bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing seismic resilience in weak masonry units: the impact of rebar reinforcement in concrete hollow block masonry structures
Authors: Multazam Zamzam , Yamamoto Kenjiro , Timsina Kishor , Shanthanu Rajasekharan , Meguro Kimiro 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The use of low-compressive-strength concrete hollow blocks (CHB) as construction material in developing countries presents significant challenges to earthquake resilience. Weak CHBs are inherently vulnerable to earthquakes, not just at the structural level (in-plane, out-of-plane wall collapses, and roof failures), but also at individual masonry unit level. This vulnerability increases the risk of structural failures during earthquakes, posing a significant threat to the safety of building occupants. This study investigates the effectiveness of reinforcing bars (rebar) in strengthening weak masonry units. Two experiments were conducted, including static testing with diagonal tension and three-point bending tests, and dynamic testing using a shaking table. Due to limitations in the availability of full-scale CHBs and the capacity of the shaking table, the shaking table tests employed quarter-scale CHBs, while the static tests utilized full-scale CHBs. The performance of a rebar-reinforced house model was compared with an unreinforced house model, demonstrating that rebar can significantly increase the initial stiffness of masonry structures, enhance energy dissipation, and enable the structure to withstand higher input motions, enduring up to run 49 at Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) intensity level 6 ~ . The interaction between the rebar, weak masonry units, and infill mortar is particularly noteworthy. Initial failures in the masonry unit or mortar led to decreased stiffness. However, complex interactions among the rebar, masonry unit, and infill mortar enable the house model to recover and bear the load, demonstrating how rebar reinforcement enhances the structural resilience and load-bearing capacity of masonry walls.
India’s Rice Competitiveness and Its Determinants: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Yadav Alok Kumar , Chattopadhyay Utpal 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
India is a leading producer as well as one of the largest exporters of rice. Export competitiveness of rice thus plays a crucial role in India’s overall trade scenario, particularly in bridging the gaps in country’s soaring trade deficits. The study investigates the impact of key determinants on India’s rice export competitiveness for the period 1990–2020 using the autoregressive distributed lag model. The results reveal that increasing yield of rice and depreciated exchange rate have significant positive impact on India’s rice export competitiveness. In the long run, production cost and export price have a detrimental effect on export of rice from India. However, India’s trade openness and export price do have a mixed effect on export competitiveness of rice in the short run. Moreover, the findings of this study offer some important policy implications for the stakeholders like farmers, exporters, and the government to improve export competitiveness of Agri-products including rice.
Women and Gendered Roles in the History of Diamond Mining in Colonial Ghana
Authors: Sewordor E. Sasu Kwame 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The extant literature on diamond industries in Africa has predominantly focused on men, with few attempts to examine the industry from a gendered lens. I trace women and highlight their gendered roles in the diamond-mining industry in colonial Ghana (Gold Coast). Relying on archival, oral, and visual sources, this article highlights women’s involvement in Ghana’s diamond industry in different capacities—as discoverers, washers, licensed prospectors, and dealers. Ultimately, I argue that the dominance men have enjoyed in studies about diamond mining in Ghana (and Africa generally) reproduces the colonial archive but can be overcome through creative and innovative research.
Streamwise ram effect and tip vortex enhance the lift of a butterfly-inspired flapping wing
Authors: Chen Yixin , Liu Yi , Wang Shizhao 
Published: February 2025

Although both butterflies and dragonflies are four-winged insects, their wing geometries and kinematics differ significantly. Butterflies have a much narrower gap between their forewing and hindwing than dragonflies. While previous research has extensively investigated the forewing–hindwing interactions in dragonfly flight, this work focuses on their interactions in butterfly flight. The interactions are studied based on numerical simulations of the Navier–Stokes equations around a butterfly-inspired flapping wing with an adjustable slot, representing the narrow gap between the forewing and hindwing. The slot is controlled by a dihedral angle between the forewing and hindwing. The lift coefficients of wings with different slot sizes and locations are investigated in detail. The results show that the forewing–hindwing interactions can significantly enhance the lift if the slot is properly configured. When the slot is configured by elevating the forewing at a 10-degree dihedral angle relative to the hindwing during flapping flight, the wing generates over 20 % more lift than the model without a slot. The streamwise ram effect and tip-vortex capture are shown to be responsible for the lift enhancement by using a lift decomposition formula. The streamwise ram effect reduces the streamwise velocity beneath the forewing, decreasing the negative vortex lift associated with spanwise vorticity. The tip-vortex capture enhances the positive vortex lift associated with streamwise vorticity when the hindwing captures the tip vortex shedding from the forewing.
