bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Past Condom Use and Condom Use Intention Among Male Construction Worker Clients of Sex Workers in the Western Cape, South Africa: A Parallel Multiple Mediator Model
Authors: Yakubu Kamal , Bowen Paul , Govender Rajen 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Male clients of sex workers in South Africa are at high risk for HIV, yet limited research has examined the psychological factors influencing their condom use intentions. This study addressed this gap by assessing the mediating roles of positive attitudes towards condom use, condom use self-efficacy, and perceived norms in the relationship between past condom use and intentions to use condoms. A cross-sectional survey was used to obtain data from male construction workers who reported sexual intercourse with a sex worker in the past three months. Using a parallel multiple mediator model, the analysis revealed that condom use self-efficacy (β = 0.060, 95% CI [0.021, 0.107]) and positive attitudes towards condom use (β = 0.027, 95% CI [0.004, 0.058]) significantly mediated the relationship between past condom use and condom use intention, while perceived norms did not (β = − 0.001, 95% CI [− 0.007, 0.007]). These findings underscore the importance of targeting instrumental and affective attitudes and enhancing self-efficacy to promote consistent condom use in this population. Although perceived norms were not determined to be statistically significant in this study, their potential role as a mediator merits further exploration, particularly in light of the study limitations. This research highlights the need for tailored interventions to reduce HIV risk among male clients of sex workers in South Africa.
A decade of sub-arcsecond imaging with the International LOFAR Telescope
Authors: Morabito Leah K. , Jackson Neal , de Jong Jurjen , Escott Emmy , Groeneveld Christian , Mahatma Vijay , Petley James , Sweijen Frits , Timmerman Roland , van Weeren Reinout J. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) is a pan-European radio interferometer with baselines up to 2000 km. This provides sub-arcsecond resolution at frequencies of <200 MHz. Since starting science operations in 2012, the ILT has carried out observations for the state-of-the-art LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey, which has 6 arcsec resolution at 144 MHz. Wide-area surveys at low frequencies, while scientifically productive, have to compromise on resolution. Sub-arcsecond imaging with the ILT has become more accessible over the last decade, thanks to efforts to build a publicly available pipeline using LOFAR-specific tools, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of publications. The ILT’s combination of resolution, field of view, and low observing frequency make it a unique instrument for a wide range of scientific applications, and it will remain unparalleled even in the era of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. Here we provide an overview of the technical considerations and calibration methods sub-arcsecond imaging with the ILT. This is followed by a review of the unique capabilities unlocked by sub-arcsecond imaging with the ILT, using examples from the literature for demonstration. Finally we describe ongoing work including: surveying large areas of the sky at high resolution, going deeper in fields with excellent ancillary information, producing images of polarisation, and extending to lower frequencies (<100 MHz).
A Novel Bayesian Model Enhanced with Heuristic Likelihood Estimation for the Prediction of Stock Price Trend
