bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Groundwater temperatures downstream from a large-scale geothermal collector system (LSC) in Bad Nauheim, Germany
Authors: Rammler Mario , Bertermann David
Published: January 2025

The impact of horizontal geothermal systems on groundwater temperature has not been studied in detail due to their generally shallow installation depth. However, interactions between very shallow geothermal systems and groundwater are expected, especially at short groundwater distances. In this study, the effects of a large-scale geothermal collector system (LSC) in Bad Nauheim (Hesse, Germany) on the downstream shallow groundwater were analysed. For this purpose, subsurface and groundwater temperatures were measured over a period of two years. The results showed that in the immediate downstream area, the maximum degree of cooling of the groundwater temperature was between 4.2 and 5.2 K with a minimum temperature of 5.2 °C. Consequently, the presence of a temperature plume was demonstrated, whereby a significant regeneration of the subsurface temperature in comparison to measured values within the LSC area was also observed.
Dynamic X-ray Microtomography vs. Laser-Doppler Vibrometry: A Comparative Study
Authors: Ivanovic Aleksandra , Cheng Jeffrey Tao , Schmeltz Margaux , Wimmer Wilhelm , Schlepuetz Christian M. , Remenschneider Aaron K. , Bonnin Anne , Anschuetz Lukas
Published: January 2025

Purpose

There are challenges in understanding the biomechanics of the human middle ear, and established methods for studying this system show significant limitations. In this study, we evaluate a novel dynamic imaging technique based on synchrotron X-ray microtomography designed to assess the biomechanical properties of the human middle ear by comparing it to laser-Doppler vibrometry (LDV).

Methods

We examined three fresh-frozen temporal bones (TB), two donated by white males and one by a Black female, using dynamic synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography for 256 and 512 Hz, stimulated at 110 dB and 120 dB sound pressure level (SPL). In addition, we performed measurements on these TBs using 1D LDV, a well-established method.

Results

The normalized displacement values (µm/Pa) at the umbo and the posterior crus of the stapes are consistent or within 5–10 dB differences between all LDV and dynamic microtomography measurements and previously reported literature references. In general, the overall behavior is similar between the two measurement techniques.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our results demonstrate the suitability of dynamic synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography in studying the middle ear’s biomechanics. However, this study shows that better standardization regarding acoustic stimulation and measurement points is needed to better compare the two measurement techniques.
Comparative application of MAFLD and MASLD diagnostic criteria on NAFLD patients: insights from a single-center cohort
Authors: Elsabaawy Maha , Naguib Madiha , Abuamer Ahmed , Shaban Ahmed
Published: January 2025

The diagnostic criteria for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) and Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) aim to refine the classification of fatty liver diseases previously grouped under Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This study evaluates the applicability of the MAFLD and MASLD frameworks in NAFLD patients, exploring their clinical utility in identifying high-risk patients. A total of 369 NAFLD patients were assessed using MAFLD and MASLD diagnostic criteria. Baseline characteristics, metabolic profiles, hepatic fibrosis, and cardiovascular risks were compared across the groups. Among NAFLD patients, 97.55% (n = 359) met MASLD criteria, and 97.01% (n = 357) fulfilled MAFLD criteria. Both frameworks MAFLD and MASLD captured overlapping populations, with MASLD encompassing slightly more cases. No significant differences were observed in metabolic risk factors, fibrosis indices (APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score), or cardiovascular risk (10-year ASCVD score). A small subset of lean NAFLD patients (10 cases) with distinct profiles remained uncategorized by either framework. Pure NAFLD cases (n = 10) were with mild insulin resistance (HOMA-IR: 3.07 ± 0.33) and slightly elevated LDL (102.5 ± 42.87 mg/dL), while fibrosis indices indicated low fibrosis risk. Steatosis indices supported the diagnosis of early-stage NAFLD with preserved liver function. These patients do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the MAFLD or MASLD frameworks, highlighting a gap in the current diagnostic systems. MAFLD and MASLD criteria align closely with NAFLD in capturing patients with metabolic risk with MASLD-enhanced inclusivity. Further refinement is required to address heterogeneity, particularly in lean NAFLD patients. Hypertension prevalence was comparable (17.4% in NAFLD, 18.2% in MAFLD, 17.8% in MASLD; p = 0.960), as was diabetes mellitus (36.7%, 37.8%, and 37.6%, respectively; p = 0.945). Body mass index was also similar across groups, with medians of 33.25, 33.6, and 33.4 kg/m2 (p = 0.731). Non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis, including APRI, FIB-4, and NAFLD fibrosis scores, did not differ significantly, with median FIB-4 scores around 1.05 (p = 0.953). Similarly, were the results of hepatic steatosis index and ASCVD score.
Exclusion Memories in Social Anxiety
Authors: Perets Noa , Hay Dan E. , Azoulay Roy , Gilboa-Schechtman Eva
Published: January 2025

Background

The impact of exclusion (affiliation-loss) events is theorized to be painful and personally meaningful, especially in social anxiety. However, specific data on the impact of autobiographical exclusion events in social anxiety is scarce. To fill this gap, we conducted two studies.