COMPACT MODULI OF ENRIQUES SURFACES OF DEGREE 2
Authors: ALEXEEV VALERY , ENGEL PHILIP , GARZA D. ZACK , SCHAFFLER LUCA 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
We describe a geometric, stable pair compactification of the moduli space of Enriques surfaces with a numerical polarization of degree

$2$

, and identify it with a semitoroidal compactification of the period space.
Microstructure and geochemical properties of modern and buried soils and hosting permafrost sediments of the Batagay retrogressive thaw slump
Authors: Lupachev A.V. , Tananaev N.I. , Murton J.B. , Kalinin P.I. , Malyshev V.V. , Danilov P.P. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The paleopedology of the world’s largest retrogressive thaw slump, Batagay, is understudied. Micromorphological and geochemical analysis reveal the properties of th host sediments and major pedogenic features. Epigenetic soil profiles of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 7 (or older) and 5e are clearly distinguished and well developed due to favorable bioclimatic conditions for pedogenesis, probably similar to modern ones. The oldest unit contains a paleosol similar to a Histic Reductaquic Cryosol, indicating a peat-covered, boggy environment. The MIS 5e unit contains organic-rich Histic Spodic Cryosol with well-developed structure, formed during the interglacial optimum, which was relatively warm and presumably resembled modern bioclimatic conditions. MIS 4–3 deposits contains soil-like bodies enriched in coarse organogenic material resembling incipient Histic Reductaquic Cryosols. Interglacial/interstadial units contain micromorphological evidence of aggregate and pore formation, Fe-oxide and organic matter redistribution and clay accumulation. Stadial deposits show weakly expressed soil structure with uneven aggregates, cryogenic disintegration of plant detritus and rare evidence of accumulation of humic substances. Major elemental ratios indicate intensification of biochemical weathering in paleosols and soil-like bodies. Pedogenically reworked material of stadial sedimentary units with sporadic and incipient soil-like bodies provide a significant source for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of harsh Late Pleistocene environments.
An entomopathogenic strain of Beauveria bassiana (hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) against Eotetranychus kankitus (acarina: Tetranychidae) and its compatibility with Neoseiulus barkeri (acarina: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Liu Mingxiu , Xiang Dong , Feng Xiaotian , Li Xuanliang , Wang Mian , Wang Zhen , Chen Hanqiu , Liu Huai , Li Yaying 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Eotetranychus kankitus is an important pest on several agricultural crops, and its resistance to pesticides has promoted the exploration of biological control strategies. Beauveria bassiana and Neoseiulus barkeri have been identified as potential agents for suppressing spider mites. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity of B. bassiana on E. kankitus and its compatibility with N. barkeri. Results showed that among the five tested strains of B. bassiana, Bb025 exhibited the highest level of pathogenicity on E. kankitus. Higher application rates (1 × 108 conidia/mL) of Bb025 led to a higher mortality rate of E. kankitus (90.402%), but also resulted in a 15.036% mortality of N. barkeri. Furthermore, preference response tests indicated that both E. kankitus and N. barkeri actively avoided plants sprayed with Bb025 compared to the control group that was sprayed with Tween-80. In a no-choice test, we observed that N. barkeri actively attacked Bb025-treated E. kankitus with no adverse effect on its predatory capacities. Furthermore, N. barkeri laid more eggs when fed on Bb025-treated E. kankitus compared to Tween-80-treated E. kankitus, but the subsequent generation of surviving individuals fed on Bb025-treated E. kankitus was reduced. These findings demonstrate that the Bb025 strain of B. bassiana is highly virulent against E. kankitus while causing less harm to N. barkeri. Consequently, a promising strategy for controlling E. kankitus could involve the sequential utilisation of Bb025 and N. barkeri at appropriate intervals.