Authors: Vo Van-Truc , Lin Bor-Shen 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Due to the dynamic of stock markets, predicting stock price trends remains a massive challenge when utilizing machine learning models, especially in Bayesian models. Indeed, the distributions of input features extracted from stock datasets are seldom normal, making Gaussian density less discriminative. This paper introduces a novel predictive model, the Bayesian Classifier with Heuristic Likelihood Estimation (BC-HLE), in which heuristic likelihood estimation instead of the Gaussian density was utilized to release the normality assumption in the conventional naïve Bayes classifier. Our model leverages the concept of the p-value, which evaluates how close the testing value is to the expected value on a distribution. This approach yields a more accurate likelihood estimate without normality assumption. When tested on 55 stock datasets from the S&P500 index, the proposed BC-HLE model outperformed conventional Gaussian classifiers and such machine learning models as support vector machines and multi-layer perceptron, regarding prediction accuracy. Additionally, its superiority was verified on the returns on investment when the stock trend prediction was applied to a simulated trading system. The experimental outcomes show that the proposed model is a reliable enhancement of Bayesian classifiers and can contribute to decision for the stock market investment.
Insights into the recent evolutionary history of salt lake gastropods (Coxiella) in Australia
Authors: Lawrie Angus D’Arcy , Chaplin Jennifer , Rahman Mahabubur , Islam Md Aminul , Webzell Kyle 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This study investigates the impact of paleoclimate on the evolutionary history of Coxiella (Tomichiidae), a group of 15 species of aquatic snail in four putative genera that are endemic to Australian salt lakes. It used a time-calibrated phylogeny, based on mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequence variation from 938 individuals from 14 species, to estimate the timing of diversification events in Coxiella. The four putative genera of Coxiella were estimated to have evolved in the late Miocene to late Pliocene, followed by speciation within these genera during late Pliocene to Pleistocene and subsequent divergence within species during the Pleistocene. We also used COI data from 872 individuals to compare the phylogeographic patterns and genetic diversities amongst six species. These species showed three distinctly different phylogeographic patterns, ranging from deep phylogeographic structuring to a very shallow structure in a species that appears to have undergone a range expansion after a severe bottleneck. Overall, the recent evolutionary history of Coxiella shows important parallels with those of many other taxa from southern Australia which implies a common cause, which is usually identified as the trend of increasing aridification of the Australian climate over the last ~ 15 mya.
Birth weight in a warming world: investigating the protective role of the “healthy immigrant effect” against extreme heat
Authors: Cebolla-Boado Héctor , Suárez-Vergne Álvaro , Martín Teresa Castro , García Teresa Martín 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of extreme heat on perinatal health disparities between migrant and native-born populations in Spain. Using birth records from 2018 to 2021, we analyze the effects of heat exposure during pregnancy, measured through orange-level heat alerts (> 37–40 °C), on birth outcomes such as absolute weight, the risk of low birth weight (< 2500 g), very low birth weight (< 1500), macrosomia (> 4000 g), and preterm birth (< 37th week). Our findings consistently reveal that migrant-origin infants face a higher risk of adverse outcomes compared with native-born infants, with the disparity being more pronounced in the first and second trimesters. The results challenge the notion that a “healthy immigrant effects” could be protective against the detrimental consequences of heat exposure. We conduct robustness checks using measures of absolute temperature exposures, confirming that the adverse effects of heat are consistent across different temperature measurements. These findings emphasize the urgent need to address heat-related health vulnerabilities, especially among migrant populations, as climate change intensifies.
A Canonical Infinitesimally Hilbertian Structure on Locally Minkowski Spaces
Authors: Magnabosco Mattia , Rigoni Chiara 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to show the existence of a canonical distance

