bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change is leading to an ecological trap in a migratory insect
Authors: Zhang Shi-Yan , Zhang Yi-Yang , Yang Fan , Zhou Chen , Shen Hui-Mei , Wang Bei-Bei , Zeng Juan , Reynolds Don R. , Chapman Jason W. , Hu Gao
Published: February 2025

Many insect migrants rely on favorable seasonal winds to carry out long-range latitudinal migrations. In East China, the annual advance and retreat of the East Asian summer monsoon produces ideal conditions for seasonal range expansion and contraction of many migratory crop pests. However, climate-induced changes in the strength, timing, and location of the monsoon are impacting wind systems which may, in turn, affect migration patterns. We investigated these questions in the rice leafroller (RLR) moth, a severe pest of rice that annually invades the Lower Yangtze River Valley (LYRV) of China from winter-breeding areas further south. Using a 24-y dataset of RLR population dynamics from 31 monitoring stations across Southeast China, we investigated the impact of changes in monsoon wind regimes on fall migration patterns of the pest. Historically, RLR emigrated from the LYRV to South China on the favorably directed winds produced by the retreat of the monsoon at the end of the outbreak season (from mid-August onward). We show that in the recent 12-y period, prevailing late-season winds remain northward for longer than previously, preventing locally produced moths from emigrating southward. Additionally, winds now facilitate mass late-season immigrations into the LYRV, creating an ecological trap, as immigrants do not have time to produce another generation. As a consequence of the changing wind patterns, pest pressure is declining, and climate-induced changes to the East Asian summer monsoon result in seasonal migration becoming a riskier strategy. Such changes in insect migration patterns have severe implications for the population dynamics of windborne migrants, ecosystem functioning, and pest management strategies.
Implicit feedback and lexical stress
Authors: Parlak Özgür , Ziegler Nicole , Rabea Reem
Published: February 2025

The current study explored the effects of recasts on the production and perception of primary stress in a classroom context. Following a pretest-posttest-delayed posttest design, 28 L1 Arabic speakers were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Participants received four hours of instruction over a period of four days, and the lessons were recorded for stimulated recall. Teaching materials focused on argumentation, and were embedded with the target vocabulary to facilitate incidental mispronunciation. When the intervention group produced target words with misplaced primary stress, they received a recast. The control group did not receive corrective feedback. The results of linear mixed-effects analyses showed that recasts facilitated primary stress development through increased vowel duration. Stimulated recall data confirmed that participants noticed the recasts they received. However, there were no changes in participants’ perceptions of stress placement. These findings suggest that incidental pronunciation errors can be addressed through implicit feedback.
Guided synthesis of annotated lung CT images with pathologies using a multi-conditioned denoising diffusion probabilistic model (mDDPM)
Authors: Krishna Arjun , Wang Ge , Mueller Klaus
Published: February 2025

Objective:Training AI models for medical image diagnostics requires highly accurate, diverse, and large annotated datasets. Due to privacy constraints and the high cost of annotation by medical experts, available annotated training datasets are limited. We address this by introducing a controlled framework for generating synthetic images with annotations, incorporating multiple conditional specifications. Approach:Using lung CT as a case study, we employ a Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Model (DDPM) to train an unconditional large-scale generative model. We extend this with a classifier-free sampling strategy to develop a robust generation framework. This approach enables the generation of constrained and annotated lung CT images that accurately depict anatomy, successfully deceiving experts into perceiving them as real. Most notably, we demonstrate the generalizability of our multi-conditioned sampling approach by producing images with specific pathologies, such as lung nodules at designated locations, within the constrained anatomy.Main results:Our experiments reveal that our proposed approach can effectively produce constrained, annotated and diverse lung CT images that maintain anatomical consistency and fidelity, even for annotations not present in the training datasets. Moreover, our results highlight the superior performance of controlled generative frameworks of this nature compared to nearly every state-of-the-art image generative model when trained on comparable large medical datasets. Finally, we highlight how our approach can be extended to other medical imaging domains, further underscoring the versatility of our method.Significance:The significance of our work lies in its robust approach for generating synthetic images with annotations, facilitating the creation of highly accurate and diverse training datasets for AI applications and its wider applicability to other imaging modalities in medical domains. Our demonstrated capability to faithfully represent anatomy and pathology in generated medical images holds significant potential for various medical imaging applications, with high promise to lead to improved diagnostic accuracy and patient care.
Enhancing the precision of impedance measurement from 5 kHz to 1 MHz through self-identification of parasitic parameters
Authors: She Yi , Jiang Zeyi , Liu Qin , Qiao Sirui , Ma Yixin
Published: February 2025