Methods

Participants (Study 1: N = 246; Study 2: N = 273), including varying levels of subclinical social anxiety, recalled exclusion events. The participants reported several indices of the events’ impact: emotional intensity, post-traumatic distress, the centrality of the exclusion event in the person’s life story, and cognitions concerning perceived affiliation and status following the event (Study 2).

Results

We hypothesized and found that social anxiety relates to enhanced post-traumatic distress, controlling for depressive symptoms and events’ centrality. Based on the dual sensitivity to affiliation and status in social anxiety (Gilboa-Schechtman, et al., 2024), we predicted that the association of social anxiety with post-traumatic distress will be mediated by affiliation and status-related cognitions. We found that status-, but not affiliation-related cognitions, mediate the impact of social anxiety on post-traumatic distress.

Conclusions

Exclusion events appear to be linked to heightened post-event distress, particularly among individuals with high social anxiety. Event centrality and status sensitivity may partially explain this association, pointing to potential directions for future research and therapeutic exploration.
An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis to Support Power Analyses for Randomized Intervention Studies in Preschool: Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Learning Outcomes
Authors: Brunner Martin , Stallasch Sophie E. , Artelt Cordula , Lüdtke Oliver
Published: January 2025

There is a need for robust evidence about which educational interventions work in preschool to foster children’s cognitive and socio-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes. Lab-based individually randomized experiments can develop and refine such interventions, and field-based randomized experiments (e.g., cluster randomized trials) evaluate their effectiveness in real-world daycare center settings. Applying reliable estimates of design parameters in the context of a priori power analyses is essential to ensure that the sample size of these studies is adequate to support strong statistical conclusions regarding the strength of the intervention effect. However, there is little knowledge on relevant design parameters with preschool children. We therefore utilized a systematic collection of individual participant data from four German probability samples (554 ≤ N ≤ 2928) with preschool children (aged two to six years) to estimate and meta-analyze design parameters. These parameters are relevant for planning single-level (e.g., in non-clustered lab-based settings), two-level (children nested in daycare centers), and three-level (children nested in groups, with groups nested in daycare centers) randomized intervention studies targeting cognitive and SEL outcomes assessed with three methods (standardized tests, parent ratings, and educator ratings). The design parameters depict between-group and -center differences as well as the proportion of variance in the outcomes explained by different covariate sets (socio-demographic characteristics, baseline measures, and their combination) at the child, group, and center level. In conclusion, this paper provides a rich source of design parameters, recommendations, and illustrations to support a priori power analyses for randomized intervention studies in early childhood education research.
Topical Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Quercetin Glycosides on Atopic Dermatitis-Like Lesions: Influence of the Glycone Type on Efficacy and Skin Absorption
Authors: Yang Shih-Chun , Chang Zi-Yu , Hsiao Chien-Yu , Alshetaili Abdullah , Wei Shih-Hsuan , Hsiao Yu-Tai , Fang Jia-You
Published: January 2025

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifaceted inflammatory skin condition characterized by the involvement of various cell types, such as keratinocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and mast cells. Research indicates that flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial in the management of AD. However, the investigation of the glycoside forms for anti-AD therapy is limited. We aimed to assess the ability of quercetin-3-O-glycosides in treating AD-like lesions through in silico-, cell-, and animal-based platforms. The glycosylated flavonols of quercitrin, isoquercitrin, and rutin were used in this study. We also tried to understand the influence of glycone type on the bioactivity and skin delivery of glycosides. The glycosides effectively reduced the overexpression of proinflammatory effectors such as interleukin (IL)-6, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)1, CXCL8, regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) in the activated keratinocytes. This reduction could be due to the inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 phosphorylation. Isoquercitrin (but not quercitrin and rutin) could arrest the upregulated IL-6 and CCL5 in the macrophage model. The glycosides significantly prevented histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells. The skin absorption examination showed a greater permeation of quercitrin and isoquercitrin than rutin with dual sugar moieties due to the smaller molecular volume and higher lipophilicity. The skin deposition of quercitrin and isoquercitrin was enhanced by about 11-fold in the stripped and delipidized skins, which mimicked AD lesions. The in vivo dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model demonstrated less erosion, scaling, and epidermal hyperplasia after topical isoquercitrin treatment. The concentration of cytokines/chemokines in the lesion was decreased by isoquercitrin. These effects were similar to those of tacrolimus ointment. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) displayed the reduction of epidermal hyperproliferation and immune cell infiltration by topical isoquercitrin. The results indicated that the delivery of quercetin glycosides could provide an efficient and safe way to treat AD inflammation.
Could Empathy Be Taught? The Role of Advanced Technologies to Foster Empathy in Medical Students and Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pira Giorgio Li , Ruini Chiara , Vescovelli Francesca , Baños Rosa , Ventura Sara
Published: January 2025

