bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the efficacy and safety of methotrexate injection and methotrexate tablets in active RA
Authors: Qiao Lin , Hu Jiankang , Ou Daming , Liu Mixia , Shi Xiaofei , Li Xiaomei , Wu Rui , Zhang Liyun , Liu Yuan , Xiao Changhong , Fu Zili , Lin Jin , Wang Rongsheng , Zhou Dongmei , Yu Jing , Jin JingChun , Song Shulin , Tang Lin , Sun Hongsheng , Yin Yuanyuan , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous MTX (SC MTX) and oral MTX (OR MTX) in treating Chinese patients with active RA.

Methods

This study included patients with active RA in China. All patients were randomly assigned to receive SC MTX or OR MTX. The primary end point was Disease Activity Score-28 for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) after 12 weeks of treatment.

Results

DAS28-ESR scores of the SC MTX and OR MTX groups significantly decreased compared with baseline at week 12. The least squares mean (±S.E.) of the change in DAS28-ESR scores were −1.972 ± 0.1448 and −1.800 ± 0.1438 in the SC MTX and OR MTX groups. The intergroup difference was −0.173 ± 0.2041, indicating that the SC MTX group was not inferior to the OR MTX group. With respect to the secondary endpoints of ACR20/50/70, DAS28-CRP and the proportion of patients in disease remission by DAS28(CRP) but not with DAS28(ESR), SC MTX was numerically better than OR MTX during the first 8 weeks but not all by week 12. The safety profile of SC MTX is similar to that of OR MTX in general, and the incidence, occurrences and preferred term types of drug-related TEAE of gastrointestinal system disorders were lower.

Conclusions

SC MTX had similar overall therapeutic effects compared with OR MTX and was generally well tolerated. Some efficacy results showed greater improvement during the first 8 weeks of SC MTX vs OR MTX but not by week 12.

Trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200066425.
Real-time digital dermatitis detection in dairy cows on Android and iOS apps using computer vision techniques
Authors: Dwivedi Agam , Henige Marlee , Anklam Kelly , Döpfer Dörte
Published: February 2025

The aim of the study was to deploy computer vision models for real-time detection of digital dermatitis (DD) lesions in cows using Android or iOS mobile applications. Early detection of DD lesions in dairy cows is crucial for prompt treatment and animal welfare. Android and iOS apps could facilitate routine and early DD detection in cows’ feet on dairy and beef farms. Upon detecting signs of DD, dairy farmers could implement preventive and treatment methods, including foot baths, topical treatment, hoof trimming, or quarantining cows affected by DD to prevent its spread. We applied transfer-learning to DD image data for 5 lesion classes, M0, M4H, M2, M2P, and M4P, on pretrained YOLOv5 model architecture using COCO-128 pretrained weights. The combination of localization loss, classification loss, and objectness loss was used for the optimization of prediction performance. The custom DD detection model was trained on 363 images of size 416 × 416 pixels and tested on 46 images. During model training, data were augmented to increase model robustness in different environments. The model was converted into TFLite format for Android devices and CoreML format for iOS devices. Techniques such as quantization were implemented to improve inference speed in real-world settings. The DD models achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.95 on the test dataset. When tested in real-time, iOS devices resulted in Cohen’s kappa value of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.49 to 0.65) averaged across the 5 lesion classes denoting the moderate agreement of the model detection with human investigators. The Android device resulted in a Cohen’s kappa value of 0.38 (95% CI: 0.29 to 0.47) denoting fair agreement between model and investigator. Combining M2 and M2P classes and M4H and M4P classes resulted in a Cohen’s kappa value of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.54 to 0.76) and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.35 to 0.57), for Android and iOS devices, respectively. For the 2-class model (lesion vs. non-lesion), a Cohen’s kappa value of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.85) and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.52 to 0.78) was achieved for iOS and Android devices, respectively. iOS achieved a good inference time of 20 ms, compared to 57 ms on Android. Additionally, we deployed models on Ultralytics iOS and Android apps giving kappa scores of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.48 to 0.64) and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.37 to 0.55), respectively. Our custom iOS app surpassed the Ultralytics apps in terms of kappa score and confidence score.
Chronic benzene exposure impairs the self-renewal capacity of HSPCs in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhou Jin , Zhao Jianxin , Cheng Xiurong , Xing Caihong
Published: February 2025

