , Arıcı Müslüm
Published: January 2025

Efficient water management is crucial in modern agriculture, especially in regions facing water scarcity. Traditional irrigation systems often result in water wastage, which challenges sustainability goals. This paper presents a comprehensive review of a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart irrigation system with rainfall prediction based on pollutant concentration designed to optimize water usage through real-time environmental monitoring and promote sustainable agriculture through the integration of photovoltaic (PV) power. The system's components, including 160 Wp semi-crystalline PV panels, ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, Partial Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control methods, and a reversible pump, were selected based on a comprehensive literature review, establishing the foundation for the proposed system’s design. The review extensively covers previous PV-irrigation integration systems, their performance in varied environments, and the cost–benefit analysis with special reference to Indian government subsidies for solar adoption in agriculture. In addition, various IoT-based irrigation systems and communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, LoRa, and Zigbee were reviewed, ensuring that the selected components represent the most efficient and secure combination for field deployment. The key novelty of this system is the rainfall prediction methodology, which focuses on pollutant concentration (PM10, PM2.5, SO₂, NO₂, CO, NH3, Cr and Pb) rather than the traditional aerosol size used in previous studies. This approach leverages the unique environmental characteristics of the chosen location, providing more accurate predictions of rainfall, which can be used to dynamically adjust irrigation schedules, reducing water waste. Sample data of pollutant levels and weather conditions from the area are provided as a demonstration. The paper also reviews security concerns in IoT systems, highlighting potential vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies to ensure robust system operation. By combining IoT, PV, and predictive weather analytics, the proposed system offers significant advantages in water and energy management, with the MPPT controller maximizing solar energy efficiency. The review presents a detailed flow diagram of the system, showcasing components chosen through a thorough literature survey. It also examines portable PV-pumping systems, recommending the proposed design for effective use in both small- and medium-scale farms. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of sustainable irrigation technologies, highlighting their potential to significantly improve agricultural water management practices.
Interpretation of the Klein-Gordon Probability Density
Authors: Sutherland Roderick I.
Published: January 2025

The fact that the “probability density” expression provided by the Klein–Gordon equation can take on negative values is usually seen as an obstacle to formulating a particle interpretation of quantum mechanics. Nevertheless, reconciling this expression with a particle ontology is quite possible once a careful distinction is drawn between the outcomes of measurements and the positions of particles between measurements. Following this path, however, points to the involvement of retrocausality, as proposed by various authors in other contexts.
From waste to wealth: coupling different nutritional modes of Scenedesmus obliquus for waste remediation and algal product development
Authors: Silkina Alla , Gayo-Peláez José Ignacio , Fernandes Fleuriane , Fuentes-Grünewald Claudio , Kapoore Rahul Vijay , Tang Kam W.
Published: January 2025

This study exploited the different combinations of nutritional modes (autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic) of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus in a two-stage cultivation process to remediate wastes as well as maximise the production of high-protein algal biomass. The alga was first cultivated autotrophically in Stage-one, using 0.5% of digestate as a nutrient source and natural light to support the growth; afterward, the culture was concentrated and used in Stage-two cultivation under the different nutritional modes. 2.5% of anaerobic digestate from food waste was used to provide inorganic nutrients; waste sugar recovered from a confectionery manufacturer was used as the organic carbon source to support mixo- and hetero-trophic growth. In Stage-one, the algae removed ammonium and phosphate at 9.1 mg L−1 day−1 and 3.8 mg L−1 day−1, respectively, and the algal yield approached a carrying capacity of 1 g dry weight per liter. In Stage-two, the algal population increased faster in mixotrophic and heterotrophic modes, reaching a final dry weight concentration of 7.2–10.5 g L−1, than in autotrophic mode. Ammonium and phosphate were consumed at about twice the rate as in autotrophic mode, and 90–100% of the waste sugar was removed within 48–72 h. The final algal biomass had a protein content of 44% in mixotrophic mode, compared to only 32% in autotrophic mode. This study demonstrated that a two-stage cultivation process coupling autotrophic and mixotrophic growth of S. obliquus can be used to remediate both inorganic and organic wastes and boost the production of protein-rich algal biomass, which can be beneficial to a sustainable circular bioeconomy.
Earthquakes and seismic hazard for Norway and Svalbard
Authors: Lindholm Conrad , Bungum Hilmar , Ghione Federica , Meslem Abdelghani , Huang Chen , Oye Volker
Published: January 2025

