bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing voice familiarity in normal-hearing adults—Preliminary results
Authors: Jeng Fuh-Cherng , Porter Maddie R. , Taylor Molly G. , Lee Chao-Yang , Bauer Sydney W. , McDonald Kalyn
Published: January 2025

The ability to recognize familiar voices is crucial for effective communication, with infants showing early sensitivity to their mother’s voices. Despite extensive research in auditory perception, understanding how normal-hearing adults distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar voices remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the behavioral responses of normal-hearing adults to familiar versus unfamiliar voices. Building upon existing literature and relevant models, we hypothesized that reaction times would correlate with individuals' ability to recognize familiar versus unfamiliar voices and that shorter reaction times would occur when additional speech cues were embedded in the acoustic stimulation. Eleven adults participated, exhibiting perfect accuracy in identifying their mother’s voices and rejecting voices of female strangers. Reaction times were significantly shorter (χ2 = 8.985, p = 0.003) when participants responded to their mother’s voices compared to those of female strangers, suggesting a cognitive advantage in processing familiar voices. Additionally, reaction times were significantly shorter (χ2 = 19.032, p < 0.001) for disyllable words compared to monosyllables, indicating differential processing mechanisms for linguistic stimuli. Our study contributes to understanding the cognitive processes involved in voice recognition and speaker identification. Clinical implications include potential interventions for voice recognition disorders and strategies for memory enhancement.
Investigation of the multifunctional properties of a bio-inspired material based on cuttlebone
Authors: Hardy Kara , Sharma Bhisham
Published: January 2025

Nature is a never-ending inspiration for new structures with unique multifunctional properties. For example, the structure of the cuttlebone of the common cuttlefish, Sepia Officinalis, allows it to withstand pressures up to 2 MPa while enabling the flow of water in and out to control buoyancy. Cuttlebone is a lightweight material with a porosity of around 90% and is made of many layers of labyrinthine walls separated by thin septa. Under compression, each layer fails successively, leaving the remaining layers functional. The semi-sinusoidal labyrinthine pattern of the walls is reminiscent of space-coiling structures seen in acoustic metamaterials, making the structure intriguing from the perspective of sound absorption as well. In this paper, we explore the feasibility of using additive manufacturing to produce structures inspired by the multi-layered cuttlebone. After producing samples, we test their acoustical properties using an impedance tube. In addition, we test their mechanical properties. Preliminary results suggest that these bio-inspired structures can be tailored for noise control applications.
Trivia competition among technical committees: AO/AB/UW
Authors: Drinnan Robert W.
Published: January 2025

Join for an exciting trivia competition among the three ocean-related technical committees: Acoustical Oceanography, Animal Bioacoustics, and Underwater Acoustics. These teams will go head-to-head, answering skill-testing questions on acoustics, marine science, and general ocean-themed trivia. Open to all, this contest session a fun and educational experience with questions designed at a high-undergraduate to beginning graduate level.
HSV and a tale of two taus
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: January 2025

Tau aggregates around HSV-1 in the brain, but is this pathological, part of an immune response, or both?
Faculty rewards from course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) in biochemistry
Authors: Soto Ana Maria , Weldon John E. , Hancock Stephen P.
Published: January 2025

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) courses. These courses provide research opportunities for many more students than are typically exposed to traditional independent research experiences, including women, historically underrepresented groups in science, and non-traditional students. However, the benefits for faculty who teach CURE courses have been less well documented, potentially discouraging faculty from offering such courses. Reports describing the benefits faculty can accrue from developing and teaching CURE courses could incentivize more faculty to develop CURE courses. In this perspective article, we summarize the implementation of three biochemistry CURE courses, highlighting some of the benefits faculty may experience. We also propose some points to consider when designing CURE courses with realistic expectations for a semester-long research experience to provide a framework for instructors who are considering their own CURE development.
A course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) embedded within a summer undergraduate research experience demonstrates value-added benefits
Authors: Sweat Ken G. , Hackney Jennifer F. , Marshall Pamela A.
Published: January 2025

We hosted a nine-week NIH-funded summer undergraduate research experience in Environmental Health Sciences, the New College Environmental Health Science Scholars program, in which undergraduate students who were rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors receive both professional development and mentored research opportunities. In addition to this standard model of a summer research program, we added an additional professional development and skill-building activity, a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) performed by the whole group. Students designed and carried out an experiment in the CURE research project looking at the relationship between soil elemental content and sampling site location. They worked collaboratively over several days on experimental design, the experiment itself, data analysis, and finally, poster design for dissemination. The CURE is intentionally different from any mentored research experiences so that students obtain additional and varied research skills from the summer program. Qualitative and quantitative feedback was positive. Additionally, students worked with different students than those in their research lab, broadening their network. In conclusion, a CURE embedded in a summer research program is an effective pedagogical tool for science and additional skill building and enriches an existing summer research program.
Prioritising gynaecological care in post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients
Authors: Jain Arpita , Pandurangi Monna , Jayaraman Dhaarani , Vembu Radha
Published: January 2025