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of chronic benzene exposure on the self-renewal capacity of C57BL/6 bone marrow HSPCs. Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the benzene-exposed group. Mice in the benzene-exposed group inhaled 1,000 mg/m3 (308 ppm; conversion factor: 20 °C, 101 kPa, 1 ppm = 3.25 mg/m3) benzene for 32 weeks and the control group mice inhaled clean air. The peripheral blood hematological alterations were monitored every two weeks. Competitive bone marrow transplantation was performed to assess the self-renewal capacity of bone marrow HSPCs and the donor cell chimerism was quantified through flow cytometry. By the fourth week of benzene exposure, significant reductions in leukocytes, erythrocytes, and hemoglobin levels (P < 0.05) were observed, suggesting the development of benzene poisoning in mice. In the B6.SJL recipient mice, the chimerism ratio of bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 donors exposed to benzene for 20 weeks significantly decreased after transplantation (16 weeks post-transplant: 52.58% ± 17.38% in controls vs. 3.89% ± 1.96% in the benzene group, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the chimerism ratio in recipients of 32-week benzene-exposed donors approached zero by week 84 post-transplant, suggesting a loss of self-renewal capacity in bone marrow HSPCs due to benzene exposure. The study concludes that bone marrow suppression and the diminished self-renewal ability of C57BL/6 bone marrow HSPCs may lead to bone marrow failure in mice, contributing to the potential occurrence of MDS.
Experimental Sugar Beet Cultivars Evaluated for Rhizomania Resistance and Storability in Idaho, 2023
Authors: Strausbaugh Carl A. , Majumdar Raj , Vincill Eric
Published: February 2025

Rhizomania caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and storage losses caused by fungal root rots are serious sugar beet production problems. Rhizomania leads to small wine glass shaped roots, excessive root hairs, and yellow leaves. The fungal growth on the root surface leads to black lesions and sucrose loss. Thus, experimental sugar beet cultivars were evaluated for resistance to BNYVV during the 2023 growing season and for storage rots during the subsequent storage season in southern Idaho. The study identified the sugar beet cultivars with resistance to BNYVV and storage rots in order to increase yield and profits.
Comparative methods to predict redosing of bupivacaine and ropivacaine in truncal catheters
Authors: Bungart Brittani , Joudeh Lana , Schwenk Eric S. , Chiang Christopher , Fettiplace Michael R.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Despite the frequent use of ropivacaine and bupivacaine, there is limited guidance on redosing of these medications following an initial bolus. Intermittent redosing is a clinical practice in the setting of nerve catheters, often utilizing large doses. Comparatively, theoretical elimination rates are available from pharmacokinetic studies, providing estimates on total body content of these drugs. We hypothesized that published redosing of bupivacaine and ropivacaine in clinical literature comported with safe elimination of the drugs based on pharmacokinetic studies.

Methods:

Clinical redosing of bupivacaine and ropivacaine were identified from previously published manuscripts that used intermittent bolus dosing into the transversus abdominis plane and paravertebral space. The dosing data were fit to an exponential curve using least squares regression and 1/Y2 weighting with the equation : Y = YM
- (YM - Y0)* e-k*x
where Y

M
is the maximal dose (175 mg for bupivacaine, 210 mg for ropivacaine), Y

0
is the dose at time zero, k is the elimination constant and x is time. Both minimal (i.e. slowest) and average pharmacokinetic elimination constants for ropivacaine and bupivacaine were identified in the published literature. Clinical redosing was compared with pharmacokinetic elimination.

Results:

The maximal pharmacokinetic half-lives of bupivacaine and ropivacaine were 603 minutes (range 154 – 2970 minutes, N=49) and 528 minutes (range 204 – 3276 minutes, N=39) respectively. Clinically reported redosing of bupivacaine fit to an exponential curve with kbupi(clinical) = 0.077 hrs-1 , representing the 53.5 th percentile of extracted pharmacokinetic minimal elimination constants. Clinically reported redosing of ropivacaine fit to a curve with kropi(clinical) = 0.083 hrs-1 consistent with the 52nd percentile of minimal pharmacokinetic elimination constants.

Conclusions:

Clinically reported redosing of bupivacaine and ropivacaine in the published literature reflect the slowest pharmacokinetic elimination based on human studies. The combined data without evidence of toxicity permit us to make practical recommendations about safe redosing of these agents.
Autoantibodies in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Authors: Seefried Sabine , Barcic Anastasia , Grijalva Yepez Maria Fernanda , Reinhardt Lena , Appeltshauser Luise , Doppler Kathrin , Üçeyler Nurcan , Sommer Claudia
Published: February 2025

The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of IgG autoantibodies in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), to characterize their binding to dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and glial cells, and to assess whether specific DRG binding patterns correlate with clinical symptoms. Sera of a cohort of 184 patients with FMS and 55 control sera were used to test binding of patient IgG on rat DRG sections. ELISA, Western blot, and preadsorption tests were used to search for potential target antigens. We found binding to DRGs in 68 of 184 FMS sera and in none of the control sera. We could identify 9 binding clusters including binding to neurons and to cells labelled with the satellite glial cell marker fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7). Current pain intensity correlated positively with IgG binding to FABP7 immunoreactive structures, and burning pain was associated with binding to transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 immunoreactive neurons. Specific antibody detection revealed 13 of 68 sera positive for anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, 9 of 68 positive for SOX1 antibodies, 7 of 68 positive for antibodies against the serotonin receptor 5HT1AR, and 3 of 68 positive for fibroblast growth factor 3 antibodies. Our findings support the notion of an immune activation in a subgroup of patients with FMS.
Clinical Validation of an AI System for Pneumoconiosis Detection Using Chest X-rays
Authors: Ruiz Eduardo R. , Arellano Carolina A. , Archila Carmen A. , Llobet Carolina , Carrasco Gonzalo , Pinochet Francisca
Published: February 2025