We document a complete seismic hazard study for mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago. The study is based on a Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) method, and for the first time a new earthquake catalogue is presented publicly that covers Norway, Svalbard and the adjacent offshore regions. The catalogue is developed from an extensive analysis of historical earthquakes combined with more recent instrumental data with 33,864 reports between 1497 through 2018, and with magnitudes up to Mw 6.7. With this catalogue seismic hazard is computed for 10% exceedance in 475 years through a logic tree computation with 12 branches: two area-zonations, one zonation free branch and four GMPEs. These 12 branches were defined with the aim to reduce the model bias, i.e., to centre the model, and to capture the epistemic uncertainty of the results. While the conventional Vs30 reference velocity is usually around 800 m/s we have targeted a reference velocity of 1200 m/s, based on extensive documentation of Norwegian rock velocities. This has significant bearing on the calculated hazard and provides for results that better reflect the bedrock conditions in Norway. As a result of this, the predicted shaking intensities are lower than the values previously reported in the (1998) national building code. In the Supplementary Information we have provided a brief overview of the seismotectonic setting, some tests that further demonstrate the uncertainty in our hazard estimates, a model for H/V ground-motion response spectra, examples of the sensitivity to the bedrock reference velocity and a comparison between the present study and the ESHM20 results.
Genomic regions associated with spot blotch resistance in elite barley breeding populations
Authors: Roy Dipika , Dinglasan Eric , Fowler Ryan , Platz Greg , Lance Reg , Synman Lisle , Franckowiak Jerome , Hickey Lee Thomas , Voss-Fels Kai , Robinson Hannah
Published: January 2025

Spot blotch (SB), a prevalent foliar disease of barley, is caused by the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. Predominately occurring in humid growing regions worldwide, SB can result in yield losses of up to 30%. Genetic resistance remains the most effective strategy for disease management; however, most Australian barley cultivars exhibit susceptibility despite the previous identification of major resistance loci. This study investigates the genetic architecture underlying spot blotch resistance within an Australian barley breeding program. Resistance was assessed at both the seedling and adult growth stages using a single conidial isolate (SB61) across two consecutive years. A total of 337 barley lines were genotyped with 16,824 polymorphic DArT-seq™ markers. Two mapping approaches were employed: a single-marker genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a haplotype-based local genomic estimated breeding values (Local GEBV) approach. Both methodologies identified two major resistance-associated regions on chromosomes 3H and 7H, effective across growth stages. Additionally, the haplotype-based Local GEBV approach revealed resistance-associated regions on 1H, 3H, and 6H that were not detected by GWAS. Haplotype stacking analysis underscored the critical role of the 7H region for adult-plant resistance when combined with other resistance haplotypes, suggesting significant gene-by-gene interactions and highlighting the complex, quantitative nature of spot blotch resistance. This research confirms the presence of key resistance loci within Australian barley breeding populations, provides novel insight into the genetic architecture of spot blotch resistance, and emphasises the potential to enhance resistance through haplotype stacking and whole-genome prediction approaches.
Axiological hinge commitments
Authors: Pritchard Duncan
Published: January 2025

In his final notebooks, published posthumously as On Certainty, Wittgenstein set forth a radical picture of the structure of rational evaluation, one that has arational hinge commitments at its heart. Much of the focus of discussion of hinge commitments has been on the commonsense, Moorean, factual commitments that fall into this class (such as that one has hands, one’s name is such-and-such, and so on). But on a plausible rendering of the Wittgensteinian position, there ought to also be hinge commitments of a broadly axiological nature, which express the subject’s fundamental values (moral, political, and so forth) that comprise her worldview. Various recent proposals for understanding axiological hinge commitments are considered, with most of them found to be problematic. A particular conception of axiological hinge commitments is offered, and their philosophical relevance is explored by considering how they relate to deep moral disagreements.
Evaluating the antibacterial efficacy of bee venom against multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: El-Bilawy Emad H. , Mamdouh Islam , Behiry Said , Teiba Islam I.
Published: January 2025