Objective. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) generates cross-sectional images through non-invasive impedance measurements from surface electrodes. While impedance above 200 kHz can reveal intracellular properties, most existing EIT images are published at frequencies below 200 kHz. When frequencies exceed 200 kHz, the accuracy of impedance measurements declines due to the influence of distributed circuit parameters such as parasitic capacitance, on-resistance of switch and the series inductance, with a more significant impact on larger impedance. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes an approach for precision impedance measurement through self-identification of distributed parameter. Approach. Firstly, the distributed circuit parameters are identified via correction measurements of precision resistances in the frequency range from 5 kHz to 1 MHz; then, the circuit is accurately modeled; finally, transfer impedance measurements during imaging process are corrected using the established circuit model. Main results. The distributed circuit parameter self-identification method was verified through a goodness-of-fit test, confirming the consistency between the model's predicted values and the actual values of the component. The test results indicate that at 1 MHz, the relative residuals follow a right-skewed distribution with an average value of 0.08%, which demonstrates high model accuracy. At 1 MHz, the measurement relative error after correction for the 499 Ω precision resistor is reduced by 12.01%, and for the 56 pF precision capacitor, the relative error after correction is 0.46%. Significance. The proposed method can extend the frequency range of EIT and other impedance technologies from below 200 kHz to up to 1 MHz, while ensuring good measurement accuracy.
Intraday economic optimal dispatch of distribution networks based on fuzzy set prediction
Authors: Zhang Chunyu , Zhang Maosong , Wu Di , Yang Jie , Zhao Hongsheng , Zhang Luyao
Published: February 2025

Aiming at the uncertainty problem of electric vehicle charging and discharging, this paper proposes an intraday scheduling model and its solution method based on fuzzy set theory and an improved subtraction optimizer algorithm. The charging station dispatchable resource prediction model is constructed based on event-wise fuzzy set theory. On this basis, the intraday optimal scheduling model is constructed by comprehensively utilizing the dispatchable resources of the charging station to collaborate with the photovoltaic and energy storage outputs and is solved by the improved subtractive optimizer algorithm to realize the optimal scheduling to minimize the operating cost. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulation analysis based on the IEEE-33 node arithmetic system.
Research on partial discharge pattern recognition of transformer based on KPCA and JS-SVM algorithm
Authors: Zhu Qingdong , Wang Jian , Gu Zhaoliang , Wang Xuelei , Cui Qihui , Li Longlong , Gu Chao , Zhu Wenbing
Published: February 2025

Transformers are essential for the safe operation of power grids, and their failures can lead to significant risks. To improve the accuracy of partial discharge (PD) diagnosis in transformer bushings, this paper proposes a PD pattern recognition algorithm combining Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) and Artificial Jellyfish Search (JS)-optimized Support Vector Machine (SVM). The proposed algorithm offers the advantages of efficient dimensionality reduction, high classification accuracy, and fast optimization. KPCA is first used to reduce the dimensionality of high-frequency signals, improving data processing efficiency and lowering computational complexity. The JS algorithm is then employed to optimize SVM parameters, significantly enhancing classification and recognition performance. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves a higher recognition rate in PD defect diagnosis, with overall recognition rates improved by 3.74% and 2.5% compared to traditional SVM and BP neural network algorithms. This study provides a novel approach for early defect diagnosis in transformers and holds significant engineering application value.
Development of Flood Mitigation Model for Man Made Hydraulic Structure in Low Lying Area in Batu Pahat, Johor
Authors: Mohd Daud N , Razi M A M , Abdullah M D
Published: February 2025

In December 2006 until January 2007, the Northeast Monsoon had contributed to heavy rain through a series of continuous extreme storms that caused a disastrous flood for several areas of Malaysia. This study aimed at Batu Pahat, Johor catchment areas that are heavily impacted due to the low-lying catchment area. The stagnant flooding that occurred during the 2006/2007 flood event had caused huge losses towards the residents, properties and the environment. This paper aims to determine the hydraulic and hydrologic characteristics of low-lying areas in Batu Pahat catchment. ICM Infoworks software is used to develop flood modeling for the study area. The contribution of this study is to develop the flood mapping of 2006/2007 flood events for 20-years, 50-years, and 100-years ARI. Based on the modeling results, detention ponds and pumping systems are proposed to mitigate the flood resulting in a 44.47% reduction of affected area for 50 years ARI rainfall event. This study concludes that detention ponds and pumping systems can be used as a reliable solution to reduce the impact of floods on the study area.
Description of morphological characteristics of arabian rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes agamemnon arabicus, of date palms in Algeria.
Authors: Sana Rais , Inesse Saadi , Jenő Kontschán
Published: February 2025