The physician-patient relationship relies mostly on doctors’ empathetic abilities to understand and manage patients’ emotions, enhancing patient satisfaction and treatment adherence. With the advent of digital technologies in education, innovative empathy training methods such as virtual reality, simulation training systems, mobile apps, and wearable devices, have emerged for teaching empathy. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the efficacy of these technologies in teaching empathy, the most effective types, and the primary beneficiaries -students or advanced healthcare professionals-. This study aims to address this gap through a literature review following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PsychINFO, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using specific keywords. Inclusion criteria for articles were established, and two researchers independently rated the selected articles, resolving any disagreements by consensus. Out of 1137 articles screened, a total of 14 articles were included in this review with a total of 1285 participants, who received empathic training integrated with the use of digital technologies. Only 9 articles defined the construct of empathy, focusing on cognitive, affective, clinical, or cultural aspects. Empathy was assessed with various methods and promoted through various digital technologies, including wearables (e.g. HMDs, SymPulse™ armband) and non-wearable devices (computer monitors, Mobile Apps, Kinect System). Participants were primarily medical students (68.1%), with few healthcare workers (31.9%) and nurses (2.9%). All digital technologies effectively promoted empathy among the target population except for 3 studies that involved advanced career healthcare workers. This review highlights the potential efficacy of digital technologies in fostering empathy among medical students, though not as effectively among advanced healthcare professionals. These insights have implications for designing targeted educational programs that address the distinct needs of healthcare professionals at varying career stages. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.
Skin cancer classification using machine learning
Authors: Bogne Tchema Rodrigue , Polycarpou Anastasis C. , Nestoros Marios
Published: January 2025

Skin cancer is a major public health problem, especially in the western world, having direct negative impact on life expectancy, quality of life, and on the economy in general. However, early detection of skin cancer could significantly reduce the mortality rate. For this purpose, tremendous efforts have been deployed in recent years for developing machine learning algorithms that can help in the early detection of skin cancer. In this paper, we focus on the classification of the three most common types of skin cancer lesions: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma (MEL). Two different convolution neural network (CNN) architectures were implemented for this aim: YOLO, version 7 (v7) using transfer learning and an in-house developed CNN algorithm with optimum number of layers and hyper-parameters. The results obtained by implementing the two algorithms with a total number of 2,792 training samples (after performing data augmentation) show better performance compared to some of the recently published works in the literature. Using YOLO, v7, the average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are 89.65%, 85%, and 91.90%, respectively. The aforementioned average values using the proposed CNN algorithm are 90.12%, 85.55%, and 92.57%, respectively.
Carbon footprints of greenhouse gas mitigation measures for a grass-based beef cattle finishing system in the UK
Authors: Jebari Asma , Takahashi Taro , Lee Michael R. F. , Collins Adrian L. , Coleman Kevin , Carswell Alison , Segura Carmen , Cardenas Laura , McAuliffe Graham A.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Agri-food systems across the globe are faced with the challenge of reducing their supply-chain emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). For instance, 10% of the UK’s GHG emissions are generated by agriculture, and ~ 56% of these are generated by livestock production. Numerous mitigation measures are being proposed to reduce GHG emissions from ruminants (representing 70 to 80% of total livestock emissions), particularly from beef cattle (presenting 30–40% of total livestock emissions).

Methods

To explore such potential, first, a business-as-usual (BAU) partial cradle-to-finishing farmgate scale modelling framework was developed. The BAU systems (i.e. steady-state productivity based on primary data from the North Wyke Farm Platform) were built using ensemble modelling wherein the RothC process-based soil organic carbon (SOC) model was integrated into the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to conduct a trade-off analysis related to mitigation measures applicable to the study system. Potential mitigation measures were applied to the BAU scenario. The interventions assessed included: (i) extensification; (ii) adopting anaerobic digestion technology; and (iii) the use of the nitrification inhibitor DCD and substitution of fertiliser nitrogen with symbiotically fixed nitrogen from legumes.

Results

The partial carbon footprint for 1 kg of beef liveweight gain leaving the farmgate could be reduced by 7.5%, 12%, or 26% by adopting nitrification inhibitors, white clover introduction (pending establishment success), and anaerobic digestion for manure management, respectively.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the importance of including emissions beyond the farmgate level to analyse the carbon footprint of different management scenarios in order to assess the sustainability of agri-food production systems.
FSD1 inhibits glioblastoma diffuse infiltration through restriction of HDAC6-mediated microtubule deacetylation
Authors: Xiao Dake , Ran Haowen , Chen Lishu , Li Yuanyuan , Cai Yan , Zhang Songyang , Qi Qinghui , Wu Huiran , Zhang Cheng , Cao Shuailiang , Mi Lanjuan , Huang Haohao , Qi Ji , Han Qiuying , Tu Haiqing , Li Huiyan , Zhou Tao , Li Fangye , Li Ailing , Man Jianghong
Published: January 2025

