bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-resolution long-distance depth imaging LiDAR with ultra-low timing jitter superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors
Authors: McCarthy Aongus , Taylor Gregor G. , Garcia-Armenta Jorge , Korzh Boris , Morozov Dmitry V. , Beyer Andrew D. , Briggs Ryan M. , Allmaras Jason P. , Bumble Bruce , Colangelo Marco , Zhu Di , Berggren Karl K. , Shaw Matthew D. , Hadfield Robert H. , Buller Gerald S.
Published: January 2025

Single-photon time-of-flight light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a versatile technique for the measurement of absolute distances and for depth profiling. It has a wide variety of applications (e.g., land surveying, autonomous car navigation, underwater imaging) with the potential to achieve high-resolution three-dimensional images over long ranges when the key components of the measurement system are of a suitably high specification. In this work, a novel, high-efficiency, and low timing jitter superconducting nanowire single-photon detector, in conjunction with a custom single-pixel scanning transceiver system, and the time-correlated single-photon counting technique, enable the acquisition of millimeter-scale resolution depth images of scenes at standoff distances of hundreds of meters. A 1550 nm wavelength fiber laser was coupled to the monostatic transceiver to provide the illumination. The system was eye-safe with the maximum average optical output power being ≤3.5mW for measurements of a scene at a standoff distance of 1 km. The overall system instrumental response was approximately 13 ps full width half maximum. This enabled 1 mm depth features on a reference board and a human head to be clearly resolved when measured by the system in broad daylight at standoff distances of 45 and 325 m using per-pixel acquisition times of between 0.25 and 1 ms. These high-resolution results demonstrate the enormous potential of such a system to acquire detailed depth and intensity images of scenes from long distances in daylight or darkness conditions. This could lead to step change improvements in applications such as facial and human activity recognition and the imaging of scenes through clutter and atmospheric obscurants.
Interrogating the ballistic regime in liquids with rotational optical tweezers
Authors: Watson Mark L. , Stilgoe Alexander B. , Favre-Bulle Itia A. , Rubinsztein-Dunlop Halina
Published: January 2025

Accessing the ballistic regime of single particles in liquids remains an experimental challenge that shrouds our understanding of particle–liquid interactions on exceedingly short time scales. We demonstrate rotational ballistic measurements of microspheres in liquids by observing the thermalization of the angular velocity. This study uses sensitive high-bandwidth polarization measurements from light scattered by orientation-locked birefringent probes trapped with rotational optical tweezers. The particle–liquid interactions in the ballistic regime are decoupled from the optical potential allowing direct studies of single-particle rotational dynamics in a previously inaccessible parameter space. This enabled us to observe and validate rotational hydrodynamic effects and perform ultrafast calibration-free viscometry using less than 50 ms of data. This methodology establishes a unique tool for studying microscopic rotational dynamics and probing highly dynamic microenvironments, including systems out of equilibrium.
Heterogeneous forecasting of chaotic dynamics in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with knowledge-based photonic reservoir computing
Authors: Zhang Liyue , Huang Chenkun , Li Songsui , Pan Wei , Yan Lianshan , Zou Xihua
Published: January 2025

Chaotic dynamics generated by vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) has stimulated a variety of applications in secure communication, random key distribution, and chaotic radar for its desirable characteristics. The application of machine learning has made great progress in the prediction of chaotic dynamics. However, the performance is constrained by the training datasets, tedious hyper-parameter optimization, and processing speed. Herein, we propose a heterogeneous forecasting scheme for chaotic dynamics in VCSELs with knowledge-based photonic reservoir computing. An additional imperfect physical model of a VCSEL is introduced into photonic reservoir computing to mitigate the deficiency of the purely data-based approach, which yields improved processing speed, increased accuracy, simplified parameter optimization, and reduced training data size. It is demonstrated that the performance of our proposed scheme is robust to the deficiency of the physical model. Moreover, we elucidate that the performance of knowledge-based photonic reservoir computing will fluctuate with the complexity of chaotic dynamics. Finally, the generality of our results is validated experimentally in parameter spaces of feedback strength and injection strength of reservoir computing. The proposed approach suggests new insights into the prediction of chaotic dynamics of semiconductor lasers.
HighDimMixedModels.jl: Robust high-dimensional mixed-effects models across omics data
Authors: Gorstein Evan , Aghdam Rosa , Solís-Lemus Claudia
Published: January 2025

High-dimensional mixed-effects models are an increasingly important form of regression in which the number of covariates rivals or exceeds the number of samples, which are collected in groups or clusters. The penalized likelihood approach to fitting these models relies on a coordinate descent algorithm that lacks guarantees of convergence to a global optimum. Here, we empirically study the behavior of this algorithm on simulated and real examples of three types of data that are common in modern biology: transcriptome, genome-wide association, and microbiome data. Our simulations provide new insights into the algorithm’s behavior in these settings, and, comparing the performance of two popular penalties, we demonstrate that the smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) penalty consistently outperforms the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalty in terms of both variable selection and estimation accuracy across omics data. To empower researchers in biology and other fields to fit models with the SCAD penalty, we implement the algorithm in a Julia package, HighDimMixedModels.jl.
IP3 receptor depletion in a spontaneous canine model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1J with amelogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Hytönen Marjo K. , Rönkkö Julius , Hundi Sruthi , Jokinen Tarja S. , Suonto Emilia , Teräväinen Eeva , Donner Jonas , La Rovere Rita , Bultynck Geert , Ylikallio Emil , Tyynismaa Henna , Lohi Hannes
Published: January 2025