Objective: To develop and evaluate "eTóraxLaboral," an intelligent platform for detecting signs of pneumoconiosis in chest radiographs, and to assess its predictive capacity. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2300 randomly selected chest radiographs was performed. Sensitivity, specificity, false positive/negative rates, predictive values, likelihood ratios, efficiency, error rate, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were evaluated. A Fagan nomogram and ROC curve analysis were included. Results: "eTóraxLaboral" demonstrated high sensitivity to signs of pneumoconiosis (LR+ 23, LR- 0.2). A slight tendency toward a higher number of false positives was observed, possibly due to the superposition of anatomical elements and increased lung markings. False negatives were less common, often misinterpreting pneumoconiotic opacities as consolidation-type findings. Conclusions: "eTóraxLaboral" facilitates early pneumoconiosis detection, providing crucial diagnostic support for healthcare workers in Chile and other developed or developing nations.
Employment productivity and cancer-related psychological symptoms among adult cancer dyads
Authors: Warner Echo L. , Sikorskii Alla , Cunicelli Nathan , Badger Terry , Segrin Chris , Morrill Kristin E. , Rainbow Jessica
Published: February 2025

Objective

To explore cancer survivors’ and caregivers' presenteeism (work performance) and absenteeism (missed work), and associations with work performance in the prior year and psychological symptoms (depressive and anxiety symptoms, symptom severity).

Methods

Cross-sectional baseline data of a larger trial were analyzed to explore associations between absenteeism and presenteeism with prior work performance and psychological symptoms.

Results

Among survivors (N = 309) and caregivers (N = 306), increased depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with decreased work performance; survivors’ anxiety was associated with absenteeism. Prior work performance was associated with better current work performance among survivors and caregivers. In survivors only, prior work performance was associated with reduced current absenteeism.

Conclusions

Experiencing depressive and anxiety symptoms may decrease survivors’ and caregivers’ work performance. Addressing these symptoms may help survivors and caregivers improve work performance.
Pediatric Idiopathic Chylous Leak: A 15-Year Single-Center Experience
Authors: O’Guinn MaKayla L. , Keane Olivia A. , Adams Sarah N. , Knowlin Laquanda T. , Delfosse Erin , Miller Joseph , Kreimer Sara , Lee Shimwoo , Anselmo Dean M.
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Idiopathic chylous leak (ICL) is defined by the accumulation of chyle in the pleural or peritoneal space, for which there is no underlying etiology. Given the low incidence and heterogeneity of presentation, evaluation, and management guidelines lack consensus. The purpose of this study is to provide insights regarding the clinical manifestations and propose a multidisciplinary treatment approach in ICL.

Methods:

A single-center retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic chylous ascites and/or chylothorax from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2023. Data pertaining to the evaluation and treatments was abstracted.

Results:

A total of 18 patients with ICL were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 1 month (interquartile range [IQR]: 0–6.0) with 3 patients diagnosed prenatally. Clinical presentation was chylothorax for 78% and chylous ascites for 22% of patients. Most patients were initially managed conservatively with nil per os (NPO) and total parental nutrition (83%). Octreotide was utilized in 72% of patients. Sirolimus was used in 22% of patients. Seven patients required surgical management due to failure of medical management. All surgical patients underwent a magnetic resonance lymphangiogram before intervention. Nonoperative patients had fewer total NPO days (14.0, IQR: 0.0–45.0) relative to patients who required surgery (44, IQR: 20.0–48.0). However, median NPO days postoperatively were 12 days (IQR: 1.0–34.0).

Conclusion:

We describe our 15-year experience on the evaluation and management of ICL. We advocate a multidisciplinary management approach to promptly optimize both conservative measures and medical treatment. The use of dedicated lymphatic imaging and surgical intervention should be considered for intractable cases of ICL refractory to medical treatment.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Overview of mucosal immunity and respiratory infections in children: a focus on Africa
Authors: Mwape Richard K. , Barday Mish-Al , van der Zalm Marieke M. , Verhagen Lilly M.
Published: February 2025

Purpose of review

Given the substantial burden of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) on global paediatric health, enhancing our understanding of mucosal immunity can help us advance mucosal biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and possible interventions in order to improve health outcomes. This review highlights the critical role of mucosal immunity in paediatric RTIs and recent advances in mucosal interventions, which offer promising strategies to improve outcomes.

Recent findings

The significant burden of paediatric RTIs and growing interest in mucosal immunity advanced our understanding of the role of the respiratory mucosal immune system in protective immunity against RTIs. Studies show that sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionately affected by paediatric RTIs with poverty-associated factors such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and malnutrition as risk factors. Emerging evidence highlights the important role of the respiratory microbiome and mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses in protective immunity against RTIs.