$$\mathsf d'$$

d
′

defined on a locally Minkowski metric measure space

$$(\textsf{X},\mathsf d,\mathfrak m)$$

(
X
,
d
,
m
)

such that:

$$\mathsf d'$$

d
′

is equivalent to

$$\mathsf d$$

d

,

$$(\textsf{X}, \mathsf d', \mathfrak m)$$

(
X
,

d
′

,
m
)

is infinitesimally Hilbertian.

This new regularity assumption on

$$(\textsf{X}, \mathsf d,\mathfrak m)$$

(
X
,
d
,
m
)

essentially forces the structure to be locally similar to a Minkowski space and defines a class of metric measure structures which includes all the reversible Finsler manifolds and it is actually strictly larger. The required distance

$$\mathsf d'$$

d
′

will be the intrinsic distance

$$\mathsf d_\textsf{KS}$$

d
KS

associated to the so-called Korevaar-Schoen energy, which is proven to be a quadratic form. In particular, we show that the Cheeger energy associated to the metric measure space

$$(\textsf{X}, \mathsf d_\textsf{KS}, \mathfrak m)$$

(
X
,

d
KS

,
m
)

is in fact the Korevaar-Schoen energy.
Genomic features and evolution of lifestyles support the recognition of distinct genera among fusarioid fungi
Authors: Ulaszewski Bartosz , Sandoval-Denis Marcelo , Groenewald Johannes Z. , Costa Marileide M. , Mishra Bagdevi , Ploch Sebastian , Crous Pedro W. , Thines Marco 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The family Nectriaceae (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes) includes saprobes, endophytes and numerous important pathogens, several of which are of high commercial interest. Presently there are numerous genera scattered throughout the Nectriaceae that have a fusarioid asexual morph (i.e., genera with fusarium-like macroconidia). Fusarioid fungi encompass diverse lifestyles, including plant, human, and animal pathogens or associates, saprobes, lichenicolous species, endophytes, and mycophilic taxa. The fusarioid genera in Nectriaceae do not only differ in their sexual morphs, but also in their asexual morphology and biology, although their ecology has remained rather unclear. While genome data are available for numerous species, this has been mostly focused on Fusarium sensu stricto, as the genus encompasses most of the economically important species in this generic complex. To compliment this, we expanded the sampling, and generated whole genome sequences for 40 isolates representing the genera Atractium, Bisifusarium, Cinnamomeonectria, Corinectria, Cosmospora, Cyanonectria, Cylindrodendrum, Dialonectria, Fusarium, Fusicolla, Geejayessia, Ilyonectria, Macroconia, Macronectria, Microcera, Neocosmospora, Neonectria, Pseudofusicolla, Rectifusarium, Rugonectria, Scolecofusarium, Thelonectria, and Tumenectria. Phylogenomic ancestral reconstructions showed that plant pathogenicity is most likely ancestral to Fusarium and cylindrocarpioid genera, and revealed multiple and frequent lifestyle transitions. Although many species are prolific generalists, several genera appear to be more specialised, being primarily plant pathogens, mycophilic, or insect associated, while endophytism or plant pathogenicity evolved several times, and more recently in Fusarium. The broadly sampled Nectriaceae genomes supported morphological differences between most genera of Nectriaceae, mirrored by genome sizes, lactic enzymes, biosynthetic gene clusters, and small secreted proteins. Furthermore, it also supported a narrow circumscription of Fusarium in Nectriaceae that equals its morphology (Gibberella sexual morphs), and biology.
Effect of Deposition Current on Microstructure, Hardness and Residual Stress Distribution of NiCrBSiC Hardfacing Alloy
Authors: Suthar Falgun V. , Shah Hetalkumar N. , Mandal Durbadal , Chaudhury Sujoy K. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This study investigates the influence of deposition current on the characteristics of NiCrSiBC alloy hardfacing deposited onto a 316L stainless steel substrate using the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. The research focuses on evaluating the effect of deposition current on key properties such as Fe dilution, hardness distribution, microstructural features including secondary dendritic arms spacing (SDAS), and lattice strain. Microstructural analysis was conducted using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while dilution analysis performed using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The microstructural examination revealed a dendritic microstructure typical of such hardfacing, where SDAS increased proportionally with deposition current. Hardness profiling indicated an initial increase away from the fusion line, reaching a plateau beyond a certain distance. Higher deposition currents led to increased temperatures during welding, resulting in greater Fe dilution over a larger area within the hardfacing deposit. Numerical simulations of residual stress distribution demonstrated a significant dependency on deposition current, influencing both the hardfacing bead and substrate.
Environmental Contour Methods for Long-Term Extreme Response Prediction of Offshore Wind Turbines