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R) mediate Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, contributing to complex regulation of numerous physiological responses. The involvement of the three IP3R genes (ITPR1, ITPR2 and ITPR3) in inherited human diseases has started to shed light on the essential roles of each receptor in different human tissues and cell types. Variants in the ITPR3 gene, which encodes IP3R3, have recently been found to cause demyelinating sensorimotor Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1J (CMT1J). In addition to peripheral neuropathy, immunodeficiency and tooth abnormalities are occasionally present. Here, we report the identification of a homozygous nonsense variant in the ITPR3 gene in Lancashire Heeler dogs, presenting with a severe developmental enamel defect and reduced nerve conduction velocity. We studied the primary skin fibroblasts of the affected dogs and observed that the nonsense variant in ITPR3 led to a complete absence of full-length IP3R3 protein. Unexpectedly, the protein levels of IP3R1 and IP3R2 were also markedly decreased, suggesting co-regulation. Functional Ca2+ measurements revealed reduced IP3R-mediated Ca2+ flux upon stimulation of G-protein-coupled-receptors in the affected dog fibroblasts. These findings highlight the first spontaneous mammalian phenotype caused by a nonsense variant in ITPR3, leading to the loss of IP3R3. The human and canine IP3R3 proteins are highly similar, and our study suggests that the tissue involvement resulting from the receptor’s dysfunction is also conserved. In summary, IP3R3 is critical for enamel formation and peripheral nerve maintenance.
Identification of novel genes responsible for a pollen killer present in local natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ricou Anthony , Simon Matthieu , Duflos Rémi , Azzopardi Marianne , Roux Fabrice , Budar Françoise , Camilleri Christine
Published: January 2025

Gamete killers are genetic loci that distort segregation in the progeny of hybrids because the killer allele promotes the elimination of the gametes that carry the sensitive allele. They are widely distributed in eukaryotes and are important for understanding genome evolution and speciation. We had previously identified a pollen killer in hybrids between two distant natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. This pollen killer involves three genetically linked genes, and we previously reported the identification of the gene encoding the antidote that protects pollen grains from the killer activity. In this study, we identified the two other genes of the pollen killer by using CRISPR-Cas9 induced mutants. These two genes are necessary for the killer activity that we demonstrated to be specific to pollen. The cellular localization of the pollen killer encoded proteins suggests that the pollen killer activity involves the mitochondria. Sequence analyses reveal predicted domains from the same families in the killer proteins. In addition, the C-terminal half of one of the killer proteins is identical to the antidote, and one amino acid, crucial for the antidote activity, is also essential for the killer function. Investigating more than 700 worldwide accessions of A. thaliana, we confirmed that the locus is subject to important structural rearrangements and copy number variation. By exploiting available de novo genomic sequences, we propose a scenario for the emergence of this pollen killer in A. thaliana. Furthermore, we report the co-occurrence and behavior of killer and sensitive genotypes in several local populations, a prerequisite for studying gamete killer evolution in the wild. This highlights the potential of the Arabidopsis model not only for functional studies of gamete killers but also for investigating their evolutionary trajectories at complementary geographical scales.
Distribution and viability of ocular and non-ocular Chlamydia trachomatis in households in a trachoma-endemic community in Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Shafi Abdurahman Oumer , Bekele Gebeyehu , Butcher Robert , Deressa Gadissa , Mumme Asanti , Mohammed Munira , Nure Rufia , Nuri Kedir Temam , Shuka Gemeda , Hirpo Korso , Greenland Katie , Habtamu Esmael , Versteeg Bart , Macleod David , Last Anna , Burton Matthew J.
Published: January 2025

Background

We aimed to determine the household distribution and viability of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) from the eyes, face, and hands during the initial two visits of a year-long fortnightly cohort study in geographically defined adjacent households.

Methods/Findings

We enrolled 298 individuals from 68 neighbouring households in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. All individuals above 2 years of age residing in these households were examined for signs of trachoma. Swab samples were taken from the conjunctiva, faces, and hands and analysed for the presence and viability of Ct. Ct viability was determined using reverse transcription (RT) PCR.

At the initial visit, out of 298 individuals, 133 (44.5%) were children aged 2–9 years. Among these children, 27/133 (20.3%) had trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF), while 8/133 (6.0%) had trachomatous inflammation—intense (TI). Ct (omcB or pORF2) was detected in 16/133 (12.0%) eye swabs, 14/105 (13.5%) face swabs, and 11/105 (10.5%) hand swabs from children aged 2–9 years. Among these children at visit one, 12/14 (85.7%) with Ct on faces and 9/11 (81.8%) with Ct on hands also had detectable ocular Ct. The severity of the disease worsened from the first visit to the second, and no participants showed clearance of the disease within the two-week period. Ct infection was associated with TF (P = 0.002) and TI (P = 0.060).