The growing interest in mucosal immunity in RTIs has not only advanced our understanding of the overall immune responses in RTIs but also created opportunities to improve RTI care through translation of knowledge from these studies into diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
Genetic and epigenetic correlation between diabetic retinopathy and polycystic ovarian syndrome: in-silico analyses-experimental research
Authors: Mirzaei Samira , Sheikh Soleimany Darany Zahra , Arjmand Neda , Farhadi Bahar , Garrosi Lida , Najafi Amin
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, can give rise to complications like diabetic retinopathy and polycystic ovarian syndrome, which have emerged as a primary concern among healthcare systems. This study aims to explore the genetic and epigenetic associations between diabetic retinopathy and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Methods:

Gene expression data were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Common genes were identified using Venn diagrams, while the Enrichment Analysis Resource database pinpointed shared signaling pathways. Additionally, shared microRNAs and circular RNAs were identified using the MiRmap and Circaintractome databases to investigate potential epigenetic links between the two conditions.

Results:

Analysis of datasets Gene Series Accession 53 257 and 54 248 revealed eight shared genes. These genes are involved in signaling pathways related to glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, tRNA biosynthesis, and DNA repair. Furthermore, the genes associated with miRNA (6 cases) and circular RNAs (12 cases) were identified. These molecular factors play key roles in critical biological processes such as insulin secretion, adiponectin regulation, and electron transport in the respiratory chain.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic pathways shared between diabetic retinopathy and polycystic ovarian syndrome, demonstrating that disruptions in these pathways may exacerbate metabolic complications. Identifying common genetic and epigenetic factors provides potential avenues for the clinical management and treatment of these disorders.
Efficacy and outcomes of inclisiran in the management of homozygous and heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khan Zaraq , Singh Ajeet , Haseeb Ur Rasool Muhammad , Qasim Nimra , Yafaa Naveed Chaudhary Muhammad , Syed Saif , Riaz Monazza , Rehman Wajih , Rehman Ihtiham , Islam Rabia , Islam Hamza , Muhammad Aqeel , Devi Raveena , WEI Calvin R. , Naaz Farheen , Akilimali Aymar
Published: February 2025

Objective:

To find out the efficacy of Inclisiran sodium in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) patient groups.

Methods:

PubMed, Embase, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched for the relevant studies. Atherosclerotic parameters considered included LDL-C, total cholesterol, PCSK9, apolipoprotein-B, and non-HDL-C. Primary outcomes were the percentage difference in atherosclerotic parameters at follow-up relative to baseline values. Our study examined these primary outcomes to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the HeFH and HoFH groups. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results:

Analysis of four ORION clinical trials unveiled the significant difference in pooled mean differences in LDL-C (HeFH: –48.62%, HoFH: –9.12%; P < 0.05) total cholesterol (HeFH: –30.31%, HoFH: –11.50%; P < 0.05), apolipoprotein-B (HeFH: –39.97%, HoFH: –14.68%, P < 0.05), and non-HDL-C (HeFH: –44.51%, HoFH: –12.22%; P <0.05) between HeFH and HoFH groups. However, the difference in the pooled mean difference in PCSK9 values (HeFH: –68.41%, HoFH: –56.25%; P = 0.2) between the HeFH and HoFH groups was statistically insignificant. Studies were of high quality.

Conclusion:

There was a significant difference in the reductions in atherosclerotic lipid parameters in heterozygous and homozygous populations after the administration of inclisiran except for the PCSK9 parameter. Further studies are needed to support this conclusion.
Proximal bowel obstruction caused by high-grade duodenal adenocarcinoma: A rare case
Authors: Ibrahim Rana , Yassine Mohammad , Dika Zakaria
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Duodenal adenocarcinoma is an exceptionally rare malignancy, constituting less than 0.5% of all gastrointestinal cancers. Its nonspecific symptoms often lead to delayed diagnosis and advanced disease at presentation.

Case presentation:

A 64-year-old female presented with epigastric pain, nausea, and biliary vomiting. Imaging revealed a proximal small bowel obstruction, and endoscopy identified a high-grade duodenal adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent a successful duodenojejunectomy, side-to-side anastomosis, and lymphadenectomy.

Discussion:

Post-operative recovery was uneventful, leading to discharge in stable condition. This case underscores the importance of considering duodenal adenocarcinoma in differential diagnoses for small bowel obstruction and highlights the effectiveness of surgical management.

Conclusion:

Duodenal adenocarcinoma, though rare, should be considered in patients with small bowel obstruction. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Exploring the therapeutic potential of bi-modal stimulation for tinnitus
Authors: Khan Ali Aamir , Nasim Hamid , Manhal Gaffar Alemam A. , Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed Khabab
Published: February 2025

Background:

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without any external acoustic stimuli, affecting over 10% of the population, especially older adults. Current treatments focus on symptom management rather than a complete cure, often providing limited relief.

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimodal neuromodulation therapy for tinnitus, compared to traditional treatment methods.

Results:

Bimodal neuromodulation, which combines sound and tongue stimulation, has shown significant improvement in tinnitus symptoms. FDA-approved studies report sustained symptom reduction in over 77% of patients for up to 12 months. The most common side effect is an increase in tinnitus symptoms, similar to sound-only treatments.

