bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating genomic selection and speed breeding for Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat using stochastic simulations
Authors: Nannuru Vinay Kumar Reddy , Dieseth Jon Arne , Lillemo Morten , Meuwissen Theodorus H. E. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Genomic selection-based breeding programs offer significant advantages over conventional phenotypic selection, particularly in accelerating genetic gains in plant breeding, as demonstrated by simulations focused on combating Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat. FHB resistance, a crucial trait, is challenging to breed for due to its quantitative inheritance and environmental influence, leading to slow progress using conventional breeding methods. Stochastic simulations in our study compared various breeding schemes, incorporating genomic selection (GS) and combining it with speed breeding, against conventional phenotypic selection. Two datasets were simulated, reflecting real-life genotypic data (MASBASIS) and a simulated wheat breeding program (EXAMPLE). Initially a 20-year burn-in phase using a conventional phenotypic selection method followed by a 20-year advancement phase with three GS-based breeding programs (GSF2F8, GSF8, and SpeedBreeding + GS) were evaluated alongside over a conventional phenotypic selection method. Results consistently showed significant increases in genetic gain with GS-based programs compared to phenotypic selection, irrespective of the selection strategies employed. Among the GS schemes, SpeedBreeding + GS consistently outperformed others, generating the highest genetic gains. This combination effectively minimized generation intervals within the breeding cycle, enhancing efficiency. This study underscores the advantages of genomic selection in accelerating breeding gains for wheat, particularly in combating FHB. By leveraging genomic information and innovative techniques like speed breeding, breeders can efficiently select for desired traits, significantly reducing testing time and costs associated with conventional phenotypic methods.
Cryopreservation of pufferfish sperm in small and large volumes: the effect on kinetic parameters, and fertilization and hatching rates
Authors: Asturiano J. F. , Yoshida M. , Pérez L. , Gallego V. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Cryopreservation of fish gametes has many potential applications for ecological, scientific and aquaculture purposes, and cryobank management has been established for many freshwater and marine fish. Nevertheless, there are no studies for the long-term conservation of pufferfish (Takifugu alboplumbeus) sperm, thus the objectives of this work were (i) to develop a new cryopreservation protocol for pufferfish sperm using different sperm:extender ratios and vials; and (ii) to assess the fertilization capacity of cryopreserved sperm. Results showed that cryopreserved sperm samples showed excellent post-thawing motility results when they were frozen in straws, reaching values over 60% with both 1:20 and 1:50 sperm:extender dilution ratios. Samples frozen in cryotubes showed slightly lower motility results (around 50%) than those obtained in the straws. Due to the excellent results obtained in the cryopreservation trials, in vitro fertilization trials were undertaken using different sperm:egg ratios with both fresh and cryopreserved sperm. High fertilization (FR) and hatching (HR) rates (over 90%) were reached using high 1:105 and 1:106 ratios. However, when the spermatozoa amount was limited in the fertilization micro-environment (using lower egg:sperm ratios of 1:103 and 1:104), the cryopreserved sperm generated lower values of FR and HR than the fresh sperm. These results suggest that for achieving high FR and HR, it is essential to use 10 times more cryopreserved sperm than fresh sperm. We then recommend using egg:sperm ratios of 1:104 and 105 (for fresh and cryopreserved sperm, respectively) for "Takifugu" species in order to optimize the amount of gametes collected during aquaculture procedures. This study has laid the basis for the establishment of cryopreservation protocols in pufferfish, that will be helpful for further reproduction in captivity programs and genetic cryobanking.
Resolving a puzzle about moral responsibility and logical truth
Authors: Geddes Alexander 
Published: January 2025