At visit one, among children aged 2–9 years, viable Ct was detected in 12/16 (75.0%) ocular, 6/14 (42.9%) face, and 4/11 (36.4%) hand swab samples. All viable Ct detected on the faces and hands were identified from individuals with viable ocular infections. Among caregivers whose child tested positive for Ct on their hands, 3 caregivers also had Ct on their hands, accounting for 20% (3 out of 15). Additionally, among caregivers whose child tested positive for Ct on their faces, 2 caregivers had Ct on their faces, which accounts for 14.3% (2 out of 14). In two participants, we detected Ct on the hands of ocular-negative children at the initial visit and later detected ocular Ct at the second visit.

Conclusion/Significance

Using RT-qPCR assay to detect Ct omp2 mRNA to define viability offers a new, informative perspective of trachoma transmission in this community in Ethiopia. The presence of viable Ct on the faces and hands of individuals living in households with people with current ocular Ct infection supports the hypothesis that hands and faces are important routes for transmission of trachoma. This highlights the importance of targeted interventions to address these sites of Ct carriage to help interrupt transmission.
Baseline infection prevalence, risk factors and treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis in Northeastern Uganda: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Sagaki Patrick , Twa-Twa Jeremiah Mutwalante , Mulalu Posiano , Wanume Benon , Olupot-Olupot Peter
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) also known as Kala-azar is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) of public health importance. Despite being a disease of a long history, the condition remains poorly studied especially in East Africa. For instance, whereas, the geographical location of the disease is known, there is a stark paucity of data on the burden, risk factors and clinical outcomes of this condition in Northeastern Uganda. Therefore, the disease picture in these settings is incomplete. The overarching aim for this study was to describe pre-elimination prevalence, associated factors and treatment outcomes of VL in Moroto District.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in which community cases were identified at baseline. They were followed up at Amudat Hospital Kala-azar Treatment Centre for the treatment outcomes. We used a customized data collection tool to elicit data on demographic characteristics, socio-economic and anthropometry. Data were entered on excel database and exported to Stata software for analyses. Proportions and measures of central tendency were computed. Binary associations were determined using Chi-square statistical test. In addition, variables independently associated with VL were determined via logistic regression analyses. At follow up stage, the outcomes were determined.

Results

The overall prevalence of VL infection in Moroto district was 5.21% (95%CI: 3.15% - 8.48%) with varying county level prevalence at Matheniko, Tepeth and Mororo at 6.90%, 4.49% and 3.61%; respectively. The common risk factors for VL infection included lack of knowledge of habitat for Sand flies, AOR 5.33 (95%CI: 1.69–16.82). Patients with VL presented with fever, headache, abdominal pain and swelling, coughing, night sweats, diarrhea, fatigue, breathlessness, and nose bleeding. The average hospitalization for VL was 17 days. All the patients who were treated at the hospital cured.

Conclusion

The prevalence of VL in Moroto district was 5.21% and within elimination threshold. The high-risk factors for VL infection included lack of knowledge about the habitat for Sand flies. The average hospitalization for VL was 17 days.
Spectral study of COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: The dependence of spectral gradient on the population size of the community
Authors: Sumi Ayako , Koyama Masayuki , Katagiri Manato , Ohtomo Norio
Published: January 2025

We have carried out spectral analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) notifications in all 47 prefectures in Japan. The results confirm that the power spectral densities (PSDs) of the data from each prefecture show exponential characteristics, which are universally observed in the PSDs of time series generated by nonlinear dynamical systems, such as the susceptible/exposed/infectious/recovered (SEIR) epidemic model. The exponential gradient increases with the population size. For all prefectures, many spectral lines observed in each PSD can be fully assigned to a fundamental mode and its harmonics and subharmonics, or linear combinations of a few fundamental periods, suggesting that the COVID-19 data are substantially noise-free. For prefectures with large population sizes, PSD patterns obtained from segment time series behave in response to the introduction of public and workplace vaccination programs as predicted by theoretical studies based on the SEIR model. The meaning of the relationship between the exponential gradient and the population size is discussed.
The effect of an additional pre-extubational loading dose of caffeine citrate on mechanically ventilated preterm infants (NEOKOFF trial): Study protocol for a multicenter randomized clinical trial
Authors: Kovács Kinga , Nagy Rita , Andréka Lilla , Teutsch Brigitta , Szabó Miklós , Varga Péter , Hegyi Péter , Hársfalvi Péter , Ács Nándor , Harmath Ágnes , Nádor Csaba , Gasparics Ákos
Published: January 2025

Background

Minimizing the duration of mechanical ventilation is one of the most important therapeutic goals during the care of preterm infants at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The rate of extubation failure among preterm infants is between 16% and 40% worldwide. Numerous studies have been conducted on the assessment of extubation suitability, the optimal choice of respiratory support around extubation, and the effectiveness of medical interventions. Since the Caffeine Therapy for Apnea of Prematurity (CAP) trial, caffeine has become one of the essential drugs at NICUs. However, the optimal dosage and timing for adequate effectiveness still need to be more conclusive. Previous studies suggest that higher doses of caffeine treatment increase the success rate of extubation. Therefore, we aim to determine whether using a single additional loading dose of caffeine citrate one hour prior to extubation impacts the success rate of extubation.