Conclusion:

This therapy presents a high benefit-to-risk ratio with minimal side effects, offering better clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to existing treatments. Adjustments in treatment parameters can further enhance its effectiveness over time. Bimodal neuromodulation shows promise as a more effective treatment for tinnitus. Future clinical trials should replicate these positive findings, evaluate long-term effects, and compare their effectiveness to other treatment options to improve accessibility and clinical outcomes for tinnitus patients.
Monocytes and cervical ripening: a narrative review of prolonged labor pathophysiology
Authors: Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi , Mahmoud Salma Abdi
Published: February 2025

Prolonged labor, a major obstetric complication, is often linked to inadequate cervical ripening, which hinders labor progression. The process of cervical ripening is governed by complex hormonal and immune-mediated mechanisms, with monocytes playing a central role. These immune cells infiltrate the cervix and differentiate into macrophages, releasing cytokines and proteases that are essential for extracellular matrix remodeling, cervical softening, and dilation. However, in prolonged labor, an imbalance in monocyte activity may impede normal cervical ripening, contributing to stalled labor and increased risk of maternal and neonatal complications. Monocytes are critical to the inflammatory response that initiates cervical remodeling during labor. Upon recruitment to the cervix, monocytes release inflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, which activate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to degrade collagen and extracellular matrix proteins, facilitating cervical effacement and dilation. Dysregulated monocyte recruitment and prolonged inflammation, however, may lead to ineffective cervix remodeling, preventing labor from progressing efficiently. Furthermore, these immune responses can influence uterine contractility, either promoting or inhibiting uterine contractions, which further complicates the pathophysiology of prolonged labor.
ChatSchema: development and validation of a pipeline for extracting structured nursing information with large multimodal models
Authors: Wang Fei , Zheng Yuewen , Wu Jingyi , Li Qing , Li Pengfei , Zhang Luxia
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Timely access to essential patient information is critical for informed, data-driven decision-making in clinical nursing to enhance care efficiency and quality. Despite advancements in electronic health records, many medical reports remain in paper form, posing challenges for data analysis and application. This study aimed to develop ChatSchema, a pipeline based on Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) for extracting structured information from paper-based medical reports, and evaluated its effectiveness in a pilot setting.

Method:

ChatSchema was a two-stage approach to extract and structure data from paper-based medical reports. The classification stage leveraged Optical Character Recognition (OCR) of the pictured medical reports, pre-correction, desensitization, and prompt engineering to categorize report types. In the extraction stage, OCR-converted text was transformed into a structured format using a predefined schema, with LMMs applied for standardizing fields and converting data types. A dataset of 100 annotated medical reports was collected from Peking University First Hospital, and the effectiveness of ChatSchema was evaluated in terms of precision, recall, F1-score, and overall accuracy. To validate ChatSchema’s effectiveness, we compared it against a baseline method that provided only schema and task instructions. For sensitivity analysis, two basic LMMs, GPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro, were utilized and compared in the development of ChatSchema.

Results:

A ground-truth dataset comprising 2,945 test item-result pairs was extracted from 100 annotated medical reports. ChatSchema was capable of correctly extracting and structuring data from paper-based medical reports, showing remarkable accuracy across various data types, unit standardization, field mapping, and basic LMMs. Overall, ChatSchema achieved a high F1-score of 95.8%, an accuracy of 97.2%, a precision of 95.8%, and a recall of 95.8%. ChatSchema surpassed the baseline model by 12.9% in accuracy and by 12.3% in F1-score using the GPT-4o model.

Conclusion:

Our findings demonstrate that ChatSchema is highly effective for extracting and structuring data from paper-based medical reports. By providing accurate, structured information extraction, ChatSchema has the potential to enhance patient care and support clinical decision-making, showing significant promise for broader application in nursing and healthcare settings.
A Systems Perspective of How Community-Engaged Public Health Addresses Social Determinants of Health: A Case Study of a Population-Based COVID-19 Testing Program
Authors: Frerichs Leah , Akiwumi Ann-Marie , Kaz Lia , Kim Doyoung , Florick Laura , Lucas Valerie , Layer Marcus , Farrar Brandy , Dave Gaurav , Hassmiller Lich Kristen
Published: February 2025

Context:

Despite the recognition that social determinants of health (SDOH) are key to improving the health of all communities, the causality and specific mechanisms through which SDOH impacts health behaviors and outcomes are often ambiguous.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to use systems thinking to document pathways through which SDOH affected health-seeking behaviors and identify how community engagement strategies intervened to address SDOH barriers.

Design:

We leveraged the case context of a large federal initiative (Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations [RADx-UP]) designed to improve COVID-19 testing for underserved populations through community-engaged and participatory approaches. First, we used structured sessions with RADx-UP partners to create causal maps that documented relationships between factors relevant to SDOH, a health-seeking behavior (COVID-19 testing), and community engagement strategies. Second, we searched, reviewed, and tied evidence from RADx-UP peer-reviewed literature to contextualize the causal maps.