The infiltration of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is predominantly characterized by diffuse spread, contributing significantly to therapy resistance and recurrence of GBM. In this study, we reveal that microtubule deacetylation, mediated through the downregulation of fibronectin type III and SPRY domain-containing 1 (FSD1), plays a pivotal role in promoting GBM diffuse infiltration. FSD1 directly interacts with histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) at its second catalytic domain, thereby impeding its deacetylase activity on α-tubulin and preventing microtubule deacetylation and depolymerization. This inhibitory interaction is disrupted upon phosphorylation of FSD1 at its Ser317 and Ser324 residues by activated CDK5, leading to FSD1 dissociation from microtubules and facilitating HDAC6-mediated α-tubulin deacetylation. Furthermore, increased expression of FSD1 or interference with FSD1 phosphorylation reduces microtubule deacetylation, suppresses invasion of GBM stem cells, and ultimately mitigates tumor infiltration in orthotopic GBM xenografts. Importantly, GBM tissues exhibit diminished levels of FSD1 expression, correlating with microtubule deacetylation and unfavorable clinical outcomes in GBM patients. These findings elucidate the mechanistic involvement of microtubule deacetylation in driving GBM cell invasion and offer potential avenues for managing GBM infiltration.
Epigenetics in the modern era of crop improvements
Authors: Xue Yan , Cao Xiaofeng , Chen Xiangsong , Deng Xian , Deng Xing Wang , Ding Yong , Dong Aiwu , Duan Cheng-Guo , Fang Xiaofeng , Gong Lei , Gong Zhizhong , Gu Xiaofeng , He Chongsheng , He Hang , He Shengbo , He Xin-Jian , He Yan , He Yuehui , Jia Guifang , Jiang Danhua , Jiang Jianjun , Lai Jinsheng , Lang Zhaobo , Li Chenlong , Li Qing , Li Xingwang , Liu Bao , Liu Bing , Luo Xiao , Qi Yijun , Qian Weiqiang , Ren Guodong , Song Qingxin , Song Xianwei , Tian Zhixi , Wang Jia-Wei , Wang Yuan , Wu Liang , Wu Zhe , Xia Rui , Xiao Jun , Xu Lin , Xu Zheng-Yi , Yan Wenhao , Yang Hongchun , Zhai Jixian , Zhang Yijing , Zhao Yusheng , Zhong Xuehua , Zhou Dao-Xiu , Zhou Ming , Zhou Yue , Zhu Bo , Zhu Jian-Kang , Liu Qikun
Published: January 2025

Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stimuli. Over the past two decades, our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably, producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns. Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species, revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits. With recent technological advancements, epigenetic regulations at the single-cell level and at the large-scale population level are emerging as new focuses. This review offers an in-depth synthesis of the diverse epigenetic regulations, detailing the catalytic machinery and regulatory functions. It delves into the intricate interplay among various epigenetic elements and their collective influence on the modulation of crop traits. Furthermore, it examines recent breakthroughs in technologies for epigenetic modifications and their integration into strategies for crop improvement. The review underscores the transformative potential of epigenetic strategies in bolstering crop performance, advocating for the development of efficient tools to fully exploit the agricultural benefits of epigenetic insights.
Flexible Work Policies and the Division of Housework and Childcare in German Cohabiting Couples
Authors: Hünteler Bettina , Cass Andrea , Wetzel Martin
Published: January 2025

Flexible working arrangements have become increasingly common and are considered a means to better reconcile paid and unpaid work. Therefore, the use of such measures can determine how couples divide their household and childcare tasks. While currently these tasks are dominantly female connotated, an increase in flexible work arrangements may contribute to a more gender-egalitarian distribution of unpaid work. However, empirical evidence on this association is mixed, and it remains unclear to what extent it differs by gender. Using a sample of 3244 individuals in the German Family Panel of 2018/2019 who were cohabiting with an opposite-sex partner and by applying linear regression models, we tested several hypotheses derived from economic, gender, and time-availability approaches. We separately addressed the division of housework and childcare tasks related to three flexible work measures, namely home-office, schedule flexibility, and working-time autonomy. Contrary to our hypotheses, no flexibility measure seemed to be related to a higher share of household tasks. Rather, any significant association we identified was fully explained through gender: Women took on a larger share of any household task, irrespective of their work flexibility. Only the share of childcare performed seemed to differ by the use of schedule flexibility, as well as by gender. Whereas mothers’ contributions to childcare were larger when they used flexibility, those of fathers were smaller. We conclude that flexible working arrangements do not contribute to a more gender-egalitarian division of unpaid work per se, but the (gendered) motivation to use such flexibility may be decisive.
Risk Factors for Acute Pancreatitis Following Intragastric Balloon Insertion: A 7-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yahia Yousef , Abuodeh Joud , Chandra Prem , Mohamed Ethar , Zayad Anas , AbuAfifeh Leen
Published: January 2025

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a rare but serious complication of intragastric balloon (IGB) therapy. Despite the popularity of IGBs for weight loss, the incidence and risk factors of AP post-IGB insertion are not well understood. This study aimed to identify potential predictors and risk factors of AP in IGB patients.