Methods

The study is an open-label, multicenter randomized clinical trial testing the effectiveness and safety of pre-extubational loading dose of caffeine citrate. Inclusion criteria will be infants born before the 32nd gestational week, before the first extubation attempt after at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, and a signed parental informed consent. A total of 226 patients will be randomly allocated to either the experimental or control group. The randomization will be stratified by gestational age and antenatal steroid prophylaxis. Preterm infants in the experimental group will receive an additional intravenous (IV) loading dose (20 mg/kg) of caffeine citrate one hour before the first planned extubation, in addition to the standard dosing regimen (20 mg/kg caffeine citrate IV on the first day of life and 5 to 10 mg/kg IV or orally caffeine citrate each consecutive day). Preterm infants in the control group will receive the standard dosing regimen. The primary outcome will be reintubation within 48 hours.

Discussion

A pre-extubational loading dose of caffeine citrate can reduce extubation failure. Obtaining evidence on this feature has the potential to contribute to finding the optimal dosing regimen.

Trial registration number

The study protocol was approved by the Hungarian Ethics Committee for Clinical Pharmacology of the Medical Research Council and National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYÉI/6838-11/2023). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT06401083 Registered 06. May 2024.; EudraCT number: 2022-003202-77.
Retrospective exploratory evaluation of individual pigs’ behaviour involved in tail biting during rearing and fattening
Authors: Kauselmann Karen , Krause E. Tobias , Schrade Hansjörg , Schrader Lars
Published: January 2025

Tail biting is one of the biggest welfare problems in pigs. However, depending on the individuals involved (e.g., tail biter/victim), pigs seem to change their behaviour prior to tail biting events, which raises the possibility of early detection and thus prediction and prevention of tail biting. In this retrospective explorative study, we used datasets from four different studies with 9 trials of rearing (4 pens/trial with 24 pigs/pen) and fattening (8 pens/trial with 12 pigs/pen) that focused on the exploration behaviour of undocked pigs towards plant-based enrichment materials. From this dataset, we identified 8 pens from rearing (n = 192 pigs) and 6 pens from fattening (n = 72 pigs) in which individual tail biters were identified. From this dataset, we investigated whether any a priori behavioural changes in exploration or feeding could be identified with respect to tail biting. Furthermore, the effects of weight parameters from suckling to fattening were examined. Using linear mixed effects models, we found that exploration duration was linked to days prior to tail biting in rearing, depending on CatPig (category of pigs: biter, victim, neutral pig) (P = 0.001), in fattening independent of CatPig (P<0.0001), and by duration, amount and frequency of feed consumption in fattening (P<0.0001). Some weight parameters covaried with CatPig in rearing (weight-gain suckling: P = 0.0018; weaning weight: P = 0.019) and fattening (weaning weight: P = 0.07; start weight at fattening: P = 0.03; weight-gain rearing: P = 0.02). Suitable indicators for future early detection trials of tail biting could be exploration duration in rearing and fattening and feeding data in fattening. Moreover, weight parameters in rearing and fattening and exploration duration in rearing may be used to identify individual pigs that might become tail biters in an upcoming tail biting event. The retrospective explorative nature of our analysis revealed interesting patterns; however, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Increased resting heart rate indicates high-workload hearts with augmented aortic hydraulic power in hypertensive pigs
Authors: Lin Pao-Yen , Lin Bo-Wen , Lai Tong-Sian , Yang Yan-Hsiang , Jiang Meei Jyh
Published: January 2025

Clarifying the inceptive pathophysiology of hypertensive heart disease helps to impede the disease progression. Through coarctation of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (AA), we induced hypertension in minipigs and evaluated physiological reactions and morpho-functional changes of the heart. Moderate aortic coarctation was achieved with approximately 30 mmHg systolic pressure gradient in minipigs. Hypertension was assessed by pressure increment of the carotid artery. Perioperative heart rate (HR) was recorded. We measured aortic flow rate and pressure proximal to coarctation to calculate hydraulic power, an indicator for cardiac workload, and resistance. The hearts harvested at sacrifice were examined for myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction. The parameters capable of indicating high-workload heart and their prediction effectiveness were determined by cluster and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Prolonged AA coarctation for 8–12 weeks induced hypertension in a portion of minipigs. The cluster of minipigs exhibiting increased aortic hydraulic power displayed hypertension and mean HR elevation without changing arterial resistance. Notably, the blood pressure and HR were measured under full anesthesia, equivalent to resting status. Myocardial hypertrophy was not detected at the tissue, cellular or molecular levels. Expression of biomarkers for cellular stress and heart failure didn’t increase except for heat shock protein 40. ROC analysis showed that aortic hydraulic power, resting HR, and mean blood pressure, but not arterial resistance, can serve as the indicators for high-workload hearts. These results suggested that resting HR increase in hypertensive pigs indicates hearts with high workload. Heart failure may develop without appropriate treatment.
Hippocampal subfield volume alterations and associations with severity measures in long COVID and ME/CFS: A 7T MRI study
Authors: Thapaliya Kiran , Marshall-Gradisnik Sonya , Eaton-Fitch Natalie , Barth Markus , Inderyas Maira , Barnden Leighton
Published: January 2025