The Arabian rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes agamemnon arabicus, has emerged as a significant pest of date palms in Algeria, inflicting considerable damage on these crucial agricultural ecosystems. This study provides a thorough morphological description of Oryctes collected from date palm oases in El Oued, Algeria, during the period from 2022 to 2024. Through careful identification of the specimens, it was confirmed that O. a. arabicus is the only subspecies present in the region, highlighting its specific ecological role. The findings emphasize the necessity of detailed morphological analyses for accurate species identification, which is crucial for effective conservation strategies. By enhancing our understanding of these beetles, this research contributes valuable insights into pest management practices that are essential for mitigating the impact of Oryctes infestations. Ultimately, the outcomes of this study advocate for targeted conservation efforts of date palm and sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring the protection of date palms and the resilience of the agricultural landscape in Algeria.
Reactivity towards Na of biochars produced from date palm residues with different oxygen proportions during pyrolysis
Authors: Ponthieu M. , Beucher J. , Guillaneuf A. , Le Guyader E. , Miconnet V. , Gommeaux M. , Amadou Guimbari R. , El Mazlouzi M. , Marin B. , Morvan X.
Published: February 2025

The use of biochar produced from the rachis of date palm leaves could help fight soil salinization while using under-utilized crop residues. To improve the specific surface area of the biochars produced and therefore their adsorption capacity, the addition of oxygen (3 and 7%) during pyrolysis was tested. The amount of Na adsorbed was relatively low (between 15 and 20% of Na added) whatever are the biochar considered (produced with or without O2). The release of this adsorbed Na in contact with water was quite important, from 100% for the lowest concentrations of Na added to 30-40% for the highest concentrations added, highlighting a low retention of Na by the biochars studied and a limited impact of the presence of O2 during pyrolysis.
Geophysical Technology Innovation to Enhance Soil Fertility and Support Agricultural Productivity in Sumedang, West Java
Authors: Widodo  , Salam Abdul , Azhari Na’ila Yuni , Fachrezi Fadhil Deva , Fadhillah Muhammad Raya , Nurbaity Anne
Published: February 2025

Sumedang, located in a hilly region, is a crucial agricultural area in Indonesia. To improve agricultural practices and optimize groundwater accessibility, we employ innovative geophysical technologies, specifically Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Electromagnetic Induction (EMI). These methods enable the analysis of Earth’s electrical resistivity at various depths. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the surveyed area by integrating ERT cross-section and EMI-ERT cross-section data into a single map. EMI data acquisition utilized vertical dipole and horizontal modes to investigate deeper (approximately 1.5 m) and shallower (approximately 0.33 m) depths, respectively. Meanwhile, ERT employed the Wenner configuration to obtain dense resistivity values at 0.5 m electrode intervals. Our analysis identified the presence of clay, alluvium, and sandy soil in the region. The EMI acquisition map shows a low resistivity range of 32.89 – 50 Ωm at a depth of 1.5 m and a high resistivity range of 114 – 817 Ωm at depths of approximately 0.33 to 0.75 m. Conversely, the ERT-acquired resistivity map indicates low resistivity values (8.20 – 44.7 Ωm) at depths of 0.637 – 3.94 m for lines 1, 2, and 4, and 0.383 – 2.36 m for lines 3, 5, and 6, with scattered points of high resistivity (58.9 – 817 Ωm) at 0.637 m depth. The presence of water-rich soil at depths greater than 0.75 m suggests the potential for improved soil fertility and expanded irrigation coverage in areas of high resistivity.
A quantum celebration
Authors: Durrani Matin
Published: February 2025

How to stay on top of all things quantum during the next 12 months.
Cryogenic 3D printing of damage tolerant hierarchical porous ceramics
Authors: Zhu Zheng , Gao Dandan , Huang Zhuo , Chang Wei , Wu Bin , Zhang Kaihao , Sun Minghan , Song Hengxu , Ritchie Robert , Wang Tao , Huang Wei , Zhou Huamin
Published: February 2025

Fabricating damage tolerant porous ceramics with efficient energy absorption and impact-resistant capability has been a challenge because of the brittle nature of ceramics. In nature, mineralized tissues or organisms such as cuttle bones and diatoms have been evolved with hierarchical pores to overcome this difficulty. A bioinspired design of ceramic lattice structure with pores at multiple length-scales, ranging from few nanometers to hundreds of micrometers, is proposed in the present work. These ceramic lattices with hierarchical porous structures were successfully fabricated via cryogenic 3D printing. The printed ceramic lattices showed an unprecedented long plateau strain (~60%) and a specific energy absorption of ~10 kJ/kg with a porosity of ~90%. The resulting energy absorption capability was comparable with most composites and metals. This was attributed to the delayed destruction of the lattice structure, as well as the gradual collapse of pores at multiple length-scales. Similar trends have also been observed under split Hopkinson pressure bar tests, indicating excellent energy absorption under high strain-rate impacts. The proposed 3D printing technique was also demonstrated to apply to other functional materials, such as silicon carbide, barium titanate, hydroxyapatite and even titanium alloy, and thus opens up new possibilities for fabricating bioinspired hierarchical porous structures.
Deep Learning for Structure-Preserving Universal Stable Koopman-Inspired Embeddings for Nonlinear Canonical Hamiltonian Dynamics
Authors: Goyal Pawan , Yıldız Süleyman , Benner Peter
Published: February 2025