A RECONSTRUCTION OF PROBA, CENTO VERGILIANVS 42A–B
Authors: Watson Cristalle N. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Proba’s Cento Vergilianus contains a corruption at line 42, sometimes printed as two half-lines separated by a lacuna (42a–b). Previous attempts to emend the passage based upon the four classical elements have met with limited success. This article argues for a novel reconstruction of the passage based upon the six days of the biblical creation, summarized in reverse. Two possible variants of the reconstruction are presented and evaluated on textual, metrical, compositional and contextual grounds.
Republican Kinship in the Society of Princes: The Dutch States General as Corporate Godparent, 1578–1732
Authors: Helmers Helmer 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Throughout the early modern period, the Dutch States General, as if it were a natural person, frequently stood godfather over foreign children. Based on innovative archival research, this article investigates this unknown phenomenon as ‘corporate godparenthood’ and argues that it was an important tool of republican diplomacy in the Protestant society of princes, particularly in the Holy Roman Empire. Corporate godfatherhood allowed the Dutch Republic to partake, and assert its presence, in familial princely spheres to which it did not otherwise have access. The cultural practices of baptism, including the right of the godparents to name a child and baptismal gift-giving, allowed the States to form lasting kinship relations of mutual obligation in an economy of affection. Corporate godfatherhood had important and long-lasting effects: many of the dynasties with whom the States entered into a kinship relation remained allies for several generations, and supplied the States’ army with troops and officers, while the States assumed the role of benefactor, protector, educator, executor, or legal guardian of various of its princely godchildren.
Is parasitic infection a buffer against metal pollution?
Authors: Leiva N.V. , Montenegro D. , Castro C. , Silva M. , Vidal R. , González M.T. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Metal pollution is a major global issue in aquatic environments, affecting environmental quality and potentially altering host–parasite dynamics. This study evaluates the buffering role of a larval trematode Himasthla sp. under experimental conditions to test the effect of copper (Cu) exposure on the survival of the marine snail Echinolittorina peruviana. Snails were collected from intertidal rocky pools over a two-month period from Coloso (23°45’S, 70°28’W), northern Chile, and identified as parasitized or unparasitized. Both groups were then exposed to Cu concentrations (3 and 6 mg/L). Kaplan–Meier curves were used to determine the percentage of survival over time and the respective confidence intervals (CI). A nested ANOVA was conducted to assess whether rediae abundance per snail varied by experiment time, snail status, and Cu concentration. Snail survival was affected by both Cu-concentrations, but the effect was greater at 6 mg/L. At 3 mg/L, 57% (CI: 49.9–66.6%) of unparasitized snails were alive at 192 h, while 56% (CI: 46.6–67.4%) of parasitized snails survived at 216 h. At 6 mg/L, 42% (CI:35-51%) of unparasitized snails survived at 192 h, while 48% of parasitized snails survived at 216 h (CI:39-59%). Regardless of Cu concentration, after 240 h, all unparasitized snails had died, while 15% of parasitized snails remained alive. Dead snails harboured 125±53 rediae, while survivors had 194±73 rediae, with no significant differences between treatments. Our results show that parasitized snails survived longer than unparasitized snails, suggesting a trade-off between parasitism and host survival in polluted environments.