Methods

A retrospective time-to-event study was conducted over 7 years, encompassing patients who received IGBs between January 2017 and 2024. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors. The incidence of AP was evaluated as a secondary outcome. Patients were categorized into the AP and non-AP groups at a 1:3 ratio. The Revised Atlanta Classification was used to diagnose AP.

Results

Among 450 patients with IGB, 25 developed AP, yielding an incidence of 5.56%. The Orbera balloon was associated with a lower AP risk (HR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09–0.96; P = 0.042). The median time to AP onset was 40 days. Higher preprocedural BMI and age > 30 years showed a trend toward reduced AP risk, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions

AP following IGB insertion is uncommon but may be underreported, with substantial variability in onset time. The Orbera balloon demonstrated a protective effect, highlighting the role of balloon type in AP risk. These findings underscore the importance of balloon selection and the need for further prospective studies to confirm these results and optimize AP risk management in IGB patients.
Serum FoxO1 and SIRT2 concentrations in healthy pregnant women and complicated by preeclampsia
Authors: Akkaya Fırat Asuman , Alıcı Davutoğlu Ebru , Özel Aysegül , Fırtına Tuncer Serap , Yılmaz Nevin , Madazlı Rıza
Published: January 2025

Background

Sirtuins and FoxO1 are reported to be important in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. This study aimed to investigate whether serum FoxO1 and SIRT2 concentrations differ between preeclampsia and normal pregnancy and also to compare these markers in early- and late-onset preeclampsia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 27 women with early-onset preeclampsia, 27 women with late-onset preeclampsia, and 26 healthy normotensive pregnant controls. Maternal serum levels of FoxO1 and SIRT2 were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Results

The mean maternal serum FoxO1 levels were significantly lower both in early-onset (9.1 ± 3.8 vs. 29.1 ± 3.2, p < 0.001) and late-onset preeclampsia (2.6 ± 1.6 vs. 29.1 ± 3.2, p < 0.001) than the normotensive pregnancies. The mean maternal serum FoxO1 level of late-onset preeclampsia was significantly lower than the early-onset preeclampsia group (2.6 ± 1.6 vs. 9.1 ± 3.8, p < 0.001). The mean maternal serum SIRT2 levels were significantly lower both in early-onset (4.5 ± 2.1 vs. 6.3 ± 0.9, p < 0.001) and late-onset preeclampsia (2.1 ± 0.6 vs. 6.3 ± 0.9, p < 0.001) than the healthy pregnancies.

Conclusions

FoxO1 and SIRT2 may be biomarkers for early detection of preeclampsia and potential therapeutic targets in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
An Investigation into the Public’s Attitude Toward Opting out of Brain Death
Authors: Ludka Nicholas , Hurse Deidre , Brummett Abram
Published: January 2025

Background

There have been growing sentiments that the Uniform Determination of Death Act needs to be revised. One suggestion is to include a conscience clause, that is, allowing patients to “opt-out” of brain death determination. Understanding public attitudes toward a conscience clause may help inform policymakers and future proposed revisions. Therefore, we sought to investigate informed public attitudes toward continued medical support after the determination of brain death.

Methods

A nationwide online survey was distributed by a third-party provider. The survey had three components: (1) a 2-min educational video that explains five basic facts of brain death, (2) a validated five-item questionnaire to measure understanding of brain death, and (3) a six-item questionnaire to measure informed public attitudes toward a family’s request to continue medical support for a patient with brain death. Attitudes were measured on a seven-point Likert scale. A multiple linear regression model was developed to identify predictors of attitudes toward opting out of brain death. Analysis of variance with a post hoc Tukey test was used to compare attitudes across categorical demographic variables.

Results

We collected 1386 responses from participants across 49 states. The average five-item knowledge score was 88%. A total of 41.9% of all participants agreed that the hospital should be required to continue treatment for an individual with brain death if their family rejects brain death. A total of 24.4% and 27.3% of participants would request further treatment for themselves and a family member after a determination of brain death, respectively. Multiple linear regression identified attitudes for oneself and for a family member, age greater than 65 years, understanding that brain death is legal death, and male sex as predictors of attitudes toward requiring continued treatment (F(6, 1380) = 142.74, adjust R
2 = 0.38, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Nearly half of the participants would require hospitals to continue treatment for families who reject brain death as death. Future discussions on revising the Uniform Determination of Death Act to adopt a conscience clause should consider informed public attitudes.
Consideration of Flame-Retardant Hook-and-Loop Fasteners Using Phosphate Ester Flame Retardants and the Influence of Their Dispersibility on Flame Retardancy
Authors: Sakai Tomoki , Tabata Isao , Hori Teruo , Hirogaki Kazumasa
Published: January 2025