Results:

We identified 17 unique pathways that linked SDOH to COVID-19 testing. The map also highlighted 3 mechanisms through which the community engagement addressed SDOH: (1) improving access to testing, (2) addressing health and digital literacy, and (3) conducting social needs screening and assistance.

Conclusions:

Our findings highlighted the complexity of public health issues such as COVID-19 and how community engagement is critical to addressing SDOH and health equity. Importantly, dedicating resources to community engagement created positive reinforcing dynamics to improve the health of communities; however, as COVID-19 became better managed, funding also diminished and decreased the capacity for community-engaged efforts. Research in public health needs to focus on understanding and reshaping systems that better support community-engaged efforts.
Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on a Child Maltreatment Prevention Network
Authors: Kohl Patricia L. , Harris Jenine K. , Shires Mary Katherine , Bacon Caren , Sulaima Sanaria , Jonson-Reid Melissa
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Child maltreatment is a complex and preventable public health problem that cannot be effectively addressed by a single organization or sector. We examined a network of organizations working to prevent childhood maltreatment before and during COVID-19, including members of the Parents and Children Together–St. Louis Collaborative. The Collaborative is an initiative with the purpose of strengthening ties among service agencies and was new when the COVID-19 shutdowns began.

Design and Participants:

In September 2020, we surveyed 62 agencies working on childhood maltreatment prevention in the public health, health, or social service sectors. We asked about frequency of contact between organizations before (pre-COVID) and during COVID (in-COVID). We used descriptive and inferential network methods to examine network properties and changes.

Results:

There were 360 ties among organizations in the pre-COVID network (density = 0.19) and 321 ties among organizations (density = 0.17) during COVID. The median number of ties per organization decreased from pre- to in-COVID for most organizations and most notably for smaller and newer organizations and mental health care organizations. The only organization type that increased connections was substance abuse organizations. Pre- and in-COVID odds of connection were significantly higher for mental health care, substance abuse, health care, child welfare, and legal-advocacy organizations compared to multisector organizations. Odds of a connection between 2 organizations were significantly higher pre-COVID and in-COVID if one or both organizations were Collaborative members.

Conclusions:

Disruptions during COVID-19 coincided with fewer connections among organizations. Collaborative members had higher odds of connection before and during COVID-19, suggesting a potential strategy for building and maintaining a cross-sector service network. Understanding network structure and change in the early stages of COVID-19 provides an opportunity to work on building and sustaining inter-organizational connections essential in violence prevention and child well-being and other areas of public health.
Adaptive Capacity Within the Homecare Setting: The Importance and Value of a Shared Perception of Risk
Authors: Idsøe-Jakobsen Ingvild , Dombestein Heidi , Lawton Rebecca , Wiig Siri
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

Patients receiving homecare are living their everyday lives in their own homes. Adapting care to individual needs, preferences, risks, and family situations is seen as essential. The overall aim of this study was to develop empirical knowledge of risk perception in homecare services. The research question that guided the study was: How is a shared perception of risk between health care professionals and leaders a part of providing high-quality care within a homecare setting?

Methods:

The research design was a multiple-embedded case study including 3 single cases. Participants were recruited from 3 Norwegian municipalities. Two focus group interviews were conducted in each municipality. In total, 19 informants participated, including 11 homecare department leaders and 8 health care professionals. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke’s 6-phase thematic analysis.

Findings:

Two higher-order themes were developed from the data: “Risk perception is a collective understanding” and “A flawed system requires adapting just to make it work.” The study showed that, in the homecare departments, leaders’ and health care professionals’ opinion, flexibility and professional discussions are key to enhancing the system’s adaptive capacity. High-quality care is always perceived as person-centered and adaptive. Overgeneralizations and the use of guidelines were perceived as demanding. The findings also showed that making sense of and managing risks within a homecare setting is complex.

Conclusions:

Bridging the gaps by conceptualizing and acting upon risks in the homecare setting constitutes a fundamental part of adaptive capacity at a system level. However, better alignment of system demands to local risks is needed for sustainable and safe services.
The interconnected nature of multiple threats is impacting freshwater biodiversity
Authors: Spiller Aelis , Comte Lise , Geldmann Jonas , Iversen Lars
Published: February 2025

Freshwater biodiversity is in crisis across the globe: the significant extraction, modification and pollution of freshwater resources puts these communities and systems at great risk. Here, using probabilistic network analysis and International Union for the Conservation of Nature threat data, we show that globally and across all taxonomic groups and geographical regions, threats to freshwater species are interconnected and do not occur in isolation. However, we also find that species in higher risk categories are more acutely threatened by single, dominant threats as compared with species at lower risk of global extinction. Determining when and which species are threatened by isolated threats or a suite of co-occurring threats provides crucial insights for the design of effective freshwater conservation strategies.
AGS3-based optogenetic GDI induces GPCR-independent Gβγ signalling and macrophage migration
Authors: Thotamune Waruna , Ubeysinghe Sithurandi , Rajarathna Chathuri , Kankanamge Dinesh , Olupothage Koshala , Chandu Aditya , Copits Bryan A. , Karunarathne Ajith
Published: February 2025