AbstractLampert and Waldrop have recently presented a puzzle about moral responsibility and logical truth, in which they derive a contradiction from three apparently plausible principles: (A) no one is responsible for any logical truth; (B) if no one is responsible for something, then no one is responsible for what it strictly implies; and (C) someone is responsible for something. They argue that, in response, we must give up (B)—a principle that plays a key role in arguments for incompatibilism. In this paper, I argue that this response is mistaken, and that the lesson to be drawn lies elsewhere. For the puzzle also rests on a conception of logical truth according to which there are contingent logical truths. And, given this conception, (A) is false—for reasons independent of (B). So the import here concerns, not a connection between responsibility and the debate over incompatibilism, but a connection between responsibility and the debate over the correct conception of logical truth: one can hold on to (A), or hold on to the relevant conception of logical truth, but not both.
Algal–bacterial bioremediation of cyanide-containing wastewater in a continuous stirred photobioreactor
Authors: AbdelMageed Mona F. , ElRakaiby Marwa T. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This study reports the isolation and characterization of highly resistant bacterial and microalgal strains from an Egyptian wastewater treatment station to cyanide-containing compounds. The bacterial strain was identified as Bacillus licheniformis by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolate removed up to 1 g L−1 potassium cyanide, 3 g L−1 benzonitrile, and 1 g L−1 sodium salicylate when incubated as 10% v/v in MSM at 30 ℃. However, it failed to degrade potassium thiocyanate at all tested concentrations. The microalgal isolate was identified by electron microscopy as a strain of Chlorella spp.. Algal toxicity was tested by incubating the microalgae as 6% v/v in MSM containing 2 g L− 1 NaHCO3 with increasing concentrations of the pollutants. Results showed that 0.05 g L−1 KCN, 1.5 g L−1 benzonitrile, 5 g L −1 KSCN, and 5 g L−1 sodium salicylate inhibited 93%, 96%, 75%, and 21% of algal growth, respectively. In a continuous stirred photobioreactor, the bacterial-microalgal microcosm detoxified synthetic wastewater containing 0.2 g L−1 KCN, 0.1 g L−1 benzonitrile, and 0.5 g L−1 sodium salicylate in 3.5 days of hydraulic retention time. System failure was recorded when the KCN concentration was increased to 0.25 g L−1. The effluent had no inhibitory effect on the germination of Lepidium sativum seeds in phytotoxicity testing. Temperature, pH, and chitosan effects were assessed on the algal/bacterial settleability. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the tested parameters. The microcosm represents a potential candidate for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing cyanide compounds.
Simulation of the biocide distribution in soil using PELMO coupled with COMLEAM
Authors: Kiefer Nadine , Klein Judith , Rohr Mirko , Noll Matthias , Burkhart Michael , Klein Michael , Kalkhof Stefan 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Biocides, applied in building materials as antimicrobial protectants, can be leached out by rain, presenting substantial environmental risks as confirmed by studies on aquatic environments. However, these biocides are consistently released throughout the year in a diluted form, posing unique challenges for the prediction of transport, transformation, and ecotoxicity assessment in soil. To address this challenge, we combined COMLEAM, which predicts leaching from facades into the soil, with the FOCUS PELMO pesticide model to predict biocide distribution in soil. The study predicted the concentration of the commonly used biocides 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolinone-3-one, and terbutryn at various soil depths over 600 days, thereby evaluating the influence of different leaching simulations, absorption, and degradation kinetics on the PELMO simulation results. The findings suggest an effective simulation of biocide behavior in soil, with a tendency to overestimate the risk associated with short-acting in-can preservatives like BIT and provide more precise predictions for long-acting film preservatives. Biocide concentrations showed little variance in the upper layers and increased discrepancies at greater depths. This integrated approach provides a cost-effective means for predicting environmental risks and formulating management strategies, especially when paired with experimentally determined soil-specific degradation and absorption values.
Adapting the product group-specific nutritional functional units to the Spanish context
Authors: Torán-Pereg Paula , Kyttä Venla , Pardo Guillermo , Saarinen Merja 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Purpose
Nutritional aspects have recently been integrated into the life cycle assessment (LCA) of foods through the use of nutrient indices as functional units (nFU). In this study, we develop the nFU indices for each product group presented in the Spanish plate model, by adapting the approach introduced in our previous studies into a Spanish context.

Methods
The product grouping followed the Spanish plate model covering protein-rich foods, sources of carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits, and fats. For each group, separate nFUs were created by identifying the most important nutrients for each product group, based on the nutrients obtained from them in the current Spanish food consumption. Finally, the new nFUs were showcased by conducting cradle-to-plate nLCA for the selection of typical Spanish foods.

Results and discussion
Adapting the method to formulate the nFUs to different target population led to different selection of nutrients being included in the indices for each product group, highlighting the need to tailor the methodology depending on the population under study. The nLCA results demonstrated the importance of integrating nutritional aspects into comparative LCAs of foods in all the studied product groups, also including the new product group of fats, which was the first time used in nLCA in this study.