Authors: Zhang Jixiang , Wang Shan , Shadman Milad , Amiri Mojtaba Maali , Chen Baiqiao , An Chen , Estefen Segen Farid 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The long-term responses of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) are critical in the design phase, where precise assessments ensure structural reliability and operational efficiency. The environmental contour method (ECM) enables efficient analysis of design responses by focusing on a selected set of critical environmental conditions that predominantly drive long-term extreme responses. Despite its extensive use in offshore engineering, ECM’s application in the structural design and strength assessment of OWTs remains underexplored. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the utilization of ECM in the context of OWT design, incorporating a bibliometric analysis of publications from the Web of Science to identify research trends and key topics. The analysis highlights diverse approaches for estimating long-term extreme responses and constructing environmental contours using statistical distributions. Additionally, the study explores the application of ECM and its modified versions in the design and strength assessment of OWTs. Challenges and opportunities associated with ECM implementation in OWTs are critically analyzed, providing insights into ECM’s potential for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of OWT structural design.
Subcritical Water Extraction of Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides): A Qualitative Analysis of Bioactive Profile Based on Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Devadass Indhuja , Swift Simon , Sreebhavan Sree , Baroutian Saeid 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) has been traditionally recognised for its health-promoting properties. However, limited comprehensive data on its bioactive profile hinders its potential industrial applications. Therefore, this study investigated the bioactive constituents of the kānuka subcritical water extract, exhibiting maximum antioxidant potential, using LC–MS/MS QTOF. Experiments were performed at different extraction temperatures and times to determine antioxidant content and capacity. The data were statistically analysed to select extracts with the maximum antioxidant response for bioactive screening. The highest recovery of polyphenolics and flavonoids occurred at 170 °C, 5 min (319.96 ± 22.67 mg GAE/g dw and 163.57 ± 9.7 mg QE/g dw), correlating with increased antioxidant activity (DPPH: 87.77 ± 1.74%; ABTS: 97.62 ± 0.12; FRAP: 166.43 ± 25.54 mg TE/g dw). Extracts obtained at 170 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C with shorter extraction times (5, 10, and 15 min) were selected for bioactive screening using multivariate principal component analysis. Consequently, a rich composition of phenylpropanoids, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and monolignols, was identified in the kānuka extracts using LC–MS/MS QTOF. Additionally, bioactives previously not found in kānuka extracts were identified, including 2ʹ,6ʹ-Dihydroxy-4ʹ-methoxydihydrochalcone, resveratrol, scopoletin, and naringin, underscoring its potential as a source of valuable metabolites to the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Optimizing CO2 capture from biogas: a comparative study of amine-based solvents through Aspen Plus simulations
Authors: Kopac Turkan , Demirel Yaşar 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Biogas is a sustainable energy source with ecological, economic, and societal advantages. Composed mainly of CH4 and CO2, it offers a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, emphasizing the importance of decarbonization. Chemical absorption effectively captures CO2, and process simulations assess separation performance before industrial use. This research aims to explore the potential of three amine-based solvents—AMP, DEA, and MDEA—for CO2 capture from biogas via Aspen Plus simulations to assess absorption/stripping columns. An improved rate-based model enhances the accuracy of mass and heat transfer simulations, with electrolyte NRTL models used for thermodynamic analysis. The study considers two distinct biogas compositions: biogas 1, which comprises 50% CH4, 32.2% CO2, 10% N2, and 7.8% H2O, and biogas 2, which consists of 50% CH4, 25% CO2, 5% N2, 7.8% H2O, 5% H2, and 7.2% H2S. Simulations are conducted to analyze the effects of biogas composition, solvent choice, and thermodynamic models on performance indicators such as the percentage of CO2 captured and the removal efficiencies of both CO2 and H2S within the absorber. The simulation results indicate that DEA has the highest CO2 capture effectiveness among solvents for both biogas compositions, followed by AMP, with MDEA showing the lowest. DEA achieves optimal results when the ENRTL-RK model is used. For biogas 1, DEA results in the highest CO2 removal efficiency, whereas for biogas 2, AMP results in the best H2S removal efficacy. The amine-based CO2 capture simulation suggests viability but highlights the need for further analysis of environmental impacts and costs for sustainability.
Network based differential abundance analysis: bridging community interactions and host microbiome dynamics
Authors: Hossine Zakir , Towers Isaac N. , Kaehler Benjamin D. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Differential abundance analysis is a critical task in microbiome research, aiming to identify microbial features (e.g., Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV), Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU), taxa) that vary across conditions. Despite significant advancements, current leading methods (e.g., Analysis of Compositions of Microbiomes with Bias Correction (ANCOM-BC), ANCOM-BC2) face challenges in robustness and reproducibility, limiting their utility in complex ecological datasets. In this work, we propose a novel network-based approach for differential abundance analysis that integrates microbial interactions to improve accuracy and interpretability. Using simulated data generated from five empirical datasets by a third-party simulator, independent of all methods tested, our approach consistently outperforms ANCOM-BC and ANCOM-BC2 in terms of