Discovering a suitable coordinate transformation for nonlinear systems enables the construction of simpler models, facilitating prediction, control, and optimization for complex nonlinear systems. To that end, Koopman operator theory offers a framework for global linearization of nonlinear systems, thereby allowing the usage of linear tools for design studies. In this work, we focus on the identification of global linearized embeddings for canonical nonlinear Hamiltonian systems through a symplectic transformation. While this task is often challenging, we leverage the power of deep learning to discover the desired embeddings. Furthermore, to overcome the shortcomings of Koopman operators for systems with continuous spectra, we apply the lifting principle and learn global cubicized embeddings. Additionally, a key emphasis is given to enforce the bounded stability for the dynamics of the discovered embeddings. We demonstrate the capabilities of deep learning in acquiring compact symplectic coordinate transformations and the corresponding simple dynamical models, fostering data-driven learning of nonlinear canonical Hamiltonian systems, even those with continuous spectra.
The Empowerment Model
Authors: Parr Tom
Published: February 2025

This chapter proposes a novel way of theorizing about the demands of justice in the labour market that is capable of shedding light on various economic trends and the injustices with which they are associated. Its aim is to explicate and defend the deceptively simple sounding claim that, within limits, the goal of labour market policymakers should be to secure individuals’ equal bargaining power or, when this is unwise, to protect them against the disadvantages to which their lack of equal bargaining power might otherwise give rise. I call this the empowerment model. The chapter highlights and defends one especially controversial component of this commitment, namely is ambition-sensitivity.
The Rebuilding of Royal Authority
Authors: Fitzsimmons Michael P
Published: February 2025

The chapter examines the effort of the Bourbon dynasty, beginning with Henri IV, to rebuild royal power after the catastrophic Wars of Religion. The efforts continued with his successors, Louis XIII and Louis XIV, and were successful in achieving monarchy-centered government by not summoning the Estates General, debilitating the parlement of Paris by weakening its right of remonstrance, bypassing provincial Estates and the use of privilege. The zenith of monarchy-centered government occurred under Louis XIV, but at his death, with the kingdom exhausted by wars and concerns about the health of the young heir apparent, the position of the dynasty was precarious.
The Collapse of Monarchy-Centered Government
Authors: Fitzsimmons Michael P
Published: February 2025

At the royal session on June 23, Louis quashed the National Assembly and ordered that deliberations and voting be conducted by order except on questions of taxation. The next day, however, a majority of the clergy joined the Assembly and the day after that dozens of nobles entered as well. Louis’s initiative had failed and on June 27 he asked the clerical and noble deputies who remained in their chamber to enter the Assembly. Louis had not accepted the Assembly but was instead seeking to gain time to bring in troops. In mid-July he attempted to dissolve the Assembly, but a popular uprising in Paris prevented the dissolution and left the king in a weak position. Saved by the popular intervention, the Assembly was free to begin work on the constitution.
Introduction
Authors: Bruskin Signe
Published: February 2025

The organizational changes employees find most radical are the micro changes that influence their everyday work activities and routines. This book is based on empirical material from a research project showing that micro changes are crucial to employees’ well-being and engagement at work. This contrasts the strategic and planned organizational changes that have typically been at the center in literature and practice. It implies a shift from the classic organizational change theories grounded in a planned and rational approach to a process philosophical approach to change. Here, changes are perceived as primary, making stability in organizations secondary. Further, it calls for a study of everyday activities to capture the micro changes that are fluid and ever changing.
The Experience of Fluid Changes
Authors: Bruskin Signe
Published: February 2025

A process philosophical approach to change implies that change becomes a matter of experience. Thus, the employee’s experience of organizational changes is at the center as they define whether a change is radical. However, the fluidity and ever-changing character of change mean that the experience of change is influenced by time and temporality. Ultimately, the organizational changes might drift away or become something different when reinterpreted. This chapter aims at unfolding the temporal and spatial dimensions by drawing on empirical examples as well as sensemaking theory in order to unpack the consequences of a process philosophical approach to change in practice.
Identity Changes
Authors: Bruskin Signe
Published: February 2025

Identity changes in a process perspective are complex as identity must be seen as social and shaped in relation to others. Examples include professional identity changes such as another role, position, job, or responsibility. Identity is not an isolated entity but is constituted by the individual’s perception of work identity and workplace role. This chapter focuses on identity changes, supported by social identity theories and sensemaking, to unpack how identity changes are fluid, continuous, and inevitable. Working proactively with narratives and trying to answer the employees’ question of “what’s in it for me?” can be an advantage when ensuring employees’ commitment to a strategic change.
Concepts of Practice
Authors: Bruskin Signe
Published: February 2025