Conclusions
The results demonstrated that the product-group-specific approach is a systematic and reproducible method to formulate nFU indices and that it can be consistently adapted also to other target populations with relevant data available. For more extensive coverage of health aspects in LCA, the inclusion of non-nutrient compounds should be promoted.
Adaptation and psychometric validation of the school anxiety inventory in a university population
Authors: Martínez-Monteagudo María Carmen , Crespo Andrea , Delgado Beatriz , García-Fernández José Manuel 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe objective of this study was to adapt and validate the School Anxiety Inventory to a university population, analyzing its factorial structure, internal consistency, convergent validity, and sex differences. The School Anxiety Inventory - University Version (SAI-UV) was administered to a sample of 1,404 Spanish college students (63.82% female and 36.18% male) aged 18 to 49 (M = 21.32). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to analyze the dimensional structure of the SAI-UV. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and test-retest reliability (3-week interval) were calculated for the SAI-UV scores. The convergent validity of the SAI-UV was also verified, and sex differences were analyzed. A correlated three-factor structure was found, based on the analyzed school situations (Anxiety about Social Evaluation, Anxiety about Academic Failure, and Anxiety about Aggression). Furthermore, a three-factor structure was found for the anxiety response systems (Cognitive Anxiety, Physiological Anxiety, and Behavioral Anxiety). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were acceptable. The correlations obtained supported the inventory’s convergent validity. As for sex differences, females obtained higher mean scores as compared to males on all of the factors. Therefore, the psychometric properties of the SAI-UV were satisfactory, determining that it has a reliable and valid inventory for the analysis of school anxiety in university students.
Evidence for MedTech – the Swedish case of health technology assessment and a new tool to navigate it
Authors: Darwich Adam S. , Palmcrantz Susanne , Hollmark Malin , Gonzalez Guve Bertil 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Purpose
Medical technology manufacturers and innovators have raised the need for more transparency on health technology assessment (HTA) and evidence requirements. The aim of this project was to develop and evaluate an evidence generation tool, a process map to support evidence generation in the context of Swedish HTA. This was facilitated by mapping the Swedish HTA system and processes.

Methods
The project undertook a mixed methods approach. Data collection and analysis was carried out to inform mapping of the HTA system and its processes, and evidence generation. A series of discussions were carried out with experts to refine the material. An expert workshop was organised to gather wider input on the current state of evidence generation for medical devices in Sweden. A proof-of-concept usability study was carried out to evaluate the evidence generation tool. The material was developed into a website.

Results
Here we present an analysis of the Swedish HTA system and processes, and hurdles for medical device evidence generation. A tool was developed, evaluated, and presented on a dedicated website to support evidence generation for medical devices in the context of Swedish HTA.

Conclusions
Evidence evaluation needs to be adapted for medical devices through wider and more informed collaboration between industry, assessors, patient representatives, and other stakeholder groups. This may increase the likelihood of more conclusive HTA. Further, improving the knowledge among companies and researchers on the HTA process may lead to more efficient clinical evidence generation. Further dissemination of the evidence generation tool may facilitate this.
Evaluating the prognostic value of radiomics and clinical features in metastatic prostate cancer using [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT
Authors: Molin Kaylee , Barry Nathaniel , Gill Suki , Hassan Ghulam Mubashar , Francis Roslyn J. , Ong Jeremy S. L. , Ebert Martin A. , Kendrick Jake 
Published: January 2025