Generally, organic fibers are flammable due to their molecular structure. However, highly flame-retardant textile products are required for firefighting uniforms and uniforms used in areas where there is a risk of fire, as well as in enclosed spaces such as automobiles, trains, and airplanes. PET fibers made by melt spinning have excellent physical properties and dyeability. And organic phosphorus-based flame retardants generate less toxic gas than halogen-based flame retardants but are inferior in terms of flame retardancy. Most flame retardants are designed to be easily decomposed; thus, they could decompose during melt spinning. Furthermore, crystallization of resins can be inhibited, causing deterioration of physical properties. We utilized ScCO₂ processing technology makes it possible to swell the amorphous parts of resin and impregnate them with functional agents at low temperatures. (e.g., 31.1–120 °C). Utilizing this technology, a hook-and-loop fastener was impregnated with a large amount of a flame retardant to achieve high flame retardancy while maintaining the engagement force. In addition, the decomposition temperatures of flame retardants and their distribution in fibers were analyzed and considered that.
Clinical utility of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte evaluation by two different methods in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Nagahashi Masayuki , Ishikawa Eri , Nagai Takahiro , Kanaoka Haruka , Oshiro Aoi , Togashi Yusa , Hattori Akira , Tsuchida Junko , Higuchi Tomoko , Nishimukai Arisa , Murase Keiko , Takatsuka Yuichi , Kihara Takako , Ling Yiwei , Okuda Shujiro , Hirota Seiichi , Miyoshi Yasuo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the clinical utility of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) evaluated by “average” and “hot-spot” methods in breast cancer patients.

Methods

We examined 367 breast cancer patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) by average and hot-spot methods to determine the consistency of TIL scores between biopsy and surgical specimens. TIL scores before NAC were also compared with the pathological complete response (pCR) rate and clinical outcomes in 144 breast cancer patients that received NAC. TIL scores evaluated by the two methods were predicted from clinicopathological data using random forest regression.

Results

Surgical specimens showed higher TIL scores than biopsy specimens using the hot-spot method (p < 0.001), while biopsy and surgical specimens showed similar TIL scores using the average method. There was a linear relationship between the pCR rate and TIL scores determined using hot-spot (p < 0.001) and average methods (p = 0.001). Patients without pCR and low TILs by the average method had significantly worse overall survival compared to other patients (p = 0.02). The root mean squared errors of the predicted TIL score for the test set were 19.662 (hot-spot) and 10.955 (average).

Conclusion

The average method may have an advantage for breast cancer patients receiving NAC, since the TIL score using this method is more consistent between biopsy and surgical specimens, and it associates better with clinical outcomes. Our exploratory study showed that machine learning from clinicopathological data may better predict TIL scores assessed by the average, rather than hot-spot, method.
Differentially Expressed Nedd4-binding Protein Ndfip1 Protects Neurons Against Methamphetamine-induced Neurotoxicity
Authors: Asanuma Masato , Miyazaki Ikuko , Cadet Jean Lud
Published: January 2025

To identify factors involved in methamphetamine (METH) neurotoxicity, we comprehensively searched for genes which were differentially expressed in mouse striatum after METH administration using differential display (DD) reverse transcription-PCR method and sequent single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, and found two DD cDNA fragments later identified as mRNA of Nedd4 (neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4) WW domain-binding protein 5 (N4WBP5), later named Nedd4 family-interacting protein 1 (Ndfip1). It is an adaptor protein for the binding between Nedd4 of ubiquitin ligase (E3) and target substrate protein for ubiquitination. Northern blot analysis confirmed drastic increases in Ndfip1 mRNA in the striatum after METH injections, and in situ hybridization histochemistry showed that the mRNA expression was increased in the hippocampus and cerebellum at 2 h-2 days, in the cerebral cortex and striatum at 18 h-2 days after single METH administration. The knockdown of Ndfip1 expression with Ndfip1 siRNA significantly aggravated METH-induced neurotoxicity in the cultured monoaminergic neuronal cells. These results suggest that drastic increases in Ndfip1 mRNA is compensatory reaction to protect neurons against METH-induced neurotoxicity.
Individuals with disabilities in grassroots football clubs: volunteering and social capital
Authors: Scharfenkamp Katrin , Wicker Pamela , Davies Larissa E.
Published: January 2025

Volunteering might be a leisure activity that supports the development of social capital of individuals with disabilities in organized sports. This study investigates the link between having a disability (i.e., physical, mental, or both), the likelihood and extent of volunteering, and the level of social capital in grassroots football clubs. We further examine a moderating effect of volunteering hours on the relationship between having a disability and social capital. Drawing on leisure constraints theory, individuals with disabilities are assumed to have a lower probability to volunteer than able-bodied individuals. Also, we hypothesize that individuals with disabilities perceive their social capital as lower than able-bodied individuals. Based on the motivational model, we assume that sport volunteers with disabilities perceive a higher social capital if they volunteer more hours. Data were collected via an online survey in seven European countries and targeted at adult volunteers and members in football clubs (n = 16,989 volunteers). Results of regressions show that having a physical disability is significantly negatively associated with the probability to volunteer in a football club. Further, having either a physical or mental disability is significantly negatively related to an individuals’ social capital level. The moderation analyses indicate that volunteers having both types of disabilities perceive a higher social capital if they volunteer more hours per month.
Alarms management with fuzzy logic using wind turbine SCADA systems
Authors: Garcia Márquez Fausto Pedro , Benmessaoud Tahar , Mohammedi Kamal , Marugán Alberto Pliego
Published: January 2025