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are efficient guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and exchange GDP to GTP on the Gα subunit of G-protein heterotrimers in response to various extracellular stimuli, including neurotransmitters and light. GPCRs primarily broadcast signals through activated G proteins, GαGTP and free Gβγ and are major disease drivers. Evidence shows that the ambient low threshold signalling required for cells is likely supplemented by signalling regulators such as non-GPCR GEFs and guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). Activators of G-protein signalling 3 (AGS3) are recognized as a GDI involved in multiple health and disease-related processes. Nevertheless, understanding of AGS3 is limited, and no significant information is available on its structure–function relationship or signalling regulation in living cells. Here, we employed
in silico
structure-guided engineering of a novel optogenetic GDI, based on the AGS3’s G-protein regulatory motif, to understand its GDI activity and induce standalone Gβγ signalling in living cells on optical command. Our results demonstrate that plasma membrane recruitment of OptoGDI efficiently releases Gβγ, and its subcellular targeting generated localized PIP3 and triggered macrophage migration. Therefore, we propose OptoGDI as a powerful tool for optically dissecting GDI-mediated signalling pathways and triggering GPCR-independent Gβγ signalling in cells and
in vivo
.
Interactions of N- and C-terminal parts of Ana1 permitting centriole duplication but not elongation
Authors: Nagy Agota , Kovacs Levente , Rangone Helene , Fu Jingyan , Ladinsky Mark , Glover David M.
Published: February 2025

The conserved process of centriole duplication requires the establishment of a Sas6-centred cartwheel initiated by Plk4’s phosphorylation of Ana1/STIL. Subsequently, the centriole undergoes conversion to a centrosome requiring its radial expansion and elongation, mediated by a network requiring interactions between Cep135, Ana1/Cep295 and Asterless/Cep152. Here, we show that mutant alleles encoding overlapping N- and C-terminal parts of Ana1 are capable of intragenic complementation to rescue radial expansion. This permits the recruitment of Asl and thereby centriole duplication and mechanosensory cilia formation to restore the coordination defects of these mutants. This genetic combination also rescues centriole duplication in the male germ line but does not rescue the elongation of the triplet microtubule-containing centrioles of primary spermatocytes. Consequently, these males are coordinated but sterile. Such centriole elongation is rescued by the continuous, full-length Ana1 sequence. We define a region that when deleted within otherwise intact Ana1 does not permit primary spermatocyte centrioles to elongate but still allows recruitment of Asl. Our findings point to differing demands upon the physical organization of Ana1 for the distinct processes of radial expansion and elongation of centrioles.
Pigs, people, and proximity: a 6000-year isotopic record of pig management in Ireland
Authors: Guiry Eric , Beglane Fiona , McCormick Finbar , Tourigny Eric , Richards Michael P.
Published: February 2025

The ways that pigs interact with humans are more flexible than other livestock. This plasticity means that pig behaviour can evidence a tremendous range of cultural phenomena, some of which may not otherwise show up in the archaeological record. We explore how people and pigs interacted in Ireland over 6000 years (4000 BC–AD 1900) from the perspective of isotopic zooarchaeology, using a large sample of pigs from 40 sites. Results demonstrate continuity and dramatic change. While pig diets show an emphasis on pannage throughout much of the period, husbandry was fundamentally reconstructed in the early medieval period. Through prehistory, pigs were herded in areas distant from human settlements, whereas later they were relocated to live near people. We explore potential implications of these patterns at a range of scales, from economics, to perspectives on zoonoses, and animal agency. While syntheses of a similar scope are needed for other areas of Europe, these findings may reflect a uniquely Irish trajectory of human–animal relationships.
On the role of true and false chirality in producing parity-violating energy differences
Authors: Martinez-Gil Daniel , Bargueno Pedro , Miret-Artés Salvador
Published: February 2025

In this work, we tackle the problem of showing which type of influences can lift the degeneracy between truly and falsely chiral systems, showing that only when both systems and influences are both truly (falsely) chiral, a parity violating energy difference between left-handed (L) and right-handed (R) systems can be produced. In particular, after considering the enantiomers of a chiral molecule as paradigmatic truly chiral systems, we rigorously show, under a quantum field theoretical approach, that only a truly chiral influence such as the

Z
0

-mediated electroweak interaction can lift the degeneracy between enantiomers. Indeed, we explicitly show that a falsely chiral influence, such as an axion-mediated interaction in chiral molecules, cannot lift the aforementioned degeneracy. These results extend Barron’s seminal ideas (L. D. Barron, True and false chirality and parity violation,
Chem. Phys. Lett.
123
, 423 (1986). (doi:
10.1016/0009-2614(86)80035-5
)) to a quantum-field-theory- (QFT)-based approach.
Green’s functions, propagation invariants, reciprocity theorems, wave-field representations and propagator matrices in two-dimensional time-dependent materials
Authors: Wapenaar Kees
Published: February 2025