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients share similar symptoms including post-exertional malaise, neurocognitive impairment, and memory loss. The neurocognitive impairment in both conditions might be linked to alterations in the hippocampal subfields. Therefore, this study compared alterations in hippocampal subfields of 17 long COVID, 29 ME/CFS patients, and 15 healthy controls (HC). Structural MRI data was acquired with sub-millimeter isotropic resolution on a 7 Telsa MRI scanner and hippocampal subfield volumes were then estimated for each participant using FreeSurfer software. Our study found significantly larger volumes in the left hippocampal subfields of both long COVID and ME/CFS patients compared to HC. These included the left subiculum head (long COVID; p = 0.01, ME/CFS; p = 0.002,), presubiculum head (long COVID; p = 0.004, ME/CFS; p = 0.005), molecular layer hippocampus head (long COVID; p = 0.014, ME/CFS; p = 0.011), and whole hippocampal head (long COVID; p = 0.01, ME/CFS; p = 0.01). Notably, hippocampal subfield volumes were similar between long COVID and ME/CFS patients. Additionally, we found significant associations between hippocampal subfield volumes and severity measures of ‘Pain’, ‘Duration of illness’, ‘Severity of fatigue’, ‘Impaired concentration’, ‘Unrefreshing sleep’, and ‘Physical function’ in both conditions. These findings suggest that hippocampal alterations may contribute to the neurocognitive impairment experienced by long COVID and ME/CFS patients. Furthermore, our study highlights similarities between these two conditions.
Clinical course and neurological outcomes of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: A single center retrospective observational study
Authors: Sitthilok Pasook , Niprapan Piangrawee , Tantiworawit Adisak , Punnachet Teerachat , Hantrakun Nonthakorn , Piriyakhuntorn Pokpong , Rattanathammethee Thanawat , Hantrakool Sasinee , Rattarittamrong Ekarat , Norasetthada Lalita , Chai-Adisaksopha Chatree
Published: January 2025

Background

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare type of thrombosis that affects the cerebral venous system. The data on neurological outcomes are limited.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the neurological outcomes of CVST, contributing factors, clinical presentation, treatment and mortality.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective study at a university-based referral hospital in Thailand. Consecutive patients diagnosed with CVST between January 2010 and December 2020 were included. Outcomes were neurological outcomes measured by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), anticoagulant treatment, recurrence, and mortality.

Results

One hundred and seven CVST patients were included with a mean age (± SD) of 42.7 ± 20.4 years. Following the treatment, neurological outcomes significantly improved, with the proportion of patients with mRS 0–1 increasing from 18.7% at diagnosis to 83.2% and 85.1% at three and six months, respectively (P < 0.001). Clinical variables were associated with residual neurological symptoms (mRS≥1) included age ≥ 50 years (OR 4.1, 95% CI; 1.7–9.4, P 0.001), male sex (OR 3.0, 95%CI; 1.4–6.6, P 0.006), the thrombus involvement in deep sinus system (OR 6.1, 95%CI; 1.1–76.9, P 0.04) and cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis (CVT) risk score ≥ 1 (OR 3.1, 95%CI; 1.3–7.5, P 0.014). Patients whose CVST was associated with hormonal therapy were found to have a lower risk of residual neurological symptoms (OR 0.2, 95%CI 0.1–0.6, P 0.004). Hormonal therapy was associated with anticoagulant discontinuation (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–7.0; P = 0.04). The presence of malignancy increased the risk of bleeding (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.4–24.1; P 0.016). Overall mortality was 2.8%. Of which 50% were related to major bleeding.

Conclusions

A significant improvement in neurological outcomes was observed at 3 and 6 months after diagnosis. Older age, male sex, thrombus involvement in deep sinus system were associated with residual neurological symptoms.
Changes in life satisfaction over six years in the general population: A longitudinal study with the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)
Authors: Hinz Andreas , Mehnert-Theuerkauf Anja , Glaesmer Heide , Schroeter Matthias L. , Tibubos Ana N. , Petrowski Katja , Friedrich Michael
Published: January 2025

Background

Satisfaction with life is a key concept for most individuals. The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) for measuring general life satisfaction has been widely analyzed in terms of cross-sectional associations. However, the knowledge about long-term changes in life satisfaction and the associations between such changes and changes in other variables of physical and mental health is limited.

Methods

A community-based representative sample of the general population has been examined twice with a time interval of six years (n = 4,999), using the SWLS and several other scales.

Results

Over the six years, the mean SWLS score of the total sample remained nearly unchanged (M = 27.0, SD = 5.2, both at t1 and at t2). The test-retest correlation was rtt = 0.66 for the total sample, and there were only marginal differences in temporal stability between male and female respondents. Changes in the SWLS over the six years were correlated with changes in optimism (r = 0.23), mental health (r = 0.26), social functioning (r = 0.22), perceived social support (r = 0.21), anxiety (r = -0.30), and physical complaints (r = -0.18). These change score correlations were lower than the corresponding coefficients under the cross-sectional perspective. Measurement invariance across sex, age, and time was established.