$$F_1$$

F
1

scores. Beyond numerical performance, our method uses network analysis to uncover drivers of differential abundance, offering insights into microbial interactions and causal links with environmental or pathological factors. For example, we identify potential endogenous ecological drivers and exogenous influences that traditional binary classifications might overlook. This capability broadens the scope of microbiome research, enabling a deeper understanding of microbial ecology and its connection to host health and environmental conditions. Our findings highlight the potential of network-based approaches to advance both the methodological and biological frontiers of differential abundance analysis.
Recovery of Platinum and Ruthenium from PEM Electrodes via Hydrometallurgical Approach
Authors: Sandig-Predzymirska L. , Barreiros T. Veiga , Weigelt A. , Pitscheider S. , Pedersen C. Mølleskov , Kallesøe C. , Thiere A. , Stelter M. , Charitos A. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from secondary sources is becoming increasingly relevant from an economic and environmental perspective. There are many studies on the extraction of precious metals using hydro- or pyrometallurgical treatment. Most publications focus on the recycling of these metals from catalytic converters. However, less information is available regarding the recycling of PGMs from electrocatalysts, which are important for the achievement of the decarbonization goals of the European “Green Deal.” This paper focuses on the hydrometallurgical approach for Pt and Ru recycling from the proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrode, as those elements are commonly applied to promote a hydrogen-based economy. The proposed recycling scheme contains pre-treatment, leaching, volatilization, and precipitation steps. A parametric study (e.g., reagent concentration, additives, temperature, leaching time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and stirring rate) concerning the above process steps is presented. Leaching tests demonstrated high recovery yields for both metals, achieving 90% for Pt and 82% for Ru, after 4 h of leaching at 75 °C in 4 M HCl with the addition of 1.5 M AlCl3 as an alternative chloride ion source. Two approaches were followed for Pt/Ru separation: (i) Ru volatilization and (ii) selective Pt precipitation. In the volatilization step, the use of 1 M Na2S2O8 as an oxidizing agent enabled complete Ru recovery (up to 100%) within just 1.5 h. Various acids were evaluated as trapping media to produce different Ru precursors. For selective Pt precipitation, the addition of 5 M NH4Cl to the bi-metallic leach solution resulted in up to 96% Pt recovery within 30 min, while Ru precipitation was minimal (~ 3%). The obtained PGM salts produced by this recycling procedure have been reused as precursors to manufacture a new PtRu electrocatalyst, enabling in this way the circularity of the studied elements.

Graphical Abstract
Technical change and surplus labor in the global economy
Authors: Hashimoto Takahiko 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Based on the studies of Okishio and Roemer, this study discusses the relationship between surplus value and technological change that reduces costs and labor value by industry. Previous studies were limited in that they constructed a one-country model using a single wage rate and did not consider imported intermediate goods. Therefore, we extend the framework of the previous studies to a case in which imported intermediate goods exist and wage rates differ across countries, using a two-country, two-sector model and a multicountry-multisector model in this study. The analysis reveals that when surplus labor is negative in a country that imports intermediate goods, technological change occurs that reduces costs but uses more direct and indirect labor in the country’s industries. The type of technological change was found to be capital-using and labor-saving.
Reduction of plane quartics and Dixmier–Ohno invariants
Authors: van Bommel Raymond , Docking Jordan , Lercier Reynald , García Elisa Lorenzo 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
We characterise, in terms of Dixmier–Ohno invariants, the types of singularities that a plane quartic curve can have. We then use these results to obtain new criteria for determining the stable reduction types of non-hyperelliptic curves of genus 3.