Bee venom (BV) represents a promising natural alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly significant given its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and potential to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms (AMR) is a global burden that affects human health and the economies of different countries. As a result, several scientific communities around the world are searching for safe alternatives to antibiotics. In this context, the present study represents a comprehensive investigation to evaluate the antibacterial effect of bee venom (BV) against Escherichia coli ATCC8739, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC25923. One mg of BV was extracted using 1 mL of DMSO to obtain a 1000 µg/mL solution. The chemical profile of the BV extract was determined using GC-MS, which revealed the presence of bioactive molecules with antimicrobial properties, such as astaxanthin, hycanthone, and fucoxanthin. The BV extract was tested against bacterial strains using different concentrations to obtain the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). The results obtained revealed a high antibacterial activity of BV against the three strains with the highest MIC/MBC values of 12.5/25 µgml− 1 against S. typhimurium. The antibacterial activity of the BV extract was compared to five conventional antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. The results showed a high antibacterial activity of the BV extract compared to different antibiotics with the largest inhibition zone obtained against E. faecalis at a value of 15 ± 0.22 mm compared to 9 ± 0.13 for azithromycin. The mode of action of BV, examined using scanning electron microscopy, proved a high effect of BV on the permeability of the bacterial plasma membrane. This study demonstrates bee venom’s promising potential as a natural and eco-friendly antimicrobial agent, with activity against multiple bacterial strains, suggesting it may serve as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. The findings highlight the potential applications of BV in medical, agricultural, and veterinary fields, offering a sustainable solution to combat antimicrobial resistance. However, further studies are needed to fully assess its broad-spectrum antibacterial potential.

Clinical trial number Not applicable.
Examination of patients presenting to the emergency department as “apparently drunk”
Authors: Hanrahan Michael , O’Mahony Mary , McLoughlin Darren , Sheahan Anne
Published: January 2025

Background

Alcohol, a significant public health concern, contributes to a substantial burden on emergency services. Identifying avoidable causes of Emergency Department (ED) presentations may reduce hospital overcrowding and benefit public health.

Aims

This prevalence study aims to provide a detailed analysis of patients presenting to the ED at Mercy University Hospital (MUH) as “Apparently Drunk” in 2022 and 2023.

Methods

Data were sourced from the Integrated Patient Management Information System at MUH. All patients recorded as “Apparently Drunk” were included. Data collected included demographics, associated injuries or complaints, mode of arrival, admission status, and discharge status. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data and trends were examined by comparing 2022 and 2023 data.

Results

A total of 1662 presentations were categorised as “Apparently Drunk,” representing 3% of all ED visits. There was an 18% increase in such presentations from 2022 to 2023. The majority of patients were male (72%). The median age was 39 years. Notably, 23% of the presentations involved people experiencing homelessness, and 81% were conveyed by ambulance. Significant associated injuries included head injuries (7%), falls/collapses (6%), mental health issues (5%), and assaults (4%).

Conclusion

The findings indicate a growing trend in patients presenting to the ED as “Apparently Drunk”. The high incidence among people experiencing homelessness and the substantial resource utilisation underscores the need for targeted public health interventions and integrated services. Policymakers should consider these findings in the context of potential legislative changes that may impact alcohol availability.
Mutual causal effects between immune cells and hepatocellular carcinoma: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Zheng , Pan Mengshu , Zhu Jie , Liu Changhong
Published: January 2025

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a malignant tumor that seriously endangering health, has aroused widespread concern in the field of public health. Previous researches have noted the relationships between immune cells and HCC, but the causal relationship was uncertain.

Methods

In this study, a bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was utilized to access the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and HCC. According to the open-access data, we investigated the causal relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics and HCC risk.

Results

After screening by IVW approach, increased levels of 8 immune traits and reduced levels of 7 immune traits could lead to changes in HCC risk. These 15 immune cells were distributed in the Monocyte (4 cells), Treg panel (4 cells), TBNK (3 cells), Maturation stages of T cell panel (3 cells), and cDC panel (1 cells). Furthermore, HCC was identified to have causal effects on 21 immunophenotypes. Among these immune cells, hepatocarcinogenesis had the greatest impact on CD4 on EM CD4 + and CD33 on Mo MDSC.