Conclusion

The SWLS proved to be an appropriate tool for assessing changes in life satisfaction, and correlations between change scores of life satisfaction and health-related variables complement the knowledge about these associations from a cross-sectional perspective.
Enhancing covert communication in NOMA systems with joint security and covert design
Authors: Doan Thanh Binh , Nguyen Tien-Hoa
Published: January 2025

The explosion of Internet-of-Thing enables several interconnected devices but also gives rise chance for unauthorized parties to compromise sensitive information through wireless communication systems. Covert communication therefore has emerged as a potential candidate for ensuring data privacy in conjunction with physical layer transmission to render two lines of defense. In this paper, we aim to enhance the individual transmission of nearby users in non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) systems under scenarios of an eavesdropper who monitors covert transmission before decoding covert information. For this problem, we first provide a comprehensive analysis of the NOMA system in terms of outage probability (OP), secrecy outage probability (SOP), and detection error probability (DEP), where all of them are quantified in exact and asymptotic closed-form expressions. Besides, we have also derived closed-form formulas for users’ covert and public rates. Under the system requirements of the maximal OP and SOP and the minimal DEP, we formulate the optimization of resource power allocation to: 1) minimize the OP of covert communication and 2) maximize the covert rate. Thanks to the developed analytical expressions, we obtain closed-form expressions for the sub-optimal power allocation coefficient for each problem. Simulation results validate the efficacy of the analytical mathematical frameworks and reveal that the proposed approaches of power allocation can provide attractive performance improvement compared to fixed power allocations only.
The current landscape of personalised preventive approaches for non-communicable diseases: A scoping review
Authors: Farina Sara , Osti Tommaso , Russo Luigi , Maio Alessandra , Scarsi Nicolò , Savoia Cosimo , Taha Abdelrahman , Villani Leonardo , Pastorino Roberta , Boccia Stefania
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Personalised prevention offers a promising tool to reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases, which represent a growing health burden worldwide. However, to support the adoption of this innovation it is needed to clarify the current state of available evidence in this area. This work aims to provide an overview of recent publications on personalised prevention for chronic conditions.

Materials and methods

A scoping review of scientific literature from Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and grey literature was conducted. Eligible articles included prospective primary studies and clinical practice directives on personalised preventive approaches for chronic diseases published between January 2017 to December 2023. The review followed Arksey-O’Malley guidelines and PRISMA-ScR checklist.

Results

We identified 121 publications including 60 primary cohort studies and 61 clinical practice directives. We extracted 249 personalised preventive approaches, 27% in primary prevention, 27% in secondary prevention, and 46% in tertiary prevention. In primary prevention, 50% of the 67 approaches were from cohort studies, mainly targeting cardiovascular diseases, and 50% from directives primarily focused on cancer. Secondary prevention included 66 approaches, 73% from directives mainly concerning breast cancer. Tertiary prevention included 116 approaches, evenly distributed among the two publication types and focusing mostly on cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Lastly, tertiary prevention is the most represented level of prevention both in primary research studies and directives (54% and 41% respectively).

Conclusions

Our study highlights a significant focus on personalised prevention in oncology in the past few years, with numerous recently issued clinical practice directives. We identified substantial original research in personalised primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, indicating growing interest in the field. However, the distribution of primary studies and directives across the three preventive levels anticipate challenges in generating evidence of clinical utility in primary and secondary prevention, with most approaches falling under tertiary prevention.
Trazodone, dibenzoylmethane and tauroursodeoxycholic acid do not prevent motor dysfunction and neurodegeneration in Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome mice
Authors: Lavigna Giada , Grasso Anna , Pasini Chiara , Grande Valentina , Mignogna Laura , Restelli Elena , Masone Antonio , Fracasso Claudia , Lucchetti Jacopo , Gobbi Marco , Chiesa Roberto
Published: January 2025

There is no cure for Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome (MSS), a genetic multisystem disease linked to loss-of-function mutations in the SIL1 gene, encoding a BiP co-chaperone. Previously, we showed that the PERK kinase inhibitor GSK2606414 delays cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) degeneration and the onset of ataxia in the woozy mouse model of MSS. However, GSK2606414 is toxic to the pancreas and does not completely rescue the woozy phenotype. The present study tested trazodone and dibenzoylmethane (DBM), which partially inhibit PERK signaling with neuroprotective effects and no pancreatic toxicity. We also tested the chemical chaperone tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which protects MSS patients’ cells from stress-induced apoptosis. Mice were chronically treated for five weeks, starting from a presymptomatic stage. Trazodone was given 40 mg/kg daily by intraperitoneal (ip) injection. DBM was given 0.5% in the diet ad libitum. TUDCA was given either 0.4% in the diet, or 500 mg/kg ip every three days. None of the treatments prevented motor dysfunction or PC degeneration in woozy mice, as assessed by beam walking, rotarod test, and calbindin immunohistochemistry. Only trazodone slightly boosted beam walking performance, but this effect was not related to inhibition of PERK signaling. Pharmacokinetic studies excluded that the lack of effect was due to altered drug metabolism in woozy mice. These results indicate that trazodone, DBM and TUDCA, at dosing regimens active in other neurodegenerative disease mouse models, have no disease-modifying effect in a preclinical model of MSS. This underscores the difficulty of translating neuroprotective strategies from other conditions to MSS, highlighting the need for more targeted therapeutic approaches.
Identification of novel PfEMP1 variants containing domain cassettes 11, 15 and 8 that mediate the Plasmodium falciparum virulence-associated rosetting phenotype
Authors: McLean Florence E. , Omondi Brian R. , Diallo Nouhoum , Otoboh Stanley , Kifude Carolyne , Abdi Abdirahman I. , Lim Rivka , Otto Thomas D. , Ghumra Ashfaq , Rowe J. Alexandra
Published: January 2025