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are employed to collect data from sensors and monitor the condition of wind turbines. Thresholds are commonly used to set the alarms, generating many false alarms, downtimes, costs, etc. A real case study is presented to validate the approach. This paper proposes a novel approach based on Fuzzy Logic to analyse the main variables of the SCADA. Pearson’s correlation between variables is employed to reduce the number of variables that are used as inputs in the Fuzzy Logic system. The variables with perfect and strong correlations have been selected as inputs of the Fuzzy system. The signal is studied by considering the difference between the signal and the moving average value because it shows if the signal is close or not to the value in conditions free of faults. The thresholds are used to cluster the data into three groups by a statistical analysis of the new variables, i.e., the variables obtained by the difference between the signal and the moving average value. The approach helps decrease false alarms by using a Fuzzy system. The approach is capable of processing large datasets online. The results have been validated by employing SVM, where the MAPE is analysed between both methods.
Können mit „kraftvoller Erinnerung“ und „absoluter Unordnung“ Museen überhaupt dekolonisiert werden?
Authors: LeGall Yann
Published: January 2025

Dekolonisierung kann kein friedlicher Prozess sein. Sie bedeutet Proteste, Zusammenstöße und Gegenreaktionen, Gespräche, Vereinbarungen und Misserfolge; sie erfordert ein scharfes Verständnis von den und eine radikale Positionierung gegen die Mechanismen des imperialen Extraktivismus, des Rassenkapitalismus und der neoliberalen Kooptation sozialer Bewegungen. In diesem globalen Kontext der Kämpfe um die Anerkennung indigener Rechte, gegen intersektionale Gewalt und um emanzipatorische und Empowerment-Prozesse spielen auch die kulturellen Institutionen eine Rolle. Lange Zeit behaupteten sie, neutral und universell zu sein, aber ihre auf Lügen aufgebaute Autorität bröckelt. Aktivist_innen und Künstler_innen haben die Museen als eifersüchtige Hüter eines (manchmal mit Blutgeld finanzierten) geplünderten Erbes, die ihre historischen Verbindungen zu Versklavung, rassistischer Wissenschaft und kolonialer Eroberung lange bereitwillig verschwiegen haben, gegeißelt. Sie haben sie aufgefordert, ihre ideologischen Positionen zu ändern und ihre unmoralisch erworbenen Sammlungen zurückzugeben. Aber sollten sie auch verschwinden? Im Rahmen einer lebhaften Debatte über die Zukunft der Museen stellen sich zwei Bücher der schwierigen Aufgabe, daran zu erinnern, was die Entkolonialisierung von Museen und Denkmälern bis heute bedeutet hat und was sie ankündigt.
Prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in pediatric spine surgery
Authors: Emmert A. Scott , Ruan Tiffany , Sherenian Michael G. , Assa’ad Amal H. , Leitsinger Nichole , Schultz Lindsay , Jain Viral V. , Sturm Peter F. , Jones Alvin C.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Delayed metal hypersensitivity reactions can cause complications in spine surgery. Currently, there is no information on the prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in pediatric patients undergoing spine surgery. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in pediatric patients undergoing spinal instrumentation.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent spinal instrumentation with or without fusion at a single institution, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2020, was performed. Patients were pre-screened for history of allergic diseases, including previous reaction to metals, prior to surgery. Patch metal allergy testing (PMAT) for metal hypersensitivity was also performed.

Results

Of the 796 pediatric patients who underwent spinal instrumentation procedures from 2014 to 2020, 118 (15%) screened positive for metal hypersensitivity. However, the number of patients with documented evidence of metal hypersensitivity diminished to 26 (3%) after PMAT verification. Nickel hypersensitivity was most prevalent, with 20 patients (16.9% of positive screening; 2.5% of all instrumented patients) demonstrating positive skin patch tests. The other most prevalent metal hypersensitivities included cobalt in 9 patients (7.6%; 1.1%), manganese in 3 patients (2.5%; 0.4%), and copper in 1 patient (0.8%; 0.1%). with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 5.