Conclusions

This study enhances our comprehension of the interaction between immune cells and HCC risk, furnishing novel avenues to explore the mechanisms of HCC.
Predicting work ability impairment in post COVID-19 patients: a machine learning model based on clinical parameters
Authors: Jebrini Tarek , Ruzicka Michael , Völk Felix , Fonseca Gerardo Jesus Ibarra , Pernpruner Anna , Benesch Christopher , Valdinoci Elisabeth , von Baum Max , Weigl Martin , Subklewe Marion , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Roider Julia , Mayerle Julia , Heindl Bernhard , Adorjan Kristina , Stubbe Hans Christian
Published: January 2025

The Post COVID-19 condition (PCC) is a complex disease affecting health and everyday functioning. This is well reflected by a patient’s inability to work (ITW). In this study, we aimed to investigate factors associated with ITW (1) and to design a machine learning-based model for predicting ITW (2) twelve months after baseline. We selected patients from the post COVID care study (PCC-study) with data on their ability to work. To identify factors associated with ITW, we compared PCC patients with and without ITW. For constructing a predictive model, we selected nine clinical parameters: hospitalization during the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, WHO severity of acute infection, presence of somatic comorbidities, presence of psychiatric comorbidities, age, height, weight, Karnofsky index, and symptoms. The model was trained to predict ITW twelve months after baseline using TensorFlow Decision Forests. Its performance was investigated using cross-validation and an independent testing dataset. In total, 259 PCC patients were included in this analysis. We observed that ITW was associated with dyslipidemia, worse patient reported outcomes (FSS, WHOQOL-BREF, PHQ-9), a higher rate of preexisting psychiatric conditions, and a more extensive medical work-up. The predictive model exhibited a mean AUC of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78; 0.88) in the 10-fold cross-validation. In the testing dataset, the AUC was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.58; 0.93). In conclusion, we identified several factors associated with ITW. The predictive model performed very well. It could guide management decisions and help setting mid- to long-term treatment goals by aiding the identification of patients at risk of extended ITW.
Association of Alzheimer’s Disease Polygenic Risk Score with Concussion Severity and Recovery Metrics
Authors: Dybing Kaitlyn M. , McAllister Thomas W. , Wu Yu-Chien , McDonald Brenna C. , Broglio Steven P. , Mihalik Jason P. , Guskiewicz Kevin M. , Goldman Joshua T. , Jackson Jonathan C. , Saykin Andrew J. , Risacher Shannon L. , Nudelman Kelly N. H.
Published: January 2025

Background

Identification of genetic alleles associated with both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and concussion severity/recovery could help explain the association between concussion and elevated dementia risk. However, there has been little investigation into whether AD risk genes associate with concussion severity/recovery, and the limited findings are mixed.

Objective

We used AD polygenic risk scores (PRS) and APOE genotypes to investigate any such associations in the NCAA-DoD Grand Alliance CARE Consortium (CARE) dataset.

Methods

We assessed six concussion outcomes in 931 participants, including two recovery measures (number of days to asymptomatic and to return to play (RTP)) and four severity measures (scores on SAC and BESS, SCAT symptom severity and total number of symptoms). We calculated the PRS using a published score and performed multiple linear regression to assess the relationship of the PRS with outcomes. We also used ANOVAs, t-tests, and chi-square tests to examine outcomes by APOE genotype.

Results

Higher PRS was associated with longer injury to RTP time in the normal RTP (< 24 days) subgroup (p = 0.024). A one standard deviation increase in the PRS resulted in a 9.89 hour increase to RTP time. This result was no longer significant after inclusion of covariates. There were no other consistently significant effects.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest high AD genetic risk is not associated with more severe concussions or poor recovery in young adults. Future studies should attempt to replicate these findings in larger samples with longer follow-up using PRS calculated from diverse populations.
Artificial intelligence in soil microbiome analysis: a potential application in predicting and enhancing soil health—a review
Authors: Pace Roberta , Schiano Di Cola Vincenzo , Monti Maurilia Maria , Affinito Antonio , Cuomo Salvatore , Loreto Francesco , Ruocco Michelina
Published: January 2025