The study of wave propagation and scattering in time-dependent materials is a rapidly growing field of research. Whereas for one-dimensional applications, there is a simple relation between the wave equations for space-dependent and time-dependent materials, this relation is less straightforward for multi-dimensional materials. This article discusses fundamental aspects of two-dimensional electromagnetic and acoustic wave propagation and scattering in homogeneous, time-dependent materials. This encompasses a review of transmission and reflection at a single time boundary, a discussion of the Green’s function and its symmetry properties in a piecewise continuous time-dependent material, a discussion of propagation invariants (including the net field-momentum density), general reciprocity theorems and wave field representations. Analogous to the well-known expression for Green’s function retrieval by time-correlation of passive measurements in a space-dependent material, an expression is derived for Green’s function retrieval by space-correlation of passive measurements in a time-dependent material. This article concludes with the discussion of the propagator matrix for a piecewise continuous time-dependent material, its symmetry properties and its relation with the Green’s function.
Priced out of belonging? Insufficient concessions on membership fees across international societies in ecology and evolution
Authors: Lagisz Malgorzata , Bairos-Novak Kevin R. , Martinig April Robin , Bertram Michael G. , Mizuno Ayumi , Shafiei Sabet Saeed , Paquet Matthieu , Santana Manuela S. , Thoré Eli S. J. , Trubanová Nina , Rutkowska Joanna , Orr James A. , Takola Elina , Yang Yefeng , Pottier Patrice , Gomes Dylan G. E. , Chan Ying-Chi , Xian Zhenzhuo , Akogwu Caleb Onoja , Drobniak Szymon M. , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: February 2025

Learned societies, as professional bodies for scientists, are an integral part of the scientific system. However, their membership fees have the potential to be prohibitive to the most vulnerable members of the scientific community. To shed light on how membership fees are structured, we conducted a survey of 182 international learned societies relevant to researchers in ecology and evolution. We found that 83% of these societies offered fee concessions to students, but only 26% to postdoctoral researchers. An average regular membership fee—US$67.8, student fee—US$27.4 (42.7% of the regular fee) and postdoctoral fee—US$42.7 (52.9%). Other types of individual concessions, such as for emeritus, family or unemployed, were rare (2–20%). Of the surveyed societies, 43% had discounts for members from developing countries (Global South). Such discounts were more common among societies located in high-income countries. Societies with a publicly visible commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion were more likely to offer different types of concessions. Currently, fees may prevent researchers from vulnerable and underprivileged groups from accessing multiple professional benefits offered by learned societies in ecology and evolution. This includes postdoctoral researchers, who should receive more support. We recommend tangible actions towards making learned societies more affordable and accessible.
Does literature evolve one funeral at a time?
Authors: Sobchuk Oleg , Beheim Bret
Published: February 2025

The cultural evolution of literary fiction is rarely studied, but rich literary data can help address some of the general problems of cultural change. In this article, we use a massive dataset of Anglophone fiction (over 23 000 books) and the tools of natural language processing to understand whether the long-term change of topics in books is driven by the individual change of authors or by the cohort turnover in author populations. To answer this question, we borrow a method from evolutionary ecology: decomposition analysis based on the Price equation. To prove the suitability of this method, we first apply it to simulated data and show that it does allow distinguishing between these two processes. Afterwards, we decompose the temporal trajectories of topics and measure the relative effects of the arrival of newcomer authors (entrances), the retirement of authors (exits) and the change of topic preferences during authors’ lifetimes (individual change). We find that cohort turnover is a stronger force than individual change. Within the cohort effects, the effect of entrances is almost twice as strong as the effect of exits. Using simulated data, we discover that this difference stems from the unequal lengths of authors’ careers.
The role of stochasticity in fungal community assembly: explaining apparent stochasticity with field experiments
Authors: Abrego Nerea , Saine Sonja , Penttilä Reijo , Furneaux Brendan , Hytönen Tuija , Miettinen Otto , Monkhouse Norman , Mäkipää Raisa , Pennanen Jorma , Zakharov Evgeny V. , Ovaskainen Otso
Published: February 2025

Stochasticity is a main process in community assembly. However, experimental studies rarely target stochasticity in natural communities, and hence experimental validation of stochasticity estimates in observational studies is lacking. Here, we combine experimental and observational data to unravel the role of stochasticity in the assembly of wood-inhabiting fungi. We carried out a replicated field experiment where the natural colonization of a focal fungal species was simulated through inoculation, and the local fungal communities were monitored through DNA metabarcoding before and after the inoculations. The amount of stochasticity in fungal colonization was less pronounced than expected from the amount of unpredictability in observational data, suggesting that stochasticity may play a smaller role in fungal occurrence than previously anticipated, or that it may be a stronger influence in the dispersal and establishment phases than in colonization
per se
. Stochasticity was more prominent in the initial phase of community succession, with the earliest successional stage involving a higher level of stochasticity than the later stage after 2 years. We conclude that experimentally measuring the role of stochasticity in community assembly is feasible for species-rich communities under natural conditions and highlight the importance of experimentally testing the accuracy of stochasticity estimates based on observational data.