A process philosophical approach to organizational change challenges existing concepts of practice. These are, among others, change resistance, the implementation of organizational change, bottom-up processes, and change successes. From a process perspective, it implies that changes are fluid and ever changing, making organizational changes impossible to implement through a linear approach. Further, who decides whether a change is successfully implemented if employees suffer from stress afterward? Through this lens, the chapter aims to discuss existing concepts or approaches to change and, at the same time, suggest how concepts such as psychological safety can foster a culture that accommodates employees’ experiences of changes that influence their well-being and engagement.
Propositionalism
Authors: Salje Léa
Published: February 2025

Chapter 3 considers an inflationist view of articulatory self-knowledge that is likely to strike many as more palatable than the sententialism of the last chapter: propositionalism, that posits a mere propositional thought at the outset of the process, that is not (yet) formatted in natural language. A critical survey of how various features of propositionalism compare with sententialism already brings to the surface a number of difficulties for the view. The main argument against propositionalism, however, is that as an inflationist view it implies an implausibly particularist metaphysics of mind. Finally, I argue that with the move away from sententialism, propositionalism already forgoes a strict commitment to content-form identity between the earlier and later thoughts, and that once we have conceded this much we have reason to further remove restrictions on the form of possible inputs to our target process.
Epistemic Significance
Authors: Salje Léa
Published: February 2025

Chapter 5 asks what the epistemic significance is of the fact that we have this distinctive capacity for self-knowledge, as understood under the moderate deflationist view of Chapter 4. It argues for four claims in response. (1) Articulatory self-knowledge is a process of both discovery and creation. (2) We can use this process as a way of gaining psychological self-knowledge, but also—in the very best cases—worldly understanding or insight. (3) The distinctive process involved in cases articulatory self-knowledge makes it best suited for what Quassim Cassam calls substantive self-knowledge. And (4), put together, these findings make it the case that articulatory self-knowledge is likely to be a crucial element in much creative intellectual work like maths, science, and philosophy.
Creating and Designing the AIIB
Authors: Gutner Tamar
Published: February 2025

This chapter examines the process of creating and designing the AIIB. It argues the bank’s design reflected a process of institutional diffusion by an international group of policy entrepreneurs who represented states and senior MDB officials. The bank is a Chinese initiative and the international state and non-state actors who designed it created a state-of-the-art MDB where key differences with other major MDBs were mostly a matter of degree and not kind. The bank was explicitly designed to reflect best practices of multilateral development banking, drawing on, and in some cases innovating, the design features of existing MDBs.
Environmental and Social Framework
Authors: Gutner Tamar
Published: February 2025

This chapter presents a case study of the design of the AIIB’s environmental and social framework (ESF), highlighting the important role of experts, deeply networked across MDBs, who shaped the AIIB’s safeguards to look broadly similar to those of its peer institutions. It also means that watchdog NGOs’ criticism of the AIIB is broadly similar to their criticism of other MDBs. The chapter begins by explaining why MDB environmental and social frameworks are important in mitigating possible negative environmental and social impacts of infrastructure lending, and how they reflect norms of accountability and transparency. The development and evolution of these norms illustrates how connected the MDBs are as a network, and how they also interact with other regional and global environmental and development governance strategies and efforts.
Introduction
Authors: Eisaman Maus Katharine
Published: February 2025

The years 1603 and 1660 mark political, not literary events. 1603 saw the death of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, and the accession of James I, the first of the Stuarts on the English throne. In 1660 his grandson Charles II was “restored” to that throne after a period of civil war and more than a decade of government without a king. Why imagine that the years between 1603 and 1660 comprise a literary period? The conviction that the English civil war and its aftermath, in the middle of the seventeenth century, constitutes something of a watershed in literary history emerged almost immediately: already in the late 1660s John Dryden was calling Shakespeare, Fletcher, and Jonson playwrights “of the last age.” 1603, when many major writers were in mid-career, is a less vivid demarcation. This introduction discusses the rationales for these period boundaries, provides a short orientation to the tumultuous history of early seventeenth century England, and discusses some of the problems and opportunities of writing a general literary history of these decades.
Who Were the Writers?
Authors: Eisaman Maus Katharine
Published: February 2025

‘Who Were the Writers?’ considers who could (and who could not) become a writer in early seventeenth-century England, and why it matters. Most writers in the period came from a ‘relatively elite’ social echelon—they were not necessarily right at the top of the heap, but closer to the top than the bottom. An overwhelming majority were male. Moreover, they were disproportionately clustered in the London metropolis. This chapter discusses the reasons for these demographic characteristics and some of their consequences for literary practice in the period. It also considers some of the apparent exceptions to these general rules.
Endothelial Cell Phenotypic Plasticity in Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects
Authors: de Queiroz Diego B , Parente Juliana M , Pernomian Laena , Waigi Emily W , Alfaidi Mabruka , Tan Wenbin , McCarthy Cameron G , Wenceslau Camilla F
Published: February 2025

Endothelial cells (ECs) are a highly specialized and heterogeneous population that plays a fundamental role in maintaining vascular homeostasis, immune regulation, and blood flow control. Beyond serving as a physical barrier, ECs exhibit remarkable plasticity, undergoing phenotypic transitions, including endothelial-to-mesenchymal (EndMT), endothelial-to-hematopoietic (EndHT), endothelial-to-osteoblast (EndOT) and endothelial-to-immune-cell-like (EndICLT). These transitions allow ECs to adapt to developmental, physiological, and pathological conditions. Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and associated technologies, have provided deeper insights into the molecular diversity of ECs across different vascular beds and stages of development, revealing their transcriptional heterogeneity and specialized functions. For example, ECs within the aortic arch display distinct phenotypic variations depending on their location, reflecting adaptations to regional differences in blood flow and shear stress. Activated EndMT has been implicated in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and vascular malformations by contributing to endothelial dysfunction, vascular wall inflammation, and remodeling. Recent therapeutic approaches aim to mitigate EndMT-associated vascular damage through interventions such as endothelial reprogramming, statins, and autophagy enhancers. Partial reprogramming of ECs has shown promise in restoring endothelial function, reducing vascular stiffness, and lowering blood pressure in hypertensive models. Understanding the complexity of EC heterogeneity and plasticity is critical for developing targeted therapies to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. By leveraging emerging genomic technologies and reprogramming strategies, future research may offer novel regenerative medicine approaches to restore vascular health and improve clinical outcomes for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Potential outcome simulation for efficient head-to-head comparison of adaptive dose-finding designs
Authors: Sweeting Michael , Slade Daniel , Jackson Dan , Brock Kristian
Published: February 2025

Dose-finding trials are a key component of the drug development process and rely on a statistical design to help inform dosing decisions. Triallists wishing to choose a design require knowledge of operating characteristics of competing methods. This is often assessed using a large-scale simulation study with multiple designs and configurations investigated, which can be time-consuming and therefore limits the scope of the simulation. We introduce a new approach to the design of simulation studies of dose-finding trials. The approach simulates all potential outcomes that individuals could experience at each dose level in the trial. Datasets are simulated in advance and then applied to each of the competing methods to enable a more efficient head-to-head comparison. Furthermore, individual trial datasets can be interrogated to understand when designs deviate in their decision making. In three case-studies, we show sizeable reductions in Monte Carlo error for comparing a performance metric between two competing designs. Efficiency gains depend on the similarity of the designs. Comparing two Phase I/II design variants, with high correlation of recommending the same optimal biologic dose, we show that the new approach requires a simulation study that is approximately 48 times smaller than the conventional approach. Furthermore, advance-simulated trial datasets can be reused to assess the performance of designs across multiple configurations. We recommend researchers consider this more efficient simulation approach in their dose-finding studies and we have updated the R package escalation to help facilitate implementation.
The subtype-free average causal effect for heterogeneous disease etiology
Authors: Sasson A , Wang M , Ogino S , Nevo D
Published: February 2025

Studies have shown that the effect an exposure may have on a disease can vary for different subtypes of the same disease. However, existing approaches to estimate and compare these effects largely overlook causality. In this paper, we study the effect smoking may have on having colorectal cancer subtypes defined by a trait known as microsatellite instability (MSI). We use principal stratification to propose an alternative causal estimand, the Subtype-Free Average Causal Effect (SF-ACE). The SF-ACE is the causal effect of the exposure among those who would be free from other disease subtypes under any exposure level. We study non-parametric identification of the SF-ACE and discuss different monotonicity assumptions, which are more nuanced than in the standard setting. As is often the case with principal stratum effects, the assumptions underlying the identification of the SF-ACE from the data are untestable and can be too strong. Therefore, we also develop sensitivity analysis methods that relax these assumptions. We present 3 different estimators, including a doubly robust estimator, for the SF-ACE. We implement our methodology for data from 2 large cohorts to study the heterogeneity in the causal effect of smoking on colorectal cancer with respect to MSI subtypes.
Prevalence and pathogenic activity of anti-desmocollin-3 antibodies in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus
Authors: Maho-Vaillant Maud , Lemieux Alexandre , Arnoult Christophe , Lebourgeois Léopoldine , Hébert Vivien , Jaworski Thara , Tedbirt Billal , Jouen Fabienne , Boyer Olivier , Calbo Sébastien , Joly Pascal , Golinski Marie-Laure
Published: February 2025

Background

Desmocollin-3 (DSC3) is a calcium-dependent desmosomal cadherin that plays an essential role in cell–cell adhesion. IgG antibodies (Abs) directed against the extracellular (EC) domain of DSC3 have occasionally been detected in rare types of pemphigus. Investigations into the prevalence of anti-EC-DSC3 IgG Abs and those targeting the intracellular (IC) domain of DSC3 in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus sera, and their potential pathogenic activity, have yielded conflicting results.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence and pathogenicity of Abs directed against the EC and IC domains of DSC3 in patients with pemphigus.

Methods

Anti-DSC3 IgG and IgA directed against the EC and IC domains of DSC3 were assayed in 146 patients with pemphigus using a newly developed addressable laser bead immunoassay. The pathogenicity of these autoAbs was first tested in vitro using a keratinocyte dissociation assay with patients’ sera or from C57BL/6 mice immunized with recombinant IC-DSC3. In vivo pathogenicity was tested by passive transfer of an anti-IC-DSC3 monoclonal Ab (mAb) derived from a hybridoma (A9) into neonatal mice.

Results

Anti-EC-DSC3 or anti-IC-DSC3 IgG and/or IgA Abs were detected in 21.2% of sera from patients with pemphigus vs. 4.0% (P < 0.001) and 5.0% (P < 0.001) of sera from healthy donors, respectively. Most anti-DSC3 Abs corresponded to IgA. Anti-IC-DSC3 Abs were detected in 44% of patients with pemphigus whose serum anti-desmoglein (DSG) 1–3 Ab profile was inconsistent with their clinical and histological features, according to compensation theory. Anti-IC-DSC3 IgG and IgA Abs induced a dissociation of the keratinocyte monolayer in vitro, which was abolished by preadsorption of these IgG or IgA fractions with recombinant IC-DSC3. In addition, IgG from mice immunized with recombinant IC-DSC3 induced acantholysis in vitro. Finally, in neonatal mice, the passive transfer of an anti-IC-DSC3 mAb in combination with anti-DSG1–3 Abs exacerbated blister formation.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that anti-IC-DSC3 Abs are pathogenic and explain the discordance seen in some patients with regard to their clinical phenotype and their anti-DSG1–3 Ab profile.
Quadriceps muscle injuries in athletes: a narrative review
Authors: Ariyaratne Sisith P , Shirodkar Kapil , Botchu Rajesh , James Steven L J
Published: February 2025

The quadriceps muscles are a large group of four muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh, comprising the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis, which in combination act as the primary extensors of the knee joint. The rectus femoris is also responsible for hip joint flexion. Quadriceps muscle injuries are frequently encountered in sports and athletic activities, and present a significant challenge in the realm of sports medicine, impacting athletes across various disciplines and levels of competition. A spectrum of sporting injuries and imaging findings can affect this muscle group, including strains and tears, avulsions, contusions, degloving injuries, and exercise related signal abnormalities (ERSA). A thorough understanding of these various pathologies and imaging features is crucial to guide appropriate diagnosis, management and rehabilitation, as well as ensure safe and prompt return to play, minimise risk of re-injury or long term adverse sequela, optimise performance and improve career longevity of these athletes. This comprehensive review article aims to review the unique anatomy of the quadriceps muscle group and integrate current knowledge of the various forms of sporting injuries affecting it, with a specific emphasis on the imaging features.
35 Management and aortic reconstruction in patients with infrarenal aortic graft infection. A UK vascular networks’ 10-year experience
Authors: Gamtkitsulashvili Gvantsa , Enemosah Ibrahim , Hatem R , Cowan H , Patterson Benjamin , Nordon Ian , Baxter Stephan
Published: February 2025

Aim

Aortic graft infections (AGI) are rare with no global consensus for diagnosis and management, we report our experience of management and complex in situ reconstruction.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 49 patients who developed AGI following EVAR and open aortic intervention from January 2010 to December 2020.

Results

Primary intervention was open aortic repair in 40 (81.6%) patients (7 ruptured aneurysm (rAAA), 22 aneurysmal disease and 11 aortoiliac-occlusive disease). Nine (18.4%) patients had an EVAR (3 for rAAA). AGI was identified at a median of 18 months post primary intervention. All patients were commenced on long term antibiotics. 22 (45%) patients were unfit for explantation, 8 (16.3%) were on surveillance for low grade infection, while 15 (30.6%) had an explant and aortic graft in situ reconstruction, with 2 (13.3%) requiring interval aortic stent prior to explant. Femoral vein (53%) and bovine pericardium (20%) were most commonly used conduit. Post-operative 30 day mortality was 13.3% (2 patients). Survival post-explant was 69% and 65% at 2 years and 5 years respectively versus 43% and 29% in the non-operative group.