Soil is a depletable and non-renewable resource essential for food production, crop growth, and supporting ecosystem services, such as the retaining and cycling of various elements, including water. Therefore characterization and preservation of soil biological health is a key point for the development of sustainable agriculture. We conducted a comprehensive review of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to develop forecasting models based on soil microbiota data able to monitor and predict soil health. We also investigated the potentiality of AI-based Decision Support Systems (DSSs) for improving the use of microorganisms to enhance soil health and fertility. While available studies are limited, potential applications of AI seem relevant to develop predictive models for soil fertility, based on its biological properties and activities, and implement sustainable precision agriculture, safeguarding ecosystems, bolstering soil resilience, and ensuring the production of high-quality food.
Streamflow prediction using artificial neural networks and soil moisture proxies
Authors: Rouse Robert Edwin , Khamis Doran , Hosking Scott , McRobie Allan , Shuckburgh Emily
Published: January 2025

Machine learning models have been used extensively in hydrology, but issues persist with regard to their transparency, and there is currently no identifiable best practice for forcing variables in streamflow or flood modeling. In this paper, using data from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s National River Flow Archive and from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, we present a study that focuses on the input variable set for a neural network streamflow model to demonstrate how certain variables can be internalized, leading to a compressed feature set. By highlighting this capability to learn effectively using proxy variables, we demonstrate a more transferable framework that minimizes sensing requirements and that enables a route toward generalizing models.
Stability of cylindrical, multicomponent vesicles
Authors: Venkatesh Anirudh , Bhargava Aman , Narsimhan Vivek
Published: January 2025

Vesicles are important surrogate structures made up of multiple phospholipids and cholesterol distributed in the form of a lipid bilayer. Tubular vesicles can undergo pearling – i.e. formation of beads on the liquid thread akin to the Rayleigh–Plateau instability. Previous studies have inspected the effects of surface tension on the pearling instabilities of single-component vesicles. In this study, we perform a linear stability analysis on a multicomponent cylindrical vesicle. We solve the Stokes equations along with the Cahn–Hilliard equation to develop the linearized dynamic equations governing the vesicle shape and surface concentration fields. This helps us to show that multicomponent vesicles can undergo pearling, buckling and wrinkling even in the absence of surface tension, which is a significantly different result from studies on single-component vesicles. This behaviour arises due to the competition between the free energies of phase separation, line tension and bending for this multi-phospholipid system. We determine the conditions under which axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric modes are dominant, and supplement our results with an energy analysis that shows the sources for these instabilities. Lastly, we delve into a weakly nonlinear analysis where we solve the nonlinear Cahn–Hilliard equation in the weak deformation limit to understand how mode-mixing alters the late time dynamics of coarsening. We show that in many situations, the trends from our simulations qualitatively match recent experiments (Yanagisawa et al., Phys. Rev. E, vol. 82, 2010, p. 051928).
Pressure fluctuations of liquids under short-time acceleration
Authors: Kurihara Chihiro , Kiyama Akihito , Tagawa Yoshiyuki
Published: January 2025

This study investigates experimentally the pressure fluctuations of liquids in a column under short-time acceleration. It demonstrates that the Strouhal number

$St=L/(c\,\Delta t)$

, where

$L$

,

$c$

and

$\Delta t$

are the liquid column length, speed of sound, and acceleration duration, respectively, provides a measure of the pressure fluctuations for intermediate

$St$

values. On the one hand, the incompressible fluid theory implies that the magnitude of the averaged pressure fluctuation

$\bar {P}$

becomes negligible for

$St\ll 1$

. On the other hand, the water hammer theory predicts that the pressure tends to

$\rho cu_0$

(where

$u_0$

is the change in the liquid velocity) for

$St\geq O(1)$

. For intermediate

$St$

values, there is no consensus on the value of

$\bar {P}$

. In our experiments,

$L$

,

$c$

and

$\Delta t$

are varied so that

$0.02 \leq St \leq 2.2$

. The results suggest that the incompressible fluid theory holds only up to

$St\sim 0.2$

, and that

$St$

governs the pressure fluctuations under different experimental conditions for higher

$St$

values. The data relating to a hydrogel also tend to collapse to a unified trend. The inception of cavitation in the liquid starts at

$St\sim 0.2$

for various

$\Delta t$

, indicating that the liquid pressure goes lower than the liquid vapour pressure. To understand this mechanism, we employ a one-dimensional wave propagation model with a pressure wavefront of finite thickness that scales with

$\Delta t$

. The model provides a reasonable description of the experimental results as a function of

$St$

.