Does corruption undermine fundamental rights protection level? The effects of corruption of lawmakers, judges, bureaucrats, and police and military on labour rights and freedom of association at the country level
Authors: Lee Moonsoo 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This study investigates whether corruption among public officials undermines fundamental rights, analysing data from 142 countries using the Rule of Law Index, a widely recognised and respected tool for assessing the rule of law worldwide. The results show that corruption among judges and bureaucrats consistently erodes fundamental rights, including labour rights and freedom of association. In advanced democracies, police and military corruption significantly reduces freedom of association, while lawmakers’ corruption undermines labour rights. However, in the broader context, corruption among lawmakers, police, and military officers does not significantly affect these rights. This study emphasises the significant role of bureaucracy in protecting rights and the devastating consequences of bureaucratic corruption. The trend of executive power abuse further complicates this issue. To combat corruption and safeguard fundamental rights, this article recommends robust mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency, emphasising the importance of democratic oversight.
Quantifying Landfill Emission Potential Using a Weakly Coupled Particle Filter
Authors: Wang L. , Heimovaara T. J. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThe emission potential, which represents the total leachable mass in landfill waste body, is hard to measure directly. Therefore we propose to quantify it by assimilating available measurements. The leachate production rate is influenced by the total water storage in the waste body, while both total chloride mass and total water storage in the waste body influence the chloride concentration in the leachate. Thus assimilating leachate volume and chloride concentration simultaneously will help quantify the uncertainties in emission potential. This study investigated the feasibility of using a particle filter in a concentration‐volume coupled travel time distribution model to estimate the emission potential. Leachate production rates and chloride concentrations were assimilated simultaneously by a weakly coupled data assimilation method. The time lag issue in the travel time distribution model was solved by adding a daily model error to cover layer states. The proposed method was tested in synthetic experiments first to investigate the performance. The results show that the uncertainties in chloride mass and waste body total water storage were quantified and reduced. The predictions of chloride concentrations were also improved.
Contribution and Mechanisms of BVOCs Emitted From a Typical Large Lake With Algal Bloom to O3 Levels in Lakeside Urban Areas
Authors: Shao Min , Wei Yajing , Lv Shun , Liao Zihang , Zou Jun , Zhu Jialei 
Published: February 2025

AbstractLakes near developed cities often experience algal blooms due to eutrophication, leading to odor and biogenic emissions that can potentially interfere with the formation of air pollutants such as O3 around these lakes. However, the impact and its pathways remain poorly understood. This study investigates the contributions of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions from Lake Taihu to O3 formation in surrounding regions using a numerical approach. Composite analysis, case studies, and process analysis reveal that BVOC emissions from Lake Taihu increase hourly near‐surface O3 concentrations, with a maximum rise of 25.5 μg m−3, improving model performance. The influence of lake BVOC emissions is large on the northwest side of Lake Taihu, primarily determined by the spatial emission patterns and dominant wind fields. The development of the planetary boundary layer, particularly the thermal internal boundary layer, and the enhanced lake breeze play important roles in increasing near‐surface O3 levels over land, whereas variations in temperature play a minor role. Vertical cross‐sections show that interactions between land‐lake breezes and background wind fields are critical for O3 transport, increasing surface concentrations in surrounding areas. Additionally, lake BVOC emissions intensify both daytime and nighttime gas‐phase chemical formation of O3, consuming nitrates and producing additional O3 within the lower troposphere. This study highlights the importance of local thermal circulations and lake BVOC emissions in O3 pollution, emphasizing the need for comprehensive air pollution control strategies in lakeside cities.
Multiple defects renovation and phase reconstruction of reduced-dimensional perovskites via in situ chlorination for efficient deep-blue (454 nm) light-emitting diodes
Authors: Yu Mubing , Qin Tingxiao , Gao Gang , Zu Kelei , Zhang Dongming , Chen Nan , Wang Dengke , Hua Yong , Zhang Hong , Zhao Yong-Biao , Zhu Jiaqi 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Deep-blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) based on reduced-dimensional perovskites (RDPs) still face a few challenges including severe trap-assisted nonradiative recombination, sluggish exciton transfer, and undesirable bathochromic shift of the electroluminescence spectra, impeding the realization of high-performance PeLEDs. Herein, an in situ chlorination (isCl) post-treatment strategy was employed to regulate phase reconstruction and renovate multiple defects of RDPs, leading to superior carrier cooling of 0.88 ps, extraordinary exciton binding energy of 122.53 meV, and higher photoluminescence quantum yield of 60.9% for RDP films with deep-blue emission at 450 nm. The phase regulation is accomplished via fluorine-derived hydrogen bonds that suppress the formation of small-n phases. Multiple defects, including halide vacancies (shallow-state defects) and lead-chloride antisite defects (deep-state defects), are renovated via C=O coordination and hydroxy-group-derived hydrogen bonds. Consequently, deep-blue PeLEDs with a record maximum external quantum efficiency of 6.17% and stable electroluminescence at 454 nm were demonstrated, representing the best-performing deep-blue PeLEDs.