An adolescent girl with acute myeloid leukaemia underwent chemotherapy followed by haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Post-HSCT, she developed oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD), which was successfully treated. Twenty months later, she was referred to the gynaecology department for evaluation of secondary amenorrhoea. Hormonal assessment led to a diagnosis of primary ovarian insufficiency due to chemotherapy. She was prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but the absence of withdrawal bleeding prompted vaginal examinations, which revealed vaginal adhesions. A sonogram confirmed haematocolpos and haematometra resulting from silent genital cGvHD. The patient was managed surgically, followed by treatment with topical oestrogen and vaginal moulds. HRT was restarted, and she resumed regular menstruation. Over a routine 20-month follow-up period, no recurrence of symptoms was observed. This case highlights gynaecologic complications of cGvHD and emphasises the importance of gynaecological monitoring in post-transplant care to proactively identify and address genital cGvHD, preventing its irreversible complications.
Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome with coexistent focal cortical dysplasia in a young boy
Authors: Alaqili Ameena Khaled , Jadah Raafat Hammad Seroor , Alkhayyat Haya Mohammed
Published: January 2025

This case report provides details of the first documented case of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) with coexistent focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in a young boy. The child’s initial presentation was an afebrile, generalised tonic-clonic seizure associated with postictal drowsiness. During his first episode, the physical examination revealed a short, obese child with a micropenis and left cryptorchidism. The neurological examination was normal, suggesting possible endocrine pathology. At that time, laboratory investigations showed a normal complete blood count; electrolyte levels were normal, while the thyroid function test revealed abnormal findings indicative of secondary hypothyroidism. Based on his clinical presentation, physical examination and laboratory investigations, a brain MRI scan was performed, which showed PSIS with diffuse FCD. Subsequently, anterior pituitary gland hormone levels were measured, revealing panhypopituitarism. This discovery is novel in the literature, offers potential new insights into the pathophysiology of PSIS and emphasises the importance of considering structural brain abnormalities in PSIS patients with seizures, thereby opening new avenues for future research on their neurological consequences.
Phenytoin toxicity caused by a drug-to-drug interaction between phenytoin and antitubercular therapy
Authors: Chandrappa Santhosh Shettigere , Ranka Rajat , Dhar Minakshi , Karna Gaurav
Published: January 2025

Phenytoin is one of the most used antiepileptic drugs. Isoniazid, a first-line antitubercular drug, blocks the CYP2C19 enzyme, preventing phenytoin from being metabolised. Concomitant use of phenytoin and isoniazid predisposes to phenytoin toxicity. Here, we present the case of a female in her mid-30s with a known seizure disorder on phenytoin monotherapy. She was also started on antitubercular therapy, including isoniazid, after being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis recently. This led to a catastrophic sequence of events including progressive loss of balance, psychosis, nystagmus, hyperreflexia and later, stupor. Her serum phenytoin level was found to exceed 40 mg/L. Her symptoms improved when phenytoin was switched to levetiracetam. Ours is the first case report of such an interaction in over 10 years and highlights the need to be extra-cautious while prescribing phenytoin and antitubercular therapy concomitantly, especially in a populations dominated by slow acetylators.
Neuroendocrine tumour of the urinary bladder
Authors: Sharma Gaurav , Shergill Kainaat , Patil Monish , Radcliffe Robert
Published: January 2025

We report a rare case of urinary bladder neuroendocrine tumour (NET) in a young, non-smoking man. He had no known risk factors and no comorbidities. After being diagnosed with a bladder tumour while being investigated for flank pain and poor renal function, he was treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumour and deroofing of ureters bilaterally. Characteristic histological features were identified for NETs. After a thorough staging workup by CT of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis, MRI of the liver and DOTATATE positron emission tomography-CT, no other lesion or metastasis was identified.

Primary NETs in the genitourinary tract are rare, comprising approximately 1–2% of genitourinary malignancies. Timely staging and histological diagnosis are the keystones of initial management. Awareness of potential diagnostic pitfalls is essential to ensure the accurate and timely diagnosis of vesical NETs, given their significant impact on management strategies and patient prognosis.
Clinical presentation, imaging features and differential diagnoses of an Amyand hernia complicated by acute appendicitis
Authors: Rampersad Fidel , Diljohn Jason , Cassim Nicolette , Seepersad Sati
Published: January 2025

Amyand hernias are unusual inguinal hernias that contain the vermiform appendix. Rarely, an Amyand hernia can be complicated by acute appendicitis and present a diagnostic dilemma. Herein, we present the case of a complicated Amyand hernia that was initially diagnosed as an incarcerated inguinal hernia. However, imaging later clinched the diagnosis of an Amyand hernia complicated by acute appendicitis.
Unusual presentation of brisk active small bowel bleeding from jejunal GIST
Authors: Sangnoppatham Nopparuj , Wongyongsil Jitpanu , Ngeyvijit Jinjuta
Published: January 2025

This case emphasises the difficulties in diagnosing a patient with brisk active small bowel bleeding and the differential diagnostic process of identifying tumour types preoperatively using imaging information. This case also underscores the importance of the surgical approach in different scenarios. Despite advancements in small bowel imaging, identifying the source and causes of small bowel bleeding remains challenging, particularly in life-threatening situations. Jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a rare neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract with small bowel GISTs commonly presenting with GI bleeding. However, brisk or massive bleeding is infrequently reported and poses a significant preoperative diagnostic challenge. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are essential and can lead to excellent outcomes. Well-planned surgical intervention during emergency operations for gastrointestinal bleeding is integral to effective management.
Reducing fragmentation of primary healthcare financing for more equitable, people-centred primary healthcare
Authors: Gatome-Munyua Agnes , Sparkes Susan , Mtei Gemini , Sabignoso Martin , Soewondo Prastuti , Yameogo Pierre , Hanson Kara , Cashin Cheryl
Published: January 2025

Despite primary healthcare (PHC) being recognised in global declarations—Alma Ata in 1978 and Astana in 2018—and prioritised in national health strategies, chronic under-resourcing of PHC persists in most low-income and middle-income countries. More public spending is needed for PHC, but macrofiscal and political constraints often limit the ability of governments to allocate more public resources to PHC. Under-resourcing has been compounded by fragmented and rigid funding flows, which are inefficient and may erode equity, quality of care and public trust in PHC.

This article explores the drivers of fragmentation in PHC financing—low public spending, which results in over-reliance on external sources to fund critical health interventions, and the proliferation of new financing schemes that do not take a system-wide view or adhere to the principles of universality. It then highlights some of the possible consequences of this fragmentation for the efficiency, equity and effectiveness of service delivery.

Four countries—Argentina, Burkina Faso, Indonesia and Tanzania—are used to illustrate practical steps that may be taken to minimise the consequences of fragmentation in PHC financing: (1) consolidating multiple coverage schemes, (2) avoiding further fragmentation, (3) harmonising health purchasing functions and (4) streamlining funding flows to the provider level.

The country examples reveal lessons for policy-makers grappling with the consequences of fragmented PHC financing. The paper concludes with a research agenda to generate additional evidence on what works to address fragmentation.
Deep learning–based assessment of missense variants in theCOG4gene presented with bilateral congenital cataract
Authors: Xiao Binghe , Zhang Shaohua , Ainiwaer Maierdanjiang , Liu Houyi , Ning Li , Hong Yingying , Sun Yang , Ji Yinghong
Published: January 2025

Objective

We compared the protein structure and pathogenicity of clinically relevant variants of theCOG4gene with AlphaFold2 (AF2), Alpha Missense (AM), and ThermoMPNN for the first time.

Methods and analysis

The sequences of clinically relevant Cog4 missense variants (one novel identified p.Y714F and three pre-existing p.G512R, p.R729W and p.L769R from Uniprot Q9H9E3) were imported into AF2 for protein structural prediction, and the pathogenicity was estimated using AM and ThermoMPNN. Different pathogenicity metrics were aggregated with principal component analysis (PCA) and further analysed at three levels (amino acid position, substitution and post-translation) based on all possible Cog4 missense variants (n=14 915).

Results

Localised protein structural impact including change of conformation and amino acid polarity, breakage of hydrogen bond and salt-bridge, and formation of alpha-helix were identified among clinically relevant Cog4 variants. The global structural comparison with multidimensional scaling demonstrated variants with similar protein structures (AF2) tended to exhibit similar clinical and biological phenotypes. The Cog4 p.Y714F variant exhibited greater protein structural similarity to mutated Cog4 found in Saul‒Wilson syndrome (p.G512R) and shared similar clinical phenotype (congenital cataract and psychomotor retardation). PCA of included pathogenic metrics demonstrated p.Y714F occurred at a critical position in Cog4 amino acid sequence with disrupted post-translational phosphorylation.

Conclusion

Deep learning algorithms, including AF2, AM and ThermoMPNN, can be useful for evaluating variant of uncertain significance (VUS) by structural and pathogenicity prediction. Despite classified as VUS (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria: PM1, PP4), the pathogenicity in this Cog4 variant cannot be ruled out and warrants further investigation.
Investigation of the hybrid multilayered higher-order-mode absorber at NSRL for a 499.8MHz superconducting cavity
Authors: Chai Xiyuan , Tan Mingsheng , Tang Yungai , Li Qin , Xu Yunpeng , Wu Cong-Feng , He Duohui
Published: January 2025

This study investigates Beam Line Absorbers (BLAs) for the Hefei Advanced Light Facility (HALF). A ferrite-based BLA prototype was developed, demonstrating high-power handling capacity up to 10[Formula: see text]kW, ultra-high vacuum performance better than [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]mbar, and high absorption efficiency in critical frequency ranges. Subsequently, more compact designs with reduced longitudinal length were explored, investigating ferrite-only, silicon carbide (SiC)-only, and hybrid configurations through RF simulations. Based on preferred absorption efficiency, ferrite-only and hybrid BLA structures were further analyzed under high-power conditions. Referencing test results, multiphysics simulations were conducted under 3[Formula: see text]kW absorbed power. The hybrid design, comprising two rings of ferrite tiles and one ring of SiC tiles, improved the temperature distribution of the absorbing materials. Extrapolating to 11[Formula: see text]kW absorbed power, this design reduced the maximum temperatures on absorbing tiles by up to 40[Formula: see text]C compared to the ferrite-only design. The hybrid design offers a balanced solution that combines effective HOM damping with enhanced thermal performance, improving the long-term operational stability of BLAs.
COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE ELECTRIC DOUBLE LAYER AND SLIP ON THE PERMEABILITY IN FRACTAL MICRO/NANO DUAL-POROSITY MEDIA
Authors: LIANG MINGCHAO , LIU WENYAN , FENG XUEYA , ZOU MINGQING , LUO LIANG , XIAO BOQI
Published: January 2025

Transport characteristics in porous media play a significant role in fields, such as oil and gas reservoir engineering, hydraulic engineering, mineral engineering and geology. In this study, based on the fractal theory of porous media, a fractal model for the permeability through micro/nano dual-porosity media considering the coupling effect of the EDL and slip is derived. This study discusses the effects of the original slip length, molar concentration, dip angle, maximum aperture, fractal dimension and maximum size ratio on the dimensionless permeability. The results show that the dimensionless permeability increases with the increases of the original slip length, dip angle, fracture tortuosity fractal dimension, and maximum size ratio; on the contrary, the dimensionless permeability decreases when the molar concentration, maximum aperture, fracture aperture fractal dimension and capillary tortuosity fractal dimension increase. Moreover, the fractal model predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. The proposed model may be able to provide guidance for the analysis of transport properties in micro/nano dual-porosity media.
A PREDATOR–PREY MODEL IN A STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENT WITH PREDATOR MIGRATION
Authors: SHEN AO , CHEN YUMING , WANG LI
Published: January 2025

In this work, a predator–prey model is considered to study its dynamics in a stochastic environment with the addition of predator migration. First, conditions on the existence of positive equilibria, along with their stability, and the emergence of limit cycles in the corresponding deterministic system are derived. Then, two stochastic properties are established: The ultimate boundedness of solutions and the existence of an ergodic stationary distribution for the system under consideration. The theoretical results are supported by numerical simulations, which reveal the significant influence of migration on the dynamical behaviors of both deterministic and stochastic systems.
Machine learning Brent crude oil price forecasts
Authors: Jin Bingzi , Xu Xiaojie
Published: January 2025

Forecasts regarding the prices of energy commodities have long been significant to many market players. Our research examines the price of Brent crude oil on a daily basis in order to address the issue. The price series under investigation has significant financial ramifications, and the sample under investigation spans 10 years, from April 7, 2014 to March 28, 2024. In this case, cross-validation procedures and Bayesian optimization approaches are used to construct Gaussian process regression methods, and the resulting strategies are used to generate price estimates. For the out-of-sample evaluation period of March 24, 2022 to March 28, 2024, our empirical prediction technique yields relatively accurate projections of prices, as indicated by the relative root mean square error of 0.2814%. Price prediction models provide governments and investors with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions regarding the crude oil market.
What Quantum Can Learn from Classical Computer Engineering
Authors: Matsuura Anne Y. , Mattson Timothy
Published: January 2025

Quantum computing represents a paradigm shift requiring reconceptualization of algorithms, architectures, and software. Although much is new, there is much that quantum computing can learn from traditional classical computer engineering. In this Special Issue, we focus on examples of quantum research inspired by classical computer engineering, ranging from quantum machine learning and image processing to the extension of the “multi-core” concept to quantum computing.

Hardware/software co-design is difficult when communities have their unique jargon and disjoint problem domains. For parallel programming on classical computers, an approach for communicating application developer needs emerged around identifying key bottlenecks that limited software. It was difficult to guess features of future applications, but experienced developers knew features of a computer system that would limit software performance. For each feature, a small kernel was developed with the idea that if the kernel ran well, a system would be an effective system for application developers. This set of kernels was called the
Parallel Research Kernels
. They have been useful to guide design of parallel computers. We hypothesize that an analogous tool for quantum computing, called
Quantum Research Kernels
, may aid hardware/software co-design of quantum computing systems. In this article, we motivate the Quantum Research Kernels and provide working examples.
Diwall: A Lightweight Host Intrusion Detection System Against Jamming and Packet Injection Attacks
Authors: El Bouazzati Mohamed , Tanguy Philippe , Gogniat Guy , Tessier Russell
Published: January 2025

The rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoTs) applications in various sectors has led to a significant increase in the number of IoT devices. This has led to the deployment of numerous IoT protocols to provide greater connectivity. However, this extensive adoption has also left them vulnerable to attack. In particular, attacks targeting wireless communication capabilities represent a significant threat. Such attacks exploit various vulnerabilities in the wireless connectivity unit, compromising its security. To counter this threat, this paper proposes a Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) for detecting wireless attacks. Its components are customized to support IoT end-devices using low-GHz and sub-GHz data rate protocols. The HIDS deploys a hardware tracer to monitor microarchitecture and network metrics using hardware performance counters (HPCs). It performs monitoring of network and microarchitecture metrics for a 32-bit RISC-V based wireless connectivity unit. The HIDS uses analysis and classification of monitored data for detecting memory corruption and jamming attacks. We evaluate the effectiveness of the HIDS in detecting packet injection and jamming attacks. Our FPGA implementation of HIDS has a logic overhead of about

\(14.30\% \)

and

\(22.89\% \)

of flip flops (FFs) and lookup tables (LUTs), respectively, compared to the CV32E40P baseline on an Arty A7 100T board. The design frequency and code size penalties are less than

\(1\% \)

for a RISC-V processor with a LoRaWAN protocol stack.
RL-MUL 2.0: Multiplier Design Optimization with Parallel Deep Reinforcement Learning and Space Reduction
Authors: Zuo Dongsheng , Zhu Jiadong , Ouyang Yikang , Ma Yuzhe
Published: January 2025

Multiplication is a fundamental operation in many applications, and multipliers are widely adopted in various circuits. However, optimizing multipliers is challenging due to the extensive design space. In this paper, we propose a multiplier design optimization framework based on reinforcement learning. We utilize matrix and tensor representations for the compressor tree of a multiplier, enabling seamless integration of convolutional neural networks as the agent network. The agent optimizes the multiplier structure using a Pareto-driven reward customized to balance area and delay. Furthermore, we enhance the original framework with parallel reinforcement learning and design space pruning techniques and extend its capability to optimize fused multiply-accumulate (MAC) designs. Experiments conducted on different bit widths of multipliers demonstrate that multipliers produced by our approach outperform all baseline designs in terms of area, power, and delay. The performance gain is further validated by comparing the area, power, and delay of processing element arrays using multipliers from our approach and baseline approaches.
Reminiscences on Influential Papers
Authors: Braganholo Vanessa , Hentschel Martin
Published: January 2025

This issue's contributions highlight the impact and educational value of the qualitative and quantitative analysis papers. Enjoy reading!

While I will keep inviting members of the data management community, and neighboring communities, to contribute to this column, I also welcome unsolicited contributions. Please contact me if you are interested.
Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor and Risk of Postmenopausal Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: A Case–Cohort Analysis
Authors: Albers Frances E.M. , Swain Christopher T.V. , Lou Makayla W.C. , Dashti S. Ghazaleh , Rinaldi Sabina , Viallon Vivian , Karahalios Amalia , Brown Kristy A. , Gunter Marc J. , Milne Roger L. , English Dallas R. , Lynch Brigid M.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Higher concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increases postmenopausal breast cancer risk, but evidence for insulin and c-peptide is limited. Furthermore, not all studies have accounted for potential confounding by biomarkers from other biological pathways, and not all were restricted to estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast cancer.

Methods:

This was a case–cohort study of 1,223 postmenopausal women (347 with ER-positive breast cancer) from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. We measured insulin, c-peptide, IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, and biomarkers of inflammatory and sex-steroid hormone pathways. Poisson regression with a robust variance estimator was used to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for ER-positive breast cancer per doubling plasma concentration and for quartiles, without and with adjustment for other, potentially confounding biomarkers.

Results:

ER-positive breast cancer risk was not associated with doubling of insulin (RR = 0.97, 95% CI, 0.82–1.14) or c-peptide (RR = 1.01, 95% CI, 0.80–1.26). Risk seemed to decrease with doubling IGF-1 (RR = 0.80, 95% CI, 0.62–1.03) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (RR = 0.62, 95% CI, 0.41–0.90). RRs were not meaningfully different when exposures were modeled as quartiles. RRs were less than unity but imprecise after adjustment for inflammatory and sex-steroid hormone biomarkers.

Conclusions:

Circulating insulin, c-peptide, and IGF-1 were not positively associated with risk of ER-positive breast cancer in this case–cohort analysis of postmenopausal women.

Impact:

Associations between insulin and c-peptide and risk of ER-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women are likely to be weak.
Cancer Incidence in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)—The Onco-SOL Ancillary Study
Authors: Parada Humberto , Agalliu Ilir , Sotres-Alvarez Daniela , Olshan Andrew F. , Evenson Kelly R. , Rohan Thomas E. , Kaplan Robert C. , Thompson Caroline A. , Gallo Linda C. , Penedo Frank J. , Cai Jianwen , Wassertheil-Smoller Sylvia , Thyagarajan Bharat , Thomas Stefani N. , Garcia-Bedoya Olga L. , Daviglus Martha L. , Talavera Gregory A.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Few studies have examined how cancer incidence varies by the country of origin among US Hispanic/Latino adults. In this study, we describe the incidence rates (IR) of cancer overall and for screen-detectable, tobacco-related, and obesity-related cancers among 16,415 participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, an ongoing population-based cohort study of Hispanic/Latino adults from diverse backgrounds.

Methods:

Cohort participant records were linked to the state cancer registries in New York, Florida, California, and Illinois to ascertain cancer incidence from baseline (2008–2011) through 2021. We estimated weighted age-adjusted IRs and age- and sex-adjusted HRs.

Results:

Over a mean follow-up of 10.7 (SD = 2.0) years, 715 incident invasive cancers were diagnosed including 118 female breast, 102 prostate, and 79 bronchus and lung cancers. The IR of all cancers combined was 26.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 22.6–30.2] per 10,000 (10K) person-years (py). The IRs were lowest among persons of Mexican descent [IR, 19.0 (95% CI, 15.0–24.1) per 10K py] and highest for those of Puerto Rican [IR, 36.6 (95% CI, 28.4–47.0) per 10K py] descent. Compared with those of Mexican descent, those of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican descent had higher hazards of cancer incidence; the incidence of obesity-related (HR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.43–3.95) and tobacco-related (HR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.58–5.71) cancers was also the highest among Puerto Ricans.

Conclusions:

Cancer IRs varied by Hispanic/Latino heritage and were masked when Hispanics/Latinos were aggregated into a single group.

Impact:

Understanding disparities in cancer risk by Hispanic/Latino heritage may help tailor cancer prevention and control strategies.
Successful Management of Post-Thymectomy Pure Red Cell Aplasia with Rituximab: A Case Report
Authors: Abdulgayoom Mohammed , Ganwo Ibrahim , Ata Fateen , Surchi Haval , Al-Homsi Ussama , Cherif Honar
Published: January 2025

Background: Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare cause of anemia characterized by decreased red blood cell production, often associated with thymomas. While thymectomy is commonly performed to treat thymoma-associated PRCA, the development of PRCA post-thymectomy is less understood. Case Presentation: We present a case of a 25-year-old woman who developed PRCA and autoimmune diabetes mellitus (DM) following radical thymectomy for malignant thymoma. Initial treatment with prednisolone showed minimal improvement, leading to the inclusion of rituximab. This combination resulted in a significant increase in reticulocyte counts and transfusion independence. Discussion: This case highlights the potential for PRCA to develop after thymectomy and the challenges of treating PRCA in the context of additional conditions like autoimmune DM. While immunosuppressive therapies such as cyclosporin A and corticosteroids are standard, their side effects necessitated exploring alternative treatments. Rituximab proved effective and was well-tolerated, suggesting its potential as a primary option in similar cases. Conclusion: This case illustrates the occurrence of PRCA after thymectomy and highlights rituximab’s effectiveness as a treatment option, offering a viable alternative to standard therapies in managing this complex condition.
Diagnosis of Good Syndrome following Recurrent Coronavirus Disease-2019 Infections
Authors: Beiser Moshe , Sabari Joshua K.
Published: January 2025

Background: Good syndrome is defined as the co-occurrence of a thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia. Case: In this case report, we present a patient who was diagnosed with Good syndrome following recurrent infections with SARS-CoV-2. Of particular note was the patient’s repeated presentation despite receiving outpatient treatment with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir. We describe the patient’s presentation, diagnosis, and treatment – including robotic thymectomy and passive immunization with IVIG – and report the benefit to quality of life that the patient experienced. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of quantitative testing of immunoglobulins in patients with known thymomas who present with recurrent infections of SARS-CoV-2.
Supported Mindfulness-Based Self-Help Intervention as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Change in Emotional Disorders: A Practice-Oriented Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Yanjuan , Zhang Yi , Wang Chun , Luo Jia , Yu Yang , Feng Shixing , Wang Chunxue , Xu Qianwen , Wang Pengchong , Chen Junxuan , Zhang Ning , Yu Qianmei , Liu Yuqing , Chen Danyun , Hofmann Stefan G. , Liu Xinghua
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Rapid symptom relief is crucial for individuals with emotional disorders. The current study aimed to determine whether facilitator-supported mindfulness-based self-help (MBSH) intervention as an adjunctive treatment could provide rapid improvement for individuals with emotional disorders. Methods: A practice-oriented randomized controlled trial was conducted on a sample of 302 patients with emotional disorders from four centers. Participants were randomly assigned to either MBSH+TAU (treatment as usual; n = 152) or TAU-only group (n = 150). Assessments were conducted at baseline, week 3, week 5, immediately after intervention and at a 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes included self-reported and clinician-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. Secondary outcomes included mindfulness, physical symptoms, perceived stress, sleep quality, and inner peace. Results: The MBSH+TAU group achieved significantly greater improvements in all primary and secondary outcome measures as compared with TAU-only immediately after intervention (Cohen’s d = 0.19–0.51). In addition, relatively greater improvements were observed in self-reported depression, mindfulness, physical symptoms, perceived stress, and inner peace as early as week 3 or 5, which were sustained at the 3-month follow-up (Cohen’s d = 0.20–0.34). Conclusions: Facilitator-supported MBSH offers a scalable and effective adjunctive treatment option for patients with emotional disorders in clinical practice, facilitating rapid improvements.
Para aquém da Reivindicação: a experiência da dependência nos primeiros escritos de Mary Wollstonecraft
Authors: Nunes Sarah Bonfim Matos
Published: January 2025