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is a diverse family of variant surface antigens, encoded by var genes, that mediates binding of infected erythrocytes to human cells and plays a key role in parasite immune evasion and malaria pathology. The increased availability of parasite genome sequence data has revolutionised the study of PfEMP1 diversity across multiple P. falciparum isolates. However, making functional sense of genomic data relies on the ability to infer binding phenotype from var gene sequence. For P. falciparum rosetting, the binding of infected erythrocytes to uninfected erythrocytes, the analysis of var gene/PfEMP1 sequences encoding the phenotype is limited, with only eight rosette-mediating PfEMP1 variants described to date. These known rosetting PfEMP1 variants fall into two types, characterised by N-terminal domains known as “domain cassette” 11 (DC11) and DC16. Here we test the hypothesis that DC11 and DC16 are the only PfEMP1 types in the P. falciparum genome that mediate rosetting, by examining a set of thirteen recent culture-adapted Kenyan parasite lines. We first analysed the var gene/PfEMP1 repertoires of the Kenyan lines and identified an average of three DC11 or DC16 PfEMP1 variants per genotype. In vitro rosette selection of the parasite lines yielded four with a high rosette frequency, and analysis of their var gene transcription, infected erythrocyte PfEMP1 surface expression, rosette disruption and erythrocyte binding function identified four novel rosette-mediating PfEMP1 variants. Two of these were of the predicted DC11 type (one showing the dual rosetting/IgM-Fc-binding phenotype), whereas two contained DC15 (DBLα1.2-CIDRα1.5b) a PfEMP1 type not previously associated with rosetting. We also showed that a Thai parasite line expressing a DC8-like PfEMP1 binds to erythrocytes to form rosettes. Hence, these data expand current knowledge of rosetting mechanisms and emphasize that the PfEMP1 types mediating rosetting are more diverse than previously recognised.
Casein Kinases 2-dependent phosphorylation of the placental ligand VAR2CSA regulates Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes cytoadhesion
Authors: Dorin-Semblat Dominique , Semblat Jean-Philippe , Hamelin Romain , Srivastava Anand , Tetard Marilou , Matesic Graziella , Doerig Christian , Gamain Benoit
Published: January 2025

Placental malaria is characterized by the massive accumulation and sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the placental intervillous blood spaces, causing severe birth outcomes. The variant surface antigen VAR2CSA is associated with Plasmodium falciparum sequestration in the placenta via its capacity to adhere to chondroitin sulfate A. We have previously shown that the extracellular region of VAR2CSA is phosphorylated on several residues and that the phosphorylation enhances the adhesive properties of CSA-binding infected erythrocytes. Here, we aimed to identify the kinases mediating this phosphorylation. We report that Human and Plasmodium falciparum Casein Kinase 2α are involved in the phosphorylation of the extracellular region of VAR2CSA. We notably show that both CK2α can phosphorylate the extracellular region of recombinant and immunoprecipitated VAR2CSA. Mass spectrometry analysis of recombinant VAR2CSA phosphorylated by recombinant Human and P. falciparum CK2α combined with site-directed mutagenesis led to the identification of residue S1068 in VAR2CSA, which is phosphorylated by both enzymes and is associated with CSA binding. Furthermore, using CRISPR/Cas9 we generated a parasite line in which phosphoresidue S1068 was changed to alanine. This mutation strongly impairs infected erythrocytes adhesion by abolishing VAR2CSA translocation to the surface of infected erythrocytes. We also report that two specific CK2 inhibitors reduce infected erythrocytes adhesion to CSA and decrease the phosphorylation of the recombinant extracellular region of VAR2CSA using either infected erythrocytes lysates as a source of kinases or recombinant Human and P. falciparum casein kinase 2.

Taken together, these results undoubtedly demonstrate that host and P. falciparum CK2α phosphorylate the extracellular region of VAR2CSA and that this post-translational modification is important for VAR2CSA trafficking and for infected erythrocytes adhesion to CSA.
Approximating superpositions in the continuum of jo-ha-kyū and ma: A method of mediating indeterminacy in movement improvisation
Authors: Vachananda Nareeporn
Published: January 2025

In movement improvisation, improvisers often experience vagueness and uncertainty of perception prior to moving. This article examines the sense of indeterminacy before movement is formed. It explores key concepts in Japanese Noh theatre, namely the sequencing concept of jo-ha-kyū (序破急) and the notion of interval, or ma (間), as a framework for mediating the indeterminacy in the act of improvising from the perspective of embodied practice. By configuring improvised movement as discrete jo-ha-kyū modulations, the ma interval occurs when one modulation is fulfilled, and the next one is about to take form. The interval is where potential of upcoming movement emerges from its indeterminacy. This article proposes that the improviser can approximate the fields of attention through the notion of ‘superposition’ where the felt sense of potential movements and relations are schematized as coexisting. In so doing, the sense of potentiality can be directly attended to, not only for enriching actualized movements but also for accounting for the wholeness of movement events. By drawing attention to the indeterminacy and potentiality in movement improvisation, this article argues that potential movement that becomes actualized, and that which does not, are equally valuable as improvisational material for enhancing the experience of both improviser and audience.
Editorial
Authors: Hancock Joseph H.
Published: January 2025

We are entering Volume 12 of Fashion, Style & Popular Culture (FSPC), guest-edited by Dr Joy Sperling. This issue is our second dedicated to the importance of reviews and a celebration of our reviews editor, Dr Jessica Strübel-Bickerstaff. It is also a time to reflect on the process of actual ‘reviews’ and how we examine others. Reviews should be an encouraging experience encompassing the complete accomplishments of a body of work, media and even an individual. When performance reviews or editorial reviews become passive-aggressive and even methods of penalizing and negating positivity, they lose their audience. FSPC is dedicated to creating a positive experience with our media reviews for everyone. While not all critiques are optimistic, all works, publications and, most importantly, scholars have positive qualities.
A Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Coimbra e o empréstimo de dinheiro a juros (1753-1765)
Authors: Elias Luís Filipe da Cruz Quaresma
Published: January 2025

Emprestar dinheiro a juros de 5% era uma das principais fontes de rendimento das Misericórdias. Entre aqueles que mais beneficiavam dos capitais da Santa Casa de Coimbra estavam os próprios Irmãos, que usufruíam da cumplicidade das Mesas. Os motivos que levavam a solicitar os empréstimos eram variados. Como nem sempre os devedores cumpriam com as suas obrigações, a Misericórdia tinha ao seu alcance os mecanismos de execução das dívidas, os quais poderiam obrigar os devedores a realizar novas obrigações, conseguindo o prolongamento dos pagamentos. Noutros casos, pagando o total da dívida em atraso, os fiadores ficavam com as prerrogativas da Misericórdia, passando a credores. Ciente da importância do crédito para a sobrevivência da Irmandade, a Coroa criou um quadro legal que reforçava o poder executório das misericórdias, controlando e moralizando esta prática.
Sexo y amores en la vejez en la sociedad gallega del Antiguo Régimen
Authors: Sobrado Correa Hortensio
Published: January 2025

Este trabalho tem por objectivo fundamental reflectir sobre o interessante tema, embora ainda escassamente estudado pela historiografia modernista, do sexo e do amor na velhice, tomando como observatório principal a sociedade galega da Idade Moderna, uma das zonas da Península em que os idosos tinham um peso maior e um inquestionável protagonismo socioeconómico. Apoiando-nos em várias fontes indirectas, demonstraremos como na Galiza da Época Moderna - apesar da aparente tolerância em matéria moral para com as mulheres com idades superiores 40-50 anos - perante o perigo e a ameaça latente da sua sexualidade, as práticas amorosas na velhice gozavam de escassa aceitação popular, sofrendo das mais variadas manifestações de reprovação social.
Vaidades nos Conventos Femininos ou das Dificuldades em deixar a Vida Mundana (séculos XVII-XVIII)
Authors: Braga Isabel M. R. Mendes Drumond
Published: January 2025

Através deste artigo, propomo-nos estudar os comportamentos proibidos mas frequentes nas casas religiosas femininas da Época Moderna. Efectivamente, nem sempre se respeitavam as regras, de tal modo que visitas e devassas tornam visíveis comportamentos desviantes em especial no que se refere a aspectos como a introdução de alterações nos hábitos, o uso de peças de vestuário e de jóias afins aos das leigas, o recurso a cosméticos, a violação da clausura, a posse de animais de estimação, a representação de comédias e até o comércio de doces. Ano após ano, os visitadores criticavam tais comportamentos, exortavam as religiosas a seguirem as regras e até as ameaçavam de penas diversas. Porém, na maior parte dos casos, a resistência era a resposta.
O ilustre humanista Fernão Lopes Milão e as tentativas de fuga da sua família para Hamburgo
Authors: Frade Florbela Veiga
Published: January 2025

Os Milão eram uma família de ricos cristãos-novos que arrematavam os contratos régios contribuindo de forma destacada para a economia portuguesa. Fernão Lopes Milão era um poliglota que escrevia sem parar, mesmo nos cárceres da Inquisição. No seu espólio contavam-se tratados sobre o bom governo; Matemática aplicada à Sagrada Escritura. Sabia a cronologia antiga, as medidas do Templo de Salomão e da Arca da Aliança. Este humanista português foi aluno de Lavanha e do padre Manuel Correia, um latinista e hebraista amigo de Luís de Camões. Foi correspondente de Lorenzo Ramirez de Prado, Martin de los Rios e Justo Lipsio a propósito da tradução para português dos Anales de Tácito. A passagem pelos cárceres da Inquisição apagou da memória colectiva a produção literária de Lopes Milão, contudo o legado do Santo Oficio está hoje disponível sendo possível através dele reconstituir uma parcela da realidade literária e cultural do Renascimento Português.