Long-term patient-reported outcomes following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Beer Sina Alexandra , Blättel Johanna , Reuß Kristina , Maier Claus-Philipp , Faul Christoph , Vogel Wichard , Bethge Wolfgang , Lengerke Claudia 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Therapeutic progress has improved the overall survival of patients treated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Thus, the impact on quality of life (QoL) becomes increasingly relevant. However, QoL is not monitored regularly in clinical practice, and most trials stop QoL assessments early post-alloHCT, missing long-term dynamics. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 214 adult alloHCT recipients (average age 53 y, 42.5% female, median follow-up 56 months) to evaluate QoL using patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs), spanning a period from 30 days to over 10 years post-transplant. Participants completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-BMT at a single follow-up timepoint to investigate QoL-related factors. Comparing long-term follow-up patients (beyond year 3, n = 125) with short-term follow-up patients (day 30 to month 12, n = 89) shows significantly better long-term QoL outcomes (P = 0.016). However, PROM symptom scales indicate moderate fatigue and insomnia rates in long-term survivors. Better QoL was associated with male gender, lower ECOG, RIC conditioning, no relapse, no ongoing immunosuppression and full-time work. Summarized, while we observe encouraging long-term outcomes, our data suggest that QoL recovery remain highly individual. We strongly recommend the use of PROMs to enhance our understanding of long-term survivorship post-alloHCT.
Targeting macrophage polarization by inhibiting Pim2 alleviates inflammatory arthritis via metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Xu Xiaojun , Xu Peitao , Shen Guozhen , Peng Xiaoshuai , Liu Zhidong , Chen Chaoqiang , Yu Wenhui , Su Zepeng , Lin Jiajie , Zheng Guan , Ye Guiwen , Wang Peng , Xie Zhongyu , Wu Yanfeng , Shen Huiyong , Li Jinteng 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Macrophage polarization and energy metabolic reprogramming play pivotal roles in the onset and progression of inflammatory arthritis. Moreover, although previous studies have reported that the proviral integration of Moloney virus 2 (Pim2) kinase is involved in various cancers through the mediation of aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells, its role in inflammatory arthritis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that multiple metabolic enzymes are activated upon Pim2 upregulation during M1 macrophage polarization. Specifically, Pim2 directly phosphorylates PGK1-S203, PDHA1-S300, and PFKFB2-S466, thereby promoting glycolytic reprogramming. Pim2 expression was elevated in macrophages from patients with inflammatory arthritis and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model mice. Conditional knockout of Pim2 in macrophages or administration of the Pim2 inhibitor HJ-PI01 attenuated arthritis development by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation, bexarotene was identified as an inhibitor of Pim2 that inhibits glycolysis and downstream M1 macrophage polarization, thereby mitigating the progression of inflammatory arthritis. For targeted treatment, neutrophil membrane-coated bexarotene (Bex)-loaded PLGA-based nanoparticles (NM@NP-Bex) were developed to slow the progression of inflammatory arthritis by suppressing the polarization of M1 macrophages, and these nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited superior therapeutic effects with fewer side effects. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrated that targeting Pim2 inhibition could effectively alleviate inflammatory arthritis via glycolysis inhibition and reversal of the M1/M2 macrophage imbalance. NM@NPs loaded with bexarotene could represent a promising targeted strategy for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis.