bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orthogonally polarized dual-wavelength Nd:GdVO4/Nd:YVO4 laser at 1341 and 1342 nm with adjustable power ratio
Authors: Yu Hao , Li Yongliang , Moazzam Fahad , Lin Lin , Gao Bo
Published: February 2025

A continuous-wave (CW) orthogonally polarized dual-wavelength (OPDW) Nd:GdVO4/Nd:YVO4 laser at 1341 and 1342 nm on the 4F3/2 →4I13/2 transition was realized using in-band laser diode (LD) pumping with tunable wavelength from 909.40 to 915.02 nm for the first time. The operating temperature of the LD and the position of the pump beam waist were optimized to achieve high efficiency and balanced output powers of the OPDW laser. The OPDW laser at 1341 and 1342 nm was obtained with the highest total output power of 6.15 W and the power ratio of 1:1. The highest total slope efficiency and total optical-to-optical conversion efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power at 913.61 nm were 34.9% and 32.0%, respectively. The OPDW laser at 1341 and 1342 nm have important application prospects in the fields of laser medicine, scientific research and terahertz radiation.
Highly sensitive molecular assay based on Identical Multi-Repeat Sequence (IMRS) algorithm for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis infection
Authors: Shiluli Clement , Kamath Shwetha , Kanoi Bernard N. , Kimani Racheal , Oduor Bernard , M. Abkallo Hussein , Maina Michael , Waweru Harrison , Kamita Moses , Pamme Nicole , Dupaty Joshua , Klapperich Catherine M. , Lolabattu Srinivasa Raju , Gitaka Jesse
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Annually, approximately 174 million people globally are affected by Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) infection. Half of these infections occur in resource-limited regions. Untreated T. vaginalis infections are associated with complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes mostly seen in women. In resource-limited regions, the World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for syndromic case management. However, this can lead to unnecessary treatment. Accurate diagnosis of T. vaginalis is required for effective and prompt treatment. Molecular tests such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) have the advantage of having a short turn-around time and allow the use of non-invasive specimens such as urine and vaginal swabs. However, these diagnostic techniques have numerous disadvantages such as high infrastructure costs, false negative and positive results, and interstrain variation among others. This study aimed to evaluate the use of identical multi-repeat sequences (IMRS) as amplification primers for developing ultrasensitive diagnostic for T. vaginalis.

Methods

We used genome-mining approaches based on identical multi-repeat sequences (IMRS) algorithm to identify sequences distributed on the T. vaginalis genome to design a primer pair that targets a total of 69 repeat sequences. Genomic T. vaginalis DNA was diluted from 5.8×102 to 5.8×10−4 genome copies/μl and used as a template in the IMRS-based amplification assay. For performance comparison, 18S rRNA PCR assay was employed.

Results

The T. vaginalis -IMRS primers offered a higher test sensitivity of 0.03 fg/μL compared to the 18S rRNA PCR (0.714 pg/μL). The limit of detection for the Isothermal assay was 0.58 genome copies/mL. Using real-time PCR, the analytical sensitivity of the T. vaginalis -IMRS primers was <0.01 pg/μL, equivalent to less than one genome copy/μL.

Conclusion

De novo genome mining of T. vaginalis IMRS as amplification primers serves as a platform for developing ultrasensitive diagnostics for Trichomoniasis and a wide range of infectious pathogens.
Perivascular space imaging during therapy for medulloblastoma
Authors: Song Ruitian , Glass John O. , Wu Shengjie , Li Yimei , Robinson Giles W. , Gajjar Amar , Merchant Thomas E. , Reddick Wilburn E.
Published: February 2025

Perivascular spaces (PVS) are fluid filled compartments surrounding the small blood vessels in the brain. The impact of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on PVS remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate treatment effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at four time points (TPs) in pediatric medulloblastoma (MB) patients. We examined 778 scans from 241 MB patients at baseline (0M), after 12 weeks (about 3 months) of radiotherapy and rest (3M), after chemotherapy completion (12M), and a follow-up (FollowUp) at 18- or 21-months post-baseline. PVS was segmented by applying Frangi filter on the white matter regions on T1 weighted images acquired at 3T Siemens MRI scanner using MPRAGE. PVS volume and ratio, defined as the ratio of PVS volume to the white matter volume, were measured at the four TPs. The data was first statistically analyzed using a full model where all data were included, then a paired model, which included only patients who completed consecutive measurements under the same anesthesia and shunt conditions. Both the full model and paired model showed that PVS (including ratio and volume) increased at 3M post-radiotherapy compared to baseline. During chemotherapy, PVS decreased significantly from 3M to 12M. Subsequently, from 12M to FollowUp, PVS increased again. MRI exams under anesthesia exhibited significantly lower PVS than those without anesthesia. Patients who had undergone a shunt procedure exhibited a significantly reduced PVS compared to those who had not undergone the procedure. We concluded that craniospinal irradiation led to an elevated PVS. Conversely, chemotherapy or time post-irradiation decreased PVS. Anesthesia and shunt procedures can also influence perivascular space ratio or volume.
Simulation of the electrolyte imbalance in vanadium redox flow batteries
Authors: Zhang Baowen , Lei Yuan
Published: February 2025

The stack is the core component of large-scale flow battery system. Based on the leakage circuit, mass and energy conservation, electrochemicals reaction in porous electrode, and also the effect of electric field on vanadium ion cross permeation in membrane, a model of kilowatt vanadium flow battery stack was established. The electro chemical reaction parameters, ion concentration and temperature of each single cell in the stack were calculated respectively. The imbalance of vanadium ion concentration and the effects of current density and electrolyte temperature on the electrolyte imbalance in the stack were studied.
Fitting and comparison of calcium-calmodulin kinetic schemes to a common data set using non-linear mixed effects modelling
Authors: Linkevicius Domas , Chadwick Angus , Faas Guido C. , Stefan Melanie I. , Sterratt David C.
Published: February 2025

Calmodulin is a calcium binding protein that is essential in calcium signalling in the brain. There are many computational models of calcium-calmodulin binding that capture various calmodulin features. However, existing models have generally been fit to different data sets, with some publications not reporting their training and validation performance. Moreover, there is no model comparison using a common benchmark data set as is common practice in other modeling domains. Finally, some calmodulin models have been fit as a part of a larger kinetic scheme, which may have resulted in parameters being underdetermined. We address these three limitations of previous models by fitting the published calcium-calmodulin schemes to a common calcium-calmodulin data set comprising equilibrium data from Shifman et al. and dynamical data from Faas et al. Due to technical limitations, the amount of uncaged calcium in Faas et al. data could not be predicted with certainty. To find good parameter fits, despite this uncertainty, we used non-linear mixed effects modelling as implemented in the Pumas.jl package. The Akaike information criterion values for our reaction rate constants were significantly lower than for the published parameters, indicating that the published parameters are suboptimal. Moreover, there were significant differences in calmodulin activation, both between the schemes and between our reaction rate and those previously published. A kinetic scheme with independent lobes and unique, rather than identical, binding sites fit the data best. Our results support two hypotheses: (1) partially bound calmodulin is important in cellular signalling; and (2) calcium binding sites within a calmodulin lobe are kinetically distinct rather than identical. We conclude that more attention should be given to validation and comparison of models of individual molecules.
Comparison of frailty instruments for predicting mortality and prolon ged hospitalization in acute coronary syndrome patients
Authors: Langsted Anne , Benatar Jocelyne , Kerr Andrew , Bloomfield Katherine , Devlin Gerry , Sasse Alexander , Smythe David , To Andrew , White Harvey , Wilkins Gerrard , Stewart Ralph
Published: February 2025

Objective

To evaluate the relative strengths of 3 frailty assessment instruments for predicting mortality and prolonged hospitalization in acute coronary syndrome patients.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Acute cardiac care units in New Zealand.

Participants

1174 patients >70 years of age hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome.

Interventions

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) and Fried Criteria (Fried), were completed during hospital admission following an acute coronary syndrome when the patient was clinically stable.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

All-cause mortality over the next ~5 years and hospitalization for >10 days in the next year determined from national administrative data.

Results

During median follow-up of 5.1 years there were 353 deaths. Harrell’s C-statistic for mortality for EFS was 0.663, Fried 0.648 and CFS 0.640 (p<0.001 for all). C-statistics for hospitalization >10 days (n = 267, 22%) were EFS 0.649, Fried 0.628, and CFS 0.584 (p<0.001 for all). Associations between increase in frailty scores and mortality were graded including in patients not classified as frail. The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality, adjusted for age and sex, for patients with an EFS score ≥9 (n = 197) compared to ≤2 (n = 331) was 5.0 (95% CI: 3.4–7.4). In models which included the Euroscore II or GRACE risk scores the EFS improved risk discrimination for both mortality and prolonged hospitalization more than the CFS and Fried.

Conclusion

In older patients assessed following an acute coronary syndrome the EFS discriminated the risk of all cause mortality and prolonged hospitalization better than the CFS and Fried tests, and improved risk discrimination when added to clinical risk scores.
Advanced retinal disease detection from OCT images using a hybrid squeeze and excitation enhanced model
Authors: Gencer Gülcan , Gencer Kerem
Published: February 2025

Background

Retinal problems are critical because they can cause severe vision loss if not treated. Traditional methods for diagnosing retinal disorders often rely heavily on manual interpretation of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, which can be time-consuming and dependent on the expertise of ophthalmologists. This leads to challenges in early diagnosis, especially as retinal diseases like diabetic macular edema (DME), Drusen, and Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) become more prevalent. OCT helps ophthalmologists diagnose patients more accurately by allowing for early detection. This paper offers a hybrid SE (Squeeze-and-Excitation)-Enhanced Hybrid Model for detecting retinal disorders from OCT images, including DME, Drusen, and CNV, using artificial intelligence and deep learning.

Methods

The model integrates SE blocks with EfficientNetB0 and Xception architectures, which provide high success in image classification tasks. EfficientNetB0 achieves high accuracy with fewer parameters through model scaling strategies, while Xception offers powerful feature extraction using deep separable convolutions. The combination of these architectures enhances both the efficiency and classification performance of the model, enabling more accurate detection of retinal disorders from OCT images. Additionally, SE blocks increase the representational ability of the network by adaptively recalibrating per-channel feature responses.

Results

The combined features from EfficientNetB0 and Xception are processed via fully connected layers and categorized using the Softmax algorithm. The methodology was tested on UCSD and Duke’s OCT datasets and produced excellent results. The proposed SE-Improved Hybrid Model outperformed the current best-known approaches, with accuracy rates of 99.58% on the UCSD dataset and 99.18% on the Duke dataset.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the model’s ability to effectively diagnose retinal disorders using OCT images and indicate substantial promise for the development of computer-aided diagnostic tools in the field of ophthalmology.
Multi-dimensional perceptual recognition of tourist destination using deep learning model and geographic information system
Authors: Zhang Shengtian , Li Yong , Song Xiaoxia , Yang Chenghao , Shafiabady Niusha , Wu Robert M. X.
Published: February 2025

Perceptual recognition of tourist destinations is vital in representing the destination image, supporting destination management decision-making, and promoting tourism recommendations. However, previous studies on tourist destination perception have limitations regarding accuracy and completeness related to research methods. This study addresses these limitations by proposing an efficient strategy to achieve precise perceptual recognition of tourist destinations while ensuring the integrity of user-generated content (UGC) data and the completeness of perception dimensions. We integrated various types of UGC data, including images, texts, and spatiotemporal information, to create a comprehensive UGC dataset. Then, we adopted the improved Inception V3 model, the bidirectional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM) model with multi-head attention, and geographic information system (GIS) technology to recognize basic tourist feature information from the UGC dataset, such as the content, sentiment, and spatiotemporal perceptual dimensions of the data, achieving a recognition accuracy of over 97%. Finally, a progressive dimension combination method was proposed to visualize and analyze multiple perceptions. An experimental case study demonstrated the strategy’s effectiveness, focusing on tourists’ perceptions of Datong, China. Experimental results show that the approach is feasible for studying tourist destination perception. Content perception, sentiment perception, and the perception of Datong’s spatial and temporal characteristics were recognized and analyzed efficiently. This study offers valuable guidance and a reference framework for selecting methods and technical routes in tourist destination perception.
Coupling coordination of digital village construction and high-quality agricultural development in China
Authors: Tian Yuan , Zhou Yuxi
Published: February 2025

This study aims to investigate the coupling coordination relationship between digital village construction and high-quality agricultural development in China, along with influencing factors, in order to provide policy recommendations for fostering the concurrent advancement of these two domains. Utilizing coupling coordination degree model, spatial econometric model and other methods, this paper analyzes the panel data of 31 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China spanning from 2011 to 2022. The key findings indicate the following: Firstly, there has been an overall enhancement in the levels of digital village construction and high-quality agricultural development across all Chinese provinces, with the eastern region exhibiting a higher developmental status compared to the central and western regions. Secondly, the coupling coordination degree has shown a collective improvement, albeit with variations in coordination levels among different regions; however, the regional disparities are gradually narrowing. Thirdly, the level of economic development and agricultural financial expenditure emerges as significant factors influencing the degree of coupling coordination, demonstrating not only direct positive effects but also positive spatial spillover effects. Finally, this study proposes recommendations to promote sustainable agricultural development, such as setting up agricultural technology innovation platforms, establishing digital agricultural production bases, and training farmers in digital skills in order to mitigate regional disparities and foster mutual advancement across all regions.
Alternative lipid synthesis in response to phosphate limitation promotes antibiotic tolerance in Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens
Authors: Olea-Ozuna Roberto Jhonatan , Campbell Melanie J. , Quintanilla Samantha Y. , Nandy Sinjini , Brodbelt Jennifer S. , Boll Joseph M.
Published: February 2025

The Gram-negative outer membrane protects bacterial cells from environmental toxins such as antibiotics. The outer membrane lipid bilayer is asymmetric; while glycerophospholipids compose the periplasmic facing leaflet, the surface layer is enriched with phosphate-containing lipopolysaccharides. The anionic phosphates that decorate the cell surface promote electrostatic interactions with cationic antimicrobial peptides such as colistin, allowing them to penetrate the bilayer, form pores, and lyse the cell. Colistin is prescribed as a last-line therapy to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. Acinetobacter baumannii is an ESKAPE pathogen that rapidly develops resistance to antibiotics and persists for extended periods in the host or on abiotic surfaces. Survival in environmental stress such as phosphate scarcity, represents a clinically significant challenge for nosocomial pathogens. In the face of phosphate starvation, certain bacteria encode adaptive strategies, including the substitution of glycerophospholipids with phosphorus-free lipids. In bacteria, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin are conserved glycerophospholipids that can form lipid bilayers, particularly in the presence of other lipids. Here, we demonstrate that in response to phosphate limitation, conserved regulatory mechanisms induce alternative lipid production in A. baumannii. Specifically, phosphate limitation induces formation of three lipids, including amine-containing ornithine and lysine aminolipids. Mutations that inactivate aminolipid biosynthesis exhibit fitness defects relative to wild type in colistin growth and killing assays. Furthermore, we show that other Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens accumulate aminolipids under phosphate limiting growth conditions, suggesting aminolipid biosynthesis may represent a broad strategy to overcome cationic antimicrobial peptide-mediated killing.
Grassroots media in Chile: Public policy proposals on how to strengthen their role as cultural community organizations
Authors: Sáez Chiara
Published: February 2025

Community broadcasting emerged in Chile at the end of the dictatorship, but so far, there have been no coordinated or consistent public policies aimed at promoting the sector. Using a conceptual framework on the multiple dimensions of sustainability and the social benefit of community communication, this article presents the results of a collective work that systematizes the sector’s demands on state institutions in which I took part as a consultant. The conclusion is that a public policy that promotes and strengthens community broadcasting will only be effective in the current scenario if it is cross-sectoral, with the Ministry of Culture at the head – providing specific support that ensures organizational continuity – and in coordination with other state and government institutions, conceiving these media as cultural community organizations whose particularity lies in their potential to boost and strengthen their communities of reference through a participatory appropriation of multiple media channels.
Brazilian musicals during the military dictatorship period (1964–85): Fighting violence through art
Authors: de Oliveira Neves Larissa
Published: February 2025

During the Brazilian military dictatorship period (1964–85), a great variety of politically biased musical plays were created, which criticized and challenged the authoritarian regime. This article presents this history and analyses some of the most expressive shows of the period, introducing the historical facts, the courageous and talented artists who did not yield to repression, how the shows were produced, their reception histories and how they used metaphors to deceive censorship. The pieces selected for an analytical approach are: Show Opinião (1964), Arena conta Zumbi (1965), Arena conta Tiradentes (1967), Roda Viva (1967) and Ponto de Partida (1976). These works cover the most severe years of the dictatorship and were created by some of the most significant Brazilian theatre and music artists of the time, such as Augusto Boal, Gianfrancesco Guarnieri, Vianninha, Zé Celso, Chico Buarque and Edu Lobo.
Africanist diasporic identities: Nigerian immigrants in the Global North in Bode Omojola’s opera Ìrìn Àjò
Authors: Loko Olasunbo Omolara , Ekpo Omotolani Ebenezer
Published: February 2025

This study offers an interdisciplinary analysis of Bode Omojola’s opera Ìrìn Àjò (2018) and its musical-theatrical representation of the socio-economic experience of Nigerian immigrants in the Global North. Drawing from the fields of musicology, diaspora studies and sociology, this work seeks to unknot the intricate relationship between cultural bearings and the phenomenon of diasporic communities. Ìrìn Àjò, a seminal work by the famous Nigerian composer Bode Omojola, is core to this study. The opera sums up Nigerian immigrants’ miscellaneous expeditions as they traverse their embraced countries’ composite landscapes. The work conveys the rich musical traditions of Nigeria, as well as the ambition, provocations and victories of Nigerians in the diaspora as they encounter various issues around identity, integration and socio-economic discrepancies in the Global North. Engaging the mixed-method approach, the study combines qualitative analysis of Ìrìn Àjò with ethnographic fieldwork through interviews and observations of Nigerian immigrant communities in the Global North. The analysis of the opera’s theme, musical motifs and narratives within the context of socio-economic circumstances and cultural adaptations of Nigerian immigrants details how Omojola’s opera Ìrìn Àjò meaningfully represents immigrant experiences rarely seen and heard at the operatic stage.
Malinche, directed by Nacho Cano (2022)
Authors: Postigo Alejandro
Published: February 2025

Review of: Malinche, directed by Nacho Cano (2022)
George Antheil y la música de cine: características de la banda sonora de Orgullo y Pasión (1957)
Authors: Martín Sánchez David
Published: February 2025

George Antheil (Trenton, 1900-Nueva York, 1959) alcanzó pronto la fama como compositor vanguardista gracias a su Ballet mécanique (1924), aunque la pérdida del mecenazgo de Mary Louise Curtis Bok en el contexto de la Gran Depresión, le obligó a componer música para el cine. Si bien el número de investigaciones y grabaciones de sus obras sinfónicas y pianísticas se ha visto incrementado recientemente, su música de cine solo ha sido investigada por Keith A. Cochrane (1994) y Matthew C. Schildt (2005), quienes hacen alusión a la música de Orgullo y pasión (1957), considerada por Antheil su mejor composición para el cine.
Dirigida por Stanley Kramer y ambientada en 1810 durante la guerra de la Independencia Española, la película muestra el empeño de un grupo de guerrilleros por llevar un gran cañón desde el norte de España hasta Ávila, a fin de derribar la Muralla y recuperar la ciudad del dominio francés.
Sobre la base de la concepción de Antheil respecto a la música de cine, realizamos un análisis narratológico de las escenas con acompañamiento musical, en el que encontramos la utilización de diversos temas musicales para diferentes personajes y situaciones y verificamos que el ritmo de bolero se convierte en el tópico que aporta el carácter español a la música.
Las fangirls de One Direction en la era digital
Authors: Arias Gálvez Olivia
Published: February 2025

En estos últimos años, la tecnología digital ha provocado una radical transformación en la industria musical. En este artículo se analiza el modo en el que las redes sociales han influido en la producción y consumo de la música a través de un caso concreto: las fangirls de la boyband One Direction. Este análisis se enfoca desde una perspectiva de género y destaca el poder de la era digital como marco comunicativo de una comunidad de fans a través del trending topic #ThisIsNotUs. El presente estudio contribuye con datos actualizados sobre la influencia musical en el ámbito personal y la estrecha relación entre el ídolo y el fan a través de un cuestionario elaborado para esta investigación, que contó con la participación de 540 personas. Sus respuestas han sido cruciales para comprender el valor de la música de la boyband en sus vidas personales y la trascendencia emocional y musical de sus ídolos a lo largo de los años.
The overall correlation of quasar anomalies is the touch-stone of its valid theories I.
Authors: Yang YunBiao
Published: February 2025

It has been 60 years since M. Schmidt published in Nature that the quasar 3C273 has a spectral line with a redshift of 0.158. In the astrophysics community, the mainstream academic view on the nature of quasar phenomena has been formed: That is, quasars belong to a class of active galactic nucleus (AGN), and various strange phenomena of quasars are driven by supermassive black holes (SMBH) and their physical processes at the center of the AGN. However, according to the existing research articles can be found, this completely based on the existing theoretical framework of black hole model and the relativistic beaming model (RBM) theory, which are although after 40 to 50 years of hard work, but in explanation of quasar abnormal phenomenon, still did not get convincing substantive progress. There are signs that the research direction of quasars may be existing problem when some key issues are ignored. More than a decade ago, during the NASA/Stanford Gravity Probe B (GP-B) collaboration on the positioning of Celestial Reference Frames (CRF), Unexpected discovery of quasar 3C454.3 (z=0.859) core component displacement speed close to the speed of light! In the astronomical observation of quasars, the static property of the core component is used as the measurement basis and benchmark of other visible motion components. According to our current knowledge system, we can not give a reasonable explanation. This result may indicate that the cosmological significance of the quasar redshift distance and the explanation for the stationary of the quasar nucleus do not seem to be properly understood. More importantly, under the current theoretical framework, the various anomalies of quasars cannot be correlated with each other as a whole. It is a reasonable and logical choice to try to find a simple theory to explain the singularity of quasars with a new physical perspective. Just like "giving up the proof of Euclidean fifth postulate, but ushered in the discovery of non-Euclidean geometry", just based on the real existence of quasar faster-than-light motion phenomenon, we can construct the overall correlation of quasar anomalies and its self-consistent theoretical framework, and agree with the main observations of quasars.
Acumulação por espoliação e a territorialização do capital agroflorestal nos municípios de Açailândia e São Francisco do Brejão, Maranhão, Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Allison Bezerra , Paz Diego Armando de Sousa , Araújo José Alencar Viana de
Published: February 2025

Este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender o processo de acumulação por espoliação, provocado pela territorialização do capital agroflorestal nos municípios de Açailândia e São Francisco do Brejão, estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Está estruturado em duas etapas: a primeira abrange o referencial teórico e a sistematização de dados secundários, com dados oriundos de órgãos como Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) e Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (INCRA), enquanto a segunda etapa envolve a sistematização de dados primários, obtidos por meio de estudos de campo em fazendas produtoras de eucalipto e nas comunidades próximas a essas fazendas, resultando em registros fotográficos além de produção cartográfica. Os resultados sugerem que, nos municípios pesquisados, a territorialização do capital agroflorestal vem intensificando a acumulação por espoliação, o que se observa em mudanças que impactam desde a especulação do valor da terra, a concentração fundiária e a desapropriação de terras até a produção dos principais produtos agrícolas regionais e o desenvolvimento de práticas que prejudicam a produção agrícola nas localidades próximas às áreas de eucalipto.
Response of dorsal horn neurons in mice to high‐frequency (kHz) biphasic stimulation is not sensitive to local temperature rise
Authors: Karnup Sergei , Daugherty Stephanie , Tai Changfeng , Yoshimura Naoki
Published: February 2025

Clinically accepted for treatment of chronic pain 10 kHz‐frequency electric spinal cord stimulation (10 kHz‐SCS) releases more power in tissue compared to conventional low‐frequency (<100 Hz) stimulation due to increased duty cycle. This is equivalent to the release of more heat in a surrounding tissue, which may change the functional state of affected neural elements. In the case of SCS, plausible candidates to be affected by thermal a component of kHz‐frequency electric field stimulation (kHz‐FS) are dorsal column axons and neurons of the superficial layers of the dorsal horn. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that joule heat produced by kHz‐FS modulates neuronal excitability. In slices of the mouse spinal cord, we monitored membrane potential and membrane input resistance in neurons of lamina II during exposure to kHz‐FS. Surprisingly, we found no correlation between temperature rise and changes of membrane parameters. Furthermore, the depolarizing effect of kHz‐FS was always immediate and remained persistent throughout stimulation, whereas rise of temperature was delayed for 1–2 s and reached its saturation level within the following few seconds. Thus, we concluded that the thermal component has an insignificant role in the mechanism of kHz‐FS action.
Designing a meditation module to affect etiological and preventive factors in primary hypertensive patients—A pilot study
Authors: Goswami Sharma Kapila , Manjula S. D. , Kamath Shobha U. , Prabhu M. Mukhyaprana , Babu M. G. Ramesh , Bose Ujjal , Vasanthalaxmi K.
Published: February 2025

The aim of the present pilot study is to design, validate, and check the feasibility and efficacy of the designed meditation module on etiological and preventive factors in primary hypertensive patients (PHP). The systematic and detailed meditation module was formulated to prevent the complications of hypertension. The designed module was validated by 5 subject experts in the field of complementary and alternative therapy and research. Content Validity Ratio (CVR), Average Congruency Percentage (ACP), and Content Validity Index were calculated. The intervention was given for 5 days a week for 4 weeks, to 9 PHP to check the feasibility and the efficacy of the module by analyzing biochemical and psychological parameters. A randomized controlled trial is planned ahead with this module as intervention. The designed meditation module had 19 concepts with CVR >0.49 and ACP > 90% which were retained, 2 were modified (CVR 0.6, ACP 80) and 1 was deleted as CVR was <0.49 and ACP < 70%. The feasibility test mean was 93.33 ± 8.66 and the efficacy was tested by increase in the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (p = 0.022) and decrease in anxiety (p = 0.022) and perceived stress (p = 0.016), improvement in emotional quotient (p = 0.011), mental state (p = 0.044), quality of sleep (p = 0.001), quality of life (p = 0.011), and happiness state (p = 0.003). The designed meditation module was found valid by the experts, feasible to patients, and efficient in improving biochemical and psychological parameters among PHP to affect the hypertensive etiological factors and check the progress and complications of the disorder.

Trial Registration: CTRI/2022/09/045421
Diagnostic performance of Mindray CL1200i high sensitivity cardiac troponin I assay compared to Abbott Alinity cardiac troponin I assay for the diagnosis of type 1 and 2 acute myocardial infarction in females and males: MERITnI study
Authors: Apple Fred S. , Buda Kevin G. , Wagner Barrett P. , Sexter Anne , Sandoval Yader , Smith Stephen W. , Meyer Kylie , Ladd Alanna , Worrell Kathryn , Brown Hannah M. , Schulz Karen M.
Published: February 2025

Objectives

We examined the 0- and 2-h diagnostic performance of the Mindray high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assay using two predefined sex-specific 99th percentile upper reference limits (URL) in patients with normal electrocardiograms to aid in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

Consecutive emergency department patients undergoing serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) testing on clinical indication were studied in the ‘Mindray hs-cTnI Assay Analytical and Clinical Evaluation for the Diagnosis and RIsk Assessment of Myocardial InfarctIon’ (MERITnI) trial (NCT05853042). Plasma hs-cTnI testing was performed using Mindray CL1200i (investigational) and Abbott Alinity (clinical) assays.

Results

In 1,556 patients (60.7 % male, 43.3 % White, 45.8 % Black, 34.8 % chest pain), 2.7 % had type 1 MI, 2.7 % type 2 MI, and 21.5 % non-MI myocardial injury. At 0 h for all MIs (n=86), using package insert URLs and Universal Sample Bank (USB) URLs, sensitivities were 83.7 and 93.0 %. At 0/2 h for all MIs with package insert and USB URLs, sensitivities were higher with serial testing, at 95.3 and 97.7 %. Negative predictive value (NPVs) were excellent and similar for both URLs, ranging from 98 to 100 %. Substantial hs-cTnI concentration differences were observed between sex and injury types. Alinity hs-cTnI diagnostic observations were similar for both package insert and USB URLs.

Conclusions

The Mindray CL1200i hs-cTnI assay provides the relevant clinical diagnostic information to enable clinicians to deliver cost-effective care for patients to aid in the diagnosis of MI predicated on 0- and 2-h serial testing based on sex-specific 99th percentiles. Novel observations were observed for findings based on different URLs and for females and MI types.
From Cyclones to Cybersecurity: A Call for Convergence in Risk and Crisis Communications Research
Authors: Reinhold Ann Marie , Gore Ross J. , Ezell Barry , Izurieta Clemente I. , Shanahan Elizabeth A.
Published: February 2025

Effective risk and crisis communication can improve health and safety and reduce harmful effects of hazards and disasters. A robust body of literature investigates mechanisms for improving risk and crisis communication. While effective risk and crisis communication strategies are equally desired across different hazard types (e.g., natural hazards, cyber security), the extent to which risk and crisis communication experts utilize the “lessons learned” from scientific domains outside their own is suspect. Therefore, we hypothesized that risk and crisis communication research is siloed according to academic disciplines at the detriment to the advancement of the field of risk communications research writ large. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating the disciplinarity of 5,078 published articles containing risk and crisis communication keywords using a combination of simple descriptive statistics, natural language processing, and hierarchical clustering. Finding that the risk communication research is siloed according to disciplinary lexicons, we present our findings as a call for convergence amongst our risk and crisis communication scholars to bridge across our silos. In so doing, we will increase our ability to affect transformative change in the efficacy of our risk and crises messages across myriad hazard types – from cyclones to cybersecurity.
The RADTRAD and MicroShield analysis methodology for the LOCA during the long-term shutdown period of Chinshan BWR/4 nuclear power plant
Authors: Lin Hao-Tzu , Lee Shiau-Yu , Hsu Keng-Hsien
Published: February 2025

The Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant is a BWR/4 plant and is in the long-term shutdown period with the fuels still residing in the reactor core. This study presents the methodology for immersion dose analysis of loss of coolant accident (LOCA) with the above conditions and assuming some of the safety systems, facilities and radiation shielding fail. The RADTRAD and MicroShield codes are used in the methodology. This methodology can be used to calculate whole body dose, thyroid dose, and beta-skin dose received by control room personnel for the condition with full core damaged and calculate direct gamma ray radiation dose of control room personnel for the condition with no fuels damaged. The analysis results show that even failures in the safety systems, facilities or radiation shielding during the LOCA, the whole body dose, thyroid dose, and beta-skin dose are well below the acceptance limits specified in the Standard Review Plan.
Crystal structure of (E)-2-hydroxy-N′-(1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propylidene)benzohydrazide, C16H16N2O3
Authors: Xu Xiaona , Tong Hongjuan , Liu Bin
Published: February 2025

C16H16N2O3, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 8.9406(3) Å, b = 9.3999(3) Å, c = 17.1101(6) Å, β = 98.8190(10)°, V = 1420.95(8) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt
(F) = 0.0468, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1213, T = 298 K.
Neurovirulent and non-neurovirulent strains of HIV-1 and their Tat proteins induce differential cytokine-chemokine profiles
Authors: Rao Vasudev R. , Rodriguez Milka , Byrareddy Siddappa N. , Ranga Udaykumar , Prasad Vinayaka R.
Published: February 2025

Objectives

HIV-1 enters the central nervous system (CNS) early in infection, and a significant proportion of people with HIV experience CNS complications despite anti-retroviral therapy. Chronic immune dysfunction, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and viral proteins like Tat and gp120 released by HIV-1-infected immune cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).

Methods

To elucidate the contribution of non-viral factors to CNS complications in people with HIV-1, a comparative analysis of neurovirulent subtype B (HIV-1ADA) and non-neurovirulent subtype C (HIV-1Indie-C1) isolates was performed. Culture supernatants from HIV-1-infected PBMCs, either with or without immunodepletion of Tat and gp120, were used to treat SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

Results

HIV-1ADA-infected PBMC media showed significantly higher neurotoxicity than HIV-1IndieC1-infected PBMC media, notwithstanding the depletion of Tat and gp120, highlighting the role of non-viral factors (e.g., cytokines) contributing to neurotoxicity. A comparison of inflammatory profiles revealed that HIV-1ADA media contained elevated levels of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4 and IP-10). Given the involvement of Tat in upregulating immune mediators, we tested the role of purified Tat proteins from HIV-1 subtypes B and C in inducing an inflammatory phenotype in PBMCs. PBMCs from healthy subjects were treated with recombinant purified Tat from subtype B or C. Subtype B Tat induced a stronger inflammatory response than subtype C Tat.

Conclusions

These results confirm that both viral and non-viral immune factors mediate neuronal damage in people with HIV.
The Institutional Role of Charity Regulators in Bringing Charities to Account: An International Comparative Study of Charity Regulators in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and England and Wales
Authors: Dimitrov Dara
Published: February 2025

Accountability in the charity sector continues to be important, especially since charity numbers continue to grow regardless of the economic cycle. Charity regulators play a critical role in managing the charity sector as its primary task is ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework. However, it is also important to evaluate whether the practices and procedures of charity regulators are effective within the broader context of charity accountability. This paper aims to explore charity accountability from the perspective of charity regulators. In common law countries, the charity regulator has oversight over the charity sector and, therefore, has the opportunity to enhance charity accountability. Through the lens of institutional theory, this paper provides an international comparative study of New Zealand, Australia, Canada and England and Wales, all of which share a common law heritage. This study demonstrates how the state regulators in each country have applied different mechanisms of charity accountability by institutionalising the norms and standards required from charities. By identifying and comparing the countries, this paper reveals whether some institutional practices by some regulators have been more effective than others in bringing charities to account.
Experimental study of mortar incorporating nano-magnetite on engineering performance and radiation shielding
Authors: Kunchariyakun Kittipong , Sinyoung Suthatip , MacKenzie Kenneth J. D. , Pungkun Vithit , Raknarong Pakkamai , Teh Musofpar , Jekabaso Afham , Sittichan Narumol
Published: February 2025

Here, this study reports the effect of nano-magnetite (nano-Fe3O4) on the γ and neutron-radiation shielding properties of mortar using 1–10 wt% additions of nano-Fe3O4. The results indicate that nano-Fe3O4 additions enhance the radiation-shielding properties of the mortar as a result of pore filling and nucleation effects. The mortar incorporating nano-Fe3O4 exhibited relatively high compressive strength values at 28 and 90 days compared to the control mixture (NFC0). A 5 wt% addition of nano-Fe3O4 provided the best physical (1,847 ± 19.1 kg m−3), compressive strength (216.79 ± 6.19 ksc at 28 days), and radiation shielding properties, increasing the photon linear attenuation coefficient to 0.155 cm−1 from 0.144 cm−1 in the material without nano-Fe3O4. This 5 wt% addition of nano-Fe3O4 also increased fast neutron removal cross-section (ΣR) of neutrons from 0.1109 cm−1 in the control sample to 0.1192 cm−1. These results indicate that the addition of nano-Fe3O4 to radiation-shielding mortar can potentially attenuate gamma rays rather than neutrons and lead to the development of materials for shielding radiation from radioactive storage facilities, thereby reducing the impact of this hazardous waste on humans and the environment.
The evaluation of the relationship between anti angiotensin type I antibodies in hypertensive patients undergoing kidney transplantation
Authors: Senturk Ciftci Hayriye , Eksioglu Demiralp Emel , Gorcin Serpil , Kivanc Demet , Yalcin Funda , Turkmen Aydın , Savran Oguz Fatma
Published: February 2025

Objectives

We aimed to compare the anti-angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) antibody levels considering the development of anti-HLA antibodies after transplantation, pathologically confirmed humoral or vascular rejection reactions and late complications.

Methods

Forty-nine hypertensive patients who had presented to the Division of Nephrology, Transplantation Outpatient Clinic of Memorial Health Group Hospitals Transplant Units and Istanbul Medical Faculty for live kidney transplantation and underwent transplantation between 2015 and 2019, were included in our study. Among our patients (29 males/20 females), 76 % had primary hypertension, and 24 % had secondary hypertension. In this study, serum AT1R antibody levels before and after transplantation were measured using the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The anti-HLA antibody was detected with the Luminex method using the single antigen bead (SAB) assay.

Results

The AT1R antibody was found positive in 7 (18.9 %) of 37 patients who had primary hypertension and in 4 (33.3 %) of 12 patients who had secondary hypertension (p=0.426). The examination of the frequencies of development of post-transplant anti-HLA antibodies showed that the frequency of AT1R antibody positivity was found higher in the group with positive anti-HLA antibodies compared to the levels in the group with negative anti-HLA antibodies (p=0.002). The comparison of the pre-transplant and post-transplant values showed that the AT1R antibody level was statistically significantly decreased after transplantation [7.3/6.6 (3.2–21.1) vs. 6.2/4.7 (1.5–24.5), p=0.001].

Conclusions

The findings of our study suggest that the evaluation of the AT1R antibody levels among non-HLA antibodies may be important for predicting the immunological risk before transplantation.
Mechanical Thrombectomy System for the Treatment of Intermediate-Risk Acute Pulmonary Embolism: The CLEAR Study
Authors: Zhang Wenguang , Hu Tao , Ding Song , Wang Zhouming , Zhang Tao , Hu Hongyao , Fang Xin , Pang Honggang , Guo Mingjin , Yu Bo , Zhuang Hui , Zhang Nuofu , Han Baoshi , Wang Qiguang , Cai Mingzhi , Wang Kuan , Guo Pingfan , Xu Bin , Fang Peiliang , Tu Shengxian , Jiang Yi , Shi Hongyu , Yang Zhenwen , Han Xinwei , Tian Hongyan , Pu Jun , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: February 2025

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy is effective and safe for treating pulmonary embolism (PE). Although the Tendvia mechanical thrombectomy system has been validated in pigs, further evidence supporting its use in PE treatment is needed.

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Tendvia system for intermediate-risk acute PE.

Methods: This prospective, single-arm, multicenter study included symptomatic patients with acute PE ≥18 years of age, with a right ventricular (RV)/left ventricular (LV) diameter ratio ≥0.9. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in RV/LV diameter ratio from baseline to 48 hours postprocedure. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of major adverse events (AEs), device-related death, 48-hour postprocedure major bleeding, pulmonary vascular injury, and cardiac injury. The secondary efficacy endpoint was the systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) change from pre- to postprocedure. Secondary safety endpoints included 48-hour postprocedure clinical deterioration, device-related AEs, and symptomatic PE recurrence within 30 days.

Results: Of 127 patients at 15 centers with intermediate-risk acute PE who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with the Tendvia system (September 2021 to December 2022), 123 underwent analysis. The mean RV/LV diameter ratio decrease was 0.42 ± 0.28; 95% CI: 0.37–0.47; P < 0.001. The bleeding risk was low, and the hospitalization duration was short. One patient experienced clinical deterioration within 48 hours, and none experienced major AEs, device-related pulmonary vascular injury, cardiac injury, or major bleeding within 48 hours. Seven patients had 11 serious AEs within 30 days. The mean systolic PAP decrease was 7.10 mmHg (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The Tendvia system for mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective for intermediate-risk acute PE, in agreement with the safety profiles in other studies.