Quando se toma consciência da própria dependência? No caso de Mary Wollstonecraft foi ao se deparar com o retrato do tirano feito por John Locke. Motivada por ele, Wollstonecraft lança mão da escrita de obras ficcionais para elaborar suas inquietações. O objetivo deste artigo é olhar para essas obras iniciais e analisar como a filósofa elabora a experiência da dependente nelas. Embora o tema da dependência feminina seja central na Reivindicação dos Direitos da Mulher (1792), ele já aparece de maneira embrionária nos primeiros escritos dela, publicados entre 1786-88. Nessas primeiras obras vemos a gênese de uma potente teórica política.
Scepticism about Meaning in the German Enlightenment
Authors: Lazurca Vladimir
Published: January 2025

Exegetical scepticism is a strand of scepticism about meaning running through the German Enlightenment. This paper provides the first modern account of its tenets, critics, and proponents, and argues that it shares essential features with modern varieties of meaning-scepticism that have been a preoccupation among philosophers of language since the middle of the twentieth century. I argue that exegetical scepticism is a type of epistemological scepticism first introduced as a philosophical position in a theological debate between August Pfeiffer (1640–1698) and Philipp Jacob Spener (1635–1705). Under contention, so I argue, was the idea that interpretation is never certain because it is necessarily underdetermined by the evidence. Following the effects of this controversy, I show that exegetical scepticism caused a great deal of unrest in German letters in the eighteenth century and can be seen to contribute to the great proliferation of hermeneutical theories in the Aufklärung, indeed to the very birth of hermeneutics as a standalone discipline. Bringing this type of scepticism to contemporary attention supports a reassessment of issues at the heart of meaning-scepticism and hermeneutics itself, and a reconsideration of the histories of Enlightenment scepticism and hermeneutics.
Processing poultry manure with black soldier fly technology lowers N2O and CO2 gas emissions from soil
Authors: Jenkins S.N. , Langa S.P. , Middleton J.A. , Martin B.C. , Wheat L. , Gleeson D.B.
Published: January 2025

Soil amended with poultry manure has many benefits including increased nutrient and organic carbon supply, enhanced soil structure and improved crop yield. However, the direct application of poultry manure to land can be associated with significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Black soldier fly (BSF) farming (Hermetia illucens) is an emerging technology that can convert manure into protein for animal feed, with larvae casting or frass produced as a waste by-product. BSF frass produced from poultry manure has potential to be used as a soil amendment with potentially lower GHG emissions than manure, but this has not been tested. To test this, a two-week microcosm experiment was used to investigate the impact of different soil amendments (poultry manure, BSF frass from poultry manure, urea and an unamended control) on nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions. This study also aimed to examine bacterial populations associated with frass and poultry manure, as well as factors regulating their composition and the production of GHGs. Frass produced by BSF larvae fed poultry manure had up to 1.4 times lower N2O and 1.5 times lower CO2 cumulative emissions than poultry manure. Methane emissions were either minimal and/or balanced by oxidation across all treatments. Processing poultry manure with BSFL also altered the bacterial community composition and resulted in a proliferation of bacteria that were specific to BSFL frass, some of which have putative plant growth promoting properties. These results indicate that BSF technology holds promise for both reducing greenhouse gas emissions from poultry manure, as well as providing a sustainable soil amendment for productive agriculture.
The Winter Storm Severity Index
Authors: Kastman Joshua S. , Tobin Dana M. , Nash Andy , Nelson James A. , Cobb Daniel K. , Harnos Kirstin J.
Published: January 2025

The winter storm severity index (WSSI) is a tool designed to assist National Weather Service (NWS) operational forecasters, core partners and stakeholders, media, and the public in maintaining situational awareness of anticipated winter-weather-related impacts. The NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) produces the WSSI several times per day by combining the current official NWS gridded forecasts from the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) with nonmeteorological datasets (e.g., climatology, land use, population) to create a graphical depiction of anticipated impacts to society due to winter weather. Impact severity output from the WSSI is designed to communicate spatial and temporal impact information in an easily consumable graphic. These impact scales range from minor to extreme, with a winter-weather area shown for areas where the winter-weather conditions are not expected to impact daily life. This product emerged in response to user needs for information about societal impacts that can occur from winter storm hazards. Specific hazards include snow amount, snow load, ice accumulation, flash freeze, blowing snow, and ground blizzard. The maximum value from any of these components contributes to a final overall impact component. Information about the WSSI, including a detailed overview of the product, recent social-science-backed improvements, components, and use in an operational setting are presented. Preliminary verification efforts are also detailed.

Significance Statement

The winter storm severity index (WSSI) is the first nationwide tool used operationally within the National Weather Service (NWS) to forecast impacts from winter weather. This product allows the NWS to broaden its communication options for impact-based decision support services and directly speak to potential impact severity. It also provides a concise informational graphic with actionable information that highlights and summarizes multifaceted winter-weather events that can aid in decision-making. An overview of the WSSI is presented, including highlights for its utility in an operational forecast setting and verification.
Don’t assume, ask! A focus group study on end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities from minoritised ethnic groups
Authors: Bruun Andrea , Jordan Leon , Giles Jo , Hughes Rhidian , Anderson-Kittow Rebecca , Tuffrey-Wijne Irene
Published: January 2025

Background

People with intellectual disabilities are less likely to have access to palliative care, and the evidence shows that their deaths are often unanticipated, unplanned for, and poorly managed. Within the general population, people from minoritised ethnic groups are under-represented within palliative care services. End-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities from minoritised ethnic groups may be a way to address these issues. There is a huge gap in the evidence regarding intersectionality of intellectual disability and ethnicity within end-of-life care planning. This study explored the characteristics of effective and preferred end-of-life care planning approaches and resources for people with intellectual disabilities from minoritised ethnic groups.

Methods

Nine focus groups and three semi-structured individual interviews were held with 41 participants from minoritised ethnic groups (11 family carers; 25 support staff; and five people with intellectual disabilities). Session recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework analytical approach.

Results

Participants thought that end-of-life care planning practices were dependent on the person’s culture, ethnicity, and religion, and that it was important to follow these at the end-of-life. They deemed it important to discover and respect (and not assume) the individual’s perspectives, values, needs, and wishes through a person-centred approach. Cultural attitudes to talking about death could hinder end-of-life care planning as participants perceived it as taboo. Disagreement was described as hindering end-of-life care planning, particularly when strong feelings about cultural and religious practices were involved. Staff highlighted the need for cultural and religious awareness, which could involve seeking information and receiving training. Opening the conversation about death and dying was seen as a potential facilitator for exploring end-of-life care planning.

Conclusions

The study was committed to addressing issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. It is the first study to explore perspectives on end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities from minoritised ethnic groups. It was deemed important that staff did not assume but discovered and respected the views and preferences of people with intellectual disabilities regarding culture and religion. There is an urgent need for more research into end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities from minoritised ethnic groups.
Nurses’ experiences of text-based digital triage at primary healthcare centres in Sweden: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Rydell Ester , Jakobsson Ulf , Stjernswärd Sigrid
Published: January 2025

Background

Telehealth services are becoming increasingly popular at primary healthcare centres. Some examples include text-based digital triage and health guidance using chats, emails, images and pre-filled forms. Telephone-based communication has until recent years been the predominant means for triage and health guidance, but now includes written communication via computer or smartphone. Hence conditions to perform triage and health guidance have changed, which may affect the quality of nurses’ work and patient safety. This motivates an in-depth exploration of the consequences of such changes for nurses working with telehealth. The study aimed to explore nurses’ experiences of digital triage and health guidance at primary healthcare centres in Sweden.

Methods

A qualitative inductive design was chosen for the current study. Four registered nurses and two public health nurses, working at primary healthcare centres in southern Sweden, contributed with information about text-based digital triage and health guidance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

One main theme, “Adapting to a new professional toolbox to triage and give health guidance” was constructed based on three categories which describe the altered professional tools. They were: “Using one’s senses differently to collect information”, “Change of communication mode to convey messages” and “Change of timeframe and the use of time”. Six subcategories describe how the new toolbox was experienced by the nurses. They were: “Loss of clinical ear”, “Gain of viewing images”, “Difficulties in written communication of care and emotions”,
“Seeing oneself as a writer or talker”, “Tardy asynchronous communication” and
“Available time”.

Conclusion

The findings tell of a substantial change in nurses’ professional toolbox that demanded other skills than they were used to working with. Due to limitations in communication and communication skills, digital triage alone may lead to an impaired workflow, quality of care, and patient safety as well as maintain the digital divide. However, digital triage may also enhance nurses’ work with the addition of attached images, convenient communication for those who are comfortable with writing, and a gain of time for consultation and reflection. The current study contributes insights regarding new competencies that nurses and patients must have or gain to be able to benefit from the possibilities of digitisation of primary healthcare.