Conclusions

This study suggests that routine pre-operative PMAT is not necessary in all pediatric spine patients yet should be considered if patients report a history of prior metal hypersensitivity reactions.
Crime Fiction and Ecology
Authors: Ashman Nathan
Published: January 2025

This Element examines how contemporary ecological crime narratives are responding to the scales and complexities of the global climate crisis. It opens with the suggestion that there are certain formal limits to the genre's capacity to accommodate and interrogate these multifaceted dynamics within its typical stylistic and thematic bounds. Using a comparative methodological approach that draws connections and commonalities between literary crime texts from across a range of geographical locales – including works from Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, North America and Oceana – it therefore seeks to uncover examples of world crime fictions that are cultivating new forms of environmental awareness through textual strategies capable of conceiving of the planet as a whole. This necessitates a movement away from considering crime fictions in the context of their distinct and separate national literary traditions, instead emphasising the global and transnational connections between works.
Modern Britain, 1750 to the Present
Authors: Vernon James
Published: January 2025

This wide-ranging introduction to the history of modern Britain extends from the eighteenth century to the present day. Vernon structures his compelling narrative around the rise, fall and reinvention of liberal ideas of how markets, governments and empires should work. In this new edition, Vernon expands on four important themes: the history of the environment and climate crisis; global pandemics; the history of minoritised people of colour; and shifting ideas of democracy and sovereignty. This textbook offers a new global history of Britain, demonstrating how the world shaped the course of Britain's modern history. Richly illustrated with figures and maps, the book features textboxes, further reading guides, highlighted key terms and a glossary. A supplementary online package includes a study guide with discussion questions and links to additional primary sources. This textbook is an essential resource for introductory courses on the history of modern Britain.
International Finance
Authors: Chinn Menzie D. , Irwin Douglas A.
Published: January 2025

Understanding the globalized world economy is more important than ever before. This book provides a clear, concise, and up-to-date look at the economic foundations of international finance. The authors explain the principal concepts in an engaging and accessible manner open to students from any discipline, incorporating contemporary finance data through full-colour diagrams and graphs. Throughout, economic models are discussed in the context of recent and current international finance issues, to ensure students gain a concrete understanding and see how the field impacts the real world. Written for upper undergraduate courses, the book includes feature boxes that marry theory and economics in practice to show models applied, a featured real-world application for every chapter, and over 140 end-of-chapter questions help students fully engage with and consolidate their learning. Online resources for instructors include a solutions manual, lecture slides and the book figures as JPEGs.
Printing Technologies and Book Production in Seventeenth-Century Japan
Authors: Kornicki Peter
Published: January 2025

This Element first sets the history of printing in Japan in its East Asian context, showing how developments in China, Korea and elsewhere had an impact upon Japan. It then undertakes a re-examination of printing in seventeenth-century Japan and in particular explores the reasons why Japanese printers abandoned typography less than fifty years after it was introduced. This is a question that has often been posed but never satisfactorily answered, but this Element takes a new approach, focusing on two popular medical texts that were first printed typographically and then xylographically. The argument presented here is that the glosses relied upon by Japanese readers could be much more easily be provided when printing xylographically: since from the early seventeenth century onwards printed books customarily included glosses for the convenience of readers, this was surely the reason for the abandonment of typography.
The Power of Brand Ownership
Authors: Johnson Miriam J.
Published: January 2025

How do brands cultivate loyalty and influence consumer purchasing decisions? The Power of Brand Ownership explores the complex dynamics between branding and consumer identity within both the physical and digital realms that form our cultural landscape. Miriam J. Johnson uncovers a symbiotic relationship where brands serve not merely as navigational aids in a consumer's journey but also as integral components of self-identity and social projection, and the power that entails. Investigating the nuances of power shifts, brand authenticity, activism, and the gendered nature of consumption, Johnson asserts that brands are both influenced by and influencers of the cultural terrain they inhabit as well as the temporal contexts in which they interact. Theoretical frameworks articulate the fluidity of capital within the consumer-brand nexus whilst insightful case studies illustrate industry examples, revealing the shifting strategies employed by companies to make brands identifiable and desirable in the ever-changing cultural landscape.
The Welfare State in East Asia
Authors: Wong Joseph
Published: January 2025

During the postwar period, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea emerged as industrial and democratic exemplars in the East Asia region. A less well-known story is of their equally remarkable achievements in social policy reform and the formation of welfare states. Section 1 of the Element provides an overview of welfare state deepening in Japan, Taiwan and Korea and an account of why and how the developmental states institutionalized the social insurance model. Section 2 examines the drivers of social welfare universalization in Japan, Taiwan and Korea, notably the importance of democratization. Section 3 focuses on emerging challenges to the East Asian welfare state and how it has adapted. Though Japan, South Korea and Taiwan evolved their welfare states in a distinctive way historically, the current challenges they face and their responses have converged with other developed, post-industrial democracies.
Convexity and its Applications in Discrete and Continuous Optimization
Authors: Basu Amitabh
Published: January 2025

Using a pedagogical, unified approach, this book presents both the analytic and combinatorial aspects of convexity and its applications in optimization. On the structural side, this is done via an exposition of classical convex analysis and geometry, along with polyhedral theory and geometry of numbers. On the algorithmic/optimization side, this is done by the first ever exposition of the theory of general mixed-integer convex optimization in a textbook setting. Classical continuous convex optimization and pure integer convex optimization are presented as special cases, without compromising on the depth of either of these areas. For this purpose, several new developments from the past decade are presented for the first time outside technical research articles: discrete Helly numbers, new insights into sublinear functions, and best known bounds on the information and algorithmic complexity of mixed-integer convex optimization. Pedagogical explanations and more than 300 exercises make this book ideal for students and researchers.