Conclusion

Infrarenal aortic graft in situ reconstruction is safe following AGI with a reasonable 5 year survival rate. Patient fitness assessment is pertinent due to high perioperative risk.
19 Functional hydrogel for the treatment of abdominal wall defects: a review
Authors: Liu Ye , Wu Xiuwen , Ren Jianan
Published: February 2025

The abdominal wall serves as a crucial barrier safeguarding the internal organs of body. Abdominal wall defects, resulting from various reasons such as surgery, infection, and trauma, are familiar clinical condition. Complex defects of the abdominal wall have limited self-healing capacity and require external intervention to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Traditional clinical treatment approaches including tension-free patch repair, component separation technique, autologous tissue transplantation, abdominal wall expansion techniques, and abdominal cavity reduction techniques have been widely employed. However, their respective drawbacks restrict their clinical application. Despite the development of diverse biomaterials, the expected therapeutic effects have not been fully achieved. Hydrogel have emerged as promising strategies extensively studied and applied in promoting tissue regeneration by filling or repairing damaged tissue due to their unique properties. This review summaries and discusses the five prominent functions and advances in the application of hydrogels for promoting repair and reconstruction of abdominal wall defects: (1) good biocompatibility with host tissues that reduces adverse reactions and immune responses while supporting cell adhesion migration proliferation; (2) tunable mechanical properties matching those of the abdominal wall that adapt to normal movements deformations while reducing tissue stress thereby influencing regulating cell behavior tissue regeneration; (3) drug carriers continuously delivering drugs and bioactive molecules to sites optimizing healing processes enhancing tissue regeneration; (4) promotion of cell interactions by simulating hydrated extracellular matrix (ECM) environments, providing physical support, space, and cues for cell migration, adhesion, and proliferation. (5) easy manipulation and application in surgical procedures, allowing precise placement and close adhesion to the defective abdominal wall, providing mechanical support. Additionally, the advancements of hydrogels in the repair of abdominal wall defects are also mentioned. Finally, the existing challenges and limitations faced by hydrogels are concluded, and the future directions of hydrogel for abdominal wall reconstruction are further proposed.
Shifts in Medical Liability in the Macau SAR
Authors: Cascão Rui
Published: February 2025

The Macau SAR has a civil law legal system, historically connected to the Portuguese legal system included in the Roman-German family of legal systems. Until Law 5/2016 (Medical Error Act), medical malpractice claims could be framed in tort and/or contract. Certain aspects of administrative law related to treatment provided by public healthcare providers, in particular as regards their duties and liability, have a bearing on the applicable substantive and procedural legal regime and entail the jurisdiction of administrative courts. Aggrieved patients faced the challenge of navigating an uneven level playing field and the burden of proving fault, damages, and causation. The approval of Law 5/2016 was protracted, and there was a lack of consensus in society. Nevertheless, it has unique features: a public committee is created and charged with providing forensic expertise in cases of alleged medical malpractice and another public committee is created to handle and conciliate medical malpractice claims, award just satisfaction, and prevent lawsuits. The aim of this contribution is to explain this legislative shift, critically examine the challenges that it has brought forth, and analyse it in a comparative law context. Building on existing scholarship, this article presents Macau’s novel medical liability system, which has unique features, to a wider global audience: it identifies the aspects that can be perfected in future revisions of the law and highlights the merits of the missed chance, envisaged in the 2005 Green Paper, to move away from fault-based liability towards a no-fault compensation system.
Low psychosocial burden in patients with paraganglioma syndrome. Results from the Head and Neck Paraganglioma Registry in a single center
Authors: de Bresser Carolijn J M , Rijken Johannes A , van Treijen Mark J C , van Nesselrooij Bernadette P M , de Ridder M , de Bree Remco , de Borst Gert J , Petri Bart-Jeroen , van Leeuwaarde Rachel S
Published: February 2025

Objective

Autosomal dominant variants in the succinate dehydrogenase gene (SDHx) are responsible for approximately 50% of the development of hereditary paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas (PPGLs). Limited research has been conducted on the psychosocial impact of possessing a hereditary tumor syndrome. In this study, the psychological impact of harboring a genetic variant associated with familial paraganglioma syndrome was assessed. Secondary objectives included the analysis of potential variations in quality of life in (pre)symptomatic stage and comparison with the general Dutch population and other hereditary tumor syndromes.

Methods

The first 100 patients from the Head and Neck PGL Registry in the University Medical Center Utrecht were selected. Psychosocial outcomes were assessed cross-sectionally using five validated health-related questionnaires: EuroQol 5D-5L, Cancer Worry Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and EORTC QLQ-C30.

Results

No significant differences were observed when stratified for (pre)symptomatic status or genetic variant status. Hereditary PPGLs tended to express greater concern about development of PPGLs in family members. Complaints in the physical domains were more frequently observed in the sporadic group. The PPGL cohort demonstrated better outcomes when compared to other hereditary tumor syndromes and aligned with the Dutch tariff.

Conclusion

The psychosocial impact of harboring a PPGL seems to align with the general healthy Dutch population. Clinical care management involving a multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive counseling on PPGLs and their genetic origins, effectively supports patients. Routine psychological support in the care for these patients does not seem imperative and should be offered indicated on a case-by-case basis.