AbstractProstate cancer is a significant global health issue due to its high incidence and poor outcomes in metastatic disease. This study aims to develop models predicting overall survival for patients with metastatic biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, potentially helping to identify high-risk patients and enabling more tailored treatment options. A multi-centre cohort of 180 such patients underwent [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans, with lesions semi-automatically segmented and radiomic features extracted from lesions. The analysis included two phases: univariable and multivariable. Univariable analysis used Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models to correlate individual features with overall survival. Multivariable analysis used the LASSO Cox proportional hazards method to create 13 models: radiomics-only, clinical-only, and various combinations of radiomic and clinical features. Each model included six features and was bootstrapped 1000 times to obtain concordance indices with 95% confidence intervals, followed by optimism correction. In the univariable analysis, 6 out of 8 clinical features and 68 out of 89 radiomic features were significantly correlated with overall survival, including age, disease stage, total lesional uptake and total lesional volume. The optimism-corrected concordance indices from the multivariable models were 0.722 (95% CI 0.653–0.784) for the clinical model, 0.681 (95% CI 0.616–0.745) for the radiomics model, and 0.704 (95% CI 0.648–0.768) for the combined model with three clinical and three radiomic features, when extracting radiomic features from the largest lesion only. While univariable analysis showed significant prognostic value for many radiomic features, their integration into multivariable models did not improve predictive accuracy beyond clinical features alone.
Instant gait classification for hip osteoarthritis patients: a non-wearable sensor approach utilizing Pearson correlation, SMAPE, and GMM
Authors: Choi Wiha , Jeong Hieyong , Oh Sehoon , Jung Tae-Du 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This study aims to establish a methodology for classifying gait patterns in patients with hip osteoarthritis without the use of wearable sensors. Although patients with the same pathological condition may exhibit significantly different gait patterns, an accurate and efficient classification system is needed: one that reduces the effort and preparation time for both patients and clinicians, allowing gait analysis and classification without the need for cumbersome sensors like EMG or camera-based systems. The proposed methodology follows three key steps. First, ground reaction forces are measured in three directions-anterior–posterior, medial–lateral, and vertical-using a force plate during gait analysis. These force data are then evaluated through two approaches: trend similarity is assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, while scale similarity is measured with the Symmetric Mean Absolute Percentage Error (SMAPE), comparing results with healthy controls. Finally, Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) are applied to cluster both healthy controls and patients, grouping the patients into distinct categories based on six quantified metrics derived from the correlation and SMAPE. Using the proposed methodology, 16 patients with hip osteoarthritis were successfully categorized into two distinct gait groups (Group 1 and Group 2). The gait patterns of these groups were further analyzed by comparing joint moments and angles in the lower limbs among healthy individuals and the classified patient groups. This study demonstrates that gait pattern classification can be reliably achieved using only force-plate data, offering a practical tool for personalized rehabilitation in hip osteoarthritis patients. By incorporating quantitative variables that capture both gait trends and scale, the methodology efficiently classifies patients with just 2–3 ms of natural walking. This minimizes the burden on patients while delivering a more accurate and realistic assessment. The proposed approach maintains a level of accuracy comparable to more complex methods, while being easier to implement and more accessible in clinical settings.
Analysis of greenhouse gas production at the El Prat del Llobregat wastewater treatment plant, Spain: the decarbonization challenge
Authors: Urrea Vivas M. A. , Seguí-Amórtegui L. , Guerrero-García-Rojas H. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe process of decarbonization of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) has become a global priority. WWTP consume large amounts of energy and emit Greenhouse Gases (GHG) to remove pollutants. Therefore, this article quantitatively analyzes the greenhouse gas emissions produced during the wastewater treatment of one of the largest and most modern wastewater treatment plants in Europe, the El Prat del Llobregat Wastewater Plant. The assessment focused on evaluating the mass and energy balance of the entire process. Identifying the organic load present was essential for determining the impact on the generation of (GHG) during the wastewater treatment and regeneration process. According to the characteristics of the system, the inventory of total emissions is established, identifying the direct emissions produced by each of the stages (carbon dioxide and methane emissions) and the indirect emissions produced by the use of electricity and chemicals, respectively. The results revealed that the highest direct greenhouse gas emission was observed in the biological reactor with the value of 2.5 kgCO2eq/kg COD, 0.08 kg N2O/kgNremoved and 0.0062 kgCH4/kgCOD. The annual GHG emissions from CH4, N2O and CO2 emissions from the water and sludge line are equivalent to 3432 tCO2 eq, apart from the emission caused by flaring biogas, which represents 578.39 tCO2eq. The largest contribution comes from indirect emissions, where energy consumption generates 3,459,105 tCO2/eq. The largest energy consumer in the entire WWTP were the biological reactor with secondary settling and the tertiary treatment, which accounts for 45.20% and 14.8% of the total energy needs respectively.
Observational Study on Enhancing End-of-Life Care Competence Through OSCE: Educational Implications
Authors: Mora-Delgado Juan , Lojo-Cruz Cristina , Bández Manuel J. , Rosety-Rodríguez Manuel , García Ángel Estella 
Published: January 2025

AbstractEnd-of-life care training is a critical component of medical education, yet gaps remain in adequately preparing students for these complex interactions. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) have emerged as a vital tool to assess clinical competence in real-world scenarios. This study aimed to evaluate medical students’ competencies in palliative care using a specialized OSCE station focused on end-of-life skills. A cohort of 118 final-year medical students at the University of Cádiz completed an OSCE that tested abilities in diagnosis, communication, ethical decision-making, and professionalism. Students demonstrated high proficiency in diagnostic competencies, particularly in identifying underlying pathologies and managing refractory symptoms. However, significant variability emerged in skills related to communication, managing advance directives, and obtaining informed consent for palliative sedation. Statistical analyses revealed areas of both strength and challenge, with items related to ethical-legal considerations showing higher difficulty and variability among students. Our findings underscore the need for curricular enhancements that integrate technical training with ethical and communicative aspects of palliative care. Improving student preparation in these domains is essential to equip future physicians with the holistic skills necessary for compassionate end-of-life care.
RL4CEP: reinforcement learning for updating CEP rules
Authors: Mdhaffar Afef , Baklouti Ghassen , Rebai Yassine , Jmaiel Mohamed , Freisleben Bernd 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This paper presents RL4CEP, a reinforcement learning (RL) approach to dynamically update complex event processing (CEP) rules. RL4CEP uses Double Deep Q-Networks to update the threshold values used by CEP rules. It is implemented using Apache Flink as a CEP engine and Apache Kafka for message distribution. RL4CEP is a generic approach for scenarios in which CEP rules need to be updated dynamically. In this paper, we use RL4CEP in a financial trading use case. Our experimental results based on three financial trading rules and eight financial datasets demonstrate the merits of RL4CEP in improving the overall profit, when compared to baseline and state-of-the-art approaches, with a reasonable consumption of resources, i.e., RAM and CPU. Finally, our experiments indicate that RL4CEP is executed quite fast compared to traditional CEP engines processing static rules.